this is bbc news. the headlines: empty tracks and empty stations with four out five trains cancelled — leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else. meanwhile, the nurses' union is planning a fresh wave of strikes in the new year unless the uk government agrees to re—open pay talks. three people are critically ill in hospital after a crash last night outside a concert in south london. latest government figures show rivers in england are polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year and 20 of them were major spills. retail sales saw a surprise fall

last month after black friday failed to give its expected boost to online shopping — whilst household budgets still under pressure from rising prices. engine ignition, and lift off, lift offm _ engine ignition, and lift off, lift off... . ., engine ignition, and lift off, lift off... ., . ., engine ignition, and lift off, lift off... ., . off... nasa has launched a satellite into sace off... nasa has launched a satellite into space as _ off... nasa has launched a satellite into space as the _ off... nasa has launched a satellite into space as the agency _ off... nasa has launched a satellite into space as the agency aims - off... nasa has launched a satellite into space as the agency aims to i into space as the agency aims to study earth's water levels for the first time ever. rail workers from the rmt union have begun their latest 48 hour strike with services hit in england, scotland and wales and only one in five trains expected to run today and tomorrow. there's more industrial action planned over the christmas holiday period, between the 24th and 27th december, and then again in early january. theo leggett reports.

another day of quiet stations, empty platforms and crowded picket lines as the latest 48 hour rail strike gets under way. some areas have no trains at all. in others, the service is limited and will finish much earlier than usual. for one tour business in blackpool, the walk—outs couldn't have come at a worse time. we've projected our finances for christmas based on sort of everything being fallen and planned on people coming down, which hopefully we can recreate and hopefully we can replenish. but you're never going to get the same level of income that was booked in. these strikes have been called by the rmt union, which is in a dispute with m train operating companies and network rail. it says its members need more pay so that they can cope with the rising cost of living. but the industry's made it clear more money can only come alongside profound changes to working practices in order to modernise the railway. and the union says those changes are simply unacceptable and there's more industrial action on the way.

an overtime ban at 1a train companies from sunday is expected to cause cancellations on some routes. a strike at network rail will see services finish even earlier than usual on christmas eve and resume late on the 27th of december. then injanuary, yet more national walk—outs are planned. yesterday, some 2,500 workers at another rail union. the tssa did accept a pay offer from network rail. but for the moment, the rmt is holding firm. we've got concerns that the safety regime is being diluted, that our members work life balance, their conditions of employment are being adversely affected, so they can have change and we accept that they want change and maybe there's a need for it, but it needs to be done on a negotiated, agreed basis rather than imposition, which is where we are at the moment. last night rmt leaders met

with the rail minister, huw merriman and industry representatives and it now appears further negotiations are likely. representatives and it now appears i think most people recognise that in a situation where the industry's passenger numbers and revenue are still significantly below where we were in 2019, that there is a customer and a colleague benefit for those reforms to take place. travellers today suggested talks should be a priority. people have a right to strike. that's fine. but everyone needs to get around the table and talkl to each other to stop _ inconveniencing everyone else. i understand why they're doing it, but i think the timing, along with all the other strikes, is unnecessary. they are trying to change all their rights and working practices, not just the financial implications. so i do understand why they've been pushed to strike. the rmt has called on the industry to act quickly and bring forward

new proposals that it can put to its members. but any solution is likely to require compromises on both sides. joining me now from paddington station is our correspondent, aru na iyengar. looks like a few passengers are out, what is the situation? it’s looks like a few passengers are out, what is the situation?— what is the situation? it's very cold today _ what is the situation? it's very cold today and _ what is the situation? it's very cold today and much - what is the situation? it's very cold today and much less - what is the situation? it's very i cold today and much less footfall than you would normally see at this station. i travel through here quite often to come to bristol and usually there are hundreds of people on this concourse, it's a very dizzy hub for london commuters. trains go from here to the west of england, to exeter, still, over to south wales, but today only one in five services is running. i havejust been looking at a board which is by the sight of me and it says that the last trains are around 6pm this evening. there are around 6pm this evening. there are around 6pm this evening. there are a few trains running, but at a

much reduced service. network rail have told helpers here, they are wearing purple outfits, they are trying to help people who have turned up to the station expecting to travel. there has not been as much disappointed people today because they have been warned about these train strikes, we had strikes earlier in the week so people because my expectations are lower. they have been checking websites, passengers i spoke to alia today said they checked the website before they came and they knew the train would be running. —— earlier today. but many are standing around and waiting to find out whether the train is running. this is all due to a strike, between the rmt on one hand, network rail on the other. the network rail is the organisation which maintains and owns our railways. rmt also has a dispute, a separate dispute, with the rail delivery group, that organisation overseas 14 trainer companies and

there are about 20,000 rmt workers under the umbrella of those 14 train companies. network rail had put to rmt a deal, a 5% pay rise for this year and 4% next year, but that has been rejected by the rmt. however, that has been accepted by its smaller train unions, the tssa and the unite union. at the moment, last night, there were talks between the rmt and the rail companies and the negotiations are still ongoing. as it stands, there still will be rail strikes on christmas eve, going into the 27th of december, right over the christmas period and into the new year. that is going to affect a lot of people, notjust travellers, but retailers as well, who depend on people travelling to different cities, spending money and, as we saw earlier, that retail sales are down for the last month, so not a

very good picture here on the railways of. very good picture here on the railways ot— very good picture here on the railwa s of. . ~' , ., , . very good picture here on the railwa s of. ., ,, i. , . ., railways of. thank you very much for the cumbrians _ railways of. thank you very much for the cumbrians update. _ railways of. thank you very much for the cumbrians update. -- _ railways of. thank you very much for the cumbrians update. -- the - the cumbrians update. —— the comprehensive update. nurses are expected to announce more strike action. the premise has reaffirmed that the deal he has offered is fair. the prime minister rishi sunak has been on a visit to northern ireland this morning — he says the government remains open to talks — but the demand for a i9% pay rise are unaffordable. the health secretary has always made clear, repeatedly and consistently, that his door is always open for talks. we want to be reasonable, we want to be constructive. that's the way that the government has gone about this. we've got enormous gratitude for all our public sector workers for the job they do. i know things are difficult right now, that is why the government is providing lots of support for people, particularly with energy bills, and it's why the government

accepted in full the recommendations of an independent pay review body about what appropriate and fair pay levels were, but we will always have our door open and always be willing to sit down and be reasonable and constructive. let's speak to our political correspondent ben wright. ijust wonder i just wonder whether the comments from rishi sunak�*s ownerfellow conservative mps might persuade him to back down. h0 conservative mps might persuade him to back down-— to back down. no sign of that happening — to back down. no sign of that happening at _ to back down. no sign of that happening at the _ to back down. no sign of that happening at the moment. i l to back down. no sign of that - happening at the moment. i think even though the prime minister said his door is always open for talks, it is clear, at the moment, ministers are not interested in talking to the nurses about pay. they are prepared to discuss issues around pressures on a&e, for instance, or the fact that a lot of technology in the nhs doesn't seem to be working properly, there are many grievances that nurses have at the moment, but on pay the government doesn't sound like it is budging at all. you are right, some tory mps, i think there are four in total, have said that the pay issue

needs to be looked at again if this stalemate is going to be unblocked and they have suggested that the independent pay review body report from the summer of this year should be reopened and the government should hand it a fresh mandate to look at the question again. there is no sign of that the government is ready to do that, even labour today on a wes streeting, the shadow health secretary said he didn't think that was a good idea and that these questions should be dealt with in the next pay round, spring — summer of next year. without a discussion on pay, two sides remain deadlocked. weight given there has been a resolution in scotland, does that put any pressure on the royal couege that put any pressure on the royal college of nursing to move its position in college of nursing to move its ositio ., . ., , ., position in england, wales and northern ireland? _ position in england, wales and northern ireland? yes, - position in england, wales and - northern ireland? yes, potentially,

chose a agreement _ northern ireland? yes, potentially, chose a agreement on _ northern ireland? yes, potentially, chose a agreement on pay - northern ireland? yes, potentially, chose a agreement on pay is - chose a agreement on pay is possible. i think unions in scotland will decide next week whether to accept the offer there. i think it is 7.5%. so far the royal college of nursing are sticking to their argument that they think a 5% pay rise above inflation is justified, fired to reflect the fact that their pay now has lagged behind inflation for a number of years, pay now has lagged behind inflation fora number of years, it pay now has lagged behind inflation for a number of years, it is fallen in real terms, so they are still publicly asking for i9%, but perhaps the fact that 7.5 cent may be the figure that unlocks talks in scotland, could encourage the rcn to go for a lower figure, scotland, could encourage the rcn to go for a lowerfigure, so scotland, could encourage the rcn to go for a lower figure, so far there are are asking and sticking to their i9% are are asking and sticking to their i9% ask. which labour and the government has said is unaffordable. the government is to be not prepared to reopen the spending envelope for this year and they say that further pay increases would have to be paid for either by higher borrowing or

higher taxes and that is a political choice that the government is not going to make right now.- choice that the government is not going to make right now. thank you ve much going to make right now. thank you very much for— going to make right now. thank you very much for that _ going to make right now. thank you very much for that analysis. - the mayor of london says an urgent investigation is under way after four people were critically injured during a crush last night at a concert at the brixton 02 academy. a performance by nigerian star asake had to be abandoned as people tried to force their way in. large crowds gathered around the south london venue with reports of people turning up without tickets. in the last hour, commander colin wingrove, held a press conference outside brixton police station. the police were called last night at about 9:30pm following reports of a large number of people who were attempting to force entry to the venue. 0ffices, london's ambulance services, fire brigade all attended, we found a number of people with injuries, believed to have been

caused by crashing. some of the officers provided first aid and cpr to members of the public in order to save lives. eight people were taken to hospital with injuries believed to hospital with injuries believed to be caused by crushing injuries, three are currently in a critical condition. 0urthoughts three are currently in a critical condition. our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. an urgent investigation is currently under way, urgent investigation is currently underway, led urgent investigation is currently under way, led by the specialist crime command and cordons remain in place as you can see and officers continue to work at the scene and at the location. councillor doctor mahamed hashi is cabinet member for safer communities at lambeth council, and he also spoke a short time ago. we are shocked by the incident yesterday, again, our condolences and our— yesterday, again, our condolences and our thoughts are with the families— and our thoughts are with the families and the victims. i would also like — families and the victims. i would also like to— families and the victims. i would also like to take the opportunity to thank_ also like to take the opportunity to thank the — also like to take the opportunity to thank the ambulance service for the care they— thank the ambulance service for the care they gave to the victims on the scene _ care they gave to the victims on the scene lasl— care they gave to the victims on the scene last night, which was essential to get us to this point.

currenlly— essential to get us to this point. currently supporting the met police in their_ currently supporting the met police in their investigation, we have our public— in their investigation, we have our public protection officers outdoing community reassurance, and this is a message _ community reassurance, and this is a message specifically from the community, again, we come from the same _ community, again, we come from the same community and we have gone through— same community and we have gone through a _ same community and we have gone through a lot of these things and we show our— through a lot of these things and we show our constant resilience. this is a point — show our constant resilience. this is a point again we have to come together— is a point again we have to come together and pull ourselves together. from me, iwant to together and pull ourselves together. from me, i want to say our thoughts — together. from me, i want to say our thoughts are _ together. from me, i want to say our thoughts are with the family and we are going _ thoughts are with the family and we are going to await the outcome of this investigation. let's cross to brixton in south london and our reporter mark lobel. what more are we hearing about what happened and the condition of those who were caught up in this? this was meant to be — who were caught up in this? this was meant to be a _ who were caught up in this? this was meant to be a really _ who were caught up in this? this was meant to be a really fun _ who were caught up in this? this was meant to be a really fun night - who were caught up in this? this was meant to be a really fun night out. meant to be a really fun night out for hundreds of people, but it was anything but. what happened is that for those inside, listening, they had their concert stop mid—flow, for those with tickets who were on the outside of the building behind me, some of them couldn't get in, someone i spoke to whose partner

could get in entered at the fourier and was suddenly pushed over from behind and lost all of her personal belongings and had to go to hospital. it was really very sad night for three people who remain in critical condition, our thoughts and prayers of the mayor of london, and the singer himself. specialist crime investigation is under way. as in question is why so many people came without tickets and what contingency plans were in place to deal with that, if any. the police the police station were around the corner, they were on the scene quickly, i have already appealed for over 4000 people who were in attendance last night to come forward and show that stories about what they saw, of course there is lots of images circulating on social media. already, from those images, the police are now investigating an

apparent push by a police officer on apparent push by a police officer on a member of the public and also have arrested one person for an apparent assault on a police officer, rested assault on a police officer, rested a member of the public as well. i know you have been speaking to my colleagues from the very spot, have you had a chance to speak to anyone who lives around there, or who saw what happened last night and get the reactions to it?— reactions to it? yes, the residents here have a _ reactions to it? yes, the residents here have a very — reactions to it? yes, the residents here have a very clear _ reactions to it? yes, the residents here have a very clear message, l reactions to it? yes, the residents i here have a very clear message, they are used to this being used as a major music venue and people are lining up, allaround major music venue and people are lining up, all around the block, and what they saw last night when they heard the commotion, they say it was something they had never seen before. they saw an ambulance parked outside here, they saw hundreds of people, they saw chaos and commotion and of course of the streets here are also very slippery, the conditions are very cold and we have seen on social media many pictures of the police, when they were called to the incident, standing next to

these doors and people pushing to try to get past them. so the residents here, very concerned about what this will, saying they had never seen anything like it quite thank you for the update. the headlines on bbc news: members of the uk's biggest rail union begin a 48—hour walk—out. just one in five trains are expected to run today and tomorrow in england, scotland and wales. meanwhile, the nurses' union is planning a fresh wave of strikes in the new year unless the uk government agrees to re—open pay talks. eight people taken to hospital, with four in a critical condition, after a suspected crush during a concert in south london by nigerian afrobeat artist, asake. police have named a woman and two children who died in a suspected murder in northamptonshire. anju asok — who was 35 —

was found dead at a flat in kettering yesterday morning, along with six—year—old jeeva saju and janvi saju, who was four. detectives are questioning a 52—year—old man on suspicion of murder. let's get more on this from our reporter in kettering, helen mulroy. what do we know at this stage? there has been an update in the last hour on this very tragic incident in kettering today, as you mentioned that the two children involved in this horrific incident, jeeva saju and janvi saju, there has been a statement from kettering park infants, they say we are all devastated to learn of the shocking incident involving two of our pupils, theyjoined the school earlier this year, they were delightful and caring children who will be sadly missed. that is from the head teacher. as you say, northamptonshire police have named

the victims who they believe were the victims who they believe were the victims who they believe were the victims of this incident. 35—year—old anju asok and two children aged six and four, jeeva saju and janvi saju. the general hospital here have confirmed she was a hospital there, she worked on the barnwell orthopaedic ward, she had joined the hospital trust in 2021, they say that she was an internationally trained nurse and they are obviously offering support to all her colleagues. we have been here this morning, there has been a steady string of tributes being laid to hear, flowers, teddy bears, early i spoke to an resident who was also a nurse, they came in and laid a little unicorn and she said she felt she needed to come down here to pay tribute to the two children. she just said things like thing done like this don't happen in kettering, this is a fairly quiet area. we spoke to another man nearby we were

smoking back to him about what had happened, he said he felt sick, had children of a similar age. if 52—year—old man remains in custody, he been questioned over this murder inquiry, as i say, kettering general hospital have said they are providing appropriate support to anju asok because my colleagues at this time. as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, it's also making it harder for charities to provide vital support to those in need. there are concerns many may even be forced to close in the new year, because of a fall in donations and a steep rise in energy costs — all of which is making it harder for charities to stay afloat, as caroline bilton reports. that is amazing, thank you so much. right. _ that is amazing, thank you so much. right. that— that is amazing, thank you so much. right, that was a £5,000 coming in for food _ right, that was a £5,000 coming in for food before christmas, which ism _ for food before christmas, which

ism yes! — for food before christmas, which is... yes! ., . for food before christmas, which is- -- yes!— for food before christmas, which is... yes! ., ., , ., ., , is... yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. is. .. yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief- i— is... yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. i am, _ is... yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. i am, yes, _ is. .. yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. i am, yes, it's— is... yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. i am, yes, it's a - is... yes! you are breathing a sigh of relief. i am, yes, it's a burden i of relief. i am, yes, it's a burden gone for this month. it is of relief. i am, yes, it's a burden gone for this month.— of relief. i am, yes, it's a burden gone for this month. it is a burden one for gone for this month. it is a burden gone for this _ gone for this month. it is a burden gone for this month. _ gone for this month. it is a burden gone for this month. angela - gone for this month. it is a burden gone for this month. angela gives| gone for this month. angela gives more than a _ gone for this month. angela gives more than a timer _ gone for this month. angela gives more than a timer to _ gone for this month. angela gives more than a timer to this - gone for this month. angela gives more than a timer to this charity, | more than a timer to this charity, she carries the weight of a community on her shoulders. brute she carries the weight of a community on her shoulders. we have had another — community on her shoulders. we have had another guy _ community on her shoulders. we have had another guy in _ community on her shoulders. we have had another guy in who _ community on her shoulders. we have had another guy in who is _ community on her shoulders. we have had another guy in who is 84, - had another guy in who is 84, haven't— had another guy in who is 84, haven't talked to anybody for one month, _ haven't talked to anybody for one month, he — haven't talked to anybody for one month, he said if you don't talk to me i_ month, he said if you don't talk to me i will— month, he said if you don't talk to me i willjump under a lorry,, i want— me i willjump under a lorry,, i want cope _ me i willjump under a lorry,, i want cope any more. i'm not trained to deal— want cope any more. i'm not trained to deal with that. she want cope any more. i'm not trained to deal with that.— to deal with that. she volunteers for 60 hours _ to deal with that. she volunteers for 60 hours a — to deal with that. she volunteers for 60 hours a week, _ to deal with that. she volunteers for 60 hours a week, is - to deal with that. she volunteers for 60 hours a week, is 66, - to deal with that. she volunteers i for 60 hours a week, is 66, running this fool food bank in driffield. in the warehouse, 300 bags of food, ready to be given out to families over christmas.— over christmas. each bag is a famil , over christmas. each bag is a family. the — over christmas. each bag is a family, the family _ over christmas. each bag is a family, the family wouldn't . over christmas. each bag is a | family, the family wouldn't eat without— family, the family wouldn't eat without it. , family, the family wouldn't eat without it-_ without it. this charity spends £10,000 a — without it. this charity spends £10,000 a month, _ without it. this charity spends £10,000 a month, buying - without it. this charity spendsl £10,000 a month, buying food without it. this charity spends - £10,000 a month, buying food to give to those in need, it's surviving mainly on donations from the

