power around the clock. ignition, liftoff. it's only now it might become cost effective because rockets can be used over and over again. if you could do it from space and i'm saying if you could, because we are not yet there, then this would be absolutely fantastic. solar based power from space could really help enormously to address our energy shortages and our energy problem which is about to come in the next decades. the us, china and the uk have their own research programmes. as energy prices soar and the destructive impacts of climate change are being felt, the pressure for the entire world to develop a new, reliable source of clean energy is greater than ever. pallab ghosh, bbc news, munich.

time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. thank you. for most others, a little bit try out the band this time yesterday but that said there are some showers —— it is a little bit drier out of their van this time yesterday. i have been showers in the south—west, but look at those guys at liverpool. there is a big stream of cloud across the atlantic with more wind and rain to come through the week. showers across parts of west wales, south—west england, the channel islands and some quite heavy rain moving across the north—east of scotland and into orkney, but aside from the shower other areas are seeing some spells of sunshine, temperatures north to south six to 11, about why we should be at the time of year. some fog can develop tonight across central and southern parts of scotland but then we see a

bunch of very heavy rain pushed across the south—west of england into wales through the early hours, some torrential downpours embedded within this with squally, gusty winds which might wake you up and turning pretty wet across northern ireland, the lowest temperatures further north and east, parts of northern england getting close to or maybe a touch below freezing. the badger flow rate will push north—eastward but then become quite slow—moving across scotland —— the band of low rain. behind that, sunny spells in blustery showers, wind gusts around irish sea coasts. temperatures about where they are today, maybe a bit higher, eight to 12 degrees. on thursday yet another frontal system hurtles in from the atlantic so we will see heavy rain, particularly across western areas

and certainly first thing. it will again be really quite windy around some western and southern coasts but it starts to feel milder, 9 degrees for aberdeen, 14 for london. heading into friday this area of high pressure, see the bump in the isobars, that is a ridge which wilco off some showers so friday is likely drier and brighter —— which will kill off some showers. we will get a search of milder airfrom kill off some showers. we will get a search of milder air from the south so temperatures at the weekend by day and night will be a bit higher, it will feel milder but there will still be wind and rain at times. thank you very much, ben rich. that is it from as for today, on bbc joint —— on bbc one wejoin our news teams.

good afternoon. it's just after 1.30pm and this is your latest sports news. in the shock of the world cup so far, saudi arabia have beaten argentina. they came from behind to beat the two—time champions two goals to one. captain and talisman lionel messi set argentina on their way with a first half penalty and they could have been out of sight by half time with three goals ruled out for offside. but it was a different story in the second half and a rejuvenated saudi side equalised through saleh al—shehri. and then this stunning finish from salem al—dawsari put them ahead. minutes of stoppage time, they held on for a famous win. the first match of group d has just kicked off. denmark against tunisia.

mexico kick off against poland in group c at 4.00pm. those two in the same group as argentina and saudi arabia. holders france take on australia this evening, which is live on the bbc. you can also get full commentary on bbc radio 5 live. following england's 6—2 win over iran yesterday, much discussion still remains around a head injury sustained by the iranian goalkeeper. ali beiranvand suffered a heavy head—on collision with his team mate hosseini majid just eight minutes into the game. after treatment on the pitch he was allowed to play—on, but he then had to be carried off a minute later. it's a decision that has been widely critcised, with fifa being accused of failing players. here's former england goalkeeper david james. i have been concussed before. i have broken my nose and not been concussed, so it can be very difficult to judge just on the damage whether concussion occurred. just on the damage whether to think that the goalkeeper was allowed to stay on the field having been concussed, thatjust goes against everything that football is trying to work

against to protect players. i can only hope that the iranian medical team, misread the situation rather than keeping the goalkeeper on the field against his best intentions. an ex—wales footballer has described being asked to remove her �*rainbow wall�* bucket hat as she entered a world cup stadium in qatar. laura mcallister, who is a gay woman, attended the wales versus usa game yesterday. she says she was told to remove the hat which showed support for the lgbtq+ community. we do want to be disrespectful to anybody, but we also want to show that wales and many other countries here are about tolerance, diversity and acceptance for all. if we can even make a small amount of change, and it may not be on the qataris

