today at six. asnap a snap election is called in northern ireland after months of political deadlock at stormont but no date is given. devolved government at stormont hasn't functioned since an election in may. today, the northern ireland secretary said he would call a new poll. we are where we are. i have limited options ahead of me, i'm under a legal duty to call an election within 12 weeks. doctors are among those saying that the lack of a functioning government in stormont is hampering their ability to plan. what is happening now is that we are firefighting. we can't plan, we can't look ahead, we can't do anything different than firefight, and it is just getting worse and worse. we'll bring you all the latest. also on the programme...

you have shown absolutely no remorse and it appears that you are in complete denial. a murder sentence is televised for the first time in england and wales. jemma mitchell is given life for the killing and decapitation of her friend. the world's richest man, elon musk, takes control of the social media platform twitter in a £38 billion deal. and the minting of new coins bearing the image of king charles iii, in circulation from december. and coming up on the bbc world news channel. they are breaking formula i's budget cap and facing a fine of more than £6 million of the reduction in research for next season. good evening.

the northern ireland secretary has said that voters will be going to the polls for the second time in 12 months, to vote yet again for members of the stormont assembly. after a midnight deadline to break months of gridlock passed, chris heaton—harris said an election must be held within 12 weeks, although he did not give a date. in may, the nationalist party sinn fein for the first time won the biggest number of seats in the devolved government. but the largest unionist party, the dup, refused tojoin the power—sharing executive — which means the government cannot function. the dup believes northern ireland's place in the uk is being undermined by the post—brexit trade deal signed by borisjohnson. that deal — known as the protocol — sets out the trading arrangements between great britain and northern ireland. goods being transported to northern ireland from the mainland are subject to checks. our ireland correspondent emma vardy reports.

political paralysis, on the horizon for some time, now set in. as the midnight deadline came and went, civil servants, midnight deadline came and went, civilservants, not midnight deadline came and went, civil servants, not ministers any more, are running northern ireland. today, the secretary of state said he would still call an election but left out over a date, saying he wanted to talk more to the parties first. i wanted to talk more to the parties first. . ., , ., , ., ., first. i have limited options ahead of me. i first. i have limited options ahead of me- i am _ first. i have limited options ahead of me. i am under _ first. i have limited options ahead of me. i am under a _ first. i have limited options ahead of me. i am under a legal - first. i have limited options ahead of me. i am under a legal duty - first. i have limited options ahead of me. i am under a legal duty to | of me. i am under a legal duty to call an election within 12 weeks. i have had lots and lots of talks with all the parties and will continue to do so. �* �* , ., , do so. bbc news, there was the 0 tion to do so. bbc news, there was the option to legislate _ do so. bbc news, there was the option to legislate to _ do so. bbc news, there was the option to legislate to delay - do so. bbc news, there was the option to legislate to delay this | option to legislate to delay this moment. how does calling an election help solve any of the problem for northern ireland that got us here? nearly all the parties have been saying this won't help the situation actually signed up to the rules that make this situation happen. why call it now? i am legally bound to do so.

and those rules state it must be held within 12 weeks. alongside carol singers, voters are now expecting campaigning politicians on their doorstep in the run—up to christmas but beyond that, nobody really thinks there is any greater prospect of power—sharing coming back. the dup maintains they will only go back into government is major changes are made to the brexit arrangements. i major changes are made to the brexit arrangements-— arrangements. i am ready to fight an election, if the _ arrangements. i am ready to fight an election, if the secretary _ arrangements. i am ready to fight an election, if the secretary of- arrangements. i am ready to fight an election, if the secretary of state - election, if the secretary of state wants to hold an election, he should tell us and we will prepare for that election but if not, then let's focus on what really needs to be done, which is to find a solution which restores northern ireland's place within the united kingdom and removes the protocol and the harm it is doing to our relationship with the rest of the uk stop play what i am concerned about is that we need the executive up and running, we need to have one functioning to serve the people well, to get them through these tough times. we are all left wondering _ through these tough times. we are all left wondering what _ through these tough times. we are all left wondering what is _ through these tough times. we are all left wondering what is going - through these tough times. we are all left wondering what is going to l all left wondering what is going to happen— all left wondering what is going to happen next and what is the motivation behind what the secretary of state _ motivation behind what the secretary of state has done this evening. not

