this is bbc news with the latest headlines. excitement in birmingham as the opening ceremony for the commonwealth games takes place this evening. rail passengers are being warned that services are likely to be affected this morning because of the knock—on effect of yesterday's strike action. meanwhile, unions have reacted angrily to the sacking of shadow transport minister sam tarry for conducting interviews from the picket line. the birth mother of a baby murdered by the woman looking to adopt him raises questions about why her child was taken from her. security officials in kyiv say russian troops are being moved to kherson where ukrainian troops have been mounting a counter—offensive. # everybody needs good neighbours...# - and farewell to neighbours after four decades — teary—eyed fans

prepare to watch the show�*s final episode. the opening ceremony of the 22nd commonwealth games takes place in birmingham tonight. prince charles will represent the queen and 30,000 people will be inside the alexander stadium, with millions more watching around the world. the show will include performances from local music and dance groups, emphasising the city's diversity. more than 5,000 athletes are set to compete over a packed 11 days. they will be representing 72 nations and territories. the queen's baton will also be a key part of that ceremony, after being carried for 294 days

through commonwealth countries. athletes will compete in 19 sports and 280 medal events, which will include for the first time women's t20 cricket, 3 on 3 basketball and 3 on 3 wheelchair basketball. also for the first time, there are more medals for women than for men, and para events are all part of the main games. 0ur sports reporterjoe lynsky explains what's in store. they have waited four years for these 11 days. now the city in the centre is braced for the spotlight. birmingham is all set to stage 72 nations, fourfrom close to home. commentator: england have done it! they have snatched the gold medal. yes, he has got it. duncan scott from scotland. gold here in brisbane for wales. rhys mcclenaghan from northern ireland. well done, son. it's a bit unusual in that we are all used to competing in the same team and, all of a sudden, we are split up

and it's like, oh, 0k. it's been a long time since i've been in a scottish vest at such a big championships. so it's going to be great to have a big championships as this in great britain. not many people can really say that they've got a big championship on their back door. it is going to be an amazing feeling, and just got to stay concentrated and not let the emotions run through. the commonwealth games gives sport and para—sports the same platform. this year, women's t20 cricket is one new addition. and around from the bullring is the beach for the volleyball. events are spread around the west midlands, from warwick in the south to cannock further north. these games are mapped out to make a legacy. birmingham has builtjust one new venue for these commonwealth games and it is here in sandwell, one of the most diverse and densely populated parts of the city. this place has never had a resource like this before. but now it's got an aquatics centre. i feel extremely lucky because i don't think it will just affect us,

it will affect future generations. in, like, 20 years' time, yeah, i was there, i saw this happen. the centre has been stitched into smethwick in sandwell borough. by next year, it will be a multipurpose facility. for this community, it is a gateway to sport that, without the games, would not be here. ijoined smethwick swimming club when i was 11. we were fortunate to have pools close by, but nothing like we are going to have now. we've talked about this for a long time, we have dreamed about it. it is real now. and it is just going to give so many opportunities for youngsters from around here. for someone who has been involved in smethwick swimming for so long, what does it mean to you to have this venue at these commonwealth games? well, i'm speechless. itjust is so amazing. and the fact that this event is going to come to smethwick and people all around the world are going to be watching is just so amazing. it's usually something that happens somewhere else.

we feel an incredible responsibility for putting on a brilliant games for birmingham, the west midlands and the rest of the country, and, you know, showing what britain's is all about — a welcoming, inclusive society where everybody gets on. and, do you know what, it is a privilege to do that, but a responsibility, as well. it starts tonight at the alexander stadium, which has gone from local track to national emblem. in four years, there's been lockdowns and setbacks, but across this city, they are ready. joe lynskey, bbc news, birmingham. the culture, media and sport secretary, nadine dorries, says the event will benefit the area in years to come. 0na number of on a number of occasions, i've visited the new aquatics centre, i don't know if you've been there yet but it is quite special and that's going to be let for the community and birmingham to enjoy. so it's not just money the government has pumped into helping to put on a fantastic

commonwealth games, it's also about what's left behind for birmingham as well. i'm joined now by the leader birmingham city council, labour councillor ian ward. good morning. what does it mean for birmingham to be hosting these games? birmingham to be hosting these names? , , ., birmingham to be hosting these names? , ,., , birmingham to be hosting these names? , ,., ., , , ., birmingham to be hosting these names? , ,., , .,, games? this is our opportunity to be on the world — games? this is our opportunity to be on the world stage _ games? this is our opportunity to be on the world stage and _ games? this is our opportunity to be on the world stage and demonstrate | on the world stage and demonstrate what the city and the people of birmingham have to offer. the opening ceremony will be broadcast to over a billion people around the world so we'll never have a better opportunity than this to transform the image of birmingham and a reputation around the world and as you've heard from the people in smethwick, there is an immense amount of pride. this city has never looked better and the birmingham people are welcoming athletes, officials and visitors from 70 to nations and territories of the commonwealth, will never have a better opportunity than theirs. there's been a huge amount of investment into the game is, how do you hope they will be a lasting legacy? how do you ensure the

benefits continue? the legacy? how do you ensure the benefits continue?— benefits continue? the games themselves — benefits continue? the games themselves have _ benefits continue? the games themselves have helped - benefits continue? the games themselves have helped us i benefits continue? the games - themselves have helped us labour over £1 billion of investment in transport infrastructure, world—class public role, and new homes for the growing population here so when we were told five years ago the city could not afford it because these are expensive events, the truth is we could not afford not to do it because the investment we've seen into the city as a result of the games has far exceeded the amount of money the city council had to spend. the truth is we could not afford not to do this because the investment we've seen into the city as the result... investment we've seen into the city as the result. . ._ investment we've seen into the city as the result... how will you ensure community. — as the result... how will you ensure community, everybody _ as the result... how will you ensure community, everybody feels - as the result... how will you ensure i community, everybody feels engaged? this is something that every member of various communities can be involved in?— of various communities can be involved in? ~ �* . , , involved in? we've always said this needs to be _ involved in? we've always said this needs to be a _ involved in? we've always said this needs to be a game _ involved in? we've always said this needs to be a game is _ involved in? we've always said this needs to be a game is for - involved in? we've always said thisj needs to be a game is for everyone in the city council has invested, to ensure communities across the city