community, because health in the form of grants is limited. brute community, because health in the form of grants is limited. we have had for lots _ form of grants is limited. we have had for lots of _ form of grants is limited. we have had for lots of £10,000 _ form of grants is limited. we have had for lots of £10,000 over - form of grants is limited. we have had for lots of £10,000 over the l had for lots of £10,000 over the past years. — had for lots of £10,000 over the past years, but ijust spent £10,000 in a month, — past years, but ijust spent £10,000 in a month, on food. if we are no donations. — in a month, on food. if we are no donations, that would have come in and gone _ donations, that would have come in and gone straight out. do donations, that would have come in and gone straight out.— and gone straight out. do you have and gone straight out. do you have any resilience _ and gone straight out. do you have any resilience in _ and gone straight out. do you have any resilience in the _ and gone straight out. do you have any resilience in the system? - and gone straight out. do you have| any resilience in the system? that's any resilience in the system? that's a 'oke, any resilience in the system? that's ajoke. isn't— any resilience in the system? that's ajoke. isn't it? _ any resilience in the system? that's ajoke, isn't it? you _ any resilience in the system? that's ajoke, isn't it? you are _ any resilience in the system? that's ajoke, isn't it? you are joking. - any resilience in the system? that's ajoke, isn't it? you are joking. in i ajoke, isn't it? you arejoking. in this a joke, isn't it? you are joking. this coastal ajoke, isn't it? you arejoking. in this coastal town, another charity is trying to spread some christmas cheer. ., , ., , cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not going _ cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not going to _ cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not going to change _ cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not going to change the - cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, i'm not going to change the world i cheer. here we go. sorry, rudolph, | i'm not going to change the world by doing this, but if we can make it easier and change that person because my world for one day, thumbs up, we would have achieved something. up, we would have achieved something-— up, we would have achieved something. up, we would have achieved somethin.. , ., , , ., ., something. jane is putting on a brave face. _ something. jane is putting on a brave face, she _ something. jane is putting on a brave face, she is _ something. jane is putting on a brave face, she is running - something. jane is putting on a brave face, she is running thisl brave face, she is running this charity for 17 years, but this year she is going to have to find an additional £35,000, just to pay the energy bills, she is applying for

grants, but she is worried. i'm sa in: grants, but she is worried. i'm saying come — grants, but she is worried. i'm saying come on _ grants, but she is worried. i“n saying come on a monthly basis, i having to write between 15 and 20 applications a month. find having to write between 15 and 20 applications a month.— having to write between 15 and 20 applications a month. and how many of those are — applications a month. and how many of those are successful? _ applications a month. and how many of those are successful? two. - of those are successful? two. historically. _ of those are successful? two. historically. i _ of those are successful? two. historically, i would _ of those are successful? two. historically, i would probably| of those are successful? twr. historically, i would probably had ten. with those grants, when you see the future of this charity? without that support, bluntly, no.- that support, bluntly, no. these charities are _ that support, bluntly, no. these charities are not _ that support, bluntly, no. these charities are not alone, - that support, bluntly, no. these charities are not alone, many i that support, bluntly, no. these - charities are not alone, many across the uk are under pressure. it's predicted that some may be forced to closed stop we think the worst part of the crisis in the first three months, ., �* , . ., , of the crisis in the first three months, , . ., , months, we don't expect to see any recovery until _ months, we don't expect to see any recovery until 2024. _ months, we don't expect to see any recovery until 2024. we _ months, we don't expect to see any recovery until 2024. we think - months, we don't expect to see any recovery until 2024. we think that l recovery until 2024. we think that we may— recovery until 2024. we think that we may see — recovery until 2024. we think that we may see significant _ recovery until 2024. we think that we may see significant levels - recovery until 2024. we think that we may see significant levels of i we may see significant levels of insolvencies _ we may see significant levels of insolvencies and _ we may see significant levels of insolvencies and if _ we may see significant levels of insolvencies and if a _ we may see significant levels of insolvencies and if a charity- we may see significant levels ofl insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent. — insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent. it _ insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent, it will— insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent, it will not _ insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent, it will not open - insolvencies and if a charity goes insolvent, it will not open againl insolvent, it will not open again after— insolvent, it will not open again after the — insolvent, it will not open again after the recession— insolvent, it will not open again after the recession is— insolvent, it will not open again after the recession is over. - after the recession is over. communities— after the recession is over. communities are _ after the recession is over. communities are turning i after the recession is over. | communities are turning to after the recession is over. - communities are turning to charities for help. the charities themselves

are fighting for their own survival. that is no problem whatsoever. if that is no problem whatsoever. predictions that is no problem whatsoever. if predictions are correct, they will not be here to pick up the pieces that are negative. labour have comfortably held onto their greater manchester seat of stretford and urmston after yesterday's by—election. the new mp, andrew western, who previously led trafford council, secured nearly 70% of the vote. he succeeds kate green, who resigned last month after being nominated as deputy mayor of greater manchester. turnout, on a freezing day, was under 26%. there's been outrage at the human sewage contaminating our rivers — but bbc analysis suggests waste from farming is also having a big impact. government figures show that rivers in england were polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year — with the dairy industry appearing to be the biggest culprit — but only six farms were prosecuted. our environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall reports.

0ur rivers — beautiful from a distance, but we're becoming more aware how they're being poisoned by human sewage. what's still murky, though, is the pollution coming from farms. this is the reality of milk production. with more than 2.5 million dairy cows in the uk, their waste is one big dirty problem. we went to a stretch of the frome in somerset. over the last six years, two big leaks of waste from a dairy farm upstream killed around 2,000 fish here. sue everett, who lives nearby, showed us the evidence she filmed. the first thing was the smell. it was appalling. and, as i approached the river, i could see that it was black. how did you feel when you were filming this? sick. sick because i know it had happened before, not that long ago in the same place from the same farm. the farmer responsible

was prosecuted for both leaks and ordered to pay tens of thousands of pounds. do you think people are aware that this is a problem? no, i think farm pollution has been hidden away for far too long. it's the unseen contamination, though, that really worries conservationists — the creeping decline of life. this is a river that's really suffered, and half of all pollution caused by agriculture is down to the industry that gives us billions of pints of milk a year. while supplying that industry, each dairy cow produces up to 53 litres of manure a day. so all the cows in the uk produce more than 50 billion litres a year. that's enough to fill wembley stadium 12 times over. properly applied, it's a highly valuable fertiliser, called slurry. there are strict laws on how it should be treated, but if too much

is spread or it rains hard, it can wash off into the rivers. we keep the riverbed to bring out all of the invertebrates that live inside the riverbed. the flow of water then catches them into the net. this is the river nadder in wiltshire. there should be some mayfly there. oh, yes. yeah, look at that. david is a volunteer, taking samples of the smallest creatures to monitor the health of the river. how do you feel looking down at this tray and the life in it, as opposed to what you used to sample? a real tragedy. the freshwater shrimp, which even three or four years ago we would have been counting them in the hundreds, here i am, and i'm struggling to find ten. recently they've increased the number of farming inspectors. but until a couple of years ago, the probability of you as a farmer getting an inspection was about one in 200 years. so clearly, that is not a big incentive to clean your act up.

we've discovered that last year alone, there were 300 incidents of river contamination linked to livestock farms, including 20 major spills. yet, only six farms were prosecuted. defra says it has now stepped up farm inspections, carrying out more than 3,000 this year compared to around 700 in the whole of 2021. but many are doing their best to comply and some are innovating. this is kate hall's farm in cornwall. her cows supply major supermarkets with milk and their waste, rather than a problem, it's helping to power the farm. so this is our biomethane slurry lagoon. oh, my god! it's pretty cool, isn't it? it looks completely alien. it does. it looks like a living creature. the first system of its kind in the country, it harvests methane gas emitted by the slurry, so it can be used as tractor fuel. but kate says it's notjust about being high tech. it's a really important product. it's like liquid gold, isn't it?

you know, it's what you need to make those fields out there grow and it helps the soil and it helps your grass, and then it helps these guys to produce the milk that we need to sell. so i think it's on the forefront of every farm — dairy farmer's mind. it's on the government's mind, too. it's just created a £13 million fund to help farmers improve their systems. the question is whether it's enough for the industry to become cleaner. claire marshall, bbc news. reminder of the headlines. mg tracked decisions with four out of five trains cancelled, leaving passengers are frustrated. thea;r five trains cancelled, leaving passengers are frustrated. they need to sit down and _ passengers are frustrated. they need to sit down and talk— passengers are frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to _ passengers are frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each - passengers are frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other- to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. and stop being a pain to everyone else. basically-— else, basically. three people are critically ill _ else, basically. three people are critically ill in _ else, basically. three people are critically ill in hospital— else, basically. three people are critically ill in hospital after- else, basically. three people are critically ill in hospital after a - critically ill in hospital after a crash last night outside a concert

in south london. the nurses union is planning a fresh wave of strikes in the new year, unless the uk government agrees to reopen pay talks. rivers in england were polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year. retail sales if all last month after black friday failed to give a boost to hustle chopping commercial budgets are still under pressure from rising prices. engine innition, pressure from rising prices. engine ignition. lit — pressure from rising prices. engine ignition. lit up. _ pressure from rising prices. engine ignition, lit up, left _ pressure from rising prices. engine ignition, lit up, left off, _ pressure from rising prices. engine ignition, lit up, left off, our- ignition, lit up, left off, our first _ ignition, lit up, left off, our first... . .,, ignition, lit up, left off, our first... ., .,, ., ., ignition, lit up, left off, our first... ., ., ., first... that as long a satellite into space _ first... that as long a satellite into space as _ first... that as long a satellite into space as the _ first... that as long a satellite into space as the agency aims| first... that as long a satellite i into space as the agency aims to study at�*s water levels for the first time ever. sport now and a full round up, good afternoon. fifa president gianni infantino says they will 'revisit�*

the format for the 2026 world cup after praising the success of the qatar tournament. in his final press conference, infantino also congratulated the african sides — with morocco the first from the continent to make the semi—finals. but the way the group stages were planned for the us, canada and mexico world cup in four years could all change. here the groups of four have been incredible in the sense that until the last minute of the last match, you would not know who goes ahead. i think we have to revisit or at least re—discuss the format, whether we go for16 re—discuss the format, whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four. this is something that will certainly be on the agenda in the next meetings. well, the future of england manager gareth southgate is still very much on the agenda for the fa, who are keen for him to see his contract out to 2024. many feel southgate has improved the side — and the exit to france in the quarter finals could have gone either way.

i think gareth has done a really good job. the only thing about him, he would say, perhaps sometimes he's not changed things in a game dramatically when it's not going well but you can argue against france it was so tight, so tough to call, if harry knocks in the penalty, we would have had the momentum and been favourites to win but we've lost to a very, very good side in france. leg—spinner rehan ahmed will become the youngest man to play test cricket for england after being handed a debut in the third test against pakistan, which starts tomorrow. the 18—year—old breaks the record of legendary yorkshire batter brian close, which has stood since 1949. ahmed and wicketkeeper ben foakes come into the side in karachi in place of pace bowler james anderson and all—rounder willjacks. i'm just really excited to see when he's got the ball, and me and the message was to take wickets with the ball and smack it with the bat and in the field, chase after the ball until it goes for four but he was very excited when we told him he was making his debut and it's almost

like it puts a smile on my face telling lads making their debut to see them so excited, because i remember being the young kid who was going to make the test debut and it took me back some years. england's joe clarke played a starring role for melbourne stars as they beat hobart hurricanes in the big bash league. the nottinghamshire player smashed four sixes and hit nine other boundaries as he racked up his first century in the big bash league in 66 balls. he was 101 not out, as melbourne set hobart a target of 184. fellow englishman luke wood took three wickets as the stars won by 38 runs at the mcg. the sydney thunder set an unwanted record when they were bowled out forjust 15 by the adelaide strikers in 5.5 overs. england's alex hales was one of five thunder players to make ducks, while brendan doggett top scored with a mere four runs. henry thornton was the pick of the strikers bowlers, finishing with five wickets for just three runs off 17 deliveries, while wes agar finsihed with four thunder scalps.

mixed fortunes for worcester warriors and wasps, as they plot their way back into rugby union. the sport's governing body, the rfu, approved an application to return to wasps — but rejected plans for new ownership at worcester. both sides were removed from the premiership after going into administration in october. worcester, whose debts totalled more than £30 million when they went under, have been the subject of a bid from former warriors chief executive jim 0'toole and his atlas consortium. that's all the sport for now. some breaking news coming into us, the actor kevin spacey is to face a further seven charges at his forthcoming trial in london over a series of alleged sexual offences. the actor appeared briefly via video link from the middle east at a

hearing at westminster magistrates' court. the crown prosecution service says the new charges follow a review of evidence. the new charges all relate to allegations made by one man including three counts of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. kevin spacey has also faced a separate case in the us, in october, a new york court dismissed a sexual assault suit there, so this development on the proceedings in the uk, the trial due to begin in london injune next year, there will be a further preliminary hearing at southwark crown court injanuary and we will bring you more details if and when we get them. when tesla boss elon musk took control of twitter he vowed the site

would champion free speech within the law. but it increasingly appears mr musk believes some speech is more free than others. it comes after the platform suspended the accounts of several journalists working for high—profile outlets, some of whom had written critically about the takeover of twitter by the billionaire. the dispute centres on a website which publishes publicly available information about elon musk�*s private jet. information about elon musk�*s privatejet. the move to information about elon musk�*s private jet. the move to suspend the journalists has been widely criticised with many pointing to the claims from elon musk when he bought twitter that he would champion free speech. let's speak to the independent journalist aaron rupar, who was one of those who had their twitter accounts suspended. how did you find out what happened? i was actually on the couch yesterday evening playing with my seven—month—old when i started getting messages from people informing me, i got messages on instagram, text messages, e—mails telling me my twitter account had been suspended from people who either try to engage with tweets i had posted or tried to pull up my page and initially i thought it was some sort of mistake i was being trolled, but sure enough i pulled up my twitter account on my phone and

when i scrolled to the top, there was a notice saying my account had been permanently suspended. it took a number of hours for me to piece together what exactly had happened and what the rationale was and as you mention, in the leading, you had to do with a tweet i posted on wednesday linking to the facebook account for the elon muskjet account for the elon musk jet account, account for the elon muskjet account, which i should mention is an account that tracks his public jet using publicly available information. when i posted the tweet i never in my wildest dreams thought that this could result in being banned, but late in the day, wednesday, after i posted the tweet, elon musk announced a policy where even linking to outside sites that contained information about his jet constitution a violation of terms of service —— constituted. it is what it is and that is how the chain of events unfolded.— it is and that is how the chain of events unfolded. why is there an interest in _

events unfolded. why is there an interest in the _ events unfolded. why is there an interest in the whereabouts - events unfolded. why is there an interest in the whereabouts of i events unfolded. why is there an | interest in the whereabouts of his jet? interest in the whereabouts of his 'et? ., ., ., interest in the whereabouts of his 'et? ., ~ ., ., �* ., ., jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority _ jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority on _ jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority on that _ jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority on that in _ jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority on that in particular. l jet? you know, that, i'm not an authority on that in particular. i | authority on that in particular. i think the account, if you've ever looked at the account, it will note when elon musk takes off from la to go to san francisco and things like that and the account is actually run by a 20 college student who was a big fan of space x and i'm not sure if he's still an elon musk fan but he was, and started tracking his private jet and it wasn't really an account that was on my radar until all of the controversy where elon musk a few weeks ago said his commitment to free speech extended even to this account tracking his jet, and this week he changed his mind and he banned it, so it's certainly not something i was trying to go to bat for, it is just linking to go to bat for, it is just linking to a facebook page and it seems like a pretty thin rationale for banning someone. but if you look at the

