a major breakthrough in the quest to find clean and limitless energy forfuture generations. it's called nuclearfusion — scientists say they say they've finally overcome a major barrier that could lead to carbon—free energy for the planet, though that's still decades away. simply put, this is one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century. we'll be explaining what it is and what it could all mean forfuture generations. also on the programme: the first of this week's 48—hour rail strikes gets under way, as passengers in england and wales are warned to expect disruption every day now until the 9th of january. the prime minister promises more staff to help reduce the uk's backlog of asylum claims.

and how technology first used in coronavirus jabs is now being used, with promising results, in trials for a vaccine to treat cancers. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel... azeem rafiq returns to parliament to tell of how "been driven out of the country" by "threats and abuse" since his first testimony about racism at yorkshire. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it is a breakthrough that could have huge implications for the planet and for generations to come. today, scientists in the united states announced they've overcome a major barrier in their bid to produce an almost limitless source of clean energy, with what's called nuclear fusion. it's being hailed as "one of the greatest scientific feats of the 21st century",

but experts are cautioning that there is still a long way to go before nuclear fusion powers homes, for example. our science editor rebecca morelle is here to explain what it is all about. thanks, sophie. it's been described as the holy grail of energy — nuclear fusion. it's the same process that powers the sun and other stars and, one day, it could be used to produce near—limitless, clean energy here on earth. so, what is nuclearfusion? well, the process involves taking two atoms and squeezing them together, so they fuse. this generates a burst of energy. it sounds easy enough, but scientists have spent decades working on this. today, though, a milestone has been announced in the us. scientists at the national ignition facility achieved fusion ignition. and that is creating more energy from fusion reactions than the energy used to start the process. it is the first time it has ever been

donein is the first time it has ever been done in a laboratory. anywhere in the world. simply put, this is one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st—century. so what's the breakthrough announced today? what have they done? the experiment takes some hydrogen encased in a tiny pellet, the size of a peppercorn. then, in a number of steps, 192 lasers blast the pellet. this sparks a fusion reaction, where the hydrogen atoms join together, releasing energy. what's getting the scientists so excited, though, is for the first time, the energy coming out of the experiment — this number, here, 3.15 megajoules — is bigger than the number going in, 2.05 megajoules. that's an increase of about 50%. fusion has been exciting scientists since _ fusion has been exciting scientists since they— fusion has been exciting scientists since they first figured out what was causing the sun to shine. it is an energy— was causing the sun to shine. it is an energy source that will produce

no greenhouse gases, no radioactive waste, _ no greenhouse gases, no radioactive waste. and _ no greenhouse gases, no radioactive waste, and it can produce a huge amount_ waste, and it can produce a huge amount of— waste, and it can produce a huge amount of energy from a small amount of fuel _ amount of energy from a small amount of fuel so _ amount of energy from a small amount of fuel so it_ amount of energy from a small amount of fuel. so it offers us the potential of a clean, sustainable energy— potential of a clean, sustainable energy future. so, is fusion the future? will our cities be powered by it any time soon? well, not yet, and maybe not for a while. the amount of energy generated in the experiment was small — enough to boil a few kettles of water, not power cities. and the reaction was also fleeting. obviously, we need to scale this up to a much_ obviously, we need to scale this up to a much larger— obviously, we need to scale this up to a much larger system _ obviously, we need to scale this up to a much larger system in- obviously, we need to scale this up to a much larger system in order. obviously, we need to scale this up to a much larger system in order toi to a much larger system in order to be able _ to a much larger system in order to be able to— to a much larger system in order to be able to get a _ to a much larger system in order to be able to get a net _ to a much larger system in order to be able to get a net energy - to a much larger system in order to be able to get a net energy gain- be able to get a net energy gain that we — be able to get a net energy gain that we can _ be able to get a net energy gain that we can use _ be able to get a net energy gain that we can use for— be able to get a net energy gain that we can use for power. - be able to get a net energy gain that we can use for power. butl be able to get a net energy gain. that we can use for power. but the other— that we can use for power. but the other thing — that we can use for power. but the other thing we _ that we can use for power. but the other thing we need _ that we can use for power. but the other thing we need to _ that we can use for power. but the other thing we need to do - that we can use for power. but the other thing we need to do is - that we can use for power. but the other thing we need to do is to- that we can use for power. but the other thing we need to do is to bel other thing we need to do is to be able to— other thing we need to do is to be able to do— other thing we need to do is to be able to do this, _ other thing we need to do is to be able to do this, reproducibly - other thing we need to do is to be able to do this, reproducibly and i able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively _ able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if_ able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if we _ able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if we want - able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if we want to - able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if we want to get i able to do this, reproducibly and repetitively. if we want to get toi able to do this, reproducibly and i repetitively. if we want to get to a power _ repetitively. if we want to get to a power station, _ repetitively. if we want to get to a power station, we _ repetitively. if we want to get to a power station, we may— repetitively. if we want to get to a power station, we may have - repetitively. if we want to get to a power station, we may have to - power station, we may have to perform — power station, we may have to perform these _ power station, we may have to perform these experiments - power station, we may have to l perform these experiments once power station, we may have to - perform these experiments once every second _ perform these experiments once every second and _ perform these experiments once every second and currently, _ perform these experiments once every second and currently, it _ perform these experiments once every second and currently, it is _ perform these experiments once every second and currently, it is a _ perform these experiments once every second and currently, it is a day- second and currently, it is a day between — second and currently, it is a day between experiments. - second and currently, it is a day between experiments. so - second and currently, it is a day between experiments. so there| second and currently, it is a day. between experiments. so there is second and currently, it is a day- between experiments. so there is a huge _ between experiments. so there is a huge amount— between experiments. so there is a huge amount of— between experiments. so there is a huge amount of scale _ between experiments. so there is a huge amount of scale up _ between experiments. so there is a huge amount of scale up that - between experiments. so there is ai huge amount of scale up that needs to be _ huge amount of scale up that needs to be done — there are clearly hurdles to overcome — cost is another, fusion is really expensive — but this experiment shows