feel they are part of these games and i was out yesterday, around the city, as the battle was paraded around the city and you can see the community is coming out and celebrating the fact that birmingham is hosting a global event, the biggest event we have ever attempted to host and we are going to try and ensure these games are a success because the people of birmingham will ensure they are a success and we have a super diverse and young population here, 40% of our people under the age of 30. we will have a huge celebration over the next 11 days and the legacy from the games will benefit all our communities in the future. . , will benefit all our communities in the future. ., , ., , will benefit all our communities in the future. ., , . ., the future. there was a slight echo in here, the future. there was a slight echo in here. but _ the future. there was a slight echo in here. but i _ the future. there was a slight echo in here, but i can _ the future. there was a slight echo in here, but i can hear— the future. there was a slight echo in here, but i can hear you - the future. there was a slight echo | in here, but i can hear you properly now. what do you envisage the specific sporting legacy to be? part of this is about making sure people can be engaged in sport at a grassroots level long term, isn't it? , ., , ., ., it? yes, we are ensuring one of the leaacies it? yes, we are ensuring one of the legacies as — it? yes, we are ensuring one of the legacies as investment _ it? yes, we are ensuring one of the legacies as investment and - legacies as investment and grassroots sport. we know there is a

problem with obesity, notjust in birmingham but up and down the country and we are determined to use these games to inspire people to get more active in the future, to go out and enjoy different sports. i think what people see as the games roll out over the next 11 days and people see the events on their tv and those who go to the events and watch them, i think we will see young people in particular inspired to go out and try some of the sports and become more active. it's part of our plan for the legacy that we get young people in particular are more active. . ~' , ., people in particular are more active. ., ~ ., people in particular are more active. ., ., ,, ., active. thank you for speaking to us. that active. thank you for speaking to us- that is _ active. thank you for speaking to us. that is the _ active. thank you for speaking to us. that is the leader _ active. thank you for speaking to us. that is the leader of - active. thank you for speaking to - us. that is the leader of birmingham city council. some breaking news. in the past few minutes it's been announced that the veteran actor bernard cribbins has died at the age of 93. he narrated the one pulse and starred in a film adaptation of the railway children was one of the most versatile and popular entertainers

of his generation. he managed to be a fair bit on children's tv while also starring in the body carry on films. we look back at his life. good wives and private soldiers should be ignorant. i keep with your instruction, i warrant you. from instruction, iwarrant you. from classical theatre. _ instruction, iwarrant you. from classical theatre. to _ instruction, iwarrant you. from classical theatre. to the - instruction, i warrant you. from i classical theatre. to the rumbles. bernard cribbins seemed to pop up everywhere. bernard cribbins seemed to pop up everywhere-— bernard cribbins seemed to pop up eve here. ~ . ., ., . everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in — everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your— everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? _ everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? that - everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? that is - everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? that is a - of brandy in your tea? that is a very sound _ of brandy in your tea? that is a very sound idea. _ of brandy in your tea? that is a very sound idea. when - of brandy in your tea? that is a very sound idea. when he - of brandy in your tea? that is a - very sound idea. when he appeared with peter sellers _ very sound idea. when he appeared with peter sellers in _ very sound idea. when he appeared with peter sellers in two _ very sound idea. when he appeared with peter sellers in two way - with peter sellers in two way stretch in 1960 he been acting for 16 years. he started doing big parts and 0ldham rep aged 1a, more fun than following his mother into the local mill. ., , w' than following his mother into the local mill. .,, a , than following his mother into the local mill. , , than following his mother into the localmill. , ., local mill. top deck is my name, albert hoop _ local mill. top deck is my name, albert hoop deck. _ local mill. top deck is my name, albert hoop deck. blessed - local mill. top deck is my name, albert hoop deck. blessed with l local mill. top deck is my name, j albert hoop deck. blessed with a face for a comedy _ albert hoop deck. blessed with a face for a comedy he _ albert hoop deck. blessed with a face for a comedy he landed - albert hoop deck. blessed with a . face for a comedy he landed notable film roles. i

face for a comedy he landed notable film roles. . �* ., ~ ., film roles. i haven't taken to creater film roles. i haven't taken to greater liberty _ film roles. i haven't taken to greater liberty on _ film roles. i haven't taken to greater liberty on a - film roles. i haven't taken to greater liberty on a day - film roles. i haven't taken to greater liberty on a day like| film roles. i haven't taken to - greater liberty on a day like this? the railway children was perhaps his best—known. we the railway children was perhaps his best-known— best-known. we love you quite as much. # taking his hole, hung in the ground. 0h # taking his hole, hung in the ground. oh dear, we will never manage by ourselves. that ground. oh dear, we will never manage by ourselves.- ground. oh dear, we will never manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous _ manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous roles, _ manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous roles, he _ manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous roles, he was - manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous roles, he wasjust i manage by ourselves. that in many of his most famous roles, he wasjust al his most famous roles, he was just a voice. i his most famous roles, he was 'ust a voice. ., , his most famous roles, he was 'ust a voice. . , , ., ., voice. i never realised before of what hard _ voice. i never realised before of what hard work _ voice. i never realised before of what hard work cooking - voice. i never realised before of what hard work cooking is. - voice. i never realised before of- what hard work cooking is. whether it was the one _ what hard work cooking is. whether it was the one pulse. _ what hard work cooking is. whether it was the one pulse. busby. - what hard work cooking is. whether it was the one pulse. busby. mrs i it was the one pulse. busby. mrs flu tail it was the one pulse. busby. mrs fluffy tail is _ it was the one pulse. busby. iji's fluffy tail is walking it was the one pulse. busby. m3 fluffy tail is walking along the road with tufty. 0r tufty. they all got safely to the shore, some swimming, some flying and those that climb the rope broke the doctor trunk and handbag. he climb the rope broke the doctor trunk and handbag.— trunk and handbag. he was the record-holder _ trunk and handbag. he was the record-holder for _ trunk and handbag. he was the record-holder for the - trunk and handbag. he was the record-holder for the greatest | record—holder for the greatest number of jackanory stories, record—holder for the greatest number ofjackanory stories, he record—holder for the greatest number of jackanory stories, he was a mainstay of children's television