journalist band, myself, reporters from cnn and the new york times, the one thing we have in common is we have been critical of elon musk, so i suspect there is a little bit more going on here thanjust linking to this facebook page, although it made for a convenient pretext to ban a number of us. for a convenient pretext to ban a number of us— for a convenient pretext to ban a number of us. given this episode, will ou number of us. given this episode, will you keep _ number of us. given this episode, will you keep using _ number of us. given this episode, will you keep using twitter, - number of us. given this episode, will you keep using twitter, do i number of us. given this episode, | will you keep using twitter, do you think? if will you keep using twitter, do you think? , ., . . ., , , ., think? if my account is reinstated, my account _ think? if my account is reinstated, my account is _ think? if my account is reinstated, my account is banned, _ think? if my account is reinstated, my account is banned, but - think? if my account is reinstated, my account is banned, but i - think? if my account is reinstated, my account is banned, but i run i think? if my account is reinstated, my account is banned, but i run al my account is banned, but i run a newsletter business called public notice, and twitter is my main source of readers and subscribers and i had nearly 800,000 followers, so i do plan, as a result of this episode to expand to post to mastodon and have new platforms that are hopefully more reliable than twitter seems to be under elon musk�*s ownership but the fact of the matter is, running a business i have

to operate where my readers are and twitter is by far my largest platform, so right now, i literally cannot use twitter because i am banned, so i cannot post but it does seem that he has a poll asking his followers if we should be reinstated and under what timeframe, so i get the sense that he will back down and cnn and the new york times were very upset with him, so i do plan to keep using it and keep posting, but i think this is a good lesson for journalists and outlets that it is probably time to expand to other platforms as well.— probably time to expand to other platforms as well. were you able to net platforms as well. were you able to get through — platforms as well. were you able to get through to _ platforms as well. were you able to get through to support _ platforms as well. were you able to get through to support teams i platforms as well. were you able to get through to support teams to i platforms as well. were you able to | get through to support teams to talk about what happened? we get through to support teams to talk about what happened?— about what happened? i've been in touch, about what happened? i've been in touch. and — about what happened? i've been in touch. and it _ about what happened? i've been in touch, and it took _ about what happened? i've been in touch, and it took a _ about what happened? i've been in touch, and it took a number - about what happened? i've been in touch, and it took a number of i about what happened? i've been in i touch, and it took a number of hours but i did hearfrom one of the people who works with their safety team, explaining that the tweet i mentioned earlier, linking to the facebook page was the one that resulted in the suspension, so that was nice and it would have been good to hear right away so you weren't

left guessing four hours and they did eventually explain that the reason for this was again, that's specific tweet, but they had to say something eventually because i was surprised about how big a story this became. at one point last night i was the top trending topic in the us which was surreal, and reading the tweets many of them are saying nice things about my work, which was kind of like watching your own weight, when you abandon you cannot interact, so it did take a few hours but twitter did eventually contact me with that rationale, so i appreciated knowing what was going on. , , , , appreciated knowing what was going on. , , , appreciated knowing what was going on. ,, , ., ., appreciated knowing what was going on. ,, , ., on. just briefly, can you not to set u . on. just briefly, can you not to set u- a new on. just briefly, can you not to set up a new account? _ on. just briefly, can you not to set up a new account? it _ on. just briefly, can you not to set up a new account? it does - on. just briefly, can you not to set up a new account? it does tell- on. just briefly, can you not to setj up a new account? it does tell you that ou up a new account? it does tell you that you are _ up a new account? it does tell you that you are not _ up a new account? it does tell you that you are not allowed _ up a new account? it does tell you that you are not allowed to. i'm i that you are not allowed to. i'm sure there would be a way with a different e—mail address to do that, but by the letter of their policy, that would constitute ban evasion and given i'm already in hot water with twitter i'm not eager to compound that with a ban evasion and you might�*ve seen last night because it another new story that elon musk

got involved in a twitter space with some of the band journalist and there was a loophole where you are suspended you can still partake in twitter spaces and there are ways to circumvent the ban and i don't plan to do that at this time.— to do that at this time. thanks for talkin: to to do that at this time. thanks for talking to us _ to do that at this time. thanks for talking to us here _ to do that at this time. thanks for talking to us here on _ to do that at this time. thanks for talking to us here on bbc- to do that at this time. thanks for talking to us here on bbc news. l talking to us here on bbc news. thanks for having me on. staying with elon musk for a moment — his company spacex is due shortly to launch a powerful nasa water—monitoring satellite. the surface water and ocean topography — or swot — satellite will lift off from california's vandenburg space force base. the mission is a joint effort of nasa and the french space agency cnes, with contributions from the canadian and united kingdom space agencies. the mission will study earth's water levels in unprecedented detail, helping scientists get a better handle on climate change and its effects. let's speak to professor paul bates, professor of hydrology

at the university of bristol who joins us now live from chicago. how important is this mission and mop —— what might we learn from it? hi, thanks for having me on, and just as an date, swot launched three hours ago and is on its way into orbit, so all systems go. so what we will learn from this mission, a number of things about the ocean and water on land but it's basically the first—ever complete survey of all of the water on planet earth, where it is, where it is flowing to and where it has come from. it's going to lead to new scientific discoveries and new ways of protecting communities manage and protect their water. it seems it's brought together a number of different countries. how has the uk contributed to it? the of different countries. how has the uk contributed to it?— uk contributed to it? the uk contributed _ uk contributed to it? the uk contributed a _ uk contributed to it? the uk contributed a lot _ uk contributed to it? the uk contributed a lot to - uk contributed to it? the uk contributed a lot to the i uk contributed to it? the uk contributed a lot to the early develop meant of the mission design and we have fantastic hydrologists

and we have fantastic hydrologists and oceanographers in the uk who have contributed to the science. british companies have provided some of the bits of the satellite. there is a bunch of electronics called the duplex which is quite important and was produced by a british company called honeywell and that forms a key part of the satellite. itruth? called honeywell and that forms a key part of the satellite.— key part of the satellite. why is there a need — key part of the satellite. why is there a need to _ key part of the satellite. why is there a need to go _ key part of the satellite. why is there a need to go so _ key part of the satellite. why is there a need to go so far- key part of the satellite. why is there a need to go so far in i key part of the satellite. why is i there a need to go so far in order to achieve the kind of analysis that the mission is hoping to achieve? you hear about boats that map the ocean floor and the structure of the sea bed. what is the benefit of going so far into space to get this kind of detail? the going so far into space to get this kind of detail?— kind of detail? the type of instrument _ kind of detail? the type of instrument we _ kind of detail? the type of instrument we are - kind of detail? the type of instrument we are using i kind of detail? the type of- instrument we are using measures accurately from a long way up so we can measure the height of water in the rivers, lakes and oceans to within a few centimetres and we can do that from about eight or 900 kilometres up in space because of the particular technique. the

advantage of going so high as you get wide coverage and you can cover the whole planet within the orbit tracks, so it's a combination of spatial coverage, complete coverage of the birth but also using a particular type of radar configuration which gives you a really accurate data. it configuration which gives you a really accurate data.— configuration which gives you a really accurate data. it sounds like a very efficient _ really accurate data. it sounds like a very efficient way _ really accurate data. it sounds like a very efficient way of _ really accurate data. it sounds like a very efficient way of going - really accurate data. it sounds like a very efficient way of going about | a very efficient way of going about it. with that in mind, how soon do you expect the data to be available to analyse, crunch and giving practical application. presumably in the fight against climate change. exactly. the satellite is on its way into orbit at the moment and it will arrive in its first orbit in a few hours and then there is about 90 days of switching the satellite on so we have to unfold the solar panels, unfold a couple of booms on which the radar antennas sit and then we have to switch the systems on and make sure they are working and giving the right data. then from

april untiljune, we will be collecting data to validate the measurement and be out on the ground, across the world there will be teams collecting data on the height of water globally and we will compare that to the satellite is seeing to make sure we get the accuracy we are hoping for. the real data we then switch into the orbit and the data will come through next autumn. j and the data will come through next autumn. ., �* ~ ., , , autumn. i don't know if this is within the _ autumn. i don't know if this is within the scope _ autumn. i don't know if this is within the scope of— autumn. i don't know if this is within the scope of your i within the scope of your understanding of the mission project, so forgive me if this is breaching a new frontier, but would this satellite have any application for looking at the existence or presence of water on other planets or bodies in space at all? . it or bodies in space at all? , it looks down _ or bodies in space at all? , it looks down not _ or bodies in space at all? , it looks down not up. - or bodies in space at all? , ht looks down not up. and if you launch, and if you use this radar system on a satellite orbiting

another planet looking to map the water if that's what you wanted to do, but this is a mission to planet earth. . . ., do, but this is a mission to planet earth. ., ., ,, i. ., earth. paul, thank you for explaining _ earth. paul, thank you for explaining that. _ earth. paul, thank you for explaining that. paul- earth. paul, thank you forl explaining that. paul bates earth. paul, thank you for i explaining that. paul bates from earth. paul, thank you for _ explaining that. paul bates from the university of bristol. speaking to a slide from chicago. thank you. retail sales fell last month after black friday failed to give its expected boost to online trade, officialfigures indicate. sales volumes dropped 0.4% in november, much weaker than expected, as shoppers remained under pressure from the rising cost of living. however, there were signs people had started buying christmas food early. let's speak now to the retail expert clare bailey. it's interesting, because black friday is very much a us phenomenon that has taken hold more in the uk in recent years, but how important was that day of trading and sales potentially to retailers compared with say christmas? it’s potentially to retailers compared with say christmas?— with say christmas? it's very important — with say christmas? it's very

important because _ with say christmas? it's very important because it - with say christmas? it's very important because it starts l with say christmas? it's very i important because it starts the christmas shopping season especially now when people try to manage their spending in a planned and organised manner, being able to get deals before christmas so you can buy some of your gifts in advance rather than having the last minute rush and not been sure if there will be stock prices there, that does and has helped people in recent years and it also helps with that sense of remorse when you find out on boxing day that the item you bought last week has dropped by 50% of the sales so it does help with those things, but going back to these figures, what is important is that this is sales volume and we are in a time of inflation and the value has gone up, so the data tells us we are buying less for more money which of course is basically the definitional consequence for consumers, so even though we have spent a little bit more, we tried to rein it in in terms of the volume of products we were buying to manage budgets in order to make sure we didn't get

into hot water the other side of christmas. 50 into hot water the other side of christmas-— into hot water the other side of christmas. , ., , christmas. so if the tills are still rin . in: christmas. so if the tills are still ringing and _ christmas. so if the tills are still ringing and actually _ christmas. so if the tills are still ringing and actually even - christmas. so if the tills are still ringing and actually even buying | ringing and actually even buying less is costing people more, is it necessarily bad news for retailers or not? it necessarily bad news for retailers or not? , , necessarily bad news for retailers ornot? , , ,, or not? it still is, because the truth of the — or not? it still is, because the truth of the matter _ or not? it still is, because the truth of the matter is, - or not? it still is, because the i truth of the matter is, although inflation is apparently high, for retailers the costs have gone up a lot more than the 10% we see in the prices. they are absorbing up to 50%, even hundred percent costing energy prices and the manufacturers of something even as simple as a jar of something even as simple as a jar of pasta sauce becomes comes in glass, and a glass manufacturer uses huge amounts of wholesale gas and their price to produce a jar of pasta sauce have gone literally skyward, so whilst retailers are having to put prices up a bit, they don't reflect the amount of money it costs them, so they are making less profit per item sold, so when we see

less items sold, even though it has cost us more, it has cost the retailer more than that, so i would be concerned for those who have less deep pockets that this is a strongly unpleasant indicator for what will be reported when they put their january sales figures out. i was auoin to january sales figures out. i was going to ask— january sales figures out. i was going to ask you _ january sales figures out. i was going to ask you about - january sales figures out. i was going to ask you about that. i january sales figures out. i was i going to ask you about that. from the retailers you speak to, how is the retailers you speak to, how is the christmas shopping season going for them? it’s the christmas shopping season going for them? 3 . , the christmas shopping season going for them? �*, ., , for them? it's a very mixed bag. where we _ for them? it's a very mixed bag. where we have _ for them? it's a very mixed bag. where we have businesses i for them? it's a very mixed bag. where we have businesses who | where we have businesses who understood the customer and give exceptional service and unique products and some of the more independent and artisan types are doing 0k. no one is saying it's an amazing time because their cost base is spiralling but retailers are doing slightly better than perhaps other high street businesses like hospitality and leisure because if you think about it, we've seen food volumes have done 0k and that's probably more because people are transferring their spend that might�*ve been on christmas parties in restaurants and bars, maybe they

are bringing in food to the office or doing family gatherings at home just to save that bit of extra cash and i think the impact is being felled most significantly in the hospitality and leisure sector. claire, thank you very much. we have to leave it but thank you for the figures. ten people have died in a fire at a residential building on the outskirts of the french city of lyon. five of those who lost their lives were children. 170 firefighters tackled the blaze in the early hours of this morning. the french interior minister says the cause of the fire is being investigated. a landslide that engulfed a campsite close to the malaysian capital, kuala lumpur, is now known to have killed at least 16 people. about 20 others are still unaccounted for. mud, rocks and trees swept down a hillside at the site on a farm in the early hours of the morning as people slept in their tents.

the continued cold weather, especially in scotland is affecting some of the country's main commuter routes. a met office amber warning for snow is in place in parts of central scotland around glasgow and stirling, while police are warning people across the whole of scotland to travel with caution. 0ur scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, reports. wintry conditions and difficulties on the roads. a blast of snow after the prolonged low temperatures has meant that in some areas, traffic ground to a halt. some chose to work from home for the day. for others, this wasn't an option. i have just checked the e—mails, that's why i stopped, there is quite a few staff not going to be able to make it in so i know it is going to be a busy day. from minor roads to some of the main routes, the disruption has been widespread. police have warned people to take care if they have to head out. in shetland, around

1600 properties remain without power for a fifth day after heavy snow brought downl ines. engineers say it might take the weekend to restore electricity to all. a team of volunteers spent the pitch ahead of tomorrow's game for peterhead fc. in the worst—affected areas, schools have been shut. some for the entire week. and what are you going to do for the rest of the day? probably go sledging. it is the best thing to do, in my opinion, maybe do some homeschooling, revision for the tests, because i need to do that. luckily we are working from home today and the kids have got a home from school, but my daughter is going to france tonight, but i don't know whether it is going to be cancelled, which is a shame. school is off but it'sj very cold, so, rugby has been cancelled for the last few games, and training is off. - what are you making of the roads today? i didn't quite realise what sort of carnage it was going to be. picture postcard pretty and fun for some but after days of freezing temperatures, many will be hoping warmer weather

is on the way. lorna gordon, bbc news. though she reminded him she was knocked mr speaker, mr dottin continued to refer to her is that throughout the speech. the shadow ener: throughout the speech. the shadow energy minister— throughout the speech. the shadow energy minister presided _ throughout the speech. the shadow energy minister presided over- throughout the speech. the shadow energy minister presided over fuel i energy minister presided over fuel watch, grocery watch, and mr speaker, he is taking this government and our country. down a dead end. ., ., ., , ., dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm aoian dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to — dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to interrupt _ dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to interrupt you. - dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to interrupt you. you've i i'm going to interrupt you. you've continued — i'm going to interrupt you. you've continued to call me mr speaker and i've continued to call me mr speaker and i've given _ continued to call me mr speaker and i've given it— continued to call me mr speaker and i've given it a long reign. you need to use _ i've given it a long reign. you need to use my— i've given it a long reign. you need to use my correct title and when you are referring — to use my correct title and when you are referring to other members. that is a very valid — are referring to other members. trust is a very valid point, madam deputy speaker and i'm sorry i have not

addressed you with the correct title. but the fact is, mr speaker, that there is a broader issue taking place here. you know that trouble is on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker- — on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker- we _ on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want _ on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to _ on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to firm - on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to firm up i on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to firm up the i mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables — mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and _ mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we _ mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do _ mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do not - mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do not want i mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do not want the | renewables and we do not want the lights to go out. we don't want there to be, mr speaker, we don't want there to be a lack of stability. want there to be a lack of stability-— want there to be a lack of stabili . ., ., ., , ., stability. leader of the opposition, can you- -- — stability. leader of the opposition, can you- -- we _ stability. leader of the opposition, can you... we don't _ stability. leader of the opposition, can you... we don't want - stability. leader of the opposition, can you... we don't want there i stability. leader of the opposition, can you... we don't want there to | stability. leader of the opposition, i can you... we don't want there to be a lack of of — can you... we don't want there to be a lack of of energy _ can you... we don't want there to be a lack of of energy in _ can you... we don't want there to be a lack of of energy in this _ can you... we don't want there to be a lack of of energy in this system i a lack of of energy in this system that drives manufacturers offshore. that was the leader of the australian opposition, peter dutton. now it's time for a look at the weather with elizabeth. still bitterly cold across the uk again today with snowfall, especially for parts of western scotland even reaching the central belt towards argyll and bute as recorded by one of our weather watchers.

by contrast, across much of east anglia and south—east england, blue sky and sunshine and a very cold start to the day with temperatures as low as —10 degrees. this weekend we will all see the transition to milder air by the time you get to sunday but it will be icy with more snowfall in the forecast and this is the radar showing snow tracking in from the west turning to rain at lower levels tonight and do expect more hill snow for parts of scotland and another few centimetres for the pennines. the wintry showers are moving east. it's going to be driest and clearest tonight between east anglia and the south—east of england as temperatures could drop as low as —8. not much in the way of freezing fog because the south—westerly wind is set to pick up, so slightly milder tomorrow but breezy, showers towards western areas of wales and the chance of one or two showers for northern ireland with hill snow for scotland and eastern scotland is dry with sunny spells and we should see more sunny spells across much of southern england as well with temperatures rising

to meet single figures. that mild air is not too far away and by the time we head into sunday the weather front will be moving east, introducing the milder conditions and still some blues out to the east and it will still be very cold and quite icy, because the longer the mild air comes in there is a risk of freezing rain. tricky travelling conditions through sunday as it will be icy and the chance of further hill snow basically on the leading edge of the front, so most of the snow will be out towards the north and west and across higher ground. the vast majority will fall as rain, but as it falls on subzero grounds there could be a lot of very icy, slippery conditions out there. these will be the temperatures by the time we get to the end of the day on sunday and the mild air will give us double figures out towards the far south—west of england. by monday morning, double figures pretty much across the board. a mild start to the new working week particularly given the cold conditions we have been seeing of late and the mild air should last but plenty

of uncertainty in the forecast, so do keep up to date.

