welcome to bbc news, i'm rich preston. our top stories. after weeks of chaos, liz truss leaves office, becoming the shortest—serving prime minister in british history. i cannot deliver the mandate on which i was elected by the conservative party. i have therefore spoken to his majesty the king to notify him that i am resigning as leader of the conservative party. the race is now on to find a successor, with a new prime minister due to move into downing street by the end of next week. president biden thanks liz truss for her cooperation on the war in ukraine, while european union leaders call for more stability in the uk. and in other news, a new york court has dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit

against the actor kevin spacey. welcome to our viewers on pbs in the united states and joining us around the world. we begin here in the uk, which will get a new prime minister by the end of next week — the fifth in six years. the governing conservative party announced details of a fast—tracked contest to choose its next leader, following the resignation of liz truss. she stepped down on thursday afternoon, afterjust six weeks in the job. it's the shortest prime ministerial tenure in british history. this report from our political editor, chris mason. lunchtime in downing street — and the lectern is back. six weeks and two days since liz truss stood behind it as she became prime minister, she was back too —

this time, to resign. i came into office at a time of great economic and international instability. families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. putin's illegal war in ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. and our country has been held back for too long by low economic growth. i was elected by the conservative party with a mandate to change this. we delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance, and we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of brexit. i recognise, though, given the situation, i cannot deliver the mandate on which i was elected by the conservative party. i have therefore spoken

to his majesty the king to notify him that i am resigning as leader of the conservative party. so what on earth happens now? this morning, i met the chairman of the 1922 committee, sir graham brady. we've agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week. this will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security. i will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen. thank you. what an extraordinary moment. just three and a half months since borisjohnson stood at that lectern and resigned himself, now his successor has done just the same. the chaos deepens. enter, then, this man, sir graham brady, who the prime minister mentioned, who will oversee the race

to replace liz truss. what's he got to say? good afternoon, everybody. there's not a great deal i can say at the moment. i have spoken to the party chairman, jake berry, and he has confirmed that it will be possible to conduct a ballot and conclude a leadership election by friday the 28th of october. do you accept that this is a complete dog's dinner? it's certainly not a circumstance that i would wish to see. so what do the other parties make of it? the conservatives' rivals say it's time for a general election. cor, blimey, another opponent for you to face. what do you make of it? well, it is another opponent, and, you know, we're burning through prime ministers, we're burning through chancellors, we're burning through home secretaries. and that gives it an element of soap opera, but it isn't just a soap opera and this is, you know, for many people who are facing higher prices, higher mortgages, this is real

damage that's being inflicted on them. i really don't think another revolving door of chaos, another experiment at the top of the tory party, is the way out of this. what needs to happen now? on a uk level, there must be a general election, - it is a democratic necessity. the idea the tories can unite | behind a prime minister now, any prime minister, let alone one that is in the public- interest is for the birds. the tories have shown they are incapable of providing the leadership, they are not fit to govern our country and we don't need another conservative prime minister. they need to go, we need another general election and conservative mps have got to do that patriotic duty and vote for that. how did all of this happen? the era of liz truss is far too short to even deserve that word. this was her arriving as prime minister last month. the chancellor! - thank you, thank you. in short, nearly her entire programme for government

imploded on contact with reality. mr speaker, we're at the beginning of a new era, and as we contemplate... shouting. that's right, a new era. "mini budget, maxi disaster," as her colleagues called this privately. the markets tanked. so did her poll ratings. and her mps lost faith almost instantly. the other night i asked her... will you lead the conservatives at the next general election? i will lead the conservatives into the next general election. definitely? well, look, yeah... and even yesterday she said... i am a fighter, not a quitter. now it turns out she's done with fighting, and she's quit. so who will take over? you mightjust remember this guy. hasta la vista, baby. hasta la vista — "see you later". might we again?