themselves, it may be other countries, but if we can make them have the conversation, a little bit of discomfort is probably worth it. following on from the decision for several nations to not wear the onelove armbands, belgium have said they will not wear their white away shirts with the word �*love' on the collar in the group stages of the tournament. it follows discussions with fifa and is understood to be part of a commercial dispute. they will wear their red home shirts for the matches against canada, morocco and croatia. it's been another day to forget for england in the cricket. they lost to australia this morning by 221 runs, which completes the one—day series whitewash. australia posted 355—5 in a rain—interupted first innings, which gave england a revised target. openers travis head and david warner did most of the damage, both with centuries. head making a huge 152. england struggled in their reply in conditions to suit the bowlers, falling from 57—1 to 142 all out. england, t20 champions, losing the series 3—0.

that's all the sport for now. updates from the world cup, of course, throughout the day. you are watching bbc news. it will take a look at some of the story is making the news this lunchtime. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has addressed business leaders in birmingham, setting out his plans to train more british workers to end what he described as the country's "dependency" on immigration. the labour leader told the cbi conference that he believes it is important to invest in people who are already here, although he would accept an increase in the immigration of skilled workers. the labour leader focused on technology and productivity. i promise you now, my labour government will care must care as much

about raising productivity everywhere as we've done in the past about redistribution. we're going to throw everything at growing our collective contribution, our productive capacity in every community. and that takes us inevitably to the supply side of the economy. that's why our first priority on tax has always been to scrap business rates. we will level the playing field for our high streets. and with help from lordjim o'neill, will make britain the best place in the world to start a new business. but we also need to look at the supply side differently. it's notjust about tax and enterprise. take the current state of our labor market. of our labour market. so much of this comes back to our public services. yes, there are other factors. but you can't tell me that the number of older people falling out of work has got nothing to do with the millions stuck on nhs waiting lists. or that the growing number of people suffering with mental health isn't a drag on our productivity.

no, the state of our public services is an economic crisis just as much as a social crisis. so we will launch the biggest training programme since the creation of the nhs. increased capacity with more doctors, more nurses, more health visitors. reform the employment service to get more people back to work. give everyone who needs it access to mental health treatment within four weeks. and build a modern childcare system that supports parents, especially women, to flourish. this is what the us treasury secretary, janet yellen, calls modern supply side economics. and that's the philosophy that will drive us to do the hard yards on growth. but we'll also need to be pragmatic on the basic lack of people. we won't ignore the need for workers

to come to this country. we can't have a situation, as we did with hgv drivers, where temporary shortages threaten to cripple entire sectors of our economy. that would be anti—growth and it would be anti—business. but i want to be clear here. with my labor government, any movement in our points—based migration system, whether via the skilled worker route or the shortage occupations list, will come alongside new conditions for business. we will expect you to bring forward a clear plan to boost skills and more training, for better pay and condition, for investment in new technology. now we can talk about how this is done. dialogue is at the heart of partnership. but negotiation with trade unions will be part of it. i said at the tuc conference,

my labour party is unashamedly pro—business. and i say here today that trade unions must be a crucial part of our partnership. but our common goal must be to help the british economy off its immigration dependency. to start investing more in partnership. but our common goal must be to help the british economy off its immigration dependency. and the labour party will never diminish the contribution it makes to our economy, to public services, to your businesses and our communities. but let me tell you, the days when low pay and cheap labour are part of the british way on growth must end. this isn't about brexit. all around the world, business is waking up to the fact

we live in a new era for labour. and while they're adapting, our low growth model is holding us back. it's why we've set out a new deal for working people that will deliver higher pay, stronger rights and better work. notjust for socialjustice, but also for the new reality on growth. let me give you an example. technology. britain has fewer industrial robots than almost every comparable country. we're behind germany, france, spain, slovenia, slovakia, belgium. it's a long list. and in terms of competition over the long run, one that borders on disaster. now i know most businesses get this. i've seen for myself how you invest in your people and their productivity. at vaillant in derbyshire, i met the apprentices using their skills in conjunction with the new technologies of heat pumps.