this is bbc news. the headlines: empty tracks and stations — with four out five trains cancelled — leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the bricks brixton academy, after a crash last night outside a concert in south london. more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu than for covid for the first time since the pandemic began latest government figures show rivers in england were polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year. forced underground, ukraine suffers a massive attack

from russia that's targeted power and water supplies. engine ignition, and lift off! nasa has launched a satellite into space — as the agency aims to study earth's water levels for the first time ever. rail workers from the rmt union have begun their latest 48 hour strike with services hit in england, scotland and wales, and only one in five trains expected to run today and tomorrow. there's more industrial action planned over the christmas holiday period, between the 24th and 27th december, and then again in early january. theo leggett reports.

another day of quiet stations, empty platforms and crowded picket lines as the latest 48 hour rail strike gets under way. some areas have no trains at all. in others, the service is limited and will finish much earlier than usual. for one tour business in blackpool, the walk—outs couldn't have come at a worse time. we've projected our finances for christmas based on sort of everything being fallen and planned on people coming down, which hopefully we can recreate and hopefully we can replenish. but you're never going to get the same level of income that was booked in. these strikes have been called by the rmt union, which is in a dispute with 14 train operating companies and network rail. it says its members need more pay so that they can cope with the rising cost of living. but the industry's made it clear more money can only come alongside profound changes to working practices in order to modernise the railway. and the union says those changes are simply unacceptable. and there's more industrial action on the way.

an overtime ban at 14 train companies from sunday is expected to cause cancellations on some routes. a strike at network rail will see services finish even earlier than usual on christmas eve and resume late on the 27th of december. then injanuary, yet more national walk—outs are planned. yesterday, some 2,500 workers at another rail union. the tssa did accept a pay offer from network rail. but for the moment, the rmt is holding firm. we've got concerns that the safety regime is being diluted, that our members work life balance, their conditions of employment are being adversely affected, so they can have change and we accept that they want change and maybe there's a need for it, but it needs to be done on a negotiated, agreed basis rather than imposition, which is where we are at the moment. last night rmt leaders met with the rail minister, huw merriman and industry representatives and it now appears further negotiations are likely.

i think most people recognise that in a situation where the industry's passenger numbers and revenue are still significantly below where we were in 2019, that there is a customer and a colleague benefit for those reforms to take place. travellers today suggested talks should be a priority. people have a right to strike. that's fine. but everyone needs to get around the table and talki to each other to stop _ inconveniencing everyone else. i understand why they're doing it, but i think the timing, along with all the other strikes, is unnecessary. they are trying to change all their rights and working practices, not just the financial implications. so i do understand why they've been pushed to strike. the rmt has called on the industry to act quickly and bring forward new proposals that it can put to its members.

but any solution is likely to require compromises on both sides. 0ur correspondent aruna iyengar has the latest from paddington station. it's very cold today and much less footfall than you would normally see at this station. i travel through here often to travel to bristol and usually there are hundreds of people on this concourse, a very busy hub for london commuters. trains go from here to the west of england, to exeter, plymouth, bristoland over to south wales. today only one in five services is running. i have just been looking at a board by the side of me here and it says that the last trains out of here are at 6pm this evening. there are a few trains running, but at much reduced service. network rail have put a lot of help is here today, they are wearing purple outfits, purple overalls, they are trying to help

people who have turned up to the station expecting to travel. there has not been as many disappointed people today, because they have been warned about these train strikes, we had strikes earlier in the week, so people's expectations are lower, they having checking websites, passengers i spoke to elia said they check the website for the game and they knew their particular train would be running. 0bviously they knew their particular train would be running. obviously there are many people standing around waiting for a long time to find out whether their train is running. this is all due to a strike between the rmt on one hand, letter grail on the other. the letter grail is the organisation which maintains and owns our railways, rmt also has a dispute with the rail delivery group, that organisation oversees 14 rail companies. there are about 20,000 rmt workers under the umbrella of those 14 train companies. network rail had put to

rmt a deal, a 5% pay rise this year and 4% for next year, but that has been rejected by the rmt. however, that has been accepted by small trade unions, the tssa and the unite union. at the moment, last night, there were talks between the rmt and there were talks between the rmt and the rail companies and the negotiations are still ongoing. as it stands, there still will be rail strikes on christmas eve, going into the 27th of december, right over the christmas period and into the new year. that is going to affect a lot of people, notjust travellers, but retailers as well, who depend on people travelling to different cities, spending money and, as we saw, earlier, that retail sales are down for the last month, not a very good picture here on the railways. rishi sunak has suggested that the government won't budge on its view that nurses should be paid what the independent

review body recommended. the royal college of nursing union has warned that if ministers don't meet again to discuss pay, they'll announce new strike dates for next month. speaking while on a visit to northern ireland, the prime minister said despite the impasse, the government remains open to talks. the health secretary has always made clear, repeatedly and consistently, that his door is always open for talks. we want to be reasonable, we want to be constructive. that's the way that the government has gone about this. we've got enormous gratitude for all our public sector workers for the job they do. i know things are difficult right now, that is why the government is providing lots of support for people, particularly with energy bills, and it's why the government accepted in full the recommendations of an independent pay review body about what appropriate and fair pay levels were, but we will always have our door open and always be willing to sit down and be reasonable and constructive. 0ur political correspondent says

both sides seems to be at a stalemate.— both sides seems to be at a stalemate. ., stalemate. even though the prime minister says _ stalemate. even though the prime minister says his _ stalemate. even though the prime minister says his door— stalemate. even though the prime minister says his door is _ stalemate. even though the prime minister says his door is almost i minister says his door is almost open for talks, it's clear at the moment that ministers are not interested in talking to the nurses about pay. they are prepared to discuss issues around pressure is on a any emergency departments, or the fact that lots of technology in the nhs doesn't seem to be working properly, many grievances that nurses have, but on pay, the government doesn't sound like it is budging at all. you are right, some tory mps, i think four in total, have said the pay issue needs to be looked at again if this stalemate is going to be unblocked. they have suggested that the independent pay review body report from the summer of this year should be reopened in the government should hand it a fresh mandate to look at the question again. there is no sign that the government is ready to do so, even labour, wes streeting, the shadow health secretary said he didn't think that was a good idea

and these pay questions should be dealt with in the next pay round, in the spring— summer of next year. without a discussion on pay, the two sites remain deadlocked. gieeh without a discussion on pay, the two sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have _ sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have been... _ sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have been... is _ sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have been... is it— sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have been... is it too i sites remain deadlocked. given there seems to have been... is it too much\ seems to have been... is it too much to say a resolution in scotland, between the nurses and the scottish government, there, does that put any pressure on the royal college of nursing to move it position in england, wales and northern ireland? potentially, yes, it shows an agreement on pay, when it comes to nurses as possible. i think unions in scotland will decide next week whether to accept the offer there of i think 7.5%. so far, the royal couege i think 7.5%. so far, the royal college of nursing are sticking to their argument that they think a 5% pay rise above inflation is justified, in part to reflect the fact that their pay now has lagged behind inflation for a number of years, it has fallen in real terms.

so they are still publicly asking for i9%, so they are still publicly asking fori9%, but so they are still publicly asking for i9%, but perhaps the fact that 7.5% may be the figure that unlocks talks in scotland, could encourage the rcn to go for a lowerfigure. so far, they are sticking to the demand for i9%, as i say, but the government and labour have said is unaffordable. from the government's perspective, they are simply not prepared to reopen the spending envelope for this year, and say that further pay increases would have to be paid for, even by higher borrowing or higher taxes and that is a political choice the government is a political choice the government is not going to make right now. the mayor of london sadiq khan says an urgent investigation is under way after three people were critically injured during a crush last night at a concert at brixton 02 academy. a performance by nigerian star asake had to be

abandoned as people tried to force their way in. large crowds gathered around the south london venue with reports of people turning up without tickets. in the last hour, commander colin wingrove from the metropolitan police has held a news conference outside brixton police station. this is what he had to say. the police were called by staff at the 02 academy on stockport road last night at about 9:30pm, following reports of a large number of people were attempting to force entry to the venue. officers, london ambulance service and fire brigade all attended and found a number of people with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing, and some of the officers provided first aid and cpr to members of the public in order to save life. eight people were taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing injuries. three are currently in a critical condition and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. an urgent investigation is currently under way, led by detectives from specialist

crime command. and cordons remain in place, as you can see. and officers continue to work at the scene and at the location. mahamed hashi from lambeth council is responsible for safer communities in the borough. he also spoke a short time ago. we were shocked by the incident yesterday. again, our condolences and our thoughts are with the families and the victims. i'd also like to take the opportunity to thank the ambulance service for the care they gave to the victims on the scene last night, which was essential to get us to this point. we're currently supporting the met police in their investigation, supporting them. we've got our public protection officers have been out doing community reassurance. and this is a message specifically from the community. i come from the same community and we have gone through a lot of these things and we've shown our constant resilience. and this is a point, again, where we have to come together and pull through together. so for me, again, ijust want to say thoughts are with the family

and we're going to await the outcome of the investigation. our reporter mark lobel has also been at the scene it was meant to be a really fun night out for hundreds of people, but it was anything but and what happened for those inside listening, they had their concert stopped mid—flow, for those with tickets who were on the outside of the building are some of them couldn't get in, someone i spoke to's partner, who could get in entered the entrance, was pushed over from could get in entered the entrance, was pushed overfrom behind and crushed and lost all of her personal belongings and to go to hospital. it was very sad night for three people who will remain in critical condition, thoughts and prayers of the mayor of london, the met police and the singer himself. now specialist crime investigation is under way, asking questions like, why so many people came without tickets? and what contingency plans were in place to deal with that, if

any? the police station isjust around the corner from here, so the police were on the scene very quickly, they will be looking at their body worn cameras for footage, they have already appealed for over 4000 people who were in attendance last night to come forward and share their stories about what they saw full stop of course, there is lots of images circulating on social media. ready from those images the police are now investigating an apparent push by a police officer on apparent push by a police officer on a member of the public and also arrested a person for an apparent assault on a police officer, rested assault on a police officer, rested a member of the public as well. i know you have been speaking to my colleagues from that very spot, probably speaking to radio, have you spoken to anyone who lives around their all who saw what happened last night and get their reactions to it all? , . ., ., , all? the residence he had a very clear message. _ all? the residence he had a very clear message. they _ all? the residence he had a very clear message. they are - all? the residence he had a very clear message. they are used i all? the residence he had a veryj clear message. they are used to all? the residence he had a very - clear message. they are used to this being used as a major music venue and people lining up orderly all

around the blood. what i saw last night, they said they have never seen before. they saw an eminent bug that out here, they saw hundreds of people, they saw chaos and commotion, and of course the streets here are also very slippery, conditions very cold, we have seen on social media many pictures of the police, when they were called to the incident, standing next to these doors and people pushing to try to get past them. so the residents here, very concerned about what they saw, saying they had never seen anything like it. i saw, saying they had never seen anything like it.— anything like it. i want to bring ou a anything like it. i want to bring you a statement _ anything like it. i want to bring you a statement that - anything like it. i want to bring you a statement that has - anything like it. i want to bring you a statement that has been j you a statement that has been released from buckingham palace, in relation to that situation that happened with the charity boss when she said she felt interrogated during a reception at buckingham palace. the statement says a meeting took place this morning on the 16th of december at buckingham palace between the founder of the charity

and lady susan hussey. it goes on to describe a meeting filmed with warmth and understanding, it said lazy susan off it sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress that they caused. it goes on to say lady susan has pledged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area. it then adds, fulani has received this apology. it specifies the royal households will continue their focus on inclusion and diversity, with enhanced programme of work to extend knowledge and training programmes, examining what they could learn from the charity and ensuring these regional members of their community.

it goes on, cover more paragraphs, let me leave you with this line, it says are both miss fulani and lady susan us now that they be left in peace and to rebuild their lines in the wake of an immensely distressing period for the birth. for them both. a reminder of the headlines. members of the uk's biggest rail union begin a 48—hour walk—out. just one in five trains are expected to run today and tomorrow in england, scotland and wales. three people remain in critical condition after a crash as a concert in south london. nasa has launched a satallite into space as the agency aims to study earth's water levels for the first time ever. the actor kevin spacey is to face a further seven charges at his forthcoming trial in london for a series of alleged sexual offences.

the actor appeared briefly by video link from the middle east at a hearing at westminster magistrates�* court. let's now cross to westminster magistrates�* court and our media and arts correspondent david sillito is there. just give us more detail, anything you have on this? the just give us more detail, anything you have on this?— just give us more detail, anything you have on this? the seven charges were brought — you have on this? the seven charges were brought after _ you have on this? the seven charges were brought after a _ you have on this? the seven charges were brought after a review- you have on this? the seven charges were brought after a review of - were brought after a review of evidence by the crown prosecution service, they are all being brought by one man, allegations of indecent assault, sexual assault and causing assault, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. they are all alleged to have taken place between 2001 and 200a. kevin spacey is also facing five other charges, allegations brought by three other men. all of these will now be tried at crown court injune of next year. kevin spacey, he only spoke briefly to confirm his name, date of birth,

an address in london. he was speaking from the middle east via video link but we understand he will be appearing in person for a preliminary hearing, which will be taking place injanuary of next year. taking place in january of next ear. ~ , ., year. where were we up to with the cases, year. where were we up to with the cases. there _ year. where were we up to with the cases. there is _ year. where were we up to with the cases, there is a _ year. where were we up to with the cases, there is a case _ year. where were we up to with the cases, there is a case going - year. where were we up to with the cases, there is a case going on - year. where were we up to with the cases, there is a case going on in i cases, there is a case going on in the united states already, how does this fit in with that, if at all? that other case was a civil action brought by an actor who claimed that he was touched inappropriately at a party in 1986 when he was 1a years old. that case ended with a jury finding for kevin spacey, the allegation was asking for $40 million in compensation. that case came to an end. these are criminal proceedings, allegations of sexual assault, sexual indecency and they

will be tried here next year.- will be tried here next year. thank ou ve will be tried here next year. thank you very much- — for the first time since the pandemic began, more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu than for covid. both illnesses are increasing at the moment but the rate of flu admissions is now higher than in any week during the previous four winters. joining us now is professor kamila hawthorn, head of graduate entry medicine programme at swansea university. is this what was predicted, then, on the basis that cars for the last few winters we have not been mixing in the way we normally would, that our immunity is, perhaps, lowerand the way we normally would, that our immunity is, perhaps, lower and we are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all. _ are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all. if _ are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all, if i — are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all, if i may _ are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all, if i may correct - are more susceptible to flu? yes. first of all, if i may correct you, | first of all, if i may correct you, i am chair of the royal college of gps, i was formerly at swansea. with

regards to flu incidents rising so rapidly, at the royal college of gps we have a really fantastic database of information that comes in from hundreds of practices on a regular basis. the research and surveillance centre. it is showing the rapid rise in blue, just over the last few weeks. normally we expect to see a lot of flow between christmas and new year, for the last two mages, because of covid, we have seen far fewer cases as people were socially isolated, notjust of fewer cases as people were socially isolated, not just of flu fewer cases as people were socially isolated, notjust of flu but of all respiratory illnesses, transmitted through close contact. i respiratory illnesses, transmitted through close contact.— through close contact. i 'ust wonder. fl through close contact. i 'ust wonder, when i through close contact. i 'ust wonder, when you i through close contact. i 'ust wonder, when you think]- through close contact. ijust i wonder, when you think about through close contact. ijust - wonder, when you think about flu through close contact. ijust wonder, when you think about flu and colds, there is almost a sense of, if you are on public transport, you are mixing with people, you're going to parties, you almost feel that if

enough people have it, it's inevitable you will it, is there anything that we have learned from the pandemic that we could apply that would perhaps minimise the severity or the numbers of people who are catching these viruses? yes. who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu — who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu and _ who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu and other _ who are catching these viruses? ines because of flu and other respiratory viruses are caused down a court in much the same way as covid. it is the same guidance. those hand gels using them to keep them as clean as possible, washing hands regularly, using tissues, sneezing into handkerchiefs or tissues and away from people. that is how these things are transmitted.- from people. that is how these things are transmitted. given that we are still _ things are transmitted. given that we are still quite _ things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early _ things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early in - things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early in the - we are still quite early in the winter season, we are still quite early in the winterseason, how we are still quite early in the winter season, how can, we are still quite early in the winterseason, how can, concerned are you and other medical leaders about the pressure that the nhs could face as we get into the depths of winter, beyond christmas and new year? i of winter, beyond christmas and new year? ~ ., ., , year? i think we are all very concerned — year? i think we are all very concerned and _ year? i think we are all very concerned and we _ year? i think we are all very concerned and we are - year? i think we are all very| concerned and we are seeing year? i think we are all very - concerned and we are seeing the nhs