some conservatives would love it, others hate it. last time's runner—up, rishi sunak, is a possibility, as are cabinet ministers penny mourdant and kemi badenoch, and the woman who resigned as home secretary yesterday, having a pop at liz truss in the process — suella braverman. mr hunt, are you looking forward to number ten? i the answer is no, the new chancellor has ruled himself out. at teatime, we found out more from the conservative party about how the contest will work. nominations are now open, will close at 2pm on monday. candidates will be expected to have at least 100 colleagues nominating them. but if the party should put forward two candidates, there will be a binding online vote for conservative party members to choose the next leader.

all stages of the election will be concluded by friday 28th of october. who might find themselves moving in here a week tomorrow? after what has happened to liz truss, you might imagine it could give some second thoughts. poisoned chalice it might be, but prized it still is, and tonight the race is under way. chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. laura beers is professor of british history at the american university. she's in washington. thank you for being with us, what do you make of this? thanks for having me. it's a mess. you know, i have to say, just a few days ago, i said i didn't think truss would go, and the reason is not because i

thought she had the support of anyone in her party or the country, but because i thought it would be difficult for the conservative party to withstand calls for a general election if they replaced the prime minister twice in such a short span of time, and i think it is going to be difficult, notjust fighting off the lib dems, the labour party and the snp, but the broader public, saying there is no democratic legitimacy here.- there is no democratic legitimacy here. there is no democratic lecitima here. ,, ., legitimacy here. she had said he was a fighter, _ legitimacy here. she had said he was a fighter, not - legitimacy here. she had said he was a fighter, not a - he was a fighter, not a quitter, this was clearly a personal decision, are you surprised he took it? i think we had a — surprised he took it? i think we had a real— surprised he took it? i think we had a real clue - surprised he took it? i think we had a real clue when - surprised he took it? i think. we had a real clue when suella braverman resigned yesterday, the language of her resignation. the supportjust resignation. the support just wasn't resignation. the supportjust wasn't there within the party, even among those who had backed her. she has made so many u—turns, just yesterday she said she was a fighter and not a quitter, but she said she was behind the triple lock on pensions, who knows what the

conservative leadership stands for at the moment?— conservative leadership stands for at the moment? what do the events of the — for at the moment? what do the events of the last _ for at the moment? what do the events of the last few _ for at the moment? what do the events of the last few weeks - events of the last few weeks and months due to the image and reputation of british politics and democracy overseas? i think, sadly, forthe and democracy overseas? i think, sadly, for the last few months, at least in the us, it has become the but of a joke, a tragicjoke, right? it is a country the united states is used to thinking of as a special relationship, a major world power. even more of a nation state than an empire, and it seems in disarray to most of the rest of the world. specifically looking at the conservative party, what does this rapid change in prime ministers tell us about the unity and the strength of this party, which still has another couple of years in government? well, maybe it has another couple of years in government! it suggests division at the top. presumably the best hope for the tories is over the weekend they unite around a candidate and avoid another

leadership contest going out to the membership. but it's hard to see that happening given the divisions within the party. there is no obvious candidate, whateverjohnson thinks, to rally around. whateverjohnson thinks, to rally around.— whateverjohnson thinks, to rally around. professor, thank ou ve rally around. professor, thank you very much- _ let's go to ukraine now, and the us says iran has deployed its military experts in russian—occupied crimea to help launch further drone attacks on ukraine. iran is accused of helping co—ordinate so—called kamikaze drone attacks, causing immense damage to ukraine's power grid. tom brada reports. street extinguished. office blocks and apartment buildings without power for hours at a time. russian attacks targeting ukraine's power grid have forced millions to adapt to life in the dark. translation: ., , .,

