children are being put on part—time timetables to manage behaviour. chris is starting a support group to help parents. his son has autism and adhd and faces numerous exclusions at school. he adhd and faces numerous exclusions at school. . , adhd and faces numerous exclusions at school. ., , ., ., ,. ., ., adhd and faces numerous exclusions at school. .,, ., ., ,. ., at school. he was out of school for over 14 months. _ at school. he was out of school for over 14 months. some _ at school. he was out of school for over 14 months. some of - at school. he was out of school for over 14 months. some of the - at school. he was out of school for i over 14 months. some of the schools tactics, half day exclusions is because they cannot support the kids. they are getting denied opportunities. the kids. they are getting denied opportunities. kids. they are getting denied o- ortunities. ., ., , opportunities. the government has -romised opportunities. the government has promised improvement _ opportunities. the government has promised improvement to - opportunities. the government has| promised improvement to specialist educational needs in the new year with £400 million of investment. 0fsted said early intervention is crucial with too many families caught in a system failing them from the start. elaine dunkley, bbc news. last night the uk saw its coldest night since february 2021. temperatures fell to a low of —17.3 celsius overnight in braemar in the scottish highlands. let's have a look at the rest of the weather, here's keith—lucas. yes, last winter we didn't see anything as cold as this. this is how we started the day in

northumberland, clear blue skies and sunshine. in northumberland it was the coldest night in england so far this year. we saw temperatures down to -12.5, this year. we saw temperatures down to —12.5, but braemar in aberdeenshire, the cold spot, the coldest night of the year anywhere in the uk, temperatures down to minus 17.3 celsius. so a bitterly cold start to the day. that cold spell stays for the next few days. icy stretches, wintry showers mainly but not exclusively for scotland. a cold northerly wind developing and that will mean improved visibility so we are losing the mist and fog we have seen over the few days. as we fast forward through friday and into the weekend, gradually things turn milder particular by sunday and we will see the milder air in place and things turning more unsettled. but lots of wintry weather to get out of the way before then. for the rest of the way before then. for the rest of the day we have rain, sleet and hill snow in the far south—west. could be a couple of centimetres for bodmin

and dartmoor. wintry showers for coastal part of antrim, northern scotland as well. temperatures will be struggling a few degrees either side are freezing today. 0vernight, more heavy showers, snow showers thatis more heavy showers, snow showers that is across northern and eastern scotland and some moving into the north—east coast of england as well. we could see a few snow flurries around the south coast, particularly over higher ground and temperatures not cold as last night but still around minus six degrees in the cold spots. ice risk once again. through the day tomorrow we have blizzards developing across northern scotland as the wind strengthened from a northerly direction blowing some snow in here and for the likes of the north york moors as well. the strongest winds tomorrow will be around northern areas on the east coast as well. some temperatures will be just above freezing for most of us. somewhere from freezing to plus four. add on the wind—chill it will feel colder. feeling as cold as -40 will feel colder. feeling as cold as —40 minus six degrees around exposed

and northern and eastern coast. sunshine for many on thursday, a cold start with than ice risk. cold showers across scotland for thursday but most places largely dry. temperatures between one to 6 degrees. looking further ahead, gradually things turn milder, more unsettled into the weekend. if you want to check the chance of precipitation where you live, you can find that with a 14 day forecast on the bbc weather app. a reminder of our top story. around 40,000 rail workers are striking today, tomorrow, friday and saturday in their long—running dispute withjobs, pay saturday in their long—running dispute with jobs, pay and conditions. that's all from the bbc news at 0ne — so it's goodbye from me —— and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. hello. you're watching bbc news.

