third. he wasn't there saying, this shouldn't be happening. he wasn't saying, can everyone break up and go home? downing street hasn't commented on the allegations, but said previously that the metropolitan police has carried out a full inquiry. we'll have the latest from westminster. also this lunchtime. the energy regulator ofgem says the price cap is expected to reach £2800 in october, an increase of more than £800 on the current cap. thousands of photographs are uncovered from the heart of china's highly secretive system

of incarceration of uyghurs and other minorities — it includes evidence of a shoot to kill policy. the uk's withdrawal from afghanistan last year was a disaster, says an inquiry by mps, which will damage the nation's interests for years. the murder of three—year—old kemarni watson darby — his mother's boyfriend is jailed for at least 2a years, after subjecting the toddler to weeks of beatings. good morning everyone and welcome to the brand—new elizabeth line service. and the train pulling in is three years late and £4 billion over budget — crossrail opens for business, as the first passengers catch the elizabeth line. it was a long wait but, you know, it's here now, and we are on it. the journey time between canary wharf and whitechapel blew my mind. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel: gareth southgate is set to announce his squad

for next month's nations league games, when england will take on hungary, italy and germany. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. speaking for the first time, insiders who attended gatherings in downing street during covid lockdowns have told bbc news that they would arrive at work to find bins overflowing with empty bottles from the night before, and that parties were routine. they say staff sat on each other�*s laps at a leaving do in november 2020, where the prime minister has now been pictured — and that security guards were laughed at when they tried to stop one party from taking place. borisjohnson is facing fresh questions about his attendance at the leaving party —

and the metropolitan police are facing calls to explain why the prime minister wasn't issued with a fine. 0ur political correspondent ben wright has the latest. boozy lockdown breaking parties in downing street have led to more than 100 fine sand pit questions for borisjohnson. with number 10 braced for the official report into partygate, panorama has spoken to three insiders who attended lockdown gatherings in number 10. their words are spoken by actors. mas gatherings in number 10. their words are spoken by actors.— are spoken by actors. was it sometimes _ are spoken by actors. was it sometimes the _ are spoken by actors. was it sometimes the morning - are spoken by actors. was it i sometimes the morning after? are spoken by actors. was it _ sometimes the morning after? unless. there were bottles, _ sometimes the morning after? unless. there were bottles, empties, - there were bottles, empties, rubbish, _ there were bottles, empties, rubbish, in the bin but overflowing. 0r rubbish, in the bin but overflowing. or indeed _ rubbish, in the bin but overflowing. 0r indeed sometimes left on the table _ or indeed sometimes left on the table. ., ., ., ., “ table. you would get into work in the morning _ table. you would get into work in the morning in — table. you would get into work in the morning in number— table. you would get into work in the morning in number10 - table. you would get into work in the morning in number10 and i table. you would get into work in i the morning in number10 and find the morning in number 10 and find empty bottles littered around the place? empty bottles littered around the lace? , empty bottles littered around the place?- for _ empty bottles littered around the place? yes. forthe empty bottles littered around the place? yes. for the first time, --eole place? yes. for the first time, people who — place? yes. for the first time, people who were _ place? yes. for the first time, people who were there described what the culture was like. the?