that technology will continue to adapt. but those apprentices will be at the forefront of that change. working today, training for the opportunities of the future. our political correspondent, alex forsyth, has been at the cbi conference in birmingham. this is day two of the cbi's annual conference in birmingham. a couple of themes have dominated, one of them is growth and how businesses in particular achieve growth given the economic challenges the country is facing, with the recession, inflation running high, the squeeze on public finances. another issue that has come up as immigration. sir keir stammered today, a marked shift in approach 31 south when he was advocating for free movement. in approach 31 south when he was advocating forfree movement. now

in approach 31 south when he was advocating for free movement. now he is saying that britain has to wean itself off what it calls —— he called immigration dependency, there can be a reliance on low—paid labour for overseas. instead, business it should be investing in the domestic workforce instead. we can talk to brian mcbride, the cbi president. what did you make of what you heard from sir keir starmer?_ from sir keir starmer? broadly, we welcome his _ from sir keir starmer? broadly, we welcome his speech. _ from sir keir starmer? broadly, we welcome his speech. it _ from sir keir starmer? broadly, we welcome his speech. it was - from sir keir starmer? broadly, we welcome his speech. it was very i welcome his speech. it was very business focused and i think you understand the levers of growth. it is encouraging for us. in migration in particular, the message has drifted a little bit, but he was broadly in support of what we want to see. we have 1.2 million unfilled jobs in the uk and those working is going down every quarter. we have a bunch ofjobs that can be filled which is holding back growth, holding back businesses, and the only way in the short term to address that is to bring in more

migration. short term, we need to bring in migration to help us. do ou bring in migration to help us. do you think sir keir starmer or rishi sunak really get that, because they are talking about a points—based immigration system with a visa system that attracts the brightest and best. sir keir starmer is talking about shortages in certain sectors. do they get their demand that there is in the labour market right now for more people to fill thejobs? i right now for more people to fill the “obs? ~ , right now for more people to fill the “obs? ~' , ., ., . the jobs? i think there is too much olitics in the jobs? i think there is too much politics in the _ the jobs? i think there is too much politics in the way. _ the jobs? i think there is too much politics in the way. we _ the jobs? i think there is too much politics in the way. we do - the jobs? i think there is too much politics in the way. we do have - politics in the way. we do have systems today that is passed, it is not fit for purpose. we don't have a system to bring working people in here. the other have other challenges politically that stop them wanting to do this. this is about growth, about business. for this country to prosper we need a prosperous business making profits, paying taxes which pays for the

schools, hospitals, public services that we need. we schools, hospitals, public services that we need-— schools, hospitals, public services that we need. we are told from the chancellor that _ that we need. we are told from the chancellor that public _ that we need. we are told from the chancellor that public finances - that we need. we are told from the chancellor that public finances are l chancellor that public finances are tight, that spending will be less thanit tight, that spending will be less than it was planned to be. are you convinced that the government and opposition are committed to creating the right environment for growth as business estate, regulation, planning or investment? what we got from the ocean _ planning or investment? what we got from the ocean -- _ planning or investment? what we got from the ocean -- autumn _ planning or investment? what we gotj from the ocean -- autumn statement from the ocean —— autumn statement is stability. you need stability before you have growth. that is fine, they are bringing back stability and confidence. that is quite important. there were very few growth of themes that we heard last week or today. there are things we can do that don't require a lot of money. migration, we can do that. we can get the northern ireland protocol sorted out so we can average that he'll be happy at the eu, our largest trading partner. we can then get reforms and planning permissions. it has taken five years to get a wind farm approved. in the

