tonight at ten... results day for hundreds of thousands of pupils across england, wales and northern ireland — with coveted apprenticeships and university places at stake. she's done it! relief for many — although top grades have fallen since last year, two—thirds of a level students have got their first university choice. only criminology i got an a. that's all, that's all i needed was an a. i smashed it, so i'm well happy. we'll be looking at the results and at how the pandemic has affected this cohort of 18—year—olds. also on the programme: the killing of 87—year—old thomas o'halloran who was stabbed on his mobility scooter in west london — a man is arrested. another rail strike leaves only one in five trains running —

with widespread disruption for passengers. the un secretary general meets ukraine's president for talks — he says he's gravely concerned about safety at a nuclear power plant that's now in russian hands. joe fraser becomes the first british man to take gold in the european gymnastics final. and coming up on the bbc news channel. ben stokes helps limit the damage — as england claw back wickets on the second day of the 1st test against south africa at lords, following a disappointing first innings. good evening. there's been delight but also disappointment on results day for hundreds of thousands of teenagers across england, wales and northern ireland — who've had their studies severely disrupted by the pandemic.

almost 850,000 a—levels were taken this year, when pupils did sit exams again. as you can see here, the proportion of top grades has fallen compared with 2020 and 2021 — which are marked here in red — that was when teacher assessments were used instead of exams because of covid. today's results do though remain higher than before the pandemic. but in england there were clear regional differences in those with the top grades — the areas in darkest blue had the highest proportion of pupils with a stars and as — with almost 10% more awarded in the south—east than in the north—east. there were results out too for more than 200,000 btec students, and also for the first 1,000 or so studying the new t—levels, they are vocational courses which can lead to a degree or an apprenticeship. 0ur education editor branwenjeffreys has more.

she's done it. i've it! she's done it. i've done, yeah. the tense wait over... so relieved. mum's going to be so pround of me. i need to go and, like, tell her. ..and not just for the students. whether a—level. .. i needed three bs and i got three bs. i can't believe it. distinction, yay! 0h, fantastic. ..0r t—level, this is their passport to their adult life. got a, b, b, a — so feel relieved. the class of 2022 had their gcses cancelled by covid. they were told to expect fewer top grades, so abigail wasn't sure she'd get the as at a—level for medicine. it was weird, obviously, because we didn't... we hadn't done any of them. so it was it was a shock to then sit down and do them. it felt like... until you sat there, you didn't actually feel it was real. those getting btecs weren't as worried, kieran has a job lined up already.

it's quite good that. oh, well done. excellent, excellent, kieran. i'm well proud of myself for that. i've been took on full time so i've been working five days a week and i've been working there for two months. so i've got a really good future ahead. i've got a couple of plans for the future as well and what i could potentially do. so, yeah, the future looks promising for me. new this year t—levels, which include work placements. just over 900 students in england passed theirs. as the subjects become more and more, there's more and more different t—levels to do. i think these are the future, they really are. it's a modern qualification for a modern world, finally. oh, oh, oh. they've had a uniquely tough couple of years. for those who are heading into work or apprenticeships, they'll find that employers are really eager for their skills. but students who want to go to university, who've dropped a grade or two this year are going to find much tougher competition in clearing.

at barnsley college, more dropped to grade from a to b at a—level than they expected. we're hopeful that that won't have a significant impact on our students gaining places at the university of their choice. and our staff are working really hard now with the students to advocate for them, with the universities, to ensure that they get what they need. these students in wales are in the same race for university places, grades here allowed to drop towards pre—pandemic levels and in northern ireland too, leaving some anxious. do you know whether it was equivalent one a—level or half an a—level? a few universities are not offering places in clearing, but at sheffield hallam it was brisk business... this course is actually a short list interview course anyway. ..gently advising students bruised by the last couple of years. we're taking a lot of calls today, but we're making sure we talk students through their options. so we know they've had a difficult time and we are finding they're

needing a lot more support and advice as they talk their options through with us. hi, i'm felicity and i came. to hallam through clearing. current students were helping ease the pressure, taking to social media to sell their university to those still looking for somewhere to study. branwenjefferies, bbc news, sheffield. there are many options for students who've received their results today. 0ur education correspondent elaine dunkley has been speaking to three who've been studying at a college in west bromwich and are plotting different paths for their futures. wait, wait, wait... the right result. joys after years of disruption. joy after years of disruption. i got distinction, distinction, distinction. distinction, emmanuella wants to study business and finance at york university. today, she secured her place. i'm really passionate about business so i am just happy that i got into the course. over the summer, emmanuella has been for a look around the city and the campus.