the time is 1:33pm. i'm ben croucher with a sports update for you. we'll start... where else? ..but at the world cup. the first of the semi—finals is less than six hours away now. 2018 finalists croatia against two—time winners argentina. but the hype around this one is centred around two players, one of whom we may see grace this grandest of stages for the very last time. joe lynskey looks ahead. for one great of the game, the last four will be their last stand. lionel messi is 35 and luka modric, 37. still, for argentina and croatia, so much depends on them. for argentina, it has been a world cup on a cliff edge. defeat to saudi arabia meant no room for more slip—ups. and messi said it's his final chance. but in four games since then, a nation swelled around its star. messi, it had to be! they beat australia 2—1 and then the netherlands on penalties in a heated quarterfinal.

now they are two games from the one lionel messi is missing, and argentina has waited since the days of diego. diego maradona, the world's greatest player, receives the world's most important football prize. there has been this enormous pressure on lionel messi to be the new diego. after the quarterfinal match, when lionel messi slightly lashed out a little, people are saying it is diego taking over messi. so all of this is giving us a closer look at what the real messi is like, and he is a different kind of leader from maradona and a very different kind of player. croatia's population is half the size of london, yet for two world cups running, they are in the semis. last time at this stage, they beat england and luka modric won the ballon d'0r. this time, it has been hard work. croatia have broken hearts on penalties. inside 90 minutes, they have won just one game, but they have knocked out brazil. and he hasn't done it,

croatia have yet again! modric has no goals and no assists, but his team have found a way. 16 years on from their first world cup, two stars have a last chance. for the team who lose, there will be one more match too, but neither luka modric nor lionel messi want to play for third place. that should be a good game. 0ur reporter alex howell is in doha for us where the day is building towards that huge game. alex, any signifcant changes expected by either manager? first things first, the two players everybody is speaking about, luka modric and lionel messi are both fit. neitherside modric and lionel messi are both fit. neither side will be without their most important player. for argentina, there will be a couple of changes. marcus acuna and gonzalo montiel will be out because of

suspension. so take the figure coming in defence and angel di maria and rodrigo de paul are also fit. for croatia, they don't have any players missing through suspension or injury. so it is likely we will see there strongest 11, possibly the same line—up they played in that last game. it is all set to be a very memorable match. the teams are going into it both hopeful and in the stadium it will be a great atmosphere with the argentinian fans managing to pack out pretty much every stadium the team plays in. commentary on bbc five live on the bbc sport website from 7pm. thank you very much. the final sees france take on morocco, and england captain harry kane said he texted his tottenham team—mates after the penalty shoot out and said it wasn't easy to find the words. he penalty shoot out and said it wasn't easy to find the words.— easy to find the words. he can be roud of easy to find the words. he can be proud of what _ easy to find the words. he can be proud of what he _ easy to find the words. he can be proud of what he has _ easy to find the words. he can be proud of what he has done - easy to find the words. he can be| proud of what he has done for the national team during this world cup.

in football history, many top players miss important penalties. it is like lionel messi, cristiano ronaldo, kylian mbappe a, but i have no doubt harry will keep his chin up and will help tottenham and the national team to shine.- and will help tottenham and the national team to shine. plenty more on of the bbc _ national team to shine. plenty more on of the bbc sport _ national team to shine. plenty more on of the bbc sport website. - on of the bbc sport website. that for now is all the sport. more now on a fresh wave of strike action that's expected to cause major disruption to key services in the run—up to christmas — we have heard midwives in wales have now voted for strike action after what they called her disappointing and unacceptable pay award worth about 4% this year. industrial action by midwives in england is not going to go ahead after the numbers taking part in the ballot, the strike ballot, fell short of 50% thatis strike ballot, fell short of 50% that is needed on the trade union

rules. the royal college of midwives saying that midwives in wales had voted for strike action. let talk about the strike on the railways which is beginning and hitting key services in the run—up to christmas. network rail has urged passengers to travel only if necessary. the general secretary of the rmt union, mick lynch, is blaming the government for a lack of progress on reaching a deal. we understand the anger that is caused by the disruption of the stoppages, of course. but we are getting a lot of support from the public and we continue to get messages, people continue to visit the picket line. businesses should be asking the government why they are subsidising the strike. at the end of this current phase, the government will have absorbed £320 million worth of losses in order to keep this strike going. there is an opportunity