creaking as it advances towards christmas. certainly forfor creaking as it advances towards christmas. certainly for for us, creaking as it advances towards christmas. certainly forfor us, the number of general consultations have rocketed up in the last to have in three weeks. we almost seem double none the number of people per day than we normally would, our on—call doctor is seeing close 70 or 80 people a day and that really is almost undoable. it is a very heavy workload, day after day. find almost undoable. it is a very heavy workload, day after day.— workload, day after day. and then, 'ust workload, day after day. and then, just wonder. _ workload, day after day. and then, just wonder. if _ workload, day after day. and then, just wonder, if the _ workload, day after day. and then, just wonder, if the uptake - workload, day after day. and then, just wonder, if the uptake of - workload, day after day. and then, just wonder, if the uptake of a - workload, day after day. and then, just wonder, if the uptake of a flu i just wonder, if the uptake of a flu vaccinations this year has been any different to previously is, given its more people consciousness, because having gone through covid vaccination, people might be thinking more in those terms. do you have any idea whether people will embrace flu vaccination more than in previous years? i embrace flu vaccination more than in previous years?— previous years? i think it has been about the same _ previous years? i think it has been about the same as _ previous years? i think it has been about the same as in _ previous years? i think it has been about the same as in previous - previous years? i think it has been i about the same as in previous years. i haven't heard about it is less or more than normal. we have certainly

been holding our normalflu vaccination drives at weekends as well as during working hours in the week. opportunistically, vaccinating people, some to come to see me who needs a flu jab, i will make sure they get one before they leave. of course as long as they have consented. i know that some of the covid vaccination clinics people have been offered a flu jab in one arm and a covid jab in the other. it is perfectly safe to do that. we are very keen, it is not too late to come and get your flu jab. i would strongly advise anybody with a chronic endless who is over 65 and children underfive who chronic endless who is over 65 and children under five who should also be vaccinated against flu, with the nasal vaccine. we want them to come and get that done if they haven't had an. , . and get that done if they haven't had an. , , ., ., , and get that done if they haven't had an. , , ., .,, ., had an. just returning to the top of this, had an. just returning to the top of this. which — had an. just returning to the top of this, which was _ had an. just returning to the top of this, which was the _ had an. just returning to the top of this, which was the fact _ had an. just returning to the top of this, which was the fact that - had an. just returning to the top of this, which was the fact that there | this, which was the fact that there is a high number of people being admitted to hospital with flu than there is for covid at the moment for

there is for covid at the moment for the first time since the pandemic. do we know what the age profiles are of those who are being admitted? it's early days yet, we are still collecting the data, but we are seeing more younger people and children being admitted with flu—like illnesses than we would have expected. flu-like illnesses than we would have expected.— flu-like illnesses than we would have expected. how significant is it that the flu numbers _ have expected. how significant is it that the flu numbers have - have expected. how significant is it | that the flu numbers have overtaken covid numbers for hospital admissions?— covid numbers for hospital admissions? �*, . . ., , admissions? it's again early days, we have only _ admissions? it's again early days, we have only really _ admissions? it's again early days, we have only really become - admissions? it's again early days, j we have only really become aware admissions? it's again early days, i we have only really become aware of this in the last few days, because a week ago we were worrying about streptococcus a. we are keeping an eye on all of these things, all respiratory viruses are going up. there is another one call down i called rsv, we are seeing a rapid rise in that as well. i think at the moment it is only looking as though it is going up quite steeply. we will have to see how these pan out over the next few days. covid

thankfully, is relatively quiet at the moment. thankfully, is relatively quiet at the moment-— thankfully, is relatively quiet at the moment. this time of year, i suppose. — the moment. this time of year, i suppose. the _ the moment. this time of year, i suppose, the other _ the moment. this time of year, i suppose, the other convocation i the moment. this time of year, i i suppose, the other convocation is, when people are travelling across the country, they are mixing. being exposed to things they are not immune to. do you expect to see a spike and a surge when we get past christmas and new year, or is that just factored in as part of the normal seasonal wave?- just factored in as part of the normal seasonal wave? normal seasonalwave? yes, it may contribute to _ normal seasonalwave? yes, it may contribute to spikes, _ normal seasonalwave? yes, it may contribute to spikes, but _ normal seasonalwave? yes, it may contribute to spikes, but at - normal seasonalwave? yes, it may contribute to spikes, but at the - contribute to spikes, but at the same time you will get the opposite effect, because children won't be going to school over the christmas holidays and schools are a veritable zoo of respiratory viruses and infections, so if they have less contact with each other over christmas, we may actually see that there is a quite a name of transmission.—

there is a quite a name of transmission. ., ,, , ., ., ., transmission. 0k, thank you again for the correction, _ transmission. 0k, thank you again for the correction, thank _ transmission. 0k, thank you again for the correction, thank you - transmission. 0k, thank you again for the correction, thank you for i for the correction, thank you for your time as well. let's ta ke let's take a look at the weather now. hello there. we'll be turning a lot milder as we head towards the end of the weekend. but for today, it's been bitterly cold. still the chance of some hills snow across much of northern scotland overnight tonight. also a few centimetres perhaps for the pennines. a lot of these showers towards coastal areas falling as rain, coldest and clearest tonight for parts of east anglia and south east england. temperatures here could get as low as minus eight degrees celsius, but a bit more of a south—westerly breeze. so freezing fog, not too much of an issue. still some showers in the forecast throughout the day. there'll be mostly out towards western areas. again, some hills now across much of the high ground of scotland. chance for showers for northern ireland, too. there will be some sunny spells for much of southeast england, east anglia and for eastern scotland. temperatures rising slightly with the approaching weather front

and the south—westerly winds. now, there will be a mixture of rain, sleet and snow moving eastwards on sunday. some very tricky travelling conditions, icy stretches with the risk of some freezing rain and some hills now.

hello, this is bbc news with ben boulos. the headlines. empty tracks and stations with four out five trains cancelled — leaving passengers frustrated they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the brixton academy. three people are critically ill in hospital after a crush last night outside a concert in south london more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu than for covid for the first time since the pandemic began latest government figures show rivers in england were polluted

by livestock farms 300 times last year. engine ignition, and lift off of swot, ourfirst global engine ignition, and lift off of swot, our first global survey... nasa has launched a satellite into space — as the agency aims to study earth's water levels for the first time ever sport now and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. fifa president gianni infantino says they will 'revisit�* the format for the 2026 world cup after praising the success of the qatar tournament. in his final press conference, infantino talked up how the tournament has been received — and said the way the group stages were planned for the us, canada and mexico world cup in four years could all change. let's get some more from olly foster now, who's in doha for us, ahead of sunday's final olly, how would this potential format change work and what's the basis for fifa

to change their minds? what to change their minds? had been pencilled in wasi would what had been pencilled in was there would be 16 groups of three, and they would be whittled down, the top two going into a knockout round of 32 and the win eventually having to play seven games, which would be no different to here but there was always a feeling that with groups of three you have the possibility of collusion in the final group game and you go back to spain in 1982 and the possibility of a lot of dead rubbers and in van tino and his technical group loved some of the group matches here, the traditional groups of four, because they all went down to the wires, and they are trying to work out how they can get groups of four into the 48 teams, a much bigger world cup in 2026 and will it be 12 groups of four, will there be too many world cups split with 24 teams in age with them going through the two winners each playing

in the final, so it's all up in the airagain and he in the final, so it's all up in the air again and he revealed this at a news conference today. here the groups of four have been incredible in the sense that until the last minute of the last match, you would not know who goes ahead. i think we have to revisit or at least re—discuss the format, whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four. this is something that will certainly be on the agenda in the next meetings. turning to matters in — related, questions whether gareth southgate will continue as england manager going forward. what is the feeling like around this almost a week after they went out to france? it like around this almost a week after they went out to france?— like around this almost a week after they went out to france? it has been a week now — they went out to france? it has been a week now and _ they went out to france? it has been a week now and we _ they went out to france? it has been a week now and we should _ they went out to france? it has been a week now and we should be - they went out to france? it has been| a week now and we should be looking forward to the world cup final but every time you get a glimpse of the friends you have been training today and had a cold virus they are having to deal with, let's hope it doesn't impact them too much. and gareth

southgate will be thinking the game and the top football writers around the world media picking the bones out of the world cup for england, and we heard from gary lineker who is leading the coverage for colleagues on bbc sport and we asked him today what he made off southgate's performance here? i think gareth has done a really good job. the only thing about him, he would say, perhaps sometimes he's not changed things in a game dramatically when it's not going well but you can argue against france it was so tight, so tough to call, if harry knocks in the penalty, we would have had the momentum and been favourites to win but we've lost to a very, very good side in france. still all ifs and buts. we are all gearing up for the weekend and we have the third and fourth play—off between croatia and morocco and with the amount of moroccan fans here, it

might notjust be a dead rubber, because they seem very keen on going home with the bronze medal that most people don't really care about. and then on sunday, france against argentina. can't wait for that one. thank you. leg—spinner rehan ahmed will become the youngest man to play test cricket for england after being handed a debut in the third test against pakistan, which starts tomorrow. the 18—year—old breaks the record of legendary yorkshire batter brian close, which has stood since 1949. ahmed and wicketkeeper ben foakes come into the side in karachi in place of pace bowler james anderson and all—rounder willjacks. i'm excited to see what he's got with the ball and the message was looked to take wickets with the ball, smack it with the bar and in the field, chase after the ball until it goes for four. but he was very excited when we told them he was making his debut and it's almost like it puts a smile on my face telling lads making their debut to

see them so excited because i remember being that young kid getting told i would make my debut and it took me back a few years. a bit of history today in the big baash as the sydney thunder set an unwanted record — they were bowled out forjust 15 by the adelaide strikers in 5.5 overs. england's alex hales was one of five thunder players to make ducks, while brendan doggett top scored with a mere four runs. henry thornton was the pick of the strikers bowlers, finishing with five wickets for just three runs off 17 deliveries, while wes agar finsihed with four thunder scalps. just before we go, one more line. emma raducanu has started working with a new coach. sebastian sachs is in abu dhabi with last year's us open champion, who is due to play an exhibition match against the wimbledon runner—up 0ns jabeur later today. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. latest government figures show rivers in england were polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year, and 20 of them were major spills. but only six of the polluting farms were prosecuted, with the environment agency

sending warnings instead. the dairy industry is responsible for most agricultural pollution. our environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall reports. 0ur rivers — beautiful from a distance, but we're becoming more aware how they're being poisoned by human sewage. what's still murky, though, is the pollution coming from farms. this is the reality of milk production. with more than 2.5 million dairy cows in the uk, their waste is one big dirty problem. we went to a stretch of the frome in somerset. over the last six years, two big leaks of waste from a dairy farm upstream killed around 2,000 fish here. sue everett, who lives nearby, showed us the evidence she filmed. the first thing was the smell. it was appalling. and, as i approached the river, i could see that it was black. how did you feel when you were filming this?

sick. sick because i know it had happened before, not that long ago in the same place from the same farm. the farmer responsible was prosecuted for both leaks and ordered to pay tens of thousands of pounds. do you think people are aware that this is a problem? it's the unseen contamination, though, that really worries conservationists — the creeping decline of life. this is a river that's really suffered, and half of all pollution caused by agriculture is down to the industry that gives us billions of pints of milk a year. while supplying that industry, each dairy cow produces up to 53 litres of manure a day. so all the cows in the uk produce more than 50 billion litres a year. that's enough to fill wembley stadium 12 times over. properly applied, it's a highly valuable fertiliser, called slurry. there are strict laws on how it should be treated, but if too much

this is the river nadder in wiltshire. there should be some mayfly there. oh, yes. yeah, look at that. david is a volunteer, taking samples of the smallest creatures to monitor the health of the river. how do you feel looking down at this tray and the life in it, as opposed to what you used to sample? a real tragedy. the freshwater shrimp, which even three or four years ago we would have been counting them in the hundreds, here i am, and i'm struggling to find ten. recently they've increased the number of farming inspectors. we've discovered that last year alone, there were 300 incidents of river contamination linked to livestock farms, including 20 major spills. yet, only six farms were prosecuted. defra says it has now stepped up farm inspections, carrying out more than 3,000 this year compared to around 700 in the whole of 2021. but many are doing their best to comply and some are innovating. this is kate hall's farm in cornwall. her cows supply major supermarkets with milk and their waste, rather than a problem,

it's helping to power the farm. the first system of its kind in the country, it harvests methane gas emitted by the slurry, so it can be used as tractor fuel. but kate says it's notjust about being high tech. it's a really important product. it's like liquid gold, isn't it? you know, it's what you need to make those fields out there grow and it helps the soil and it helps your grass, and then it helps these guys to produce the milk that we need to sell. so i think it's on the forefront of every farm — dairy farmer's mind. it's on the government's mind, too. it's just created a £13 million fund to help farmers improve their systems. the question is whether it's enough for the industry to become cleaner. claire marshall, bbc news. let's speak now to tom bradshaw, deputy president of the national farmers union, a body that represents farmers in england and wales. good to have you with us. what can

farmers do to try and reduce the kind of impact that we are hearing about? ah. kind of impact that we are hearing about? �* ., ., ., , ., ., ., about? a lot of farms are going to have to invest _ about? a lot of farms are going to have to invest in _ about? a lot of farms are going to have to invest in a _ about? a lot of farms are going to have to invest in a lot _ about? a lot of farms are going to have to invest in a lot of _ have to invest in a lot of facilities on farms, upgrading their slurry facilities on the slurry investment game that was reference, the millions being invested by defra, we've been working with them on that scheme for the past two and a half years to develop it and it's critically important to help farm businesses invest in the facilities for the future, so they can minimise any pollution risk from their farm businesses while maintaining producing the country's food. mini; businesses while maintaining producing the country's food. why is it some have — producing the country's food. why is it some have allowed _ producing the country's food. why is it some have allowed this _ producing the country's food. why is it some have allowed this to - producing the country's food. why is it some have allowed this to happen? 300 incidents in the past year. i think it's probably the harsh reality of the economic situation on a lot of businesses that trying to find the money for reinvestment has been very challenging with low margin from the productions of the food and so the funding coming from the government to invest in the facilities is incredibly welcome and needed to enable the investment on

farms. it's not an excuse, but it's a reality that trying to make sure you can invest in up—to—date facilities has been very, very difficult. ~ , ., ., difficult. when you look at the enforcement, _ difficult. when you look at the enforcement, very _ difficult. when you look at the enforcement, very few - difficult. when you look at the enforcement, very few fines i difficult. when you look at the i enforcement, very few fines were issued and warnings were given instead or there were very few prosecutions. do you think if the penalties were tougher it would nudge farms to do something about it? in nudge farms to do something about it? ., ., ._ , it? in the long run, that may be where we _ it? in the long run, that may be where we will _ it? in the long run, that may be where we will end _ it? in the long run, that may be where we will end up, - it? in the long run, that may be where we will end up, but - it? in the long run, that may be where we will end up, but i'd i it? in the long run, that may be. where we will end up, but i'd like to encourage everyone, farmers, but also working with government is the advice led approach the environment agency are utilising, so when they go on to a farm and have an inspection, if there are areas of failure, ratherthan inspection, if there are areas of failure, rather than throwing the book at them, they are trying to advise members how to improve on what they need to do for the future and utilising the advice alongside the investment scheme is really positive over the next three or four year period and they might come a point in the future where the advice has to turn into more penal penalties but they are trying to utilise the investment in available

and that is crucial to make sure we maintain domestic food production while protecting the environment, which is fundamental. i5 while protecting the environment, which is fundamental.— while protecting the environment, which is fundamental. is there any wa that which is fundamental. is there any way that the _ which is fundamental. is there any way that the slurry _ which is fundamental. is there any way that the slurry could - which is fundamental. is there any way that the slurry could be - which is fundamental. is there any way that the slurry could be put i which is fundamental. is there any way that the slurry could be put to productive use? i don't know, could it be used for some type of bio energy or in another way in the farms, or is itjust wasted a has to go somewhere? it’s farms, or is itjust wasted a has to go somewhere?— farms, or is itjust wasted a has to go somewhere? it's not waste at all, it's a highly — go somewhere? it's not waste at all, it's a highly valuable _ go somewhere? it's not waste at all, it's a highly valuable product. - it's a highly valuable product. everyone will know what has happened to energy prices on the fertiliser used to help the grass and crops grow has become more expensive because of the current situation in ukraine. in the organic manure is produced by animals are crucial for fertiliser, so it's in every farmer's interest to maximise the value and minimise leakage so all of the product can be utilised and replacing bought in fertiliser so it's crucial as part of a stable farming system we utilise the products and are able to use them to grow crops which feed the animals and reinvest in the circular system. it's not a waste product at all, but

there are situations where it is leaking off farms and creating these pollution beds. bind leaking off farms and creating these pollution beds.— leaking off farms and creating these pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating _ pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating if _ pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating if any _ pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating if any farms - pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating if any farms to - pollution beds. and presumably it is self-defeating if any farms to allow | self—defeating if any farms to allow the rivers around them to become polluted because that willjust store up problems for themselves doubt the line. $5 store up problems for themselves doubt the line.— store up problems for themselves doubt the line. �* , . , ., ., doubt the line. as farmers we have a crucial role — doubt the line. as farmers we have a crucial role to _ doubt the line. as farmers we have a crucial role to enhance _ doubt the line. as farmers we have a crucial role to enhance the _ crucial role to enhance the environment and clean air is a vital part of that. it's in none of the interest of our members to pollute the water courses and farmers don't set out to create pollution but when the reality of the business pressures come together, in some situations you can see happening and i would encourage everyone to look to the future and make sure we invest for the future, harness the value of the critical resources and protect the environment at the same time. ., �* . , . protect the environment at the same time. ., , ., , , protect the environment at the same time. tom bradshaw, deputy president ofthe time. tom bradshaw, deputy president of the national _ time. tom bradshaw, deputy president of the national farmers' _ time. tom bradshaw, deputy president of the national farmers' union, - of the national farmers' union, thank you. the surface water and ocean

topography — or swot — will map the precise height of rivers, reservoirs and lakes, and track ocean surface features at unprecedented scales. the mission is the joint effort of nasa and the french space agency cnes, with contributions from the canadian and united kingdom space agencies. the mission will study earth's water levels in unprecedented detail, helping scientists get a better handle on climate change and its effects. let's speak to dr young lenn, a physical oceanographer from bangor university's school of ocean sciences. dr lenn will soon be working at one of the specific 'crossover points' the swot satellite will passover in the cape basin near cape town. how important is this project in terms of what we can learn from it? well, satellites in general have been really valuable to us in terms of giving us global ideas and a global scale of the way ocean circulation works. but the features we have been able to measure well

are on the order of a hundred kilometres across, so it's exciting to measure things that are smaller than that because it turns out that a lot of the smaller scale features in the ocean we think are really important forflexing in the ocean we think are really important for flexing things from the surface which includes carbon fluxes as well as bringing up nutrients to the surface to help support primary productivity and these small—scale features are important for increasing fluxes across ocean basins, so in the cape beach where we are working we are interested in the indian ocean going into the south atlantic, so it's really exciting to be able to have a satellite to provide the data that would be otherwise hard to get with ships and other in—person ways of measuring. micro how do things like that, the point you make about the leakage into the ocean, how does it

help us in the fight against climate change? i guess it is more, in that particular case we are looking at the way the climate system functions. the leakage from the indian ocean to the south atlantic is really important because it carries a lot of heat from the sub tropical indian ocean and that heat gets into what we know as overturning circulation of the global oceans and that overturning circulation has a lot to do with warm currents being drawn up the surface to the high latitudes where these surface fluxes allow water to cool and slink away from the surface and this represents a big redistribution of heat across the globe is and affects the climate, so being able to understand these processes better gives us a better way of making sure we are representing the process properly in climate models so we get better predictions for the future. i}i(.