that the science works, and that's a huge step. labs all around the world are working on this, and today shows that fusion could be a reality, rather than a dream. rebecca, thank you. the first of this week's 48—hour rail strikes is under way, after unions rejected the latest offer on pay and reforms. just a fifth of services are running today and tomorrow. there will be a reduced service on the main intercity and urban lines — that's the red lines you can see — but with no trains after 6.30pm. and in much of rural england, scotland and wales, there are no trains at all — the grey lines you can see. and this is what is happening for the rest of the month. the red days on the calendar are strike days. the orange days are when a reduced service is being run. it won't get back to normal again until the green days. much of that is a result of the overtime ban in place from 18th december to january 2nd, which is all part of the industrial action. here's our transport

correspondent, katy austin. well, the last train to leave york station behind me departed about half an hour ago, no more trains coming in and out of the station today, as the first of two 48—hour walk—outs within a week draws to a close. well, the first day, at least. now, despite all the months of talking and the months of strikes, the rmt dispute is still lacking any breakthrough that might prevent more strikes stretching into the new year. in york, a city with a rich railway heritage, the station decorations are up, but there is little joy in store for rail passengers. i've got to go into work to leeds, and i'm going to struggle to get back, so i'm going to have to get a bus much later than usual and it takes an hour. there's still a limited service between 8am and 6pm. i'm fully supportive of the railway workers and public sectors striking, and i think the government need to get their act together. i was planning to travel-

on saturday, but i can't do now. so a bit of a shame, but i do. respect people's right to strike. a fraction of britain's usual services have run today and some places have had no trains at all. as union members took to picket lines again. the whole country wants a pay raise, but we want to protect ourjobs. we want to protect the safety of the passenger, the public, that's what it's all about. pay is a small part of this. it's more about the fact that they want to make sweeping changes to the railway system. it's all about safety, - as far as we are concerned, keeping guards on the train, keeping platform staff, - so there are people in emergencies. the group representing train companies, whose staff include guards, has offered pay rises of 4% this year and 4% next year, but says changes are needed such as closing or repurchasing ticket offices, putting sunday working on all contracts, and having drivers operate train doors in more places. the rmt has rejected this. network rail, which employs signallers and maintenance staff,

