this is bbc news with the latest headlines. mikhail gorbachev, the soviet leader who ended the cold war, has died at the age of 91. henry kissinger is among those paying tribute. the german people and in the end the russian people him a great debt of gratitude. russia imposes a three—day shutdown on a major gas pipeline to europe. the kremlin says western sanctions prevent normal repair work. paris accuses moscow of using energy as a weapon of war paris accuses moscow of using energy as a weapon of war. heavy fighting continues in ukraine, as troops try to take back the russian—occupied region of kherson in the south. a bbc investigation has found

that shamima begum — who left london aged 15 to join the islamic state group — was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada. thousands of royal mail workers stage a second day of strike action in a row over pay — disrupting deliveries of packages and letters. full speed ahead for the world's largest operating offshore wind farm. hornsea two, off the yorkshire coast, will power more than one—million homes. than one million homes. defending champion emma raducanu is out of the us open — losing in the first round to france's alize cornet. the last leader of the soviet union, mikhail gorbachev, has died, aged 91, following a long illness. mr gorbachev was crucial to ending the cold war. he was one of the most

influential political figures of the 20th century. world leaders have been paying tribute. president biden described him as a "man of remarkable vision." the un chief antonio guterres said he "changed the course of history". our moscow editor, steve rosenberg, looks back at his life. he was the kind of russian leader the world had never seen. mikhail gorbachev smiled, he was relaxed. in the west, he acquired almost pop—star status for helping to end the cold war. but at home, it was a different story. born in the days of dictator josef stalin, gorbachev became a committed communist, rising fast through the ranks of the soviet communist party to the ruling politburo. gorbachev stood out — he was young, energetic, unlike his colleagues. as kremlin old—timers died in quick succession,

the ussr was looking more like a cemetery than a superpower. but in 1985, gorbachev became leader and launched perestroika — reforms to reinvigorate the soviet union. at home, there were western—style walkabouts. abroad, he charmed an iron lady and a us president. together, gorbachev and reagan slashed their nuclear arsenals. with a reformer in the kremlin, eastern europe saw a chance to break free from moscow. when the berlin wall fell, crucially gorbachev refused to intervene to prop up the iron curtain.

by now, his own country was breaking apart amid ethnic conflicts and economic chaos. gorbachev was losing control. in august 1991, communist hardliners staged a coup. it collapsed but soon after, so did the soviet union. president gorbachev resigned and the ussr was consigned to history. many russians still blame gorbachev for letting a superpower slip away. some of what he changed didn't last — the arms race and geopolitical tension are back. gorbachev will be remembered for at least having tried to end the rivalry between east and west. but i will remember him for this.

after one interview, he invited me to play his piano while he sang the favourite songs of his late wife. it was a surreal but special moment that showed the warm, human side of the russian leader who'd struck a chord with millions around the world. this morning, the prime minister borisjohnson has been paying tribute to mr gorbachev. he was one of those people who unquestionably changed the world and changed it for the better. when you look what he did to make europe whole, free, to give freedom to the countries of the former soviet union, it was quite an extraordinary thing. of course, gorbachev was one of those people who triggered change, a series of changes that perhaps he didn't anticipate, or his own political price for it

but when history is written he will be one of the authors of fantastic change for the better. well, earlier, the former us secretary of state henry kissinger spoke to the bbc and he gave this assessment of mr gorbachev�*s legacy. mr gorbachev performed great services. but he was not able to implement all of it and he was, in part, destroyed by developing ideas which russian society was not yet fully ready. but and in the end, the russian people

owe him a great debt of gratitude for the inspiration, for the encourage in coming forward for the courage in coming forward with these ideas of freedom. and even though he did not prove strong enough to resist the passions that he unleashed, he performed a great service to humanity. we can speak now to bridget kendall. she was the bbc moscow correspondent when gorbachev was in power. she's now master of peterhouse college, cambridge. bridget, thanks for joining bridget, thanks forjoining us. your memories of him? bridget, thanks for “oining us. your memories of him?_ bridget, thanks for “oining us. your memories of him? they go back a long wa . when memories of him? they go back a long way- when he — memories of him? they go back a long way. when he became _ memories of him? they go back a long

way. when he became soviet - memories of him? they go back a long way. when he became soviet leader i memories of him? they go back a long way. when he became soviet leader in| way. when he became soviet leader in 1985 we were astounded because he seemed younger, more vigorous and human. he'djump seemed younger, more vigorous and human. he'd jump out of an official car and chat to people. he got an amazing response from the russian people. i can remember the first party congress he resided over. his speeches lasted six hours, sprinkled with quotations. he seemed quite like his predecessors but then it became clear he was doing something different and as time went on i had more close contact with him. i used to go to the soviet parliament everyday and watch him preside and that's the place where he began to bring in a lot of his political reforms say had to go along every day to see what new thing he might do. he was skilful in manipulating the parliamentary process, political process, playing hardline members of

revolutionary reformers. i got to know him better when he lost power, when he was no longer soviet president. he gave quite a few interviews and he was generous with interviews and he was generous with interviews with the bbc. it was the bbc he managed to listen to on short wave radio when he was captured and imprisoned just before the soviet union collapsed. a very warm, very personable, quite emotional, quite vulnerable, i must say but a charming person to interview. i5 vulnerable, i must say but a charming person to interview. is it to seem to — charming person to interview. is it to seem to think _ charming person to interview. is it to seem to think about his place in history or is that already secured? its quite bittersweet. if you think about russia, his own country, where he remained. he did not come into excel. he could have but he didn't. hidden speaker that angerjust so he always felt russia was his home.