predictions for the future. 0k, doctor, thank _ predictions for the future. 0k, doctor, thank you _ predictions for the future. 0k, doctor, thank you very - predictions for the future. ok, doctor, thank you very much. predictions for the future. 0k, - doctor, thank you very much. thank ou. buckingham palace has confirmed that lady susan hussey has apologised in person to ngozi fulani, the head of charity sistah space, after the pair met today. lady susan stepped down from her post as lady in waiting after it was alleged that she had repeatedly asked ms fulani where she was from during a royal reception. let's get more on this with our royal correspondent sarah campbell the reception was with around 300 people there hosted by the queen consort and was registering domestic violence and somebody invited was the founder of the charity sister space and tweeted the next morning she had been made to feel

uncomfortable after an exchange with lady susan hussey. she did not name her in the tweet that is who subsequently it turned out to be. and as you say, her issue was lady susan hussey came over to her and moved her hair to see her name badge and repeatedly ask where she was from, really from and she said she felt very uncomfortable and buckingham palace investigated and this was on the 1st of december and it was announced that lady susan hussey had stepped down and had been a lady in waiting for chloe and elizabeth for around six decades and had stepped back from her honorary position in relation to this but also said she was hoping to send her apologies in person, and that, it appears, is what happened this morning. a statement released by buckingham palace in the last half hour saying a meeting took place this morning between ngozi fulani and lady susan hussey and the statement said that the meeting was

filmed —— filled with warmth and understanding and lady susan offered her sincere apology for the comments made and the distress they caused to ngozi fulani and lady susan has alleged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issue in this area. quite a long statement but it goes on to say that ngozi fulani has received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and on the people issued a statement on her behalf saying she had been distressed by the reaction and this is a difficult time for lady hussey and ngozi fulani when it goes on that the royal household will continue their focus on inclusion and diversity, so there we go, as this meeting, that lady susan hussey had wanted, because i interviewed ngozi fulani when this was the big story notjust in the uk but it

garnered global headlines. she set “p garnered global headlines. she set up a meeting to talk about the issue she thought needed to be raised and it appears that is what happened this morning. it appears that is what happened this morning-— it appears that is what happened this mornini. . ., ., , this morning. have we heard anything more from ngozi _ this morning. have we heard anything more from ngozi fulani _ this morning. have we heard anything more from ngozi fulani since - this morning. have we heard anything more from ngozi fulani since the - more from ngozi fulani since the statement has been released? i realise it's only been in the last hour or so. it realise it's only been in the last hour or so-_ hour or so. it has only recently been released _ hour or so. it has only recently been released and _ hour or so. it has only recently been released and it _ hour or so. it has only recently been released and it does - hour or so. it has only recently been released and it does say | hour or so. it has only recently i been released and it does say on hour or so. it has only recently - been released and it does say on the statement that both ngozi fulani and lady hussey now ask may be left in peace to rebuild their lives in the wake of an immensely distressing period for them both and i think the reflection there is the impact on lady susan hussey but as i say in the statement released on behalf of ngozi fulani last week which talked about highlighting the attacks on social media that she has received against her and against a charity, so i think it has been a very difficult time and i think not surprising that this statement also says both parties would like to be left in peace now.— says both parties would like to be

left in peace now. there's a political row brewing in australia, after the leader of the country's opposition liberal party, peter dutton, made a speech in which he repeatedly referred to the deputy speaker sharon claydon as "mr speaker". although ms claydon reminded him that she is "not mr speaker" ansd asked him to use her correct title, mr dutton continued referring to her in that way. let's take a listen. the shadow energy minister presided overfuel watch, grocery watch, and mr speaker, he is taking this government and our country down a dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to interrupt you. you've continued to call me mr speaker and i've given it a long rein. you need to use my correct title and when you are referring to other members. that is a very valid point, madam deputy speaker and i'm sorry i have not addressed you with the correct title. but the fact is, mr speaker,

that there is a broader issue taking place here. you know that trouble is on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do not want the lights to go out. we don't want there to be, mr speaker, we don't want there to be a lack of stability. leader of the opposition, can you... we don't want there to be a lack of energy in this system that drives manufacturers offshore. leader of the australian opposition peter dutton there. the continued cold weather is affecting some of the country's main commuter routes, especially in scotland. a met office amber warning for snow is in place in parts of central scotland around glasgow and stirling, while police are warning people across the whole of scotland to travel with caution. 0ur scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, reports. wintry conditions and difficulties on the roads. a blast of snow after the prolonged

low temperatures has meant that in some areas, traffic ground to a halt. some chose to work from home for the day. for others, this wasn't an option. i have just checked the e—mails, that's why i stopped, there is quite a few staff not going to be able to make it in so i know it is going to be a busy day. from minor roads to some of the main routes, the disruption has been widespread. police have warned people to take care if they have to head out. in shetland, around 1600 properties remain without power for a fifth day after heavy snow brought down lines. engineers say it might take the weekend to restore electricity to all. a team of volunteers spent the pitch ahead of tomorrow's game for peterhead fc. in the worst—affected areas, schools have been shut. some for the entire week. and what are you going to do for the rest of the day? probably go sledging.

it is the best thing to do, in my opinion, maybe do some homeschooling, revision for the tests, because i need to do that. luckily we are working from home today and the kids have got a home from school, but my daughter is going to france tonight, but i don't know whether it is going to be cancelled, which is a shame. school is off but it'sj very cold, so, rugby has been cancelled for the last few games, and training is off. - what are you making of the roads today? i didn't quite realise what sort of carnage it was going to be. picture postcard pretty and fun for some but after days of freezing temperatures, many will be hoping warmer weather is on the way. lorna gordon, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with elizabeth. still bitterly cold across the uk again today with snowfall, especially for parts of western scotland even reaching the central belt towards argyll and bute as recorded by one of our weather watchers.

by contrast, across much of east anglia and south—east england, blue sky and sunshine and a very cold start to the day with temperatures as low as —10 degrees. this weekend we will all see the transition to milder air by the time you get to sunday but it will be icy with more snowfall in the forecast and this is the radar showing snow tracking in from the west turning to rain at lower levels tonight and do expect more hill snow for parts of scotland and another few centimetres for the pennines. the wintry showers are moving east. it's going to be driest and clearest tonight between east anglia and the south—east of england as temperatures could drop as low as —8. not much in the way of freezing fog because the south—westerly wind is set to pick up, so slightly milder tomorrow but breezy, showers towards western areas of wales and the chance of one or two showers for northern ireland with hill snow for scotland

and eastern scotland is dry with sunny spells and we should see more sunny spells across much of southern england as well with temperatures rising to meet single figures. that mild air is not too far away and by the time we head into sunday the weather front will be moving east, introducing the milder conditions and still some blues out to the east and it will still be very cold and quite icy, because the longer the mild air comes in there is a risk of freezing rain. tricky travelling conditions through sunday as it will be icy and the chance of further hill snow basically on the leading edge of the front, so most of the snow will be out towards the north and west and across higher ground. the vast majority will fall as rain, but as it falls on subzero grounds there could be a lot of very icy, slippery conditions out there. these will be the temperatures by the time we get to the end of the day on sunday and the mild air will give us double figures out towards the far south—west of england. by monday morning, double figures pretty much across the board. a mild start to the new working week particularly given the cold

conditions we have been seeing of late and the mild air should last but plenty of uncertainty in the forecast, so do keep up to date.

this is bbc news. the headlines: empty tracks and stations — with four out five trains cancelled — leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the brixton academy — three people are critically ill in hospital after a crush last night outside a concert in south london. more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu than with covid — for the first time the pandemic began. forced underground, ukraine suffers a massive attack from russia that's targeted power and water supplies.

engine ignition, and lift off. a nasa satellite designed to study the earth's water for the first time ever — is successfully launced into space. rail workers from the rmt union have begun their latest 48 hour strike with services hit in england, scotland and wales, and only one in five trains expected to run today and tomorrow. there's more industrial action planned over the christmas holiday period, between the 24th and 27th december, and then again in early january. theo leggett reports. another day of quiet stations, empty platforms and crowded picket lines, as the latest 48 hour rail strike gets under way. some areas have no trains at all.

in others, the service is limited and will finish much earlier than usual. for one tour business in blackpool, the walk—outs couldn't have come at a worse time. we've projected our finances for christmas based, on sort, of everything being fallen and planned on people coming down, which hopefully we can recreate and hopefully we can replenish. but you're never going to get the same level of income that was booked in. these strikes have been called by the rmt union, which is in a dispute with 14 train operating companies and network rail. it says its members need more pay so that they can cope with the rising cost of living. but the industry's made it clear more money can only come alongside profound changes to working practices in order to modernise the railway. and the union says those changes are simply unacceptable. and there's more industrial action on the way. an overtime ban at 14 train companies from sunday is expected to cause cancellations on some routes. a strike at network rail will see services finish even earlier

than usual, on christmas eve and resume late on the 27th of december. then, injanuary, yet more national walk—outs are planned. yesterday, some 2,500 workers at another rail union. the tssa did accept a pay offer from network rail. but for the moment, the rmt is holding firm. we've got concerns that the safety regime is being diluted, that our members work life balance, their conditions of employment are being adversely affected, so they can have change and we accept that they want change and maybe there's a need for it, but it needs to be done on a negotiated, agreed basis rather than imposition, which is where we are at the moment. last night rmt leaders met with the rail minister, huw merriman and industry representatives and it now appears further negotiations are likely. i think most people recognise that in a situation where the industry's passenger numbers and revenue are still significantly below where we were in 2019, that there is a customer

and a colleague benefit for those reforms to take place. travellers today suggested talks should be a priority. people have a right to strike. that's fine. but everyone needs to get around the table and talkl to each other to stop _ inconveniencing everyone else. i understand why they're doing it, but i think the timing, along with all the other strikes, is unnecessary. they are trying to change all their rights and working practices, not just the financial implications. so i do understand why they've been pushed to strike. the rmt has called on the industry to act quickly and bring forward new proposals that it can put to its members. but any solution is likely to require compromises on both sides. joining me now from paddington station in west london

is our correspondent, aruna iyengar. around this time, normally, it would starting to get busy for the evening peak, doesn't look particularly busy around you right now? it’s peak, doesn't look particularly busy around you right now?— around you right now? it's not particularly — around you right now? it's not particularly busy _ around you right now? it's not particularly busy at _ around you right now? it's not particularly busy at the - around you right now? it's not i particularly busy at the moment, around you right now? it's not - particularly busy at the moment, but you can see people are behind me, they are waiting for the last trains to move out of the paddington station, the last trains are around 6pm this evening. then, nothing more, basically. this track will go on until tomorrow evening and, obviously, people he earlier had been turning up, expecting to catch trains, many went as disappointed as you might think, because a lot of people have been checking before they set out to make sure that they wouldn't be disappointed. there is a limited amount of service going on, so one in five trains were operating, so some people were able to get away, but it was really people who had already organised to catch a specific train so they weren't turning up in an unexpected way. obviously people coming from

heathrow, many of those people from overseas, might have been disappointed to not be able to catch the train and some people were coming out from the tube, because paddington station is a busy tube station, they were coming out and finding it, again, they can catch their trains. finding it, again, they can catch theirtrains. network finding it, again, they can catch their trains. network rail have lots of personnel on the concourse to advise people as to how they can travel, because but as you can see this evening, there are people around come up, but normally, at this time of day, i travel quite often to bristol and around this time there would be hundreds and hundreds of people waiting for trains milling around. this is a huge transport hub, trains from here go out to bristol, to devon, out to the south—west of wales. so a of train services coming out of here, and at the moment, very few. {iii and at the moment, very few. of course, this isn't the only day of disruption this week on the railways?— disruption this week on the railwa s? ., ., , ,, , railways? no, we have the strikes aioin on railways? no, we have the strikes going on until _ railways? no, we have the strikes going on until later— railways? no, we have the strikes going on until later tomorrow - going on until later tomorrow evening and then later on, over the

christmas period, we have another set of strikes. from christmas eve there will be strikes going on until there will be strikes going on until the 27th of december and then after that strikes until the new year. the whole period is going to be a period of disruption, it's notjust the strike days as well, because there is a ban on overtime working. so the whole of the train service is going to be disrupted right into the new year, there is also problems because trains will be in the wrong places, surreally the advice is, don't travel unless you have to, and also, make sure that you check the website to see the train you have booked on is actually going to be running. really come a period of great disruption and people just need to be careful about how they travel. this is not really going to do very well for retailers, particularly who were counting on people coming into london, coming out of the big cities to try to spend money before the run—up to christmas, particularly since your last year they had such a bad time of covid, now retailers are worried whether they will get the

football, through the shops, through the city centres because of this train strike.— the city centres because of this train strike. ., ,, , ., , . train strike. thank you very much for that. reporting _ train strike. thank you very much for that. reporting from - train strike. thank you very much i for that. reporting from paddington station. rishi sunak has suggested that the government won't budge on its view that nurses should be paid what the independent review body recommended. the royal college of nursing has warned that if ministers don't meet again to discuss pay, they'll announce new strike dates for next month. speaking while on a visit to northern ireland, the prime minister said despite the impasse, the government remains open to talks. the health secretary has always made clear, repeatedly and consistently, that his door is always open for talks. we want to be reasonable, we want to be constructive. that's the way that the government has gone about this. we've got enormous gratitude for all our public sector workers for the job they do. i know things are difficult right now, that is why the government is providing lots of support for people, particularly with energy bills, and it's why the government accepted in full the recommendations of an independent pay review body about what appropriate and fair pay levels were, but we will always have our door open and always be willing to sit down and be

reasonable and constructive. 0ur political correspondent ben wright says both sides seem to be at a stalemate. even though the prime minister said his door was always open for talks. it's clear at the moment that ministers are not interested in talking to the nurses about pay. they're prepared to discuss issues around pressures on a&e, emergency departments, for instance, or the fact that lots of technology in the nhs doesn't seem to be working properly. there are many grievances that nurses have at the moment, but on pay the government doesn't sound like it's budging at all. and you're right, some tory mp5, i think it's four in total have said that the pay issue needs to be looked at again if this stalemate is going to be unblocked and have suggested that the independent pay review body report from the summer of this year should sort of be reopened and the government should hand it a fresh mandate to look at the question again.

now, there's no sign that the government's ready to do that. even labour today, wes streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that he didn't think that that was a good idea and that these pay questions should be dealt with in the next pay round in the spring summer of next year. so without a discussion on pay, the two sides remain deadlocked. and, ben, given that there seems to have been i don't know, is it too much to say a resolution to the dispute in scotland between the nurses and the scottish government there? does that put any pressure on the royal college of nursing to to move its position in england, wales and northern ireland? potentially, yes. and it shows that an agreement on pay when it comes to nurses is possible. i think unions in scotland will decide next week whether to accept the offer there of i think it's 7.5%. and i mean, so far the royal college of nursing are sticking to their argument that they think

a 5% pay rise above inflation isjustified, in part to reflect the fact that their pay now has failed in real terms. lagged behind inflation for a number of years and has failed in real terms. they're still publicly asking for 19%. but perhaps the fact that seven and a half may be the figure that unlocks talks in scotland could encourage the rcn to go for a lower figure. but so far they are sticking to their demand for 19%. as i said, both the government and labour has said is unaffordable. from the government's perspective, they are simply not prepared to reopen the spending envelope for this year and say that further pay increases would have to be paid for either by higher borrowing or higher taxes. and that is a political choice that the government is not going to make right now. the mayor of london sadiq khan says an urgent investigation is under way after three people were critically injured during a crush last night at a concert at the brixton 02 academy in south london.

