understood that she became ill last week and letters were sent by the public health agency in northern ireland to parents of pupils in the first three years at that primary school. i think that the children go to clinic, to see a doctor and be prescribed preventative antibiotics. but sadly, stella—lily mccorkindale became more ill it is understood she was moved to the intensive care unit and the belfast children's hospital and the belfast children's hospital and she died there yesterday. so earlier this afternoon public health officials here in belfast briefed reporters supposing to try to reassure them. he said that the number of strep a infections was high, unseasonably. for example scarlet fever which is what milder strep a infections can develop into, those numbers tell their own story. 122 cases of scarlet fever reported

across northern ireland. a place of just under 2 million people in total in the month of november that number is much higher than in novembers of previous years. however a small number of people with strep a can then develop a more serious condition something called invasive group a strep and that can be very serious indeed. so doctors have stressing that there's no sign at the moment that people are dying from the condition at this time of year when you compare the figures back to previous years so they are stressing understanding that parents in particular may be worried that a child has died from an illness linked to strep a that they married be a lot of worry out there. the message from the likes of the public health agency is that, there is no cause for alarm, serious illness is rare, deaths are rarer still but it

certainly is worth people being aware of the symptoms of strep a infections for example, muscle aches, high temperature, sore throat, and a rash that feels like sandpaper. if any children or any adults are having the symptoms than it is best to get checked out by a doctor and if children are unwell, to keep them off of school. the public health agency and said today at the moment they are not recommending school closures as a means of dealing with outbreaks of strep a infections they said that we have a very limited impact. so this course of action for schools where there is an outbreak, for example in one area children will be given antibiotics as a preventative measure. public health officials saying that they believe that they are on top of this situation. in that people should be vigilant. thank you chris.

grandma before we moved to other news, and update coming through from qatar because we are hearing that spain are out of the world cup. morocco had beaten spain on penalties. these are like pictures from qatar tonight. so morocco beating spain on penalties. england of course play their next match this weekend. 12 minutes before six. 100 firefighters in wolverhampton have been tackling a large blaze which engulfed a number of derelict factories near the city centre last night. homes were evacuated, roads closed and trains in the area were cancelled. smoke could be seen more than 15 miles away in shropshire. west midlands fire service has urged people to stay away from the area.

the supply of fruit and vegetables is being threatened by the soaring cost of fuel in fertilisers as well as a shortage of workers. that is according to the and a few, national farmers�* union. more details from our business editor simonjack. the soaring cost of feed, fuel, fertiliser and the impact of flu are creating a potential food supply crisis that the uk is sleepwalking into according to the national farmers�* union. the resulting inflation have taken a toll. the ukraine war, the pandemic and the resulting inflation have taken their toll. there are now 7,000 fewer food producers in the uk compared to 2019, and some fear more could fail. the farmers have had so many bad years that they�*ve ended up having to borrow money or borrow money against the farm. and obviously inflation rates and interest rates have gone up. so interest on big loans, because anything to do

with farming is big kit. it costs a lot, it costs a fortune to produce the milk on your table or food on your table. strains already seen in the avian flu affected egg market, where many supermarkets have introduced rationing, are expected to spread. fertiliser prices have more than tripled, while the cost of fuel is up nearly 75% since 2019. since 2019, what the nfu describes as the last normal year, animalfeed is up 75%. nitrogen fertiliser up 240%. agricultural diesel up 73%. wholesale gas up a whopping 650%. there are now 7,000 fewer agricultural businesses in the uk than before the pandemic. production of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and pears are expected to be the lowest this year since records began in 1985. the nfu is urging the government to lift a cap on seasonal overseas workers and establish a new food security target.

what we really want is some of that certainty put back in, so farmers know where they are at. so certainty on the seasonal workers scheme. we anticipate there were £60 million worth of fruit and veg left in the field last spring because the people weren�*t there to pick them, so we want more certainty on the visas, we need a lift on the cap of numbers and the visas to be issued on time. the government told the bbc that it was in regular contact with the food and farming industries to ensure they�*re well prepared for a range of scenarios and they continue to take all the necessary steps to ensure people across the country have the food they need. but uk farmers are concerned that less food produced here increases the uk�*s reliance on food imported from abroad at a time when global food supplies are stretched. simon jack, bbc news. let�*s to other matters entirely. it

is a chilly night to be on a red carpet. it�*s been 13 years since the sci—fi blockbuster avatar hit the big screen. it went on to become the highest grossing film of all time making almost 3 billion dollars since its release in 2009. now the film has a sequel, "the way of water". it�*s having its world premiere in london�*s leicester square this evening our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba is there. bless you i feel for you bless you ifeel for you i hope you have thermals but it is an exciting night for film fans because this has been a long time coming. absolutely, 13 ears as been a long time coming. absolutely, 13 years as you _ been a long time coming. absolutely, 13 years as you say — been a long time coming. absolutely, 13 years as you say avatar _ been a long time coming. absolutely, 13 years as you say avatar that the - 13 years as you say avatar that the biggest grossing film of all time a wonderful 3d extravaganza set on the planet pandora where human being