to develop solutions, but the government, i am afraid, is preventing that from happening. i havejust heard hugh merriman talking about a very generous offer, it is not generous, it is way below inflation. and it is predicated on a set of changes. cut by 50% and conditions changes on our members by network rail, which is unacceptable. it is bringing in driver—only operation they know we will never accept. the art of negotiation is getting to a position where both sides can accept the deal, and the government, the dft and all the way up to number ten, i think, has put conditions and the train operating companies that they know will blow up any chance of a deal. the rail executives know that, andrew haynes from network rail knows what he's got to do, but i don't think they are not being allowed to do that because of some ideological stance by the government at the moment. that is mick lynch of the rmt. the transport secretary mark harper has told sally nugent on bbc

breakfast that he believes a fair and reasonable offer is on the table. we've tried to facilitate a deal. after i met with trade unions, an offer was made to them by the train operating companies, and an improved offer was made by network rail, building on a certain level of reform, improvements to outdated working practices and an improved pay offer. i think it is a very fair and reasonable offer that i think most people listening to this, if they look at what is being offered, it is comparable to deals being done across the rest of the economy, across the private sector. i hope the rmt reflect on it and think again. you say you didn't block a better pay deal, but has the treasury put parameters on the limits of a potential pay deal? as i said... yes? a fair and reasonable offer has been made. no? this is about dealing with reform and an improved pay offer.

i met with the unions and an improved pay offer was made. there isn't a bottomless pit of taxpayers money. there isn't a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money. so, yes? we have to have a pay rise that is fair to the workers in the industry, but there isn't a bottomless pit. it has to be fair to taxpayers. i think there is a fair offer on the table. fair to taxpayers and fair to people who work in the industry and fair to passengers, and i hope the rmt reflect on it and change their position. that is a transport secretary mark harper talking on the day that the rmt strike again, the first of strike day today, the first four days of strike action this week, will mean the cancellation of roughly four out of every five trains across the country. ukraine's health system is facing its darkest days in the war thus far. that's the warning from the who, after russia targeted the country's infrastructure, leaving millions of people without electricity, heating or water.

0ur ukraine correspondent, hugo bachega, has sent this update. there is a lot of concern these attacks could lead to a humanitarian crisis. for weeks, we've seen that russia has been attacking this country's energy infrastructure, and millions of people are facing difficult conditions without electricity, heating and without power. it is snowing in kyiv, temperatures are below freezing and in other parts of the country. this is a country where temperatures can drop to —15, —20 degrees celsius. there is a lot of concern that these attacks and these temperatures could lead to a humanitarian crisis. this is what the health minister had to say. translation: that's right, - the ukrainian health care system is facing a new challenge as a result of the full—scale russian invasion of ukraine. since the beginning of the war,

we have suffered as russia shelled civilians indiscriminately and attacked hospitals. already more than 1,100 health care facilities have been damaged and 144 completely destroyed. and now, on top of that, we face attacks on our energy infrastructure. are you concerned that this country may face a humanitarian crisis if these attacks don't stop? the risks are always high. we have to prepare for the worst situations. this is what we do. i ask our international partners to support our hospitals with generators, with heating systems, so that hospitals can continue to function in the event of a blackout. what is the advice you are giving to hospitals across the country? first of all, we want them

to prepare for the possibility of power outages, no heating. there could be no water supply and no functioning sewage system. we have developed different plans for these scenarios. we have already told hospitals to limit the number of patients admitted for planned treatments and surgery. we are prioritising emergencies, trauma injuries, anything related to the war. we understand the consequences. we understand that the war will have an indirect impact on the health of ukrainians, which may not be noticeable right now. so, that is the ukrainian health minister. the authorities here have been saying they need help from their international partners, and countries have been sending generators so hospitals and essential services can keep operating.