people who were there described what the culture was like.— the culture was like. they were every week- — the culture was like. they were every week. the _ the culture was like. they were every week. the event - the culture was like. they were every week. the event invites i the culture was like. they were i every week. the event invites the friday— every week. the event invites the friday press — every week. the event invites the friday press office _ every week. the event invites the friday press office drinks - every week. the event invites the friday press office drinks we - every week. the event invites the friday press office drinks we justl friday press office drinks we just nailed _ friday press office drinks we just naiied into— friday press office drinks we just nailed into the _ friday press office drinks we just nailed into the diary. _ friday press office drinks we 'ust nailed into the diaryi nailed into the diary. there were actually invites _ nailed into the diary. there were actually invites to _ nailed into the diary. there were actually invites to press - nailed into the diary. there were actually invites to press office i actually invites to press office drinks on friday nights?- actually invites to press office drinks on friday nights? yes, wine time fridays- _ drinks on friday nights? yes, wine time fridays. invites _ drinks on friday nights? yes, wine time fridays. invites that - drinks on friday nights? yes, wine time fridays. invites that were - drinks on friday nights? yes, wine time fridays. invites that were in i time fridays. invites that were in everyone's— time fridays. invites that were in everyone's calendar— time fridays. invites that were in everyone's calendar for - time fridays. invites that were in everyone's calendar for every - time fridays. invites that were in i everyone's calendar for every friday eve ryone's calendar for every friday at everyone's calendar for every friday at 4pm _ everyone's calendar for every friday at 4m. ., everyone's calendar for every friday atlom. ., ,, at 4pm. four o'clock in the afternoon was one time? yes. two of the people who have spoken to the bbc on condition of anonymity have received fines. 0ne staffer said they felt boris johnson had received fines. 0ne staffer said they felt borisjohnson had given permission because of his attendance. he permission because of his attendance.— permission because of his attendance. . . permission because of his attendance. . , ._ attendance. he was there. he may have 'ust attendance. he was there. he may have just been _ attendance. he was there. he may have just been popping _ attendance. he was there. he may have just been popping through i attendance. he was there. he may have just been popping through on the way— have just been popping through on the way to— have just been popping through on the way to his flat, because that's what _ the way to his flat, because that's what would happen. he wasn't there saying _ what would happen. he wasn't there saying this _ what would happen. he wasn't there saying this shouldn't be happening. he wasn't_ saying this shouldn't be happening. he wasn't saying, can everyone break up he wasn't saying, can everyone break up and _ he wasn't saying, can everyone break up and go _ he wasn't saying, can everyone break up and go home? can everyone socially— up and go home? can everyone socially distance, can everyone put masks _ socially distance, can everyone put masks on? — socially distance, can everyone put masks on? no, he wasn't telling anybody— masks on? no, he wasn't telling anybody that. he was grabbing a

glass— anybody that. he was grabbing a glass for— anybody that. he was grabbing a glass for himself. he anybody that. he was grabbing a glass for himself.— anybody that. he was grabbing a glass for himself. he was certainly at this gathering. _ glass for himself. he was certainly at this gathering. pictures - glass for himself. he was certainly | at this gathering. pictures released by itv show the prime minister at a leaving party in november 2020, at least one person who attended was fined but borisjohnson wasn't. a staffer who was there described the deal. staffer who was there described the deal .. staffer who was there described the deal. ., , ., ,., g; :: staffer who was there described the deal. .,, ., g; :: , .,, deal. there was about 30 people if not more deal. there was about 30 people if rrot more in _ deal. there was about 30 people if rrot more in a _ deal. there was about 30 people if not more in a room. _ deal. there was about 30 people if not more in a room. everyone - deal. there was about 30 people if not more in a room. everyone was| not more in a room. everyone was stood — not more in a room. everyone was stood shoulder — not more in a room. everyone was stood shoulder to— not more in a room. everyone was stood shoulder to shoulder. - not more in a room. everyone was stood shoulder to shoulder. some| stood shoulder to shoulder. some people _ stood shoulder to shoulder. some people on— stood shoulder to shoulder. some people on each— stood shoulder to shoulder. some people on each other's _ stood shoulder to shoulder. some people on each other's laps. - stood shoulder to shoulder. some people on each other's laps. people were sitting — people on each other's laps. people were sitting on _ people on each other's laps. people were sitting on each _ people on each other's laps. people were sitting on each other- people on each other's laps. people were sitting on each other 's - people on each other's laps. people were sitting on each other 's lapse? were sitting on each other �*s lapse? yes, one or two people. ads, were sitting on each other 's lapse? yes, one or two people. a government source said the — yes, one or two people. a government source said the prime _ yes, one or two people. a government source said the prime minister- source said the prime minister attended on a work capacity, a message repeated by ministers this morning. he message repeated by ministers this morninu. , ., , , message repeated by ministers this mornin.. ,.,,.,_ ., morning. he probably was coming out of his office. — morning. he probably was coming out of his office, raised _ morning. he probably was coming out of his office, raised a _ morning. he probably was coming out of his office, raised a glass to - morning. he probably was coming out of his office, raised a glass to say - of his office, raised a glass to say thank— of his office, raised a glass to say thank you — of his office, raised a glass to say thank you to a leading member of staff who — thank you to a leading member of staff who he would have been working closely _ staff who he would have been working closely with all the way through, and then— closely with all the way through, and then presumably left and the police _ and then presumably left and the police would have had all of that information, which is why they didn't— information, which is why they didn't issue him a fixed penalty notice — didn't issue him a fixed penalty notice in — didn't issue him a fixed penalty