becomes an avatar in joins forces with the indigenous people of the planet to fight against a threat and impose by the humans. 0f planet to fight against a threat and impose by the humans. of course james cameron has taken about 13 years to bring the sql to the screen right here in london for the world premiere and worldwide. he�*s on the red carpet now hoping to speak to him, we have mrjames cameron how are you? him, we have mrjames cameron how are ou? ., him, we have mrjames cameron how are you?_ thank- him, we have mrjames cameron how are you?_ thank you . are you? your freezing. thank you very much — are you? your freezing. thank you very much but _ are you? your freezing. thank you very much but it's _ are you? your freezing. thank you very much but it's worth _ are you? your freezing. thank you very much but it's worth waiting i are you? your freezing. thank you | very much but it's worth waiting for very much but it�*s worth waiting for you. you are such a competent film—maker, but with the cost involved you have for this equals even you must be feeling a bit nervous about how this movie is going to perform. i�*zre nervous about how this movie is going to perform-— nervous about how this movie is going to perform. i've always been nervous every _ going to perform. i've always been nervous every time _ going to perform. i've always been nervous every time we _ going to perform. i've always been nervous every time we put - going to perform. i've always been nervous every time we put a - going to perform. i've always been| nervous every time we put a movie out into_ nervous every time we put a movie out into the — nervous every time we put a movie out into the marketplace is particularly a frightening type is after— particularly a frightening type is after the — particularly a frightening type is after the pandemic, the market is contracted — after the pandemic, the market is contracted somewhat. but we have to see what _ contracted somewhat. but we have to see what happens. what contracted somewhat. but we have to see what happens-— see what happens. what is it about this particular _ see what happens. what is it about this particular story _ see what happens. what is it about this particular story of— see what happens. what is it about this particular story of all— see what happens. what is it about this particular story of all the - this particular story of all the ones that you have told before, we�*ve seen a lens, turned her, true lies that make you want to return to it not once but at least another two

or three times. it is it not once but at least another two or three times.— or three times. it is a big commitment _ or three times. it is a big commitment i had - or three times. it is a big commitment i had to - or three times. it is a big i commitment i had to think or three times. it is a big - commitment i had to think about it for a _ commitment i had to think about it for a white — commitment i had to think about it for a while but what's not to love. i love _ for a while but what's not to love. itove my— for a while but what's not to love. i love my cast and they are great to work _ i love my cast and they are great to work with — i love my cast and they are great to work with i— i love my cast and they are great to work with. i love the team, all of the artists— work with. i love the team, all of the artists and so on. and to get to paint— the artists and so on. and to get to paint on— the artists and so on. and to get to paint on a — the artists and so on. and to get to paint on a canvas of that size, it is paint on a canvas of that size, it isjust such _ paint on a canvas of that size, it isjust such an honour and privilege _ isjust such an honour and privilege. we did well with the first film — privilege. we did well with the first film and that allows us to go on. y ., first film and that allows us to go on. , ., , , , first film and that allows us to go on. , ,, ., ., ., on. do you feel pressure at all or are ou on. do you feel pressure at all or are you totally — on. do you feel pressure at all or are you totally need _ on. do you feel pressure at all or are you totally need to _ on. do you feel pressure at all or are you totally need to it? - are you totally need to it? not immune to _ are you totally need to it? not immune to it _ are you totally need to it? not immune to it at _ are you totally need to it? not immune to it at all. _ are you totally need to it? not immune to it at all. you do feel the pressure when you stand back and think— pressure when you stand back and think about it. during the day when you are _ think about it. during the day when you are working, you are just doing what _ you are working, you are just doing what you _ you are working, you are just doing what you need to do. it is instinctive. the work is instinctive. the work is instinctive. if you thought about the big — instinctive. if you thought about the big picture and how much money is getting _ the big picture and how much money is getting spent in all of that, and the stakes— is getting spent in all of that, and the stakes of it, you would get a little _ the stakes of it, you would get a little paralysed, ijust don't think about— little paralysed, ijust don't think about it — little paralysed, i 'ust don't think about it. ., , little paralysed, i 'ust don't think about it. . , ., little paralysed, i 'ust don't think about it. ., , ., little paralysed, i 'ust don't think about it. . , ., ., about it. finally, how confident are ou that about it. finally, how confident are you that you _ about it. finally, how confident are you that you will— about it. finally, how confident are you that you will bring _ about it. finally, how confident are you that you will bring us _ about it. finally, how confident are you that you will bring us avatar i you that you will bring us avatar five. ~ ., . ., five. we are confident in the film, we know the _ five. we are confident in the film, we know the film _ five. we are confident in the film, we know the film delivers. - five. we are confident in the film, we know the film delivers. it - five. we are confident in the film, we know the film delivers. it is i five. we are confident in the film, we know the film delivers. it is a l we know the film delivers. it is a good _

we know the film delivers. it is a good ride, — we know the film delivers. it is a good ride, that experience, powerful, emotional. people are crying. _ powerful, emotional. people are crying, weaving their eyes on the command — crying, weaving their eyes on the command of the theatre, and a good way. command of the theatre, and a good way not— command of the theatre, and a good way. not like oh i spent all of that money— way. not like oh i spent all of that money and it is not that good. they are crying _ money and it is not that good. they are crying for the characters. so reasonably _ are crying for the characters. so reasonably confident i would say. like i_ reasonably confident i would say. like i said. — reasonably confident i would say. like i said, the market has changed so we _ like i said, the market has changed so we have — like i said, the market has changed so we have to see what happens. how difficult is it — so we have to see what happens. him" difficult is it balancing spectacle and emotion, people know you will bring amazing visuals but it is much more to it than that. the bring amazing visuals but it is much more to it than that.— more to it than that. the beauty of it as we do — more to it than that. the beauty of it as we do all _ more to it than that. the beauty of it as we do all of _ more to it than that. the beauty of it as we do all of the _ it as we do all of the emotional stuff— it as we do all of the emotional stuff first— it as we do all of the emotional stuff first so work with the actors for the _ stuff first so work with the actors for the first year and a half and performance capture environment and, it is all— performance capture environment and, it is all about _ performance capture environment and, it is all about the acting every day, — it is all about the acting every day, every day that's all we do. and that we _ day, every day that's all we do. and that we handle the spectacle later. and it _ that we handle the spectacle later. and it is _ that we handle the spectacle later. and it is really important to take tissues — and it is really important to take tissues lt— and it is really important to take tissues. , , ., , , ,, tissues. it is unbelievably. she took a stack— tissues. it is unbelievably. she took a stack of _ tissues. it is unbelievably. she took a stack of tissues - tissues. it is unbelievably. she took a stack of tissues like - tissues. it is unbelievably. shej took a stack of tissues like this and she — took a stack of tissues like this and she is— took a stack of tissues like this and she is already seen her before. we will— and she is already seen her before. we will out — and she is already seen her before. we will put a warning out and of course we have a hint of some of the other titles possibly at the movies, the writer, the seed bearer. home other titles possibly at the movies, the writer, the seed bearer. none of the writer, the seed bearer. none of

