this is bbc news, i'm ben boulos. the headlines. anti—government protests in china against strict covid restrictions are spreading, with some demonstrators calling for the country's leader, president xi, to go. with rail workers and nurses among the public sector workers voting to take strike action in the run—up to christmas, politicians are coming under pressure to promise pay deals which match the cost of living. two 16—year—old boys have died after being stabbed about a mile apart in south—east london, police say they are trying to establish if the two deaths are linked. i can confirm the two young boys are charlie bartolo and kearne solanke. the families are aware, and we are asking that their privacy

is respected at this unimaginably difficult time. too many people in the uk are being let down at the end of their lives by inadequate out—of—hours palliative care support, according to the charity, marie curie. and in football, morocco stun belgium, beating the second—ranked team in the world, 2—0 in qatar at the world cup. good afternoon. rare anti—government protests have taken place in china, including calls for president xijinping to resign, amid public anger over continuing and stringent covid restrictions. after china's zero—covid policy was blamed for people not being able to get out of a burning building,

there were protests on the streets in western china, on student campuses, and in major cities like nanjing, shanghai, and beijing. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from there. it's not unusual to see acts of defiance in china, but this was something different. a crowd of protesters in shanghai chanted, calling for the country's leader xijinping to stand down and for the communist party to give up power. entire cities are still being locked down. the government says easing their zero—covid policy would lead to significant death toll, but has

been criticised for not prioritising vaccination amongst high—risk groups, and not increasing hospital capacity. there is also still no stated plan to open up, even at sometime the future. a fire which killed ten residents in xinjiang last week has prompted widespread anger in china. zero—covid restrictions have been blamed for hampering people's escape and slowing the access for fire crews. whether this is true or not, it sparked waves of protest in the regional capital, urumqi. this has now spread to other cities and university campuses, as spontaneous memorial services for those who died in the fire have transformed into demonstrations calling for an end to lockdowns. people are also blaming xi jinping personally for not changing the zero—covid approach which is forcing business after business to shut down. protests have been building in china all year, with people

here increasingly sick of zero—covid restrictions. the government seems to have drastically underestimated popular discontent, yet, for the moment, has no easy way out of the zero—covid corner it's painted itself into. stephen mcdonnell, bbc news, beijing. what are we to make of it all? a little earlier i spoke to andrew chubb, a fellow at the asia society policy institute�*s centre for china analysis and a senior lecturer in chinese politics and international relations at lancaster university. i think the most dramatic protests, of course, for a political point of view are the ones in shanghai, that your reporter has outlined there. there are calls for xi jinping to stand down, and other anti—government slogans being chanted. i think a lot of the protests

in other places around china have basically involved other issues as well. as mentioned, the horrific fire in urumqi which triggered the protests there, and even further back, stephen's report mentioned it was building up for a while. ten days ago we had large movements in we had large movements in guangzhou where people are pushing down in where people are pushing down the lockdown barriers, and i think it would b along bow to draw to say that it was a nationwide anti—government protest. it seems mainly to be in the shanghai case, which is a very particular corner of china. what makes these protests different than the ones we have seen before against zero—covid restrictions? i think it is very much the scale and the nationwide coverage of the process this time. of the protests this time. the discontent has certainly been building up, particularly since, not coincidentally, the very long lockdown in shanghai

from april this year, so i think it is very much about the scale and the relatively simultaneous, if notjoined—up nature of some of these protests across very different geographies in china, including the xinjiang region. it is an interesting question. we have seen the authorities in urumqi, where the morning in urumqi, where the mourning and anti—lockdown protests broke out last week. we have seen them issue an apology, some kind of self—criticism perhaps could be coming in those particular places, where officials could be held responsible, but it is always very difficult to predict chinese politics, but my money would be on a clampdown rather than further concessions.