a performance by nigerian star asake had to be abandoned as people tried to force their way in. large crowds gathered around the venue with reports of people turning up without tickets. 0ur reporter mark lobel is outside the venue in brixton. what more do we know about what happened and that the condition of those who were caught up in it? when things got out of control at the show here didn't go on. what appears to be events are triggered by ticketless fans turning up last night, it led to scenes where people were she saw _ night, it led to scenes where people were she saw people _ night, it led to scenes where people were she saw people jumping - night, it led to scenes where people were she saw people jumping on - night, it led to scenes where people | were she saw people jumping on top of other people, all because of the crush that ensued. a14—year—old girl who was coming here for the first time had to go home, it was too rowdy, people with tickets on outside couldn't get in, someone i spoke to who is partner had a ticket and got inside was pushed from behind, people travelling over her, she lost all her belongings and

ended up in hospital. a serious question, is part of this investigation, the split investigation, the split investigation, into why so many ticketless fans turned up, and what contingency plans were in place, should a situation like that arise. we got an update a little earlier, around the corner from here at brixton police station from the borough commander, colin wingrove. the police were called by staff at the 02 academy on stockport road last night at about 9:30pm, following reports of a large number of people were attempting to force entry to the venue. officers, london ambulance service and fire brigade all attended and found a number of people with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing, and some of the officers provided first aid and cpr to members of the public in order to save life. eight people were taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing injuries. three are currently in a critical condition and our thoughts and prayers are with them

and their families. an urgent investigation is currently under way, led by detectives from specialist crime command. and cordons remain in place, as you can see. and officers continue to work at the scene and at the location. as you heard there, three people remain in a critical condition. thoughts and prayers notjust by the mayor of london and the met, but also from the local councillor responsible for community safety. he had something to say a bit earlier. let's listen. we were shocked by i the incident yesterday. again, our condolences i and our thoughts are with the families and the victims. i'd also like to take - the opportunity to thank the ambulance service for the care they gave to the victims _ on the scene last night, - which was essential to get us to this point. we're currently supporting the met police in their investigation, - supporting them. we've got our public protection officers have been out doing i community reassurance.

and this is a message _ specifically from the community. i come from the same - community and we have gone through a lot of these things and we've shown our - constant resilience. and this is a point, again, - where we have to come together and pull through together. so for me, again, ijust want to say thoughts are with the family- and we're going to await the outcome of the investigation. _ police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, including the over 4000 people who attended this event, which has really shaken at the local community and also residents say created scenes they have never seen before. ., ~' , ., , created scenes they have never seen before. ., ,, i. , . before. thank you very much. apologies _ before. thank you very much. apologies for _ before. thank you very much. apologies for the _ before. thank you very much. apologies for the slight - before. thank you very much. i apologies for the slight technical problems that we had during that conversation. buckingham palace has

confirmed lady susan hussey apologised to the charity had. she stepped down from a post after she allegedly asked miss fulani where she was from. let's get more on this from our royal correspondence mac, what more do we know about this meeting? what more do we know about this meetini ?, . what more do we know about this meetini ?, , ., i. meeting? just to give you the background — meeting? just to give you the background to _ meeting? just to give you the background to this, _ meeting? just to give you the background to this, as - meeting? just to give you the background to this, as you i meeting? just to give you the - background to this, as you explained this was initially a meeting between the two meg ladies and the buckingham palace reception on the 29th of november. it was at the start of the 16 days of un action against gender—based violence. it was hosted by the queen consort, there was a meeting when fulani went in there, she said that second i came up to her, she moved her hair to have a look at her name badge and then there was this just like she said there was an interrogation. asking where she was from and where

miss fulani was born in britain, the questioning went on and on and on, according to miss fulani for a number of minutes. you have the impression that lady susan hussey wouldn't take it that she was actually british. this caused a huge storm in the media when miss fulani posted about next day on twitter and caused a lot of debate, very quickly buckingham palace said they would investigate it, lady susan hussey had to step down, she had offered her extreme apologies for any hurt caused and she had said at that point she hoped the meeting might happen so she could offer her personal apologies and that it appears has happened at buckingham palace this morning was not in a statement that was released in the last hour says there had been this meeting described as a meeting filled with warmth and understanding, lady susan hussey offered her sincere apologies and for the distress caused and lady

susan hussey has pledged that the statement to deepen her awareness, offer sensitivities involved and is grateful to the unity to learn more about the issues in this area. so this is a statement released via buckingham palace. it also goes on to state, and this is echoed by a statement that was released on behalf of miss fulani last week, it says that she has since she treated unfairly received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and elsewhere and it really has been seen. and it really was extreme. and so, basically saying she has accepted his apology, appreciate that no malice was intended and i think both parties now aren't likely to say anything further, but hoping that they can put this behind them, the statement says that they are hoping to be left in peace to rebuild their lives in the wake of an immensely distressing period for them both. ., ~ an immensely distressing period for them both. ., ,, , ., , an immensely distressing period for them both. ., ~' ,, , . an immensely distressing period for them both. ., ,, , . ., them both. thank you very much for them both. thank you very much for

the update- — the actor kevin spacey is to face a further seven charges at his forthcoming trial in london for a series of alleged sexual offences. the actor appeared briefly by video link from the middle east at a hearing at westminster magistrates court. 0ur arts correspondent david sillito told me more about it. the seven charges were brought after a review of evidence by the crown prosecution service, they are all being brought by one man, allegations of indecent assault, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. they are all alleged to have taken place between that and one and 2004. kevin spacey has also faced otherjudges, fivejudges,, allegations brought by three other men, all of these will be tried at crown court injune of next year. —— five charges. kevin spacey spoke briefly to confirm his name, birth and address. he was speaking from

the middle east, by video link. we understand he will be appearing in person for a preliminary hearing which will be taking place in january of next year.- which will be taking place in january of next year. which will be taking place in janua of next ear. ~ january of next year. where were we u . january of next year. where were we u- to with january of next year. where were we up to with the _ january of next year. where were we up to with the cases _ january of next year. where were we up to with the cases stop _ january of next year. where were we up to with the cases stop there - january of next year. where were we up to with the cases stop there is i january of next year. where were we up to with the cases stop there is a l up to with the cases stop there is a case going on in the united states already, how does this fit in with that, if at all?— already, how does this fit in with that, if at all? that other case was a civil action _ that, if at all? that other case was a civil action brought _ that, if at all? that other case was a civil action brought by _ that, if at all? that other case was a civil action brought by an - that, if at all? that other case was a civil action brought by an actor. a civil action brought by an actor who claimed that he was touched inappropriately at a party in 1986 when he was 14 years old. that case ended with a jury finding for kevin spacey. it was an allegation where $40 million was asked in compensation. that case came to an end. these are criminal proceedings, allegations of sexual assault, sexual indecency and they will be in

the uk next year. the first time since the coronavirus, more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu then covered. both illnesses are increasing at the moment but the rate of flu admissions is now higher than in any week during the previous four winters. earlier i spoke to professor kamila hawthorn, head of the graduate entry medicine programme at swansea university. in regards to the flue incidents rising so rapidly. at the royal couege rising so rapidly. at the royal college of gps we have a really fantastic database of information that comes in from hundreds of practices on a regular basis. the research and surveillance centre, it is showing the rapid rise in flue, just over the last couple of weeks. normally we expect to see a lot of flue between trismus and new year, but for the last two meg years, because of covid, we have seen far

fewer cases as people were socially isolated. notjust of flu but of all respiratory illnesses that are transmitted through sneezing and close contact with each other. i just wonder, when you think about flu and colds, there is almost a sense of, if you are on public transport, you are mixing with people, going to parties, you almost feel as if enough people have it it's inevitable you will catch it. is it anything we have learned from the pandemic that we could apply that would perhaps minimise the severity or the numbers of people who are catching these viruses? yes. who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu — who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu and _ who are catching these viruses? yes, because of flu and other _ who are catching these viruses? isis because of flu and other respiratory viruses are caught in very much the same way that covid is caught. it really is the same guidance, using those hand gels to keep your hands as clean as possible, washing hands regularly, using tissues, sneezing and tag achieves or tissues and away

from people. because that is how these things are transmitted. {bitten these things are transmitted. given that we are — these things are transmitted. given that we are still _ these things are transmitted. given that we are still quite _ these things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early - these things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early in - these things are transmitted. given that we are still quite early in the winter season, that we are still quite early in the winterseason, how that we are still quite early in the winter season, how concerned are you and other medical leaders about the pressure that the nhs could face as we get into the depths of winter, beyond christmas and new year? i think we are all very concerned, we are seeing the nhs creaking as it advances towards christmas, certainly for us in general practice the numbers of consultations have just rocketed up in the last two or three weeks, we are seeing almost double the number of people per day that we would normally see. 0ur on—call doctor, for example, is seeing close on 70—80 people in a day and that really is almost undoable full stop it is a very heavy workload day after day. bud heavy workload day after day. and then, 'ust

heavy workload day after day. and then, just wonder, if the uptake of flu vaccinations this year it has been any different to previous years, given its much more than people because my consciousness because of having gone through the covid vaccination programme, people might be thinking more in those terms stop do you have any idea people have embraced flu vaccination more than in previous years? i think it's has been — more than in previous years? i think it's has been about _ more than in previous years? i think it's has been about the _ more than in previous years? i think it's has been about the same - more than in previous years? i think it's has been about the same as - more than in previous years? i think it's has been about the same as in l it's has been about the same as in previous years. i certainly haven't heard that it is less or more than normal. we have certainly been holding our normal flu vaccination drives at weekends as well as during working hours in the week. opportunistically, we have been vaccinating if someone comes to see me who needs a flu jab, i will make sure they get one before they leave, of course as long as they have consented. i know that at some of the covid vaccination clinics people have been offered flu jabs in one arm and covid jobs in the other. it perfectly safe to do that. we are very keen, it's not too late to

becoming a judge flu jab, i would strongly advise anybody with a chronic illness he was over six to five and children under five, chronic illness he was over six to five and children underfive, who should also be vaccinated against flu with the nasal vaccine to come and get that done if they haven't had it done. and get that done if they haven't had it done-— and get that done if they haven't had it done. that was the chair of the r0 al had it done. that was the chair of the royal college _ had it done. that was the chair of the royal college of— had it done. that was the chair of the royal college of general- the royal college of general practitioners are speaking to me a little earlier full stop it's been nearly 60 years since president kennedy was shot dead in dallas, ever since then the circumstances around his assassination has been subject to speculation and conspiracy theories. now thousands of documents around his death have been released to the public for the first time. our north america correspondent reports.- first time. our north america correspondent reports. from dallas, texas, the flash _ correspondent reports. from dallas, texas, the flash apparently - texas, the flash apparently official. _ texas, the flash apparently official, president kennedy died at 1pm. _ official, president kennedy died at 1pm, central standard time. 59 years aio, 1pm, central standard time. 59 years ago. president _ 1pm, central standard time. 59 years ago, president john _ 1pm, central standard time. 59 years ago, president john kennedy - 1pm, central standard time. 59 years ago, president john kennedy was - 1pm, central standard time. 59 years| ago, president john kennedy was shot ago, presidentjohn kennedy was shot as he rode in a motorcade through

dallas. he accused killer was lee harvey oswald. a former us marine who never stood trial, because he, too, was shot and killed on under police custody. an investigation concluded that oswald had acted alone, but the circumstances are surrounded this pivotal moment in us history have never been fully explained to the satisfaction of the millions of americans.— millions of americans. president biden believes _ millions of americans. president biden believes all _ millions of americans. president biden believes all information i biden believes all information related to president kennedy's assassination should be released to the greatest extent possible, consistent with national security. the documents reveal new details about the investigation, including what the authorities knew about the movements of lee harvey oswald in the weeks before the assassination. there are bits and pieces that are fascinating, we have just come across— fascinating, we have just come across one _ fascinating, we have just come across one just a few minutes ago that shows — across one just a few minutes ago that shows us something we had never

seen before _ that shows us something we had never seen before. lee harvey oswald went to mexico— seen before. lee harvey oswald went to mexico cityjust a few weeks before — to mexico cityjust a few weeks before he — to mexico cityjust a few weeks before he assassinated president kennedy, it wasn't a travel visit, he was _ kennedy, it wasn't a travel visit, he was seeing the cuban embassy and the russian _ he was seeing the cuban embassy and the russian embassy and he was trying _ the russian embassy and he was trying to— the russian embassy and he was trying to get a visa to cuba and russia — trying to get a visa to cuba and russia. . ., trying to get a visa to cuba and russia. _, ,., , _ russia. unconfirmed reports say the president- -- — russia. unconfirmed reports say the president... historians _ russia. unconfirmed reports say the president... historians are - russia. unconfirmed reports say the president... historians are poring i president... historians are poring over the details, _ president... historians are poring over the details, but _ president... historians are poring over the details, but there - president... historians are poring over the details, but there are i president... historians are poring over the details, but there are noj over the details, but there are no bombshells, no smoking guns are to support the many conspiracy theories that, for decades, have swirled around the case. some of the documents are still being withheld from the public by the caa says its protect intelligence sources and methods. —— like the cia. the methods. -- like the cia. the president _ methods. -- like the cia. the president of _ methods. -- like the cia. the president of the _ methods. —— like the cia. the president of the united states is dead _ president of the united states is dead. , . _, , ., president of the united states is dead. , . , ., dead. they include records from as late as the — dead. they include records from as late as the 1990s, _ dead. they include records from as late as the 1990s, suggesting - dead. they include records from as late as the 1990s, suggesting the i late as the 1990s, suggesting the agency was still pursuing the case decades later. polls suggest most americans don't believe official accounts of the president's

assassination and the release of these documents will do nothing to change the public scepticism around howjohn f kennedy died. shall we find out what is happening with the weather, let's do that and we can speak to our correspondence. something a little milder heading our way by the end of the weekend, changes in the way, until then it is just bitterly cold and that is certainly true overnight tonight. still some showers falling as snow, a few centimetres of snow across the pennines too, wintry mixes in some of these showers, clearest skies tonight in east anglia, south—east england, may be lows of minus eight celsius. won't be too much in the way of a freezing fog tomorrow morning. it's cloudy, quite breezy, particularly i was towards the west, there will be this line of showers milling down through north—west england into the midlands, some showers western wales, may be a showers western wales, may be a shower or two for northern ireland, generally dry, lots of dry weather

tomorrow, with some sunny spells, temperature starting to creep up into the mid—single figures as our weather fronts with our milder feeling air approaches from the west. it will be cold out to what areas on sunday, various hazards if you are travelling, including snow, especially of the high ground and plenty of icy surfaces too.

hello, this is bbc news with ben boulos. the headlines. empty tracks and stations with four out five trains cancelled — leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the brixton academy. three people are critically ill in hospital after a crush last night outside a concert in south london lady susan hussey, who repeatedly

asked black british charity boss ngozi fulani where she was from during a royal reception, has apologised to her in person today. more people are being taken to hospital in england with flu than with covid for the first time since the pandemic began forced underground. ukraine suffers a massive attack from russia that's targeted power and water supplies. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's paul. let's start in qatar where the world cup draws to a close this weekend. sunday's final sees argentina take on france, before that though is the third place play—off — and it's perhaps not the fixture we were expecting,

as morocco become the first african team to play in the fixture. let's get more from olly foster — who's in doha for us. no matter what happens tomorrow against croatia, the morocco coach says his players have done their country proud and they have been brilliant, haven't they? thea;t country proud and they have been brilliant, haven't they? they really have done- — brilliant, haven't they? they really have done- it _ brilliant, haven't they? they really have done. it is _ brilliant, haven't they? they really have done. it is a _ brilliant, haven't they? they really have done. it is a fixture _ brilliant, haven't they? they really have done. it is a fixture we - have done. it is a fixture we normally gloss over and don't pay much attention to i'm remember england played it last time out against the belgians and they lost that in russia four years ago but you hope for the tens of thousands of moroccan vans still here that follow their journey all the way through where they knocked out spain and portugal before finally meeting their match against the french, they felt hard done by with a couple of refereeing decisions but you hope that the stadium is packed out with those funds, the moroccan vans, to see how they get on against croatia and they desperately want to take home to morocco the bronze medal

meaning they finished third here. i think it is a good match to play. something that never happened for an african team at the world cup. and after losing against france, of course, we are disappointed, but like i said, we played good and reach the semifinal of the world cup, so after the game and a day later, we can be happy and proud. it should be a good one. infantino made infa ntino made headlines infantino made headlines before his press conference, but what has he had to say this time round? some interesting things about the next world cup. ida interesting things about the next world cu. ., ., ., interesting things about the next worldcu. ., ., ., ., , world cup. no hour-long soliloquy in which he says — world cup. no hour-long soliloquy in which he says i _ world cup. no hour-long soliloquy in which he says i feel _ world cup. no hour-long soliloquy in which he says i feel gay, _ world cup. no hour-long soliloquy in which he says i feel gay, disabled, i which he says i feel gay, disabled, qatari, when he rounded on the critics of those who thought that it

should not have the world cup and he touched on some of the issues about inclusivity and the plight of migrant workers but in a footballing sense one of the headlines was looking ahead to the next world cup which is going to bejointly looking ahead to the next world cup which is going to be jointly hosted by canada, the us and mexico and it will be vast in size and also in the number of nations, 48 taking part and we thought there would be 16 groups of three but they've taken a step back, the technical committee and there was always a feeling it would lead to collusion in the final group matches before getting to a knockout round of 32 and a lot of dead rubbers as well. and infantino has loved the group stages and how close they have been here and they will go back to the drawing board and work out how to shake up the 48 teams in four years' time. here the groups of four have been incredible in the sense that until the last minute of the last match, you would not know who goes ahead.