the subsequent _ the writer, the seed bearer. none of the subsequent titles _ the writer, the seed bearer. none of the subsequent titles are _ the subsequent titles are confirmed yet us a _ the subsequent titles are confirmed yet us a long time to confirm the way of— yet us a long time to confirm the way of water those are just proposals, we will see, right now it isjust— proposals, we will see, right now it isjust avatar three. it proposals, we will see, right now it is just avatar three. it will not sneak— is just avatar three. it will not sneak up— is just avatar three. it will not sneak up on you you will hear coming — sneak up on you you will hear cominu. �* ., , sneak up on you you will hear comin._ k,, sneak up on you you will hear comini_ k,, sneak up on you you will hear comin. .., sneak up on you you will hear comini. .. ., ,, , coming. bob back in charge of disney as i could news _ coming. bob back in charge of disney as i could news for _ coming. bob back in charge of disney as i could news for you he's - coming. bob back in charge of disney as i could news for you he's always i as i could news for you he�*s always been a big fan? i as i could news for you he's always been a big fan?— been a big fan? i have a good workini been a big fan? i have a good working relationship - been a big fan? i have a good | working relationship with bob, been a big fan? i have a good - working relationship with bob, we iet working relationship with bob, we get each — working relationship with bob, we get each other. he is a big supporter of the avatar franchise so we see _ supporter of the avatar franchise so we see it _ supporter of the avatar franchise so we see it as— supporter of the avatar franchise so we see it as a good thing for us at avatar~ _ we see it as a good thing for us at avatar. , ., , we see it as a good thing for us at avatar. , . , ., ., we see it as a good thing for us at avatar. �* . , . ., . ~ , ., we see it as a good thing for us at avatar. �* . , . ., . ~' , avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking _ avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking to _ avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking to us _ avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking to us live _ avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking to us live here - avatar. james cameron thank you very much for talking to us live here on - much for talking to us live here on the blue carpet, enjoy the world premiere and i know that you will be keeping yourfingers premiere and i know that you will be keeping your fingers crossed for the performance of the movie. thank you so much. that was james cameron of course that the director of avatar to come up the way of water. even a film—maker like him has nerves of steel. a film like this cost more than £350 millionjust steel. a film like this cost more than £350 million just to steel. a film like this cost more than £350 millionjust to make it money back it will have to be one of the biggest films of all time. but

people are confident that with his track report they at least have a shot. it track report they at least have a shot. , ., ., ., , i. shot. it is hard to wrap your head around the _ shot. it is hard to wrap your head around the scale _ shot. it is hard to wrap your head around the scale of _ shot. it is hard to wrap your head around the scale of everything, l shot. it is hard to wrap your head l around the scale of everything, but fair to say we haven�*t seen it yet, but it is one of those that you need to go and see on the big screen. absolutely it is one of those where part of the attraction probably, a big part of the success of the first movie, was the 3d spectacle, the production which had subsequently won an oscarfor production which had subsequently won an 0scarfor as production which had subsequently won an oscar for as well as winning an oscarfor visual won an oscar for as well as winning an oscar for visual effects. people felt like they were really immersed in the environment that he was creating there. there was a whole run of three movies about tonnes of 15 years ago in refrain, a lot of them the 3d was not very good not very convincing. audiences were quite cynical about a lot of it seeing it was just a money makeover —— making thing to charge more for tickets and get more profits. where the sd tickets and get more profits. where the 3d did not at that much or in some cases it was actually badly

done. avatar wind was one of the few where at the 3d felt intrinsic as the storytelling to stop it did not feel like an add—on orjust trying to make extra money it felt like it was part of the vision ofjames cameron. that is probably because he is such a gifted cameron —— it film—maker and so many ways. technology has always been a huge part of what he does. remember terminator two, the special effects that he brought to that many years ago. he really knows this kind of technical stuff inside out. so when it comes to that visual, he is one of the greatest there is.- of the greatest there is. what a ni i ht, of the greatest there is. what a night. thank — of the greatest there is. what a night, thank you _ of the greatest there is. what a night, thank you so _ of the greatest there is. what a night, thank you so much. - of the greatest there is. what a | night, thank you so much. more of the greatest there is. what a - night, thank you so much. more from you a little bit later as some of the actors arrived as well. thank you so much our entertainment correspondent braving the cold there at the world premiere of the new avatar felt. at the world premiere of the new avatarfelt. more at the world premiere of the new avatar felt. more than three hours long but buckle up. anyway i hope there are lots of stars out on the blue carpet tonight. talking to the

film directorjames cameron. it is the weather now. it certainly is a chilly old evening out there with sunset temperatures dropping quickly clear skies for many of us through the night but we have some wintry showers around, maybe that is a picture of the next few days. turning even colder than it is, some snow showers and ice as well. we have the winds coming right from the arctic drawing in this really cold air mass. for the rest of this evening into night snow showers continue across the north and norse thieves of scotland. a few rain showers across the east coast of scotland and i are seacoast as well. most places looking dry, cold. temperatures to around “11 in the cult of spots. a sharp frost to start your wednesday morning to stop plenty of sunshine still a few of those wintry showers across scotland, snowfall amounts totalling up scotland, snowfall amounts totalling up here as the rain showers around the east coast. temperatures about re—6 wednesday and it will feel colder where you are exposed to the breeze. more snow to come overnight

