this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. life in prison for el shafee elsheikh, a british member of an islamic state terror group, sentenced for hostage taking and conspiracy to murder. relatives of his victims say justice has been done. now we receive the best of our country, and i am very grateful, obviously, but that is what makes it a hollow victory, if you will. russia's vladimir putin agrees on the need to send inspectors to ukraine's zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as fears grow about its safety. it is amended, the international agency of atomic energy, it is up to them to do the negotiations. we are, of course, ready to support them.

warnings of a �*public health emergency�* in the uk this winterfor the nhs, amid fears services could be even more stretched after a bad summer. and a show of solidarity for salman rushdie: authors gather in new york to demonstrate their support, a week after he was attacked. we start in the us, where a former british member of the islamic state terror group, has been sentenced to life in prison, by a court in virginia. el shafee elsheikh, who's 3a, was among a group of british is members who carried out a brutal reign of terror in syria. our north america correspondent

nomia iqbal reports from virginia. and then they would ask me to... el shafee elsheikh claimed he was a simple is fighter who wanted to help. but it wasn't true. he was part of the islamic state group which terrorised large swathes of iraq and syria between 2014 and 2017. beatings, electrocutions and mock executions were carried out by the jihadists on western hostages, who called their torturers the beatles due to their english accents. elsheikh, who left london to join is, was convicted of his part in a hostage murder plot in which four americans were killed — james foley, steven sotloff, peter kassig and kayla mueller, as well as the deaths of british aid workers, alan henning and david haines. the judge described what el shafee elsheikh did as horrific, brutal, barbaric, callous, and criminal. he said the sentence had to act as a deterrent. elsheikh refused to comment when given the opportunity. none of the victim' bodies have ever been found. outside court,

the families gathered. diane foley's sonjames died eight years ago. it is a hollow victory. our country has lost four of its very best citizens. we families lost our loved ones for ever. and now, elsheikh and kotey have lost their freedom, country and families. it is a tragic cycle of violence and heartbreak for all involved. elsheikh�*s co—conspirator alexander kotey already pleaded guilty and will serve the rest of his life injail. as part of his plea deal, he met some victims relatives, including the family of kayla mueller, who was raped and tortured by the leader of is. i did meet with kotey for two—and—a—half hours. so i spoke to him at length. and i would meet him again and i hope to.

elsheikh does not have to meet with us. if he would, i would want him to. but my prayer all along in all of this is i have asked god to soften any hearts out there that know anything about any of this, that would come forward and help us. and we are getting people helping us. another member of this group, mohammed emwazi, known in the press as jihadi john, is dead. elsheikh and kotey were eventually captured in syria when is diminished in 2018. the group hated the western world, particularly america. but these two men now face spending the rest of their lives in a us jail. nomia iqbal, bbc news, virginia. state media in somalia say the security forces are trying to contain an attack on a hotel in the capital, mogadishu. the assault on the hayat began with the detonation of at least two car bombs and a fierce gunfight. dozens of guests and staff are reported to have been rescued.

the islamist militant group, al—shabaab, says it is carrying out the attack. a man has died and a woman is in hospital after a shooting at a shopping centre in sweden. police cordoned off the emporia shopping mall in the southern city of malmo after around 20 shots were fired. police have arrested a teenage boy and believe the shooting is gang—related. officers say it is no longer an ongoing incident. sweden is gearing up for a general election next month, where gang violence tops voters' concerns. presidents putin of russia and macron of france have agreed on the need to send inspectors to ukraine's zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as fears grow over its safety. it comes as the un secretary general antonio guiterres said he hopes �*discreet diplomacy�* can secure the safety of the plant — amid concerns it could be damanged by shelling. he�*s been speaking to the bbc during a visit to the port of odesa. our correspondent, hugo bachega, has more. the visit has been overshadowed by the tensions around the nuclear

power complex for days russia and ukraine have traded accusations for who�*s responsible for showing the complex. ukrainians accuse or shift during this nuclear facility into a military base and using it to launch attacks against ukrainian towns, perhaps knowing ukrainians are unlikely to retaliate. the russians reject those accusations, they say russian troops are there protecting this complex. i ask him about the zaporizhia complex and also the rejection by russia about the militarising the zone around the facility, take a listen. we hope it will be possible to engage in a way that we will come of this for the moment to end all military operations and afterwards in the situation which is returning to its civilian nature.