eu, that is known to one year now. there are lots of things they can do that will cost money to do. this is all about getting business back into the growth mode.— all about getting business back into the growth mode. when the chancellor ave his the growth mode. when the chancellor gave his autumn _ the growth mode. when the chancellor gave his autumn statement, _ the growth mode. when the chancellor gave his autumn statement, his - gave his autumn statement, his tax—and—spend plans last week, he said the measures would mean a potentially shorter recession. share potentially shorter recession. are ou potentially shorter recession. fife: you convinced by potentially shorter recession. 2.2 you convinced by that? potentially shorter recession. 22 you convinced by that? our economist think that is the case. we don't see inflation going down quite quickly as the energy support kicks in. inflation has just about picked up at night. we have a top 15 months ahead. midway through next year we will start to feel yourself coming out of it. long haul, this will be tough forfamilies and out of it. long haul, this will be tough for families and for businesses. the headlines on bbc news: many energy firms are failing vulnerable customers, says the regulator ofgem, as people face an expensive winter.

the days of cheap labour must end, keir starmer tells business. the labour leader says the country needs to be weaned off its immigration dependency. the manston centre in kent, which holds asylum—seekers who cross the channel in small boats, has been cleared. in hertfordshire, three little ponies are helping to bring some cheer to hospital patients. charlie, romeo and pickles are therapy ponies and they've been visiting a ward at the lister in stevenage to bring some joy. kate bradbrook from look east reports. it's not something you see very often, if ever. three shetland ponies arriving at this vascular ward

at the lister hospital, ready to bring some four—legged joy to patients like pamela. they love the kisses. yes. beautiful. really is. i don't know how they stand up to all the people in the end. she is. she's beautiful. pickles, romeo and charlie are therapy ponies. they're all rescues and have been through months of training so they remain calm in almost any situation. next, it's patrick's turn to be charmed by romeo. lovely. you know, really is, you know. yeah. it brings warmth back in your wholw heart, you know? no, no, it's good. these visits are paid for by fundraising done by the east and north hertfordshire hospitals charity. bruce, whose wife is in this ward,

says it's worth every penny. she was just blown away and had a huge smile. and i haven't seen that smile for quite a while now. i have to say it, it did... i'm sorry. it's been a bit of a struggle with the last few days, so yeah, it greatly improved her wellbeing. oh, that was lovely. me up for the day. it was lovely. it made the painjust a little bit less. it was very, very nice. thank you so much. now, if you're wondering what happens when these ponies need the toilet. romeo can show us he's wearing a nappy to keep everything nice and clean and tidy. they all have a good shampoo and set and they love the hair drying afterwards. so they have to be absolutely spotless and clean, dust—free when they come into this environment in the hospital. and theyjust love people stroking them and cuddling them and talking to them. and when they get out of the hospital environment each

or the place we visited, they get back in their fields and then they're crazy shetland ponies again covered in mud and running around. kate bradbrook, bbc look east in stevenage. they may be living a quiet life in a sanctuary in lincolnshire, but these donkeys have become unlikely social media stars thanks to posts which show their personalities shining through. simon spark went to meet them. at the radcliffe donkey sanctuary in houghton, near alford, hey�*re getting ready, grooming themselves even for their star role and chance to be donkey of the week. and this week it's alan.

he's alan. he's one of our famous donkeys. in actualfact, he's had a book written about him. it's a biography rather than an autobiography. it's all about awareness, letting people know each donkey's got its own personality, him or her. and they're all very different. alan particularly is a very sociable donkey. he loves people. and when we're open, he loves kicking the fence, so people give him carrots. each week, a new social media star is cast upon the public with their own donkey backstory. and it's going down a treat. it's been very good. there's been some comments left on the on the facebook page. i think people are enjoying it. this is colette. she's very affectionate, very laid back. this is polina. she's one of my personal favourites. bamboo is particularly daft. all the visitors that come here. well, he's one of the favourites. what you don't get from a facebook post or even a photograph is just how inquisitive these donkeys are. and when they're this big as well, it can be slightly intimidating. and that's my microphone. thank you.