after the collapse of the soviet union, ordinary russians faced hardship in the 1990s, hyper — inflation. many of them blamed him for letting go of the grip of power and weakening their country. that set the same for vladimir putin to arrive to power and shape himself into the leader he is today. today, into the leader he is today. today, in russia, in kremlin circles, they were openly dismissive of gorbachev. vladimir putin has apparently refer to him as naive and even an idiot for letting go of the superpower. if you went out on the streets of moscow today, people would be muted in their views. they would not want to speak ill of someone who has just died but i don't think they would be

many willing to show support. i remember a few years, when boris yeltsin died, people were personally synthetic to him but i don't think it's the same now. any of those people now in peter bosz—mac russia might not even be in russia at all. —— putin's russia. he might not even be in russia at all. -- putin's russia.— might not even be in russia at all. -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he — -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he went _ -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he went in _ -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he went in the _ -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he went in the west - -- putin's russia. he was celebrated wherever he went in the west but. wherever he went in the west but largely dismissed at home? this wherever he went in the west but largely dismissed at home? as time went on, he clung _ largely dismissed at home? as time went on, he clung to _ largely dismissed at home? as time went on, he clung to the _ largely dismissed at home? as time went on, he clung to the things - largely dismissed at home? as time went on, he clung to the things he l went on, he clung to the things he thought he'd done which he felt sure about, more and more he talked about how he never used force in eastern europe. he let those countries choose their own way, which was absolutely true. there was no repeat

of 1968 when the warsaw pact crushed reforms there. he allowed eastern europe to go free. he allowed the berlin wall to come down without any recreations. he introduced economic sanctions. ironic, when you think about what's happening in europe now. but i think he thought he'd done a good thing. when we talk about the importance of democratic reforms, that became a veiled criticism against putin.- reforms, that became a veiled criticism against putin. when he first came _

criticism against putin. when he first came to _ criticism against putin. when he first came to power, _ criticism against putin. when he first came to power, like - criticism against putin. when he first came to power, like many, | criticism against putin. when he | first came to power, like many, i was young, i was listening to bbc reports like yours. people are talking about the fact that this will be the saviour needed to take the country into the 21st—century but it all ended. the country into the 21st-century but it all ended.— the country into the 21st-century but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when _ but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when he _ but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when he took _ but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when he took the - but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when he took the lid - but it all ended. why are? he lost control. when he took the lid off. but it all ended. why are? he lost | control. when he took the lid off in 1985 - 86. he control. when he took the lid off in 1985 — 86. he said no one is above criticism, even the general himself. i remember the difference on a first went there. it's very hard to get people to talk to you and on the streets, people were scared. schools were quiet. and after gorbachev had beenin were quiet. and after gorbachev had been in place for a year auto, people out in the streets, chatting, making up for lost time. schools were open, kids charging around. but in doing that, there was a lot of

frustrations below the surface, the economic frustrations of ordinary people. frustrations in the republics that they'd been with pressed by another nation. —— bay had been repressed. there was a lot of russian and soviet control and then two years later other republics broke away. i don't think he had an idea of quite how bad it was in the country and how frustrated people were. one of his advisers says we knew things were wrong and it was like peeling an onion, layer by layer, as you got further further into the secret documents and when we got to the centre we realised how rotten it was. it wasn't enough for many of those people who had felt like they'd been under sob control for so long. i look at that time and think about where we are with russia

today. when people were very loyal today. when people were very loyal to the country, very proud of being soviet and wouldn't really speak out against the communist leadership accepting private whispers and then ten years later, six years later, after the change of power in 1985, everyone was saying everything they wanted and criticising the leadership and wanting communists, including gorbachev, to go. beneath the surface is there that same frustration impeding's russia? it's much affluent russian society if those sanctions don't begin to bite but it's interesting to look back on those years and wonder how they might inform us as to what is going on in russia today. the might inform us as to what is going on in russia today.— on in russia today. the rest of their well— on in russia today. the rest of their well got _ on in russia today. the rest of their well got to _ on in russia today. the rest of their well got to know -

on in russia today. the rest of. their well got to know gorbachev on in russia today. the rest of- their well got to know gorbachev via his summits with ronald reagan in recce vic and other places. what you make of that relationship? weill. recce vic and other places. what you make of that relationship?— make of that relationship? well, i think they got _ make of that relationship? well, i think they got to _ make of that relationship? well, i think they got to know _ make of that relationship? well, i think they got to know each - make of that relationship? well, i think they got to know each other| think they got to know each other quite well and actually, it's interesting that it wasn'tjust meeting the american president that was important, it was all the other american officials that both summits opened up. i once did an interview with ronald reagan's friend, a professor of economics, joseph schultz and he told me he is to go quite often to moscow to prepare for those summits and he'd go to the kremlin and he'd sit down and wait for gorbachev to arrive. and then he realised gorbachev wanted to ask him what the outside world was like and how did the world economy and trade relations work and he said that in the end he began to take big

cardboard signs to explain to his students about economics. so it's interesting to think about this situation. the kappa capitalist economy that he had no access to top to top some people would say that on their side, the americans should have listened harder about how the soviet union was and how it would be difficult for it to come out of communist powers but also about arms talks.

