this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. our top stories. anti—government protests against strict covid restrictions continue to spread across china, with some demonstrators calling for the country's leader, president xi, to go. people in the uk who use social media posts to encourage self—harm will face criminal prosecution under new government proposals. with further rail strikes expected before christmas, the uk's transport secretary says reform is needed to fund wage rises but labour argues the government needs to do more to support workers. what has to happen is we have to agree on a set of reforms. it's the reforms that free up the savings that then unlock the ability for companies to make

an offer to the trade unions on pay. we think it is unconscionable that nurses_ we think it is unconscionable that nurses and — we think it is unconscionable that nurses and rail workers who went out and kept _ nurses and rail workers who went out and kept this— nurses and rail workers who went out and kept this country moving during and kept this country moving during a pandemic— and kept this country moving during a pandemic are not being paid enough to put— a pandemic are not being paid enough to put food _ a pandemic are not being paid enough to put food on the table. rescue efforts are under way to find survivors after a mudslide triggered by heavy rains swept away homes on the italian island of ischia. hello and welcome to bbc news. protests in china against the government's strict covid measures have intensified, with some people publicly venting their anger at the communist party leaders. thousands of protesters took to the streets of shanghai, calling for president xi jinping to step down. the bbc saw people being

bundled into police cars. these images are from beijing where gathered at the elite tsinghua university on sunday. there, hundreds called for democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression. students have also demonstrated at universities in nanjing. the protest began following a deadly fire in the western city of urumqi. some blame covid controls for a delay in putting it out. let's get more on that story. our asia pacific regional editor for bbc world service michael bristow is here. there have been protests before about covid restrictions but how significant are these because they seem to be quite political, even calling for the resignation of the leader of the country, xi jinping? that is the key point. despite the fact there is censorship in china, there have been for many years

protests across the country, mostly local incidents, isolated incidents. as if it issues. also osler and rhys —— also over recent months there have been protests about the covid restrictions but these are different because they make a direct call for political action, because they make a direct call for politicalaction, most because they make a direct call for political action, most notably calling for xijinping to political action, most notably calling for xi jinping to stand down. i can't remember over the last several years for any demonstrations to be calling for something like that. in some ways it's not surprising because xi jinping that. in some ways it's not surprising because xijinping has championed this policy, the zero covid policy is his policy, he has promoted it so it's not unusual he gets the blame when people feel the effects of these continuous lockdowns.— effects of these continuous lockdowns. ., ., , ., ~' lockdowns. how wide do you think he will be and the _ lockdowns. how wide do you think he will be and the -- _ lockdowns. how wide do you think he will be and the -- worried _ lockdowns. how wide do you think he will be and the -- worried do - lockdowns. how wide do you think he will be and the -- worried do you - will be and the —— worried do you think he will be and the communist ruling elite will be worried by these protests? we have seen arrests

but will they crack down on it pretty hard?— pretty hard? they will not be panicking _ pretty hard? they will not be panicking because _ pretty hard? they will not be panicking because there - pretty hard? they will not be | panicking because there have pretty hard? they will not be - panicking because there have been protests they have managed to extinguish before, they have quietened down. they will be worried because one thing that the chinese communist party doesn't want to happen and works hard to stop happening is for protesters across the country unifying on a general theme, such as these policies of zero covid. what the theme, such as these policies of zero covid. wantt the to work hard to stop the and they work hard to stop that. the fact that are fact that these protests are erupting in a number of cities all with the same theme, young educated people involved, a lot of them calling for political change, calling for political change, calling for political change, calling for more freedom, that's going to worry the chinese communist party. and i would imagine, we are already seeing this in shanghai with the protests happening today, heavy police presence, arresting people, they will be hoping they can nip it in the blood and these protests will fizzle out. ., ~ in the blood and these protests will fizzle out. ., ,, , ., , in the blood and these protests will fizzle out. ., ~' , ., , . fizzle out. thank you very much indeed. fizzle out. thank you very much indeed- -- _ fizzle out. thank you very much

