this is bbc news. the headlines at eight. fears the nhs will be overloaded as people's health will suffer from rising energy gusts with households forced to choose between eating meals and heating their homes. el shafee el sheikh, one of four islamic state militants known as the beatles, gets life in prison in america, over the deaths of four us citizens. lead that sentencing make clear to all who dare to kidnap, torture or kill any american citizen abroad that usjustice will find kill any american citizen abroad that us justice will find you wherever you are. in a phone conservation with president macron vladimir putin agrees on need to send inspectors to the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in ukraine while russia threatens to cut off power supplies to the plant.

we'll be speaking to a nuclear expert. ongoing rail strikes affect train services in england, scotland and wales with more disruption expected in the coming days. the prime minister of finland sanna marin has agreed to a drug test after a celebrity party video leaked on social media. welcome to abc news. the uk is facing a public health emergency, because people are having to choose between heating and eating this winter, due to soaring energy prices. that's according to the nhs confederation, which represents employers in the health service.

ministers say millions of the most vulnerable households are being given £1,200 to help with higher energy bills. but it comes at a time when nhs services are already under intense strain. for category two reponse times for emergency calls in england which includes strokes and heart attacks there's been a sharp increaase this year to nearly one hour on average last month. the target, as you can see here, is 18 minutes. the nhs confederation says things could get worse this winter partly because of soaring fuel bills. it cites an estimate by a fuel poverty charity that cold homes are already linked to 10,000 deaths a year. for now covid infections are falling according to the office for national statistics. 1.7 million had the virus in the first week of august. that was down 34% on two weeks previously. but it hasnt gone away nor have the pressures on the nhs. 0ur health editor,

hugh pym, reports. jan had classic heart attack symptoms, including chest pain, and rang 999. she was told it was very busy and it wasn't clear when an ambulance would get to her. there was an anxious wait. i was mortified. i thought i was going to die in my flat, on my own. then two police officers arrived saying they had been sent by the hospital. within ten, 15 minutes, i couldn't even walk, so they had to support me out of their patrol car and take me to hospital. elsewhere, a makeshift shelter was created for an 87—year—old man who'd fallen and fractured his pelvis. his son and daughter were told not to move him, but had to wait 15 hours for an ambulance to arrive. services are under intense pressure, with record urgent call—outs and delays waiting outside hospitals. it's absolutely soul—destroying at the moment. you don'tjoin the ambulance service

to sit in an ambulance outside an emergency department for all of your shift. you join the ambulance service to make a difference to patients that really need your help in the community. that's the reality now, but there are warnings things could get worse this winter. covid could pick up again. flu is predicted to have a bigger impact than in recent years. and now, there are concerns that those struggling with fuel bills will have to economise on heating and put their health at risk. when people can't stay warm, long—term conditions like heart disease, diabetes are likely to get worse. and we know that in a bad winter, they're likely to get hypothermia as well. so we see these consequences of the price of fuel from the patients that we are trying to look after, and we're expecting it to be a very significant problem this winter. the government's promised help for households with fuel costs. more is possible when a new prime minister is in place. plans in all the uk nations are being drawn up for the nhs

this winter, but every week seems to heighten suspicions that the next six months will be extremely tough. hugh pym, bbc news. well we can speak now to gp natalie rout, who runs a practice in central london and is health columnist. thank you very much for being with us on bbc news this evening. let's start with the general question about what impact some of these factors are already having on the patients you see. have you seen any evidence at the energy prices people are paying are having an effect get on their health? the are paying are having an effect get on their health?— on their health? the cost crisis is certainly affecting _ on their health? the cost crisis is certainly affecting many - on their health? the cost crisis is - certainly affecting many households. i have patients that are struggling to feed their families nutritious food because they cannot afford to pay for it. and now if the cost of fuel is going to go up even more the going to be having to make the choice between feeding good food,

eating food at all, cooking food and heating the house. you eating food at all, cooking food and heating the house.— heating the house. you are a gb in london where _ heating the house. you are a gb in london where presumably - heating the house. you are a gb in london where presumably access | heating the house. you are a gb in | london where presumably access to some services are better than in other parts of the country simply because you got the concentration of hospitals and resources. what about ambulance wait times for your patience, are they deteriorating? absolutely. ambulance waiting time are deteriorating across london as well. partially because of increased demand for that it's notjust ambulance services under pressure, i think it's a knock on effect of gp surgeries being overwhelmed, hospitals being overwhelmed and they are not enough bed spaces in the hospital as well as social care for people to be discharge safely. you have a knock on effect that doesn't seem to end because the problem is across the nhs. just seem to end because the problem is across the nhs.— across the nhs. just on that question- — across the nhs. just on that question- is _ across the nhs. just on that question. is covid _ across the nhs. just on that question. is covid still- across the nhs. just on thatl question. is covid still having across the nhs. just on that - question. is covid still having an impact on the? i

question. is covid still having an impact on the?— question. is covid still having an impact on the? i think we are very concerned — impact on the? i think we are very concerned going _ impact on the? i think we are very concerned going into _ impact on the? i think we are very concerned going into the - impact on the? i think we are very concerned going into the winter, l concerned going into the winter, even though case numbers are reducing at the moment there is of course a concern that we may have a surge in infections of the winter. we note respiratory viruses usually show themselves in the winter. for that we are worried about flu as well. we have so much going on at least in primary care with delivery of an extended flu vaccination programme, covid vaccination programme, covid vaccination programme and in london a polio booster programme on top of routine work when there is already pressure on us to provide services in the community. we have waiting list in hospitals, primary care so we have increasing workload, reduced in staff and now the concern of a few prices affecting peoples health. is that a danger with what the nhs confederation is saying, it's a plea for extra money but it's sort of

saying if you don't give us the extra money people will suffer, maybe people will die? it’s extra money people will suffer, maybe people will die?- extra money people will suffer, maybe people will die? it's a real concern. maybe people will die? it's a real concern- if _ maybe people will die? it's a real concern. if you _ maybe people will die? it's a real concern. if you think _ maybe people will die? it's a real concern. if you think about - maybe people will die? it's a real concern. if you think about it, - maybe people will die? it's a real concern. if you think about it, if l concern. if you think about it, if we don't pay attention to the nhs the problem that are as a result of a hike in fuel prices are going to put more pressure on the already pressured nhs. across the board we need extra funding. certainly when it comes to the fuel hike we need to think about supporting those that need support the most. actually, those low income families need extra support, single parents, pensioners, otherwise what we will see his widening health inequalities. natalie, thank you for being with us on bbc news. a court in the us has given eight life sentences to a man who grew up in london beforejoining the islamic state group where he became a member of the terror cell known as the beatles.