the life of gorbachev, the last soviet union leader who has died, aged 91. russia has shut down gas supplies from a major pipeline to europe for the next three days. moscow has already significantly reduced the amount of gas it supplies through nord stream 1, which comes into the continent via germany. a kremlin spokesman blamed western sanctions against russia which he claimed prevented normal repair work. european leaders fear the kremlin could extend the suspension to try to drive up energy prices, which have soared since the invasion of ukraine. well, for more on this let's cross over to our correspondent in berlin, damien mcguinness. damian, thanks for joining damian, thanks forjoining us. how has germany responded? relatively calml , has germany responded? relatively calmly. actually. — has germany responded? relatively calmly, actually, james _ has germany responded? relatively calmly, actually, james and - has germany responded? relatively calmly, actually, james and that's l calmly, actually, james and that's for one reason. over the last few months germany has done a lot to fill its gas reserves so until quite

recently, things were looking bad in terms of getting through the winter because of the loss on gas. before the invasion of ukraine, the majority of german gas came from russia but that's reduced drastically. what germany has been doing particularly recently is pushing through some quite draconian saving measures. lots of public buildings are not lit up at night and there is cold water only. they have been getting more gas reserves from norway, the netherlands and belgium which means they are now more than 80% full, the german gas tanks. once you get to that, germany can get through the winter without extra russian supply—side those gas reserves of being filled faster than expected and it's quite a positive message coming out of berlin today, which is surprising because gas prices have been rising and today,

the government are talking about pushing through a third package of measures. the other message is that the german economy minister has said that gas prices should start falling in germany because of those tanks. it means that berlin no has to no longer take the highest price. this three—day shutdown of this major pipeline is not seen as a surprise in germany. since february, the german government has lost any illusions around russia. they don't believe anything that comes out of the kremlin, they believe it's a political weapon and that is why germany has been frantically, since debris, looking for other sources and it looks like that's starting to workjust in time for the winter. throughout the day we looking back on the life of gorbachev. when he

took power in 1985, there was west and east germany and then after the cold war, germany reunited. i wonder how germany sees his role in their country? how germany sees his role in their count ? ~ ., ., ., ., country? with a great deal of gratitude. — country? with a great deal of gratitude, actually. - country? with a great deal of gratitude, actually. people . country? with a great deal of. gratitude, actually. people think that you might not have ended up with united germany without him. it was put succinctly this morning, gorbachev was described as the greatest reformer and it was thanks to his policy, or partly thanks to it that reunification was possible. in germany there are two views, in the late 80s he was seen as someone who inspires the peace process on the streets of berlin, east germans protesting on the streets that the east german government fell in the

first place but the words coming out of moscow in a spelling before 1989 really inspire people to take to the streets and the second thing he is saying is doing is supporting german reunification. there is an awareness like with every leader, including russian leaders, it's a complex character you are dealing with and there is an awareness in other parts of eastern europe, particularly the baltic states there was shade during the peace process under him. but this gratitude towards german reunification.— this gratitude towards german reunification. ., ,, , ., reunification. thank you, damien. the disintegration _ reunification. thank you, damien. the disintegration of _ reunification. thank you, damien. the disintegration of parts - reunification. thank you, damien. the disintegration of parts of - reunification. thank you, damien. the disintegration of parts of the l the disintegration of parts of the soviet union, one of those was ukraine which gained its

independence in 1991. vladmir baiting has tried to bring ukraine back into moscow's orbit. —— vladimir putin. heavy fighting continues in ukraine, as troops try to take back the russian—occupied region of kherson in the south. ukraine says it has destroyed russian command posts and ammunition depots — but the kremlin says the ukrainian operation has already failed. kherson was the first major ukrainian city to fall into russian hands shortly after russia began its invasion in february. another development in ukraine has been safety concerns for one of country's nuclear power plants. a team from the international atomic energy agency set off on wednesday from the ukrainian capital towards the zaporizhzhia nuclear

power plantto inspect for damage after shelling nearby sparked fears of aradiation disaster.hugo bachengo gave us this update from kyiv a short while ago. a lot of detail hasn't been given before leaving kyiv. they are now heading to the south of the ukraine. for weeks we've been talking about tensions around this nuclear facility, fears of a possible nuclear catastrophe and mixed messages about who is responsible for shelling the facility. he also said there security guarantees for this to go ahead but we don't know how they are going to get to this power which is located in an area of intense fighting in the south of ukraine. he expects the visit to last a few days but we still don't know the visit is going to start but

it's perhaps a sign of how difficult organising this visit has been. yesterday an adviser to volodymyr zelenskyy said its sign of how tense things are in this part of the country. a bbc investigation has found that shamima begum — who left london to join the islamic state group when she was 15 — was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada. footage has emerged of mohammed al rasheed with shamima and the other two teenage girls she travelled with, as they got out of a taxi and into a waiting car not far from the syrian border. files seen by the bbc show mr rasheed claimed to have shared ms begum's passport details with canada, and smuggled other britons to fight for is. 5 live's forthcoming podcast on the story — �*i'm not a monster�* has been investigating all of this. it's presented byjosh baker, who joins us now:

do remind us of what we know about shamima begum'sjourney to do remind us of what we know about shamima begum's journey to syria? she left london with two school friends in february 2015. they took a plane to istanbul they met a people smuggler and from there made their way to —controlled syria. once those girls disappeared, until four years later when shamima begum emerged from the so—called ashes of the caliphate, the british government decided she was a threat to the country removed her citizenship. since then she's been in a detention camp in north—east syria. in a detention camp in north-east s ria. ~ . . in a detention camp in north-east s ria.~ ., ., in a detention camp in north-east s ria. ~ ., ., syria. what have you uncovered? we've obtained _ syria. what have you uncovered? we've obtained a _ syria. what have you uncovered? we've obtained a dossier- syria. what have you uncovered? we've obtained a dossier about l syria. what have you uncovered? l we've obtained a dossier about the man who moved her and herfriends from turkey to syria and in that, we can see he was part of a substantial islamic state trafficking network who not only moved her but other