the situation is probably going to get uglier before it gets better. this is a question i wonder if anyone has the answer to, but i will ask you anyway, why do you think the authorities in china are persisting with her zero—covid strategy when it clearly isn't working? when, despite that policy, the number of infections are at record levels compared with even the start of the pandemic, why do they persist with that policy? they don't see that they have a better alternative. in particular, china's intensive care beds, the number of intensive care beds, is not sufficient. the government cannot be sure that it will be sufficient if there is a full nationwide epidemic, and the vaccination rates,

particularly among the elderly and other vulnerable groups are not high enough, and on top of all of that, the vaccines that they are using in china, the locally made ones, are not as effective as the mrna vaccines that foreign countries have been relying upon to do reopening in various places around the world. given all that is going on in china, this is not some far off isolated case that does not affect other people. this affects us economically, and in terms of supply chains here in the uk and elsewhere around the world, presumably? i think so, i think that is only what will play out over a longer period of time, but i also think it seems a fairly broad consensus among economic experts that the outlook for china's economy going forward is much less rosy than it was pre—covid.

over the past a0 years of rapid economic growth, there is no way that can continue over the next 5—10 years. this type situations that are related to the economic impact of covid, that is likely to appear more in china over the coming years. here, the transport secretary has been talking about the industrial dispute on the railways — which has led to more strikes scheduled for next month. mark harper said there had to be reforms to the rail system to free up money for a pay offer for workers, and warned there wasn't a "bottomless pit" of taxpayers�* money to throw at the problem. here's our political correspondent helen catt. there have been repeated walk—outs on the railways for months. just yesterday, it was the drivers out on a day—long strike. guards and signallers are among the staff who will hold another series of walk—outs, this time for 48 hours each time, in december and january. this morning, the transport secretary, mark harper, said he wanted to see the dispute resolved,

but he insisted a deal on pay must be funded by reaching agreement on changes to working practices. train operating companies and network rail will have the ability to reach a deal, but we have to be able to have that reform package negotiated, because it's only that that throws up the savings. i do not have a bottomless pit of taxpayers�* money to throw at this problem. the rmt union's general secretary, mick lynch, met with mr harper earlier this week in what is being seen as a more conciliatory approach from the government, in tone at least. but unions still want assurances that ministers aren't pulling the strings. they don't know whether the companies have authority, have been empowered to genuinely, in good faith negotiate a deal, so what we are hoping forfrom mark harper is a letter to the unions setting that out and being clear, notjust about facilitating the deal but what the government's role in settling it

is. labour has said it wants to see people paid fairly, but it has not said it would commit to inflation—matching pay increases if it was in government. you're asking me to commit to a specific number without having been invited into the negotiations and seeing the books. what i can tell you is that we think it's unconscionable that nurses and rail workers who went out and kept this country moving during a pandemic are not being paid enough to put food on the table. next month will also see nurses go on strike in england, wales and northern ireland, as a winter of more industrial action looms. helen catt, bbc news. we will bring you the latest on the situation in china in a moment. before... energy suppliers are being asked by the business secretary

to make sure direct debit payments reflect customers' actual energy use and don't become inflated when people are cutting back on gas or electricity. our business correspondent noor nanji is here, noor what's the background to this letter? lots of us are making the effort to cut back on _ lots of us are making the effort to cut back on energy _ lots of us are making the effort to cut back on energy use, _ lots of us are making the effort to cut back on energy use, but - lots of us are making the effort to cut back on energy use, but bills l cut back on energy use, but bills are still beans soaring. grant shapps said that people's bills should accurately reflect their use. off gem conducted a review into this earlier this year, and we have a supplier is what action has been taken since then. there are a of things worth noting. firstly, energy bills have gone up, so you and if you have been making efforts to reduce you use, the fact remains that energy bills on average this year are a lot higher than they were last year. secondly, it has been quite mild winterfar, so the last year. secondly, it has been quite mild winter far, so the way last year. secondly, it has been quite mild winterfar, so the way in which direct debits are calculated, they were factoring in colder weather into their calculations, so that could be another factor here. it is worth saying that you do have a right to challenge a direct debit, so if you find you're paying too