i also asked antonio guterres if any negotiations wrapping behind the scenes to visit the zaporizhia complex, he did not confirm or deny any mention discrete diplomacy and did mention the deal was negotiated between the russians and ukrainians and also other nations after discrete diplomacy and they sounded a bit hopeful that a deal can be reached and allow the suspect is into the plant —— a deal can be reached and allow the inspectors into the plant and there�*s no sign that the russians are willing to allow those to visit this complex in southern ukraine. the uk is facing a public health emergency because people are having to choose between heating or 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 pounds — or 1,400 dollars — to help with higher energy bills. but it comes at a time when nhs services are already under intense strain. 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. former uk cabinet minister michael gove says he is backing rishi sunak to be the next prime minister. writing in the times newspaper, mr gove said many people expected liz truss to win, but branded her campaign as a �*holiday from reality�*. he said he believes rishi sunak "makes the right arguments". he also added he cannot see himself being in government again — bringing hiscareer in front line politics to a close. 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, sanna marin in the 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 as unfair and was doing it for her own legal protection. she said she had always been any 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 world�*s youngest head of government, applauded by her supporters by combining the topjob with an active social life.

0n instagram, you can see her celebrating at her wedding and at pride. herjudgment is being called into question, not for the first time. last december, she went clubbing after her foreign minister tested positive for covid and mr text that she needed to isolate. she had to apologise then for her actions. the 36—year—old prime minister said she would have left the latest party, had she needed to work. but she has always insisted that she is a real person, as well as the land�*s youngest ever leader, with a right to a night out. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: it could be a breakthrough forfood production. scientists find a way to dramatically improves food crops�* ability to harness the sun.

washington, the world but like most political city, is assessing the health of the world�*s most powerful man. i health of the world's most powerful man. . . health of the world's most powerful man. ., ., ., ., , , man. i did have a relationship with monica lewinsky _ man. i did have a relationship with monica lewinsky that _ man. i did have a relationship with monica lewinsky that was - man. i did have a relationship with monica lewinsky that was not - monica lewinsky that was not appropriate. it monica lewinsky that was not appmpriate-— monica lewinsky that was not a- --roriate. .,, ., appropriate. it was wrong. in south africa, appropriate. it was wrong. in south africa. many _ appropriate. it was wrong. in south africa, many people _ appropriate. it was wrong. in south africa, many people have _ appropriate. it was wrong. in south africa, many people have been - appropriate. it was wrong. in south i africa, many people have been killed today. 0ver africa, many people have been killed today. over the last ten days, 500 have died. . ., ., ~ ., , , have died. czechoslovakia must be free! russia _ have died. czechoslovakia must be free! russia is _ have died. czechoslovakia must be free! russia is observing _ have died. czechoslovakia must be free! russia is observing a - have died. czechoslovakia must be| free! russia is observing a national da of free! russia is observing a national day of mourning — free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for _ free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for the _ free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for the hundred i free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for the hundred 19 submariners who died. we day of mourning for the hundred 19 submariners who died.— submariners who died. we are all with them now _ submariners who died. we are all with them now in _ submariners who died. we are all with them now in our _ submariners who died. we are all with them now in our hearts. - submariners who died. we are all with them now in our hearts. the | with them now in our hearts. the po -e with them now in our hearts. the poe has with them now in our hearts. the pope has celebrated mass before a congregation of more than 2.5 million people.— congregation of more than 2.5 million people. stay with us, stay with us, chanted _ million people. stay with us, stay with us, chanted this _ million people. stay with us, stay with us, chanted this ocean - million people. stay with us, stay with us, chanted this ocean of. with us, chanted this ocean of humanity. well, well, you want me to desert rome?