britons through syria. as well as trafficking people, the man was keeping copies of the ids of the people he helped, passport documents, ids and things like that. now, he said he was doing that to pass that two canadian intelligence. we've been able to speak to a senior intelligence officer who told us that this man was indeed a source for canadian intelligence. what has happened to him since? he's in detention in turkey. he's been there for seven years and it's not clear when he's going to be released. however authorities responded to what you have uncovered? this is however authorities responded to what you have uncovered? as is the wa with what you have uncovered? as is the way with anything — what you have uncovered? as is the way with anything relating - what you have uncovered? as is the way with anything relating to - way with anything relating to intelligence, both the canadian and british authorities have declined to comment on this matter. josh baker, thank ou comment on this matter. josh baker, thank you so — comment on this matter. josh baker, thank you so much _ comment on this matter. josh baker, thank you so much for— comment on this matter. josh baker, thank you so much forjoining - comment on this matter. josh baker,

thank you so much forjoining us. - thank you so much forjoining us. and josh has been investigating this... you can see this on bbc sound. let's get the weather now had carroll. showers predominantly coming in through the north—east of england in the pennines. today we will see a few more isolated, light showers being driven on the breeze across england and wales from the north sea. also breezy across the channel. cloud breaking up but hanging on across the northern isles today. temperatures ranging from 13 in the north to 2a in the south. through the evening and overnight, quite breezy for england and wales. not as breezy across the north of the country although we could see some patchy mist and fog forming.

lows of 16 celsius but lower inst sheltered glens. temperatures 14—24 in the south. hello this is bbc news. the headlines: mikhail gorbachev, the soviet leader who ended the cold war, has died at the age of 91. russia imposes a three—day shutdown on a major gas pipeline to europe, saying western sanctions prevent normal repair work — paris accuses moscow of using energy as a weapon of war. heavy fighting continues in ukraine, as troops try to take back the russian—occupied region of kherson. a bbc investigation has found that shamima begum, who left london aged 15 to join the islamic state group, was smuggled into syria

by an intelligence agent working for canada. thousands of royal mail workers stage a second day of strike action in a row over pay — disrupting deliveries of packages and letters. now, let's get the sport. good morning... there are five british players into round two of the us open — but emma raducanu isn't one of them. after her grand slam success in new york last year — it's a very different story 12 months on, beaten in the first round by france's alize cornet as our sports correspondent laura scott reports. backin back in the big apple, the scene of her stunning success, but those who mention pressure did so at their peril. in the eyes of emma raducanu, this was a chance to start from scratch again experience against a player who is part of the furniture

at grand slams. this is alize cornet�*s 63rd consecutive major. rather car new�*s reflexes were razor—sharp, but alize cornet showed her consistency. and as this flew past emma raducanu, so did the first set. hampered by blistered, time for a regroup. as the rain fell, emma roddick on a's level rose. in the face of relentless french resistance, nothing was going her way and she was going out. obviously, really disappointing and really sad to leave here it's probably my favourite tournament. but also, in a way happy because it's a clean slate. br; but also, in a way happy because it's a clean slate.— but also, in a way happy because it's a clean slate. by tumbling out ofthe it's a clean slate. by tumbling out of the tournament, _ it's a clean slate. by tumbling out of the tournament, she _ it's a clean slate. by tumbling out of the tournament, she will - it's a clean slate. by tumbling out of the tournament, she will also i of the tournament, she will also tumble down the rankings. from 11th in the world to around 88. disappointing for her but elsewhere

it has been a positive start for the brits. there was no breeze when cameron norrie took to the court, but he enjoyed a metaphorical one. he faced no contest against the frenchman, then wire pair and got a swifter victory than expected. also, evans coped with the condition to come to his opening match in straight sets. with those convincing wins there are five british players round two, the most since 1981. they will be flying the flag while the reigning champion flies home. laura scott, bbc news, new york. raducanu's faced criticism from some, who claim she's focused more on her commercial and sponsorship opportunities rather than the tennis. but former british number one jo durie's been telling bbc breakfast she doesn't thinks that's the case and believes raducanu's well positioned for the future. her life has changed so radically in

the past year. at the moment, where she is that she will be ranked about 80 in the world. i think for a 19 year on the tour. we will have to get over the fact that she is also a grand slam champion. she is still finding herfeet, now she has played a whole year, she has played a lot of these tournaments, played a lot of these tournaments, played a lot of different plays. the players know how she plays and they have got used to her. now shejust has how she plays and they have got used to her. now she just has to how she plays and they have got used to her. now shejust has to build again. there were four premier league games last night, with a big upset at southampton where southampton came from behind to beat chelsea 2—1, romeo lavia with the pick of the goals here. it's their first home win over chelsea in nine years. thomas tuchel�*s side have now lost two of their first five games. it's too easy to put us off balance, to confuse us, to beat us, to push us off track. it's too easy, but it happens. happened in leeds, happened today here. and we need to understand why,

and find solutions. brighton could have gone top of the table with a win at fulham but aleksandr mitrovic grabbed the headlines again, he scored his fifth goal in five league games as fulham won 2—1. leeds versus everton and brentford against palace both finished 1—1. rangers beat queen of the south 3—1 in the second round of the scottish league cup. scott arfield scored two of rangers' three goals. elsewhere there were wins for partick thistle, dundee and aberdeen more reaction to that on the bbc sport website. more later this morning, but now back to you, james. the world's largest operating offshore wind farm becomes fully operational today — after being delayed by the pandemic. hornsea two is located 55 miles off the yorkshire coast and will power more than1 million homes.