notice in case.— didn't issue him a fixed penalty notice in case. , , ., notice in case. unemployment is now down to its lowest _ notice in case. unemployment is now down to its lowest level _ notice in case. unemployment is now down to its lowest level since - notice in case. unemployment is now down to its lowest level since 1974. l down to its lowest level since 1974. a cabinet _ down to its lowest level since 1974. a cabinet boris— down to its lowest level since 1974. a cabinet boris johnson _ down to its lowest level since 1974. a cabinet boris johnson was - down to its lowest level since 1974.j a cabinet boris johnson was talking a cabinet borisjohnson was talking aboutjob figures this morning but his own conduct in office because disbelief in the words of one staffer when the prime minister first told parliament there were no parties. first told parliament there were no arties. , ., ., first told parliament there were no arties. y., ., ,., parties. so, when you and your colleagues _ parties. so, when you and your colleagues and _ parties. so, when you and your colleagues and government - parties. so, when you and your| colleagues and government saw parties. so, when you and your- colleagues and government saw boris johnson say none of the rules had been broken? lode johnson say none of the rules had been broken?— johnson say none of the rules had been broken? we were watching it live and we — been broken? we were watching it live and we just _ been broken? we were watching it live and we just sort _ been broken? we were watching it live and we just sort of _ been broken? we were watching it live and we just sort of looked - live and we just sort of looked at each _ live and we just sort of looked at each other— live and we just sort of looked at each other in disbelief like, why? why is— each other in disbelief like, why? why is he — each other in disbelief like, why? why is he denying this? when we've been with— why is he denying this? when we've been with him this entire time. we knew— been with him this entire time. we knew that — been with him this entire time. we knew that the rules have been broken. — knew that the rules have been broken, we need these parties happened. broken, we need these parties happened-— broken, we need these parties ha ened. ., .,, happened. the government has declined to _ happened. the government has declined to respond _ happened. the government has declined to respond to - happened. the government has declined to respond to the - happened. the government has - declined to respond to the testimony given to panorama. the prime minister has promised to make a statement to parliament as soon as the sue gray report is published. now the met�*s investigation is over, the labour london mayor has said the police have some explaining to do. i've not asked questions about this, i've not asked questions about this, i've kept away from this but i think it's important when it comes to

trust and confidence, when it comes to policing by consent, questions being asked about the integrity of an investigation, that the police explain why they've reached the conclusions they have. find explain why they've reached the conclusions they have. and boris johnson will _ conclusions they have. and boris johnson will soon _ conclusions they have. and boris johnson will soon have _ conclusions they have. and boris johnson will soon have to - conclusions they have. and boris| johnson will soon have to explain conclusions they have. and boris i johnson will soon have to explain to mps and voters how all of these gatherings were allowed to happen and who, if anyone, should take responsibility. when you listen to those insiders, everything they had to say to the bbc, this is continued pressure on the prime minister at.— the prime minister at. that's true and the civil— the prime minister at. that's true and the civil service _ the prime minister at. that's true and the civil service too. - the prime minister at. that's true and the civil service too. i - the prime minister at. that's true and the civil service too. i think i and the civil service too. i think politicians and officials are really going to be in the spotlight over the next few days, once we get sue gray's report which is expected any minute now. of all the testimony that we've just heard, i think it was the insider talking about their disbelief at watching the prime minister stand up disbelief at watching the prime ministerstand up in disbelief at watching the prime minister stand up in parliament at the beginning of this and say that there were no parties and that no rules were broken. i think that goes to the heart of the question about