havin: a of state has done this evening. iirrt having a government means the ability to help communities with immediate challenges is severely limited. for many families, that means facing the cost of living crisis with political leaders absent. ~ . , ., absent. we are struggling, not even week to week _ absent. we are struggling, not even week to week but _ absent. we are struggling, not even week to week but day _ absent. we are struggling, not even week to week but day to _ absent. we are struggling, not even week to week but day to day, - absent. we are struggling, not even week to week but day to day, trying | week to week but day to day, trying to put food on the table.— to put food on the table. james mana . es to put food on the table. james manages a _ to put food on the table. james manages a community - to put food on the table. james manages a community hub - to put food on the table. james manages a community hub in i to put food on the table. james - manages a community hub in belfast and says families are increasingly dependent on the voluntary services here, and that he is in the same boat. ., ~' ., here, and that he is in the same boat. ., ~ ., , ., here, and that he is in the same boat. ., ~' ., , ., ., boat. you know, i used to run a food hub from my — boat. you know, i used to run a food hub from my house, _ boat. you know, i used to run a food hub from my house, over _ boat. you know, i used to run a food hub from my house, over covid. - boat. you know, i used to run a food hub from my house, over covid. i. boat. you know, i used to run a food| hub from my house, over covid. i am now, there are times that i am having to go to the food programme and say, we are really struggling. yourself? , , ., ., , ., yourself? ourselves, and as a manager. _ yourself? ourselves, and as a manager. it — yourself? ourselves, and as a manager. it is _ yourself? ourselves, and as a manager, it is humiliating. . yourself? ourselves, and as a - manager, it is humiliating. another election, manager, it is humiliating. another election. james _ manager, it is humiliating. another election, james believes, - manager, it is humiliating. another election, james believes, provides| election, james believes, provides no new answers. but election, james believes, provides no new answers-— election, james believes, provides no new answers. but i don't believe that the peeple _ no new answers. but i don't believe that the people who _ no new answers. but i don't believe that the people who are _ no new answers. but i don't believe that the people who are they - no new answers. but i don't believe that the people who are they really| that the people who are they really want stormont to work. hand that the people who are they really want stormont to work.— want stormont to work. and with atients want stormont to work. and with patients facing — want stormont to work. and with patients facing the _ want stormont to work. and with patients facing the longest - want stormont to work. and with l patients facing the longest waiting

lists in the uk, doctors are warning the health service is a major casualties of this crisis. what will this winter look like for health care workers if there is no functioning government? we already know that it is _ functioning government? we already know that it is really, _ functioning government? we already know that it is really, really - know that it is really, really difficult, _ know that it is really, really difficult, even with the government. we just— difficult, even with the government. we just can't cope with the demand that is— we just can't cope with the demand that is there at the moment. six months — that is there at the moment. six months ago, we should have had an executive _ months ago, we should have had an executive and a budget, not only a budget— executive and a budget, not only a budget but— executive and a budget, not only a budget but a multi—year budget which would _ budget but a multi—year budget which would have allowed us to do things vastly— would have allowed us to do things vastly differently and we would have seen those changes. now, there are lots and _ seen those changes. now, there are lots and lots of plans that are there — lots and lots of plans that are there. , ., . , lots and lots of plans that are there. ., , ., ., there. the polarised politics of power-sharing _ there. the polarised politics of power-sharing means - there. the polarised politics of| power-sharing means stormont there. the polarised politics of- power-sharing means stormont has power—sharing means stormont has only function to the two of the last six years. for many people, today marks a return to problems that northern ireland has faced all too often before. before today, the secretary of state was crystal clear that he was going to call an election at one minute past midnight but today, he didn't seem to be so bullish with the