el shafee elsheikh, who is 3a, was convicted for his role in the killing of western hostages. 0ur correspondent nomia iqbal was at the sentencing hearing in virginia. el shafee elsheikh had always described himself as a simple iis fighter who went to syria to help. but that wasn't true. a trial lasting two weeks here a part of a cell of the nicest beetles due to their english accents. the group reign of terror left the world reeling in nara. he was convicted of his part in a hostage murder plot in which four americans were killed. james foley, and others as well as the deaths of british aid workers will stop inside court the judge described what el shafee elsheikh did as horrific, barbaric, cruel and criminal. he declined to comment, he had the opportunity to do so. he is

going to appeal through one of his lawyers he said that he was disqualified a legal team claiming he didn't receive a fair trial. 0utside court some of the victims families gathered. it is outside court some of the victims families gathered.— families gathered. it is a hollow victo . families gathered. it is a hollow victory- our— families gathered. it is a hollow victory. our country _ families gathered. it is a hollow victory. our country has - families gathered. it is a hollow victory. our country has lost - families gathered. it is a hollowl victory. our country has lost four of its very best citizens. we families lost our loved ones forever. and now el shafee elsheikh and cody who have lost their freedom, country and families, it is a tragic cycle of violence and heartbreak for all. eli a tragic cycle of violence and heartbreak for all.— heartbreak for all. el shafee elsheikh co-conspirator - heartbreak for all. el shafee elsheikh co-conspirator has | heartbreak for all. el shafee - elsheikh co-conspirator has already elsheikh co—conspirator has already pleaded guilty and will serve the rest of his life in jail. as part of his plea dale he has met some of the families. another member of this group known in the press as g hattie john is dead. el shafee elsheikh and

alexander cody were eventually captured in syria when i is diminished in 2018. they are now spending their lives somewhere they probably thought they would never end up, in a usjail. earlieri spoke to our security council who described the significance of el shafee elsheikh.— shafee elsheikh. in the bigger scheme of _ shafee elsheikh. in the bigger scheme of things _ shafee elsheikh. in the bigger scheme of things for - shafee elsheikh. in the bigger scheme of things for isys - shafee elsheikh. in the bigger scheme of things for isys is i scheme of things for isys is military battles completely insignificant. none of these british jihadists had any military experience whatsoever. they arrived in syria in the middle of somebody else's civil war with a completely warped version or vision of islam, some of it acquired and imprisoned, having spent in early lifetime of petty crime and drug peddling. but they were useful to isys and propaganda terms. so isys leadership decided that they would give them free reign to look after these western captives and it raised a lot of money for them. so where is the

british and us captives were pretty much doomed from the day they were in court. because britain and us do not pay terrace ransom. the europeans were released one by one, reportedly for huge ransom. although no government has ever admitted to this but they of course survived, went back home, told their stories and give evidence to investigators, including british detectives. these guys were just meeting out completely agree with terms was sociopathic violence. they were looking to extract information for that what information can you get from someone who has turned up in syria as an aid worker or journalist? these were military captives, they were innocent men who were simply trying to do theirjob. and these so—called isys beatles just took out their statistic tendency on them forcing them to fight each other, electrocuting them, beating them, serving them, waterboarding them. doing horrific things to them. and the important

things to them. and the important thing is the relatives, the families of the victims at least two of them is said to me, we don't want them to be given the death penalty. this was before the trial, we want to see them have their day in court, have a fair trial, them have their day in court, have a fairtrial, not them have their day in court, have a fair trial, not to be shipped off to some military want dynamo tribunal but a fair trial with defence lawyers so they get their day in court and if they are convicted —— guantanamo. they spent a long time in prison thinking what they've done. president's putin and macron have agreed on the need to send inspectors to zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as fears grow around the safety of the plant. it comes as the un secretary general antonio guiterress said he hopes discreet diplomacy can secure the safety of the plant amid concerns it could be damanged by shellfire. mr guterres who's visiting the ukrainian port of 0desa told the bbc, the aim was to stop military activity around the facililty, and gain access for inspectors from the international

atomic energy agency. 0ur correspondent hugo bachega is in 0desa in southern ukraine the visit by mr guterres has been overshadowed by the tensions of the zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex. for days russia and ukraine of traded accusation of who is to blame for shelling the complex without the ukrainians accused the russians of turning this nuclear facility into a military base, using it to launch attacks against ukrainian talents, perhaps knowing the ukrainians are unlikely to retaliate. the russians reject those accusations. they say russian troops are there protecting this complex is up i asked mr guterres about the situation at the zaporizhzhia complex and about the rejection by russia of his idea of the militarising the zone around the facility. the militarising the zone around the facili . . ., . , the militarising the zone around the facili . ., ~ ., , ., , the militarising the zone around the facili . w ., , ., facility. take a listen. i hope that it will be possible _ facility. take a listen. i hope that it will be possible to _ facility. take a listen. i hope that it will be possible to start - it will be possible to start engaging in a way that we will come, at least for the moment to an end of

all military operations. and then afterwards to a situation in which this returns to its civilian nature. i also asked antonio guterres whether any negotiations were happening behind the scenes to allow those international inspectors to visit the zaporizhzhia complex, he didn't confirm or deny. he mentioned discrete diplomacy and he did mention in the grain deal that was negotiated between the russians and ukrainians, also other nations of turkey and discrete diplomacy. he sounded a bit hopeful that perhaps a deal can be reached to allow those inspectors into the plant. but so far there is no sign that the russians are willing to allow those monitors to visit in southern ukraine. for more on the risks posed by the nuclear plant,