over many years. a mainstay of children's television over many years-— a mainstay of children's television over many years. doctor. what about ou? have over many years. doctor. what about you? have you _ over many years. doctor. what about you? have you got? _ over many years. doctor. what about you? have you got? when _ over many years. doctor. what about you? have you got? when he - over many years. doctor. what about l you? have you got? when he appeared with david tennant _ you? have you got? when he appeared with david tennant and _ you? have you got? when he appeared with david tennant and doctor - you? have you got? when he appeared with david tennant and doctor who - you? have you got? when he appeared with david tennant and doctor who it l with david tennant and doctor who it was his second doctor, the first had been peter cushing, a0 years before. that's fine. he been peter cushing, 40 years before. that's fine. ., , , that's fine. he had played every -e of that's fine. he had played every type of role- _ that's fine. he had played every type of role. right _ that's fine. he had played every type of role. right on _ that's fine. he had played every type of role. right on time. - that's fine. he had played every i type of role. right on time. funny, friendly and down to earth. for millions, he was a part of growing up. that was the veteran actor bernard cribbins, who has died at the age of 93. network rail says disruption to trains will continue this morning because of the knock—on effect of yesterday's strike action. several operators have warned that services will start later than usual and people are being advised to check before travelling. another walkout of drivers at seven companies is planned for saturday, and the aslef union has announced that its members at nine firms will strike on the 13th august. tomos morgan reports.

platforms empty, cafes closed, and passengers seemingly elsewhere. it wasn't your usual weekday rush—hour last night, with most trains leaving the station well before 7pm. in the midlands, just 30% of usual services ran from birmingham new street. 12% of trains were on the track in wales, and only five routes were in operation across the whole of scotland. a mix of sympathy and also frustration from commuters. there are other services that get paid a heck of a lot more money. and they need to keep up with them, so they are doing the right thing. i think there are alternative ways of taking action. and the impact is not against the rail service, it is against passengers. i can see it from both. sides, from the people who work at the station. they put a lot of work in. they want more money, i understand that. - but it is impactful. i understand that, obviously,

people need fair pay and i am sure they are striking for a good reason, but i still need to get to work. spectators hoping to get to the first day of the commonwealth games today might have some trouble, with many operators warning commuters across the country to expect disruption today because of the knock—on effect of the strikes. most services won't begin in birmingham until after 7:30am. and just as one set of industrial action is finished, more strikes were announced for august the 13th, with further disruption already planned for this weekend. some have suggested that saturday's strikes will be just as disruptive as yesterday's. for example, one rail operator has said that the route between south wales and england will almost entirely grind to a halt as drivers turn their attention to the picket lines. with unions, rail companies and the uk government no closer to an agreement, just a few weeks into the holidays, and a summer of strikes is well and truly upon us.

unions have reacted angrily to the decision by labour to sack junior shadow transport minister sam tarry. it was after he joined striking rail workers on a picket line. several labour mps have also criticised the move, saying mr tarry was right to be championing the rights of workers. we're joined now by our political correspondent iain watson. first of all, train strikes continue to be divisive for the labour party? that's right, or how they react to them. they've called for the government to get involved, for a fair settlement for those who are on strike but the difficulty for keir starmer as this, he says he wants to form an alternative government to the conservatives, there should be negotiated pay settlements, you shouldn't have a official spokesmen for his party standing on picket lines. taking sides. so he has

advised them not to do it and lo and behold some of them have and they have been reprimanded but in the case of sam tarry, until yesterday he was a shadow transport spokesman, labour say he has been sacked not because he appeared on the picket line but because he gave on authorised media appearances. when he was on a picket line at london euston station, he offered himself up euston station, he offered himself up to broadcasters and he opined on a range of subjects including pay rates, inflation, which they felt had gone beyond his beef is a shadow minister and he had to show collective responsibility so he has gone but not without a political cost to keir starmer. the union that sam tarry is a member of is the tssa, a real union, and they have called into question the continued leadership of keir starmer and the unite union, the biggest union fonder of the labour party says what

keir starmer did was insulting to trade unions and they of course have the power to withdraw some of the funding from the labour party if they do not like what it is up to. it's about judgment and it's about who voters can relate to and who voters think have walked in their shoes and understand their lives. and i believe the polling has shown, just the yougov polling just in the last couple of days, that voters do believe that liz truss is somebody who is more in touch with their lives and that was simply the point i was trying to make. you know, i don't think that you can be the richest man in the world, or woman, that doesn't stop you from being prime minister at all. but what you do have to do is be able to understand and relate to the lives that people lead. and that's the point i was trying to make. that was nadeem dolly speaking earlier this morning. the latest conservative leadership hustings take place. what should we expect?