indeed- -- nip _ fizzle out. thank you very much indeed. -- nip it— fizzle out. thank you very much indeed. -- nip it in— fizzle out. thank you very much indeed. -- nip it in the - fizzle out. thank you very much indeed. -- nip it in the bud. - fizzle out. thank you very much i indeed. -- nip it in the bud. let's indeed. —— nip it in the bud. let's get more on those protests from shanghai. joining us live on the phone now is thomas hale, a correspondent for the financial times in shanghai. thank you for being with us, what is the latest from shanghai?— thank you for being with us, what is the latest from shanghai? thank you for havin: the latest from shanghai? thank you for having me- _ the latest from shanghai? thank you for having me- i— the latest from shanghai? thank you for having me. i am _ the latest from shanghai? thank you for having me. i am about _ the latest from shanghai? thank you for having me. i am about 50 - the latest from shanghai? thank youi for having me. i am about 50 metres from what remains of the protests. i would not call it exactly a protest, it was a mass gathering of people. it has just been dispersed by police, about 30 minutes ago. and essentially they have cordoned off and blockaded the road on which it was happening. but there are still very large crowds gathered, essentially close to the originally site of the protest. and essentially close to the originally site of the protest.— site of the protest. and what is our site of the protest. and what is your view _ site of the protest. and what is your view of — site of the protest. and what is your view of the _ site of the protest. and what is your view of the significance i site of the protest. and what is your view of the significance of| your view of the significance of these protests, how political are they? i these protests, how political are the ? ., , these protests, how political are the? ., these protests, how political are the ? ., , . , they? i would say they are extremely sianificant, they? i would say they are extremely significant. and _ they? i would say they are extremely significant, and i _ they? i would say they are extremely significant, and i would _ they? i would say they are extremely significant, and i would also - they? i would say they are extremely significant, and i would also say - significant, and i would also say that the politics of china's covid policies, i'm not sure if you can

hear, next to me there is quite a lot of noise, sorry about that. i would say that the covid policies have become a kind of lightning node for why the frustrations —— wider frustrations in china including over a slowing economy which has been a significant issue for much of the past year. i would add that on the front line of these gatherings, which have not really turned violent at any point with a few exceptions, people will talk very frequently about freedom, and about democracy, and about the need for political change. it and about the need for political chance. .,, ., _ and about the need for political chance. ., _ , change. it obviously requires quite a lot of bravery — change. it obviously requires quite a lot of bravery and _ change. it obviously requires quite a lot of bravery and courage, - a lot of bravery and courage, doesn't it, for these protesters to come out onto the streets at all and face arrest?— face arrest? absolutely it does, and the fewer the _ face arrest? absolutely it does, and the fewer the people, _ face arrest? absolutely it does, and the fewer the people, the _ face arrest? absolutely it does, and the fewer the people, the more - the fewer the people, the more bravery it requires. as soon as you have a critical mass, i think more people are drawn to these gatherings. but it's very difficult for them to get going in the first

place, there are huge risks for anyone who shows up. find place, there are huge risks for anyone who shows up.- place, there are huge risks for anyone who shows up. and do you think these _ anyone who shows up. and do you think these protests _ anyone who shows up. and do you think these protests will _ anyone who shows up. and do you think these protests will spread i anyone who shows up. and do you | think these protests will spread and intensify? it’s think these protests will spread and intensi ? �* , , think these protests will spread and intensi ? v , m think these protests will spread and intensi ? h , , . ., intensify? it's very difficult to sa ri . ht intensify? it's very difficult to say right now- _ intensify? it's very difficult to say right now. they _ intensify? it's very difficult to say right now. they have - intensify? it's very difficult to | say right now. they have been spreading over the last few days, and they continue to spread over the weekend. the gathering i'm currently at was the sight of a protest last night, i came here this morning and there was no one here, there were a few police cars. by mid afternoon feiggolice cars. by mid afternoon were hundreds of people again there were hundreds of people again we will continue to show up. and we will continue to show up. until about, say, and we will continue to show up. untilabout, say, half and we will continue to show up. until about, say, half an hour until about, as i say, half an hour ago, when they close to the streets. at on the ground in shanghai at least on the ground in shanghai the gathering don't to be going the gathering don't seem to be going away. there things happening away. there are things happening similarly in universities in china. good to talk to you, thank you very much indeed, thomas, from shanghai, in the very latest on those protests