parties, leaving everyone a bit more doubtful about the time frame. of course, the tensions between the parties has not improved here but their power to change the northern ireland protocol does not lie at stormont. it is dependent on negotiations between the british government and the eu. so the dup will go into this election arguing they have support from voters for their position of staying out of government until their demands are met. many people feel we could get to the other side of polling day, whenever that is, in exactly the same position with really no greater sense of what happens next. thank you very much, emma vardy reporting, there. the social media platform twitter is now in the hands of the world's richest man. elon musk has promised change at the organisation. a number of top executives have reportedly been fired and there are now questions about twitter�*s future direction. its billionaire owner believes in what he calls "absolute free speech". the completion of the deal, worth more than £38 billion, brings to an end months

of legal wrangling. our technology editor zoe kleinman reports. elon musk. to his many fans, one of the most innovative and influential people in the world. he is certainly the richest. he made his money with paypal and is now the boss of the electric car firm tesla.

of content moderation he needs to keep investors and customers happy and his free speech ideals. all of this matters because twitter has become the place where world leaders, opinion formers and politicians come to share their views. it is a kind of direct line between the decision makers and us, the people they represent. elon musk says we need an digital town square, a community space for public discussion, and twitter, he argues, is it. several top execs have already been sacked, and for those who remain, they need to know musk means business. i suspect they will want to get some degree of certainty that elon musk isn't going to be running it

like he runs his twitter account. his twitter account is full of memes and jokes. people want a degree of seriousness. they consider this an important product in the world. there is lots of speculation about whether musk�*s takeover will mean the return of the most high—profile person on twitter�*s banned list, former us president donald trump. he said on his own truth social media platform that twitter is now in sane hands, but he has no plans to return — for now. zoe kleinman, bbc news. our north america technology reporterjames clayton joins us from outside twitter�*s headquarters now. james, so many twists and turns to the story. what is the latest? ellen the story. what is the latest? elon musk is expected _ the story. what is the latest? elon musk is expected at _ the story. what is the latest? elm musk is expected at twitter headquarters later to speak to staff but really there is disbelief in san francisco because this has been such a topsy—turvy deal. first, it was on, then it was off again. elon musk said that twitter was full of bots,

spam accounts, not real users. he even accused twitter of fraud. he tried to pull out of the deal. and then miraculously, two weeks ago, suddenly, he then wanted to buy the company again. sojournalists suddenly, he then wanted to buy the company again. so journalists like me won't necessarily take elon musk�*s word at face value. lots of people have come up to us and asked if he has really bought the company. well, he has, he has bought the company and what does that mean? almost certainly a lot more free speech but it could also mean a lot more disinformation on the platform, too, and a possible invitation to the former us president donald trump to reactivate his account.— to reactivate his account. james, many thanks- — to reactivate his account. james, many thanks. james _ to reactivate his account. james, many thanks. james clayton - many thanks. james clayton reporting. here, in a legalfirst, the sentencing of a murderer has been televised and broadcast live in england and wales. an old baileyjudge gave jemma mitchell life in prison, with a minimum term of 3a years, for killing her friend from church, and then dumping her decapitated body in devon. thejudge described her as "extremely devious". helena wilkinson reports.

this isjemma mitchell on her way to mee keun chong's house. hours later, she murders her and put her body in the big blue suitcase. miss chong, also known as deborah, was friends with the former osteopath. both devout christians, they met through church, but fell out over money. today, history was made at the old bailey. mitchell became the first murderer and the first woman to be sentenced on television in england and wales. you have shown absolutely no remorse, and it appears that you are in complete denial as to what you did. notwithstanding what, in myjudgment, amounted to overwhelming evidence against you. the enormity of your crime is profoundly shocking. mitchell kept miss chong's body for two weeks.