yesterday, us officials said they had sent the first part of power equipment to ukraine, this is help worth $13 million to continue to help the ukrainians as the electricity infrastructure comes under attack. hugo which i gather, are you can correspond with them different here. the headlines on bbc news... members of the rmt are striking today in a near total shutdown of britain's railway network. the prime minister has promised more staff to help clear at the uk's backlog of asylum seekers by the end of next year. the european parliament has voted to remove the greek mep eva kaili from her role as vice president amid a corruption scandal

and allegations that qatar bribed european union officials. 0ut out bbc 0ut bbc news, it's time to look at some of the story this and more details have been released after the explosion at a block of flats in jersey, after the explosion at a block of flats injersey, our reporter as the latest in what has been a painful few days for the island. peter bowler, raymond brown and these people, paul marston, the names of some of those feared dead after one ofjersey�*s darkest days. at 8:30pm on friday,

residents reported smelling gas, the fire service and gas engineers attended but it is unclear what action was taken. at 4am on saturday tragedy struck as a devastating destroyed the whole of flats. search teams worked late into the night on sunday morning it was agreed, no one could have survived. the head of the gas company try to provide some answers, but it only gave rise to more questions. it is very typical of an explosion of this size that it typically is gas, but i want to bring us back to the fact that we don't know that and i don't want to set has running— set has running people saying it is as. i set has running people saying it is gas- i think _ set has running people saying it is gas- i think it— set has running people saying it is gas. i think it is— set has running people saying it is gas. i think it is difficult _ set has running people saying it is gas. i think it is difficult if- set has running people saying it is gas. i think it is difficult if you - gas. i think it is difficult if you look at the statement, which at the explosion of this size is normally gas. we don't know that for sure, therefore it is very difficult for me to comment whether it was a spark or what actually happened here. cheer or what actually happened here. over the cominu or what actually happened here. over the coming days _ or what actually happened here. over the coming days and weeks, we will learn more about what happened with

those who lost their lives. the people they loved on the lives they touched. a mother has told of her late night dash around lincoln trying to find antibiotics for her 11—month—old baby who had scarlet fever. she struggled to find any pharmacies with the right medicine and had to return to the hospital to plead for help. beth and her partner dean have been telling look north derek storey. she dean have been telling look north derek storey-— dean have been telling look north derek storey. she was very poorly, she was bright _ derek storey. she was very poorly, she was bright red, _ derek storey. she was very poorly, she was bright red, you _ derek storey. she was very poorly, she was bright red, you could - derek storey. she was very poorly, she was bright red, you could have | she was bright red, you could have fried eggs on her cheek, she was irritable and crying, very sleepy and docile. i was prized to take her straight to hospital when she was surprised that prescribed penicillin because of scarlet fever. i was sent from the hospital having been told they didn't have the penicillin andi and i needed to go and find her

summer. scared, angry, and disappointed. it was bad enough when they said that they didn't have any and i need to find some, you look at the time to the temperature and your baby is screaming. when you finally find a pharmacy in the first place that is open, but to be told they don't have any and you probably won't get any at all, having been told how important it is that the baby has the medication that night, just frightening. an and tears basically, and anger of the one on my own and wanting somebody to help me get this medication for my baby. just awful. i was upset, is my may be going to make _ it through the night? i was told my daughter— it through the night? i was told my daughter is in hospital, government is out trying to sort medication and i'm like, "well, what can i do?" being a lorry driver, — what can i do?" being a lorry driver, i_ what can i do?" being a lorry driver, i work away all week and i can't go anywhere. i can't offer anything to help _ anywhere. ican't offer anything to help how— anywhere. i can't offer anything to help. how can a hospital have said