our environment correspondent, jonah fisher is in grimsby for us this morning. can you see it with binoculars? you can't, i'm can you see it with binoculars? you can't. i'm afraid — can you see it with binoculars? you can't, i'm afraid but _ can you see it with binoculars? ym. can't, i'm afraid but you have a goodidea can't, i'm afraid but you have a good idea what is on the horizon 55 miles away. we are in grimsby because this is an operational hub that serves many of the wind farms in the north sea. you can see the huge orange and yellow bow, that is one of the service boats that goes to the wind farms, it is being loaded up this morning and the crew go out for two weeks at a time. they stay out there because it is so far out in the north sea and come back on rotation every couple of weeks. we are here because of this new offshore wind farm, the biggest operating offshore wind farm in the world, hornsea ii. it has beaten the record of its close neighbour horne c1. i was here yesterday to talk to

some of the people behind this project and also crucially, to find out more about what this new renewable energy might mean for our energy bills and this is the report i put together. in the midst of an energy crisis, there's at last some positive news. 55 miles off the yorkshire coast, the world's largest offshore wind farm is now on stream. covering an area more than four times the size of manchester, hornsea two consists of 165 monster turbines, each more than twice the height of big ben. when the wind blows, this farm will provide clean energy to more than 1.3 million homes. each of its turbine blades is a whopping 81 metres long. this is fantastic news for the british consumer, for everybody in the uk. a single turn of these enormous turbines will produce enough power to power a home for a day, or to drive an electric car for something like 75 miles.

we'll see what it's like in the morning. this is the control centre, where the output from each of the individual wind turbines can be monitored in real time. the bigger these wind farms get — and they are huge — the cheaper the power that they produce becomes. and in the long term, that's good news for all of us, and our electricity bills. but big offshore wind projects like this take time. and with energy prices soaring, some argue we should be looking at quicker options on land. onshore wind actually can be produced and start generating within a year, so it's a really good option if we want to get low—cost energy quickly. so why aren't we doing that? we're not doing that at the moment because the planning process allows for a single person to object to an onshore wind farm, and that

closes the whole thing down. so we really need government to take action and put our country's energy needs first. the renewables boom has also meant newjobs for grimsby — a port town brought to its knees by the collapse of the fishing industry. probably never been more important to get these ruddy wind farms up. bridie is helping her dad patrick pack smoked fish — but she's turned her back on the family business, and will work as a technician on the new wind farm. today we're just doing service and routine maintenance, like topping up grease and just checking it's all running perfectly. for patrick, the wind farms have brought notjust a job for his daughter, but new hope. you know, grimsby has, for a long, long time been slightly down on its uppers. so green energy's vital for the planet, green energy's vital for the country, and it's no less vital for grimsby. hornsea two won't be a world—beaterfor long — even bigger wind farms with even larger turbines are already

being built nearby. to find out a bit more about this project and what it might mean for all of our energy bills, i am joined ijy all of our energy bills, i am joined by duncan clark, who is the head of uk company which has built and will operate this wind farm. duncan, firstly, the fact we have a wind farm of this scale is a sign of the rapid transformation that is taking place in our energy sector? absolutely right, we have made this elite and _ absolutely right, we have made this elite and we can build these power stations_ elite and we can build these power stations scale wind farms offshore. it is stations scale wind farms offshore. it is using — stations scale wind farms offshore. it is using the fantastic resources that we _ it is using the fantastic resources that we have got in this country and that we have got in this country and that is— that we have got in this country and that is now— that we have got in this country and that is now the backbone of an energy— that is now the backbone of an energy transition we have got to make _ energy transition we have got to make in— energy transition we have got to make in a — energy transition we have got to make in a decade.—

energy transition we have got to make in a decade. wind farms means cheap electricity _ make in a decade. wind farms means cheap electricity and _ make in a decade. wind farms means cheap electricity and wind _ make in a decade. wind farms means cheap electricity and wind farm - make in a decade. wind farms means cheap electricity and wind farm is - cheap electricity and wind farm is the cheapest form of energy the government can buy into for future projects, when will that mean a downward impact on our energy bills? as fast as we can build it every unit— as fast as we can build it every unit we — as fast as we can build it every unit we can _ as fast as we can build it every unit we can make from a renewable source, _ unit we can make from a renewable source, wind — unit we can make from a renewable source, wind farms, solar panels, it is a unit— source, wind farms, solar panels, it is a unit we — source, wind farms, solar panels, it is a unit we don't have to make by a power— is a unit we don't have to make by a power station. the situation we are in at the _ power station. the situation we are in at the moment with these rocketing prices of gas on international wholesale markets, we need to _ international wholesale markets, we need to reduce what we are drawing from that, _ need to reduce what we are drawing from that, reduce what we are paying for that _ from that, reduce what we are paying for that. ., .., ., ,, , for that. how can we make this ruicker? for that. how can we make this quicker? is _ for that. how can we make this quicker? is there _ for that. how can we make this quicker? is there a _ for that. how can we make this quicker? is there a way - for that. how can we make this quicker? is there a way to - for that. how can we make this| quicker? is there a way to short for that. how can we make this - quicker? is there a way to short cut the process, make it quicker to get offshore wind farms and onshore wind farms are built quickly, because the crisis is now? it is farms are built quickly, because the crisis is now?— crisis is now? it is important for businesses _ crisis is now? it is important for businesses and _ crisis is now? it is important for businesses and consumers - crisis is now? it is important for businesses and consumers to i crisis is now? it is important for l businesses and consumers to sort crisis is now? it is important for - businesses and consumers to sort it out right— businesses and consumers to sort it out right now. you businesses and consumers to sort it out right now-— out right now. you would like the government _ out right now. you would like the government to _ out right now. you would like the government to make _ out right now. you would like the government to make onshore - out right now. you would like the. government to make onshore wind out right now. you would like the - government to make onshore wind more