wednesday— thursday in northern ireland in a bitterly cold start thursday post. as ambulance staff become the latest to announce walk outs. the 21st of december is when around 10,000 people working for the ambulance service will go on strike over pay in england and wales. no—one is listening, we have to take desperate action, because if we don�*t take desperate action, this isjust going to go on. also on the programme. a 5—year—old girl in belfast has been named as the ninth child to die since september after contracting strep a. england rugby union coach eddiejones has been sacked after a run of poor performance from the team. and why tattoo parlours are on the rise in the high street in the wake of the pandemic. when about that for a penalty.

morocco beat one of the favourite, spain on penalties to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time. coming up on the bbc news channel: after his disgruntled withdrawal in their last game, do portugal risk replacing ronaldo for their last 16 match at the world cup against switzerland? good evening and welcome to the bbc�*s news at six. december looks set to be a month of strike action after another raft of industrial action was announced today. ambulance staff across most of england and wales will walk out on the 21st of december in a dispute about pay. more than 10,000 paramedics, control room staff and support workers are due to strike. yesterday the rmt union announcing further strike dates on the railways in the run up to christmas

and that�*s all on top of royal mail, nurses and highway workers amongst many others. it�*s all developing into a huge headache for government. here�*s our political editor, chris mason. ambulances, the very essence of a front line public service. two weeks tomorrow, their staff across most of england and wales will walk out. on strike, refusing to answer calls, unless a patient is in a life—threatening condition. why are your members going on strike fundamentally this is a dispute about pay, the members have seen the value of their earnings drop, they are working under terrible conditions and they have add enough, they need a pay rise. i5 conditions and they have add enough, they need a pay rise. is it conditions and they have add enough, they need a pay rise.— they need a pay rise. is it not irresponsible _ they need a pay rise. is it not irresponsible your _ they need a pay rise. is it not irresponsible your members. they need a pay rise. is it not i irresponsible your members will leave people sufficiently desperate they have called an ambulance, unable to get one? at they have called an ambulance, unable to get one?— they have called an ambulance, unable to get one? at the moment i-eole unable to get one? at the moment ieoile are unable to get one? at the moment people are waiting _ unable to get one? at the moment people are waiting up _ unable to get one? at the moment people are waiting up to _ unable to get one? at the moment people are waiting up to 26 - unable to get one? at the moment people are waiting up to 26 hours i unable to get one? at the momentl people are waiting up to 26 hours to get an people are waiting up to 26 hours to getan ambulance, people are waiting up to 26 hours to get an ambulance, we have a service thatis get an ambulance, we have a service that is in crisis, the... you

get an ambulance, we have a service that is in crisis, the. . ._ that is in crisis, the... you are ioiin that is in crisis, the... you are going to _ that is in crisis, the... you are going to make _ that is in crisis, the... you are going to make it _ that is in crisis, the... you are going to make it worse? - that is in crisis, the... you are going to make it worse? the | that is in crisis, the... you are - going to make it worse? the reality is if we try to _ going to make it worse? the reality is if we try to get — going to make it worse? the reality is if we try to get round _ going to make it worse? the reality is if we try to get round this - going to make it worse? the reality is if we try to get round this and - is if we try to get round this and no—one is listening. figs is if we try to get round this and no-one is listening. as ambulance workersjoin _ no-one is listening. as ambulance workersjoin nurses _ no-one is listening. as ambulance workersjoin nurses in _ no-one is listening. as ambulance workersjoin nurses in parts- no-one is listening. as ambulance workersjoin nurses in parts of- workersjoin nurses in parts of england and wales and northern ireland in taking industrial action, in parliament today, the man who would like to be health secretary challenged the man who is. the chairman of _ challenged the man who is. the chairman of the _ challenged the man who is. tue: chairman of the conservative challenged the man who is. t'te: chairman of the conservative party claims that nhs strikes are exactly what vladimir putin wants, so why isn�*t the health secretary negotiating to prevent them from going ahead. mr; negotiating to prevent them from going ahead-— negotiating to prevent them from ioiin ahead. g , ., going ahead. my door is open, i have been clear with _ going ahead. my door is open, i have been clear with the _ going ahead. my door is open, i have been clear with the trade _ going ahead. my door is open, i have been clear with the trade unions - going ahead. my door is open, i have been clear with the trade unions i - been clear with the trade unions i am available, this afternoon or tomorrow _ am available, this afternoon or tomorrow-— am available, this afternoon or tomorrow. ., ., ,, . ., tomorrow. from the health service to the railway. — tomorrow. from the health service to the railway, where _ tomorrow. from the health service to the railway, where more _ tomorrow. from the health service to the railway, where more strikes - tomorrow. from the health service to the railway, where more strikes are l the railway, where more strikes are due next week, over christmas, and into january, due next week, over christmas, and intojanuary, in england, due next week, over christmas, and into january, in england, scotland and wales, in dispute overs pay and changing conditions. it is quickly becoming very difficult to avoid being affected by growing industrial action. micken l nch. ..

