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 of strike action in a row over pay, disrupting deliveries of packages and letters. a new study shows the impact of climate change on the shrinking glaciers of switzerland. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk, or around the world. 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. the un chief antonio guterres said he "changed the course of history".

president biden described him as a "man of remarkable vision", who created a "safer world". however, in a stamement this morning the kremlin said his "romanticism" about better relations with the west had been misplaced. 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. steve rosenberg reporting. angler merkel has said that micheal gorbachev changed her life fundamentally. president p ten, the successor has said that mr gorbachev had a huge impact on world history

and said that he deeply understood that reforms were necessary. the two men clearly — that reforms were necessary. the two men clearly saw _ that reforms were necessary. the two men clearly saw the _ that reforms were necessary. the two men clearly saw the world _ that reforms were necessary. the two men clearly saw the world in - men clearly saw the world in different ways and for many in russia he remains a controversial figure as steve rosenberg reports. many russians blame gorbachev for the collapse of the soviet union. many see him as being a weak leader, someone who couldn't keep control of the reforms he started, that spun out of control and lead to the disintegration of the soviet empire but the fact is that when gorbachev set out in the mid—80s to try to reform the ussr, there was no textbook he could pick up to say how to reform a salvia superpower. he tried his best. i think his heart was in the right place. he wanted to change his country for the best and build a more peaceful world. he

believed in peace and wanted to prevent everything he could to prevent everything he could to prevent the cold war turning hot and he achieved that. he helped to end the cold war. the situation we have now more than 30 years on is very different. we have an administration in russia which is determined to raise conflict and confrontation with the west. in many ways, vladimir putin is the polar opposite of orbital. i'm joined now by former labour cabinet minister and former shadow foreign secretary, hilary benn mp. mr benn, you came of age politically when gorbachev took power. what he recollections of him? i when gorbachev took power. what he recollections of him?— recollections of him? i think it's a ve sad recollections of him? i think it's a very sad morning _ recollections of him? i think it's a very sad morning because - recollections of him? i think it's a very sad morning because his - recollections of him? i think it's a l very sad morning because his death reminds_ very sad morning because his death reminds us— very sad morning because his death reminds us of the time when showed its power— reminds us of the time when showed its power to— reminds us of the time when showed its power to do good. and that's what _ its power to do good. and that's what i _ its power to do good. and that's what i think you'll be remembered for. what i think you'll be remembered for~ he _ what i think you'll be remembered for~ he was — what i think you'll be remembered for. he was a courageous political

leaden _ for. he was a courageous political leaden he — for. he was a courageous political leader. he inherited a soviet empire that was_ leader. he inherited a soviet empire that was already creaking. where the economy _ that was already creaking. where the economy was undergoing great difficulties. he was worried about inefficiency in the soviet system and he — inefficiency in the soviet system and he brought about change and he was determined that there should not be bloodshed if, as the states of the soviet — be bloodshed if, as the states of the soviet unions decided to break away, _ the soviet unions decided to break away, so _ the soviet unions decided to break away, so when the berlin wall came down, _ away, so when the berlin wall came down, he _ away, so when the berlin wall came down, he would not intervene. it was different— down, he would not intervene. it was different to _ down, he would not intervene. it was different to his predecessors in 1968— different to his predecessors in 1968 with the invasions of czechoslovakia and then hungary in 19 56~ _ czechoslovakia and then hungary in 19 56 his— czechoslovakia and then hungary in 19 56. his passing reminds us of what _ 19 56. his passing reminds us of what is — 19 56. his passing reminds us of what is possible when you have leaders — what is possible when you have leaders of courage who are prepared to look— leaders of courage who are prepared to look at— leaders of courage who are prepared to look at people who might been

regarded — to look at people who might been regarded as their opponents, such as ronald _ regarded as their opponents, such as ronald reagan and then a few years latei’, _ ronald reagan and then a few years later, there is a treaty on nuclear weapons — later, there is a treaty on nuclear weapons and it shows what you can do and i weapons and it shows what you can do and i think— weapons and it shows what you can do and i think history will remember him kindly— and i think history will remember him kindly for everything he did. what _ him kindly for everything he did. what do — him kindly for everything he did. what do you think the way he engaged with utter relish with those arguments with ronald reagan and margaret thatcher? he seemed to enjoy debate. he margaret thatcher? he seemed to enjoy debate-— enjoy debate. he was so different from his predecessors. _ enjoy debate. he was so different from his predecessors. old, - enjoy debate. he was so different from his predecessors. old, stiff, j from his predecessors. 0ld, stiff, formal, reading from notes. he liked to debate. that was quite evident, not only with other world leaders but he invented in russian terms, the walkabout. he would meet people, discuss and argue and debate and i think that showed confidence. but he was shaped by his experiences. he described later in life how, as a

young party official, he had been ordered to discipline a professor who criticised soviet agricultural policy and he dutifully did this but then he said how his conscience was disturbed by it and left a mark on him. so this led him to argue for an opening up, greaterfreedom of speech, greaterfreedom of the press in the soviet union and those were two really fundamental things. he presided over the break—up of the soviet union and the independence of ukraine, whose bad url wearing this morning. vladimir putin, the current russian leader, wants to bring ukraine back into moscow pulls back orbit. when you look at history, are they two sides of russia?—

they two sides of russia? that's a aood wa they two sides of russia? that's a good way of _ they two sides of russia? that's a good way of putting _ they two sides of russia? that's a good way of putting it. _ they two sides of russia? that's a good way of putting it. the - they two sides of russia? that's a good way of putting it. the fact i they two sides of russia? that's a good way of putting it. the fact is | good way of putting it. the fact is the collapse of the soviet union was the collapse of the soviet union was the second — the collapse of the soviet union was the second book end to the backend that began with the russian revolution in 1917. and it was coming, _ revolution in 1917. and it was coming, it— revolution in 1917. and it was coming, it was inevitable. we'd seen the strains _ coming, it was inevitable. we'd seen the strains leading up to it and i think— the strains leading up to it and i think he — the strains leading up to it and i think he thought in particular, in respect — think he thought in particular, in respect of— think he thought in particular, in respect of the collapse of the east german— respect of the collapse of the east german regime, he understood what reunification, the desire to be one peopie _ reunification, the desire to be one people again meant to the people of germany— people again meant to the people of germany and there are some things in life, germany and there are some things in life. in— germany and there are some things in life, in politics, that you cannot control— life, in politics, that you cannot control and _ life, in politics, that you cannot control and it's curious really that his reputation in the rest of the world _ his reputation in the rest of the world is— his reputation in the rest of the world is so— his reputation in the rest of the world is so great but as you have been _ world is so great but as you have been reporting today and yesterday, in russia, _ been reporting today and yesterday, in russia, a — been reporting today and yesterday, in russia, a lot of people bemoan the disappearance of the old certainties but i think that change

was inevitable. i think he did his best— was inevitable. i think he did his best to — was inevitable. i think he did his best to make the best of that change — best to make the best of that change. and that's why i think he will he _ change. and that's why i think he will be remembered as a great politician, a great leader, a great man _ politician, a great leader, a great man. . ~' politician, a great leader, a great man. . ~ , ., politician, a great leader, a great man. . ~ i., politician, a great leader, a great man. . ~ . ., politician, a great leader, a great man. . . ., ., man. thank you so much for “oining us, man. thank you so much for “oining hilary. — man. thank you so much for “oining us, hilary. looking�* man. thank you so much for “oining us, hilary. looking back_ man. thank you so much for “oining us, hilary. looking back at h us, hilary. looking back at gorbachev, the last leader of the soviet union who has died, aged 91. he was determined to engage with the west in so many ways. we heard from angela merkeljust now she grew up in east germany under gorbachev, and east germany disappeared and germany was reunited. russia and germany continued to do business with each other, encouraged by gorbachev but mr putin, who hasn't wanted to piece

back together bits of the soviet empire that gorbachev lost her saying that business relationship between russia and germany put under real stress because russia has now shutdown 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 one, 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. i spoke to our berlin correspondent damien mcguiness about germany's reaction. over the last few months, germany has done a lot to fill up its gas reserves. so until quite recently, things were looking quite bad here when it came to getting through the winter because of course, germany relies a lot on gas. before the full invasion

of ukraine in february, the majority of german gas came from russia, but that has sunk drastically over the last few months. and what germany has been doing really, particularly recently has been pushing through some quite draconian savings measures. many public buildings now only have cold water and lots of public buildings not lit up at night, as well as going to other countries to get more gas reserves, from norway, from the netherlands, from belgium. and all of this means that germany's gas reserve tanks are now more than 80% full, which is a big increase. and germany has previously said that once you get to 85% of gas reserve tanks full, germany can get through the winter without extra russian supplies. so those gas reserves are being filled faster than expected. so it's really quite a positive message coming out of berlin today, which is surprising because, of course, gas prices have been rising, as you say. but right now the government is meeting to push through a third package of measures to help households deal with rising prices. and the other positive message is that the german economy minister robert habeck, has said that gas prices could soon start falling in germany and that's

because of those gas reserve tanks, it means that berlin no longer has to take the highest price. so a surprisingly positive message, and i think all of this, this sudden three day shutdown of this major pipeline is not seen as a surprise in germany. i think since february, the german government has completely lost any illusions it might have had about russia. it doesn't believe what comes out of moscow when it comes to energy and believes that any kind of talk about repairs or slowing down because of supplies is simply a political weapon. and that's why germany has been frantically, since february, looking for other sources, but also filling up those gas supplies. and it looks like now that's starting to workjust in time really for the winter.

damian, throughout the day, of course, we're looking back on the life of mikhail gorbachev. when he took power in 1985, there was west germany and there was east germany and a few years later, at the end of the cold war, germany reunited. i wonder how germans see his role in their country in history? with a great deal of gratitude, actually, james, i think a lot of people here feel that if he hadn't been leader at that time, if it had been someone else, you possibly might not have ended up with a united germany today. german chancellor 0lav schulz put it succinctly this morning, he said that he described mikhail gorbachev as a courageous reformer. he said it was thanks to him or it was under his policy or partly thanks to his policy that reunification was possible. i think in germany there are two main views about him. 0n the one hand, in the late 80s, he's seen as someone who inspired the peace protests here on the streets of berlin. it was, of course, thanks to east germans bravely protesting on the streets that the east german government fell in the first place. so it wasn't thanks to mr gorbachev, but what he did, the words coming out of moscow in his visits to east berlin before 1989 really inspired young people to take to the streets. and the second thing he's seen as having achieved for germans is he supported german reunification.

of course, that's incredibly important for germany. but there's also you know, there's also an awareness that like every leader and particularly like many russian leaders, there's a complex character you're dealing with. and there is an awareness that in other parts of eastern europe, particularly the baltic states, there was bloodshed when it came to peace, protests under his leadership. so it's a mixed message, but i think overall, it's gratitude that that there was german unification was possible. damien mcguinness reporting their from berlin. and talking about germany's energy prices which are tied into russia and ukraine. we just got news that the eurozone inflation rate has hit 9.1% in august. that's according to the eu's statistics agency and that increases pressure on the european central bank to hike interest rates. those

rising prices we are seeing a home in the uk and people in europe are saying and our viewers in other countries are saying is partly down to russia buzz invasion of ukraine and vladimir putin's attempt to try and vladimir putin's attempt to try and undo some of the work done by nico gorbachev. mr peyton wants to bring ukraine back into —— mr putin wants to bring ukraine back into russia's orbit. 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.

you may remember the noble nuclear accident at the time of you may remember the cherynobl time of a team from the international atomic energy agency — the iaea — is expected to arrive at the zaporizhzhia facility on thursday. hugo bachego gave us this update from kyiv a short while ago. a lot of detail hasn't been given about what's been agreed, when he spoke to journalists, before leaving kyiv. we understand they're are now heading towards the zaporizhzhia region in the south of ukraine. for weeks we've been talking about tensions around this nuclear facility, tensions that have raised fears of a possible nuclear catastrophe with russia and ukraine about who is responsible

for shelling the facility. he also says one of the goals of this mission is to guarantee the stability of this nuclear complex which has been under russian occupation since the beginning of march. he also said there are some security for this trip to go ahead he also said there are some security guarentees for this trip to go ahead but we don't know how they are going to get to this power plant which is located in an area of intense fighting in the south of ukraine. he also said 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 president zelenskyy said

russia is continuing to shell the route which is expected to be used by this mission so it's another sign of how tense things are in this part of the country. bt and 0penreach workers are taking a second day of industrial action in a row over pay. they, along with 115 thousand royal mail workers are walking out in what's being called the "biggest uk strike since 2009" by the communication workers union.