from the weekly photos, there'll be a calendar on the way all helping to raise money for their upkeep in the new year. nasa's artemis spacecraft has reached the moon. the unmanned vehicle flew around 80 miles from the lunar surface in the first of a series of flights aimed at returning humans to the moon in 2025. our science editor, rebecca morelle, with this report. these images were taken from a close

flyby. this is one of those days that you dream about for a long, long time. we are preparing to bring humans back to the moon in just a few years. three, two, one, and liftoff of artemis 1. the mission began last wednesday, blasting off from the kennedy space center in florida, sending a spacecraft to the moon. it's taken some selfies along the way before reaching its destination. first, the spacecraft flies in close, just 130 kilometers. that's 80 miles above the lunar surface. then it enters a much larger orbit, swinging more than 65,000 kilometres, about 40,000 miles beyond the moon. that's further than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown. during the seven weeks orion is in orbit, nasa will collect

important data and check how the spacecraft is performing. this is a test flight, so there are no people on board. instead, there are mannequins covered in thousands of sensors collecting important data. most of those sensors are getting an idea of whether its environment is going to be ok for people. so things like radiation sensors, motion sensors, accelerometers, things like that, things that we as human payloads are going to care a lot about. and this is vital because if this mission is a success, astronauts willjoin the next ride, taking in these views for themselves, like this one with the earth as a pale blue dot. but there's some way to go yet. and nasa will be assessing every stage of the spacecraft�*s journey before it returns home with a splashdown in the pacific ocean on the 11th of december. rebecca morelle, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich.

through the course of the day we will keep you up—to—date with all thatis will keep you up—to—date with all that is happening in the world cup in qatar. good afternoon. for many of us, it has turned into a drier, brighter day than we had yesterday. but there are some hefty showers around and later in the week there is more wind and rain on the way. the satellite picture reveals this swirl of cloud. that's our next area of low pressure. but speckled shower clouds showing up right now. through the rest of the day, we will see some showers continuing across the south west of england and the channel islands. stays breezy here. also some quite wet weather at times across the east and the north east of scotland up into orkney. temperatures through the afternoon around nine or ten degrees, perhaps feeling a little less cold than it did yesterday. now through this evening and tonight, we are going to see some clear spells and some fog is likely to develop across some central and southern parts of scotland. but then this band of very heavy rain swings in from the west

for many of us, it has turned into a drier, with some gusty, squally winds overnight lows, perhaps dropping to freezing or below in northeast england and parts of scotland, a little milder to the south and the west. as our band of wet weather pushes through, this area of heavy rain will drive quite quickly north eastwards through tomorrow morning, but will become quite slow moving across scotland could see some wintry ness mixing in over the highest ground in the highlands. behind that we see sunny spells and showers, but very gusty winds, particularly around irish sea coasts and through the english channel as well. temperatures tomorrow between eight and 12 degrees at best. now, as we move into thursday, low pressure will be to the northwest of the uk. we see this next frontal system hurtling in from the atlantic. that is going to bring another dose of very heavy rain in from the west. ahead of that, we will see some spells of sunshine. it is going to be windy once again, particularly out towards the west, but temperatures just showing signs of climbing a little bit. nine degrees for aberdeen, ia the high in london.

and then as we move into friday, well, we see this little ridge but there are some hefty showers around and later in the week of high pressure, see this bump in the ice of bars here that is going to calm things down somewhat for the end of the week. but then this next frontal system pushes in from the atlantic. that will eventually bring rain for some of us during the weekend, but it will also feed in these southerly winds. so as we look ahead to the weekend, we are going to see some milder conditions by day and by night. but there will still be some wet and windy weather at times.

this is bbc news. the headlines: many energy firms are failing vulnerable customers, says the regulator ofgem, as people face an expensive winter. some advisers were really good at helping vulnerable customers, others weren't. now, what we don't want for someone who is in difficulties is to face pot luck when they try and get in touch with their supplier. the days of cheap labour must end, keir starmer tells business. the labour leader says the country needs to be weaned off its immigration dependency. mps can claim the cost of their office christmas party on parliamentary expenses under new rules by the independent parliamentary standards authority. a mother dies at two days after a flat fire in nottingham that killed her two daughters.

the manston centre in kent, which holds asylum seekers who cross