from the harvard kennedy school in the united states for thank you for being with us on bbc news for being with us on bbc news. let me ask you first of all, there is a lot of room oran first of all, there is a lot of room or an allegation and counter allegation. what do we know about the situation in zaporizhzhia at the moment? ~ ., ~ ., ., , moment? well, what we know it was occuied moment? well, what we know it was occupied by — moment? well, what we know it was occupied by the _ moment? well, what we know it was occupied by the russians _ moment? well, what we know it was occupied by the russians on - moment? well, what we know it was occupied by the russians on march . occupied by the russians on march four. is it under military control since then. we have had all sorts of very worrying but unconfirmed reports that some of the buildings have been mined. some videos have been leaked to show there is military equipment indeed. and some of the machine calls at the nuclear power plant and there's recent cycle of escalation of the shelling, of the imaging of high—voltage lines

that connect the plant to be ukrainian grade, and alleged report of perhaps russian plants are disconnected from the ukrainian grid and connected to the russian controlled grid. these are bits and pieces of information. unfortunately, one of the problems is we don't have independent cooperated information. so it's kind of a patchwork and a game of probabilities of who exactly could be doing what at the plant. in terms ofthe be doing what at the plant. in terms of the suggestion _ be doing what at the plant. in terms of the suggestion by _ be doing what at the plant. in terms of the suggestion by the _ be doing what at the plant. in terms of the suggestion by the russians i of the suggestion by the russians that they would turn off the power supply to the plan, disconnected from the grid, with that in it self pose a risk to the stability of the plant? pose a risk to the stability of the lant? , ., ., plant? yes, it would. there are emergency _ plant? yes, it would. there are emergency systems _ plant? yes, it would. there are emergency systems at - plant? yes, it would. there are emergency systems at the - plant? yes, it would. there are| emergency systems at the plant should be plant lose off—site power so connection to the outside grid. there are diesel generators, we know

from the ukrainian authorities that there are about 20 of them at zaporizhzhia and those would kick in. these are emergency systems, they are not designed to keep the plant going for any extended period of time. in the operation of those systems really depend on the supply of diesel fuel. and we do not know whether russian troops in some of their storage fuel have perhaps brought more for the operation, that's a blank box for us. needless to say, the purposefully disconnecting the plant from the grid is really putting it at risk because many of the very crucial safety systems rely on actual electricity to operate. do safety systems rely on actual electricity to operate.- safety systems rely on actual electricity to operate. do you think that president _ electricity to operate. do you think that president putin _ electricity to operate. do you think that president putin haven't - electricity to operate. do you think that president putin haven't made| that president putin haven't made that president putin haven't made that commitment to president macron on their phone call on friday to allow inspectors will actually do it? is there any disadvantage to the russians and allowing the

international atomic agency inspectors to go in? international atomic agency insectors to no in? ., ,, ., , inspectors to go in? perhaps he does want to be at — inspectors to go in? perhaps he does want to be at least _ inspectors to go in? perhaps he does want to be at least to _ inspectors to go in? perhaps he does want to be at least to some - inspectors to go in? perhaps he does want to be at least to some extent i want to be at least to some extent in the good graces of at least some part of international community. the hope is perhaps, russia is a large supplier of nuclear reactors to parts of the world. in a big part of many of the countries in the developing world. perhaps the fear of getting a bad reputation as a supplier, of respecting nuclear safety might put some pressure on president putin to actually concede and allow you this mission to zaporizhzhia, which would be extremely important on many different levels. not least to show their support for the ukrainian staff that they are not forgotten,

that the world cares and remembers about them and if they are really doing an extraordinaryjob in very, very difficult circumstances. thank ou ve very difficult circumstances. thank you very much _ very difficult circumstances. thank you very much for _ very difficult circumstances. thank you very much for being _ very difficult circumstances. thank you very much for being with - very difficult circumstances. thank you very much for being with us. l 0lympian dina asher smith is calling for more research into the effects of periods on sport performance. the defending champion limped out of tuesday's 100m final at the european championships with cramps. more people need to actually research this because it's, they don't always talk about it but sometimes, you see girls who have been so consistent and around and the behind—the—scenes, there really struggling. and it's like, what's that? that's random. just doing more because yeah, i feel like they have a million

—— mens different ways to combat things but with women, there just needs to be more funding in that area. for more i'm joined by georgie bruinvels, whose research looks at how periods can impact sports performance. she's worked with a wide range of athletes, including england women's football team. adapted to help with that. thank you for being with us. how big a problem is this in terms of the way sport is currently set up?— currently set up? thank you for havin: currently set up? thank you for having me- _ currently set up? thank you for having me. it's— currently set up? thank you for having me. it's really _ currently set up? thank you for. having me. it's really challenging for both female athletes and practitioners who work with female athletes. we know that around 67% of all female athletes feel this is something that holds them back. a key and fundamental issue is there simply isn't enough education out there. we definitely need more

research and as you highlighted, really well, we need to drive that area. there is some research being done but importantly needs to be translated to practitioners into athletes. effectively, athletes need to be armed with know—how so they can keep training, keep performing on any day of their menstrual cycle. they are trainers needed to, presumably otherwise they will be pushing them that actually there body can do at that particular moment. �* body can do at that particular moment-— body can do at that particular moment. �* ., , , . , moment. but won't do is effectively on a different _ moment. but won't do is effectively on a different time. _ moment. but won't do is effectively on a different time. 100%. - on a different time. 100%. ultimately _ on a different time. 10096. ultimately an _ on a different time. 10096. ultimately an athlete - on a different time. 10096. ultimately an athlete like l on a different time. 10096. - ultimately an athlete like dena or any athlete needs to be able to perform on any day of the cycle. and how they get there and how they recover from that is heartily modifiable. they are having their coaching team, nutrition is support staff armed with that knowledge. massive help for them. i really fundamentally believe that an athlete needs to be empowered with a