boris johnson's honesty and integrity, questions that haven't gone away. this morning, downing street said the prime minister would be making a full statement once sue gray's report have been published, but it's clear it will be very damning and will raise big questions for everybody involved. i think with the police having ended their investigation and giving boris johnson a fine, there was a feeling in number 10 that perhaps this political storm around partygate was beginning to pass. but we saw that picture yesterday, we heard the testimony today, the question is will more tory mps now speak up, question his leadership and don't forget that a committee of mps is also going to look into whether he misled parliament knowingly. something that he has denied. thank ou. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is here. there are questions for the

metropolitan police as well, some people asking why there has been no fixed penalty notice for the prime minister about that specific party in late 2020. the minister about that specific party in late 2020-_ in late 2020. the leaving party where you _ in late 2020. the leaving party where you can _ in late 2020. the leaving party where you can see _ in late 2020. the leaving party where you can see boris - in late 2020. the leaving party i where you can see boris johnson in late 2020. the leaving party - where you can see boris johnson with where you can see borisjohnson with a drink in hand, making a speech, has obviously put a lot of pressure on the metropolitan police to explain why he hasn't been given a fine for that. that pressure increase this morning when the mayor of london city thought they should explain and he's the person who has oversight for policing london. the police feel they can't give more details because they are worried the more detail they give, the more it risks identifying people who have been given fixed penalty notices and under the national guidelines they mustn't identify people. that leaves them in a bit of a bind and leaves us guessing as to why it is they might have decided to find some people are not the prime minister. i think the most likely explanation is that these were events that started with a drink in the office, with the

prime minister making a speech, and then turned into long drinking sessions. the prime minister was there often at the beginning of the event, certainly in the case of lee cain he was at the beginning for a short period of time and i'm guessing the police have decided at that point it's illegal, work—related event, saying goodbye to somebody on their last day quickly but when it developed into a long drinking session it becomes an event beyond the rules and people who stayed longer got finds. thank ou. and you can watch the programme partygate: inside the storm on bbc two tonight at 7pm or the bbc iplayer. there's also more online at bbc.co.uk/news. thousands of photographs from the heart of china's highly secretive system of mass—incarceration of uyghurs and other minorities in the xinjiang region are part of a huge collection of data that's been handed to the bbc.

it was hacked from police computer servers in the region — and includes evidence of a shoot—to—kill policy for anyone who tried to escape. the foreign secretary liz truss has called the information shocking. here's our correspondent, john sudworth. these are the faces china never intended us to see, from inside its system of mass incarceration in xinjiang. the government has long denied it's running detention camps for uyghurs, insisting instead they are vocational schools for willing students. the photos, almost 3,000 of them, show the reality of how whole swathes of uyghur society have been swept up, person by person. the oldest was 73 at the time of her detention. the youngest, just 15. the uyghurs, with their turkic language, islamic traditions and roots in a region with a history of separatism and violence, have long faced cycles

of tightening government control. and with mounting criticism over the camps, the authorities have taken journalists on tours, showing them uyghurs celebrating their culture and, they say, being guided away from extremism. yes, this is classified internal government information. the files, said to have been hacked from police computer servers in xinjiang by a source whose identity is unknown, were first passed to dr adrian zenz, a xinjiang scholar, who in turn shared them with the bbc — and they raise serious questions about china's narrative. you have police officers in heavy riot gear standing next to some of the men. some of the men have their arms in a funny position as if they were handcuffed, so this is really very powerful about the image material. i was looking through these images on my laptop in the living room and had to get up and go somewhere else and take a break.

i was overwhelmed. the hacked files also contain hundreds of spreadsheets, row upon row of draconian jail sentences often targeting expressions of islamic faith, as a parallel method alongside the camps for detaining uyghurs en masse. just for growing a beard, this man was sentenced to 16 years injail. his chosen expression of uyghur identity forcibly removed. by speaking to members of the uyghur diaspora in places like turkey, the bbc has been able to verify the data, showing it to contain real people. this man, for example, knew his eldest son had beenjailed — but the database tells him for how long. 15 years for terrorism offences. although as evidence, only his son's devout islamic faith is listed.