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 0penreach have also walked out in a dispute over pay. 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. as we heard in theo's report bt and 0penreach workers are taking a second day of industrial action in a row over pay. our business correspondent

carrie davies was down at bt tower earlierfor more. as you can see, these are workers from bt and 0penreach 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. 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 as a result of these few days. trains, bins in scotland, postal workers, put it together with where we are with industrial action in different sectors? what we keep 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. 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. josh baker presents the five live's podcast on the story —

�*i'm not a monster�* he's been investigating all of this. 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. 0nce those girls disappeared, untilfour 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. what have you uncovered? we've obtained a dossier about the man who moved her and her friends 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 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. how have the authorities responded to what you have uncovered? as is the way with anything relating to national security and intelligence, both the canadian and british authorities have declined to comment on this matter. josh baker, who has been investigating the story in the bbc podcast i'm not a monster, which you can find on bbc sounds.

to the flooding in pakistan now, and the united nations has launched an emergency appeal, to help victims of what the un secretary general called a "monsoon on steroids". pakistan's government says the floods are the worst in the nation's history. more than 1,000 people are known to have been killed, as roads, homes and bridges are washed away. 0ur correspondent pumza fihlani is in the southern sindh province. and we are on one of the busy roads here in sukkur in sindh province. it's one of the places where families who have been displaced have come and pitched tents for temporary shelter. it's a busy road and there are a lot of children running around. the parents are now speaking to them, say they are worried about how long they'll have to be in these conditions. they are out in the open in really hot weather. but also there isn't enough space for everything that they've come with. 0n the one side, just across, some people have brought their livestock that they were able to salvage when the flood waters came. but because it's a busy road,

they worry that either that will get run over or the children as they move in between the streets. they've told us that for days they can go without food because aid efforts here are still very erratic. and it's unclear when food is going to come. when it does come, people fight for it, they fight amongst themselves, children fight amongst themselves and adults also, too. and it's just creating an intense sense of desperation here on the ground. the country itself relies hugely on the road infrastructure to move goods when there aren't any floods. and because that has been destroyed, now they're having to think on their feet about how they will get aid to people. in the meantime, what that's meant is that whatever little supplies were already in communities, those are not enough to go around. and that's where that desperation and those fights then come from, because people know this, they see how little the food is when it comes. they see the spaces and the time it takes in between the next food delivery. so they do get a sense that whatever is available is not enough for everyone,

which is why people aren't willing, or they aren't willing to go without, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that they get fed. nasa has announced plans to re—launch its new moon rocket, artemis one on saturday, after monday's attempt failed due to technical problems. the 42—day test flight will be unmanned and is a key step in the usa's programme to return astronauts to the moon, for the first time in 50 years. the blast—off will happen at the kennedy space centre in florida. the headlines on bbc news... 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 in the uk stage a second day of strike action in a row over pay — disrupting deliveries of packages and letters. well, the west�*s attitude towards mikhail gorbachev is almost certainly different from many attitudes within russia itself. this morning the prime minister borisjohnson has been paying tribute to mr gorbachev. mikhail gorbachev was one of those people who change the world and unquestionably changed it for the better. when you look at what he did to make europe free to give freedom to make europe free to give freedom

to the countries of the former soviet union, it was quite an extraordinary thing. of course, mikhail gorbachev is one of those people who triggered a series of changes that perhaps he didn't anticipate. maybe he paid his own political price for it, but when history is written, he will be one of the authors of fantastic change for the better. sir andrew wood is the former uk ambassador to russia who served from 1995 to 2000. he served in those years after mr gorbachev stepped down after the soviet union disintegrated, your recollections of him and his place in history? i recollections of him and his place in histo ? ~ . recollections of him and his place in history?— in history? i think what boris johnsonjust_ in history? i think what boris johnson just said _ in history? i think what boris johnson just said is - in history? i think what boris johnson just said is a - in history? i think what boris johnson just said is a pretty. in history? i think what boris - johnson just said is a pretty good summary. he was an honourable man who became the head of a failing state, the ussr, that is. change had to happen, nobody could tell what

the product of that change would be and there were certainly mistakes, if you like, accidents, if you like. at the end result was to give russia, as a part of the ussr and other parts of the ussr, the opportunity to pursue their own interests. that included ukraine, of course, which the president of russia is attempting to deprive the possibility of them pursuing their own interests.— possibility of them pursuing their own interests. what was his single bi est own interests. what was his single biggest achievement _ own interests. what was his single biggest achievement in _ own interests. what was his single biggest achievement in your - own interests. what was his single biggest achievement in your view? the single biggest achievement would be getting the arms race, of the military friction resolved for a time. secondly, in recognising the

countries of eastern europe, including germany, were no longer going to be, in practice, governor bill by moscow. and thirdly, by giving the people of russia and other parts of the soviet union, the opportunity, as i said before, to develop their own future which is a basic qualification, i think, for peace in the world. i basic qualification, i think, for peace in the world.— basic qualification, i think, for peace in the world. i was he seen durin: peace in the world. i was he seen during your _ peace in the world. i was he seen during your time _ peace in the world. i was he seen during your time in _ peace in the world. i was he seen during your time in russia - peace in the world. i was he seen during your time in russia by - during your time in russia by ordinary people? it during your time in russia by ordinary people?— during your time in russia by ordinary people? during your time in russia by ordina --eole? ., , ., ordinary people? it would depend on where they were _ ordinary people? it would depend on where they were and _ ordinary people? it would depend on where they were and what _ ordinary people? it would depend on where they were and what their - where they were and what their interests were. there was a growing dispensation to suppose that everything he did had gone wrong. there was always the opportunity for nationalist minded people for

failing to maintain and failing russia. he had the opportunity to begin to develop a fresher society which would make them more akin to european practices as a whole. we have been looking back on some of those summits he held the president reagan at the first famous meeting he had with mrs thatcher before he came to power. haifa he had with mrs thatcher before he came to power-— he had with mrs thatcher before he came to power. how do you reflect on those high-profile, _ came to power. how do you reflect on those high-profile, high _ came to power. how do you reflect on those high-profile, high meetings - those high—profile, high meetings with the west? he those high-profile, high meetings with the west?— those high-profile, high meetings with the west? , ., , , with the west? he spoke honestly, he soke with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly — with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and _ with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and he _ with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and he spoke _ with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and he spoke out - with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and he spoke out of- with the west? he spoke honestly, he spoke openly and he spoke out of hisl spoke openly and he spoke out of his own conviction out of the ussr at that time and it did produce good

results. but what he couldn't do was to control the overall reaction within the soviet union, which was, for obvious reasons, if you look back at the past of russia, there were quite a lot of waves of nationalism, if you like, the wish of the parts of the soviet union to become sovereign states. that did create a dilemma for him given that a large group of people within his government that wanted to preserve the union. and that was a continuing difficulty for him. but the talks he had with the west, on the whole, were pretty successful. there is a legend put round now that mr

gorbachev himself denied, that he had asked for a promise that the west would not expand nato. no such promise was ever given and nor did he ask for such a promise. the expansion of nato was caused by the fact that russia, in its new singularity still represented a threat in the minds of people of europe and the former soviet union, to their independence and the ability to decide their own future. a threat which has grown since then. and when they blame nato for that, the expansion of nato, the countries who joined the expansion of nato, the countries whojoined nato, very much the expansion of nato, the countries who joined nato, very much wanted to join nato because they felt threatened by russia. that join nato because they felt threatened by russia. join nato because they felt threatened b russia. . ., threatened by russia. at the time of the dissolution _ threatened by russia. at the time of the dissolution of—

threatened by russia. at the time of the dissolution of the _ threatened by russia. at the time of the dissolution of the soviet - threatened by russia. at the time of the dissolution of the soviet union, | the dissolution of the soviet union, presided over by mikhail gorbachev, there was a young kgb colonel serving in east germany, vladimir putin, who saw that this integration as one of the greatest catastrophes in is it fair to say everything mr putin is doing is a rejection of everything that mr gorbachev was doing? everything that mr gorbachev was doinu ? . , everything that mr gorbachev was doing? that is the practical answer, es. one doing? that is the practical answer, yes- one man _ doing? that is the practical answer, yes. one man holds _ doing? that is the practical answer, yes. one man holds total— doing? that is the practical answer, yes. one man holds total power, i yes. one man holds total power, which was not the case in the soviet union and we all know, has attacked ukraine. in practice, he has been at war with ukraine since 2004, particularly 2014 and so on. yes, he has also, in effect, abandoned the rule of law and inserted a small

group of people at the top acting in their own interest and under their own convictions. which to my mind will cause further disruption in the construction of russia itself. thank ou so construction of russia itself. thank you so much _ construction of russia itself. thank you so much for— construction of russia itself. thank you so much forjoining _ construction of russia itself. thank you so much forjoining us. - 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 in the uk, and will power more than one million homes. 0ur environment correspondent, jonah fisher, reports. 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. 0nshore 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. jonah fisher, bbc news, grimsby. iraq's president, barham saleh has addressed the nation after nearly 24 hours of violence that's left dozens dead and hundreds injured in the capital baghdad. mr saleh said that he thought early elections could help resolve the high political tensions. iraq has had no functioning government since inconclusive

elections last october. caroline hawley reports. in the centre of baghdad, a second day of deadly violence. here, a rocket—propelled grenade being fired. the worst fighting iraq has been in years. the country's political crisis erupted into street battles on monday. supporters of the powerful cleric moqtada al sadr, who gained the most seats in elections last year, against rival shia factions backed by neighbouring iran. both groups have been vying for power and resources. these are moqtada al sadr�*s supporters on monday after they'd stormed into the republican palace inside iraq's well—protected green zone — briefly enjoying this unaccustomed luxury before, on tuesday, he apologised and announced he wanted them out. translation: | had hoped . for peaceful protests with pure hearts, hearts filled with love for their country, not ones

that resort to gunfire. this saddens the revolution, as this revolution now resembles violence and killing. it is no longer a revolution. and so, his loyal followers obeyed — leaving the green zone as he'd demanded, stood down — calm restored and a clear—up under way. but there are questions now about what both neighbouring iran and its allies and moqtada al sadr will do next. sadr, for all his machinations, is really more of a nationalist, certainly, than he is iranian—influenced. the divisions and rivalry that led to this bloodshed have not been resolved, and the president has now warned that iraq isn't out of crisis yet. translation: the current situation is no longer acceptable _ and cannot continue. holding new early elections i in accordance with the national consensus represents an exit from this crisis instead - of political confrontation. it guarantees political and social stability .

and responds to the aspirations of the iraqi people. _ but as long as the political stalemate goes on, iraqis will fear a new wave of violence when most people in the countryjust want security and peace. caroline hawley, bbc news. while arguments rage in the united states over the repeal of roe v wade, injapan, a much less noisy debate is going on over the legalisation if "medically induced abortions". in may, a senior health official told parliament the ministry would approve an abortion pill combination. from tokyo, rupert wingfield—hayes reports. this japanese woman became pregnant after her boyfriend repeatedly refused to use a condom during sex. she then had to ask his permission to get an abortion, sex which he didn't want to give. translation: it's strange that i had to ask him to use contraception. - and when he decided not to use

a condom, i needed permission from him to abort the baby. i felt completely powerless. i couldn't make my own decision about my own body. japan was one of the first countries in the world to legalise abortion, all the way back in 1948, but it's always had this very paternalistic twist — japanese women must get the written consent of their husband or partner. now japan is finally set to approve the so—called abortion pill, something that's been available in france since 1988, and britain since 1991. but japan's health ministry says women will still need the consent of their partner. it could be very expensive, as much as $700—800. this doctor spends most of his time treating women who want to be pregnant, but he will also prescribe

the new abortion pill. he says there are good reasons for making it expensive. translation: in japan, - if you take the abortion pill, you have to be kept in hospital so we can monitor the patient. if we need to help you, it takes even more time than a surgical abortion. sexual health activists disagree — this woman has designed this kit to teach japanese schoolchildren how not to get pregnant. she says there is still huge resistance from japan's male dominated elite to women getting proper sexual education, modern contraception and easy access to abortion. translation: it takes two people to get pregnant, and yet in japan, | it feels like the only person who is persecuted is the one with the ovaries. a lot of decisions are made by old men who will never carry a child. they need to listen

to the voices of women. activists note it has takenjapan over 30 years to approve the abortion pill but tookjust six months to approve the male impotency pill viagra. they say japanese women will never have control of their own bodies while they must ask men for permission to end an unwanted pregnancy. 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. 0ur 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. switzerland's glaciers attract tourists from all over the world, but experts say global warming is putting them at serious risk. over the last 100 years, the mountain ice has shrunk by more than a half, and it's threatening lives and livelihoods, as imogen foulkes reports. high in the alps, the mountains are moving. ancient ice caps are cracking and melting. richard — a guide like his father and grandfather before him — has to adapt. the permafrost on the mountains is melting off, and then you have more rock fall. you have more crevasses on the glacier because there is not enough snow from the winter.

and it makes ourjob more challenging, i have to say. you have to think more about risk—management. that's all part of things we didn't have, like, 20 years ago when i start guiding. across switzerland, rock falls triggered by melting permafrost have closed climbing routes — but the changes started long before this hot summer. since the 1930s, the glaciers have lost more than half their volume. 20 years ago, this glacier was actually much bigger. and you can see behind me, the rock is emerging where the ice has split apart in the last few years. and if you take a moment to listen... rushing. ..that rushing sound is the ice melting and pouring down into the valleys. so we're probably one of the first people walking here. the ground up here hasn't been seen for thousands of years. now the remaining ice has been

wrapped up to protect it — a desperate sticking plaster on the wound of climate change. glaciers are tourist attractions, and the thaw threatens livelihoods. so when we constructed this chairlift, we had to dig in five, seven meters into the ice because the ice was on this level, and this was 23 years back. look in my back where the glacier is now. glaciers store the winter snow, and release it gently in summer — water for europe's rivers and europe's crops. scientists say global warming is bringing that natural process to an end. end of the century, we will only have ice at the highest part — so above 3,500 meters that there will be still some ice in 100 years. but all what we see here, this mainly will be gone. if this ice is gone, there won't be any water any more.