she then drove over 200 miles away to salcombe in devon. charlotte rawlings was with family on holiday, when they found the headless body. you could see some fabric and it was the body of a lady. initially, i thought maybe she slipped over, but then on closer look, her hand was left on her skirt and it was so white, you knew she wasn't alive. mitchell soon became the prime suspect, and was arrested. jemma, i'm arresting - you on suspicion of murder. today, in a victim impact statement read to court, deborah chong's sister amy said... mitchell will spend at least 3a years in prison, for what was a chilling

and calculated murder of herfriend. helena wilkinson, bbc news. joining me now is our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds. such a distressing case but also it made legal history. it such a distressing case but also it made legal history.— such a distressing case but also it made legal history. it did. i mean, obviously. — made legal history. it did. i mean, obviously, anybody _ made legal history. it did. i mean, obviously, anybody can _ made legal history. it did. i mean, obviously, anybody can go - made legal history. it did. i mean, obviously, anybody can go and - made legal history. it did. i mean, l obviously, anybody can go and watch a trial in person, going to court and sit and watch what happens but this really brings it into people's front rooms and of course onto their phones. the government wanted when it announced this justice to be, open and transparent, allowing to see —— allow people to see justice being delivered to the most serious offenders. that is what we saw today. scotland has had this for some time but when it was announced for england and wales, there were concerns it might put offjury members and witnesses and victims of crime from taking part in trials and also that it might become entertainment for tv programmes. well, i think today's very strict regulations that say you can only

see the judge and the sentencing stage of the trial, that probably makes it perhaps not entertainment. and don't i think it is going to be a situation where we extend this kind of stuff and have oj simpson style trials like they have in america but of course, attitudes can change. america but of course, attitudes can chance. a , america but of course, attitudes can chance. , ., america but of course, attitudes can chane. , . ., the united nations has said it is concerned at the way the authorities in iran are treating people detained during weeks of protests in which at least 250 people are thought to have been killed. the un said it had information that injured protesters were being moved from hospitals to detention centres. it also said the authorities have been refusing to release the bodies of people killed in the protests. covid infections remain fairly stable across the uk, but other viruses such as flu and norovirus are increasing, according to the latest figures. our medical editor fergus walsh is here to explain more. fergus. there are some encouraging signs

that the current wave of covid may be levelling off. the ons estimates that two million people in the uk had the infection in the week to 17th october. that's unchanged from the previous week and represents around one in 30 people. but what matters is how many people are getting seriously ill with covid. the most up to date figures for hospital admissions are from england and they show these are falling, and are well below levels seen in the previous omicron waves, plus most patients in hospital with covid will have been admitted with another condition. that fall in covid cases in hospital is likely to be due in part to vaccinations — more than ten million people have had their covid booster, which boosts immunity. in all, 26 million people across england are eligible. but there is also concern about flu. if we look at hospital admissions forflu in england, they were very low in the past two

winters because there was almost no flu circulating. this winter's flu season has started early and is already causing an impact — admission rates are highest among the under fives. in a bad winter, like 2017, you can see that flu caused a big spike in admissions, so people are being urged to have their flu vaccine — 33 million are eligible. every winter, of course, there are many viruses to contend with. as well as covid and flu, there are increasing cases of rsv — respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause chest infections, especially in young children, and norovirus, which triggers vomiting and diarrhoea. all of these have the potential to put added pressure on the nhs. meanwhile, in china, dozens of cities, including wuhan,

where coronavirus was first recorded, have gone back into lockdown as the country pursues its "zero—covid" policy. reeta. the time is 18.18. our top story this evening. asnap a snap election is called in northern ireland after moneys of political deadlock at stormont, but no date is given. and still to come, queueling overnight to get accommodation, the university students desperate to find a room. and at 6.30. the families protesting against plans to remove fora chance for a chance at crucial class. different experiences of the cost of living crisis. in one, energy bills are well above the uk average, while in the other, a hydroelectric