said its best and final offer included a 5% pay rise this year and 4% next year, plus other benefits. but it also says reforms are needed and plans to press ahead with changes to maintenance teams. rmt members have voted against that offer and the union's leader has called it "substandard". but today, he said he would keep pushing for a settlement. i will negotiate with network rail and we will talk to the government, we have been invited for a meeting with the rail minister, and as soon and as soon as we can get that, we will be in there trying to get an improved package for our people. there is a deal to be done. network rail�*s boss said a good deal had already been put forward. i rail's boss said a good deal had already been put forward. i have learnt through _ already been put forward. i have learnt through a _ already been put forward. i have learnt through a long _ already been put forward. i have learnt through a long career - already been put forward. i havej learnt through a long career that sometimes, the light isjust around the comer — sometimes, the light isjust around the corner. but where i stand today, i would _ the corner. but where i stand today, i would have — the corner. but where i stand today, i would have to say with the level of disruption the rmt are imposing come _ of disruption the rmt are imposing come of— of disruption the rmt are imposing come of the way forward is not obvious — come of the way forward is not obvious. , ., ., ., ,, obvious. there is not a bottomless it of obvious. there is not a bottomless pit of money _ obvious. there is not a bottomless pit of money to — obvious. there is not a bottomless pit of money to pay _ obvious. there is not a bottomless pit of money to pay increased - pit of money to pay increased salaries _ pit of money to pay increased salaries i— pit of money to pay increased salaries. i think— pit of money to pay increased salaries. i think there - pit of money to pay increased salaries. i think there is- pit of money to pay increased salaries. i think there is a - pit of money to pay increased salaries. i think there is a fair offer— salaries. i think there is a fair offer on — salaries. i think there is a fair offer on the _ salaries. i think there is a fair offer on the table, _ salaries. i think there is a fair offer on the table, fair- salaries. i think there is a fair offer on the table, fair to- offer on the table, fair to taxpayers _ offer on the table, fair to taxpayers and _ offer on the table, fair to taxpayers and is - offer on the table, fair to taxpayers and is fair - offer on the table, fair to taxpayers and is fair to l offer on the table, fair to. taxpayers and is fair to the offer on the table, fair to- taxpayers and is fair to the people that work—

taxpayers and is fair to the people that work iri— taxpayers and is fair to the people that work in the _ taxpayers and is fair to the people that work in the industry. - taxpayers and is fair to the people that work in the industry. back- taxpayers and is fair to the people that work in the industry.- that work in the industry. back in york, that work in the industry. back in york. where _ that work in the industry. back in york, where the _ that work in the industry. back in york, where the christmas - that work in the industry. back in | york, where the christmas market that work in the industry. back in - york, where the christmas market is under way, york, where the christmas market is underway, businesses york, where the christmas market is under way, businesses say a resolution can't come too soon. noticeable drop in football and we have had cancellations. we do tastings in the evening —— evening and people be back and they cannot get there. lots of independent traders make most of their trade at christmas time so it is having a disproportionately large effect. this disproportionately large effect. as things stand, an end to the dispute doesn't appear to bejust things stand, an end to the dispute doesn't appear to be just round the corner. katy austin, bbc news. more industrial action was announced today, when physiotherapists in england and wales voted to strike, in their first ever ballot on pay. the chartered society of physiotherapy said 84% of those who voted backed strike action. and members of the royal college of midwives in wales have also voted to strike over pay. you can find out more information about the strikes over the next few days and weeks on bbc news online. and you can also get there by using

the bbc news app. the latest official figures show a clear divide between public sector and private sector pay. in the three months to october, private sector wages went up by an annual rate of 6.9% and public sector pay byjust 2.7%. however, both are still well below the rate of inflation, and that is causing a headache for both employees and employers alike, as our business editor simonjack reports. �*tis the season to be jolly, but that's no easy task this winter, when the cost of living is bearing down on this lambeth nursery staff and parents. the owner has given his staff a big pay rise, because they needed it and he needed them. i increased the wages twice this year. i increased it by approximately i6%. i felt i had to do that because the staff were feeling the pressures, they were telling

us about it. and the sector, there's a depleted workforce, so we have a supply—and—demand issue, which means our competitors are putting up prices as well. but the staff say as soon as that welcome extra money comes in, it seems to go straight back out again. our essential bills have gone up, and theyjust keep going up, so that's the reason why we are getting pay rises, because the cost of living has gone up. so i wouldn't say it's that we're having that much more money, it's just the fact to cover our bills and things like that. across the economy, the reality is, average private sector pay growth, at 6.9%, is way ahead of public sector pay rises of 2.7%, and both are failing to keep up with inflation, at over ii%. there's another big split between public and private sectors. vacancies in the private sector are falling fast. open positions in hospitality, down ii%. open positions in retail, down 9%. it seems that private businesses are reducing their hiring intentions, expecting consumer demand and the economy to weaken, perhaps paying the staff they've got