our world is getting warmer, and glaciers are especially sensitive to changes in temperature. those who know them best believe they are warning us. we have a problem. i mean, all over in europe — it's notjust up here in the mountains. i mean, this glacier, this water is part of the water for the farmers down in the flats. and i don't know how we're going to live without the glacier. latest predictions show keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees centigrade could save some of the ice. but achieving that will need a real effort to tackle climate change. without it, europe's glaciers could be gone in decades. imogen foulkes, bbc news. you can keep up to date with all of our stories on the bbc news website and app. more headlines coming up at the top of the hour, thanks for your company.

hello again. today is the last day of the meteorological summer and we do have some summer weather in the forecast. high pressure is firmly in charge of things today. and still we've got a keen breeze across england and wales, especially the north sea coastline and the channel islands. bringing in showers from the east, few of them moving west but they are fairly isolated. most of us having a dry day with sunny spells, the cloud hanging on across the northern isles for the longest. these white circles represent the average strength of the wind, so you can see it is not very strong but you will notice it when a gust, with temperatures 14 to about 24 degrees

in the south. this evening and overnight, breezy across england and wales, one or two showers, but they will be a lot of clear skies and with the lighter winds across scotland and northern ireland and also northern england, we mightjust see the odd pocket of patchy fog. temperatures six to about 40 degrees, lower in some sheltered glens. to mark on any mist and fog formed overnight will quickly disperse and we are looking at a dry day with sunshine around, some shower still coming in from the north sea, but not very many. temperatures 14 to about 24 degrees. after that, things start to change and we start to see low pressure come our way. we have showers across the channel islands on thursday, moving steadily northwards during the course of friday, getting as far north as eastern scotland and at the same time, and weather front connected to low pressure bringing rain across the west. temperatures up rain across the west. temperatures up to 24 degrees. 0n rain across the west. temperatures up to 24 degrees. on saturday, you

can see where we have the line of showers, some could be heavy and thundery and we have rain coming in from the west. don't take the placement of this as gospel, because it could change. but in between there could be some sunshine and temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees. low pressure remains with us through sunday and the early part of next week so the forecast will be unsettled. windy at times across the north—east of the country and some of us will see some heavy rain. temperatures slipping a touch, 18 to about 24.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11. 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 at the age of 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. and defending champion emma raducanu is out of the us open — losing in the first round to alize cornet. president putin has sent a message of condolence to the friends and family of the last leader of the soviet union,

mikhail gorbachev, who has died at the age of 91. mr gorbachev was crucial to ending the cold war and was one of the most influential political figures of the 20th century. world leaders have been paying tribute. un secretary general antonio guterres called him "a one of a kind statesman" who had "changed the course of history". president biden described him as a "man of remarkable vision", who created a "safer world". however, in a statement this morning the kremlin said his "romanticism" about better relations with the west had been misplaced. 0ur 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. borisjohnson was among those paying tribute to mikhail gorbachev. mikhail gorbachev was one of those people who changed the world and unquestionably 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, mikhail gorbachev was one of those people who triggered a change, a series of changes that perhaps he didn't anticipate, maybe he paid his own political price for it, but when history is written, he will be, i think, one of the authors of fantastic change for the better. and let's hear what the german chancellor 0laf scholz had to say. translation: he was a courageous reformer and a statesman _ who dared to do many things. we will not forget that perestroika made it possible to attempt to establish democracy in russia and that democracy and freedom became possible in europe, that germany could be united and the iron curtain disappeared. the democracy movement in central and eastern europe also benefited from the fact he was in charge of russia at that time.

we know that he's died at a time when not only has democracy in russia failed — there is no other way to describe the current situation there — but also russia and the russian president putin are digging new trenches in europe and have started a terrible war against the neighbouring country, ukraine. and that is precisely why we remember mikhail gorbachev and know what significance he had for the development of europe and also of our country in recent years. with me is bbc russian service editor famil ismailov. the phrase the end of an era is often a cliche when we talk about it in relation to the death of someone but in this instance it seems entirely appropriate, doesn't it? i entirely appropriate, doesn't it? i think it is. it is absolutely right, with gorbachev started a new part of the history. long continuing for

russia and for the former soviet union countries. imagine that people were seeing the biggest country, huge superpower, the last days, collapsing in front of their own eyes. the shelves in the shops absolutely empty. people trying to move from salary to just living basically from paycheque to paycheque. basically there were seeing no prospect and here comes gorbachev and he says, guys, we're going to live better, and he looks like an absolutely different kind of leader. he is not like brezhnev who could not actually by the end of his life string one sentence together, mixing up his speeches, and people were having jokes about him. i haven't seen manyjokes about gorbachev at that time. with gorbachev at that time. with gorbachev there was a new hope for the soviet union, for people who lived in the soviet union, and those hopes actually, in many cases, like for the independent countries now,

have been true.— for the independent countries now, have been true. what was it like for ou livin: have been true. what was it like for you living through _ have been true. what was it like for you living through those _ have been true. what was it like for you living through those times? - have been true. what was it like for you living through those times? i i you living through those times? i think if gorbachev wasn't there, i probably would be, i would have lost myjob or arrested by the kgb. for the new generationjust myjob or arrested by the kgb. for the new generation just out of university, graduated in 1986 and that was a high time for perestroika and glasnost policy. i was sent as a reporter to the congress were i once met gorbachev, not alone obviously, and he was surrounded by security detail and they started pushing us around to make sure we were not too close to the leader, and gorbachev actually was quite relaxed, and he told them, you know, stop doing that, let them come to me, ask your questions and i will try to answer for as long as i have time. and that was something absolutely new, nobody had seen that before.— had seen that before. that's quite a contrast when _ had seen that before. that's quite a contrast when we _ had seen that before. that's quite a contrast when we look _ had seen that before. that's quite a contrast when we look at _ had seen that before. that's quite a contrast when we look at russia - had seen that before. that's quite a | contrast when we look at russia now and the restrictions on freedom of

the press. indeed it is. what do you make of the reaction from the kremlin to the news of gorbachev is �*s death? it kremlin to the news of gorbachev is 's death? , , w' kremlin to the news of gorbachev is 'sdeath? ,, ., , 's death? it is stricken, it appears that 12 hours _ 's death? it is stricken, it appears that 12 hours after _ 's death? it is stricken, it appears that 12 hours after the _ 's death? it is stricken, it appears that 12 hours after the death - 's death? it is stricken, it appears that 12 hours after the death of. that 12 hours after the death of gorbachev, we only see a telegram sent by putin, we don't see him making a statement to the cameras, we don't see... the reaction is generally quite muted. we see reports in the media but we don't see big official reactions. we still don't even know if he will have a state funeral or not and that tells a lot about the atmosphere in russia has changed so much since putin has beenin has changed so much since putin has been in power. but has changed so much since putin has been in power-— been in power. but condolences with a hint of criticism _ been in power. but condolences with a hint of criticism as _ been in power. but condolences with a hint of criticism as well? _ a hint of criticism as well? absolute, because what gorbachev was trying to do, to change the world since the cold war, obviously he didn't want this are beginning to collapse but at the same time he wanted to give freedom to the people of the soviet union, and as we know, mr putin thinks that the collapse of the soviet union was the single biggest geopolitical catastrophe of

the century, of all time probably come putin would like gorbachev to be someone remembered. thank come putin would like gorbachev to be someone remembered. thank you for our be someone remembered. thank you for your thoughts — be someone remembered. thank you for your thoughts on — be someone remembered. thank you for your thoughts on this _ be someone remembered. thank you for your thoughts on this today. _ let's go live to cardiff and speak to sergey radchenko, who is a cold war historian and the wilson e schmidt distinguished professor at thejohns hopkins school of advanced international studies. thank you very much forjoining us. mikhail gorbachev reimagined a different kind of russia, didn't he come a different place for russia within the world order. what motivated at? he within the world order. what motivated at? , ., ., ., motivated at? he understood that the soviet system — motivated at? he understood that the soviet system was _ motivated at? he understood that the soviet system was not _ motivated at? he understood that the soviet system was not delivering. - motivated at? he understood that the soviet system was not delivering. he | soviet system was not delivering. he understood that major reforms were needed. he wanted to have a different vision for the ussr, and he also wanted to change the world, he also wanted to change the world, he wanted to end the cold war and

the confrontation that he thought was so unnecessary. and it was that vision i think that drove him. what vision i think that drove him. what do ou vision i think that drove him. what do you think _ vision i think that drove him. what do you think lay — vision i think that drove him. what do you think lay behind _ vision i think that drove him. what do you think lay behind that, this vision that was so different from what had gone before with previous leaders? he what had gone before with previous leaders? . , what had gone before with previous leaders? . , ., ., ., ., , leaders? he was a man of a different generation- — leaders? he was a man of a different generation. the _ leaders? he was a man of a different generation. the previous— leaders? he was a man of a different generation. the previous surveyed i generation. the previous surveyed leaders, they had been involved in repressions, they had been involved in violence for the gorbachev on the other hand had politically matured after stalin somma —— my after salon, so to speak. he was of the generation that witnessed this of invasion of czechoslovakia and that perhaps perhaps internally felt there was something wrong with it so it aggression and expansion, he wanted to change that, wanted to put a different face to the soviet foreign policy. a different face to the soviet foreign policy-— a different face to the soviet foreign policy. a different face to the soviet foreian oli . . , ., foreign policy. and yet as we heard from my colleague _ foreign policy. and yet as we heard from my colleague a _ foreign policy. and yet as we heard from my colleague a moment - foreign policy. and yet as we heard from my colleague a moment ago, | foreign policy. and yet as we heard l from my colleague a moment ago, if you look at the reaction, the condolences from president putin, clearly he is a man who thinks that

the break—up of the soviet union was the break—up of the soviet union was the biggest mistake ever to happen. so what do you make of those condolences, and i guess when you look at the legacy of mikhail gorbachev, depends very much where you are looking at it from? weill. you are looking at it from? well, es. you are looking at it from? well, yes. gorbachev _ you are looking at it from? well, yes. gorbachev in _ you are looking at it from? well, yes. gorbachev in many - you are looking at it from? well, yes. gorbachev in many ways - you are looking at it from? well, | yes. gorbachev in many ways had you are looking at it from? -ii yes. gorbachev in many ways had the misfortune to live a very long life, to see most of his most impressive accomplishments dismantled by putin so that's a very sad fate, i have to say. putin on the other hand is a populist, he knows that gorbachev was not popular with the vast majority of russians, who blame him for the soviet collapse and the hardship they endured in the 1990s. i would not imagine putin praising gorbachev, in fact you saw the statement that he sent to his family, it is very, very carefully phrased in a way that really minimises gorbachev�*s compliments. and in terms of his legacy and

indeed his strengths and weaknesses, again, depends on where you are looking at it from. in the west, the outpouring of admiration for mr gorbachev is abundant, isn't it? well, absolutely. in the west, gorbachev is seen as a visionary who changed the world. for many russians who do not understand gorbachev, they see him as at best a very reckless reformer, and at worst a traitor of some kind, and i think that will continue for some time. but my personal belief is that eventually, even the russians will recognise what an important contribution gorbachev has made, russia was truly lucky to be given the chance by gorbachev, a chance that it has since unfortunately squandered. my that it has since unfortunately squandered-— that it has since unfortunately squandered. that it has since unfortunately sauandered. g ., ., squandered. my colleague who i was talkin: to squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just _ squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just before _ squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just before you, _ squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just before you, he - squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just before you, he was i squandered. my colleague who i was talking to just before you, he was a l talking to just before you, he was a student when the ussr as we knew it

collapsed. you are just 12 years old, both of you at very formative stages in your lives. what was that experience like for you? it stages in your lives. what was that experience like for you?— experience like for you? it was a very dramatic — experience like for you? it was a very dramatic experience. i i experience like for you? it was a i very dramatic experience. i remember one of my first political activities was to write a letter to gorbachev, which my mother told me not to send, and she said, do not send this letteresque i criticised some aspect of local politics and later i met gorbachev in person and i said to him, i wrote you a letter, and on that occasion, i also expressed my appreciation for what his reforms did for me personally, because if it were not for those reforms, i would not have been able to leave, i would not have been able to leave, i would not have been able to leave, i would not have embraced the world, i would not have embraced the world, i would not have embraced the world, i would not have trouble, i would not have learnt the language is, i would not have become who i am so for people like me, we owe so much to gorbachev. like me, we owe so much to gorbachev— like me, we owe so much to gorbachev. �* , ., gorbachev. and when you met him in erson gorbachev. and when you met him in person finally. _ gorbachev. and when you met him in person finally, what _ gorbachev. and when you met him in person finally, what was _ gorbachev. and when you met him in

person finally, what was that - gorbachev. and when you met him in person finally, what was that like? i person finally, what was that like? i think are always fascinated to get an insight into what significant figures, important figures are like in person. it’s figures, important figures are like in erson. 3 ~ , . in person. it's like standing next to history- _ in person. it's like standing next to history. for— in person. it's like standing next to history. for me _ in person. it's like standing next to history. for me as _ in person. it's like standing next to history. for me as someone l in person. it's like standing next i to history. for me as someone who has written extensively about gorbachev, i see him as a very complicated figure, notjust a visionary but also a skilful politician, somebody who has lost control and is a tragic figure, etc. so i see his flaws as a historian, but still standing next to real history, next to the man whose decisions changed the world and changed my life, it was absolutely extraordinary. changed my life, it was absolutely extraordinary-— changed my life, it was absolutely extraordinary. thank you very much really interesting _ extraordinary. thank you very much really interesting to _ extraordinary. thank you very much really interesting to talk _ extraordinary. thank you very much really interesting to talk to - extraordinary. thank you very much really interesting to talk to you. i really interesting to talk to you. we will of course a much more on the death of mikhail gorbachev throughout the programme. some breaking news, we are hearing according to the buckingham palace spokesman that the queen will receive boris johnson spokesman that the queen will receive borisjohnson on tuesday september the 6th at balmoral,