we should say what that clip is about. she was challenging the fight she had tweeted about rishi sunak, his £a50 prada shoes that he was wearing in teesside, a deprived area as she called it, £a.50 earrings worn by liz truss so effectively she was saying you need to know what people are going through in order to be able to side with them so she was effectively doubling down on a rather barbed criticism of rishi sunak, she is a big supporter of liz truss and borisjohnson. she was saying he was removed in a vicious clue. the candidates indeed go before a conservative party members tonight in what is called a hustings but i can run you through the format. the first of 12 members meetings will be held in leeds, around 1200 conservative party members will be there and they will hear speeches from the candidates, they will be interviewed by a moderator and they will be presented

by nick ferrari from lbc. party members can have their say, ask them any question they lie, i am told the questions will be unfiltered. issues such as levelling up are likely to come up, the rail links between manchester and leeds. it could be on any subject at all. this is crucial for the candidates because the ballot papers go out to conservative party members next week, it is them not us who choose the next prime minister so if the candidates want to make an impression and say they are in touch with members priorities, this is a big way of doing that. before the ballot papers arrive. and even if you cannot make it to leeds, if you are a conservative party member, you can watch proceedings virtually, i think it will be broadcast as well, so conservative party members in particular will be paying very close attention to the rest of the hustings. attention to the rest of the hustings-— attention to the rest of the hustin.s_ ., . ., ., ~' a,

a safeguarding review of the events leading up to the murder of 13 month old leiland—james corkill in cumbria will be published later today. he was killed last year by laura castle, a woman who had hoped to adopt him. in herfirst interview, leiland—james' mother, laura corkill, said her son was wrongly removed at birth and would still be alive today if he had been left with her. just to one year, you may find some of the details in this report distressing. our special correspondent, ed thomas reports. mummy, please don't be sad, i miss you so much, too. i'm safe. it's so beautiful here. it's so beautiful up here. but i do worry when i see you cry. the words of laura corkill read at the funeral of her son leiland—james. and what do you remember about him? his smile, his cheeky laugh, his big, bright eyes. murdered by the woman who promised to love and care for him. when he came home, it was in a wooden box. this is the first time laura corkill has told her story. how long have you been here for? six years. it starts with her son

being removed by a social worker. that got done the day he died. taken at birth from his hospital cot. i was in bits. i mean, i was in bits. what was leiland—james doing? crying. cumbria county council say they told laura they planned to remove leiland—james. she denies this. years before, laura suffered severe domestic violence, abuse that she says social workers feared would happen again — a so—called risk of future emotional harm. what should have happened to leiland—james? he would come home. absolutely. yeah, absolutely. aisha and rebecca support women who have faced domestic abuse. they offered social workers a plan to bring leiland—james home. we did have e—mails going back and forth between us to see if we could work out a plan

of support to see what we could offer. and was that negotiated, were you listened to? both: no. leiland—james' fate was already determined. cumbria county council had identified him for adoption. i was expecting him to come home. this was the last photo of mother and son together. was this during contact? that was my last contact. covid ended all face—to—face meetings. what do these moments mean to you? precious. she would never hold leiland—james alive again. laura corkill says she repeatedly asked for leiland—james to come back home. inside, she told me she passed several parenting assessments. and one social worker, she says, told her she could get the baby's room ready for when he came back here. cumbria county council say in april

2020, they told laura the plan was for leiland—james to be adopted. and, injuly, the family courts agreed. they told us when a child is at risk of harm, they have a duty to act. in august 2020, social workers placed leiland—james with this woman, laura castle. she would repeatedly beat him. she filmed him in distress. she bragged in messages how she had leathered him and called him the devil's spawn. ijust stood up like that. injanuary, 2021, she murdered leiland—james. he suffered catastrophic head injuries. how can someone hurt an innocent child? what, just because they could not cope with him does not mean you've got to kill them. sorry. before leiland—james died, a social worker refused to tell laura which hospital he was in. cumbria county council said, at the time, the extent of his injuries were not known. by the time i got down

there he had already been dead. and eventually i went into his room. ijust wanted to pick him up. they wouldn't allow me. did you say anything to him? that i loved him. he was my... my shining star. a review by cumbria county council into the decisions surrounding leiland—james' death will be published later. laura corkill was not asked to be part of it. i spent more time with leiland in death than in life. leiland—james is laid to rest close to laura's home. i loved him. millions and millions.

that was aired thomas speaking to laura james. western military sources say a campaign by ukraine is gathering pace to retake the russian—controlled city of kherson. a key bridge into the city has been hit by ukrainian forces. the city was the first in the war to fall to moscow's troops. uk defence officials say kherson is now "virtually cut off from other occupied territories". 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams joins us from kyiv thank you forjoining us. could you explain the strategic significance of this? it explain the strategic significance of this? ., explain the strategic significance of this? . ,., ., , explain the strategic significance ofthis? . ., , ., of this? it marks potentially at the bearinnin of this? it marks potentially at the beginning of— of this? it marks potentially at the beginning of a _ of this? it marks potentially at the beginning of a significant - of this? it marks potentially at the beginning of a significant reversall beginning of a significant reversal of fortunes for ukraine. as you say, kherson was the first study of any consequence to fall at the beginning of the campaign. it is also a place where the russians have talked about conducting a referendum amongst the local population aboutjoining

russia. 0bviously, local population aboutjoining russia. obviously, a referendum that would be conducted in pretty sham conditions. for political and strategic reasons, it is an objective for the ukrainian military, it is a place of work that ukrainians feel they can begin to roll back russian advances. because of the way kherson is located on the north side of the dnipro river, connected to parts of russian —controlled territory, ukrainians feel by damaging them beyond operation, they can isolate the russian troops on that side of the river and ultimately, retake the city. i say ultimately, this could take quite a long time. the ukrainians are certainly showing the ability to cause damage to russian logistics and supply routes and ammunition depots using their newly acquired western equipment. what they haven't yet shown their ability