better understanding and appreciation about themselves. i think this is a key part of it. we talked about everything but for some reason we can't talk about a menstrual cycle when it is normal and natural. menstrual cycle when it is normal and natural-— and natural. absolutely. i don't know if you've _ and natural. absolutely. i don't know if you've heard _ and natural. absolutely. i don't know if you've heard of - and natural. absolutely. i don't know if you've heard of it - and natural. absolutely. i don't know if you've heard of it but . and natural. absolutely. i don't| know if you've heard of it but i'll commend to anyone watching the podcast 28 days brilliantly broken down, a lot of detail day to day... also for women to realise their extent variance might be similar to lots of other women on particular days. a lot of that is even women given that information never mind men. presumably a lot of sport sciences tended to be produced by men. ., ., y sciences tended to be produced by men. .,._ men. totally. historically, there was this believe _ men. totally. historically, there was this believe that _ men. totally. historically, there was this believe that we - men. totally. historically, there i was this believe that we shouldn't do research and women notjust athletes but women for fear of damaging reproductive organs back in the 1920s were a pregnancy tests were very reliable if it all

existed. there was a woman might be pregnant so we can possibly do research on her. effectively from that moment right up until the 90s with the us effectively launched in act to say we must do research in women, there was this big lack of research. some research was being done, there simply wasn't enough. now the tables really are turning but we have so much to catch up on. also because of hormonal changes, females are more variable. just testing on one day of a menstrual cycle doesn't necessarily reflect how a female is consistently. then you throw in menopause or puberty and there's so many challenges that we are faced with. that being said, there is 3.9 billion women out there so we definitely need to push this research agenda. b5 so we definitely need to push this research agenda.— so we definitely need to push this research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith — research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has _ research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has helped _ research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has helped to _ research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has helped to put - research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has helped to put it - research agenda. as you say, do you asher smith has helped to put it on | asher smith has helped to put it on the agenda and hopefully more can be done. we will talk about more on this in the future. the app is

called fitter woman. thank you so much. finland's prime minster, sanna marin, says she has nothing to fear after taking a drugs test, following the emergence of a video of her, at a party. the 36—year—old took the test, after some in finland, interpreted comments by partygoers in the footage, as referring to drugs. here's caroline hawley. these are the pictures that have put the finnish prime minister in the spotlight for, her critics say, all the wrong reasons. sanna marin in the strappy black top enjoying herself at a party but the leaking of the footage prompted her to take a drugs test and today she announced she had. though she said she considered the call is unfair and was doing it for her own legal protection.

she said she had always been in a fit state to lead the country. we didn't have any government meetings during that week and i had time off and spent it with my friends and did nothing illegal. when she was elected in 2019 she was the youngest world leader, applauded by her supporters by combining the top job with an active social life. but it has been a tough and demanding time for european leaders with covid and the current crisis in ukraine and this is not the first time herjudgment has been questioned. last december she went clubbing just hours after her foreign minister had tested positive for covid and missed a text saying she needed to isolate because she left her work phone at home. she had to apologise then for her behaviour. the 36—year—old prime minister says the latest partying was boisterous but she would have left had she needed to work. the result of her drug test is due back next week.

caroline hawley, bbc news. i'm joined now by alec neihum is a politicaljournalist for mtv in finland. thank you for talking to us this evening. this story 2a hours ago seemed like it might die away quickly. the fact that the prime minister has had to go down the route of taking a drugs test would suggest there is no sign of advantage and quickly, this is something that has generated concern in finland. it is something that has generated concern in finland. , ., ., , in finland. it is indeed, originally it was her question _ in finland. it is indeed, originally it was her question about - in finland. it is indeed, originally it was her question about drugs l it was her question about drugs acceptable for a prime minister to do in her leisure time, to dance and sing while with celebrities. the opposition leaderfrom sing while with celebrities. the opposition leader from the finish party demanded however a drug test of the prime minister. she said the demands were unjust but today she said that she had taken a drug test and we will learn the results next week. 50 and we will learn the results next week. ,

and we will learn the results next week, , .., and we will learn the results next week. , _, ., ., ~ week. so she committed to make the results public? _ week. so she committed to make the results public? yazz. _ week. so she committed to make the results public? yazz. she _ week. so she committed to make the results public? yazz. she also - week. so she committed to make the results public? yazz. she also said i results public? yazz. she also said the results — results public? yazz. she also said the results will _ results public? yazz. she also said the results will be _ results public? yazz. she also said the results will be given _ results public? yazz. she also said the results will be given to - results public? yazz. she also said the results will be given to medial the results will be given to media sanna marin has many times that she has not use drugs, she is not aware of any drugs used at this party. and she herself is not used any drugs, evenin she herself is not used any drugs, even in her teenage years as she today said. even in her teenage years as she today said-— even in her teenage years as she toda said. , , ., , ., today said. just on the question... what is been _ today said. just on the question... what is been a _ today said. just on the question... what is been a reaction _ today said. just on the question... what is been a reaction within - what is been a reaction within her own party? the what is been a reaction within her own party?— what is been a reaction within her owna ? ,_ ., own party? the public reaction has been very clear — own party? the public reaction has been very clear that _ own party? the public reaction has been very clear that there - own party? the public reaction has been very clear that there is - been very clear that there is complete support for mac and want to do whatever she wants during her leisure time. it is a good question whether behind the scenes there is some the fact that the political things are not being talked about enough and the focus is on the prime minister celebrating and such things. but publicly, her own party has been very solid, she has the su ort. �* , ., has been very solid, she has the su--ort. �* , ., support. and in terms of her as a olitical support. and in terms of her as a political leader, how _ support. and in terms of her as a political leader, how has -