followed by an audience with the new prime minister. so in the past, the queen has usually received new prime ministers at buckingham palace, but the queen will receive the new prime minister and indeed to the outgoing prime minister borisjohnson, at balmoral where she has been spending, as is her tradition, her summer holiday. we don't know why she isn't returning to buckingham palace at this stage, perhaps it is on her calendar, perhaps it is because it is to allow her to be more comfortable, but we hope to speak to it nicholas witchell about this very soon and bring you more details on that breaking news. russia has shut down gas supplies from a major pipeline to europe for the next three days. moscow had 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 further drive up energy

prices, which have soared since the invasion of ukraine. i spoke to our berlin correspondent damien mcguiness about the reaction in germany. over the last few months, germany has done a lot to fill up its gas reserves. so until quite recently, things were looking quite bad here when it came to getting through the winter because of course, germany relies a lot on gas. before the full invasion of ukraine in february, the majority of german gas came from russia, but that has sunk drastically over the last few months. and what germany has been doing really, particularly recently has been pushing through some quite draconian savings measures. many public buildings now only have cold water and lots of public buildings not lit up at night, as well as going to other countries to get more gas reserves, from norway, from the netherlands, from belgium. and all of this means that germany's gas reserve tanks are now more than 80% full, which is a big increase. and germany has previously said that once you get to 85%

of gas reserve tanks full, germany can get through the winter without extra russian supplies. so those gas reserves are being filled faster than expected. so it's really quite a positive message coming out of berlin today, which is surprising because, of course, gas prices have been rising, as you say. but right now the government is meeting to push through a third package of measures to help households deal with rising prices. and the other positive message is that the german economy minister robert habeck, has said that gas prices could soon start falling in germany and that's because of those gas reserve tanks, it means that berlin no longer has to take the highest price. so a surprisingly positive message, and i think all of this, this sudden three day shutdown of this major pipeline is not seen as a surprise in germany. i think since february, the german government has completely lost any illusions it might have had about russia. it doesn't believe what comes out of moscow when it comes to energy and believes that any kind of talk about repairs or slowing down because of supplies is simply a political weapon.

and that's why germany has been frantically, since february, looking for other sources, but also filling up those gas supplies. and it looks like now that's starting to workjust in time really for the winter. 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 a senior intelligence agent for canada. footage has emerged of mohammed al rasheed with shamima and the other two teenage girls she travelled with, close to the syrian border. the agent claims to have shared ms begum's passport details and smuggled other britons to fight for is. shamima is now in a detention camp in north—east syria — her citizenship was taken away in 2019. 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.

josh, thank you forjoining me to talk about this today. tell us a bit more in detail what you uncovered. so, a man who moved to shamima and herfriends to turkey so, a man who moved to shamima and her friends to turkey to is —controlled syria is called mohammed al rasheed and we have obtained a dossier on him that is full of hundreds of pages of information gathered by foreign law enforcement and intelligence. within that dossier, we can see that he was part of a substantial is people smuggling network that had moved not only shamima to syria, but also other britons as well. as part of that, we can also see that muhammad rashid was keeping evidence and the people he helped, photographing passports for example, keeping things like baggage tags and he says he was doing doing this because he was providing to canadian intelligence injordan. and we have been able to speak to a senior intelligence

officer who has confirmed to us that mohammed al rasheed was indeed providing information to the canadian intelligence services. they have said, however, that they will not comment on this matter. band not comment on this matter. and ou've not comment on this matter. and you've been _ not comment on this matter. and you've been talking to shamima begum for the podcast, what has she been sent to you about all this, but has a lawyer for her family been saying? so, shamima and i have been speaking for more than a year now, specifically on this. shamima has said that rasheed organised the entire trip from turkey to syria and she feels that it wouldn't have been possible for her to make it to syria without the help of a smuggler. she says that travellers, isis were dependent on smugglers to get them there. in terms of the family lawyers, they have pointed out that later this year shamima begum has a hearing where her lawyers will attempt to argue that when the comment removed her citizenship, they didn't consider the fact that she was a victim of trafficking. the

evidence that we have brought to light in terms of the people smuggling network could have a bearing on the case, we are told. he briefly mentioned the canadian authorities, has there been any reaction from any of the other authorities with an interest in this case? �* ., �* , authorities with an interest in this case? �* , ., case? both the british and the canadian authorities _ case? both the british and the canadian authorities have i case? both the british and the i canadian authorities have declined to comment, as is in keeping with the long—standing policy of not commenting on national security or intelligence matters.— intelligence matters. josh, thank ou ve intelligence matters. josh, thank you very much- _ intelligence matters. josh, thank you very much. josh _ intelligence matters. josh, thank you very much. josh baker i intelligence matters. josh, thank you very much. josh baker has i intelligence matters. josh, thank i you very much. josh baker has been investigating that sorry for the bbc, and you can subscribe to the podcast on bbc sounds. 115,000 royal mail workers are on strike for a second day today in a row over pay. the communication workers union say it's the "biggest uk strike since 2009". the industrial action will disrupt deliveries of packages and letters and 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 0penreach 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. bt and 0penreach workers are taking a second day of industrial action in a row over pay. they, along with 115,000 royal mail workers are walking out in what's being called the "biggest uk strike since 2009" by the communication workers union. our business correspondent carrie davies was down at bt tower earlier for more. been on strike yesterday and today, 40,000 workers and this is over pay. as you can see, these are workers from bt and 0penreach 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 mailworkers, 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. 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 as a result of these few days. do join us for a special edition of your questions answered — broadcast here on the news channel and on bbc radio 5 live tomorrow morning. nicky campbell will be putting your questions to the labour leader sir keir starmer. we'd like to have as many of your questions as possible. it's your chance to hold sir keir to account. and you can watch that live from just after now it's time for a look at the weather with carole. hello again. today is going to be dry with sunny intervals for many of us, though it's rainier after — we've got that at the end of the week. now there are a few showers coming in from the north sea, a few drifting further west, quite breezy conditions across england and wales and the english channel. for scotland and northern ireland, the breeze less so, and we also

have the cloud breaking up to light sunny intervals to develop as well. temperatures 14 to 24 celsius. into this evening and overnight, again, a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, some patchy mist and fog forming in northern ireland, northern england and scotland. not so across the rest of england and wales, because there's too much breeze. and these are our overnight lows, 7 to 14 celsius, although in sheltered glens they could fall away a little bit lower than that. so tomorrow, we start off with a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, still a few showers coming in from the north sea. but through the day, we'll start to see more showers coming up across the channel islands with temperatures up to 25.

hello, this is bbc news with annita mcveigh. the headlines: tributes are paid to mikhail gorbachev, the soviet leader who ended the cold war, who has died at the age of 91. buckingham palace says the queen is to receive the new prime minister at balmoral on tuesday, the day after the winner of the conservative leadership contest is announced. 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 at the age of 15 to join the islamic state group, was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada.

the queen will receive prime minister borisjohnson next week at her balmoral castle residence in scotland instead of in london in a break with tradition, she will also be meeting the new prime minister. royal correspondent nicholas witchell is here with me now. this is very much a break with tradition. it this is very much a break with tradition. , this is very much a break with tradition-— this is very much a break with tradition. , , tradition. it will be the first time in her 70 year— tradition. it will be the first time in her 70 year reign _ tradition. it will be the first time in her 70 year reign that - tradition. it will be the first time in her 70 year reign that these l in her 70 year reign that these audiences have not taken place at buckingham palace and she will receive the outgoing prime minister and then receive the new prime minister and constitutionally it is only the monarch, the head of state who can invite the new prime and start to form a government and that is the purpose of that very important audience that will take place at balmoral next tuesday, so the new prime minister, whoever it is will fly out presumably with the raf and make the journey out from

aberdeen to balmoral, 45 miles, and then be received by the queen for this audience and then either rishi sunak or liz truss will be prime minister. this comes back to the mobility issues of the queen at buckingham palace in bed a little, merely there needs to be certainty in the diaries of the outgoing and incoming prime ministers and therefore for safety they have decided to do this at balmoral. can we sa it decided to do this at balmoral. can we say it is — decided to do this at balmoral. can we say it is scheduled break with tradition? ., tradition? indeed, to the extent the have tradition? indeed, to the extent they have given _ tradition? indeed, to the extent they have given us _ tradition? indeed, to the extent they have given us nearly i tradition? indeed, to the extent they have given us nearly a i tradition? indeed, to the extent i they have given us nearly a week's notice of it. we had been led to believe she would be travelling down to london for these audiences, and so it has emerged in the past three days that was less likely to happen and it is because of mobility issues

for the queen. quite what that covers nobody but the royal doctors knows but the reason is the one certainty in the diaries, they want to know these days ahead of what travel arrangements need to be made and presumably the royal airforce will be involved. 50 and presumably the royal air force will be involved.— will be involved. so those are secific will be involved. so those are specific new— will be involved. so those are specific new concerns - will be involved. so those are specific new concerns with i will be involved. so those are| specific new concerns with the diary? specific new concerns with the dia ? ., . , specific new concerns with the dia ? ., , diary? no new concerns the sharing with us and — diary? no new concerns the sharing with us and i— diary? no new concerns the sharing with us and i don't _ diary? no new concerns the sharing with us and i don't detect _ diary? no new concerns the sharing with us and i don't detect any i with us and i don't detect any particular new concerns with this whole area, the health of our monarch, something regarded as essentially a private matter. there is also the braemar gathering, one of the fixtures in the queens diary at balmoral which is taking place on saturday and i think there is some doubt she will go to that. that is the situation we are in at the moment. sport and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre.

good morning. there are five british players into round two of the us open — but emma raducanu isn't one of them. after her fairytale win in new york last year it's a very different story 12 months on, as she was beaten in the first round 6—3, 6—3 by france's alize cornet. raducanu, seeded 11th, will tumble down the rankings after losing the points she earned with the title last year. 0bviously really disappointing, really sad to leave fear but also —— to leave here but also happy because it is a clean slate, i will drop down the rankings, climb my way back up down the rankings, climb my way back up and i think in a way the title will be off my back slightly and i have another chance to crawl my way back up there.

raducanu's faced criticism from some who say 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 think that's the case and believes the teenager's well positioned for the future. her life has changed so radically in the past year. at the moment, where she's at she will be ranked about 80 in the world. i think that's not bad for a 19—year—old 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 different players. the players know how she plays and they have got used to her. now she just has to build again. british men's number one cameron norrie breezed into the second round at flushing meadows. the number seven seed and wimbledon semifinalist took just 18 minutes to win the first set against benoit pair of france, before taking the next two to ease into the next round. dan evans is also through. the number 20 seed in new york encountering few problems aganst yiji veseley, winning in straight sets 6—4, 6—1, 6—1. england's cricketers have named an unchanged side for their crucial series—deciding test match against south africa. it means captain ben stokes will be hoping to lead from the front once again — after hitting 103 and picking up four wickets during the second test victory.

james anderson will also head to the oval with lots of confidence — after taking six wickets during the match at old trafford. the final test gets under way a week tomorrow. britain's simon yates has withdrawn from the vuelta espana after testing positive for covid—19. yates was fifth in the overall standings after tuesday's time trial and had been targeting a podium finish. yates is the first overall contender to be forced out of the race due to covid—19 but is the 13th rider to test positive in this year's race. at southampton, where the home side 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. that's all the sport for now. royal mail has apologised to people expecting post, with deliveries disrupted because of industrial action by members of the communication workers union. 115,000 postal workers want a better pay rise. royal mail says its offered 5.5%. joining me now is ricky mcaulay,