that little bit more. but downsizing is not an option for sectors like the nhs or education. vacancies in the public sector are still high and, in some areas, growing. the tension between the two is unsustainable, argue some. leaving aside any moral arguments i about the cost—of—living crisis, . it'sjust not sustainable —| economically or socially — to keep holding down public sector pay. - unless we see it rising at the sorts of rates we're seeing _ in the private sector, - that kind of 6% or 7% rate, these issues around recruitment . and retention are just going to get worse, and it will be harderl and harder to fill those jobs. the bank of england governor said today that the cost of living was already stretching household incomes, and worse was to come. higher interest rates and the expectation that they will rise further are, of course, adding to that. monthly payments of around 4 million owner—occupied mortgages are expected to increase over the next year. millions of families are already digging deep, and many will scrape the bottom of their financial resources this winter. simon jack, bbc news.

the prime minister has pledged to clear more than 90,000 asylum claims stuck in a backlog of cases by the end of next year, as part of new measures to curb channel crossings. rishi sunak told mps that "enough is enough", and set out a five—point plan to deal with the problems. the strategy includes a deal to fast—track the removal of albanian illegal migrants and a new unit to tackle crossings. labour has dismissed the proposals as "unworkable gimmicks". 0ur political editor chris mason reports. day after day, they arrived. crossing these waters in all seasons. small boats, amid the expanse of the sea. more than 40,000 people have crossed the channel this way, this year. people have crossed the channel this way. this year-— way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak — way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak claims _ way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak claims he _ way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak claims he has _ way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak claims he has a - way, this year. prime minister. now, rishi sunak claims he has a plan - rishi sunak claims he has a plan that can make a difference. people

are riaht that can make a difference. people are right to — that can make a difference. people are right to be _ that can make a difference. people are right to be angry, _ that can make a difference. people are right to be angry, mr— that can make a difference. people are right to be angry, mr speaker, | are right to be angry, mr speaker, because they see what i see, which is that this simply isn't fair. it is that this simply isn't fair. it is not cruel or unkind to want to break the stranglehold of criminal gangs, who trade in human misery and to exploit our system and laws. today, mr sunak announced what he calls a small boat operational command, with more staff and funding. saving money by using disused holiday parks and military sites to house asylum seekers. having twice as many staff to try to deal with the huge backlog of asylum claims. insisting that albania is safe and deploying border. to the airport in the capital of tehran. and the governance will make it harder to claim to be a modern slave. prime minister, why do so many people want to come here, because we have a reputation for being a soft touch?— because we have a reputation for being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i —

being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i made _ being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i made it _ being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i made it a _ being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i made it a priority - being a soft touch? well, as prime minister, i made it a priority to - minister, i made it a priority to reduce illegal migration. what is happening currently isn't right, it is not fair, and it is putting unsustainable pressure on our public services. is unsustainable pressure on our public services. , p, p, unsustainable pressure on our public services. , . . ., , services. is it a failure, as the home secretary _ services. is it a failure, as the home secretary has _ services. is it a failure, as the j home secretary has described services. is it a failure, as the - home secretary has described it? i want to fix it. you say you want to house 10,000 asylum seekers in disused holiday parks, former student halls, military sites, where will they be? we student halls, military sites, where will they be?— will they be? we are spending £5.5 million a day _ will they be? we are spending £5.5 million a day as _ will they be? we are spending £5.5 million a day as a _ will they be? we are spending £5.5 million a day as a country - will they be? we are spending £5.5 million a day as a country housing | million a day as a country housing illegal migrants in hotels. that is clearly wrong. so what we are going to do is bring forward thousands of alternative sites, whether that is disused holiday parks or student accommodation or military sites. we will be in a range of places across the country and that will deliver accommodation. do the country and that will deliver accommodation.— the country and that will deliver accommodation. ~' ., . accommodation. do you know and you are not saying? _ accommodation. do you know and you are not saying? you _ accommodation. do you know and you are not saying? you would _ accommodation. do you know and you are not saying? you would not - accommodation. do you know and you are not saying? you would not expect| are not saying? you would not expect me to comment _ are not saying? you would not expect me to comment on _ are not saying? you would not expect me to comment on the _ are not saying? you would not expect me to comment on the gusher -- - me to comment on the gusher —— commercial negotiations happening as we speak. these alternative sites need to come online and they will come out we will reduce the cost of the taxpayer by half. ilrlul’iiiii come out we will reduce the cost of the taxpayer by half.— the taxpayer by half. will local eo - le the taxpayer by half. will local peeple get _ the taxpayer by half. will local peeple get a — the taxpayer by half. will local peeple get a say _ the taxpayer by half. will local people get a say if— the taxpayer by half. will local people get a say if it _ the taxpayer by half. will local people get a say if it is - the taxpayer by half. will local people get a say if it is down l the taxpayer by half. will local. people get a say if it is down the road from where they live choosing