this year, 239,00018—year—olds in the uk have accepted a place at university, the second highest intake on record. when i saw students graduating, ithought, that is going to be me, i hope, soon. because i've got into uni, i've got to go through the years and hopefully graduate. i am looking forward to just experiencing uni, being independent, student life. two as and a b. well done! thank you. abigail is looking for an apprenticeship as an alternative to going to university. she wants to combine marketing with her love of motorsports. around 88,000 students in england have just started placements. at the moment, i've been shortlisted for two apprenticeships but that doesn't mean it's confirmed. it is really competitive for degree level apprenticeships because it isjust one place per company so it is quite competitive. so i'm definitely still looking and just putting my cv out there. for many young people, there are big decisions ahead. praise is one of around 12,000 students deferring their university place.

it's not really heavy. she wants to be a nurse in the raf. all this structure, it - will come onto the back. for praise, learning in a pandemic was tough but it has not taken away her childhood dreams. being at home in front of a computer and just not having that kind of engagement really affected me because i just didn't feel a lot of motivation. i have always had an interest in the military, especially the aircraft, as you can see behind me. it's just amazing. i got two bs and a letter d star. getting my results today has changed everything. i've also proven to myself that i could do this. oh, my god, i'm shaking. these three friends are taking different routes to the next stage in their lives. for praise, emmanuella, abigail and thousands of others, it is the end of sixth form and the beginning of new adventures. elaine dunkley, bbc news, in west bromwich. well let's talk to branwen is at sheffield hallam university now.

the sheffield hallam university now. government has ; emphasis the government has put such a huge emphasis on levelling up and yet in england we saw this big regional divide in the top marks, why is that? ~ ~ ., ., ., ., , that? we know that over the last ten ears the that? we know that over the last ten years the gap — that? we know that over the last ten years the gap between _ that? we know that over the last ten years the gap between the _ that? we know that over the last ten years the gap between the children | years the gap between the children from the wealthiest families, and the most disadvantaged communities had been narrowing, but the pandemic has put that into reverse, with more learning loss in some parts of the country than others. we look at these a—level results and we see the south—east of england, the wealthy is part of the country pulling away. the gap between london and the north—east getting wider than it was in 2019, when exams were last taken. tonight, schools in the north—east have been saying this is a wake—up call, that despite the efforts going into things like extra tutoring, the government has to really focus on trying to narrow that gap without which children's life chances will

be severely affected. find which children's life chances will be severely affected.— be severely affected. and these eo - les be severely affected. and these peeples have — be severely affected. and these peoples have had _ be severely affected. and these peoples have had such - be severely affected. and these peoples have had such a - be severely affected. and these peoples have had such a tough | be severely affected. and these - peoples have had such a tough time given the pandemic, what do these results mean for them overall? the most results mean for them overall? tue most important results mean for them overall? he most important thing, results mean for them overall? ttj: most important thing, as all students and their parents will know tonight, that they get to where they want to go next, whether that is an apprenticeship at all to university. the one thing people should take away from these results, they may see the headline figures have dropped, but these 18—year—olds have had to be exceptionally resilient, going to lock downs and all the disruption of covid. their grades are worthjust as disruption of covid. their grades are worth just as much as those who have received higher marks over the last couple of exceptional years. and really now, they need to focus on their future. and for those who still haven't got places, clearing will reopen tomorrow for those seeking to study at university. maw; seeking to study at university. many thanks, that — seeking to study at university. many thanks, that is _ seeking to study at university. many thanks, that is branwen _ seeking to study at university. many thanks, that is branwenjeffreys, thanks, that is branwenjeffreys, our education editor. there's more updates, news and analysis on bbc news 0nline —

that's bbc.co.uk/news — and by using the bbc news app. police are still questioning a 44—year—old man on suspicion of murdering an elderly man on a mobility scooter in west london. 87—year—old thomas 0'halloran was fatally stabbed in greenford west london on tuesday. our home affairs correspondent tom symonds reports. in the early hours police moved in at this house in southall. residents had been woken by banks and shouting. t had been woken by banks and shoutint. ., had been woken by banks and shoutin.. ., , had been woken by banks and shoutin. ., , shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside _ shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside and _ shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside and i _ shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside and i saw _ shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside and i saw a - shouting. i had some bashing, so i looked outside and i saw a police l looked outside and i saw a police van and loads of police cars. they had like a battering ram to bash the door down. that is probably what i heard. and then moving forward from that i saw loads of guns and loads of riot gear. they came out afterwards and he was in handcuffs and they put him in the car. tb?