0peration director at the royal mail. do you feel any sympathy further postal workers out on strike? the background _ postal workers out on strike? tie: background is three postal workers out on strike? tie: background is three to postal workers out on strike? t'ie: background is three to four postal workers out on strike? tie: background is three to four months of talks where we have been engaging with the cwu on our desire to improve pay. we understand employees, our colleagues, are facing that cost of living challenged but the position of the cwu has been very clear, they have not been prepared to talk about what the royal mail needs is a business going forward and in a business that lost a quarter of £1 million per month in the first part of this year, that is not realistic and we need the unions to meet with the

executive to talk about the changes that give royal mail a bright future. it is there to be had. it is very difficult _ future. it is there to be had. it is very difficult to _ future. it is there to be had. it is very difficult to get _ future. it is there to be had. it is very difficult to get to the truth about what is going on when both sides say neither side will engage properly. 0n bbc breakfast this morning the communication workers union said they had aggrieved every bit of automation and technology and had an agreement 18 months ago that set out for church musician, so are you a communication not? shifter set out for church musician, so are you a communication not? after the mac over the _ you a communication not? after the mac over the last _ you a communication not? after the mac over the last two _ you a communication not? after the mac over the last two weeks - you a communication not? after the mac over the last two weeks we i you a communication not? after thel mac over the last two weeks we have reached out to the cwu on three occasions and offered to meet with the chief executive in the room which they have been demanding and decided to take it out today on picket lines which will not resolve this dispute. yes, we have deployed automation but our customers expect next day delivery, they expect delivery seven days per week and expect a post later in the evening

for next day delivery and royal mail can have an incredibly bright future if we embrace what customers are looking for and we can grow. let us have declined significantly but there is a growing parcel business we are very much determined to be a big part of. i we are very much determined to be a bi art of. , , we are very much determined to be a bi artof. ,, , big part of. i guess you recognise strikes are _ big part of. i guess you recognise strikes are clearly _ big part of. i guess you recognise strikes are clearly a _ big part of. i guess you recognise strikes are clearly a part - big part of. i guess you recognise strikes are clearly a part of i strikes are clearly a part of industrial strategy to try to get concessions. 0ne poll a couple of days ago had 63% of the public believing postal workers should go on strike. 63% of the same percentage said royal mail should be nationalised. do you think you have captured or got the mood of customers accurately? it does seem according to this one survey at least that the public are sympathetic to what the postal workers are talking about because everybody is dealing with the cost of living crisis. brute everybody is dealing with the cost of living crisis.— of living crisis. we want to put more pay _

of living crisis. we want to put more pay on _ of living crisis. we want to put more pay on the _ of living crisis. we want to put more pay on the table - of living crisis. we want to put more pay on the table and i of living crisis. we want to put more pay on the table and to l of living crisis. we want to put i more pay on the table and to do that we need to have a successful teacher which takes modernisation and transformation. 0ur start point is playing 40% already above competitors but employees are used to receiving that and we get the best employees in the industry in the back of that. we do want to pay more that will take acceptance there needs to be further and significant modernisation of a network to the point of around 64% of the public having sympathy with postal workers, we have the very same members of the public, customers, that expect to order something online at ten o'clock on at night for next day delivery on increasingly larger parcels and in terms of environmental impact on our planet, those of the changes were talking to the cwu about in every land we will continue to be the best employer in

the industry but we cannot do that standing still.— standing still. what does the modernisation _ standing still. what does the modernisation look - standing still. what does the modernisation look like? i standing still. what does the modernisation look like? wej standing still. what does the i modernisation look like? we hear a lot from your side about modernisation and the changes you want if you're going to offer a better pay deal. what does that modernisation look like, and with that lead to more or fewerjobs are the same number ofjobs? that lead to more or fewer 'obs are the same number ofjobs?i the same number of 'obs? unlike industrial action, i the same number ofjobs? unlike industrial action, modernisation i the same number ofjobs? unlike| industrial action, modernisation is the best way to protectjobs. we are talking about the demand from customers for a seven day a week parcel network and they want to be able to order up so late in the evening for next day delivery and the types of retail goods are becoming increasingly large to carry through our network. we operate 36 flight sectors every night based on a legacy letter network and that is not the way to move parcels around the network so we need to deliver slight later in the day which is better for the planet and

slight later in the day which is betterfor the planet and better forecast and will enable us to go into the future. these are some of the changes which are absolutely vital. we are at a crossroads, royal mail. lettervolumes vital. we are at a crossroads, royal mail. letter volumes will continue to decline and if royal mail is going to be around for the next 100 years we need to take the opportunity in the parcels market. very briefly, what would be the single biggest thing that could break the stalemate at the moment in your opinion? stop break the stalemate at the moment in your opinion?— your opinion? stop the e-mail exchanges _ your opinion? stop the e-mail exchanges and _ your opinion? stop the e-mail exchanges and come - your opinion? stop the e-mail exchanges and come into i your opinion? stop the e-mail exchanges and come into the l your opinion? stop the e-mail i exchanges and come into the room with the preparedness to look into our books about the financial position warren miller sent face into the change in the fantastic opportunity there for royal mail to grow stop that's what we need the cwu to do. —— the financial position that royal mail is n. —— in.

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. john major said at the moment it was needed he acted and stood for peace and on the right side of history. i'm joined now by the foreign affairs writer and former moscow correspondent for the times who's interview gorbachev three times, mary dejevsky. i want to get your reaction to what john major was saying. do you agree

with his assessment? i john major was saying. do you agree with his assessment?— with his assessment? i think from the western _ with his assessment? i think from the western perspective - with his assessment? i think from the western perspective and i with his assessment? i think from i the western perspective and eastern and central europe, absolutely. this was the most extraordinary accomplishment the soviet union collapsed almost entirely peacefully and the lives of millions and millions of people across what had been europe behind the wall transformed almost overnight entirely for the better. the more you speak to people there about that particular generation they say that they could not have imagine this happening and it was something unusually that was a gigantic event that actually worked for the better and not for the worse and so i agree absolutely with that. then we have to look at russia. [30 absolutely with that. then we have to look at russia.— to look at russia. do you think the make u-

to look at russia. do you think the make up of— to look at russia. do you think the make up of the — to look at russia. do you think the make up of the soviet _ to look at russia. do you think the make up of the soviet union i to look at russia. do you think the make up of the soviet union was l to look at russia. do you think the i make up of the soviet union was ever the stated intention of mikhail gorbachev or was it the by—product of glasnost? i gorbachev or was it the by-product of glasnost?— of glasnost? i don't think it was ever on his _ of glasnost? i don't think it was ever on his agenda _ of glasnost? i don't think it was ever on his agenda and - of glasnost? i don't think it was ever on his agenda and i - of glasnost? i don't think it was ever on his agenda and i think. of glasnost? i don't think it was. ever on his agenda and i think he was trying to turn what had been talked down arrangement of republics inside the soviet union into a bottom up consensual commonwealth as it was cold, commonwealth of independent states. a federation or some people said a confederation. there was a referendum on that and it looked as though he might actually succeed stop and that is not what happened. what happened is that the changes that he had partly brought about but which took on a life of their own, as she referred

to glasnost free speech and perestroika in reordering the planned economy, the soviet union came unsustainable once there were these changes. he came unsustainable once there were these changes-— these changes. he did not try to chance these changes. he did not try to change the _ these changes. he did not try to change the course, _ these changes. he did not try to change the course, he _ these changes. he did not try to change the course, he let i these changes. he did not try to change the course, he let it i these changes. he did not try to - change the course, he let it evolve? i think there is the real question as to how much choice he had. maybe he had a choice whether to try to use force to hold it together but you are looking at firstly the whole of eastern central europe and a soviet union that by then, its power was so much less than it had been. partly it had been debilitated because of the war in afghanistan, which gorbachev himself brought to an end and had referred to as a

gaping, bleeding wound. but essentially defeat in afghanistan contributed to the loss of soviet power made it very difficult for russia, soviet russia to intervene elsewhere. it simply did not have the power to do it. the elsewhere. it simply did not have the power to do it.— elsewhere. it simply did not have the power to do it. the place that he would like _ the power to do it. the place that he would like to _ the power to do it. the place that he would like to have _ the power to do it. the place that he would like to have seen - the power to do it. the place thati he would like to have seen russia and the world now is very different to the reality under president vladimir putin and we know that gorbachev was devastated by that. it is very hard to gauge because he was quite reluctant to talk about these things. you referred to interviews i had with gorbachev over the years. it is really fascinating to hear these first—hand accounts of their impression of people like him. fine impression of people like him. one ofthe impression of people like him. one

of the overwhelming oppressions impression of people like him. (he of the overwhelming oppressions as there are some people you can do question and answer and you produce a question and you get an answer to that question. gorbachev was not one of those interviewees. he would wander away from the subject, he would talk interminably without expecting you being able to interrupt and often spoke in very indefinite terms. it was very difficult to pin him down. gorbachev was not somebody for sound bites. obviously he had these extraordinary extensive memories but actually conveying them, i'm not sure he was hugely successful or not. so in some ways it has been left to other people, all those of us who remember those times to see how it appeared to us and what you get from

gorbachev something quite indefinite as a first person account. i think the other thing is it is often not appreciated that we see him as very much a human face, is genial and somebody who margaret thatcher legendarily said somebody should do business with, all that is entirely true, but he had a petulant side to him which you saw gorbachev if like me and a lot of the other correspondence in moscow at the time, we would go and sit in the soviet parliament and listen to their proceedings which of course were in themselves history in the making but gorbachev would address the parliament and address it in exactly the same sort of terms he would give interviews to. every now and again there would be something that annoyed or frustrated and again there would be something that annoyed orfrustrated him and again there would be something that annoyed or frustrated him and he had this petulant side which i

think you can almost project on the end of the soviet union because if he watches television broadcast where he basically wound up the soviet union, it was a response to the fact that the belarus, ukraine, etc wanted to go their own way and denounce the soviet treaty and basically he threw up his hand and said there is nothing more i can do so i think it is important to recognise that side as well. it is no surprise _ recognise that side as well. it is no surprise that _ recognise that side as well. it is no surprise that vladimir putin who sees the break—up of the ussr is a tragedy, and offering condolences to the family and friends of mikhail gorbachev has qualified those condolences, but how widely is shared is that in russia do you

think? it shared is that in russia do you think? , , , , . . think? it is very widely shared and i think there _ think? it is very widely shared and i think there are _ think? it is very widely shared and i think there are so _ think? it is very widely shared and i think there are so many - think? it is very widely shared and i think there are so many people | think? it is very widely shared and i i think there are so many people not just in russia but in parts of the former soviet union that were may be more reluctant to embrace independence such as some of the central asian states that there is a feeling that the soviet union was a great power, it was respected, and it carried an authority and it commanded respect and the rest of the world, and there is a very strong feeling, certainly in russia and certainly on the part of vladimir putin that the collapse of the soviet union led to directly a lack of respect for russia as the successor state and i think it is possible to make an argument that the west generally, maybe especially the west generally, maybe especially the united states, handled the end of the soviet union or at least the

aftermath of the end of the soviet union may be less well than it could have been handled. mike mary, mary. have been handled. mike mary, mary, really fascinating _ have been handled. mike mary, mary, really fascinating to _ have been handled. mike mary, mary, really fascinating to hear _ have been handled. mike mary, mary, really fascinating to hear your - really fascinating to hear your recollections. mikhail gorbachev 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. 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 in the uk, and will power more than one million homes. our environment correspondent, jonah fisher, reports.

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. or to drive an electric car 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. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again.

today is going to be dry with sunny intervals for many of us, though if it's rain you're after — we've got that at the end of the week. now there are a few showers coming in from the north sea, a few drifting further west, quite breezy conditions across england and wales and the english channel. for scotland and northern ireland, the breeze less so, and we also have the cloud breaking up to light sunny intervals to develop as well. temperatures iii to 2a celsius. sunny intervals to develop as well. into this evening and overnight again, a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, some patchy mist and fog forming in northern ireland, northern england and scotland. not so across the rest of england and wales, because there's too much breeze. and these are our overnight lows, 7 to m celsius, although in sheltered glens they could fall away a little bit lower than that. so tomorrow, we start off with a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, still a few showers coming in from the north sea. but through the day, we'll start to see more showers coming up across the channel islands with temperatures up to 25.

this is bbc news. the headlines: 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. buckingham palace says the queen is to receive the new prime minister at balmoral on tuesday — the day after the winner of the conservative leadership contest is announced. a bbc investigation has found that shamima begum — who left london at the age of 15 to join the islamic state group — was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada. 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. 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. good afternoon, welcome to bbc news. 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. the un chief antonio guterres said he "changed the course of history". president biden described him as a "man of remarkable vision",

who created a "safer world". russian president vladimir putin said he "understood reforms were necessary" and "strove to offer his own solutions". 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. borisjohnson was among those paying tribute to mikhail gorbachev. mikhail gorbachev was one of those people who changed the world and unquestionably 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, mikhail gorbachev was one of those people who triggered a change, a series of changes that perhaps he didn't anticipate, maybe he paid his own political price for it, but when history is written, he will be, i think, one of the authors of fantastic

change for the better. here's what the german chancellor olaf scholz had to say. translation: he was a courageous reformer and a statesman _ who dared to do many things. we will not forget that perestroika made it possible to attempt to establish democracy in russia and that democracy and freedom became possible in europe, that germany could be united and the iron curtain disappeared. the democracy movement in central and eastern europe also benefited from the fact he was in charge of russia at that time. we know that he's died at a time when not only has democracy in russia failed — there is no other way to describe the current situation there — but also russia and the russian president putin are digging new trenches in europe and have started a terrible war against the neighbouring country, ukraine. and that is precisely why we remember mikhail gorbachev and know what significance he had for the development of europe and also of our country in recent years.