easy to get up and running? we government to make onshore wind more easy to get up and running?— easy to get up and running? we need all of these technologies. _ all of these technologies. particularly with offshore wind, we have got _ particularly with offshore wind, we have got a — particularly with offshore wind, we have got a ten year process to bring a praiect _ have got a ten year process to bring a project from the sea bed to producing power. we need to streamline that. we have a convoy of praiects _ streamline that. we have a convoy of projects coming through that development cycle and we need to make _ development cycle and we need to make that — development cycle and we need to make that as smooth as possible, reliable _ make that as smooth as possible, reiiahie as— make that as smooth as possible, reliable as possible and predictable as possible. reliable as possible and predictable as ossible. . ., reliable as possible and predictable as ossible. . ~' , ., , reliable as possible and predictable as ossible. ., ,, , . ., as possible. thank you very much and congratulations _ as possible. thank you very much and congratulations on _ as possible. thank you very much and congratulations on your— as possible. thank you very much and congratulations on your new - as possible. thank you very much and congratulations on your new wind - congratulations on your new wind farm, which is fully operational now. some good news at last to report, james. good news from the energy sector and we haven't said that for a very long time. we have not, i will — that for a very long time. we have not, i will send _ that for a very long time. we have not, i will send you _ that for a very long time. we have not, i will send you some - not, i will send you some binoculars. thank you very much. on other news. 115,000 royal mail workers will walk

out for the second time today in a row over pay — in what's being called the "biggest uk strike since 2009" by the communication workers union. the industrial action will disrupt deliveries of packages and letters. further strikes are planned for next week. here's our business correspondent, theo leggett. singing. postal workers were out making noise on the picket lines on friday, and they'll be back there again today. it's the second in a series of one—day strikes by some 115,000 staff at royal mail. what do we want? decent wage! it's a familiar tale this summer. members of the communication workers union insist that, with the cost of living rising rapidly, they need more money to make ends meet. royal mail say their workers have already been given a 2% rise. a further 1.5% is also now on the table — but that would depend on staff agreeing to changes, which could include compulsory sunday working. and the company says a further 2% bonus could be paid if productivity targets are met. but the cwu says that, with prices rising so fast, the current offer would lead to a dramatic fall in workers' living standards. and this isn't the only strike taking place this week —

thousands of staff at bt and openreach have also walked out in a dispute over pay. these are just the latest in a series of industrial disputes this year. we've also seen major stoppages on transport networks, and rubbish going uncollected due to a refuse workers' strike in scotland. and, if the cost of living continues to rise, they're highly unlikely to be the last. theo leggett, bbc news. and as we heard in theo's report — workers at bt have also walked out in what has been nicknamed the "summer of strikes" across the uk. our business correspondent carrie davies is outside the bt tower in central london. take as to what is going on behind you? this take as to what is going on behind ou? �* , , ., . ., take as to what is going on behind ou? m , take as to what is going on behind you? as you can see, these are workers from — you? as you can see, these are workers from bt _ you? as you can see, these are workers from bt and _ you? as you can see, these are| workers from bt and openreach you? as you can see, these are - workers from bt and openreach and they have been on strike yesterday and today, 40,000 workers and this is over pay. they have been offered an extra £1500. the union, also

representing royal mail workers has said that is not enough, given the cost of living crisis and inflation currently ripping through the economy at the moment, that is not enough for their workers. economy at the moment, that is not enoughfortheirworkers. bt economy at the moment, that is not enough for their workers. bt has said it is the equivalent of 5% pay rise or about 8% for some of the lowest paid workers. that is something the cwu say that is not true and it is not representative. and they point out that during the course of the pandemic, if their workers had not worked and kept staying at home, the working from home revolution, they would have stopped any issues and faults that kept the key infrastructures operating during the pandemic. now it is time to have that recognised in their pay as well. it is also important to know exactly what will be disrupted today. in terms of bt, call centres will be disrupted as well, the work to try and improve

the fibre network, the superfast fibre network, that will be slowed down and that will create a backlog big as —— because a result of these few days. big as -- because a result of these few da s. . , big as -- because a result of these fewda s. ., , , , ., ., few days. trains, bins in scotland, ostal few days. trains, bins in scotland, postal workers. — few days. trains, bins in scotland, postal workers, put _ few days. trains, bins in scotland, postal workers, put it _ few days. trains, bins in scotland, postal workers, put it together - few days. trains, bins in scotland, | postal workers, put it together with where we are with industrial action in different sectors? what where we are with industrial action in different sectors?— where we are with industrial action in different sectors? what we keep seeinr in different sectors? what we keep seeing when _ in different sectors? what we keep seeing when we — in different sectors? what we keep seeing when we see _ in different sectors? what we keep seeing when we see the _ in different sectors? what we keep seeing when we see the strikes - in different sectors? what we keep seeing when we see the strikes is i seeing when we see the strikes is two things that keep coming up, first a repeated discussion about the cost of living and people say pay rises on offer will not meet the inflation that we are currently seeing. we know inflation is above 10% and there is predictions it could go up by the bank of england to over 13% by the end of the year. these pay increases around 3%, 4%, 5%, the unions say this equates to a cost of living crunch, reduction in people's pay. the other thing we see from train strikes, communication