you need _ help. how can a hospital have said you need medication and not be able to give _ you need medication and not be able to give it _ you need medication and not be able to give it you?— to give it you? eventually, the hosital to give it you? eventually, the hospital managed _ to give it you? eventually, the hospital managed to - to give it you? eventually, the hospital managed to finance i to give it you? eventually, the i hospital managed to finance the penicillin from an inpatient ward, it is terrifying that these children's lines are being put at risk in what appears to be the shortage of what should be a fairly basic antibiotic.— basic antibiotic. well, 'ust to save the baby clear h basic antibiotic. well, 'ust to save the baby clear who _ basic antibiotic. well, just to save the baby clear who you _ basic antibiotic. well, just to save the baby clear who you saw - basic antibiotic. well, just to save the baby clear who you saw in - basic antibiotic. well, just to save the baby clear who you saw in the j the baby clear who you saw in the report is recovering well. the department of health and social care have served there is no supply shortage of antibiotics although it does say increased demand means some pharmacies are having difficulty obtaining certain antibiotics. patients in the east of england will soon get an idea of what hospitals of the future might look like. the new award is being trained in at the james paget hospital in gorleston today. the concept ward is an example of what the new norfolk hospital will look like when it is built, as nicky fox reports. the crane used to lift the 41 pieces of this new hospital ward is a massive

80 metres or 300 feet tall. it is basically like a giantjigsaw puzzle, where everything is built off site and then brought in on lorries. it will make up about 28 beds, 20 of which will be ensuite. and it will provide space for the hospital to repair its roof. building off—site brings the cost down, which is something the health secretary steve barclay is conscious of. , . of. there is an urgent need to chance of. there is an urgent need to change how — of. there is an urgent need to change how all— of. there is an urgent need to change how all nhs _ of. there is an urgent need to change how all nhs buildings| change how all nhs buildings are constructed. in the future. and this means moving away from bespoke designs by local trusts and instead having national standardised designs built through modern methods of construction, where construction time on site is quicker, the operational performance is delivered quicker. operational performance is delivered ruicker. �* ., , operational performance is delivered ruicker. , ., ., quicker. both this hospital and the west of suffolk _ quicker. both this hospital and the west of suffolk have _ quicker. both this hospital and the west of suffolk have been - quicker. both this hospital and the west of suffolk have been given i west of suffolk have been given funding for a completely new building, but we still don't know if the queen elizabeth in kings lynn

or hinchinbrook will get that money. this is a hospital being built off—site to reduce construction costs, and although building methods have improved, some will hope this is not history repeating itself. nicky fox, bbc look east in gorleston. if you hear the phrase... if you hear the phrase "house share", you may well think about a group of university students or young flatmates at the start of their careers. but it can also be a great way for elderly people to enjoy some company, cut their bills and avoid the need to go into a care home. a project in cornwall is helping to make this happen by matching older homeowners with younger housemates. janine jansen has the details. when 93—year—old daphne lost her husband, living home alone in truro got lonely.

but now she has been matched with ros, her new house—sharer. i love it. ijust think it is such a good idea. more people should do it. so many people live alone in their own homes, particularly facing this winter, electricity and gas bills. it is a way of sharing resources more. i have skills and time, and also it meets my needs so i'm getting company. i'm not going home to an empty house every night. ros says the cost of living forced her to downsize. she sold her house in penzance, and she got empty nest syndrome when her daughter went to uni. now she gets discounted rent in return for giving daphne support and companionship. i do a bit of cleaning, we play some games if she is motivated to do that. we watch television together. i encourage her to eat at particular times, so mornings, i think that has made a difference to her. i make sure she has a hot drink and porridge before she even gets out of bed.

daphne does not want to go in a care home. she has carers come in, and now ros is the missing ingredient. the best thing, ithink, is, just to hear footsteps upstairs. ican hearthem. she will go the extra mile, for anything, you know. no, i couldn't, if i wanted to, i couldn't find fault. the company says it runs safeguarding checks before picking the right match. a home sharer can be anybody who has a good heart and is able to help between 10—15 hours each week. the help is mainly practical help and companionship and being present and having tea together, just exchanging conversation. morning, mum. how you doing? daphne's son brian has been worried about his mum being lonely and losing weight. now she is a different person. mum is a lot more buoyant,