in the very latest on those protests in china. here in the uk, encouraging self—harm online could soon become a criminal offense, under new changes to the government's 0nline safety bill. ministers say the decision was influenced by the case of 14—year—old molly russell, who took her own life in 2017, after viewing content about self—harm and suicide on social media. laura tra nt reports. 14—year—old molly russell from harrow in london died five years ago. the inquest into her death found she took her own life after looking at content on social media relating to self—harm. since she passed away, molly's family have been campaigning for legislation to be passed to better protect young people online. the 0nline safety bill has been in the making for four years with frequent delays and updates. earlier this week, molly's dad, ian russell, spoke to the bbc and expressed his frustration at delays in changes to the law.

i think the 0nline safety bill... it's something i care deeply about because without a change that regulates the companies to operate their platforms more safely, these tragedies will continue to happen. it's too late for me. so in a way, it's not a huge personal investment. i'm just frustrated that an opportunity for change and an opportunity for greater safety for children has been delayed for so long. it's been confirmed the updated 0nline safety bill will be put before parliament with some further changes. now the encouragement of self—harm online is to be criminalised, ultimately with prison sentences and fines, so companies which do not remove illegal content could face fines and perpetrators will be sentenced through the courts. this is the government trying to show that it is strong,

that it can clamp down on this behaviour, particularly when it targets children. but in fact this is a very complex area with lots of grey space in between where a lot of predators and others will continue to act. and frankly, it's going to be very difficult to enforce, both for a regulator and for a government eager to act. the molly rose foundation, set up by herfamily to campaign for better online safety, says the update to the 0nline safety bill is a significant move. but stress it's important other harmful but legal content is also within the scope of the bill. it's expected the amended 0nline safety bill will be put before parliament in early december. laura trant, bbc news. rescue teams have been working through the night on the italian island of ischia, which was hit by severe mudslides on saturday. one person is confirmed dead and 11 people are reported missing. the bbc�*s mark lowen reports.

through the night came the rain, torrential and fast. and then the mud. a landslide pouring through ischia before dawn, burying and upturning what lay in its path. cars, trees, debris flung aside and uprooted. the rescue boats set off early but were hampered by strong winds and rough seas buffeting attempts to reach the island from naples. as they came ashore, the impact was clear. morning light revealed the torrents of mud and what they'd buried. "this mountain has fallen on the homes that are no longer there," he says. houses were engulfed with people trapped beneath the mud. dozens of firefighters helped evacuate those they could. a rescue and a search for those still missing. the fear is that as more areas are unearthed,

the number of confirmed victims could rise. for the islanders, their tranquility was shaken by a nightmare. translation: there are some cars that are facing upwards, _ that are shifted to the side. looking at them, one cannot explain how it was possible. vehicles were tossed aside and battered, hurled by a wave of mud into the waves of the ocean. houses have been cut off, some without power. the authorities calling on residents to stay inside. ischia's narrow streets are caked in the chaos. many of its homes illegally built over the years, unstable and vulnerable. now an anxious wait for the weather to lift to see the extent of the damage wreaked, turning ischia from island idyll into rivers of mud.