unions, to, if people talk about how they kept the economy going, key workers during the pandemic and they did not get pay rises and now they feel it needs to be recognised. this is the same argument we are hearing again and again and it is likely strikes will continue into the autumn. . ., strikes will continue into the autumn. ., ,, ., strikes will continue into the autumn. ., ., ., , more now on our main story, the death of the former leader of the soviet union, mikhail gorbachev. tributes have been paid around the world by many who saw gorbachev as a man of peace — and instrumental in bringing about the end of the cold war. but for many in russia, he remains a controversialfigure — a spokesman has said that gorbachev was a statesman who will always remain in the history of our country. but then the spokesman says, his romanticism about the west

was notjustified. so mixed messages, mixed memories from the official kremlin. the kremlin that mr gorbachev used to lead from 1985 until the dissolution of the soviet union in 1991. i'm joined now by the former uk ambassador to russia, sir tony brenton. your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount _ your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount of _ your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount of him _ your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount of him when - your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount of him when i - your recollections of him? i saw a fair amount of him when i was - fair amount of him when i was ambassador. by then he was an elder statesman in russia, rather disappointed i think with where his reforms were leading both his country and the world, but a great believer in peace and exerting huge influence overseas. although vanishingly little in russia itself because of course, his changes, he is the man in my lifetime he made the biggest difference to politics in the cold war and made most of the

world a much better, more prosperous and happier place. the one bit of the world he didn't do that in was rush itself which went into economic collapse and the disorder which has brought us to where we are now with russia. " j~ ~ brought us to where we are now with russia. ~ russia. 1984 when mr gorbachev was a member of the — russia. 1984 when mr gorbachev was a member of the inner _ russia. 1984 when mr gorbachev was a member of the inner circle, _ russia. 1984 when mr gorbachev was a member of the inner circle, wasn't - member of the inner circle, wasn't yet in power, went to the uk, met mrs thatcher and she said famously, he is a man we can do business with. how significant a moment was that? it was significant, mrs thatcher's support and relationship with mikhail gorbachev opened a relationship with ronald reagan in the united states and mutual trust and confidence which enabled gorbachev to carry through his reforms in russia and negotiate a reduction in the deals with the world outside. sadly, he felt by the end he had been exploited by the west. he referred a 1.2 having been

swindled by the west. he received verbal assurances for the reunification of germany, nato would have to expand a bit but it would not expand beyond that point. he later said the west became obsessed with building up a new empire in the form of an expanded nato and that would cause a problem.— form of an expanded nato and that would cause a problem. which indeed, it has. he resided _ would cause a problem. which indeed, it has. he resided over _ would cause a problem. which indeed, it has. he resided over the _ it has. he resided over the dissolution of the soviet union, including the ukraine and president putin is trying to bring ukraine back into moscow's orbit. is mr gorbachev�*s legacy being undone by vladimir putin? gorbachev's legacy being undone by vladimir putin?— vladimir putin? yes, it is. human riahts are vladimir putin? yes, it is. human rights are becoming _ vladimir putin? yes, it is. human rights are becoming an _ vladimir putin? yes, it is. humanj rights are becoming an integrated part of the western economy is becoming undone, most particularly by this fall. i am sure gorbachev, if he was around to see what is going on, would be appalled.

president putin is an appalling example of a very dangerous autocrat, but president putin sees the cause of that as being the west end —— western arrogance in the follow—up to the end of the cold war. follow-up to the end of the cold war. ~ , ., ., follow-up to the end of the cold war. ~ i. ., ~ ~ ., war. when you mention mikhail gorbachev's _ war. when you mention mikhail gorbachev's name, _ war. when you mention mikhail gorbachev's name, how- war. when you mention mikhail gorbachev's name, how do - war. when you mention mikhail i gorbachev's name, how do russian people respond?— gorbachev's name, how do russian people respond? dependent on which russians you — people respond? dependent on which russians you talk _ people respond? dependent on which russians you talk to. _ people respond? dependent on which russians you talk to. middle-class, i russians you talk to. middle—class, prosperous russians who did well out of russia joined the world economy so the benefits he brought, so the benefits he brought for peace. for normal, working—class, patriotic and nationalistic russians, he was the man who destroyed their state and the man who inflicted several years of economic misery. he was deeply, deeply unpopular among the vast

majority of the russian people. he was celebrated abroad but dismissed at home. do you think in his heart of hearts he would have liked to have swapped that row to be more recognised at home? he have swapped that row to be more recognised at home?— recognised at home? he was a disappointed — recognised at home? he was a disappointed man. _ recognised at home? he was a disappointed man. he - recognised at home? he was a disappointed man. he was i recognised at home? he was a | disappointed man. he was very careful not to criticise the performance of his successors, but he was very unhappy by the time he got into late president putin. his remit had been to reform integration into the wider world and economic prosperity is achievable with a capitalist economy. he achieved some of that, he did get rid of communism, but the consequences of getting rid of communism in russia, the state collapsed and he was very unhappy with that.— unhappy with that. thank you for “oininr unhappy with that. thank you for joining us- _ we have just received word from president putin himself who has