much, you should speak your supplier. much, you should speak your su lier. . , much, you should speak your su lier. .,, , much, you should speak your sunlier. , ., , much, you should speak your sun-lier. , . , ., ., supplier. has been any reaction to this? we had _ supplier. has been any reaction to this? we had a _ supplier. has been any reaction to this? we had a response - supplier. has been any reaction to this? we had a response from - supplier. has been any reaction toj this? we had a response from one supplier. has been any reaction to i this? we had a response from one of the surnpliers — this? we had a response from one of the surnpliers who — this? we had a response from one of the suppliers who we _ this? we had a response from one of the suppliers who we have _ this? we had a response from one of the suppliers who we have been - the suppliers who we have been following up with to see what action has been taken. octopus energy has written a letter to grant shapps saying it was pleased to see his interest in the matter given it was such matter of high importance for customers. particularly given that government help for customers who have taken that into consideration as well, and he says that there is room for the whole energy industry to improve on this, and he has outlined many ways and is letter in which she thinks they can do that. ofgem's spokesperson has said they will do everything we can to support customers at this time, and they recognise the worry and concern that increased direct debits can cause. they will continue to

work with the government and suppliers on this, and will not hesitate to take further action if they see fit. hesitate to take further action if they see fit-— hesitate to take further action if the seefit. ., ., , ., they see fit. thank you for updating us on that- — they see fit. thank you for updating us on that- as _ they see fit. thank you for updating us on that. as promised, _ they see fit. thank you for updating us on that. as promised, let's - they see fit. thank you for updating us on that. as promised, let's bring you the latest on the situation in china where protests are taking place against the country's stringent covid lockdown measures. there are a large number of protesters on the streets. the thing that seems to set these protests apart is that some of them have had people chanting, xijinping apart is that some of them have had people chanting, xi jinping stepped down, and communist party step down. it is very rare for people to take the steps publicly in china. a lot of this was prompted after a fire in a block of flats in the north—western city of urumqi. people

blamed lockdown rules for those deaths, people feeling that had it not been for the strict limits on people being able to leave their homes but they perhaps would not have otherwise have died... these protests have spread, thousands of protesters have turned out in shanghai, in nanjing, and the pictures you are seeing now are of protesters out on the streets of beijing. it looks as though the police are allowing them to get on. . . the oolice are allowing them to get on. . . the process. notice are allowing them to get on. . . the process. we will, of with the process. we will, of course, monitor developments in china. barring any significant updates —— and bring you any significant updates. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's holly.

it looks like we have another day of upsets in the world cup, and the latest team looking to spring surprises are canada, who are currently reading one nil against the 2018 finalists, croatia, thanks to our towering header from their standout star. that goal inside two minutes, the fastest one scored so far at the world cup. canada straight out of the box year. let's bring you right up to date with this game, we are early into the first half, and canada are leading 01— zero. you can watch this one right now on the bbc sports website and bbc one. as things stand, morocco are the top of the group.

they beat belgium 2—0. past thibaut courtois in the belgian goal. za karia aboukhlal then made it two in stoppage time. the result means morocco move above belgium to the top of group f on four points and makes belgium's route to the last 16 a little more mcplicated. a little more complicated. it is again that we need to understand and we need to get together. and costa rica have beatenjapan 1—0 to keep their hopes of qualification in the next round alive. after beating germany in their opener, many expected japan to easily claim another three points, but keysher fuller's late goal earned costa rica a smash—and—grab victory — which makes this group even more intersting...

germany play spain in the late kick off. away from today's games, england and wales have both trained today ahead of their final group matches on tueday. england are virtually guaranteed a place in the last 16 but wales hopes are hanging by a thread after their defeat to iran last week. to qualify, wales must beat england and hope for a draw between the united states and iran. if the usa—iran match doesn't end in a draw, wales must beat england by four goals to reach the knockout stage. ben davies and joe allen are both confident in their sides confident in their side's chance of qualifying. we area we are a team that set high standards for ourselves, that is the reason we have got to where we are now. that is the reason why we are critical of the last results. it is only because of the bar that we have