afterwards and he was in handcuffs and they put him in the car.- and they put him in the car. by day like this have _ and they put him in the car. by day like this have become _ and they put him in the car. by day like this have become another - and they put him in the car. by day i like this have become another source of potential forensic evidence in what police have described as a fast—moving investigation. this houseis fast—moving investigation. this house is just over a fast—moving investigation. this house isjust over a mile fast—moving investigation. this house is just over a mile away alongside the busy a40 where thomas 0'halloran was stabbed before he came to a halt, dying in his mobility scooter. his family are being supported by special liaison officers. yesterday police released cctv pictures of a man they said had run from the scene with a knife. they want a public help in identifying him. police have confirmed the arrest here last night did follow the release of those very clear cctv pictures yesterday. there is plenty still going on here and a man remains in custody. there is the investigation, but police have also stepped up patrols and they are meeting local people away from the cameras to reassure them following a

crime they have described as appalling. tom symons, bbc news, west london. most train services have been cancelled today after workers with a number of rail unions took strike action in a dispute over their pay and conditions. this is a map of where there were still some services running earlier, but there has been widespread disruption for commuters with only about 20% of services running on the lines that have been operational. the last trains for most long—distance services were this afternoon — with no service at all in any region tonight and more disruption to come over the weekend. 0ur transport correspondent katy austin has the latest. the only train carrying passengers in great yarmouth today was the land train. tourism businesses here have felt the impact of a series of strikes on the railway this summer. this area has been hit by repeated train drivers' walk—outs and the national rmt strikes. 10% of our visitors visit sea life great yarmouth using the train.

covid hit us, we were hoping that we were coming out of that, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it would be smooth sailing for us, however, these extra hurdles are just more frustrations, you know, to what could be a great year for us. the station here is completely closed today, and there are signs up warning passengers there are no trains at all. where services have been running around the country, they started later than normal and they finished earlier than usual. on some long—distance routes, the last train today set off mid—afternoon. from glasgow to london euston, major stations were quiet. in norwich, some commuters and leisure travellers turned up to catch what trains there were. they usually do that train at seven, because i start work at eight, but today i take the train at eight, and it causes inconvenience at the end of the day. we're trying to get four kids to gatwick today. we are leaving an hour and a half earlyjust in case to give us a buffer. 40,000 members of the rmt

union and 5,000 workers in the tssa walked out today. they are demanding pay that reflects the higher cost of living and forjobs and conditions to be protected. rail bosses insist they want to give a pay rise but reforms are needed to afford it. network rail thinks the rmt should put the offer it rejected last month to its members. i think the problem is that we've put a very good deal on the table that gives a guarantee ofjobs to everyone who wants it, that deals with a lot of the long—standing issues and is an 8% pay rise over two years, but that hasn't been put to my staff. the rmt has refused to put that referendum, and that is the problem because if they had the chance to vote on that, we believe they would accept it. the rmt argues the government is blocking train companies and network railfrom making a reasonable offer. there is a deal to be done. i spoke to a senior negotiator for network rail this morning on this picket line who came along to say hello. we have a decent relationship with them. we could build a solution

if we were allowed to. but at the minute, the politics of the conservative party leadership election, i fear, is stopping this dispute from being resolved. but the department for transport called on union leaders to work with industry to agree a deal to bring the railways into the 21st century. another strike is planned for saturday. trains to and from norwich. some hours ago, the station behind me is completely shot and there are no more trains running around britain today. saturday will see the sixth of the day of a national scale walk out into macro months. no more dates have been announced by the general tone we have been hearing today from key players who have been involved in negotiations is one of frustration that still a breakthrough has not happened. tomorrow in separate disputes, strike action will cause to severe

disruption on the london underground, overground and on some bus routes. the un secretary general antonio guterres has said the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern ukraine, which has been seized by russia, must not be a target for military operations, saying he remained gravely concerned about the unfolding situation there. he was speaking after a meeting in lviv with ukraine's president zelensky and president erdogan of turkey, who warned of the danger of what he called "another chernobyl". 0ur kyiv correspondent james waterhouse reports. the hunt for a solution. featuring turkey's president erdogan, antonio guterres, the united nations chief, and ukraine's leader, volodymyr zelensky. 0ne agenda item, russia's continued occupation of the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. there were repeated calls for a demilitarisation zone and for international inspectors to be let in. moscow has continually refused

but ukraine is practising for a worst—case scenario. in an online post, staff there have described feeling powerless in the face of madness. agreement is urgently needed to establish zaporizhzhia as purely civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of the area. the next agenda item seemed more positive. the only diplomatic breakthrough in this war. a grain deal which has and still is allowing ukraine to export it through the black sea. kyiv and moscow were urged to make sure it continues to succeed as it could be a long—term route to peace. today though we were reminded of ukraine's condition for that to happen. translation: i'm very surprised to hear that they are ready - for some kind of peace. the people who kill, rape, hit our civilian cities with cruise missiles every day cannot want peace. first they should leave our territory.