said, mr gorbachev, according to the news agencies, had a huge impact on world history and even look now to see how president putin presides over the funeral of one of his predecessors, mikhail gorbachev, his legacy has done so much to undo. the two men so russia and the world very, very differently. fishing crews in the north east of england have launched a legal campaign against the government, after thousands of dead shellfish washed up on the coastline last year. government scientists say natural algae in the water was responsible, but the fishing community fear it was a chemical incident. our north of england correspondent fiona trott reports. expectation. what lives beneath these waters will make or break fishermen like paul. we've got four fleets in the really shallow water and they've been sat there for three days now. we're just going to go and see

what we've got in them. there's the first pot. there's nothing in them. no, it's not normal at all. after a whole day at sea, they brought back seven lobsters. compare that to three years ago. they were able to catch 50 times as many. it's costing them £1,000 a day. this is the only environmental disaster i've ever seen, and i don't want to see no more of them. i mean, it's hit us now. it's going to be six, seven, maybe ten years before we get fishing back to normal. here's why. thousands of dead shellfish were washed up on the northeast coastline last october. the fishing community blamed dredging work in the river tees. they're convinced a chemical called pyridine was released into the water.

they want the mayoral authority to test for it before new dredging work begins for an offshore wind development in september. it's notjust pyridine, they think that it's agent orange, apparently from secret factories in the second world war. we've also been told that it was russian submarines trying to cause problems for the uk government. so i'm sure you're not suggesting and they're suggesting that we should be doing testing for those types of completely conspiratorial ideas because if we do that, we'll never get this development under way and finished and that's equally as damaging to the local people who in our local area want jobs and they want money in their pocket to look after themselves and their family. down the coast here in whitby, fishermen and women say they're also feeling the effects of last year's die off. and they, too, want more tests for pyridine. but the department for the environment, food and rural affairs say tests have already been carried out. it believes algae was the most likely cause. marine biologistjoe redfern says the fishing community needs more proof. we are pursuing a judicial review and that will basically force

the agencies such as defra and cefas to explain all their actions and allow the courts to then judge whether the investigations were performed in a lawful and thorough manner. forfishermen likejohn, any new evidence will come too late. they're not crab pots any more. they might as well be plant pots because the grass is just going to grow through them all. the drastic drop in shellfish is forcing him to sell his boat. it's really worrying. you just sit there with your in your hands thinking, am i in the rightjob? but i'm too old now to find anotherjob, so i'm just going to stick to this. and if it comes to where it's got to be chopped up or decommissioned, bring a decommission in for us. chop them up, pay us. what next for the fourth generation of this hartlepool fishing family? defra says the die off is a complex area of research and it's working

with universities and other experts to understand it better. fiona trott, bbc news, teesside. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. good morning. we are looking at a dry day ahead, breezy and the south and particularly so across england and particularly so across england and wales. a few showers this morning coming in across the north—east of england. more coming in on the breeze across other parts of england and wales but they will be fairly isolated and they will also be light. the gusty winds are gusting at this speed, so cross england and wales and the english channel you will notice them. cloud continuing to pick up across scotland and northern ireland and we are looking at sunny spells. temperatures, 13 to 24 degrees north to south. through this evening and overnight, a lot of clear skies and breezy across england and wales so

we are not anticipating any problems with patchy mist or fog, but we could see a little bit across northern ireland, scotland and northern england. those are the overnight lows. we start tomorrow with this clutch of weather fronts coming up across the channel islands. they will introduce showers, high pressure is stilljust clinging on further north. you can see where we have got the showers coming in across the channel islands, a lot of dry weather. showers being blown in on the breeze coming in from the north sea and temperatures tomorrow, we are looking at about 24 degrees. thursday into friday, look how this spreads further towards the east and then we have got another clutch of weather fronts coming in from the west. it is starting to turn more unsettled. during friday we will have the showers across the channel islands, moving in across parts of england and wales and heading northwards and at the same time we have the rain coming in across northern ireland and western scotland. temperatures 15 to about

24 degrees, the breeze picking up across the far north—east. the friday into saturday and generally for the weekend, low pressure takes over the weather, things are more unsettled and the isobars in the east telling us it will be unsettled. we have the line of showers and a line of rain both coming our way. showers and a line of rain both coming ourway. in showers and a line of rain both coming our way. in between there will be brighter skies and sunshine, but don't take where you see the rain and the showers for granted, these are two areas of low pressure coming our in a pincer movement, so those areas could change. but it will be windy and especially so during the course of sunday. but temperatures 15 to about 24 degrees. in essence, in the next couple of days high pressure remains in charge so we will hang onto sunny spells, one or two showers and breezy, but the rain and the wind picking up at the rain and the wind picking up at the weekend.

this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. tributes are paid to mikhail gorbachev, the soviet leader who ended the cold war, who has died at the age of 91. he was one of those people who changed the world and unquestionably changed it for the better. russia imposes a three—day shutdown on a major gas pipeline to europe. the kremlin says western sanctions prevent normal repair work. paris accuses moscow of using energy as a weapon of war. heavy fighting continues in ukraine, as troops try to take back the russian—occupied region of kherson in the south. a bbc investigation has found that shamima begum, who left london aged 15 to join the islamic state group, was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada.

thousands of royal mail workers in the uk stage a second day