support. and in terms of her as a | political leader, how has she been and how is she regarded in finland? she is still very popular. she's very young for a prime minister, only 36 years old in the herself has said she wants to refresh the institution and make it more modern. she has been very popular, she has partied a lot with celebrities, that has not been a secret but she has always been a good communicator especially down during covid times without a win finland has joined nato she gets a lot of press about that. it may remains to be seen whether she's gone over limits in this scandal. is whether she's gone over limits in this scandal-— whether she's gone over limits in this scandal. is there a sense that for a lot of— this scandal. is there a sense that for a lot of voters, _ this scandal. is there a sense that for a lot of voters, it _ this scandal. is there a sense that for a lot of voters, it puts - this scandal. is there a sense that for a lot of voters, it puts her- for a lot of voters, it puts her in a world that they don't know, a world in which they don't ever feel part or it never would feel part of, jessie's big celebrity friends and parties and is amongst a certain

group of people, is that change or is there a danger for her of that changing the perception for her among voters?— changing the perception for her among voters? that is a very good cuestion. among voters? that is a very good question- the _ among voters? that is a very good question. the social— among voters? that is a very good question. the social democrats . question. the social democrats traditionally have a lot of voters which are not the youngest people. they might be older people who are voting for social democrats. at the same time, she said many times she has done nothing illegal, she has been enjoying her leisure time and there are very divided views on whether it is acceptable a finish prime minister to dance and sing widely with the celebrities or is she damaging the institution and is that suitable behaviour for a she damaging the institution and is that suitable behaviourfor a prime minister of fenland or a prime minister of fenland or a prime minister of fenland or a prime minister of any country? there has been similar scandals in other places. been similar scandals in other laces. , ., , ., ~ been similar scandals in other laces, , ., , ., ~' , ., places. there sure has. thank you very much — places. there sure has. thank you very much for— places. there sure has. thank you very much for talking _ places. there sure has. thank you very much for talking to _ places. there sure has. thank you very much for talking to us - places. there sure has. thank you very much for talking to us from i finland this evening. and we will find out if it makes the front page of the papers at 1030 and 11 30s

this evening in the papers with the weather does will be plenty of others to talk about. i'll be joined uk correspond effort spent two friends 2041 wonder uk correspond effort spent two friends 204i wonder what france would make of their invasion into privacy. and on the uk adviser of reporters without borders political editor of policy times. state with us or come state with us or back to us for that. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello. the weather looking a little bit mixed for the rest of today. as another opportunity to glance the northern lights across scotland this evening as these guys start to clear away and the showers fade. they will say for northern ireland in northern england for a time but we've got more rain. 0ur england for a time but we've got more rain. our next by the front rushing into the second half of the night. driven by strong winds, the gales of the hebrides was up for the south we've lost the humidity so at last a more comfortably night for sleeping and plenty of sunshine but the cloud will bubble up, it will bring a scattering of showers. at the same time that strong wind will

blow the rain away for scotland and through northern island it may linger across northern england and wales and could be quite however with the odd rumble of thunder. more breeze generally temperatures will be a degree or so down on today but feeling pleasant outside the showers. sunday looks a little bit more cloudy, particularly across a self weather fronts close by, still that week whether from from saturday and perhaps more general rain coming backin and perhaps more general rain coming back in as we go towards the this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines: fears the nhs will be overloaded as people's health will sufferfrom rising energy costs, with households forced to choose between eating meals and heating their homes. el shafee elsheikh, islamic state militants known as the beatles, gets life in prison in america,

over the deaths of four us citizens. in a phone conservation with president macron, vladimir putin agrees on need to send inspectors to the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in ukraine, while russia threatens to cut off power supplies to the plant. scientists have found a way to make soybean plants produce 20% more soy yields. it's done by modifying the gene that controls photosynthesis, and the hope is that this method can be applied to other crops like maize, wheat and rice, to help solve food shortages. to tell us more, i'm joined by professor stephen long from the university of illinois, co—author of the report. thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. first of all that, as simply as you can it for me, and iam sure as simply as you can it for me, and i am sure even at some of the people watching at home, explain to us what the process of photosynthesis does. yes, photosynthesis is the process by which plants and algae convert

sunlight energy and carbon dioxide, plus water, internet carbohydrates, which then leads to proteins, lipids, etc. basically it is the source of all of our food directly or indirectly and of course the oxygen in the atmosphere. so or indirectly and of course the oxygen in the atmosphere. 50 it or indirectly and of course the oxygen in the atmosphere. so it has a tremendously _ oxygen in the atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable _ oxygen in the atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect - oxygen in the atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as i oxygen in the atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as a | a tremendously valuable effect as a catalyst in nature. what has your study done?— catalyst in nature. what has your stud done? ., ., , study done? well, we have actually modified the _ study done? well, we have actually modified the photosynthetic - study done? well, we have actually| modified the photosynthetic process in the plant, so from a mathematical modelling, we deduced that the ways we could actually improve the biochemistry of the process, so having identified that and with funding from the gates foundation and uk aid, we were able to test out models and practice and that

involved increasing the expression of three genes involved in photosynthesis, and what that has done has accelerated the ability of the plant to adjust the fluctuations in light, which of course in the field of a crop are occurring all the time, and so we did this at first in tobacco some time ago because tobacco is very easy to genetically change, but many of the critics said this is not a food plant. could you really do it in a food plant? now we have managed to do this in a slightly, we have an average increase of about 24%, which if you compare that to conventional breathing might deliver you 1% per year... breathing might deliver you 196 per ear... �* , , . breathing might deliver you 196 per ear... ~ , ., breathing might deliver you 196 per ear... ~ , , ., ., ., year... and this is all done without additional fertilisers? _ year... and this is all done without additional fertilisers? in _ year... and this is all done without additional fertilisers? in the - year... and this is all done without additional fertilisers? in the case l additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean. _ additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean. it — additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is _ additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is all— additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is all done - additional fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is all done it - of soybean, it is all done it without additional fertiliser. soybean has an association with a