set ourselves, so we know we can play a lot better, and we hope to do that next game. it is play a lot better, and we hope to do that next game.— that next game. it is not impossible, _ that next game. it is not impossible, no. - that next game. it is not impossible, no. it- that next game. it is not impossible, no. it is- that next game. it is not impossible, no. it is a i that next game. it is not - impossible, no. it is a tough task, it is always — impossible, no. it is a tough task, it is always uncomfortable when it is not _ it is always uncomfortable when it is not in _ it is always uncomfortable when it is not in your hands and you are relying — is not in your hands and you are relying on— is not in your hands and you are relying on certain things to unfold, but whilst — relying on certain things to unfold, but whilst there is still a chance, it is reaiiy— but whilst there is still a chance, it is really simple for us. we are fully— it is really simple for us. we are fully motivated and fully incentivised to throw absolutely everything into getting a win. who knows, _ everything into getting a win. who knows, hopefully we can still get ourselves — knows, hopefully we can still get ourselves out of the group. in the england camp, striker marcus rashford has said that while the team are still disappointed with their goalless draw with the usa, they are determined not to let that result define their tournament. we are obviously not happy with the result, i think at times in the game we played well, we were properly just missing the final bit to get

the goal. they are not a bad team, it was a difficult game, but we are not in a bad position, we cannot let one game, one performance, and do what we have done so far. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. we will stay with sport for the time being. the former german international footballer jurgen klinsmann says he wants to speak to carlos queiroz to "calm "things down" after the iran manager said the german's criticism of his team was a "disgrace to football". bbc pundit klinsmann said the team "worked the referee" in their 2—0 win over wales while saying the behaviour was in "their culture". the bbc�*s yasmin khatun dewan joins us now. tell us what happened, and what

carlos queiroz�*s reaction to this has been. carlos queiroz's reaction to this has been. , ., , ., ,., has been. there were questions about the team and — has been. there were questions about the team and whether _ has been. there were questions about the team and whether the _ has been. there were questions about| the team and whether the guatemalan referee would have done things differently if he was european. this probably sits in the contest of some of the tensions that we have seen during this tournament. the iranian team had just won the match in quite dramatic style in the last few minutes of the game, and some view the commentary as other rising the iranians team. he said in one tweets there was prejudice, judgment and superiority. jurgen klinsmann has responded to this, saying there was a misunderstanding and that he had not meant to offend carlos queiroz and the iranian team, and he had been talking about how passionate the team were and that it

was a positive thing, but i don't think that was necessarily clear in the initial interview, and i think thatis the initial interview, and i think that is why we saw that reaction from carlos queiroz and some of the social media reaction on the commentary. he has said, as you mentioned that he wants to clear it up mentioned that he wants to clear it up with carlos queiroz and that he was not trying to say something negative, rather it was the passion that the iranian team displayed. when you look at the games in the coverage so far, there's been quite golf of the perception of the games in europe and the coverage that we have seen in the global south and from dice poorer communities, which has become quite insensitive. jurgen klinsmann and said he wants to speak to carlos queiroz and clarify things, he was saying things about how they were coming off their seats to speak to the referee, and it was not a negative thing, it was that their culture was passionate about football and the game and trying to

win. we football and the game and trying to win. ~ .., football and the game and trying to win. . . ., ., football and the game and trying to win. . .., ., ., football and the game and trying to win. . ., ., , football and the game and trying to win. . .., ., ., , ., win. we can have a little listen to whatjurgen _ win. we can have a little listen to what jurgen klinsmann _ win. we can have a little listen to what jurgen klinsmann has - win. we can have a little listen to what jurgen klinsmann has said. | win. we can have a little listen to i what jurgen klinsmann has said. all i whatjurgen klinsmann has said. all i described was very emotional way of doing _ i described was very emotional way of doing things, which is admirable in a certain— of doing things, which is admirable in a certain way. the whole bench lived _ in a certain way. the whole bench lived the — in a certain way. the whole bench lived the game, the jumping up and down, _ lived the game, the jumping up and down, and — lived the game, the jumping up and down, and carlos is a very emotional coach _ down, and carlos is a very emotional coach he _ down, and carlos is a very emotional coach he is — down, and carlos is a very emotional coach. he is constantly there on the sideline, _ coach. he is constantly there on the sideline, trying to give his players all his— sideline, trying to give his players all his energy and his direction. unfortunately these words were taken in the _ unfortunately these words were taken in the wrong direction, but i'm sure i in the wrong direction, but i'm sure i can— in the wrong direction, but i'm sure i can catch — in the wrong direction, but i'm sure i can catch up — in the wrong direction, but i'm sure i can catch up with him over the next _ i can catch up with him over the next couple of days and calm things down _ next couple of days and calm things down. . . , , next couple of days and calm things down. ., ., , g , ., , down. that was jurgen klinsmann they are, uuite down. that was jurgen klinsmann they are, quite apologetic— down. that was jurgen klinsmann they are, quite apologetic about _ down. that was jurgen klinsmann they are, quite apologetic about the - are, quite apologetic about the misunderstanding, he is they did not want to come across that way, but it did. at the time there was quite a lot of offence taken, we saw quite a big social media reaction before carlos queiroz published his tweets. we saw a number of commentators in the global south and also in america and europe noting, was this