life in the dark. translation: ., , translation: unable to use ener: translation: unable to use energy resources _ translation: unable to use energy resources as - translation: unable to use energy resources as a - translation: unable to use | energy resources as a weapon, the current leadership of russia gave the order to turn the energy system itself into a battlefield. in the energy system itself into a battlefield.— battlefield. in the space of a sinale battlefield. in the space of a single week. _ battlefield. in the space of a single week, at _ battlefield. in the space of a single week, at least - battlefield. in the space of a single week, at least 3096 i battlefield. in the space of aj single week, at least 3096 of single week, at least 30% of ukraine's power stations have been taken off—line. hoping to make the most of the energy they do have, ukraine's government has imposed restrictions on electricity use, with power outages of up to four hours at a time. translation: to four hours at a time. tuna/mom- to four hours at a time. translation: ~ ., ., , ., translation: we are ready for outaaes, translation: we are ready for outages. we _ translation: we are ready for outages, we have _ translation: we are ready for outages, we have candles, - translation: we are ready for outages, we have candles, we l outages, we have candles, we have charged power banks, ukraine is charged to win. the latest wave — ukraine is charged to win. the latest wave of _ ukraine is charged to win. the latest wave of drone attacks have specifically targeted ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. and the origin of the drones being used has put a spotlight on iran. it's believed russia has been using iranians made 136 drones, also known as kamikaze drones. iran and russia have rejected these

accusations, but now the white house is accusing iran of deploying military experts in russian occupied crimea to help co—ordinate those attacks. we co-ordinate those attacks. we assess that — co—ordinate those attacks. - assess that iranians personnel, military personnel, were on the ground in crimea, and assisted russia in these operations. russia in these operations. russia has received dozens of these so far and will likely continue to receive additional shipments in the future. western officials have accused iran of playing a destabilising role in global security, and the uk has announced sanctions on iranians businesses and individuals, with other countries expected to follow suit. but with winter approaching and drones continuing, ukrainians will have to get used to the dark for some time yet. sarah kreps is the director and professor of the tech policy institute at cornell university, and a senior fellow at the brookings institution. she joins us now from new york.

professor, thank you for making the time for us. iran and russia working together on the ground in ukraine, what do you make of this? does it come as a surprise? make of this? does it come as a surrise? ., ., �* ~' surprise? no, i don't think it does. surprise? no, i don't think it does- iran — surprise? no, i don't think it does. iran was _ surprise? no, i don't think it does. iran was helping - surprise? no, i don't think it| does. iran was helping russia in syria, they have had an alliance going back a decade or so. and i think it's pretty clear that it's a case where the enemy of their enemy is theirfriend. iran wants the enemy of their enemy is their friend. iran wants to stick it to the us, russia is trying to guard against the us assistance to ukraine, and it makes a lot of sense that iran would come in and assist russia, as they are facing a lot of uncertainty and setbacks in ukraine. i5 lot of uncertainty and setbacks in ukraine-— in ukraine. is that the only benefit to _ in ukraine. is that the only benefit to iran, _ in ukraine. is that the only benefit to iran, this - in ukraine. is that the only. benefit to iran, this working together towards a common enemy or is there something longer turn that tehran is looking to get out of this? fix, turn that tehran is looking to get out of this?— get out of this? a couple of thins, get out of this? a couple of things. one. _ get out of this? a couple of things, one, they _ get out of this? a couple of things, one, they have - get out of this? a couple of| things, one, they have been under sanctions for some time

now, and that's kind of putting the hurt to them. the second is they have been a major importer of russian wheat since the war started, so that is a kind of win win for russia and iran. and anotherfactor, iran has faced instability at home, so it might be a kind of diversionary war aspect to help shore up domestic support at home. �* , . ~ shore up domestic support at home. �*, ., ~ ., ., home. let's talk more about the technology. _ home. let's talk more about the technology, these _ home. let's talk more about the technology, these so _ home. let's talk more about the technology, these so called - technology, these so called kamikaze drones, what do we know about them, how are they made, how much do they cost and how is russia paying for them? last question first, it's a little bit unclear how russia is paying for them. some rumours suggest there is a bit of a barter going on between russian wheat and iranians material going over to russia. they are about $20,000, which is considerably less expensive than $400,000 is considerably less expensive than $100,000 missile. from that perspective, even if many

of these don't get through the air defences, the other night about five of the 28 got through, a 17% success rate, but still those five can do serious damage to the energy infrastructure and also to the civilian morale.— civilian morale. professor, thank you- _ stay with us on bbc news, still to come. the american actor kevin spacey says he's "deeply grateful" after a new yorkjury clears him of making unwanted sexual advances towards a 1a—year—old. a historic moment that many of his victims have waited forfor decades. the former dictator in the dock older, slimmer and, as he sat down, obedient enough. dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plane, it lights up a biblicalfamine — now, in the 20th century.