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a us court has sentenced isis militant el shafee elsheikh to life in prison for his role in the hostage taking and eventual deaths of four americans in syria. russia rejects calls for a complete demilitarisation around the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern ukraine on security grounds. sir salman rushdie continues to recover in hospital with severe injuries, a week after the author was stabbed on stage. in a show of support for the indian—born british novelist, hundreds of writers gathered at the new york public library to read his works and pay tribute. 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik has that story. new york has been sir salman rushdie�*s home for the past decade and a half. as he lies in hospital on the road to recovery, the literary community here is still reeling from the attack on his life and the attack on his

freedom to write. salman, my dear old friend... in a show of support, authors gathered on the steps of the public library to read aloud passages from his body of work, including the controversial novel the satanic verses, viewed by some muslims as blasphemous, as well as books such as midnight�*s children, his memoirjoseph anton and the golden house. i crawled before i could walk. i walked before i could run. the organisers hope this rally raises sir salman�*s spirits. they say he knows it has taken place and intended to watch. equally, they hope this is a galvanising moment and that others stand up to fight for freedom of speech. amanda foreman, a british biographer and historian, wasn�*t surprised to hear that the suspected attacker hadn�*t read the satanic verses beyond a page or two. freedom of expression isn�*t easy, it�*s not simple. it�*s highly problematic. people do get offended.

terrible things are sometimes said. this is not a perfect society and freedom of expression is not a perfect principle, but it�*s the best one we have, and if we are frightened, if we are silent, then the bullies and the silencers have won. censorship has got to go! the demonstration today is reminiscent of another held in 1989 after iran�*s ayatollah issued a religious ruling calling for sir salman�*s death. writers then also stood up for the indian—born british author and criticised stores that refused to carry his novel. but how much has changed since then? so much of our public discourse now happens in the digital arena. we face online harassment, the viral spread of disinformation. here in the united states, we�*re dealing with a pandemic of book bans and curriculum bans in higher education across the country. so it�*s a different environment. it�*s also the case that in 1989, you would have thought an attack like this on us soil was really unheard of.

sir salman�*s friends and colleagues hope this will be a watershed moment for free speech, and they say they look forward to hearing his voice again soon. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. stand with salman! poet, lawyer and activist reginald dwayne betts spoke at today�*s rally. hejoins me now. thank you very much for being with us. why did you want to be there today? i us. why did you want to be there toda ? ~ ., ., , today? i think i wanted to be there because the _ today? i think i wanted to be there because the job — today? i think i wanted to be there because the job of _ today? i think i wanted to be there because the job of a _ today? i think i wanted to be there because the job of a writer - today? i think i wanted to be there because the job of a writer is - today? i think i wanted to be there because the job of a writer is to . because the job of a writer is to not be afraid. it is to be fearless, in a way. i think no writer worth his salt confronts the situation like this without some fear and trepidation. and i think i was there to say that the act of creating art has to happen in the face of fear, in the face of adversity, and also that when you try to silence

artists, other artists have to step up artists, other artists have to step up and make sure their voices are heard, so i wanted to step up and make sure that salman rushdie was at work was heard, and i was a vehicle to be present when he couldn�*t be present. he to be present when he couldn't be resent. ., ., ., . present. he read from a lecture he ave back present. he read from a lecture he gave back in _ present. he read from a lecture he gave back in 2005, _ present. he read from a lecture he gave back in 2005, entitled - present. he read from a lecture he gave back in 2005, entitled the i gave back in 2005, entitled the power of the pen. . what is the message of that? the power of the pen. . what is the message of that? the argument that what books do _ message of that? the argument that what books do is _ message of that? the argument that what books do is not _ message of that? the argument that what books do is not always - message of that? the argument that what books do is not always changed the way we view the world. some books, most books get ignored, but there are a few that he does to the core and they do so because of how they inspire us with an ineffable quality of love, and how we carry those books around with us and they come part of how we move around and walk around in the world. the fundamental argument in that lecture is that h does not do the same

thing. you can�*t be inspired and pushed and changed and shaped by hate in the same fundamental way that you can be by love, and the bottom line of it all, when we are talking about literature and we are talking about literature and we are talking about literature and we are talking about books, we are talking about love and the possibility of it. , ., , ., j , about love and the possibility of it. did last friday's attack for you kind of chime _ it. did last friday's attack for you kind of chime with _ it. did last friday's attack for you kind of chime with other - it. did last friday's attack for you kind of chime with other things i it. did last friday's attack for you i kind of chime with other things that you or other writers have experienced? notjust in the united states but elsewhere in the world. is it a one off and do you feel there is a kind of punitive threat here? i there is a kind of punitive threat here? . ~ here? i mean, it felt like the manifestation _ here? i mean, it felt like the manifestation of _ here? i mean, it felt like the manifestation of what - here? i mean, it felt like the manifestation of what is - here? i mean, it felt like the i manifestation of what is always here? i mean, it felt like the - manifestation of what is always an accumulative threat because i think the writer is trying to be a voice of society and people always threaten that. but i also think that we have lived with this and salman rushdie has lived with this very