mark is on a ferry from naples to ischia, the first on that route since it was suspended on saturday. he explains why the damage has been so extensive. it has known mudslides and earthquakes before but one of the problems with ischia is about half of the houses have been illegally built so they are unstable and vulnerable to these kinds of natural disasters because they are not stable enough or securely built in. added to that it is a volcanic island so there is a lot of ash and powdered mud which then flows very quickly. the authorities this morning, one reporter said that the amount of rain that fell from friday night to saturday morning in the space of six hours was a record. people will be looking at the impact of climate change on that kind of deluge of water, but then you have

that illegally built houses, money which is set in ischia after the previous earthquake in 2017 and was not used to shore up houses so there are local problems as well. firefighters and rescue teams doing what they can to try and evacuate some of the ischia residents but it is dramatic scenes from there. for now as i state the number of victims remains relatively low, given the dramatic scenes we saw but we will wait to see during the day of that number goes up. mark lemon, on his way to ischia. the world cup continues today in qatar as the teams battle to make it out of the group stages. lots of eyes yesterday were on some of the big names playing for their countries. kylian mbappe's double against denmark has seen his world cup goal total rise to seven. he is already france's second top world cup scorer ever. and captain lionel messi helped argentina to beat mexico and keep

alive their world cup hopes with a 2—0 victory in group c. according to fifa, the attendance was the highest for the tournament since the 1994 final. let's look to today's action. here's our correspondent john watson. a huge game for germany today, one they must win if they are going to keep this world cup alive. spain of course beat costa rica 7—0 in their opening match, and if they were to beat germany later and japan go on and beat costa rica in the other match, germany will be out at the group stage at a second consecutive world cup. a huge match awaits. the headlines on bbc news... anti—government protests against strict covid restrictions continue to spread across china, with some demonstrators calling for the country's leader, president xi, to go. people in the uk who use social

media posts to encourage self—harm will face criminal prosecution under new government proposals. with further rail strikes expected before christmas, the uk's transport secretary says reform is needed to fund wage rises, but labour argues the goverment needs to do more to support workers. across the uk, public sector workers are voting to strike over pay, with industrial action planned by rail workers and nurses in the run—up to christmas. the government has said it can only pay workers what is affordable. but with uk inflation at forty—year highs, politicians are coming under pressure to promise pay deals which match the cost of living. with me is our political correspondent helen catt. a lot of different workers are

threatening strike action or taking strike action, talk of a winter of discontent, that must be worrying the government. if discontent, that must be worrying the government.— discontent, that must be worrying the government. if you 'ust look at the government. if you 'ust look at the last three * the government. if you 'ust look at the last three days _ the government. if you 'ust look at the last three days we _ the government. if you just look at the last three days we have - the government. if you just look at the last three days we have seen l the government. if you just look at l the last three days we have seen the postal— the last three days we have seen the postal workers, train drivers, university— postal workers, train drivers, university lecturers and in scotland teaches _ university lecturers and in scotland teaches all — university lecturers and in scotland teaches all striking. we have had a vote from — teaches all striking. we have had a vote from nurses in england, wales and northern ireland to take strike action— and northern ireland to take strike action next month, they are asking for a _ action next month, they are asking for a i9% _ action next month, they are asking for a 19% pay increase, the government has said it is unaffordable. it was a point that was put — unaffordable. it was a point that was put to — unaffordable. it was a point that was put to the transport secretary mark— was put to the transport secretary mark harper by laura kuenssberg this morning _ we have to balance what is affordable, so that's why for example in the health service we have accepted all the recommendations of the independent pay review body which would give, for example, i think a nurse at least a £1,a00 pay rise this year, and it's why nurses for example got a 3% rise last year when general public sector had a pay freeze. but a 19% pay rise simply isn't affordable. hang on a second, minister... we have to balance what is affordable, the difficult decisions