to house asylum seekers? it is road from where they live choosing to house asylum seekers? it is right that when we _ to house asylum seekers? it is right that when we do _ to house asylum seekers? it is right that when we do these _ to house asylum seekers? it is right that when we do these proposals, i that when we do these proposals, when we make these decisions, that we do it in conjunction with local authorities. we do it in con'unction with local authorities.— we do it in con'unction with local authorities. the scottish national pa and authorities. the scottish national party and labour— authorities. the scottish national party and labour have _ authorities. the scottish national| party and labour have condemned authorities. the scottish national- party and labour have condemned the government's ongoing desire to deport some seekers to rwanda and say ministers have failed. the unworkable — say ministers have failed. the unworkable gimmicks go on. so do the crossings _ unworkable gimmicks go on. so do the crossings. we need to bring this to an end _ crossings. we need to bring this to an end that — crossings. we need to bring this to an end. that means a proper plan to crack— an end. that means a proper plan to crack down _ an end. that means a proper plan to crack down on the gangs, quick processing, return agreements, serious _ processing, return agreements, serious solutions to a serious problem. _ serious solutions to a serious problem, and that is what labour will offer — problem, and that is what labour will offer. ., , , ., ., will offer. nobody is illegal and, indeed, there _ will offer. nobody is illegal and, indeed, there is _ will offer. nobody is illegal and, indeed, there is no _ will offer. nobody is illegal and, indeed, there is no such - will offer. nobody is illegal and, indeed, there is no such thing . will offer. nobody is illegal and, | indeed, there is no such thing as will offer. nobody is illegal and, - indeed, there is no such thing as an illegal— indeed, there is no such thing as an illegal asylum — indeed, there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. _ indeed, there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. what we - indeed, there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. what we all. illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree _ illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree upon, — illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree upon, mr— illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree upon, mr speaker, - illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree upon, mr speaker, is- illegal asylum seeker. what we all agree upon, mr speaker, is that. illegal asylum seeker. what we all. agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's system — agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's system is — agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's system is broken. _ agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's system is broken. and - agree upon, mr speaker, is that the uk's system is broken. and we - uk's system is broken. and we cannot, — uk's system is broken. and we cannot, of— uk's system is broken. and we cannot, of course, _ uk's system is broken. and we cannot, of course, escape - uk's system is broken. and we| cannot, of course, escape from uk's system is broken. and we - cannot, of course, escape from the fact who _ cannot, of course, escape from the fact who has — cannot, of course, escape from the fact who has broken _ cannot, of course, escape from the fact who has broken it. _ cannot, of course, escape from the fact who has broken it.— cannot, of course, escape from the

fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable — fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable is _ fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable is this _ fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable is this is _ fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable is this is an _ fact who has broken it. what is also inescapable is this is an incredibly l inescapable is this is an incredibly complicated issue, with no easy solutions. chris mason, bbc news. the time is 6:16pm. our top story this evening: a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion to find clean energy for generations and is hailed as one of the great scientific feats of the zist the great scientific feats of the 21st century. and coming up... police officers who tried to save the young boys from an icy lake in the west midlands are applauded by local residents. and on bbc london... azeem rafiq returns to parliament to tell of how "been driven out of the country" by "threats and abuse" since his first testimony about racism at yorkshire. we've heard about a breakthrough in nuclear fusion tonight — now we have news of some promising results in trials for a new type of personalised vaccine to treat cancer. it uses the same technology that was first used in the moderna and pfizer coronavirus jabs. the vaccine would be tailored

to individual patients and their specific type of cancer. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh reports. we usually think of vaccines as a means of preventing disease, but this is a personalised treatment for patients with cancer, using messenger rna technology — that was first used in some covid jabs. it works like this. a sample of the patient�*s tumour is analysed, and dozens of mutations unique to their cancer are identified. the vaccine contains strands of mrna — which give coded instructions to cells to produce the rogue proteins from the tumour. this stimulates the patient�*s immune system to attack their cancer. in effect, the vaccine unmasks the cancer cells, which until then had remained hidden.