let's have a listen now to some reaction from the streets of moscow and alexei navalny has reacted to the news of the death of mikhail gorbachev saying he had had a peaceful departure from power are praising him for his peaceful departure from power, that from alexei navalny, the jailed critic of president putin. let's have a listen now to some reaction from the streets of moscow to the death of michail gorbachev. translation: it seems that he did not realise the _ translation: it seems that he did not realise the gravity _ translation: it seems that he did not realise the gravity of _ translation: it seems that he did not realise the gravity of his - not realise the gravity of his decisions. he did not fix his mistakes. he passed away without fixing them. and us, we are hostages of his stupidity, what can i say? god rest his soul, my god notjudge too severely. god rest his soul, my god not 'udge too severely.— god rest his soul, my god notjudge too severely._ it - god rest his soul, my god notjudge . too severely._ it seemed too severely. translation: it seemed too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then — too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then that _ too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then that he _ too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then that he was _ too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then that he was a _ too severely. translation: it seemed to us back then that he was a person i to us back then that he was a person who could _ to us back then that he was a person who could change the soviet union for the _ who could change the soviet union for the better. but then, when his time _ for the better. but then, when his time was — for the better. but then, when his time was coming to the end, it

turned — time was coming to the end, it turned out _ time was coming to the end, it turned out that it was a person who broke _ turned out that it was a person who broke up— turned out that it was a person who broke up the soviet union, broke up a vast _ broke up the soviet union, broke up a vast country which led to a large number_ a vast country which led to a large number of— a vast country which led to a large number of wars and civil unrest in the former— number of wars and civil unrest in the former soviet republics between the former soviet republics between the people of the soviet union. that's— the people of the soviet union. that's why i don't have a high opinion— that's why i don't have a high opinion of— that's why i don't have a high opinion of him now, and his life journey— opinion of him now, and his life journey and _ opinion of him now, and his life journey and his achievements. translation: | journey and his achievements. translation:— journey and his achievements. translation: ., ., ., translation: i have a negative view of mikhail gorbachev's _ translation: i have a negative view of mikhail gorbachev's time _ translation: i have a negative view of mikhail gorbachev's time in - of mikhail gorbachev's time in power, he did a lot of damaging things to our country. we are the ones facing the consequences. reaction there from the streets of moscow. earlier the bbc russian service editor, famil ismailov, told us of the significiance of gorbachev's time in politics. gorbachev started a new part of the history, although short lived for the soviet union itself, but long continuing for russia and for the former soviet union countries. imagine that people were seeing the biggest country, a huge superpower,

the last days, collapsing in front of their own eyes. the shelves in the shops absolutely empty. people trying to move from salary to just living basically from paycheque to paycheque. and basically, they were saying no prospects. and here comes gorbachev and says, we're going to live better, and he looks like an absolutely different kind of leader. he is not like brezhnev who couldn't actually by the end of his lifetime string one sentence together, mixing up string one sentence together, mixing up his speeches and people were having jokes about him. i haven't seen manyjokes about gorbachev at that time, remember. with gorbachev there was a new hope for the soviet union, for people who lived in the soviet union, and those hopes actually, in some cases come in many cases like for the independent countries now, have been true. what countries now, have been true. what was it like for— countries now, have been true. what was it like for you _ countries now, have been true. what was it like for you living _ countries now, have been true. what was it like for you living through those times? i was it like for you living through those times?— was it like for you living through those times? ~ ,., ,.. those times? i think, if gorbachev wasn't there. _ those times? i think, if gorbachev

wasn't there. i _ those times? i think, if gorbachev wasn't there, i probably _ those times? i think, if gorbachev wasn't there, i probably would - those times? i think, if gorbachev| wasn't there, i probably would be, those times? i think, if gorbachev i wasn't there, i probably would be, i would have lost myjob or be arrested by the kgb. for the new generationjust arrested by the kgb. for the new generation just out of university, graduated in 1986, that was the high time for perestroika and glasnost policy, and i was sent as a reporter to the congress for example, where i once met gorbachev, not alone obviously but a part of a journalist pool obviously but a part of a journalist pool, and we surrounded him and his security detail were pushing us around trying to make sure we were not too close to the leader. and gorbachev actually was quite relaxed and he told them, you know, stop doing that, let them come to me, guys, ask your questions and i will try to answer. and that was something absolutely new, nobody had seen it before. that something absolutely new, nobody had seen it before-— seen it before. that was in our re orts. seen it before. that was in our reports- what _ seen it before. that was in our reports. what a _ seen it before. that was in our reports. what a contrast - seen it before. that was in our reports. what a contrast when | seen it before. that was in our i reports. what a contrast when we look at russia now and the restrictions of the freedom of the press. what do you make of the reaction from the kremlin to mr gorbachev's death? it is striking, it a- ears gorbachev's death? it is striking, it appears that — gorbachev's death? it is striking, it appears that 12 _ gorbachev's death? it is striking, it appears that 12 hours _ gorbachev's death? it is striking, it appears that 12 hours after- gorbachev's death? it is striking, it appears that 12 hours after the |

it appears that 12 hours after the death of gorbachev, we only see the telegram sent by putin, we don't see him making a statement to the cameras, we don't see... reaction is generally quite muted. we see reports in the media but we don't see big official reactions. we still don't even know if he will have a state funeral or not. that tells a lot about the atmosphere in russia and how it has changed so much since putin has been in power. but condolences _ putin has been in power. but condolences with a hint of criticism as well? ~ ,,., , condolences with a hint of criticism aswell? , ,, condolences with a hint of criticism aswell? , , , . as well? absolutely, because what gorbachev was _ as well? absolutely, because what gorbachev was trying _ as well? absolutely, because what gorbachev was trying to _ as well? absolutely, because what gorbachev was trying to do - as well? absolutely, because what gorbachev was trying to do to - as well? absolutely, because what i gorbachev was trying to do to change the world since the cold war, offers the world since the cold war, offers the gorbachev didn't want the soviet union to collapse but at the same time he wanted to give freedom to the people of the soviet union. as we know, mr putin thinks that the collapse of the soviet union was the single biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, of all time probably. and uppishly putin didn't like gorbachev to be someone revered today.

didn't like gorbachev to be someone revered today-— revered today. well, let's talk now to archie brown, _ revered today. well, let's talk now to archie brown, a _ revered today. well, let's talk now to archie brown, a retired - revered today. well, let's talk now. to archie brown, a retired professor of politics at oxford university and an expert in the history of russia. thank you very much for your time today. it was interesting to listen today. it was interesting to listen to those vox pops on the streets of moscow. people saying that mikhail gorbachev didn't fix his mistakes, that they were now hostages of his stupidity, that they had a negative view of him. do you think that is a widely held view among the people of russia? it is widely held view among the people of russia? , . , russia? it is quite a widely held view now _ russia? it is quite a widely held view now at — russia? it is quite a widely held view now. at the _ russia? it is quite a widely held view now. at the time, - russia? it is quite a widely held l view now. at the time, gorbachev russia? it is quite a widely held i view now. at the time, gorbachev was actually very popular, until the last two years of the soviet union. it was in may 1990, more than five years after he became civic leader that he ceased to be the most popular leader in the country. but

as you interviewees said, he is blamed for the break—up of the soviet union, though he tried to keep it together by peaceful means, by negotiation with the republics, and everything that has happened since, including war in ukraine, should not be laid since, including war in ukraine, should not be [aid at his door, but at the door of his successor. find at the door of his successor. and when he set _ at the door of his successor. and when he set out _ at the door of his successor. and when he set out on _ at the door of his successor. and when he set out on his policy of glasnost and perestroika, openness and restructuring, do you think that he ever envisaged that this break—up might happen? i he ever envisaged that this break-up might happen?— might happen? i mean, i think his achievements _ might happen? i mean, i think his achievements greatly _ might happen? i mean, i think his achievements greatly outweigh i might happen? i mean, i think his| achievements greatly outweigh his failures. he left russia a more free country than it had ever been, freedom of religion, competitive elections, the freedom of movement, books were published for what you were imprisoned for having a copy

before, like night by george orwell and so on. he played a greater part than anyone else in ending the cold war. and the idea that any soviet leader would have done what he did, which certain people said that is nonsense, and we see in the way russian leaders are reaction today thatis russian leaders are reaction today that is possible to respond in quite a different way. bud that is possible to respond in quite a different way.— a different way. and it is no surprise _ a different way. and it is no surprise that _ a different way. and it is no surprise that we _ a different way. and it is no surprise that we see i a different way. and it is no surprise that we see a i a different way. and it is no surprise that we see a very| surprise that we see a very different reaction from the west. here was a new breed of soviet leader as far as the west was concerned, who presented a very different face to the rest of the world. , ., , ., world. yes, for the rest of the world. yes, for the rest of the world he _ world. yes, for the rest of the world he was _ world. yes, for the rest of the world he was absolutely i world. yes, for the rest of the world he was absolutely a i world. yes, for the rest of the l world he was absolutely a good thing. there are still a minority of russians who esteem him very highly, people who value his attempt to democratise the system, even though it was incomplete. and then subsequently reversed. for europe as

a whole, the countries of eastern and central europe under communist rule, for them to become completely free and independent without a shot being fired by a soviet soldier in 1989 while all that was happening, that was something that was unthinkable for western leaders at the time gorbachev came to power. so what he achieved, what he did was way beyond their wildest dreams. and in terms of east—west relations, relations with the united states were amicable. ronald reagan was shown red square and was asked if it was still an even par and he said, it was another time, another era. so it was another time, another era. so it was another time, another era. so it was looking much more hopeful place under gorbachev. gorbachev was more popular in western europe and the american president. that more popular in western europe and the american president.— the american president. that hope, where did that _ the american president. that hope, where did that go? _ the american president. that hope, where did that go? obviously, i where did that go? obviously, gorbachev had a plan, he envisaged a

much freer more open society. what happened to that plan? in much freer more open society. what happened to that plan?— much freer more open society. what happened to that plan? in some ways, it's aood happened to that plan? in some ways, it's good that — happened to that plan? in some ways, it's good that he _ happened to that plan? in some ways, it's good that he didn't _ happened to that plan? in some ways, it's good that he didn't have _ happened to that plan? in some ways, it's good that he didn't have a - it's good that he didn't have a precise plan in 1985, because in 1985 he was a communist reformer but by 1988 he had decided that the system needed to be fundamentally transformed, the system had to be changed. he said in an interview that until 1988, he had the illusion that until 1988, he had the illusion that the system could be improved, then he realised it had to be replaced. so he was consciously dismantling the communist system in his last years. so that wasn't unintended, what was unintended with the break—up of the soviet state, which was a consequence of that. but the important thing about gorbachev is that not only has day—to—day polity aims but ultimate goals change because he had a remarkably open mind of any political leader of

a mind one of the soviet communist party. a mind one of the soviet communist pa . , ., , ., . ,, party. interesting to get your take on this all. — party. interesting to get your take on this all, professor. _ the queen elizabeth will receive prime minister borisjohnson next week at her balmoral castle residence in scotland instead of in london in a break with tradition, she will also be meeting the new prime minister. nicholas witchell says it will be the first time in 70 years of her reign that these audiences will not be held at buckingham palace. two audiences, she received the outgoing prime minister, who tended his or her resignation, she then will receive the new prime minister, and the important thing, constitutionally, it is only the monarch, the head of state who can invite the new prime minister form a government, and that is the purpose of that very important audience that will take place at balmoral next tuesday. so the new prime minister, whoever it is, will fly out presumably with the raf, they will

then make the journey from aberdeen out to balmoral, that's 45 miles, and will be received by the queen for this audience will be invited, and it is from that moment that either liz truss or rishi sunak will be prime minister. what's the reason for this? well, be prime minister. what's the reason forthis? well, it be prime minister. what's the reason for this? well, it comes back to the queen's mobility issues, palace saying very little, merely that there needs to be certainty in the diaries of the outgoing and incoming prime minister is, therefore, for the safety as it were that they have decided to do this at balmoral. so can we say that it is, if i can put it like this, scheduled break with tradition? ~ .., it like this, scheduled break with tradition? ~ _, ., tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they — tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they have _ tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they have given _ tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they have given us - tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they have given us nearly i tradition? welcome indeed. to the extent they have given us nearly a| extent they have given us nearly a week's notice. we have been led to believe that she would be travelling down to london for these audiences, so it has emerged in the past few days that was less likely, and it is all because of the queen's health situation now. buckingham palace

uses this phrase episodic mobility issues, quite what that covers, nobody other than the royal doctors really know. but that is the reason for it, the one certainty in the diaries, they want to know these days ahead, what travel arrangements need to be made and presumably the royal air force will be... so need to be made and presumably the royal air force will be. . .— royal air force will be... so no concerns _ royal air force will be... so no concerns about _ royal air force will be... so no concerns about the _ royal air force will be... so no concerns about the specific i royal air force will be... so no | concerns about the specific date royal air force will be... so no i concerns about the specific date for the da re? ihlat concerns about the specific date for the da re? ., . , . , . the da re? not that they are sharing with us, the da re? not that they are sharing with us. and — the da re? not that they are sharing with us. and l— the da re? not that they are sharing with us, and i don't— the da re? not that they are sharing with us, and i don't detect _ the da re? not that they are sharing with us, and i don't detect any i with us, and i don't detect any particular new concerns. but this whole area, the health of the monarch, is something that is regarded as essentially a private matter, there is also of course the braemar gathering, which is one of the fixtures of the queen's summer diary at balmoral, that's taking place on saturday and she would normally go to that. i think there is some doubt as to whether she will go to that also but we will have to see. that's the situation we are in at the moment.— at the moment. nicholas witchell there. turn out to catch up with the latest sport, and laura has the details.