bacteria in the roots which fixes nitrogen and provides the plant with nitrogen, and exchange of course the carbohydrate to feed the bacteria and what we think happened was some of the additional carbohydrate from photosynthesis was fed by the plants of the bacteria to maintain its nitrogen content, so the protein, although we had 24% more seed per acre of land, we also had 24% more protein. acre of land, we also had 2496 more rotein. ~ . . acre of land, we also had 2496 more rotein. ~ ., ., , ., , protein. what are the implications of this for foodstuff's _ protein. what are the implications of this for foodstuff's we - protein. what are the implications of this for foodstuff's we think - protein. what are the implications of this for foodstuff's we think the j of this for foodstuff's we think the implications are big. of this for foodstuff's we think the implications are— implications are big, because we know this year _ implications are big, because we know this year food _ implications are big, because we know this year food prices - implications are big, because we know this year food prices are i know this year food prices are writing quite rapidly because of what is happening in ukraine and russia, but this could happen if we had a drought, it could really cut down global food supply and prices

going up, and with uk aid and the gates foundation, what we are really aiming at a target in the long term is get these technologies into seed for farmers is get these technologies into seed forfarmers in is get these technologies into seed for farmers in some is get these technologies into seed forfarmers in some of is get these technologies into seed for farmers in some of the poorest countries in the world so that they can become self—sufficient and not dependent on importing expensive food. go ahead. brute dependent on importing expensive food. go ahead.— dependent on importing expensive food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive _ food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive me _ food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive me for— food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive me for that, - food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive me for that, i i food. go ahead. we are actually at a time, so forgive me for that, i was l time, so forgive me for that, i was just going to say, it sounds a huge achievement in itself but it sounds like a project which has great future potential as well. thank you very much for taking the time to tell us about it.— very much for taking the time to tell us about it. ok, and thank you for our tell us about it. ok, and thank you for your interest. _ tell us about it. ok, and thank you for your interest. not _ tell us about it. ok, and thank you for your interest. not at _ tell us about it. ok, and thank you for your interest. not at all, i tell us about it. ok, and thank you for your interest. not at all, we i for your interest. not at all, we should all— for your interest. not at all, we should all be _ for your interest. not at all, we should all be interested - for your interest. not at all, we should all be interested in i for your interest. not at all, we should all be interested in this| for your interest. not at all, we| should all be interested in this i think. the government is to take over running the majority of liverpool city council, after a report found extensive errors by the authority. a commissioner is being put in place to oversee the council's finances, with four other commissioners already in place, controlling other operations, including planning and regeneration. 0ur north of england correspondent

judith moritz has more. the speed of change in liverpool has not been fast enough. for the last year, the government has helped to run some parts of the council, but the city's finances are still in such trouble, now they will also be supervised by whitehall. the city's mayor says that's not the right decision. i'm not denying that we have problems, we do, and we're uncovering problems, more problems than we anticipated in the beginning, but i do question whether an intervention that's costing us so much is the solution. there have been a series of expensive mistakes, including a mess over the city's energy contract, which could cost an extra £10 million. today, the government wrote to the council, saying the scale of challenges in liverpool had been laid bare, that there had been a lack of urgency and prioritisation to bring about change, and the authority is still failing in its duty to provide the best value for the people of the city. merseyside's metro mayor, steve rotherham, will also chair a new panel, which will include

experts from other cities — there to help rescue liverpool and advise on its renewal. the fact remains, we wouldn't be here, would be, if the city wasn't in such a mess? is it all part of the same point that liverpool isn't able to run itself? no, of course liverpool is able to run itself, it's just at this moment in time needing support from central government through commissioners. but, look, we've said to the commissioners, the sooner that we can see the back of them, the betterfor everybody. and they've even accepted that it's better for the city to be run democratically. some liverpudlians aren't thrilled at the prospect of intervention from london and elsewhere. obviously, a worrying thought, especially how liverpool was kind of messed over in the �*80s with margaret thatcher. i think it's a big worry a lot of people have, that the tories aren't really welcome. prior to coming into power, everybody promises the world. and when they get there, they never really deliver, do they? and if you're an investor, - the comfort that that gives you...

some business leaders though say they're pleased the city will get extra support, because they feel it had hit rock bottom. it's been on the floor, i absolutely on the floor. we've seen investors disappear, |we've seen lots of regeneration| schemes stalled, we've seen an anathema, really, - within the council, an apathy, i which we've not really associated with liverpool for many years now. so bringing in some wise heads, i some experience, some people who, as i say, have delivered big projects in their own cities, j i think that's good news. the government said that further evidence of failures had been greatly concerning and the depth of such systematic problems means immediate action is required. judith moritz reporting. the summer of strike action continued today as london underground and 0verground workers took industrial action over pay, conditions and pensions. some london bus drivers also refused to turn up for work. another national rail strike is planned tomorrow. katy austin has the very latest. the shutters are down at many tube stations in london today

and there were long queues for buses this morning. struggling to get to work. it's just annoying. but i understand why they're doing it. but what can we do? thank you very much, the rmt. it's very kind of them. they've screwed up my day completely. repeated strikes are taking their toll on hospitality businesses. at this city—centre wine bar, tables are being laid, but customers aren't coming. for us, like, it costs thousands of pounds each day. and obviously, every day we don't make money, for us, it's, like, always a question to open the doors the day after. and this is, like, a really, really big problem for us. the rmt union is worried transport for london could sign an agreement with the government to secure the future of funding that will affect underground staff's jobs and conditions. we need an unequivocal guarantee that there will be no changes to people's pensions, negative changes to people's pensions. we also demand that there

will be no job cuts. tfl says it hasn't proposed such changes, and the london mayor urged unions to work with him to press the government for a decent deal. public transport around the country has been hit by a string of walk—outs. tomorrow will see the latest national strike by members of the rmt and tssa unions working for network rail and various other train companies. as with thursday, only about 20% of the usual train services will run. the transport secretary said today, if settlements in those national disputes couldn't be reached, changes would be pushed through anyway. if we can't get this resolved through the unions actually putting the offer to their members, then we will have to instead impose these changes, and that's what we're moving to. more talks are expected, but the summer of transport disruption continues. katy austin, bbc news. the former manchester united