the trial involved 157 patients with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. the companies involved say the results are promising. it's the first randomised trial testing — it's the first randomised trial testing that therapeutic and cancer patients— testing that therapeutic and cancer patients and shown a 44% reduction in the _ patients and shown a 44% reduction in the risk— patients and shown a 44% reduction in the risk of— patients and shown a 44% reduction in the risk of dying of cancer or having — in the risk of dying of cancer or having your— in the risk of dying of cancer or having your cancer progress. that's an important finding, and i think it has the— an important finding, and i think it has the potential to be a new paradigms in the treatment of cancer patients _ the same approach is being tried with lung, bowel and other tumour types . trials will take a few years, so new treatments are a way off. but cancer research uk say it's grounds for optimism that the science which helped get us out of the pandemic could be used against cancer. the 10—year—old boy who died along with two others after falling in to an icy lake in solihull has been named. jackjohnson was pulled from a lake in babbs mill park on sunday along

with an 11—year—old and eight—year old boy. a six—year old boy remains critically ill in hospital. 0ur midlands correspondent phil mackie reports. for a third day, police have been searching the lake. they say they no longer think anyone is missing, but they have to be sure. if anything, the ice has spread even further after temperatures plunged again overnight. ten—year—old jackjohnson was one of the three who died. today his school is back open after an impossibly difficult 24 hours. one of the boys was in my daughter's class, and we told her yesterday, and it was really heartbreaking. we all went to get some flowers, and it kind of eased her pain, and there is a sense of community spirit, so, you know, it's just tragic. really tragic. the grief is still clearly visible. after school, many of jack's friends brought flowers to add to the growing mass of tributes which have been placed just

outside the police cordon. among them were one of the girls injack�*s year and her mum. everyone today was quiet in the morning and started crying, but as the day went on, because some of our teachers who had left came back for the day, everybody started getting happier as the day went on. it's nice they've been all together today. i they were classmates, so, it'sjust hard. - and it's notjust family and friends today. we've seen firefighters, police officers, bringing flowers, the manager of birmingham city football club. it's something that's affected notjust kingshurst, but the wider community. the risks of playing on or near the ice have never been more stark. the lake where the boys died is not closed just because of the police search but, after warnings from parents and schools, it may be out of bounds for a long time to come. phil mackie, bbc news.

0ne one of the last taboo is is talking about death when it affects young children and part of the bereavement process has been for those young children who knew those who had died to come here with their families, friends and brothers and for them to talk about that and cope with the bereavement process. in one of the schools today there was a special assembly, and what has brought the whole thing home to a lot of people not just whole thing home to a lot of people notjust here but elsewhere in the country is this something that could have easily happened to anyone. tenants need to be more involved in assessing social housing standards — that's the conclusion of an independent review, commissioned by the national housing federation and chartered institute of housing. it says urgent action is needed, to tackle unacceptable conditions. it comes one month after the inquest into the death of awaab inshak, the toddler who was exposed to mould in his rochdale home. 0ur north of england correspondent fiona trott has been speaking to some of those affected.

my kids sleeping in there, playing in there. i'm begging you, take me out from here. any human would want to be treated better. . voices from behind closed doors. across the north, tenants tell us they are anxious and angry. but are those voices being heard? they feel also no—one is caring. here in sheffield, we meet kaltoun, a community leader speaking on their behalf. she introduces us to halima, a mum of three, who believes damp and mould is affecting their health. you are giving them the inhaler. it is a worry that plays out in the children's everyday lives. they are even missing school, she says, because they are so poorly. she translates for halima i can't breathe, my children can't breathe sometimes. i was worried our lungs had stopped. a letter from a hospital consultant recommends the damp problem

is solved or they move house. it was written over one year ago. have you complained to the council? yes, but they did nothing for me. more than a million times. she says there is another problem. this rat is small. rats. every night, every morning, let me show you. every night, every morning? you can smell it, can't you? in cheshire, another mum who says she is who she is worried about her family's health. professionals tell me they can smell it when they come in, but i can't smell it because i've lived here for so long. she says she has written to her mp. i tried getting mould remover and everything. literally everything, i tried to get rid of it. and then there are leaks coming through here. charlotte says it has been like this for four years. drained, with is not being listened to at all. i want these to be safe. i actually went to bed