in response to questions, the chinese embassy in the us issued a statement, saying that in the face of the grave and complex counterterrorism situation in xinjiang the authorities had taken a host of decisive, robust and effective deradicalisation measures so that people could live a safe, happy and fulfilling life — although there was no attempt to address any of the hacked data directly. it includes these images, once again from deep within the system, that appear to offer further evidence of the harsh detention and indoctrination of a people, not for what they have done, but for who they are. john sudworth, bbc news. jonathan brearley, the chief executive of the energy regulator 0fgem, has said that the price cap is expected to reach £2,800 this october. that would represent an increase of £829 on the current cap. mr brearley said that the global gas market had been hit by russia's

invasion of ukraine. 0ur our business editor simon jack our business editor simonjack has been listening to what the head of 0fgem has had to say and it is more grim news around everything we know about the cost of living. i think this was expected, _ about the cost of living. i think this was expected, dreaded . about the cost of living. i think| this was expected, dreaded but about the cost of living. i think - this was expected, dreaded but no less shocking to hear him spell out how much he estimates prices will rise come 0ctober. remember, this is on top of a £700 rise we saw come in in april. what the industry and charities are worried about his that because the weather is a bit warmer, people have been able to switch off the heating and have been shielded from some of the effect. come 0ctober, they get all of that plus this additional £800, when the nights are getting longer and colder. this will of course put more pressure on the government to say what are you going to do to help struggling households? 40% of whom could be in fuel poverty, spending 10% of their disposable income on energy, that's millions of

households. 0n energy, that's millions of households. on top of that there will be the question of how to fund it. some companies have profited from these rising prices, which will raise the debate around the urgency of a windfall tax and i expect something could come on that as soon as this week. something could come on that as soon as this week-— a man who murdered his partner's three—year—old son after inflicting more than 20 rib fractures over weeks of beatings has been jailed for at least 24 years. the little boy's mother also received 11 years for causing or allowing his death. navtej johal is outside court of us. the church at birmingham crown court described this case is particularly distressing and tragic. kemarni's relative to chair dell nathaniel pope's life sentence was read out and one told me she feltjustice had been served for the little boy whose

death has devastated his family. woman: what are you - showing me your bum for? she laughs. this was kemarni watson darby, a three—year—old boy who was described in court as a lively, boisterous and happy. injune 2018, he died while in the care of the people who should have been protecting him — his mother, alicia watson, and her partner, nathaniel pope. ambulance service, is the patient breathing? yeah, but he's not responding to me, he's three. he's three? watson made this 999 call. although paramedics arrived quickly and took him to hospital, they couldn't save him. his ribs had been crushed and he died from severe abdominal injuries, which the court heard were comparable to a car crash orfall from height. doctors also found evidence on his body of a number of other serious injuries that he had suffered in the days and weeks before. it was a shocking case. the evidence that was heard was... was something i'd not seen before in my experience as a police officer.

to hear about the descriptions of the injuries that kemarni suffered was really, really harrowing. pope had previous convictions, including for assault, burglary and dealing drugs. watson was described as having a zero to 100 temper. both used cannabis regularly. last month, pope was convicted of kemarni's murder. watson was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her son. they were both also found guilty of child cruelty. a safeguarding review which will reveal whether opportunities were missed to save kemarni will be published soon. navteonhal, bbc news, birmingham. the time is 13:18... our top story this lunchtime. insiders have told bbc news that lockdown parties in downing street were routine. the premier league footballer kurt zouma admits charges

of animal cruelty — after video emerged last year of him kicking his cat. and coming up on the bbc news channel: the government's set to approve chelsea's sale today, although there are still major hurdles to overcome, according to a source close to the deal. the uk's withdrawal from afghanistan last year was a catastrophic failure and a betrayal of britain's allies, according to an inquiry by mps. the foreign affairs committee says there was a fundamental lack of planning or leadership before and during the taliban's takeover of kabul. 0ur correspondent paul adams has this report. the west's withdrawal from kabul was chaotic and, for vast numbers of afghans desperate to leave, profoundly traumatic. it was also, mps say, a betrayal of britain's allies, a catastrophic failure of intelligence,

diplomacy and planning. knowing that american forces were soon going to leave, the report says the government failed to respond. well, it's clear that what we could have done, really from 18 months out when the warning started, is begun the really serious preparations, knowing who we needed to evacuate, planning on how we would get them out and where we would take them, but instead i'm afraid that's not what happened. at a hearing last december, the foreign office's top civil servant struggled to explain why he and others, including the foreign secretary, stayed on holiday while kabulfell. i have reflected a lot since august on my leave, and if i had my time again i would have come back from my leave earlier. today's report suggests mr barton should consider his position. it says many of the british officials and soldiers sent to try and manage the terrible situation at kabul airport worked under enormous pressure.