otherising remark about this iranian team? . ~ otherising remark about this iranian team? ., ~' ,, otherising remark about this iranian team? ., ~ i. , otherising remark about this iranian team? ., ~ , . police in london have said the fatal stabbings of two 16—year—old boys, just a mile apart, are linked. kearnie solanke and charlie bartolo were found yesterday afternoon with stab wounds and murder investigations are under way. simonjones reports. two killings, the victims kearne solanke and charlie bartolo. i put the phone down, and had a look outside, and i hope the screening. i

can sleep last night, ijust feel sorry— can sleep last night, ijust feel sorry for— can sleep last night, ijust feel sorry for the families. this can sleep last night, i 'ust feel sorry for the families._ sorry for the families. this is a community _ sorry for the families. this is a community that _ sorry for the families. this is a community that has _ sorry for the families. this is a community that has lost - sorry for the families. this is a community that has lost one i sorry for the families. this is a | community that has lost one of sorry for the families. this is a - community that has lost one of them, and it— community that has lost one of them, and it is— community that has lost one of them, and it is very— community that has lost one of them, and it is very sad _ community that has lost one of them, and it is very sad for— community that has lost one of them, and it is very sad for the _ community that has lost one of them, and it is very sad for the family. - and it is very sad for the family. police _ and it is very sad for the family. police say— and it is very sad for the family. police say the _ and it is very sad for the family. police say the killings _ and it is very sad for the family. police say the killings weren't . police say the killings weren't linked, no arrests have been made. tackling violence as a priority for the met, days like today show why our work is so important, and why must ask for a london communities to work with us. the families of the boys who died have been offered support. the police say they have spoken to several witnesses, but still want to speak to anyone who saw the attack themselves. they also want to speak to any of the two who died. they say those friends may be able to shed some light on what officers are calling senseless killings. the met says it is determined to tackle knife crime.

they recently carried out a one—week operation in which they arrested 500 people and said they had seized 130 knives. too many people in the uk are being let down at the end of their lives by inadequate out—of—hours support , according to research for the charity, marie curie. the study concludes the current, fragmented system leads to a significant number of avoidable visits to emergency departments by people who would be better cared for at home. the charity is calling for a national 24—hour a day helpline to help people navigate services. here's our social affairs editor, alison holt. this woman has terminal cancer, and knows she is reaching the end of her life. i knows she is reaching the end of her life. ~ ., �* ., ., life. i know i'm going to die, i have no fear— life. i know i'm going to die, i have no fear of _ life. i know i'm going to die, i have no fear of death, - life. i know i'm going to die, i have no fear of death, i - life. i know i'm going to die, i have no fear of death, i am i life. i know i'm going to die, i. have no fear of death, i am more interested in the journey to death being as comfortable as possible. today's research shows that in many areas, getting palliative help when it is needed can be really difficult. when she found herself feeling weak and in pain, she was sent to the emergency department

three times. in sent to the emergency department three times-— sent to the emergency department three times. in a&e i was seen by a lovely doctor. _ three times. in a&e i was seen by a lovely doctor, and _ three times. in a&e i was seen by a lovely doctor, and ecg _ three times. in a&e i was seen by a lovely doctor, and ecg was - three times. in a&e i was seen by a lovely doctor, and ecg was done . lovely doctor, and ecg was done again, blood tests were done again, i waited for the tests come back, and i was sent home with the same pain in the same weakness. istallion and i was sent home with the same pain in the same weakness. when this woman was caring _ pain in the same weakness. when this woman was caring for _ pain in the same weakness. when this woman was caring for her _ pain in the same weakness. when this woman was caring for her father, - pain in the same weakness. when this woman was caring for her father, the l woman was caring for her father, the only nhs number she had for end—of—life care closed at liz30pm in the afternoon. no good when they hit a crisis at ten p m. i the afternoon. no good when they hit a crisis at ten p m.— a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an ambulance. — a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an ambulance, because _ a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an ambulance, because it - a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an ambulance, because it was - a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an ambulance, because it was the j a crisis at ten p m. i phoned an - ambulance, because it was the only people i could think to call. what people i could think to call. what would ou people i could think to call. what would you have _ people i could think to call. what would you have liked _ people i could think to call. what would you have liked to - people i could think to call. what would you have liked to have been? phonein would you have liked to have been? phone in about advice. people don't just die during office hours.- just die during office hours. report found that out _ just die during office hours. report found that out of _ just die during office hours. report found that out of our _