crying my eyes out, thinking, i've got mould in my house and something is going to happen to my children. charlotte's home is managed by the your housing group and it says inspectors believe patches of black they saw were due to condensation and no damp was recorded in the walls. back in sheffield, complete strangers approach us on the street wanting to show us how they live. one of them is bashir. water in this bedroom is dripping off the ceiling. they will not give me an interpreter and if i want and ask some times they will ignore me. they say they will come, but they are not coming. the whole family now have to sleep in one room. how many people? six. six people. both bashir and halima's homes are managed by sheffield council. it says bashir has not reported any outstanding repairs to them. it also says it has tried to contact halima for a number of months. following our interviews, the council says it will now arrange urgent visits.

here, some tenants feel they are not being heard. social housing providers say they are. broken relationships that still need to be fixed after the shocking findings of awaab inshak�*s inquest. fiona trott, bbc news. now a look at some other stories making the news today. police have started searching for human remains at the garden of a house in birmingham. it follows information given to detectives suggesting a child's death at the site in handsworth in 2020. a man and woman — both in their 40s — have been charged with neglect after their arrests on suspicion of causing or allowing the death of a child. a reality tv contestant has been found guilty of sharing a sex tape featuring his ex—girlfriend, which then appeared on the online subscription site 0nlyfa ns. stephen bear, who won celebrity big brother in 2016, was found guilty of voyeurism, and two counts of disclosing private, sexual photographs and films. he will be sentenced injanuary.

the former yorkshire cricketer, azeem rafiq, has told mps that he's been "driven out of the country" since revealing his experiences of racism at the club. speaking to the commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, he said he'd received abuse in the street and had seen a man circling his house at night following his last appearance before parliament. authorities in the united states have filed eight separate criminal charges against the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, ftx. among the offences sam bankman—fried is accused of are fraud and money laundering. he is also facing civil charges, accusing him of misleading investors who put £2.5 billion worth of funds into cryptocurrency through the exchange. the first of the world cup's semi finals gets underway tonight when argentina take on croatia. 35—year—old lionel messi will be captaining argentina. he's widely regarded as one of the game's greatest ever players

and this tournament is probably his last chance to lift the world cup trophy. he will be facing another great — luka modric — croatia's captain. our sports editor dan roan is in doha for us. 32 teams have been reduced to just four, but all the focus this evening is on two men in particular, lionel messi and luka modric, and both have experienced the pain of defeat in the world cup final and both are desperate to make up for it, this weekend if they can lead their teams to the final on sunday. argentina have been inspired by the feats of lionel messi. he's already scored four goals in the competition and will equal the all—time appearance record for the world cup on 25 appearances this evening and he knows that for all of his achievements and genius, world cup glory is still eluding him. how he

would love to put that right here, and if he can lead argentina to victory for the first time in 36 years, he knows he would emulate the feat of the man he so often is compared to, diego maradona but argentina have looked vulnerable on occasions. they were beaten by saudi arabia and needed penalties in the quarterfinal to get past the netherlands, and many feel if anyone can cause an upset, it is croatia. finalists last time and luka modric has been fantastic for them as well and a population of less than 4 million people. they are a footballing phenomenon. something has to give and whoever prevails will face either france or morocco here on sunday. here's helen willetts. the freezing fog has lingered again and you can see at stirling castle, some places stayed below freezing all day. edinburgh, inverness, manchester, barely above freezing elsewhere and that cold air is going

to stay with us as well. that cold air is with us through tomorrow and thursday and friday, but there is just a hint that by the weekend we will see some mild at coming back in but there's quite a few wintry hazards to get through between now and then, again the freezing fog, but i see for many where we've had the snow and snow showers keep coming across the north of scotland with gusty winds blowing them south into the east of scotland, eastern england, and look at this reign of rain, sleet and snow in the south pushing as far as sussex. temperature is widely below freezing once again, —10 over the snow fields and the rain and sleet and snow is with us tomorrow morning, so that could be problematic for the rush hour and overnight. blizzards in the north because we have strong and gusty winds blowing the snow showers around, so again, tomorrow, the brisk north wind is with us and a stronger wind will come tomorrow and temperatures might