she is more happy, talkative. she eats a lot more. and whilst mum is restricted at 93, she is not as mobile as she was when she was 60, she wants to get around and life is far more comfortable for her. the home share company works in partnership with the nhs and cornwall council. the great thing about this is it's addressing two big issues within cornwall — one is enough carers to help keep people at home, and the other has been the housing crisis over the past years. this home share model addresses both of those things. so for the individual, independence, continuing to live in their own home, and individuals looking for much cheaper rent and an opportunity to get this in an innovative way and address those two big issues. these two say their match is a win—win. and guess what, daphne has even been

inspired to take up exercise. that was janine jansen reporting there from truro. there is another ben coming up with news from tpm, pm, iwill ben coming up with news from tpm, pm, i will not tell you which at the moment. you will have to wait and see for topless get a the weather with sarah keith lucas. are widespread and fairly prolonged cold snap of december weather is set to continue for a few more days. last night was the coldest night of the yearin night was the coldest night of the year in both scotland and england. this was the picture earlier on in northumberland, beautiful blue skies above a wintry scene there. but the weather is continuing to cause some disruption, certainly icy stretches which will last for the next few days. more wintry showers are mainly but not exclusively in scotland, a cold northerly wind developing but improved visibility and losing mist and fog. the blue colours, cold air mass still with us at the moment and you can see winds coming from the north. as we had to

the weekend, notice the yellow and orange colours approaching, looks like things will turn milder by around about sunday. and wetter too. before we get there, lots of wintry weather still to get out of the way. rain towards the far south—west, could be snowfall for the likes of dartmoor, bodmin for instance as well. potentially spreading across the likes of west sussex by the end of the night. temperature is already _2’ of the night. temperature is already —2, minus four degrees at six in the evening. 0nce —2, minus four degrees at six in the evening. once the sun sets, dropping quickly into tonight. heavy snow showers piling in across the north and north—east of scotland, one or two affecting parts of north—east england as well. elsewhere, clear and dry tonight, just a few freezing fog patches lingering, particularly towards the south. not quite as cold as last night but still —6 or —7 in some of our towns. certainly an ice risk as we start the day tomorrow. more snowfall to come across northern scotland, blown in on a brisk northerly wind, gales at times and blizzard conditions. further snowfall around the east coast of england as well. lighter winds further south and west and a fair

amount of high cloud, turning any sunshine hazy towards the south. temperatures are most of us struggling a few degrees above freezing force we will feel colder than that when you add the wind—chill you are exposed to the northerly breeze. a similar day on thursday. sharp frost again, icy stretches, dry, clear and sunny for most but more heavy snow showers across the north of scotland. temperatures between 1—5. turning ever so slightly mild over the next couple of days towards the end of the week, particularly through the week also looks rather unsettled and wet at times. and the potential for things that are a little colder again the following week. you can keep up—to—date with the 14—day forecast by heading to the bbc weather app. forecast by heading to the bbc weatherapp. bye forecast by heading to the bbc weather app. bye for now.

this is bbc news. i'm ben boulos. the headlines at two: major transport disruption as rmt members stage fresh industrial action. 40,000 workers will be on strike on four days this week — meaning a near total shutdown of the uk's railway network. the art of negotiation is getting to a position where both sides can accept a deal, and the government, the dft and i think all the way up to number ten has put conditions on the train operating companies they know will blow up any chance of a deal. know will blow up any chance of a deal v , know will blow up any chance of a deal. �*, , ., know will blow up any chance of a deal. �*, , ,., ., ., deal. it's very important that eo - le deal. it's very important that people recognise _ deal. it's very important that people recognise that - deal. it's very important that people recognise that we've | deal. it's very important that - people recognise that we've made a reasonable pay offer that is in line with what — reasonable pay offer that is in line with what rises people are getting in the _ with what rises people are getting in the private sector. it is important we also deliver reform as well important we also deliver reform as weii as_ important we also deliver reform as well as dealing with pay, to make

sure we _ well as dealing with pay, to make sure we have a sustainable rail industry— sure we have a sustainable rail industry for the future.