growing industrial action. micken lynch- -- so _ growing industrial action. micken lynch... so what _ growing industrial action. micken lynch. .. so what will— growing industrial action. micken lynch... so what will that - growing industrial action. micken lynch... so what will that mean l growing industrial action. micken l lynch... so what will that mean for s miath lynch... so what will that mean for sympathy or _ lynch... so what will that mean for sympathy or otherwise _ lynch... so what will that mean for sympathy or otherwise for - lynch... so what will that mean for sympathy or otherwise for those i sympathy or otherwise for those going on streak the sympathy or otherwise for those going on streal— sympathy or otherwise for those going on streak the tide has turn. the people _ going on streak the tide has turn. the people i— going on streak the tide has turn. the people i have _ going on streak the tide has turn. the people i have spoken - going on streak the tide has turn. the people i have spoken to i going on streak the tide has turn. the people i have spoken to have| going on streak the tide has turn. i the people i have spoken to have all turned. they are in favour of the nhs and understand where they are coming from but regards to the railway workers they are losing patience. ? if you win you will win it at the cost of people who are already on their breadline. if you want to strike, leave the christmas period alone. the want to strike, leave the christmas period alone-— want to strike, leave the christmas period alone. the issues are on top of us today. — period alone. the issues are on top of us today. if— period alone. the issues are on top of us today, if we _ period alone. the issues are on top of us today, if we don't _ period alone. the issues are on top of us today, if we don't respond i period alone. the issues are on top of us today, if we don't respond to | of us today, if we don't respond to what _ of us today, if we don't respond to what the _ of us today, if we don't respond to what the company's doing, they will make _ what the company's doing, they will make these changes, and they will impose _ make these changes, and they will impose worst terms and conditions on members _ impose worst terms and conditions on members he's. in— members he's. in birmingham, some commuters appeared more supportive of the unions. tt appeared more supportive of the unions. , ., ., , ,, appeared more supportive of the unions. , ., ., , ~ , unions. if they have to strike they have to strike, _ unions. if they have to strike they have to strike, know _ unions. if they have to strike they have to strike, know a _ unions. if they have to strike they have to strike, know a lot - unions. if they have to strike they have to strike, know a lot of i unions. if they have to strike they| have to strike, know a lot of them don�*t want to. t have to strike, know a lot of them don't want to-_ don't want to. i am not sure if i would have _ don't want to. i am not sure if i would have chosen _ don't want to. i am not sure if i l would have chosen the christmas period. _ would have chosen the christmas period, but, yeah. just, i see why they— period, but, yeah. just, i see why they are _ period, but, yeah. just, i see why they are doing it and they want to make _ they are doing it and they want to make maximum impact. it

they are doing it and they want to make maximum impact.— they are doing it and they want to make maximum impact. it puts you off travellini make maximum impact. it puts you off travelling but — make maximum impact. it puts you off travelling but i — make maximum impact. it puts you off travelling but i understand _ make maximum impact. it puts you off travelling but i understand why - make maximum impact. it puts you off travelling but i understand why they i travelling but i understand why they are doing it. i work in a hospital so, there�*s strikes everywhere at the moment. and yes, in westminster this afternoon, more workers and the potential for more strikes. a protest by the fire brigade�*s union which is asking its members if they want to walk out. this is a country where receiving a letter catching a train, getting a driving test, everyone being collected by an ambulance or seeing a nurse might not happen, such is the contagion of anxiety for many as pay and conditions collide with spiralling prices and for any government this presents peril, as people can reasonably ask, who is in charge? the political consequences now, though, matter less than the increasingly visible symptoms of the economic pain so many are feeling, as so much of what we rely on may

not be there when we need it. chris mason. so millions of people will be affected this month by walk outs all over the uk. these are the main areas of strike action taking place, from rail to ambulances to some buses to highway workers. these are the days the railways will come to a halt, including over that period leading up to christmas and the early part of january. ambulance in workers in england and wales are taking partial action on december 21st. similarly, many nurses on the 15th and 20th of december, but only for certain roles. royal mail workers are walking out on these days. employees for some bus operators across these dates. and highway workers across the middle and latter parts of this month. there are round 350 baggage handlers

at heathrow and driving examiners walking out as well. our political editor chris may sop is in westminster. so many people going on strike, are they likely to get what the want? , , ., strike, are they likely to get what they want?— strike, are they likely to get what the want? , , ., ., ., they want? this is now a battle of wills, they want? this is now a battle of wills. when _ they want? this is now a battle of wills. when i— they want? this is now a battle of wills, when i speak _ they want? this is now a battle of wills, when i speak to _ they want? this is now a battle of wills, when i speak to union i they want? this is now a battle of. wills, when i speak to union leaders they say this is a culmination of irritations going back years that has been magnified by cent spiralling price, as far as the government is concerned they are hunkered down, maintaining their view that inflation busting pay rises are unaffordable and the real scourge here is in inflation, much of it stimulus into national hand that should be their focus, as far as labour are concerned they hope plenty of people willjoin them in blaming the government but labour also have an awkward relationship with industrial action, you can often hear it in their verbal gymnastics when they asked whose side they are on, that brings do you public opinion, how may that change as the strikes start stacking up?

how may other people also struggling react when they see their lives getting harder as a result of other people deciding to take industrial action, we should remember as well, we already have an anaemic economy and these strikes, will weaken it further. ., ., and these strikes, will weaken it further. ., ~ , ., , thank you chris. a five—year—old girl in belfast has been named as the ninth child to die from strep a since septemnber. stella—lily mccorkindale died suddenly yesterday. the uk health security agency says pupils at schools with cases of streptococcus a could get preventative antibiotics to protect them. here�*s our ireland correspondent emma vardy. a bright and talented little girl, stella—lily was described as a tragic loss to her school. she had been admitted to belfast�*s children�*s hospital with strep a last week and died on monday. on friday, parents of her classmates at black mountain primary were sent a letter from the public health agency, asking children to visit a doctor to be given a preventative course of antibiotics.