long time. in the actual sense that you could get on a stage and fear violence, notjust angry you could get on a stage and fear violence, not just angry words, you could get on a stage and fear violence, notjust angry words, but actual violence, violence, notjust angry words, but actualviolence, is violence, notjust angry words, but actual violence, is something that we didn�*t think was truly possible. and i think that... i am a younger writer, i think a lot of us thought that this was something that was beyond the pale and that we wouldn�*t have to grapple with it again. but the incident reminded us that we have had to grapple with it consistently, even with one of cases, but they happen across the world and they happen in authoritarian countries across the world so this is a reminder that freedom of speech is important and it is notjust a critical talking point. it is not 'ust a critical talking oint. . ~ it is not 'ust a critical talking oint. ., ~' ,, , it is not 'ust a critical talking oint. ., ~' , . it is not 'ust a critical talking oint. ., ~ , . ., point. thank you very much for talkin: point. thank you very much for talking to _ point. thank you very much for talking to us — point. thank you very much for talking to us about _ point. thank you very much for talking to us about that - point. thank you very much for talking to us about that event | point. thank you very much for. talking to us about that event and talking to us about that event and talking to us about that event and talking to us about your feelings on the attack on salman rushdie. scientists have found a way to make soybean plants produce 20% more yield. 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. professor stephen long — from the university of illinois — is co—author of the report and told me more. photosynthesis is the process by which plants and allergy convert sunlight energy and carbon dioxide plus water into carbohydrates which then leads to protein, lipid etc, basically it is the source of all of our food directly or indirectly, and of course the oxygen in the atmosphere. so of course the oxygen in the atmosphere.— of course the oxygen in the atmoshere. ., ., , , atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect — atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as _ atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as a _ atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as a catalyst _ atmosphere. so it has a tremendously valuable effect as a catalyst in - valuable effect as a catalyst in nature. what has your study done? well, we have actually modified the photosynthetic process in the plant so from mathematical modelling, we deduce that there were ways we could

actually improve the biochemistry of the process, and so, having identified that, then with funding from the gates foundation and from uk aid, we were then able to test our models in practice, and that involved increasing the expression of three genes involved in photosynthesis. what that has done is accelerated the ability of the plant to adjust to fluctuations in light, which of course in the field of crops are occurring all the time, and so we did this first in tobacco some time ago because tobacco is very easy to genetically change, but many of the critics said, well, this isn�*t a food plant, can you really do it in a food plant? and now we have managed to do this in soybean. we have an average increase in yield

of about 24%, which if you compare that to conventional breeding might leave you 1% per year. find that to conventional breeding might leave you 1% per year.— leave you 1% per year. and this is all done without _ leave you 1% per year. and this is all done without additional- all done without additional fertilisers? in all done without additional fertilisers?— all done without additional fertilisers? ., ., fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is done with _ fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is done with that _ fertilisers? in the case of soybean, it is done with that additional- it is done with that additional fertiliser. soybean has an association with bacteria in that race which fixes nitrogen and provides the blood with nitrogen. in exchange of course for carbohydrate to feed the bacteria, and what we think has happened is some of the additional carbohydrate from the 30s was fed by the plant�*s bacteria to maintain its nitrogen content. although we had 24% more seed per acre of land or per hectare of land, we also had 24% more protein. what we also had 2496 more protein. what are the implications _ we also had 2496 more protein. what are the implications of _ we also had 24% more protein. what are the implications of this for food? ~ ~' , ., , are the implications of this for food? . ~' , ., , ., food? we think the implications are big because. _ food? we think the implications are big because. you — food? we think the implications are big because, you know, _ food? we think the implications are big because, you know, we - food? we think the implications are big because, you know, we note i