to do is retake significant areas of ground. that would be the next stage. ii ground. that would be the next stare. , , ., , ground. that would be the next stare. , , ., . ground. that would be the next stare. , , ., , . ., ground. that would be the next stale. , , ., . ., . stage. if this proves as much of a turnin: stage. if this proves as much of a turning point— stage. if this proves as much of a turning point as _ stage. if this proves as much of a turning point as it _ stage. if this proves as much of a turning point as it seems - stage. if this proves as much of a turning point as it seems at - stage. if this proves as much of a turning point as it seems at this i turning point as it seems at this stage, do you think we might see a shift in military tactics or an approach to negotiations as a result? �* , , approach to negotiations as a result? �*, , ., ., ., , approach to negotiations as a result? �*, , ., ., ., result? let's put negotiations on hold for a moment _ result? let's put negotiations on hold for a moment because - result? let's put negotiations on hold for a moment because i - result? let's put negotiations on i hold for a moment because i think it's going to take a lot more than that to force a kind of negotiated settlement but a change of tactics, may be. we are seeing the russians apparently reinforcing and sending troops from the eastern dom bess region across to the kherson area in an attempt to forestall any kind of ukrainian advance so it is having an effect. in the donbas, western officials believe the russian campaign there which has been grinding forward for the last several months has reached a point at which it is not progressing at all. but at times like this, russia

has the ability to remind everyone in ukraine that no one is safe. this morning we had air raid sirens, if i look to the north i can see smoke still rising from a target, not quite sure what it was, that was set early this morning so now and again you get reminders from russia that nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul. nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul, thank you- _ nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul, thank you. that _ nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul, thank you. that was _ nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul, thank you. that was paul - nowhere in ukraine is safe. paul, j thank you. that was paul adams. employers' lack of support for women experiencing menopausal symptoms is pushing highly skilled and experienced people out of work, according to a cross party group of mps. a new report from the women and equalities committee calls on the government to act by making menopause a protected characteristic, and including a duty for employers to provide reasonable adjustments for employees. the committee wants greater rights and protections in the workplace, with calls to tackle what it calls "stigma, shame and dismissive cultures". nhs leaders say the acute shortage of staff to care for people in residential homes or in their own properties is having

a significant effect on hospitals. the nhs confederation says patients are unable to leave hospital and more people are ending up in accident and emergency. the government says billions of pounds of extra investment will bring about major reforms in adult social care. iraqi police have fired teargas and used water cannon on hundreds of protesters who breached a high—security zone in baghdad and broke into iraq's parliament building. supporters of the powerful cleric, muqtada al—sadr, stormed the building as they demonstrated against the nomination of a rival candidate for prime minister. the outgoing prime minister, mustafa al—kadhimi, has called on protesters to leave the green zone. it's the latest challenge for iraq, which is without a new government more than nine months after a general election. vanessa feltz has announced she will be leaving radio 2 next month. she will also be stepping down from her radio london breakfast show after nearly 20 years. in recently released bbc figures, feltz was one ofjust three women in the top ten highest paid on—air

presenters, with her salary of around £a00,000 putting her in eighth place. now it's time for a look at the weather, with carol kirkwood. hello again. for many of us today, it is going to be a fairly cloudy day. we've also got some showers and some showery outbreaks of rain moving from northern england into southern and central scotland. 0ther showers developing across wales, a few into the south—west. a few in northern ireland and a few across the far north of scotland. but we'll also see some breaks in the cloud with some sunshine in parts of the west, east anglia and parts of the south—east, with top temperatures up to 23 degrees. tonight many of the showers will fade, but they'll pep up across north wales and also northern england and southern scotland, and under clear skies we could well see a touch of mist in some rural areas, but it's not going to be cold, temperatures 10 to 1a degrees.

tomorrow, this rain in northern england and southern scotland pushes eastwards. there'll be more sunshine around tomorrow than today, but the wind will pick up later. across the north—west, the cloud will build and later again, we'll see some rain. but if anything, temperatures are a little bit higher. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... excitement in birmingham as the opening ceremony for the commonwealth games takes place this evening. rail passengers are being warned that services are likely to be affected this morning because of the knock—on effect of yesterday's strike action. meanwhile unions have reacted angrily to the sacking of shadow transport minister sam tarry for conducting interviews from the picket line. actor bernard cribbins, famous for his roles in doctor who and the original railway children, has died at the age of 93. # everybody needs good neighbours...

and farewell to neighbours after four decades. teary—eyed fans in australia prepare to watch the show�*s final episode. time for the sport, from the bbc sport centre. 0ver over to 0verto mike over to mike bushell. good morning from our little _ over to mike bushell. good morning from our little perch _ over to mike bushell. good morning from our little perch here _ from our little perch here overlooking the alexander stadium, normally an athletic stadium, and it will become that again from next tuesday, when the athletics will start, but for tonight, it is all about the opening ceremony. they've created this fantastic amphitheatre and there will be 32,000 fans here tonight, there is a peaky blinders feature which we can look forward to, the show will be two—and—a—half hours, it has taken years in the making. earlier on i was speaking to the artistic director, who was telling me a bit about what we can

look forward to in this opening ceremony. brute look forward to in this opening ceremony-— look forward to in this opening ceremony. look forward to in this opening ceremon . ~ . , ., ., ceremony. we are trying to tell a reall bi ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story — ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story and _ ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story and there - ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story and there is - ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story and there is a - ceremony. we are trying to tell a really big story and there is a big j really big story and there is a big story to tell about this place, burden birmingham is an extraordinary place in the midlands, an extraordinary pioneering place, with an incredible history and a really exciting present as well. we have tony iommi from black sabbath, who will be making an appearance, the great saxophonist will be here, some other artists as well, but it's the story, 32,000 people, 2500 volunteers, 2000 in the cast. and as you say, an audience of over1 billion. i have never done anything on this scale. 50. billion. i have never done anything on this scale-— on this scale. so, it all begins, of course, on this scale. so, it all begins, of course. it — on this scale. so, it all begins, of course. it is _ on this scale. so, it all begins, of course, it is not _ on this scale. so, it all begins, of course, it is not the _ on this scale. so, it all begins, of course, it is not the only - on this scale. so, it all begins, of course, it is not the only big - on this scale. so, it all begins, of| course, it is not the only big story coming up this weekend. because on sunday afternoon and evening it will be the final of the euros, and it will be england against germany.