whenever we compare the numbers to what we would see in the usual time that scarlet fever and other group a streptococcal infections circulate, you know, the numbers are comparable to those times we would see in the spring but it is higher than it would normally be at this time of year. strep a is a normal winter bug, doctors say, but this year the patterns of infection have been slightly different. it is highly contagious and parents are being told to look out for symptoms such as a rash and high temperature. doctors believe that the covid lockdowns have meant that some children�*s immunity is now not as strong. the past two or three years, with covid, where people have been very, very conscious of infection control and preventing the spread of every infection, and it has been very effective obviously with covid, but that has actually stopped people being exposed to bugs that they normally would be and particularly with younger children, and so their immunityjust isn't built up to these bugs and hence we are seeing different patterns.

medics at the public health agency are not recommending closing schools, saying this would only have limited impact, and that a rise in infections does happen every four to five years, but that the current outbreak is unusual because it is happening in the winter rather than the spring. two other children in northern ireland have also been taken to hospital after an outbreak elsewhere. while parents are being reassured that most cases of strep a are mild, a critical incident team is providing support to stella—lily�*s school and doctors say we are likely to see more infections. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. our medical editor fergus walsh is here. a lot of parents concerned, are we dealing with a more severe strain of it this year?— it this year? there is no evidence that we have _ it this year? there is no evidence that we have a _ it this year? there is no evidence that we have a more _ it this year? there is no evidence that we have a more virulent i it this year? there is no evidence i that we have a more virulent strain, cases of scarlet fever which are usually mild, and the more serious invasive group a strep where the

bacteria gets into the bloodstream are higher than we have seen for many year, during the pandemic, where there was little social mixing we had almost no case, this is a contagious thing, hardly surprising we are seeing a resurgence. in april 2018 cases of scarlet fever were twice the level they are now, so we have seen big outbreaks before. iloathed have seen big outbreaks before. what about parents — have seen big outbreaks before. what about parents who _ have seen big outbreaks before. what about parents who want to get antibiotics for their child, to protect them? figs antibiotics for their child, to protect them?— antibiotics for their child, to protect them? antibiotics for their child, to irotect them? �* , ., , protect them? as we have seen in emma's report. — protect them? as we have seen in emma's report, if _ protect them? as we have seen in emma's report, if there _ protect them? as we have seen in emma's report, if there is - protect them? as we have seen in emma's report, if there is an i emma�*s report, if there is an outbreak in a school, then antibiotics like penicillin can be given as a preventative measure to year groups but these are prescription medicine, for parents, the strong advice is, to keep a watchful eye out for scarlet fever, the first signs can be flu—like symptoms including a high temperature, scotlanden —— swollen neck gland and sore throat and a tell—tale rash on the skin, raised

bump, clear on light skin, less so in darker skin but it will feel rough like sand paper, you can get this strawberry tongue, raised bumps with a white coating. scarlet fever responds very well to antibiotics, if a child has symptoms parents should seek medical advice, the important thing is for parentses to be alert, but not alarmed. fergus, thank you- — the conservative peer baroness mone, who founded the lingerie brand ultimo, is taking a leave of absence from the house of lords amid allegations she benefitted from a company that she recommended for a covid contract. she denies the claims that she lobbied on behalf of a company called ppe medpro and later benefitted from tens of millions of pounds of the company�*s profits. labour is trying force the government to publish documents relating to covid contracts won by the firm. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas reports.

a businesswoman, and since 2015 a conservative peer in the house of lords. today michelle mone�*s private office said she had decided to step back while she clears her name of allegations that it said had been unjustly levelled against her. she is accused of trying to get government covid contracts for a company and then gaining from its profits. at the start of the pandemic the government was scrambling to get hold of protective equipment, fast tracking contracts to companies to provide it. it is important to put it in context, we secured 23.2 billion items of ppe, and that was a huge step, to help protect our front line. a new company ppe medpro was awarded more than £200 million to supply masks and gowns, it had been suggested by michelle mone, later that year the bbc discovered more than £120 million worth of gowns hadn�*t been used, the company and the department of health are in mediation, at the time lawyers for

baroness mone said she had no role in ppe medpro nor in the process where contracts were awarted. the guardian published claims as much as 29 million power plant of profits went into a trust of which baroness mone was a beneficiary. labour is using a vote in parliament to try to force the government to publish all documents and correspondence round the contracts it gave to ppe medpro. it wants other fast—tracked contracts to be examined too. tt it wants other fast—tracked contracts to be examined too. ft is contracts to be examined too. it is 2 uk government _ contracts to be examined too. tit 3 2 uk government that is constantly criticised, about these contracts and the way in which they were doled out and given, and all this motion to the house today is asking for, is transparency. what have you got to hide? tt transparency. what have you got to hide? ., , transparency. what have you got to hide? . , , . transparency. what have you got to hide? ., , . ., , hide? if as expected labour wins the vote the government _ hide? if as expected labour wins the vote the government will _ hide? if as expected labour wins the vote the government will have i hide? if as expected labour wins the vote the government will have to i vote the government will have to publish what it has asked for at some point. they mite not be entirely straightforward, it is understood there is a live criminal investigation linked to the company. that is also put on hold a

parliamentary investigation into the claims against baroness mone. an entrepreneur that is so often in the spotlight, today michelle mone is keeping a lower profile. stepping back from the lords is unlikely to put an end to the question though for her the time is 15 minutes past six. our top story this evening... around 10,000 ambulance staff in england and wales are to go on strike on december the 21st in a dispute over pay. and in a dispute over pay. december 28. the uk is sleepwalking into a food supply crisis, says the national farmers�* union. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel: eddiejones is sacked nine months out from a world cup, leaving england�*s long—term planning for the tournament in the hands of a new man. the covid pandemic has had a huge impact on all our lives and it has