the depressing conclusion — in argentina today, it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. we've had controversies - in the past with great britain, but as good friends, _ we have always come to a good and lasting solution. concorde bows out in style after almost three decades in service. an aircraft that has enthralled its many admirers for so long taxis home one last time. it's this this is bbc news, the latest it's this headlines. after weeks of chaos, liz truss has resigned, becoming the shortest—serving prime minister in british history. the conservative party is now racing to find a successor,

with a new prime minister due to move into downing street by the end of next week. a jury in new york has found that the american actor, kevin spacey, is not liable to pay damages to a man who claimed he was sexually assaulted by the oscar winner in 1986 when he was aged 1a. anthony rapp, also an actor, had been seeking around $40 million in damages. mr spacey denied the allegation and said the pair had never been alone together. 0ur north american correspondent peter bowes has been following this story. hejoins me now from los angeles. what were the jury being asked to deliberate on in this case? they were deliberating on allegations that were first made by anthony rapp in 2017, the early days of the me too movement, and he alleged in 1986 when he was 1a and kevin

spacey was 26 that he was at a party at kevin spacey�*s apartment, they were both working on broadway at the time, and it was during that party that he claims he was sexually assaulted, he was forced down onto a bed. kevin spacey says it didn't happen. as you said, he said they were never alone together. when the allegations first came out, he issued a statement on twitter in which he apologised and said he couldn't remember what happened. but that it could have been simply inappropriate drunken behaviour. he now says, and he said in the trial, that he regrets apologising for something, a statement perhaps encouraged by his publicist, for something that he says he did not do. for something that he says he did not do— for something that he says he did not do-— did not do. and what reaction has there _ did not do. and what reaction has there been _ did not do. and what reaction has there been to _ did not do. and what reaction has there been to this? - did not do. and what reaction has there been to this? kevin sace has there been to this? kevin spacey by _ has there been to this? kevin spacey by all _ has there been to this? kevin spacey by all accounts - has there been to this? kevin spacey by all accounts was i spacey by all accounts was quite emotional at the end of this, when thejury�*s quite emotional at the end of this, when the jury's verdict was read out. he didn't speak to reporters leaving the courthouse, but his lawyer did

issue a statement, and i will read a little part of it. the lawyer said he was deeply thankful that justice lawyer said he was deeply thankful thatjustice had been thankful that justice had been done thankful thatjustice had been done following what the lawyer described as a swift and decisive verdict. the lawyer went on to say that mr spacey was grateful to live in a country where the citizens have a right to trial by impartial jurors, who make their decision based on evidence and not rumour or social media. that goes to something that she said at the end of the trial, she actually urged the jurors to set aside what she described as the sexual politics of this case. again, a reference to the me too movement, he said it was not a case of being with the movement or against it, but simply about the facts of the case. . ~' simply about the facts of the case. ., ~ , ., in central africa, the military—led government in chad says about fifty people have been killed in a day of protests for a swifter transition to democratic rule.

the demonstrations took place on the day when the president, general mahamat idriss deby, was originally due to step down. the united nations has urged an investigation into the violence. the united nations says colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine, has broken its own record for cultivating coca, the drug's main ingredient. a new report by the un office on drugs and crime shows colombia's coca harvest area increased by 43% last year. bulgaria has become the third country to say it won't take part in next year's eurovision song contest, which is being staged in liverpool in the north west of england on behalf of ukraine, which won this year's competition. north macedonia and montenegro have already withdrawn, citing an increased entry fee. participants have been asked to pay more to cover the money lost by the decision to ban russia from the contest. english premier league club aston villa says manager steven gerrard has left the club following a 3—0 defeat at fulham on thursday night.