we're having to make to keep the public finances under control, and also the perfectly reasonable requests people have got to keep up with the cost of living. but i think that people are not going to be able to have what they want. so, just tell us more, what the government are doing particularly with the rail workers. yes, the rail strikes have been an ongoing issue over several months now. there have been claims this week by the rmt union which represents rail staff including guards and signallers that they have been told by rail industry figures that it was the government stopping them putting the offer to the unions. ., ., , , ., stopping them putting the offer to the unions. ., , ., ., ,, , the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning _ the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning and _ the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning and he _ the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning and he said - the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning and he said he - the unions. that was put to mark-up of this morning and he said he had . of this morning and he said he had not blocked anything. he said —— to mark— not blocked anything. he said —— to mark harper— not blocked anything. he said —— to mark harper this morning. he said the money— mark harper this morning. he said the money for the pay rises on the railways _ the money for the pay rises on the railways would have to be freed up to agreeing to reforms on how the system _ to agreeing to reforms on how the system works. labour was asked about its position— system works. labour was asked about its position on pay rises and the

shadow— its position on pay rises and the shadow levelling up secretary lisa nandy _ shadow levelling up secretary lisa nandy was asked by laura kuenssberg if lahour— nandy was asked by laura kuenssberg if labour would back wages going up in line _ if labour would back wages going up in line with _ if labour would back wages going up in line with rising prices. we wa nt we want to see people paid enough money to live on and rewarded very for the contribution that they make but what you are asking me is, not, would we match inflation, you are asking me to commit to a specific number without being involved in the negotiations and seeing the books. we think it is unconscionable that nurses and rail workers that went out this country moving during a pandemic are not being paid enough to put food on the table. we are looking at every single way that we could help with that including the long—term health of the economy and getting more resources very quickly in the first 100 days of a labour government into the national health service by scrapping the non—dom status. there is a problem that people are burned out in the nhs and thatis people are burned out in the nhs and that is compounding the national ——

cost of living crisis. we are going to do everything in our means of disposal to help people because they deserve this. this disposal to help people because they deserve this-— deserve this. this is a conversation that is really _ deserve this. this is a conversation that is really only _ deserve this. this is a conversation that is really onlyjust _ deserve this. this is a conversation that is really onlyjust starting - that is really onlyjust starting with— that is really onlyjust starting with rail— that is really onlyjust starting with rail strikes may be stretching into january. further power cuts are expected in ukraine today as the country tries to stabilise its energy system. in the capital, kyiv, tens of thousands of people were still without any electricity last night. it follows a series of russian missile strikes targeting ukraine's energy grid, as our correspondent. jessica parker reports from kyiv. it's almost a novelty, the lights come on. the water too! ludmilla, who lives on her own had, like millions, been without power for days. these outages could keep happening again and again this winter. is it bearable? translation: it's impossible to live in the city _

without electricity and water, the radiators doesn't work, the water is cold, it's cold everywhere. only one hope remains, that we will win. we had found her here the night before, in a tent by a main road, one of the many public refuges springing up across ukraine. it's a lifeline for everyday contact, but also emergencies. irena, nine months pregnant, wants to know she can call for help just in case. we come here because we need extra call to 911, for emergencies, because i am pregnant, and after today, iam due. here there is heat, a chance to work, or play. some just sit in silence.

this war could be a long wait. ludmilla and his mother are here to get hot water for his child, who's unwell. 0lga says the strain of it all is getting to her. translation: it was already very difficult for me, - i used to hold on but now my nervous system cannot cope with this load. it's so hard, this morning i could barely get up. winter brings a few guarantees, except the cold, and fears russia will keep targeting ukraine's energy system, driving people here to shelter from their own homes. jessica parker, bbc news, kyiv. could the key to finding the wheat crops of the future be hiding in a 300—year—old museum collection? that's the hope of scientists at natural history museum. 0ur science editor rebecca morelle has more.