altered the face of britain�*s high streets too. bbc news has been analysing data from ordnance survey and it shows the average high street has become less of a place to buy stuff and more of a place to go to do things. businesses providing food and drink are on the up, as are hair and beauty salons and tattoo studios. but there�*s been a decline in banks, clothes shops, and department stores. our home editor, mark easton, has been looking at the figures. five, four... counting down to christmas. ..three, two, one... cheering. our high streets could do with some bright, festive cheer after a dark decline. here in kendal in cumbria, the pandemic made many realise the importance of their public spaces and local traders, amid fears that lockdown could spell the end for already struggling high streets. it is worrying that so many

shops are closing down and aren�*t being replaced. you see the number of people out here tonight. people want to come out, people want to use the high street. now we can see exactly what has been happening with the help of people like jamie from 0rdinance survey. he is among an army of 200 surveyors who have been mapping the shopping streets of britain in extraordinary detail. a lot of shops such as this one have been closing down but a lot of other shops and local community shops have been opening up. coffee shops, breweries, hair and beauty. we have compared the situation in our high streets at the start of the pandemic, in march 2020, with march this year. covid restrictions accelerated the move away from cash—based shopping. there are now 9,300 fewer retail stores on high streets. in kendal, burton went for a burton. 328 department stores — often the flagships of local high streets —

did not make it. beales in kendal wasjust one. inside the shell of this once much loved store, the remnants of global brands are being removed. instead, there are plans to turn the space into a celebration of the local. beales was an attraction for this town. it was dying when beales closed. it began to die, people stopped coming here. so we thought, provide a location where tourists and locals can come to with smaller independent retailers inside. the fantastic artisans, the entrepreneurs, the food producers... it�*s a real celebration of the local area. it is. the eating and drinking sector actually emerged stronger from the pandemic than it went in. 700 more pubs and bars, 2,000 more cafes, and 4,600 more fast food joints. traditionalfish and chips did not take the battering many anticipated. there are now 300 more british chippies than pre—covid. beauty services boomed — 5,000 more outlets.

there are 350 more tattoo parlours, this part of cumbria actually seeing the biggest percentage increase, going from four to ten. well, it�*s a service industry, isn�*t it? so, you can�*t get a tattoo online, you can�*t get a haircut online, you know? the high street is evolving — less of a place to buy things and more of a place to do stuff. the town centres best able to survive tough times ahead will be those which can bring fun and magic to our public realm. merry christmas to one and all! mark easton, bbc news, kendal. you can see how your local high street has changed by going to the bbc news website and typing in your post code. you can then see what�*s up and what�*s down in your area and how it compares to the rest of the uk. england�*s head rugby union coach, eddiejones, has been sacked after seven years in charge. hisjob had been injeopardy following some dismal results recently on the pitch. england won just one

of their four matches in the autumn internationals. here�*s our sports news correspondent laura scott. he has been backed and bankrolled like no england coach before him. but the final defeat of a dismal year and for many fans, the final straw. �* ,., ., ., .,, ., ., straw. and booing from those around us... straw. and booing from those around us- -- never— straw. and booing from those around us... never want _ straw. and booing from those around us... never want to _ straw. and booing from those around us... never want to bite _ straw. and booing from those around us... never want to bite his - straw. and booing from those around us... never want to bite his tongue, l us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones — us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones said _ us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones said he _ us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones said he did _ us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones said he did not - us... never want to bite his tongue, eddie jones said he did not care i eddiejones said he did not care what people thought, but his bosses do. losing support means losing money and ten days on, he is gone. rather than dwell on a poor run of form, the rfu chief exec to bill sweeney said he was grateful for all that eddiejones had done for england across many areas of the game, and the professional way in which he approached reviewing the performance of the team. jones said... seven yea rs seven years in charge, highlight of thejones era include three six

nations championships. and reaching the final of the 2019 world cup. but there was controversy as well, and after the worst year of results since 2008, former player said it was time for a change. t since 2008, former player said it was time for a change.— was time for a change. i think it will iive was time for a change. i think it will give the _ was time for a change. i think it will give the opportunity - was time for a change. i think it will give the opportunity to i was time for a change. i think it will give the opportunity to get| will give the opportunity to get england place back on track, maybe with a fresh approach, and hopefully that will bring out their skill set and let them go out and perform. the timini of and let them go out and perform. the timing of this is far from ideal for timing of this is farfrom idealfor the rfu because withjust timing of this is farfrom idealfor the rfu because with just nine months until the next world cup, england do not have a head coach and a number of long—term candidates have also ruled themselves out of the running. but there is one month coaching in the premiership who many see as the key contender to take over from jones pandit leicester tigers�* coach steve borthwick has long been viewed as the australian�*s success and worked with him at both japan and england. a scheduled press conference for his club today was

postponed at short notice. asjones departs, whoever replaces him needs to hit the ground running if they are going to achieve what he spent years planning, promising and prioritising, winning a world cup with england. laura scott, bbc news, twickenham. the american woman who killed 19—year—old harry dunn in 2019 has been given permission to attend her sentencing hearing via a video link. anne sacoolas, who admitted causing death by careless driving in october, had been advised by her us government employer not to return to the uk. indonesia�*s parliament has approved new laws that criminalise sex outside marriage. the legislation, which will apply to both indonesians and foreigners, also bars unmarried couples from living together, and those breaking the rules could be jailed for up to a year. the laws are due to come into effect in three years.

and has been arrested after an egg was reportedly thrown at king charles. it happened while at the king was on a walkabout in luton town centre. police said a man in his 20s was detained on suspicion of common assault and is in custody. the national farmers�* union has warned that the uk is sleepwalking into a food crisis. it says the soaring cost of fuel, fertilisers and feed, as well as a shortage of workers, could lead to problems with the supply of fruit and vegetables. the nfu says lower production could drive up prices even further. our business editor, simonjack, reports. kent, the garden of england. but for those that work this land, there has never been a worse time to be a farmer. this area here was going back into fruit production... clive baxter has been hit by post—brexit labour shortages and faces a huge rise in energy costs to refrigerate his stored fruit. this orchard here was a productive orchard and, as you can see, it has come out. and we are not replanting it.