manager, sir alex ferguson, has told a court his former player ryan giggs has a "fa ntastic temperament". the footballer is accused of assaulting his ex—partner and her younger sister, which he denies. 0ur sports news correspondent laura scott was in court. at the end of the second week of ryan giggs's trial, thejury heard 100 pages of sometimes explicit text messages and a letter that kate greville wrote but never sent the former footballer in 2020. titled the final goodbye, it detailed his alleged infidelity with eight women. miss greville wrote... as the defence neared the end of its case, one of the biggest names in football was called upon to give his view of the character of ryan giggs. this was fergie time. making an 11—minute appearance, sir alex ferguson recalled meeting a quiet 13—year—old giggs, before spending more than 20 years as his manager at manchester united. he said when he lost his temper

in the dressing room, he would sometimes use giggs as an example, giving him the sharp end of the tongue, but he said he knew he could take it. he went on to describe giggs's temperament as... other witnesses described giggs as calm, measured and loyal. he denies all the charges. laura scott, bbc news, manchester. the tech giant apple has urged owners of its devices to install a new update quickly that will fix a major security flaw, which the company says hackers may have "actively exploited". the vulnerability affects iphones, ipads, apple watches and mac computers. experts say the bug could allow hackers to take control of devices. thank you very much for your company

so far this evening. now on bbc news it's time for the film review. hello, and a very warm welcome to the film review on bbc news. i'm jane hill. and taking us through all the summer's releases is anna smith, who is back with me. good to see you, anna, and what have you been watching? all sorts. this week we've got the feast, which is a stylish welsh language horror from doctor who director lee haven jones. then, girls can't surf. this is a documentary about women and waves. and then finally, we're looking at a french romantic comedy called anais in love. and you bring me a horror film to start. lovely to see you, anna. no, no, no, excellent. tell us what it's about. i keep doing this to you every week, don't i? but it is a horror film worth talking about. and it's an intelligent

horrorfilm, you know? i love that. so the feast is intriguing. it's darkly funny. it's character—driven, starts off much like a thriller, but becomes quite a full—on 18 certificate horror, to warn you. it's set in rural wales over the course of one eventful day and night. very modern design home. the local mp and his family live there, and his wife is preparing for an important dinner party and she hires a young girl called cadi to help her out around the house. and when cadi arrives, she's behaving rather strangely. and in fact she's mostly silent. her silence kind of gives every member of the family a chance to almost overshare. let's have a look at a clip.

i'm not scared yet, but i'm thinking i'm going to be. yes, absolutely. it's a stylish, slow burner, as you can see, and intriguing, sets up the characters beautifully. and there's some dark comedy there,

as i say, in the way that this woman is kind of paying tribute to her past and feeling a little bit guilty about what they've done with the family farmhouse. they've demolished it basically for this incredibly gleaming, modern home. and she and her husband are up to some pretty shifty business. and then kind of a lot of guilt comes out when she has memories of her mother. there's a lot about welsh folklore, about the land, about the environment, but our connection to the past, about the dangers of wealth and greed. there's also an element of the seven deadly sins in there. it becomes increasingly kind of dramatic when all four members of the family have dinner guests and things take a bit of a turn, to put it mildly. and it's nicely filmed, isn't it? it looks, visually, it looks really impressive. very crisp, very beautiful. i was with it all the way. it's one of those films where there's more to talk about at the end than there is perhaps to learn. there's definitely a few questions, but if you go away wanting sort of a conversation topic, a conversation starter, then it's a good horror

if you can stomach it. all right. really intriguing, for sure. for sure. what's your second choice this week? so, girls can't surf. obviously an ironic title. this is a documentary from australia about women on the surfing scene in the �*80s and �*90s. this was a time when they were not being taken seriously, and this kind of renegade rogue days for these women who were absolutely incredibly talented, but they were coming up against a lot of sexism. and this documentary mixes archive footage with modern day interviews with these amazing women. there are so many great, witty, wonderful women in this film sharing their recollections of the past in a very lively and funny way. it's not a moan fest, you know. they're saying, 0k, we have these challenges, but we have this sisterhood. we got through it and this is how we got through it. and there's a sense of celebration about how far things have come in the surf scene since then, and the sort of groundwork that these women laid for the women now who finally are getting equal pay when it comes to the competitions. yes, and only very recently getting equal pay. and i watched this thinking, i know nothing about surfing.

i've never tried it. am i going to get anything out of this? and i think what's interesting is that this feels topical and this is just chance, but i spent the whole film thinking about the lionesses, and thinking about all those conversations we had when they won the euros, about the women who'd gone before england footballers, other footballers who never got the recognition or the money, and, goodness, i mean, just a parallel story in the world of surfing, just in a different sport. completely. it feels very topical, as you say, by coincidence. but i think that should hopefully give it appeal to people. as you say, i knew very little about surfing, not particularly into it, but this is a human story and it's a story about equality in sport. yes. i mean, there really is some rampant sexism in the early days of that. i think from what i know more than very much more so than in the world of football. but that's to do with the sport as well, isn't it? but really, it's really it's quite an eye opening documentary. yes. it's a lot of fun and it's educational. yeah, absolutely. and a french film for number three? yeah, anais in love.

this comes from a french female director. it's a romantic comedy. i thoroughly enjoyed this. i'm going to put it out there and say i really, really liked it. very witty, with funny, believable characters i wanted to spend time with. i didn't necessarily love them, but i wanted to spend time with them a little bit like the recent the worst person in the world. i felt like it's a woman with quite specific personality type. she lives in the moment, completely. she kind of breaks up with her boyfriend, she moves on to an older man, and then she becomes fascinated by this man's partner, emily, who's played by valeria bruni tedeschi. shall we have a look at a clip? absolutely.