while today hasn't brought much in terms of concrete outcomes, there has been some progress. ukraine and russia still are not talking to each other but they could reach future agreements with the united nations and turkey as brokers in the middle. for now, any hope is eclipsed by the daily reality of this war. 17 people the latest to lose their lives in ukraine's second city kharkiv, in what authorities called one of their most tragic days. james waterhouse, bbc news in kyiv. almost two weeks since archie battersbee had his life—support treatment withdrawn, his mother, hollie dance, is calling for a public inquiry, and says she wants no other family to go through what they went through. the 12—year—old suffered severe brain injuries after being found unconscious at his home in essex in april. 0ur correspondent helena wilkinson has been speaking to her. i'm so honoured to be his mum.

i had 12 of the best years of my life with that little boy. and i can honestly say there is not a single day that i could sit back now and go, i regret that day, or, that weren't a good day. i've had the best 12 years. hollie dance wanted to speak to the media so soon after her son's death because she says she doesn't want other families to go through what they have been through. i feel that we were... we were just stripped of all our rights and were backed into a corner by the system. and just, i've explained it before, it felt like we were on trial. the stress that you go through isjust... change is needed. archie became the centre of a lengthy legal battle over his care. doctors at the royal london hospital

asked a court for his life support to be withdrawn. his parents fought for it to be continued butjudge afterjudge agreed that it was in archie's best interest for treatment to be withdrawn. i think the whole system needs to be changed with regards to how they are dealing with a very, very sensitive, heartbreaking time when it comes to parents. i understand this isjust, it's a case to them but that's our child. archie's family say they have now written to the health secretary. the department of health said today that these cases are never easy and they will respond to archie's mum, adding there will be a review into how these cases are dealt with in the future. but health nhs trust previously said archie's case was a tragic one which touched the hearts of many across the country, and archie's treatment was withdrawn in line with court rulings about his best interests.

do you have any regrets at all looking back? no. i fought to the end. i promised my little boy i'd fight to the end and that's exactly what i've done. now i continue to fight so that other people don't have to go through that. hollie dance speaking to helena wilkinson there. now a look at some other stories making the news today. police say a nurse who disappeared in london more than a month ago has been depressed and may be travelling regularly by train, and appear dazed and confused. 0wami davies, who is 2a, was last seen in croydon on the 7th ofjuly. police are scouring thousands of hours of cctv in an effort to confirm possible sightings of her. an mp has pleaded guilty to breaching covid rules in 2020 by travelling by train despite knowing she had the virus. margaret ferrier

told a court hearing in glasgow that she had culpably and recklessly exposed people to coronavirus by travelling around glasgow as well as taking a train to london instead of self isolating. care home residents and people who are housebound in england will be the first to receive the new moderna covid boosterjab which gives protection against the 0micron variant as well as the original strain. it will be administered from the 5th of september as part of the autumn booster programme. the uk was the first country to approve the vaccine earlier this week and it will be offered to 26 million people across england. and england's cricketers have their work cut out to get back into the first test against south africa, after a fighting performance by marco jansen and keshav maharaj. the tourists closed day two at lord's on 289 for seven — that's a lead of 124 runs. birmingham'sjoe fraser couldn't compete in the all—round

gymnastics at the commonwealth games in his home city last month because of a broken foot. but tonight the 23—year—old became the first british man to win the all—round gold at the european championships in munich, as nesta mcgregor reports. after five pieces of equipment, afterfive pieces of equipment, only the high bars stood betweenjoe fraser and the place in history. each of the 23—year—old's twists tinged with tension. then at the end of the routine, a dismount which meant a huge amount.— of the routine, a dismount which meant a huge amount. is this into the history — meant a huge amount. is this into the history books? _ meant a huge amount. is this into the history books? he's _ meant a huge amount. is this into the history books? he's the - meant a huge amount. is this into - the history books? he's the european champion! than the history books? he's the european chamion! �* ., ., . . ., ., , champion! an individual accolade but one that meant _ champion! an individual accolade but one that meant everything _ champion! an individual accolade but one that meant everything to - champion! an individual accolade but one that meant everything to him - champion! an individual accolade but| one that meant everything to him and the team. we spoke a month ago. he was still wearing a protective boot with a broken foot, when not