i have never seen anything like this before and neither have so many of my fellow growers. it is, it is really, really scary now. since 2019, before the pandemic and the ukraine war, farmers�* costs have rocketed. fertiliser is up 240%. diesel prices, up 73%. wholesale gas, a whopping 650% compared to 2019. farmers have responded by cutting production. there is 16% less fruit grown, for example, in the uk compared to 2019. it is a crisis that threatens the security of the uk�*s food supply, according to the national farmers�* union. ultimately, you have got the farmer or the grower taking all of the risk with these huge costs. so it is about fairness in the whole chain, but it is about government prioritising food security. and if they fail to do so, i fear we will continue to see greater contraction, exporting our production and reliant on more imports. on one side you have the soaring cost of production — fuel, fertiliser, feed and labour.

and on the other side, you have a cost of living crisis with retailers reluctant to pass on higher costs to their consumers. and in the middle, farmers are getting squeezed to such an extent, some are cutting production or giving up altogether. retailers say they are aware of the pressure farmers are under, but so is everyone else. customersjust don't have the money when they come into our stores so it is a really tough equation for retailers. keeping the prices as affordable as possible, but getting as much money back to farmers as well. farming groups argue that increasing the number of seasonal work visas would stop food rotting in the fields. today, the environment secretary hinted the government may move on that. we are still in discussion right now with the home office. _ hoping to be able to make - an announcement very soon so that people can consider. but the longer term strategy should not be reliant on people _ from outside the european union to come to this country— to do certainjobs.

everyone wants the uk to be more self—sufficient in food rather than less, but less is the direction the uk is currently heading. simonjack, bbc news, kent. 0nshore wind farms could be back on the agenda, the government has just announced it will consult on proposals to allow new onshore wind farms to be built more easily in england. comes as the government was facing a rebellion from a group of conservative mps. fir facing a rebellion from a group of conservative mps._ conservative mps. or could this mean? the _ conservative mps. or could this mean? the government - conservative mps. or could this mean? the government was i conservative mps. or could this i mean? the government was facing a lot of pressure from tory mps about this particular issue and it is an issue that has divided the tory party for years pandit we need to go back to 2015, when david cameron essentially introduced an effective ban on new onshore wind turbines in england. then borisjohnson said earlier this year he would think about consulting local communities to reintroduce more onshore wind in exchange for cheaper energy bills. liz truss went even further, saying she wanted to bring onshore wind in

line with other kind of critical infrastructure in england as well. but rishi sunak said in his leadership campaign that he wanted to keep the effective ban on onshore wind in england. that did not make some of his backbench mps happy and some of his backbench mps happy and some including the senior tory mp simon clark were trying to force a vote on this to effectively try to make the government loosen those planning restrictions. now it seems what the government has conceded is that it will launch a consultation about how local content for more onshore wind can be achieved in england and it also seems like the government is planning to remove what was seen as quite a rigid requirement for a new onshore wind sites to have to be sort of predesignated in a local plan put this seems to have appeased those tory rebel mps. simon clarke this evening has welcomed the move. but i think the fact that this comes just after yesterday the government agreed to water down its house—building target plans may leave some tory mps wondering what

exactly rishi sunak stands for as he has caved to another rebellion from some of his own backbenchers. thank you very much- _ some of his own backbenchers. thank you very much. morocco _ some of his own backbenchers. thank you very much. morocco are - some of his own backbenchers. thank you very much. morocco are happy, yet another big upset at the world cup in qatar, they have knocked out one of the favourites, spain, on penalties. extraordinary scenes in the stadium as morocco made it to the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. the last african team standing in the last chance of an upset in this knockout round. morocco where one of the teams that really shook things up in the group stage, finishing above croatia and belgium, so they had no reason to fear another european heavyweight. achraf hakimi could have played for spain, he was born there. his early free kick did not worry unai simon too much. spain were living dangerously pandit morocco knew they should have gone into half—time with at least a goal to show for their efforts. spain could only improve, a

pot shot from dani 0lmo stunned bono but hands, but the fans knew this match would go the distance. this was 30 minutes of fine margins, simon�*s boot kept spain in it and with the last kick of extra time, sarabia was that far away from winning it. spain went out on penalties at this point in the last world cup and the former world champions crumbled once again. they did not score any of their efforts. bono would not be beaten and that left achraf hakimi with the kick for history... what a way to do it! morocco reaching the world cup quarterfinals for the first time. and just when it looked as though order had been restored at this world cup, morocco go and do that to spain, reaching the last eight and the moroccans will now be watching very carefully what happened here at the lieu sale stadium because they will play the winners of the portugal and switzerland game. and we have already had a shock here and

have not kicked off. the portugal captain, cristiano ronaldo, has been dropped. thank you. time for a look at the weather. here�*s darren bett. it has been cold enough already but it will be colder for the rest of the week and with the colder we have widespread frost on the way the risk of some ice, particularly where we have these wintry showers. we are getting a northerly wind our way and that will bring all that colder air across the uk and because it is a northerly wind it will be northern scotland in the firing line in terms of snowfall, could be ten centimetres over higher parts. but there is a risk of some ice and snow in other areas, mainly inland england likely to be dry but still cold point the temperatures are dropping, snowballing in northern scotland, a few wintry showers running through the irish sea and clipping at the north sea coasts and heading towards east anglia pandit widespread frost tonight, temperatures as low as —3 or “11. maybe not as cold in east anglia and

the south—east of england,