i think we have to revisit or at least re—discuss the format, whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four. this is something that will certainly be on the agenda in the next meetings. lots of solutions, and it could get messy when you start looking at the best third placed runner—up to get through to the round of 32 but they do not feel that groups of three is a goer, so watch this space. brilliant stuff. thank you. away from qatar, and leg—spinner rehan ahmed is poised to become the youngest man to play test cricket for england, after being handed a debut in the third test against pakistan, which starts tomorrow. the 18—year—old breaks the record of legendary yorkshire batter brian close, which has stood since 1949. ahmed and wicketkeeper ben foakes come into the side in karachi, in place of pace bowler james anderson and all—rounder willjacks. england have an unassailable 2—0

lead in the three—match series. a bit of history elsewhere in the big bash as the sydney thunder set an unwanted record — they were bowled out forjust 15 runs by the adelaide strikers in 5.5 overs. england's alex hales was one of five thunder players to score a duck, while brendan doggett top scored with a just four runs. ahead of the new tennis season, emma radacanu has appointed another new coach — she'll start 2023 working with sebastian sachs. last year's us open winner will get guidance from the man who helped belinda bencic to olympic gold in 2021. the german has also worked with two—time grand slam champion viktoria azarenka as part of her team. that's all the sport for now.

retail sales fell last month after black friday failed to give its expected boost to online trade, officialfigures indicate. sales volumes dropped 0.4% in november, a much weaker figure than expected, with shoppers remaining under pressure from the rising cost of living. retail expert clare bailey told us more. well, it's very important because it kick—starts the christmas shopping season and especially now when people are trying to manage their spending in a more sort of planned and organised manner, being able to get deals before christmas so you can buy some of your gifts in advance rather than having that last—minute rush and not being sure if there'll be stock or if the prices will be there. that does help and has helped people in recent years. and i think it also helps with that sort of sense of remorse. when you find out on boxing day that the item you bought only last week has dropped by 50% in the sales. so it does help with those sorts of things. but i think actually going back to these figures,

what's important is this is sales volume and we are in a time of inflation, the sales value has gone up. so what the data actually tells us is we're buying less for more money, which of course is basically the definition or the consequence of inflation on consumers. so even though we spent a little bit more, we tried to rein it in in terms of the volume of products we were buying to manage our budgets in order to make sure that we didn't get ourselves into hot water the other side of christmas. ok, so tills are still ringing, even buying less is costing people more. is it necessarily bad news for retailers or not? it still is, because the truth of the matter is, although inflation is apparently high for the retailers, their costs have gone up a lot more than just that 10% that we see in the prices. they're absorbing up to 50%,

even 100% costs in energy rises. they're manufacturers of things, even as something as simple as a jar of pasta sauce. it comes in glass and a glass manufacturer use a huge amount of wholesale gas. their prices just to produce ourjar of pasta sauce have gone literally skyward. so whilst the retailers are having to put prices up a bit, they don't reflect the amount of money it really costs them. so they're actually making less profit per item sold. so when we see less items sold, even though it's cost us more, it's actually cost the retailer even more than that. so i would be quite concerned for those who have less deep pockets that this is a strongly unpleasant indicator for what will be reported when they put theirjanuary sales figures and performance figures out. i was just going to ask you about that from the retailers you speak to. how's the christmas shopping season going for them? well, it's a very mixed bag. i think that where we've got businesses who've really understood the customer and they give exceptional service, unique products, and certainly some of the more independent and artisan types are doing 0k.

nobody�*s saying it's an amazing time because their cost base is spiralling, but retailers are doing slightly better than perhaps other high street businesses like hospitality and leisure, because if you think about it, we've seen that food volumes have done 0k and that's probably more because people are transferring their spend. that might have been christmas parties in restaurants and bars. maybe they're bringing in food to the office or doing family gatherings at home just to save that little bit of extra cash. and i think the impact is actually being felt most significantly in the hospitality and leisure sector. latest government figures show rivers in england were polluted by livestock farms 300 times last year, and 20 of them were major spills. but only six of the polluting farms were prosecuted, with the environment agency sending warnings instead. the dairy industry is responsible for most agricultural pollution. our environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall reports.

0ur rivers — beautiful from a distance, but we're becoming more aware how they're being poisoned by human sewage. what's still murky, though, is the pollution coming from farms. this is the reality of milk production. with more than 2.5 million dairy cows in the uk, their waste is one big dirty problem. we went to a stretch of the frome in somerset. over the last six years, two big leaks of waste from a dairy farm upstream killed around 2,000 fish here. sue everett, who lives nearby, showed us the evidence she filmed. the first thing was the smell. it was appalling. and, as i approached the river, i could see that it was black. how did you feel when you were filming this? sick. sick because i know it had happened before, not that long ago in the same place

from the same farm. the farmer responsible was prosecuted for both leaks and ordered to pay tens of thousands of pounds. do you think people are aware that this is a problem? no, i think farm pollution has been hidden away for far too long. it's the unseen contamination, though, that really worries conservationists — the creeping decline of life. this is a river that's really suffered, and half of all pollution caused by agriculture is down to the industry that gives us billions of pints of milk a year. while supplying that industry, each dairy cow produces up to 53 litres of manure a day. so all the cows in the uk produce more than 50 billion litres a year. that's enough to fill wembley stadium 12 times over. properly applied, it's a highly valuable fertiliser, called slurry. this is the river nadder in wiltshire. there should be some mayfly there. oh, yes. yeah, look at that. david is a volunteer, taking samples of the smallest creatures to monitor the health of the river.

how do you feel looking down at this tray and the life in it, as opposed to what you used to sample? a real tragedy. the freshwater shrimp, which even three or four years ago we would have been counting them in the hundreds, here i am, and i'm struggling to find ten. we've discovered that last year alone, there were 300 incidents of river contamination linked to livestock farms, including 20 major spills. yet, only six farms were prosecuted. defra says it has now stepped up farm inspections, carrying out more than 3,000 this year compared to around 700 in the whole of 2021. but many are doing their best to comply and some are innovating. this is kate hall's farm in cornwall. her cows supply major supermarkets with milk and their waste, rather than a problem, it's helping to power the farm. the first system of its kind in the country, it harvests methane gas emitted by the slurry, so it can be used

as tractor fuel. but kate says it's notjust about being high tech. it's a really important product. it's like liquid gold, isn't it? you know, it's what you need to make those fields out there grow and it helps the soil and it helps your grass, and then it helps these guys to produce the milk that we need to sell. so i think it's on the forefront of every farm — dairy farmer's mind. it's on the government's mind, too. it's just created a £13 million fund to help farmers improve their systems. the question is whether it's enough for the industry to become cleaner. claire marshall, bbc news. a landslide that engulfed a campsite close to the malaysian capital, kuala lumpur, is now known to have killed at least 16 people. about 20 others are still unaccounted for. mud, rocks and trees swept down a hillside at the site on a farm in the early hours of the morning as people slept in their tents. ten people have died in a fire at a residential building

on the outskirts of the french city of lyon. five of those who lost their lives were children. 170 firefighters tackled the blaze in the early hours of this morning. the french interior minister says the cause of the fire is being investigated. a powerful new satellite designed to monitor the earth's water has been launched into space. the surface water and ocean topography satellite — known as swot — will map the precise height of rivers, reservoirs and lakes, and track ocean surface features at unprecedented it's a joint mission by nasa and the french space agency cnes, with contributions from the canadian and united kingdom space agencies. it should help scientists get a better idea about climate change and its effects. dryoung lenn, is a physical oceanographer from bangor university's school of ocean sciences. dr lenn will be working at one of the specific 'crossover points' the swot satellite will pass over in the cape basin near cape town. i asked her how important

this development is. well, satellites in general have been really valuable to us in terms of giving us global ideas and a global scale of the way ocean circulation works. but the features we have been able to measure well are on the order of a hundred kilometres across, so it's exciting to measure things that are smaller than that because it turns out that a lot of the smaller scale features in the ocean we think are really important for fluxing things from the surface which includes carbon fluxes as well as bringing up nutrients to the surface to help support primary productivity and these small—scale features are important for increasing fluxes across ocean basins, so in the cape beach where we are working we are interested in the indian ocean going into the south atlantic. so it's really exciting to be able to have a satellite to provide

the data that would be otherwise hard to get with ships and other in—person ways of measuring. how do things like that, the point you make about the leakage into the ocean, how does it help us in the fight against climate change? i guess it is more, in that particular case we are looking at the way the climate system functions. the leakage from the indian ocean to the south atlantic is really important because it carries a lot of heat from the sub—tropical indian ocean and that heat gets into what we know as overturning circulation of the global oceans and that overturning circulation has a lot to do with warm currents being drawn up the surface to the high latitudes where these surface fluxes allow water to cool and slink away from the surface and this represents a big redistribution of heat

across the globe is and affects the climate, so being able to understand these processes better gives us a better way of making sure we are representing the process properly in climate models so we get better predictions for the future. the headlines on bbc news. members of the uk's largest rail union are staging a 48—hour walk—out. just one in five trains are expected to run today and tomorrow in england, scotland and wales. three people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after a crush outside a concert in south london. lady susan hussey, who repeatedly asked black british charity boss ngozi fulani where she was from during a royal reception, has apologised to her in person today

in belgium, customs officials at the port of antwerp say they're on course to seize a record amount of cocaine this year. the city is now where 40 per cent of all cocaine detections in the eu are being made. police in europe claimed earlier this month they'd smashed one of the biggest drug smuggling gangs, but the bbc has been told corruption among officials and violence are on the rise in belgium — with more cocaine being made available for users on the continent — and in the uk. from antwerp, our europe correspondent nick beake sent this special report for europe's cocaine smugglers, nothing beats the port of antwerp — a sprawling, open complex through which massive quantities of the drug are being funnelled. only 10% is thought to be intercepted, the rest reaching all corners of the continent and british streets. paul myers was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2007 for trafficking drugs. oh, it was completely wrong what i did, 100%. antwerp was his number one route into europe. everybody who's doing

this kind of business, they know antwerp is easy. today, repentant, he worries the authorities aren't doing enough to secure the port, so takes us on a drive to show us what he's concerned about. the port is open. you go inside and all the information that you need to start something, you can see yourself. you have the truck drivers, you have the people who are working there, you have the name of the boat. now we stay here, nobody asks something. customs teams at the port are on course to seize 100 tonnes of cocaine this year, a new record. again, cocaine. smugglers are innovating all the time, hiding cocaine in the frames of shipping containers, tree trunks and even bananas. so much cocaine is being discovered in antwerp they can't destroy it fast enough. there aren't enough incinerators. tsunami, avalanche, how you will. it's coming to us and we are trying to stop the most. every year it's growing and growing and we are doing more and more controls.

but only 2% of containers are physically checked. much of the imports are perishable food that must be shifted quickly, and there's just not enough time to check everything. cocaine getting through the port of antwerp is now flooding the rest of europe. we are off to meet one user who says it's easier than ever to get hold of the drug. this man, who we are calling matt, says it's now easier to get cocaine than cannabis. as he sees, as his delivery arrives, the couriers are often young or older women to not attract suspicion. when you are buying cocaine, you are giving your money to gangs involved in other crime, maybe prostitution, luring young women in.

do you think about that? they shoot on your door with guns, with kalashnikovs, or they throw grenades. the recent deluge of cocaine into antwerp has fuelled a big increase in violence. everyone is afraid that one day or another innocent people could get hurt, maybe killed, by a mistake. europe's law enforcement agency recently claimed to have smashed a gang that brought in a third of the continent's cocaine, but here the floodgates have opened and it seems the most lucrative of imports is flowing freely. nick beake, bbc news, antwerp. the leader of australia's opposition liberal party, peter dutton, has repeatedly referred to the deputy speaker sharon claydon as "mr speaker". although ms claydon reminded him that she is "not mr speaker", mr dutton continued referring to her in that way

throughout the speech. the shadow energy minister presided overfuel watch, grocery watch, and mr speaker, he is taking this government and our country down a dead end. leader of the opposition. i'm going to interrupt you. you've continued to call me mr speaker and i've given it a long rein. you need to use my correct title and when you are referring to other members. that is a very valid point, madam deputy speaker, and i'm sorry i have not addressed you with the correct title. but the fact is, mr speaker, that there is a broader issue taking place here. you know that trouble is on the horizon, mr speaker. i am not mr speaker. we want to firm up the renewables and we do not want the lights to go out. we don't want there to be, mr speaker, we don't want there to be a lack of stability.

leader of the opposition, can you... we don't want there to be a lack of energy in this system that drives manufacturers offshore. leader of the australian opposition peter dutton there. the continued cold weather, especially in scotland is affecting some of the country's main commuter routes. a met office amber warning for snow is in place in parts of central scotland around glasgow and stirling, while police are warning people across the whole of scotland to travel with caution. 0ur scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, reports. wintry conditions and difficulties on the roads. a blast of snow after the prolonged low temperatures has meant that in some areas, traffic ground to a halt. some chose to work from home for the day. for others, this wasn't an option. i have just checked the e—mails, that's why i stopped, there is quite a few staff not going to be able to make it in so i know it is going

to be a busy day. from minor roads to some of the main routes, the disruption has been widespread. police have warned people to take care if they have to head out. in shetland, around 1,600 properties remain without power for a fifth day after heavy snow brought down lines. engineers say it might take the weekend to restore electricity to all. a team of volunteers spent the pitch ahead of tomorrow's game for peterhead fc. in the worst—affected areas, schools have been shut. some for the entire week. and what are you going to do for the rest of the day? probably go sledging. it is the best thing to do, in my opinion, maybe do some homeschooling, revision for the tests, because i need to do that. luckily we are working from home today and the kids have got a home from school, but my daughter is going to france tonight, but i don't know whether it is going to be cancelled, which is a shame. school is off but it'sj

very cold, so, rugby has been cancelled for the last few games, and training is off. - what are you making of the roads today? i didn't quite realise what sort of carnage it was going to be. picture postcard pretty and fun for some but after days of freezing temperatures, many will be hoping warmer weather is on the way. lorna gordon, bbc news. ben brown is here with the news later. let's have a look at the weather with elizabeth. you are riiht. weather with elizabeth. you are right. warmer _ weather with elizabeth. you are right. warmer weather - weather with elizabeth. you are right. warmer weather will - weather with elizabeth. you are right. warmer weather will be i weather with elizabeth. you are i right. warmer weather will be on weather with elizabeth. you are - right. warmer weather will be on its way as we head through the weekend and things will turn milder but as we've been hearing, plenty of snow, especially for parts of scotland. this is st andrews as recorded by our weather watcher and further than south and east its derbyshire and not making it out of low single

figures and bitterly cold today but over the weekend some milder air filtering in from the west along with ice and again a bit of snow and here is the radar showing us the snowfall earlier on. mostly across the high ground of scotland now but we will see more hill snow overnight night for scotland and across the pennines, a few centimetres here, and through the night a wintry mix of elements in the showers out towards the west but the clear skies again for east anglia and the south—east and temperatures could drop as low as —7 or —8 but the breezy south—westerly seas not too many issues with freezing fog but a widespread frost to start the day and showers in the west of wales and for the north west of england tracking into the midlands on saturday afternoon and a small chance of a shower out towards northern ireland but for most it will stay dry. sunny spells again for the south—east of england, but here is the mild air tied in with

the mild air approaching from the south as we head into sunday so here is the yellow replacing the blue and colder air but some tricky travelling conditions if you are out and about, so there is a risk of some freezing rain, treacherous conditions and lots of ice and some hill snow mostly as the rain, wintry -- quinty and it will snow especially over the high ground, icy conditions on the ground it is sub zero in the rain hits it will turn quickly to ice. temperatures taking a long time to recover in the east but between ten and 12 degrees by the end of the day on sunday towards devon and cornwall and across the board double figures on monday morning. an awful lot milder than it was early in the week. is the mild air set to last? at the moment we think it is and we could see colder air digging into parts of scotland as we head towards the end of the

week but further south across england and wales it should last two double figures but it will be wet and windy at times.

this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines... the leader of the rmt rail unions has a deal to avert further strikes is achievable. members are in a fresh 48 hour walk out, leaving passengers frustrated. thea;t fresh 48 hour walk out, leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and — passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk _ passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to _ passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each _ passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other, - passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other, and j sit down and talk to each other, and stop being a pain to everybody else, basically. stop being a pain to everybody else, basicall . ., . ., . ., , basically. police and concertgoers clashin: at basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the — basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the brixton _ basically. police and concertgoers clashing at the brixton academy. | clashing at the brixton academy. three people are critically ill in hospital after a crush last night outside the concert in south london. lady susan hussey who repeatedly asked the black british charity boss and goes he flaws he where she was from during a roller reception has