germany beat france 2—1 last night, asjim lumsden now reports. after england's mauling of sweden, attention shifted to milton keynes, who would be next in line for the lionesses? france were aiming for a first final, germany are eight time winners. the first chance came after 20 minutes, alexandra popp, foiled by the french goalkeeper. they were missing the creativity of klara buhl missing the creativity of klara buhl, who had tested positive for covid, but after half an hour, they were ahead, through alexandra popp. but the lead didn't last long, just before half—time, diani shrugged off a defender. wendie renard, with this header. germany began to press, and

“p header. germany began to press, and up popped alexandra popp again for her sixth goal of the tournament, level with beth mead. 2—1 it remain, so it will be germany against england at wembley on sunday, with what is likely to be a record crowd for a women's or men's euros match. i think both teams have pressure because both teams know what you can win in that night, and of course, they have the whole nation behind them, but it can also give energy, but for sure, the whole england nation is expecting them to win it in their own country, and we are going to give our best to avoid that. ., �* , going to give our best to avoid that. . �*, . .~' going to give our best to avoid that. . fl. going to give our best to avoid that. . �*_ ., ., that. england's cricket has had a record-breaking _ that. england's cricket has had a record-breaking win _ that. england's cricket has had a record-breaking win over- that. england's cricket has had a record-breaking win over south | record—breaking win over south africa, this was in bristol in the first of their t20 series of matches. there were 29 sixes hit in the game, with moeen ali reaching a half—century in just the game, with moeen ali reaching a half—century injust 16 the game, with moeen ali reaching a half—century in just 16 balls, the game, with moeen ali reaching a half—century injust 16 balls, the fastest ever by an england player as

they made 2a9 from their 20 overs. and it was too much for south africa. they could only manage 193 in reply. so, england winning by a1 runs. the two sides meet again this evening in cardiff. the runs. the two sides meet again this evening in cardiff.— evening in cardiff. the guys are soaked up _ evening in cardiff. the guys are soaked up pressure _ evening in cardiff. the guys are soaked up pressure when - evening in cardiff. the guys are soaked up pressure when theyl evening in cardiff. the guys are - soaked up pressure when they needed to and they put pressure back on when they felt like they had the chance, so i thought we were smart in the way we did that, we knew that we have a lot of power to try to force it which was nice to watch, so, delighted, we've been itching for that performance, at trent bridge we scored over 200 against india in the last t20, and then today, so, really pleasing. that is 'ust about today, so, really pleasing. that is just about it _ today, so, really pleasing. that is just about it for _ today, so, really pleasing. that is just about it for now, _ today, so, really pleasing. that is just about it for now, but - today, so, really pleasing. that is just about it for now, but coming | just about it for now, but coming back here to the commonwealth games, at the far end, the peaky blinders—style series of arches, and a lock, the city of birmingham is famous for its canals, it is meant to have more waterways than venice. the other unique thing about the

commonwealth games is that you get the home nations competing against each other, including isle of man, jersey and guernsey, and chris hoy has been saying this week how special it was for him winning his first medal at the commonwealth games, and hearing, at the time, scotland the brave belting out as he celebrated his middle. it is now, by the way, flower of scotland. so, all the way, flower of scotland. so, all the home nations will be carrying their own flags in the opening ceremony, ahead of that all of that local rivalry in competition over the next few days. and i like that fact about more canals than venice! let's get more now on the 22nd commonwealth games. the opening ceremony takes place in birmingham tonight. prince charles will represent the queen and 30,000 people will be inside the alexander stadium, with millions more watching around the world. someone who knows the alexander stadium in birmingham very well is the midlands�* very own denise lewis. the track and field athlete won gold in herfirst

commonwealth games in canada in 199a, and her second in kuala lumpur in 1998. she's been sharing what it means to have the games so close to home. my childhood, growing up in wolverhampton, travelling back and forth to birmingham was literally like a ritual. i hustled and bustled through new street station. i was a regular child, but with big ambitions. i remember visiting the alexander stadium for the first time as a school athlete. walking into the stadium in awe. i had never seen stands like it. i loved it. and subsequently over the years, it has just been my second home. my mum came overfrom jamaica in her teens and she had me, and so life was just very simple.

we were just a team. but very early on she instilled in me that love of the caribbean, that jamaican heritage. and i used to watch the commonwealth athletes, athletes from jamaica just really flying the flag for that country. that dual relationship between britain, my home, and my heritage ofjamaica, was always connected and intertwined. ..there to celebrate the 15th commonwealth games. my first commonwealth games, i remember being really nervous, but actually excited because it was an opportunity to put my name and the event on the map. and this is denise lewis of england. going into the second day i was lying in third place, but the javelin throw... what about this? she has absolutely smashed her lifetime best with that one.

..that freaky javelin throw that catapulted me into first position changed my whole championships. come on, denise. iran my heart out for the 800. come on! she is over the line. nearly out on her feet. and i heard people yelping that i had done it, secured my gold medal. standing on the podium all those years ago, look at me, i'm still smiling now, and that is all i did on the podium, which was grin from ear to ear, and that was the arrival of denise lewis on the international scene. there's something really magical about the commonwealth games. for young athletes it's an opportunity to showcase what they do, but there's something really special about the environment itself. to know that energy, that friendly, competitive atmosphere is coming to birmingham isjust the best thing ever. 0ne sport played in schools

and colleges around the globe is netball. although it's not played at the olympics, it has a high profile at the commonwealth games. 12 teams will compete in birmingham, with the england side looking to successfully defend their title. the bbc has been to meet one netball player who has become a role model for young girls across africa. the uganda team, called the she cranes, is preparing for it's second tournament, as parisa qurban reports. whistle blows. athletes around the world have spent months repairing spent months preparing for the 2022 commonwealth games. 0ne team determined to put on a fair show is uganda's netball team. among them isjoan nampungu. joan is a defender. she started playing netball when she was only eight years old, eventually reaching her potential ofjoining the national team. netball has also given her the chance to empower children in uganda. whilst training for the upcoming