scheme has led to no increase at all. as part of our series looking at how energy costs are affecting different regions, our scotland editorjames cook has visted glenelg and knoydart. winter is coming, and in the highlands they're worried. energy bills here are way above the uk average, and rising. life in rural scotland does bring great rewards. just look at the scenery for a start. but it also comes with great challenges, and many people here will tell you those challenges are now intensifying. this community ferry hops to and fro between glenelg on the mainland and the isle of skye. but the cost of diesel to run it has jumped 70% in the past year. how difficult is that, as a business? well, it is difficult because we always run on really

quite tight margins here. and we're still expected, as a social enterprise business, to meet rising costs, with very small profit margins. it does make me really nervous as to how we might be able to continue in the way that we are. at the heart of glenelg village is the hall, but it's not cheap to maintain, especially when the electricity bill has soared from £800 a quarter to more than £4,000. there's a church group. there's indoor bowls, indoor football, kids' youth club. they're going to have to look, "can we run our club, "can we not run our club?" so if we increase our prices, there's no way that we can run the hall at the costs that are currently given. all right, rhona? in the glenelg inn, energy is not the only worry. brexit, and a lack of affordable housing, have made staff hard

to find, and inflation is pushing up the price of supplies. i really love this business, but it is becoming much more challenging for me. i'm a bit scared about going into next year. i'm scared about the staffing issue, the prices, the power prices, obviously. sail south, though, and it's a brighter picture. this is the knoydart peninsula, accessible only by boat or a two day hike. that means it's not on the national grid. power here comes from this hydro scheme. run by a community project called knoydart renewables. if it wasn't for knoydart renewables, the population, which is about 120, with all the businesses, which are paying all the taxes they're paying, wouldn't be sustainable economically. we would probably have 20 or 30 people living here, with tumbleweed blowing down the streets. and you're effectively insulated from this energy emergency that

everyone else is facing. the energy emergency has no effect on us, in terms of electricity production. in the local brewery they see the hydro as a blessing. we're not going to be receiving the same price hikes that grid based consumers are. so for you, how important is this hydro scheme to keep you going? it's critical, really is. so we know we'll be able to keep the lights on and keep the beer coming. and that sense of confidence is shared throughout this community. there's more people here. there's more new businesses. there's triple the amount of kids in the school than there was when i was there. and there's room for development. so i'm building a house right now, and it means that i know that i will be able to have power, which is obviously very important. optimism, yes, but it's confined to this rare corner of the country without an energy crisis. james cook, bbc news, knoydart.

it has been announced that the rock and roll legend jerry lee lewis has died at the age of 87. # shake baby shake # shake baby shake... # shake baby shake... famous # shake baby shake... famous for # shake baby shake... famous for his # shake baby shake... famous for his... famousf fla m boya nt # shake baby shake... famous for his flamboyant showmanship his songs including great balls of fire he was considered one of the pioneers who made rock and roll america's dominant music of the 50s. the musicianjerry lee lewis, who has died at the age of 87. students could be forced to drop out of university if the shortage of housing in some cities isn't addressed, the national union of students has told the bbc. it says there's been a failure to plan for the bumper numbers getting places. in some places, students have queued through the night — for flats for next year. our education editor branwen jeffreys reports.

waiting all night until morning, students in durham desperate for flats — for next year. student lets are limited in this historic city. but melody is a final year student in manchester. weeks into term, and she's still sofa surfing. i literally don't have a place to live right now. currently, i am crashing with friends. it's probably like my only option, because i'm just not able to find a place in manchester at the moment. what makes it so difficult to get a flat? because there's multiple people going for the same places. they said "can you pay 12 months now?" and i was like "no." like, i can't pay 12 months of rent now. i couldn't even ask that from my parents, if that makes sense. there are record numbers of students in several cities, not enough affordable housing. our advice service is flooded with kind of requests about housing, and providers for students are offering far fewer flats to rent this year, compared to previous years,