but it criticises what it calls misleading statements about the evacuation process, and says the leadership at the foreign office should be ashamed that two civil servants risked their careers to bring the situation to light. the foreign office defends its record. "our staff worked tirelessly," a spokesperson said, "to evacuate over 15,000 people from afghanistan within a fortnight. "this was the biggest uk mission of its kind in generations "and followed months of intensive planning and collaboration "between uk government departments." the report urges the government to commit to a serious strategy for dealing with afghanistan in the future. a failure to do that, it says, would abandon afghan women and girls to the biggest single reversal of rights in a generation. paul adams, bbc news. all police officers and staff in forces across england and wales are to be given anti—racism training, as part of a new national plan to tackle discrimination against black people.

the measures have been announced by the national police chiefs' —— but campaigners say the plan falls short of real change. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. july 2020. this video of team gb athlete bianca williams and her partner went viral on social media, showing the moment they were stopped and searched by police in london. just two months before that, the murder of george floyd in the us led to the global resurgence of the black lives matter movement. and earlier this year, protests were held after the shocking case of child 0, the 15—year—old black girl who was strip searched by police at school without an appropriate adult present. the way black people are treated by police across the uk continues to raise serious questions. trust is broken. confidence is low. and these teenagers in east london

say they are scared. me personally, i think the word that comes to me is fear. i feel like even when you see videos of people sort of acting up or being aggressive towards the police, i feel it all stems from fear. they put the gun to our face. yeah, that's one of my... second experience with the police. my first experience was actually in oxford street. i was shopping. stopped and searched me. and they let me go cos i didn't do anything wrong. but today, senior police officers say they are committed to real change, with the announcement of a new national action plan to address racial inequality. we have launched today a plan specifically targeting black communities that recognises we are falling short, and we are falling short because confidence is low right now. black people in england and wales are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched compared with white, people according to government figures. this new plan aims to address the disproportionate use of these powers as well as recruit more black officers to help rebuild trust in marginalised communities.

but human rights campaigners aren't convinced by these new measures. their commitments made in the report are at complete odds with the announcements made by the government just last week, so the home secretary announced that the government would be creating new stop and search powers in the public order bill. it's expanding suspicion of stop and search in the police, crime sentencing and courts act. it's rolling out taser to volunteer police officers. these are exactly the powers and tools that disproportionately target and harass young black men. the action plan will take shape over the coming months with more details expected at the end of the year. adina campbell, bbc news. mps are holding their first debate about controversial legislation which would change how killings during the northern ireland conflict are investigated. more than 3,500 people died during the troubles — victims' groups are strongly opposed to a plan which would mean suspects who co—operate with a fact—finding investigation wouldn't

be prosecuted. here's our ireland correspondent, chris page every day when i waken, i waken in pain. notjust physical pain, but emotional pain. if my dad hadn't have been murdered, i wouldn't have been anywhere near the bomb that night. andrea brown is living with a legacy of tragedy and trauma. when she was 12, her father eric, a police officer, was shot dead. five years later, she was severely injured in a bombing which killed six soldiers at a fun run. andrea's strongly against the government's new legislation dealing with the conflict. there's nowhere else in the world that would try to make a law that murderers and serial killers do not have to facejustice. war criminals are being tried, but the terrorists over here won't have to answer anything. more than 3,500 people

died during the period known as the troubles. the legislation will create a commission led by a judge which will gather information on crimes. cases can be brought to it by bereaved families, the government and some others. suspects who cooperate won't face a criminal investigation, but those who refuse can still be prosecuted if there's enough evidence. in northern ireland, history still hurts, and the question of how the past should be investigated is hugely complex and contentious. but the vast majority of victims' groups agree the government's plan is wrong. raymond mccord's son, who was also called raymond, was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries. it's nonsense. it won't work. the murderers all of a sudden are going to walk in the room and tell people, "i killed him. i killed him." do the british government really believe that? the current system is failing everybody.