good afternoon. there are five british players into round two of the us open — but emma raducanu isn't one of them. after her fairy tale win in new york last year, it's a very different story 12 months on, as she was beaten in the first round 6—3, 6—3 by france's alize cornet. raducanu, seeded 11th, will tumble down the rankings after losing the points she earned with the title last year. obviously, really disappointing, really sad to leave here. it's probably my favourite tournament. but also, i mean, in a way happy because it's a clean slate. i'm going to drop down the rankings, climate my way back up, and i think in a way, the target will be off my back slightly, and ijust have another chance to kind of claw my way back up there. raducanu's faced criticism. some say she's focused more

on her commercial and sponsorship opportunities than the tennis. but former british number one jo durie's been telling bbc breakfast she doesn't think that's the case and believes the teenager's well positioned for the future. her life has changed so radically in the past year. at the moment, where she is a,t she will be ranked about 80 in the world. for 19—year—old that is not a bad first year on the tour. we will have to get over the fact she is also a grand slam champion. she is still finding herfeet stop grand slam champion. she is still finding her feet stop she is grand slam champion. she is still finding herfeet stop she is planing a lot of these tournaments forth she has played a lot of different players. players know how she plays. and they have got used to her. she just has to build again. england's cricketers have named an unchanged side for their crucial series—deciding test match against south africa. which means captain ben stokes will be hoping to lead from the front once again — after hitting 103 and picking up four wickets during

the second test victory. james anderson will also head to the oval with lots of confidence — after taking six wickets during the match at old trafford. the final test gets underway a week tomorrow. britain's simon yates has withdrawn from the vuelta a espana after testing positive for covid—19. yates was fifth in the overall standings after tuesday's time trial and had been targeting a podium finish. yates is the first overall contender to be forced out of the race due to covid—19 but is the 13th rider to test positive in this year's race. that's all the sport, ill be back shortly with another update. thank you, laura. russia has shut down gas supplies from a major pipeline to europe for the next three days. moscow had 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 further drive up energy prices, which have soared since the invasion of ukraine. drjack sharples is a research fellow at the oxford institute for energy studies. thank you forjoining us. russia says this is about maintenance. france is one of the countries are saying russia is using energy as a weapon of war. where does the truth lie? i weapon of war. where does the truth lie? .. weapon of war. where does the truth lie? ~' , ., , weapon of war. where does the truth lie? ~' , ,,._ , lie? i think the truth probably lies somewhere _ lie? i think the truth probably lies somewhere in _ lie? i think the truth probably lies somewhere in between _ lie? i think the truth probably lies somewhere in between the i lie? i think the truth probably lies somewhere in between the two. i lie? i think the truth probably lies i somewhere in between the two. the nord stream pipeline has been operational now for over a decade. and the gas is essentially forced down the pipeline from the russian and towards europe by this compressor station, and it consists of about eight of these compressors, they're like turbines, jet engines on an aeroplane. and of they have to be serviced after a certain amount of their life span, is the equivalent of taking your car for

its 40,000 mile service. but i think what we have seen is very unusual this year, to have basically all of these turbines be taken off in the same yearfor this these turbines be taken off in the same year for this servicing. now, the russians have said it is necessary and that it aligns with their health and safety regulations, their health and safety regulations, the europeans say that is not necessary and that they didn't need to take them off all at the same time. probably the truth lies somewhere between and clearly the russians are in no mood to be doing any favours to the europeans by delaying any maintenance that they see as necessary. when actually the impact is to drive up energy prices, which increases the profits from gazprom. which increases the profits from gazrom. ~ ., , which increases the profits from gazrom. ~ . , ., which increases the profits from gazrom. . , ., , gazprom. what is the impact of this tem ora gazprom. what is the impact of this temporary shutdown _ gazprom. what is the impact of this temporary shutdown going - gazprom. what is the impact of this temporary shutdown going to i gazprom. what is the impact of this temporary shutdown going to be i gazprom. what is the impact of this temporary shutdown going to be for europe, then? temporary shutdown going to be for europe. then?— europe, then? well, the amount of as that europe, then? well, the amount of gas that was _ europe, then? well, the amount of gas that was flowing _ europe, then? well, the amount of gas that was flowing through i europe, then? well, the amount of gas that was flowing through the i gas that was flowing through the nord stream pipeline prior to this temporary shutdown was quite limited compared to the overall capacity of the pipeline. the pipeline was probably running at about 20% of its capacity so europe isn't losing a

lot of gas over the course of three days. but the impact is rather more psychological. the impact is on market prices which we have seen spiking dramatically in the last week or so. and of course the fear is that ft maintenance isn't restricted to three days but goes on any longer, the situation will get worse and push prices up a bit higher, just as europe is starting to prepare for winter.— to prepare for winter. could this situation be _ to prepare for winter. could this situation be going _ to prepare for winter. could this situation be going on _ to prepare for winter. could this situation be going on in - to prepare for winter. could this situation be going on in the - to prepare for winter. could this i situation be going on in the longer term, do you think? we situation be going on in the longer term, do you think?— situation be going on in the longer term, do you think? we can't rule it out. term, do you think? we can't rule it out- recently _ term, do you think? we can't rule it out. recently cannot _ term, do you think? we can't rule it out. recently cannot rule _ term, do you think? we can't rule it out. recently cannot rule it - term, do you think? we can't rule it out. recently cannot rule it out. - out. recently cannot rule it out. that is why there is such uncertainty in the gas market at the moment. we are in a period right now where the winter hasn't yet begun and european companies and national governments are trying to put in place plans to store gas ahead of the coming winter. and any restriction on supply makes that harder. and of course any higher prices makes it harder as well, to justify buying it in —— and placing it in storage rather than consuming it in storage rather than consuming it today, so it's all adding to this

feeling of tension around the european gas market. and here in the uk we are looking at the new price cap coming into play on the 1st of october so it is all playing into this feeling of tension, i would say. this feeling of tension, i would sa . �* , ., , say. and it reminds governments around eumpe. _ say. and it reminds governments around europe, if— say. and it reminds governments around europe, if they _ say. and it reminds governments around europe, if they were - say. and it reminds governments around europe, if they were not i around europe, if they were not already thinking about it which clearly they are, about the importance of diversifying their energy supply, looking at more renewables, we were talking about wind energy today of course so it really does keep the pressure on, doesn't it? it really does keep the pressure on, doesn't it?— doesn't it? it does. unfortunately euroe is doesn't it? it does. unfortunately eumpe is in _ doesn't it? it does. unfortunately eumpe is in a— doesn't it? it does. unfortunately europe is in a difficult _ doesn't it? it does. unfortunately europe is in a difficult situation i europe is in a difficult situation insofar as we know where we want to be longer term in terms of renewables and low carbon electricity generation, decarbonising our heating with heat pumps, not only to get away from imported gas but alsojust pumps, not only to get away from imported gas but also just to pumps, not only to get away from imported gas but alsojust to meet our climate targets. but this is something that is going to take a long time, potentially through to the mid—20 30s before we start meeting some of our targets whereas what we are facing right now is a very short—term, very expensive and

difficult market for gas in the winter, and for uk consumers, if you have a gas boilerfor your winter, and for uk consumers, if you have a gas boiler for your heating, you have no alternative but to buy gas for it. so we are in quite a difficult situation at the moment. doctor sharples, thank you for joining us. 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 for canada. footage has emerged of mohammed al rasheed with shamima and the other two teenage girls she travelled with, close to the syrian border. the agent claims to have shared ms begum's passport details and smuggled other britons to fight for is. shamima is now in a detention camp in north—east syria, her citizenship was taken away in 2019. josh baker has been investigating all of this for five live's forthcoming podcast on the story — 'i�*m not a monster�*

so, the man who moved to shamima and her friends to turkey to is —controlled syria is called mohammed al rasheed and we have obtained a dossier on him that is full of hundreds of pages of information gathered by foreign law enforcement and intelligence. within that dossier, we can see that he was part of a substantial is people smuggling network that had moved not only shamima to syria, but also other britons as well. as part of that, we can also see that rasheed was keeping evidence on the people he helped, photographing passports for example, keeping things like baggage tags and he says he was doing doing this because he was providing information to canadian intelligence injordan. and we have been able to speak to a senior intelligence officer who has confirmed to us that mohammed rasheed was indeed providing information to the canadian intelligence services. they have said, however, that they will

not comment on this matter. and you've been talking to shamima begum for the podcast, what has she been sent to you about all this, but has a lawyer for her family been saying? so, shamima and i have been speaking for more than a year now, specifically on this. shamima has said that rasheed organised the entire trip from turkey to syria and she feels that it wouldn't have been possible for her to make it to syria without the help of a smuggler. she says that travellers to isis were dependent on smugglers to get them there. in terms of the family lawyer, they have pointed out that later this year shamima begum has a hearing where her lawyers will attempt to argue that when the comment removed her citizenship, they didn't consider the fact that she was a victim of trafficking. —— when the government removed her citizenship. the evidence that we have brought to light in terms of the people smuggling network could have

a bearing on the case, we are told. has there been any reaction from any of the other authorities with an interest in this case? both the british and the canadian authorities have declined to comment, as is in keeping with the long—standing policy of not commenting on national security or intelligence matters. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. though if it's rain you're after we've got that at the end of the week. now there are a few showers coming in from the north sea, a few drifting further west, quite breezy conditions across england and wales and the english channel. for scotland and northern ireland, the breeze less so, and we also have the cloud breaking up to light sunny intervals to develop as well.

temperatures 1a to 2a celsius. into this evening and overnight, again, a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, some patchy mist and fog forming in northern ireland, northern england and scotland. not so across the rest of england and wales, because there's too much breeze. and these are our overnight lows, 7 to iii celsius, although in sheltered glens they could fall away a little bit lower than that. so tomorrow, we start off with a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, still a few showers coming in from the north sea. but through the day, we'll start to see more showers coming up across the channel islands with temperatures up to 25. hello, this is bbc news with annita mcveigh. the headlines: tributes are paid to mikhail gorbachev, the soviet leader who ended the cold war, who has died at the age of 91. buckingham palace says the queen is to receive the new prime minister at balmoral on tuesday — the day after the winner of the conservative leadership contest is announced.

a bbc investigation has found that shamima begum — who left london at the age of 15 to join the islamic state group — was smuggled into syria by an intelligence agent working for canada. 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. 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. as we are reporting, mikhail gorbachev, who ended the cold war without bloodshed but failed to prevent the collapse of the soviet union, has died at the age of 91, according to hospital officials in moscow. there's been reaction from around the world.

us presidentjoe biden has paid this tribute: "mikhail gorbachev was a man of remarkable vision as leader of the ussr, he worked with president reagan to reduce our two countries' nuclear arsenals. after decades of brutal political repression, he embraced democratic reforms. the result was a safer world and greater freedom for millions of people." i'm joined now by defence analyst and ceo of the risk assessment company sibylline, justin crump. the vision of mikhail gorbachev set off a series of huge changes that probably he could not protected and properly no one could have. if you think of the _ properly no one could have. if you think of the time _ properly no one could have. if you think of the time he _ properly no one could have. if you think of the time he came - properly no one could have. if you think of the time he came to - properly no one could have. if you| think of the time he came to power he had three leaders in the union in quick succession and he was a young whippersnapper and there was a young whippersnapper and there was a recognition by the 19805 the soviet union needed to do something

different. i do not think they knew what they were getting and i don't think he knew. the soviet union was in stagnation by that point and something different needed to be done so he really did bring about change. i'm not even sure it was his road map and certainly didn't end the way he expected six or seven years after he took power so has this very divisive legacy because if you see the words ofjoe biden how the west russia sees him definitely. we had words from much earlier in a negative way saying they were still living with the consequences of it. when we were chatting you said he was a great idealist. he when we were chatting you said he was a great idealist.— was a great idealist. he was one of the last great _ was a great idealist. he was one of the last great political— was a great idealist. he was one of the last great political ideals - was a great idealist. he was one of the last great political ideals i - the last great political ideals i can think of. he earnestly believed in socialism and one of the reasons he didn't send the tanks into eastern europe in the late 19805 he didn't send the tanks into eastern europe in the late19805 was he genuinely believed if he gives

nations more freedom on the periphery and within the soviet union itself they would see the benefits of socialism and commoners and endlessly take to it but it didn't work like that and we saw the rise of nationalism and populations in eastern europe fed up with the entire method of government and he did not think that would happen, he thought it would evolve and see the light. the russians say he was the leader in respected but was naive and he misunderstood the western misunderstood the people and we have had many years of dealing with the consequences. had many years of dealing with the consequences-— had many years of dealing with the consequences. when you look at the osition consequences. when you look at the position west _ consequences. when you look at the position west is _ consequences. when you look at the position west is in _ consequences. when you look at the position west is in with _ consequences. when you look at the position west is in with russia - consequences. when you look at the position west is in with russia now, | position west is in with russia now, do we think that the plan of mikhail gorbachev failed? if do we think that the plan of mikhail gorbachev failed? it did do we think that the plan of mikhail gorbachev failed?— gorbachev failed? it did not work out as expected, _ gorbachev failed? it did not work out as expected, he _ gorbachev failed? it did not work out as expected, he wanted - gorbachev failed? it did not work out as expected, he wanted to i gorbachev failed? it did not work i out as expected, he wanted to bring the ussr to a new level and make it a better society and more open and almost back to the original idealism of lennon. lenin. —— lenin. that did

not work out now we are firmly back in the situation. vladimir putin says that mikhail gorbachev made the wrong decisions is back at the helm and facing a similar set of circumstances and it is fascinating to see how he will deal with situationally criticised gorbachev was then when he was in the kgb and didn't understand why the tanks didn't understand why the tanks didn't volunteer europe. vladimir putin stays the russian state was not accorded the same respect the ussr had been on one of my earlier guests was touching on this point. do you think there is an element of truth in that? was it a lack of respect? i think there was a