wheat. in britain, the most momentous harvest of all time. it's a crop we've long relied on. wheat being harvested in 1946. their enemies are wind and rain. it was the start of a farming revolution, growing only a few every year cou nts. it's led to a lack of diversity. could contain a solution. there are 12,000 specimens of wheat and its relatives stored here, and they date back to the 1700s and come from every continent apart from antarctica. and the hope is that looking back into the past can help us to produce the crops of the future. this specimen, which was collected on captain cook's first voyage to australia...

oh, wow, you can see the dates, can't you? every wheat specimen is painstakingly examined and photographed, and 1,500 of them will have their genomes sequenced. because the collection spans also across time, across 300 years, we have specimens that are from before the introduction of various agricultural techniques, so they can tell us something about how wheat was growing wild, or before things like artificial fertilisers. the project will take months to complete. ah, so here we are. at thejohn innes centre in norwich, they're also shining a light on the past. i wanted to show you these old herbarium sheets. their samples go back 100 years and they're looking to crossbreed these older plants with today's varieties. and what we want to do is look for new and useful genetic variation. so disease resistance, stress resistance, increased yield. they've already started

some field trials. it's essential to find solutions. climate change and the extreme weather it brings is reducing the amount we can grow globally. and pests and diseases are a big problem, too. 0ne fifth of the projected yield is lost to them each year. there's a very important disease of wheat, which is a global problem called yellow rust, and that has been increasingly difficult to control and defend wheat against. within this collection of old wheat, there are new resistances to that disease which stand up against this disease. and they're being deployed by breeders right now to defend this really important threat to wheat production. the wheat we grow is going to have to change. looking back into our past and rediscovering lost varieties could be the best way to move forward. rebecca morelle, bbc news. you're watching bbc news.

hello. this weekend we have seen cloud and rain pushing across the uk and that has been in no mood to clear quickly, lingering in the south—east shower with sunshine and showers to the day. rather than clearing through swiftly, this is going to hang around across the channel islands and close to south—east england, coastal parts of east anglia as well. some rain is likely to continue to the rest of the day. further north and west, or in the way of sunshine with scattered showers, particularly for northern ireland and western scotland where some will be paying —— heavy and potentially thundery.

quite blustery but not as windy as yesterday, still quite mild, high is between ten and 13 degrees. the rain in the south—east corner should eventually clear during tonight, elsewhere clear spells with quite a few showers feeding in from the west and fog patches developing, especially across parts of north—east england. some of the fog could be quite dense. a touch of frost is possible in the north—east of england especially by most places will be between four and 8 degrees, a little chillier than the last couple of nights. that fog in north—east england could be quite slow to clear. elsewhere showers but for scotland and northern ireland today will tend to fade. it should be mostly dry and sunny by the afternoon. some showers will continue for western parts of wales, the south—west of england through the south—west of england through the england channel and the channel islands. temperature is 80 degrees for newcastle and 12 in plymouth. the fog is likely to be quite widespread on tuesday morning, dense patches here and there and with very light winds there will be nothing to

lift the fog. some of it will linger, likely to feel quite grey and chilly. later in the week a frontal system pushes in from the west but it makes very little progress, being deflected by this big area of high pressure becoming increasingly dominant across eastern europe. some really cold across eastern europe, some chillier air in our direction but nothing exceptional for the time of year but it will feel colder than it has done of late. not as much rain in the forecast, it is going to be a bit drier.

this is bbc news, i'm ben brown. the headlines... anti—government protests against strict covid restrictions continue to spread across china, with some demonstrators calling for the country's leader,

president xijinping, to go. people in the uk who use social media posts to encourage self—harm will face criminal prosecution under new government proposals. with further rail strikes expected before christmas, the uk's transport secretary says reform is needed to fund wage rises, but labour argues the goverment needs to do more to support workers. rescue efforts are underway to find survivors after a mudslide triggered by heavy rains swept away homes on the italian island of ischia. now on bbc news, political thinking with nick robinson. hello and welcome to political thinking, a conversation with,

rather than an interrogation of, someone who shapes our political thinking about what has