which is quite telling of the situation. it's also about cost. student maintenance loans have gone up a little bit this year, but nowhere near the cost of living, and for most students, their biggest bill is rent. this busy lettings agency now only has more expensive flats, aimed at the young professional market. now there's not the availability, for this year. if they're coming in for the next year, we have the properties on the market for them, but right now we have nothing for students for this year. the rising cost of living is students' biggest concern, and housing is part of that. scotland may allow rents to be frozen. in england, the national union of students wants action. the universities really need to take a look at their huge focus on increasing student intake. it is going up exponentially,

and the fact is, there is not enough accommodation provided for students. it's not easy to find quick fixes for housing problems, which could leave some students struggling next year too. branwen jeffreys, bbc news, manchester. a new monarch brings many new changes, including the first 50 pence coins with king charles iii which have been minted, and will be circulated from december. coins featuring the late queen will remain legal tender. hywel griffith reports. freshly minted, and coming to a till near you. the new 50p is the first of the carolean coins. for now, they're under tight security — you need special permission just to touch one. but from december, they'll circulate alongside the queen's coins, which won't be withdrawn. keeping the currency current

is a significant moment. martin was the man charged with creating the image and getting everything in proportion, knowing eventually his work would end up in millions of pockets and piggy banks. you don't want to make it, for example, too cheerful because this is a serious... this is a very serious symbol. and yet it needs to be light enough to put across his humanity. it's getting in the subtlest of possible ways those emotions, rather than, as it were, ears or nose or eyes. these days, cash isn't really king. only 15% of payments are used using coins and notes. but having a new monarch on the money still represents the biggest change here since decimalisation. |archive: the buildings her majesty| opened house the processes involved in the converting of blank discs

into coins, decimal naturally... the queen, and then prince charles, saw for themselves how much it took to strike new sovereigns, all part of a process that goes back over a millennium. we've actually been around as long as the royal family has. so we've struck for every monarch, including from alfred the great up to today. so something we've done a long... a lot of times before, but something we haven't done for a very long time. eventually, every denomination will carry the king's image. they'll be introduced on demand, to ensure the cash flow keeps coming. hywel griffith, bbc news, at the royal mint. time for a look at the weather. here's nick miller. we have all noticed how mild, warm it is for the time of year, that continuing for now, there are some changes as we look into next week, and we will get to that in just a moment. today, we will have noticed a weather transformation, for many places it started so wet, there was

flooding in northern ireland, after the overnight rain, and then things transformed into what was a largely fine afternoon out there, not quite as warm as yesterday. still 20 degrees today in suffolk. now, all eyes on the weekend, and there aren't many changes on the way, like the past few day, weeks will will be rain at times and it will stay mild, even very mild for many of us, it will feel warm out there for the time of year. we still have a flow of mild, warm air coming our way from the south. we still have low pressure to the west of the uk, so round that we are spinning through the rain bearing weather fronts and more move into tonight. there are heavy showers in northern ireland and western scotland. they will head further east and later in the night, rain pushing into southern england, reaching wales, the midlands and into east anglia by morning. i is cool e there are some places that will dip down into single figures as we start the day tomorrow. with rain, in wales, and the midlands,

easting a are into northern england, through northern ireland and spreading gradually north into scotland, not reaching the far north until the evening. behind the rain for northern ireland, northern england, wales, the south—west there will be further heavy shower, in the it hassy sunshine that breaks out in the south—east, in the low 20s, 22 degrees, tomorrow evening the rain pushes further north in scotland, a band of showers working east across england. don't forget to put your clocks back on saturday night. on sunday it will be a cloudier cooler da i in east anglia with rein round, elsewhere, sunny spell, umbrellas at the ready, there will be shower, some heavy and possibly hundred trion sunday, a wind area day in the west. temperatures are above what we expect them to be. look at this. same weather next week. windy wet at times, notice how they are starting to come down and so much closer to the average, for november by the end of next week, so again, just close

to the average for the time of year but compared with what