misunderstanding what the ussr was in the 19805 and he tried to evolve the form and structure and instead of collapsed. more power was given to the russian state than the ussr and that drove the national strand that broke things up. i think therefore there is some merit in the way of looking at around but overall i don't think gorbachev attended any of this to come to pass and i think he saw a more utopian picture for the soviet people and he thought he had a tide of popularity which the town for a while to bring about the changes and the consequences of that are still being felt. he was a very vocal critic of the current russian leadership until his death. hose vocal critic of the current russian leadership until his death. how much did the policies _ leadership until his death. how much did the policies he _ leadership until his death. how much did the policies he set _ leadership until his death. how much did the policies he set in _ leadership until his death. how much did the policies he set in motion - did the policies he set in motion have on military policy around the world? , , , ., , ., .,

world? the pressure was maintained durin: the world? the pressure was maintained during the cold _ world? the pressure was maintained during the cold war _ world? the pressure was maintained during the cold war and _ world? the pressure was maintained during the cold war and the - world? the pressure was maintained during the cold war and the nuclear| during the cold war and the nuclear agreements were big things and in the 19805 the threat of nuclear annihilation was so stark and the idea of a younger soviet leader meeting president regan, suddenly there was this young guy meeting —— reagan in iceland, there was a feeling this was a blast and they were trying to lull nettle into a false sense of security under russian strike would come. i don't think metal believe for a long time that russia would implode at all. so military policy was maintained. the problem we have had an the intervening 30 years as we have lost sight of what i military purposes and that is a huge discussion going on at the moment across europe and the united states. it's what we need to do. i the united states. it's what we need to do. ., ~ the united states. it's what we need to do. . ~' , the united states. it's what we need

to do. ., ~ ,, , . to do. i might thank you very much. -- thank you _ to do. i might thank you very much. -- thank you very — to do. i might thank you very much. -- thank you very much. _ to the flooding in pakistan now — and the united nations has launched an emergency appeal, to help victims of what the un secretary general called a 'monsoon on steroids'. pakistan's government says the floods are the worst in the nation's history. more than 1,000 people are known to have been killed as roads, homes and bridges are washed away. our correspondent pumza fihlani is in the southern sindh province. and we are on one of the busy roads here in sukkur in sindh province. it's one of the places where families who have been displaced have come and pitched tents for temporary shelter. it's a busy road and there are a lot of children running around. the parents are now speaking to them, say they are worried about how long they'll have to be in these conditions. they are out in the open in really hot weather. but also there isn't enough space for everything that they've come with.

on the one side, just across, some people have brought their livestock that they were able to salvage when the flood waters came. but because it's a busy road, they worry that either that will get run over or the children as they move in between the streets. they've told us that for days they can go without food because aid efforts here are still very erratic. and it's unclear when food is going to come. when it does come, people fight for it, they fight amongst themselves, children fight amongst themselves and adults also, too. and it's just creating an intense sense of desperation here on the ground. the country itself relies hugely on the road infrastructure to move goods when there aren't any floods. and because that has been destroyed, now they're having to think on their feet about how they will get aid to people. in the meantime, what that's meant is that whatever little supplies were already in communities, those are not enough to go around. and that's where that desperation and those fights then come from, because people know this, they see how little the food is when it comes. they see the spaces and the time it takes

in between the next food delivery. so they do get a sense that whatever is available is not enough for everyone, which is why people aren't willing, or they aren't willing to go without, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that they get fed. 115,000 royal mail workers are on strike for a second day today in a row over pay. the communication workers union say it's the biggest uk strike since 2009. the industrial action will disrupt deliveries of packages and letters and 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 0penreach 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.

earlier i spoke to operations director of the royal mail, ricky mcaulay. he argued that royal mail has to modernise in order to offer a better service for its customers. unlike industrial action, modernisation is the best way to protectjobs. we are talking about the demand from customers for a seven day a week parcel network and they want to be able to order up so late in the evening for next day delivery and the types of retail goods are

becoming increasingly large to carry through our network. we operate 36 flight sectors every night based on a legacy letter network and that is not the way to move parcels around the network so we need to deliver slightly later in the day which is betterfor the planet and better forecast and will enable us to go into the future. these are some of the changes which are absolutely vital. we are at a crossroads, royal mail. letter volumes will continue to decline and if royal mail is going to be around for the next 100 years we need to take the opportunity in the parcels market. very briefly, what would be the single biggest thing that could stop the e—mail exchanges in terms of the cwu in terms of a meeting and come into the room with the preparedness to look

into our books about the financial position face into change in the fantastic opportunity there for royal mail to grow stop that's what we need the cwu to do. dave ward is general secretary of the communication workers union. there are 117,000 members out on strike and the reason they were telling such massive aborts for strike action is because they are sick and tired of the hypocrisy, greed and blatant lies coming out from the respective leaders of the companies where members work. in the case of royal mail this union will neverface case of royal mail this union will never face away from change. we reached agreements with the company only 18 months ago that recaptured the parcels market and reached agreements that would have also seen change to expand the role of postal workers where we believe there is a great opportunity to leveraged the trust that exists between postal workers and their customers to

create new products and services that would sit alongside parcels and promote local economies. this union is up for change. what wreck is failing to tell you —— ——rick is failing to tell you —— ——rick is failing to tell you —— ——rick is failing to tell you is that the company walked away. they are in talks with a private investment company based in luxembourg about taking over royal mail. i think they are going behind the backs of customers because they are not interested in maintaining the universal service any more. in that interview he _ universal service any more. in that interview he was _ universal service any more. in that interview he was talking _ universal service any more. in that interview he was talking about - universal service any more. in that| interview he was talking about what the customer wants and i'm sure you would agree customers want convenience and to receive goods pretty quickly after the order them

and they want that seven days a week and they want that seven days a week and if it is later in the day later in the day i am sure they don't mind so long as they get what they ordered and i'm sure that is something you agree on. is that something you agree on. is that something the members of your union are prepared to do in terms of a sunday service, deliveries later in the day and so forth? share sunday service, deliveries later in the day and so forth?— the day and so forth? are already deliverin: the day and so forth? are already delivering a _ the day and so forth? are already delivering a sunday _ the day and so forth? are already delivering a sunday service - the day and so forth? are already delivering a sunday service which | the day and so forth? are already i delivering a sunday service which we agreed 18 months ago as part of the change. what they are not telling the truth is the plans that are sitting behind what they are saying and the interview and i want to be absolutely clear, this is about turning royal mail into another gig economy. what it also includes as a levelling down agenda unpaid terms and conditions and a levelling down gender and other services royal mail currently provides. —— agenda. you currently provides. -- agenda. you are saying — currently provides. -- agenda. you are saying on _ currently provides. -- agenda. you are saying on top _ currently provides. —— agenda. you are saying on top of the cost of living crisis. he said in that

interview that royal mail had asked the communication workers union on three occasions over the last two weeks to come in talks and he said those offers were turned down, is that true? . , . those offers were turned down, is that true? ., , ., , that true? that is alive. it is the other way _ that true? that is alive. it is the other way round. _ that true? that is alive. it is the other way round. -- _ that true? that is alive. it is the other way round. -- that - that true? that is alive. it is the other way round. -- that is - that true? that is alive. it is the | other way round. -- that is alive. other way round. —— that is alive. —— a lie. the ceo is playing games and i think we have exposed what those games are. is it true you are involved in secret talks of the takeover for royal mail from a private equity group based in luxembourg? they are hiding from that and won't answer any questions. i have seen interviews when the question is posed to them and they refused to answer it. that is why

the operational manager was doing the operational manager was doing the round of interviews today because simon thompson was exposed via that on friday. what because simon thompson was exposed via that on friday.— via that on friday. what will it take to get — via that on friday. what will it take to get the _ via that on friday. what will it take to get the two _ via that on friday. what will it take to get the two sides - via that on friday. what will it - take to get the two sides together? one side says they are not talking to us and the other side says that they are not talking to us, so what will it take to actually get yourself together in a room, not via e—mail but face—to—face to try to break the stalemate? i e-mail but face-to-face to try to break the stalemate?— break the stalemate? i am up in manchester _ break the stalemate? i am up in manchester at _ break the stalemate? i am up in manchester at the _ break the stalemate? i am up in manchester at the moment. - break the stalemate? i am up in manchester at the moment. i i manchester at the moment. i travelled up yesterday, spoke to royal mail yesterday. we did that because of some of the bbc interviews taking place this morning and we have visited a lot of picket lines today and the fact of the matter is they didn't want those talks yesterday. i believe there

will be talks before the end of the week although they have not confirmed the time of it. we are ready anytime, anyplace, anywhere and if what we are seeing is not true, we will debate that with some live on air because these people are not telling the truth on the back for some seem to all of this. you don't get massive aborts in favour of strike action during the biggest cost of living crisis in living memory where people are really struggling, you don't get the starts of numbers we have had today if it is not true what i'm saying that the workforce has lost complete confidence in the leadership. [30 workforce has lost complete confidence in the leadership. do you think ou confidence in the leadership. do you think you have _ confidence in the leadership. do you think you have the _ confidence in the leadership. do you think you have the backing - confidence in the leadership. do you think you have the backing of- confidence in the leadership. do you think you have the backing of the i think you have the backing of the public even if it is of some inconvenience to them? definitely and that backing _ inconvenience to them? definitely and that backing will— inconvenience to them? definitely and that backing will increase - inconvenience to them? definitely| and that backing will increase once the real issues are exposed because i think the public value the fact

that royal mail is a different courier company. yes, we agreed that 18 months ago. that is not what the dispute is about, it's about the greed and hypocrisy of the people leading royal mail who imposed a 2% pay increase and did not negotiate it. they awarded themselves bonuses of £1 million each for the ceo and the chief financial operating officer because they are saying they have hit all their financial targets. a few weeks later they know seeing their losing £1 million per day. that is the narrative for a takeover bid and it is being manufactured and it is disgraceful what is going on.— what is going on. thank you very much. 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 in the uk, and will power more than one million homes. our environment correspondent, jonah fisher, reports. 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.

the venice film festival returns, and this year organisers have dropped all covid—19 restrictions. after years of strict rules and travel chaos, stars are flocking to the international festival for its eleven day run. the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri has more. often called the city of masks, venice is making them optional for its annual film festival — meaning its stars can shine bright and be greeted with all the charm italy has to offer. i'm so happy that we are back to normal, that you cannot imagine, yeah. the film festival is the only international one to have carried on during the pandemic, and this year's entries are filled with young talent — with the festival billing them as the cinema of tomorrow. when i come out of my dressing room, i'm normajean.

it's interesting that venice this year has sort of picked a number of films with really appealing and — let's be honest — sexy young talents, maybe as an attempt to draw in some of these younger audiences and give them an alternative to, you know, the next marvel movie. despite the festival's stunning backdrop, there are ripples of tension beneath the surface. its leadership has always prioritised theatrical releases — even making it a requirement for entries. but they're facing the reality that audiences are turning on the telly to stream, rather than walking into film theatres. but for the next 11 days, they'll put all that aside — after all, the show must go on. azadeh moshiri, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. today is the last day of the meteorological summer and we

do still have some summer weather in the forecast. high pressure is firmly in charge of things today and still we've got a keen breeze across england and wales, especially the north sea coastline and the channel islands. that's bringing in some showers from the east, a few of them moving further west but they are fairly isolated. the cloud across scotland continuing to break so most of us having a dry day with sunny spells, the cloud hanging on across the northern isles for the longest. now, these white circles represent the average strength of the wind, so you can see, it's not very strong but you will notice it when it gusts with temperatures 1a to about 2k degrees in the south. through this evening and overnight, still pretty breezy across england and wales, still one or two showers but there will be a lot of clear skies and with the lighter winds across scotland and northern ireland and also northern england, we mightjust see the odd pocket of patchy fog. temperatures six to about 1k degrees, a little lower in some sheltered glens. so tomorrow, any mist and fog that's formed over will

quickly disperse and then we are looking at another dry day with a lot of sunshine around, some showers coming in from the north sea, but not very many and the temperature range 1a to about 2k degrees. it's after that that things start to change and we start to see low pressure come our way. we will have some showers across the channel islands on thursday, moving steadily northwards during the course of friday and getting as far north as eastern scotland, and at the same time, and weather front connected to an area of low pressure, bringing in some rain across the west. temperatures up to 2a degrees. on saturday, you can see where we've got our line of showers. some got our line of showers. could be heavy coming in1 the some could be heavy coming in from the west. it could change but in between there will be sunshine and temperatures of 15 to 2a degrees. low pressure remains through sunday and into the early part of next week so the forecast will remain unsettled. windy at times across the

north—east of the country and some of us will see heavy rain. temperatures slipping a touch, 18 to about 24.

today at one... preparations are being made for the funeral of mikhail gorbachev, the last leader of the soviet union, who has died at the age of 91. he helped bring down the iron curtain, ending the cold war. it's a legacy lauded in the west. but for some of his own countrymen and women he is now viewed as the architect of russian decline. translation: it seemed - he could change the soviet union for the better, but it turned out he was the person who broke it up. he did a lot of damage, and we are the ones facing the consequences. we'll be assessing the life of one the most important figures of the 20th century. also this lunchtime... in a break with tradition, the queen won't appoint the new prime minister in london next week. it will take place at balmoral.

royal mail apologises to customers as a one—day strike by postal