food? we think the implications are | big because, you know, we note this yearfood prices big because, you know, we note this year food prices are big because, you know, we note this yearfood prices are rising quite rapidly because of what is happening in ukraine and russia, but of course this could happen if we had a drought, it could really cut down global food supplies, drought, it could really cut down globalfood supplies, prices drought, it could really cut down global food supplies, prices go up, and with uk aid and with the gates foundation, what we are really aiming to target in the long term is to get these technologies into seed for farmers and some of the poorest countries in the world so that they can become self—sufficient and not dependent on importing extensive food. ., ., ,, ., food. that was professor steve long talkin: food. that was professor steve long talking about _ food. that was professor steve long talking about photosynthesis. - the scottish city of glasgow has sealed an agreement with the indian authorities to send back seven cultural artefacts looted from india during british rule in the nineteenth century. it�*s said to be the first repatriation deal with india from a british museum. six of the objects, which include a ceremonial sword and an ancient door

jamb, were looted from temples and shrines. glasgow officials says it showed the city�*s commitment to redressing past wrongs. speaking from glasgow, the first secretary for trade & commerce at the high commission of india, jaspreet sookeeja, welcomed the return of the objects and hoped more artefacts would be sent back in the future. we would like to see all items returned back to india, all items, and we are working towards that, in the past three years, we have had three occasions where artefacts have been sent back home by various partnerships and to the efforts of the high commissioner of india. this, although it stands out, because it is the first time that a british museum is giving back some artefacts, historical artefacts which came here decades back to india. . , which came here decades back to india. ., , ., �* �* ,

hello there. we ended the week with some warm sunshine but some showers, mainly in the north, close to an area of low pressure. and that same area of low pressure is sitting in the same place for the start of the weekend. but around the base of it, we�*ve got this weather front thickening the cloud, bringing some rain and some stronger winds as well. ahead of that, with some clear skies in england and wales, it�*ll be a cooler start on saturday morning, significantly cooler than the previous night in southeastern parts of england. some sunshine for england and wales, one or two showers pushing across in the morning, ahead of this main band of rain that�*s heavy for a while, accompanied by some strong and gusty winds, sweeping away from scotland and northern ireland, followed by sunshine and a few showers. that rain band is quite narrow, but it could be quite heavy rain as it gets stuck in northern england. elsewhere for england and wales, some sunny spells, just one or two showers, but most places will be dry. and temperatures very similar

to what we had on friday, so getting up to the mid—20s at best. that area of low pressure will keep the showers going into the first part of the night. across scotland, another area of low pressure moving very slowly in from the atlantic will push a lot of cloud ahead of it. it means the sunnier skies probably further north this time on sunday. those showers easing in scotland. sunny spells here, some sunshine for northern ireland, the far north of england for a while. other parts of finland and wales probably turning more cloudy, the cloud thickening to give a bit of rain and drizzle, mostly for western wales and southwest england, where temperatures will struggle to around 20 degrees. once again, we�*re 18 or 19 for scotland and northern ireland. the cloud continues to thicken on sunday night. we start to see a bit more rain proper coming in from the atlantic as that low pressure heads in from the west. having said that, there will be little or no rain for northern parts of scotland, some patchy rain elsewhere, the odd heavier burst for a while. nothing particularly organised, mind you. and some western areas should turn drier and brighter through the afternoon.

temperature—wise, making 23 again across southern england and south wales and 18 in the central belt of scotland. now, into next week, this is where the jet stream is going to be positioned. it may start to buckle a little bit, but it does mean that any warm air is stuck in the southeast of england, confined to the southeast, and no heatwave on the way by any means. temperatures near normal for this time of the year. monday looks the wetter day. after that, it looks mostly dry, and there will be some sunshine from time to time.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are benedicte paviot, who�*s uk correspondent for france 24 and chair of the uk advisory board of reporters without borders. also with us, adam payne, political editor at politics home. tomorrow�*s front pages. let�*s begin with the times. a boost for rishi sunak on the front of the times, as michael gove backs the former chancellor over liz truss in the conservative leadership race, calling her plans "a holiday from reality". the telegraph warns that the nhs

is already facing winter pressures —