just die during office hours. report found that out of our services - just die during office hours. report found that out of our services are l found that out of our services are patchy or nonexistent, and most areas do not have consistent nursing services overnight. here a hospice in liverpool, they coordinate end—of—life service to ensure care is there when needed. end-of-life service to ensure care is there when needed.— end-of-life service to ensure care is there when needed. without the su ort of is there when needed. without the support of health _ is there when needed. without the support of health care _ is there when needed. without the | support of health care professionals it can escalate quickly, and family members get very concerned about their loved ones.— their loved ones. doctor or nurse can be contacted _ their loved ones. doctor or nurse can be contacted for— their loved ones. doctor or nurse can be contacted for advice - their loved ones. doctor or nurse can be contacted for advice 24 i their loved ones. doctor or nurse i can be contacted for advice 24 hours can be contacted for advice 2a hours a day or seven days a week, and that means that fewer people end in hospital. means that fewer people end in hos - ital. means that fewer people end in hosital. , ., , , ., means that fewer people end in hosital. , , ., , means that fewer people end in hosital. , ., , , hospital. the emphasis for us is that it is the — hospital. the emphasis for us is that it is the quality _ hospital. the emphasis for us is that it is the quality of - hospital. the emphasis for us is that it is the quality of care i hospital. the emphasis for us is that it is the quality of care with the right people around. we have managed to reduce the average number of unplanned admissions in the last three months of life by a significant percentage, so it is a large number of people who are not attending hospital. {lime large number of people who are not attending hospital.— attending hospital. once in touch, she quickly _ attending hospital. once in touch, she quickly got — attending hospital. once in touch, she quickly got better _ attending hospital. once in touch, she quickly got better care. i attending hospital. once in touch, she quickly got better care. the i she quickly got better care. the comic i know i can call them anytime

day or night if i need them, and based on the _ day or night if i need them, a'ic based on the outcome for the day or night if i need them, a."ic based on the outcome for the first time i called them, i have confidence that they will be able to help me. the confidence that they will be able to hel me. , ., confidence that they will be able to hel me. , help me. the government says it su orts help me. the government says it suoports high _ help me. the government says it supports high quality _ help me. the government says it supports high quality end-of-life| supports high quality end—of—life care, and that the nhs is providing more funding for services. rescue teams on the italian island of ischia are searching for about a dozen people missing after a devastating landslide. houses and cars were buried in rivers of mud after torrential rain, and at least one person was killed. our italy correspondent mark lowen sent this report from ischia. rescuing the fragments of once tranquil ischia, divers picked out what they could after the mudslide that cascaded through this island, tossing what lay in its path into the ocean or into each other. some cars battled beyond recognition as torrents of mud poured down here. some cars battered beyond recognition as torrents of mud poured down here.

they scoured the seas for wreckage and bodies, with the number of deaths growing in reports of islanders are still missing, the fear is that as more areas are reached, other victims will be found. it began before dawn on saturday after torrential rain, the deepest and most southern on record here, the deepest and most sudden on record here, unleashing the chaos. from above, the destruction was clear, with houses buried, many of them illegally built and unable to withstand the mud. what lay in its wake swept into the sea. the clean—up tackled the sludge that has turned this island into rivers of mud, but it will take long to clear and rebuild. this just shows the weakness of man against nature. while a crane and a whole team are needed to liftjust one vehicle,

the mudslide hurled so many of them with its force. when the torrent of debris and earth came hurtling down here,