i love the dynamic in that scene. i think that's quite typical of the film. there's so much going on, very loaded conversation between these two women, both coming to a little understanding about each other, sussing each other out, and things take a very interesting direction from there, as you know, because you've seen this film. yes. and it did remind me of worst person in the world, which i'm afraid i thought was better than this. but there are things i liked about this a lot and it's really nicely acted, really nicely put together. she's terrific, playing anais. that said, she's quite an annoying character, isn't she,

because she's so self—absorbed? life is all about her, and it doesn't matter what impact she has on other people, and she is meant to be 30 in the film. and ijust thought, you know, everyone's a bit self—absorbed when they're 20, but really you're still behaving like that at 30? so by the end of it, i really wanted to shake her. right, interesting, because i sort of sort of fell for her a bit more as the film went along. initially she was annoying me and then i realised, i know people like this, and when you're with them you actually kind of, you know, transfixed by them because they lavish you with all this attention. so i could sort of believe why people were hanging out with her. but yes, to watch it, you know, with a bit of distance, you can see, yes, she's incredibly selfish. but i do think a little bit more depth is revealed towards the end of the film, and ijust enjoy decoding her character. it was really fun to do that. yes, you might be right there. you're probably a better person than me because i was easily irritated by her. but i think, yes, you're right that more is revealed by the end.

i don't want to say any more than that, because obviously i don't want to do any any plot spoilers. but, i suppose if you did know her in real life, she'd be sort of life and soul of the party, and you would invite her to every social gathering you had, and she would be the social butterfly. so i guess she's kind of fun to have around? yes. and she's shown from a female perspective where i like about this. this is a female writer director. it's not the kind of manic pixie dream girl trope you see who's very sexualised in films by men. so i liked that about it and itjust felt it rang true to me. it's interesting. it's an interesting watch. it's not my best of the year, but yeah, there's things to recommend in it. and, so, best out, anyway, this week, anna? nope. jordan peele's, again a horror, but with elements of kind of a western, elements of sci—fi and daniel kaluuya, terrific in the lead role here, as a hollywood rancher who kind of looks after horses. a lot going on in this film, a lot to unpack. it looks fantastic. there's a lot of spectacle. there's a lot about race, social commentary, as always,

with jordan peele. it's darkly funny, and there's a lot of things running through it to do with animals and the way that we treat animals, because it's been out for a week now, i'll say some of the films that recalls for me without spoilers but close encounters, jaws, planet of the apes, cloverfield, mars attacks, the list goes on. knowingly, i think it refers to quite a lot of those and that gives you a bit of a flavour with all the many genres that it's playing with there. i really liked that its moments of horror are few and far between, but they're strong when they're there. but a lot of the time it is about following these characters as they see something in the skies and try to document it. sort of wishing every time i see clips of it, i was wishing i was brave enough to watch it because it just looks fantastic. and jordan peele is so interesting. but maybe, maybe by the next time i see you, for anyone who wants to stay in, watch something from the sofa, what's your suggestion? i've got a nice, cosy option for you for this one. so on dvd, downton abbey: a new era, which isjust designed to make you feel good,

this one, it's set in 1928, and it sees maggie smith's character, dowager violet, inheriting a villa in the south of france. how magical. as you do. so half of them go off to france and have a jolly there. and the other half stay in downton abbey, where a film is being made, a silent film. and it's all about the new era of the talkies coming in and the very sort of slightly meta storyline of a film being filmed in downton abbey, which leads to some quite amusing storylines. it's sentimental, but you know what it does? it's like the tv series. it does it all really well, you know, itjust works. you can see its manipulations a mile off, but you fall for them. yes. and it's just comforting viewing. you've got to sit down with your family at christmas, watch it. you know what you're going to get. but i guess it delivers it well. it does. and maggie smith delivers well. hilarious. anna, thank you so much. look forward to seeing you next week. that's it for this week. enjoy your cinema—going, whatever it is you decide to watch. thanks for being with us. see you next time. bye— bye.

good evening. as the cloud cheered away from the father seized during this afternoon, it took with it the humid air, so much more comfortable for sleeping. and there will be another opportunity to witness spectacular northern light. this was taken last night, as you can see, in the highlands, but not quite as strong as last night, the aurora forecast is it should be seen again across scotland, particularly the north of scotland, and we should see some clearer skies as well. we have showers with us through this evening but they should start to ease away and then we can see clearer skies on the satellite to the rest of us for a time. the showers elsewhere ease away elsewhere and so a quiet start to this evening and overnight, but through the second half of the night, yet more rain pushing in to scotland and northern ireland,

driven by a stronger wind. gales in the hebrides, so temperatures do not drop much here. further south i think it will be a lot fresher. these towns and cities, but you could get into single in the countryside, silly thing to take away as it will be more comfortable for sleeping. and a ridge of high pressure but our weather front will sink southwards and still maintain some of the intensities, so i could be some heavier bursts of rain, thunder burst as well as it sinks its way into southern scotland, away from northern ireland into northern england, close away why those north winds. showers will follow and there will be some showers to the south of that weather front as well, but it is either side where we will see more sunshine, temperatures perhaps a degree or so down because the wind will be fresher. still pleasant in the sunshine. cloudier skies potentially sunday, could turn quite misty and buerki around hills and coasts in the west with the advance of initially quite light and patchy

rain but later in the day quite heavy rain. instead with a ridge of high pressure by the north, it looks drierfor high pressure by the north, it looks drier for scotland, high pressure by the north, it looks drierfor scotland, northern england, northern ireland is well. as a day, feeling pleasantly warm in the strong august sunshine. then threw sunday evening and overnight, it looks as though many areas will see a doubling of the ground is that rain moves its way eastwards, perhaps about ten millimetres, perhaps about ten millimetres, perhaps more of the high ground. not guaranteed for all, shall we band of rain and showers following in the north after, but it looks drier from mid week on a further south.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. el shafee el—sheikh, one of four islamic state militants known as the beatles, gets life in prison in america, over the deaths of four us citizens. but sentencing made clear to all who dare to kidnap, torture or kill any american citizen of thatjustice will find you wherever you are. russia rejects calls for a complete demilitarisation around the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern ukraine on security grounds. the un secretary general gives his response: i hope that it will be possible to start engaging in a way that we will calm, at least for the moment, to an