training as you should. a month later you are european champion. how do you sum up the last 30 days? tit has been one hell of a journey and i've had good days, bad days but on any kind of day i've had my team, my friends, my girlfriend, my family. i have been really lucky to have such amazing people that have believed in me every step of the way.— me every step of the way. inside the ol m - ic me every step of the way. inside the olympic stadium _ me every step of the way. inside the olympic stadium a _ me every step of the way. inside the olympic stadium a plucky _ me every step of the way. inside the olympic stadium a plucky run - me every step of the way. inside the olympic stadium a plucky run for- olympic stadium a plucky run for jake heyward saw him collect a silver medal. norway was the race winner, a second of the championship after the 5000 metres win a few days ago. germany's constance dominated the women's 5000 metres but a bronze was eilish mccolgan�*s fourth medal of the summer after clocking up 31 race miles in five weeks. jazmin sawyers was another gb bronze medallist but she still had plenty

of bounce left long after the long jump of bounce left long after the long jump final was over. nesta mcgregor, bbc news, munich. the british divers who helped discover a us shipwreck from world war i that had been missing under the atlantic ocean since 1917 have said they've "struck gold". the divers located the missing navy destroyer uss jacob jones last week, a0 miles off the coast of the isles of scilly. jenny kumah has been talking to one of the divers. over 100 metres down and over 100 years after sinking. this is the moment when a team of divers found the final resting place of the uss jacobjones. it was a moment of pure joy after months of research and planning. when i saw that bell and i saw the letters jacob on it, and i knew that all the work and all the time that had been spent getting there and getting us in the water and the big team effort that that had taken and we had cracked the mystery,

that was fantastic. you can't, you know, you can't buy that feeling, frankly. the us destroyer was the first ever to be sunk by enemy fire, when on the 6th of december 1917, she was torpedoed by a german u—boat. she sank in deep water south of the isles of scilly. so this is the piece of specialist equipment i use to dive to jacob jones. the team made the discovery despite challenging conditions. all the way during the dive, the current was running, which made it quite difficult for us. the first thing that i saw was a boiler. there's different types of boilers on ships, and this one was quite distinctive, and i knew it was the same type from the jacob jones. some were saved after the german u—boat commander signalled american forces. it's been reported that he did this because he knew the crew didn't have a chance to call for help. 64 american sailors lost their lives. their names are commemorated here at the brookwood american cemetery in surrey.

it's nice that we know where this one is. maritime historians described this as a significant discovery. the poignant image of the ship's bell sat amongst the wreckage of a ship which is laying under the seas for 105 years, that brings a lump to my throat. and i rememberthose brave men doing what they were trying to do to assist the flow of supplies to the united kingdom. because of the depth of the wreck, the team were only able to spend 20 minutes exploring the site, the divers plan to return, and if the us government grants them permission, they'd love to raise the bell as a tribute to those who lost their lives. jenny kumah, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. with a part of gold apparently. possibly even two because if we look

carefully there is a double rainbow here. it has been a very colourful evening across parts of west yorkshire. we had this double rainbow earlier on and move things on a couple of hours, it was is if the sky was on fire. all these beautiful colours in part due to a ban of cloud moving from the north—west bring with it patchy rain. that is heading its way south eastern areas. in the sunshine temperatures up to 28 degrees. it will be won tonight. further north, clearer skies and a bit chilly. may be able to see the northern lights in northern scotland. some early rain towards the south—east. sunshine comes out later. the breeze picks up in scotland and northern ireland. xiao blown in here, the odd one possible across england and wales. temperatures similar to what we saw today, could make 20 in eastern scotland, northern ireland and widely the low to mid 20s in

england and wales. low pressure to the north of the uk. we start the weekend in scotland and northern ireland with cloud and rain. it does move away though, followed by some sunshine, some showers towards the north—west but that ban of rain get stuck across northern england. elsewhere sunny spells, one or two like showers and temperatures are not changing an awful lot, in the sunshine once again it will feel pleasantly warm. things slow down as we head into the second half of the weekend. the winds will be lighter. more cloud coming in from the west, we start dry and bright with sunshine and eventually rain coming into western areas, mainly wales and the south—west of england. it turns cooler on sunday, 18 in the central belt of scotland, 2a or 25 in london and the home counties. thanks, darren. and that's bbc news at ten. there's more analysis of the day's main stories on newsnight with,

which isjust getting underway on bbc two.