games, joan and her team have been teaching girls how to play whilst visiting different villages in uganda. joan grew up in a village in natete, in uganda's capital city, kampala. that's over 10,000 kilometres away from birmingham,

where the team will be shooting for gold when 12 of the world's best teams compete here at the national exhibition centre. this is the ugandan team's second appearance at the commonwealth games. the last time they played was in 2018, in australia, finishing the tournament in sixth place. and as for the team's next challenge... ready for their first game, joan and her team are dedicated to playing, not only for those back home but for people around the world who will be watching. parisa qurban, bbc news. around 10a,000 people have arrived

in the uk under ukraine visa schemes as of monday, according to government figures. the figures show that just over two thirds of them had come under the homes for ukraine sponsorship scheme, and 31,300 people came under the family is scheme, new figures that have come through in the past few minutes. many of us have been feeling the heat lately, and it's not surprising because average temperatures in the uk have increased significantly. the latest annual climate report from the met office shows sea levels are rising and the uk is warming faster than the global average. here's our science correspondent victoria gill. looking out on a coastline that's transforming more quickly than ever. this latest met office climate report paints a stark picture of the direct impact that rising temperatures are having on landscapes like this.

we know that ice sheets in greenland, in antarctica losing ice mass, and that mass goes to the ocean, increasing sea level. what impact is that going to have in our coastal communities, in places like this? of course, i have to say that coastline is always changing, theyjust do. but, climate change and specifically sea level rise will enhance those changes. so, erosion and other processes, we will always have them, even if in a historical context. but the scale, rate and impact will change, and it will change dramatically quite soon. the rate of sea level rise, this report confirms, is accelerating, exposing more of our coastal communities to storm surges and flooding. many of us felt the heat recently, and we've seen the damage that extreme temperatures can do. but when it comes to climate change, nature, researchers say,

can help us to adapt. back in 2018, seven square miles at the top of this moorland, this is winter hill behind me, was ablaze in a wildfire about this time of year. but the restoration work that's going on here is holding water in that moor. so, it's helping to offset the impacts of climate change like flooding, but also restoring that peatland and that whole ecosystem. the flow of water here is slowed by these willow branches, which keep it up in the moorland rather than running off the hill and flooding towns. ok, so this is the leaky dam. so these are leaky dams, the natural flood management, which the aim is to hold the water, to slow it down. just to slow that flow. 0k. you can really, you can see it working and see the water flowing. you can, you get a really great view from top. 0h, 0k. let's go and have a look. conservation scientists have measured how climate change has damaged ecosystems, but they still say that we can prevent the worst effects.

i think being defeatist isn't going to help anyone. so, we've got to try, and we know what we've got to do. we need those commitments from the powers that be to commit to ensuring we still strive to get a carbon zero future, to actually make sure that the right laws, the right things are put in place to support fighting nature decline and climate change. we can protect coastal communities from rising seas, but the waves of climate change impacts are already hitting all of us. holding them back, scientists say, is becoming increasingly urgent. victoria gill, bbc news. climate change is now a bigger threat to elephant conservation than poaching, according to kenya's and tourism ministry. in the last year the country has recorded 179

elephant deaths due to the ongoing drought affecting the horn of africa. merchuma reports from the tsavo national park in kenya, where poor rainy seasons have seen rivers drying up and grasslands have shriveled in the game reserves. a bone here, a jaw there, ribs scattered around, these are the remains of an elephant. in the last few months, such scenes have been found by rangers in kenya's largest park, the tsavo. for the last about 30 minutes we have been following a really, really strong stench. the rangers say that stench will lead us to a carcass. this is the carcass of an elephant and it is still fresh. maybe a few days' old. it is nowjust pieces of bones and some flesh remaining. kenya and the larger horn of africa is going through the worst drought in a0 years. there have been four failed rain seasons. the situation has become unforgiving even to the giants of the animal kingdom.

climate change kills 20 times more elephant than poaching, so it is a red alarm. total across the country, elephants died already, as by the end ofjune,179. so far poached animals across the country, there are less than ten. the elephants who roam kenya's broad savannah bring hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. kenya's wildlife service rangers bring tourists here any time they come down to the tsavo national park because normally there would be hundreds of wild animals here, drinking water, playing with mud, taking a bath, but today there is none. this water pan is gradually drying up and the animals have moved away in search of water. the elephants are not only dying of dehydration but also malnutrition because, even where there are water holes, they have seriously depleted vegetation.

elephants in a day, they eat 300 kilograms of dry mass, drinking 2a0 litres of water. remember, this is the season when elephants give birth. we expect so many miscarriages, and we have seen them before. than we have seen them before. and those calves who manage to be born, their chances of survival will be limited. there are efforts to bring some relief to the elephants and other animals in the park. drought—resistant trees are being planted in some areas. huge water ponds are also being dug with the hopes that when it will rain, the water they will collect there will sustain the animals for a longer period. remains of nearly 6,000 elephant that died during the drought of the early 70s are preserved at this research centre. perhaps a constant reminder that it could happen again. there are 36,000 elephants in kenya. climate change is now threatening their survival. merchuma, bbc news

some figures which have just come in from the national records of scotland, showing that... 1,330 people lost their lives to drug misuse in scotland in 2021, according to figures published by national records of scotland. this is 1% lower than 2020, which makes it the first year since 2013 in which drug misuse deaths have not increased. however, it is still the second highest annual total on record. after almost four decades and 9,000 episodes, australia is preparing to watch the final scenes from the set of its seminal television soap neighbours. set in the fictional suburb of erinsborough, the finale stars fan favourites kylie minogue and jason donovan, who got their big break on the soap.