the former england and liverpool midfielder has been with villa for a year. they are currently just above the relegation zone, having won only twice this season. an american woman has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a teenager by careless driving in the uk. 19—year—old harry dunn was riding a motorbike when he was killed after a collision with a car outside an raf base in 2019. anne sacoolas, whose husband works for the us embassy, appeared in a london court by video link from her lawyer's office in washington. it's more than three years since harry dunn was killed in a head—on collision outside a us base in northamptonshire. this afternoon, wearing

the green of his favourite motorbike, his family arrived at the old bailey in london to see the american woman responsible finally admit her guilt in court. appearing by video link from her lawyer's office in washington, anne sacoolas — with her dark hair tied back — pleaded guilty to a charge of causing harry dunn's death by careless driving. harry dunn wasjust 19 years old when he died, and his family have campaigned hard to get the case to this stage, when once a court case seemed impossible. it's been really tough. and today, honestly, it feels just like the sun's come out. i didn't know if we'd ever get to this stage sometimes, and thankfully today, with the support of these guys and you guys, we've got there and we've gotjustice for our son. yeah. — i really feel that. emotions were running high, but they were partly feelings of relief. afterwards, his mum charlotte told me that on the night he died, she had promised harry she would getjustice for him. little did i know that it would take me this long to carry out that promise, but i was never going to give up. never broken a promise

to my kids, and if i'd have had to carry on for another few years, i damn well would. and do you feel today that you've kept that promise? yeah, ido. that's what's making me so emotional, because it's been a really long three years. 0n the day of the accident, anne sacoolas drove out of this us base. unfamiliar with driving in britain, she went onto the wrong side of the road, remaining there for more than 20 seconds, until she hit harry dunn on a blind corner. the base where her husband worked is a highly secretive communications centre, and she flew out of the uk 19 days later ,claiming diplomatic immunity. the judge has now directed that anne sacoolas should return to the uk to be sentenced next month, though there's no way of enforcing that. daniel sandford, bbc news.

there's been a lot of reaction to the resignation of liz truss as british prime minister. when a political commentatorjoked that ms truss had "roughly the shelf—life of a lettuce", the british tabloid the daily star responded by testing the theory on a live web—cam feed. the paper shares the headline "lettuce rejoice" alongside a picture of the vegetable with a blonde wig. that lettuce has become an internet sensation around the world, with thousands of people tuning into the live feed. when the prime minister was giving her resignation speech, 20,000 people were watching the live feed of that lettuce. a contest under way in the conservative party to decide who will become the next party leader.

thursday was a stormy day, rumbles of thunder moving north. that unsettled picture continues for the next few days, low pressure itself to the south—west, throwing the weather fronts around that low, driving in plenty of frequent showers. but the wind direction from the south, still relatively mild, and mild start to friday morning, plenty of showers from the south—west, some of them heavy, possibly even thundery first thing in the morning. they will drift out of cornwall into wales and towards the midlands as we go through the morning rush hour. eventually moving steadily north, fewer showers into the far north of scotland,

but nowhere will escape those showers as we go through the afternoon. at least they will rattle through at quite a pace because of the strong southerly wind, the strongest gusts close to the centre of the low during the afternoon, 50mph not out of question into the south—west. but always coming from the south, a mild source, so in between with the sunshine coming through, temperatures are likely to peak in the high teens, pretty good for this time of year. early saturday morning, the centre of the low will move up into northern ireland, north—west england and south—west scotland, where the frequent sharp showers will be. we may see some mist and fog behind, as the winds become a little lighter, with this little ridge of high pressure building for the start of the weekend. however, it won't be long before another low starts to move in for sunday. saturday certainly the better day through the weekend. showers into northern ireland and much of central and southern scotland,

clearer skies behind, some sunshine coming through, lighter winds, so it will feel pleasant in the sunshine, with highs again 18 or 19 degrees. moving out of saturday into sunday, the next low pushing in from the south—west, the isobars once again squeezing together, the wind strengthening, throwing the weather fronts and showers across the country. once again, some sharp thundery downpours on sunday, and that story will continue as we head into monday.

0ur our latest headlines. britain is getting a new prime minister after liz truss stood down 44 days into her tenure. the resignation, which came after weeks of political and economic chaos, mean she has become the shortest serving prime minister in british history. the cape of my governing conservative party has announced a fast—track contest to choose a new leader

said that the new pm can