the government says it wants to give families the best opportunity to get to the truth. we as uk government will be making information and documentation available in a way we haven't done before with a proper independent investigatory body working through these things so more people get to the truth and an understanding of what happened than ever before. the politics of the present is always affected by the pain of the past here. the proposed change in the law is almost certain to be challenged in the courts. chris page, bbc news, belfast. the premier league footballer kurt zouma has admitted kicking and slapping his pet cat. the west ham united defender pleaded guilty to two counts under the animal welfare act at thames magistrates' court. our sports correspondent natalie pirks is at the court it was back in 31 footage and

emerged on social media, film by his brother, of kurt zouma kicking his bangle cut across the kitchen and then slapping it across the face in front of his shocked seven—year—old son. the footage ends with him saying, i'll pillage, i swear i'll kill it. kurt zouma pleaded guilty to two counts of causing suffering to two counts of causing suffering to a protected animal and his younger brother pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting unnecessary suffering. kurt zouma had already been fined £250,000 by his club and lost lucrative sponsorship at the prosecution argued he caused the cat fear, pain and anxiety at the suffering was deliberate. zouma has agreed for his two cats to be rehomed by the rspca, which says it welcomed the guilty plea, and the two brothers will be sentenced next month. . ~' ,. two brothers will be sentenced next month. ., ,, , ., ., ., hundreds of people queued in the rain this morning to be the first to travel on the elizabeth line in london. the crossrail project will eventually connect reading

in the west with shenfield to the east. today the brand new central section opened to the public, more than three years late, and more than £4 billion over budget. our transport correspondent katy austin has this report. just after 6am and the tolls were finally open. passengers streamed into new stations, including here in woolwich in south—east london, to catch the first trains. woolwich in south-east london, to catch the first trains.— woolwich in south-east london, to catch the first trains. good morning eve one catch the first trains. good morning everyone and _ catch the first trains. good morning everyone and welcome _ catch the first trains. good morning everyone and welcome to _ catch the first trains. good morning everyone and welcome to your- everyone and welcome to your brand—new elizabeth line service. figs brand—new elizabeth line service. as the newest railway in the country got up and running. i the newest railway in the country got up and running.— got up and running. i turned up really early. — got up and running. i turned up really early. i _ got up and running. i turned up really early, i have _ got up and running. i turned up really early, i have been - got up and running. i turned up| really early, i have been waiting for almost — really early, i have been waiting for almost ten years. once—in—a—lifetime opportunity, a transport line in a city like london opening, it probably won't happen again in my lifetime. the opening, it probably won't happen again in my lifetime.— again in my lifetime. the “ourney time between i again in my lifetime. the “ourney time between canary _ again in my lifetime. the journey time between canary wharf- again in my lifetime. the journey time between canary wharf and i time between canary wharf and whitechapel blew my mind. the lined le . s whitechapel blew my mind. the lined lens readin: whitechapel blew my mind. the lined legs reading in _ whitechapel blew my mind. the lined legs reading in berkshire _ whitechapel blew my mind. the lined legs reading in berkshire with - legs reading in berkshire with shenfield in essex, via central london. the newly built section

between paddington and abbey wood will run monday to saturday with trains every five minutes. seamless end—to—end travel will come by may next year. we are on board one of the new elizabeth line trains, they are pretty state—of—the—art and 200 metres long. each can carry up to 1500 passengers. the crossrail project is opening three and a half years later, one new station, bond street, is still not ready, and the budget has swelled to £185 street, is still not ready, and the budget has swelled to £18.5 billion, but it is still seen as a hugely impressive engineering achievement. the crossrail elizabeth line is really important for us to all be proud of, but don't believe it has gone down beautifully well in leeds, liverpool and manchester where they want a share of the investment kick, and i think there will be big discussions in future. passenger numbers forecast _ discussions in future. passenger numbers forecast for _ discussions in future. passenger numbers forecast for the - discussions in future. passenger. numbers forecast for the elizabeth line's first few years have been

scaled back, but transport for london insists it