it'll be shown in the uk on friday night. stefan denis has played paul robinson on the soap since the start, and ian smith is best known for playing harold bishop. they've been talking about why the show has been so popular .( sot tx) so popular. i think it's all summed up in one word, and that's entertainment, because it is, it's a show that takes the audience on a really good journey every single episode. the reason i sayjourney is because it's notjust a flat, monotonaljourney, it's a roller—coaster ride. you know, you'll get a tragic scene, with light—hearted entertainment or even a comedy scene. i think that's the success of the show. it's all the trimmings that go around it, all the good—looking actors and actresses, the wonderful sets, the beautiful locations, all the fantastic film work and all of that, but all of that culminates into what the audience sees, and that is half an hour of pure entertainment. we always tried to show|

that we were in the sun, wallowing in the sun, getting a suntan. - in truth, half the time - we were being put in very light cotton shirts _ and we were freezing to death. and you could say hello| to your doctor who lived nextdoor, you could call him by his first name. _ and he would sometimes come into your swimming pool, - you would sometimes go into his swimming pool. i all these things that didn't seem to happen in the uk. _ ian who plays harold has hardly changed, has he, he looksjust the same as i remember him! this sunday, england will face germany in the final of the euros. among those excited about the final is the eight—year—old girl who went viral on social media after england's semifinal win against sweden. tess from knaresborough captured the spirit of the game when caught on camera at the semifinal singing her heart out

to sweet caroline after the lionesses beat sweden. john watson caught up with her after a whirlwind 2a hours. # good times never felt so good. # so good. # so good! how are you feeling after what has been a crazy morning? very excited. feeling very good. and i'm feeling everything that is brilliant. everything. so, talk us through it. england were doing really well and you werejust in a good mood. what were you feeling when england had won so convincingly? well, i wasn't surprised, because they are really good, but i felt like the way i watched them be veryjoyous at the end, i felt like it was very fun to watch. and to see them all give away their tops! and when did you know that you were being filmed, that you had appeared on the screen? i only knew after sweet caroline finished. i found out because mum kept on getting messages saying tess is on film, tess is on camera, tess is on telly!

and then mum wasjust like... we were watching it and we only saw tess, we didn't see mum. no, i was behind. she wasn't on her own. i was there! she was super excited and jumped down a couple of seats at the end, but you never stopped the whole game. when you see the girls playing, does it make you think, oh, - i could do that one day? does it make you feel that? yeah, definitely. and then you were on the tv again. yes. how was that? i had to quickly get my england kit on, quickly do my hair, quickly clean my teeth, quickly get my shoes on, and then we had to go straight on the interview. so, tell us, how much do you love football? i love it to the moon and back. and what is it that you love about this england team? i love how they don't take it all for themselves, they pass all the time and they have a good mindset and they think about what they're going to do next. they don'tjust take the ball

and kick it somewhere. against germany, i think we'lljust scrape 3—2. what is the ultimate aim? are you hopeful that one day you might be able to follow in the footsteps of the england team? yeah, because what i want to do when i'm older is play for man united women and england women. because i love football. you've seen the semifinal. yeah. you really should get to the final, right? mm—mm. so, what would you say if we could arrange it for you to get to the final? i don't know. i would scream my head off. so, let me put it to you. we'll get you to the final. really? yes! what? there's a scream in there somewhere. tess screams. she said there was, and there is! we'll get you to the final, how about that? yeah. # sweet caroline, duh—duh—duh. # good times never felt

so good, so good, so good! now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. many of us started off on a cloudy note today and many of us are going to hang on to that cloud. but there is some sunshine in the forecast and for the next few days it is going to warm up across the board. the highest temperatures, though, will be in the south, will be in the south and the east and it will be mainly dry. now, high pressure is edging farther east. we're starting to import the milder and warmer conditions from the near continent. but there is still a few showers in the forecast. and we've had some showery outbreaks of rain across northern england this morning moving into southern and central scotland. showers also breaking out in parts of wales, maybe into the south west as well. it's in northern scotland bar a few showers that will see some sunshine, sunshine the west

of northern ireland, parts of wales, parts of the south west of england and also the southeast and east anglia, temperatures up to 23 degrees. and for the opening ceremony of the commonwealth games this evening, well, it's looking like it should stay dry with temperatures about 20 degrees. so, feeling mild. as we head on through the evening and overnight, many of the showers will fade. some of the cloud will break, but we'll see the showers pop up across north wales, northern england and also southern scotland, where the cloud breaks. in rural areas, we will see some patchy mist form with overnight lows between about ten and 1a degrees. then into friday, we've got this area of low pressure starting to move in from the atlantic, bringing in strengthening winds to the north—west and also thicker cloud and some rain. but high pressure is still clinging on to the far south. so, we start off with the showery outbreaks of rain across southern scotland and northern england fizzling as it moves eastwards. there actually will be more sunshine around tomorrow than we're looking at today. but don't forget the cloud building, the wind strengthening and eventually the rain coming in across the north—west,

but warmer, 21 in belfast, in glasgow and up to 27 in london. as we head through saturday, the rain continues to push southwards and eastwards, but look how it fragments. and really by the time it gets into the south—east, it's not going to be much more than a band of cloud. showers follow on behind, variable amounts of cloud as well. and also some sunny skies with temperatures 16 to about 27. then as we head on into sunday and monday, again, temperatures continuing to be above average for the time of year.

this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. excitement in birmingham as the opening ceremony for the commonwealth games takes place this evening. 72 nations and territories are taking part. security officials in kyiv say russian troops are being moved to kherson where ukrainian troops have been mounting a counter offensive. a woman is asking local authorities in the north of england why her child was taken from her at birth and given to a woman who later murdered him. how can someone hurt an innocent child? , , , , how can someone hurt an innocent child? , ,, �* child? just because they couldn't co -e with child? just because they couldn't cope with him — child? just because they couldn't cope with him doesn't _ child? just because they couldn't cope with him doesn't mean - child? just because they couldn't i cope with him doesn't mean you've got to kill them. british actor bernard cribbins, famous for his roles in doctor who and the original railway children, has

died at the age of 93.