this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky is travelling to washington today in his first overseas trip since war broke out. ambulance workers go on strike today in a dispute over pay — as union leaders criticise the prime ministerfor not being willing to negotiate. every time the health secretary speaks, i've got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership that i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. the health secretary says the three unions striking today have "refused" to work with the government at the national level. the scottish government will allow 16 and 17—year—olds to change their legal gender, after a vote rejects moves to keep

the minimum age at 18. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky is heading to the united states in his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. us media had reported he was travelling to washington. on twitter, mr zelensky confirmed the trip, saying, "presidentjoe biden and i will discuss cooperation between ukraine and the us. i will also have a speech at the congress and a number of bilateral meetings." a white house spokesperson added, "president biden will announce a significant new package of security assistance to help ukraine".

our correspondent in kyiv hugo bachega explained why this trip is so important for the ukrainian leader. it is very significant because this is the first foreign trip by president zelensky since the beginning of the war. the us is ukraine's most important ally in terms of the financial and military support that washington has been giving. an important day and a very busy day for president zelensky in washington. he will be meeting president biden at the white house. president biden will announce a package with military assistance, and i think the key thing is that the us will be announcing that it is sending patriot missiles to the ukrainians. this is a sophisticated defence system. the ukrainians say they need it to protect the country from those russian air strikes. for weeks, we have been talking about those missiles, those drones that russia has been using to target this country's essential infrastructure, leaving millions of people

without electricity, heating and water as temperatures plummet below freezing in many parts of the country. a very important development, announcement that will be made by president biden later today. then president zelensky will be addressing the us congress and i think he will be making the case for more help and more aid. i think in congress there is opposition, especially from some republicans, who have criticised the level of support that is being given by the us to ukraine. so i think president zelensky will use this opportunity to highlight and talk about the damage and the destruction that this war has caused here in ukraine, and to highlight the need for more help. hugo bottega in kyiv, there. with some on the republican side in the us raising questions about continued funding for ukraine, will president

zalevski be able to change them hearts and minds on this trip? here's cbs news correspondentjarred hill. you know, the timing certainly seems to show that that is something that is happening here because again, this is at a time where congress is in the middle of approving some economic packages which would include more aid to ukraine, but it is also at a time where in just a matter of weeks, really, power in the house of representatives here in the us is going to shift from democrat control to republican control, and there is a growing faction of republicans who are more outspoken when it comes to the questions that they have regarding the level of aid that the us is continuing to send to ukraine, how long that should last, if it should be a different level of scrutiny over that assistance, especially as inflation in the united states continues to hit a lot of folks at home in their pockets as well. so we are expecting to hear something from president zelensky, regarding... really talking about why this

is important, continuing this fight against russia. as we have seen, some members of the democratic party saying notjust because this is against russia itself but they say this is a fight for democracy. here, tens of thousands of ambulance workers, including paramedics and call handlers, have begun strike action today across england and wales. the government say most have received a pay rise of at least 4%, but the unions say this isn't enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. so, how could these strikes affect you? if you need to call 999, there will be staff answering calls and sending out some ambulances. all categoryi calls — classed as the most life—threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest — will be responded to by an ambulance. however, conditions which are serious but notjudged to be immediately life—threatening — which could include people who may be having a stroke — might not be immediately attended to by emergency teams. urgent problems that fit into category 3 —

such as a woman in late—stage labour — will not be prioritised. this morning, the head of the unite union, one of the three unions involved in the strikes, accused rishi sunak of the worst "abdication of leadership" she has seen in 25 years. the health secretary says the unions involved have "refused" to work with the government at the national level. our health corresondentjim reed has been taking a look at the pressure facing a&e departments. the most widespread ambulance strike in decades has gone ahead after there was no last minute breakthrough in talks. the staggered action from three unions started at midnight across wales, the west midlands and the north of england. at 6am, it was extended to the east midlands and the south, except the isle of wight. at midday, paramedics in london willjoin the strike. ambulance staff say the dispute is about pay, which hasn't kept up with inflation, but also patient safety. it's been one of the most

difficult decisions ambulance workers have had to make. the current context we work in sees delays that have caused significant patient harm, and nobody who works for the ambulance service wants to add to that harm or increase that risk. ambulance services are already under intense pressure. here in gloucester this week, long queues of vehicles were waiting to unload patients because there was no space inside the hospital to treat them. that same problem has driven up response times across the country, with most of the services in england declaring critical incidents this week. both the government and some managers in the health service are concerned the strikes could increase the risk to patients. ambulance unions say the most serious, life—threatening callouts should not be affected. they should go ahead as usual. but other services are very likely to see some disruption. the impact will vary by region.

the most serious category one calls, such as someone not breathing or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as should some category two calls like strokes or serious burns. but other urgent problems like a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home might not be answered. this is going to be quite a difficult period. and there may be some delays to people but we'll make sure that those people who need the interventions in a time critical period get that time critical care that they need. you drive first, all right, you get round there. the government says 600 troops have been trained to step in and drive ambulances, although they're not allowed to treat patients or use blue lights. i call on the trade unions to act responsibly. they've said that they will provide life threatening cover, that they will provide emergency cover. it's essential that they do so to protect patients. paramedics accept patient safety may be affected,

but say strike action is still justified. they have not taken the decision to take strike action lightly. they feel they have been forced into this position because year after year, the government have failed to listen to them. ambulance staff in northern ireland also went on strike last week. while in scotland a new pay offer has just been rejected by one union, but a strike has not yet been called. the message today then is still to use 999 if there's a life—threatening emergency. but in some other urgent cases, expect a longer wait for help. jim reed, bbc news. our health correspondent katherine da costa is on the picket line in coventry for us. yes, about 30 or so ambulance workers from the unite union are here, they have been out since 6am this morning and they have got their banners and placards. they have been using their clackers and chanting. there has been quite a lot of high spirits but of course,

there is anger, too. they are calling for fair pay. ambulances have been coming out. we have seen lots with blue lights attending emergencies. some of the paramedics behind me will be on call and will have to leave the picket line and go to emergencies if they are called, because unions have agreed to respond to life—threatening emergencies. but services will be patchy across the country, depending on where you live because of what negotiations have ta ken place locally. even with contingency plans in place, the nhs is expecting to be extremely busy today. eight out of ten hospital trusts in england had already declared critical incidents even before today's strikes because of the pressure they are under. i can speak now to sharon graham, the general secretary of the unite union. sharon, the health secretary has criticised unions for not having a national strategy for dealing with category two calls like

heart attack and stroke. what is your response? every time the health secretary speaks, i have got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. we have negotiated locally all of the cover, the category one is all going to be answered and category two will be triaged, but the important thing to say is that this government has walked away from the negotiating table. this strike didn't need to happen. they need to get back to the negotiating table so we can get a proper pay rise for these workers and everyone can go back to work. the government has said it cannot afford above inflation pay rises and has accepted recommendations from the independent pay review body. where do we go from here? first of all, the pay review body is not independent and they pick and choose when they use it. but this is about choices. the energy companies have made £170 billion in excess profit, more than normal profit. they could use some of that, £50 billion, to plug the black hole and give these workers a 10% pay

rise, that only costs £6 billion and they'd have £4 billion left over, they need to make the right choices and stop backing profiteering and start backing the nhs. thank you. patients are being reminded to only use 999 in a genuine life emergency, otherwise, use 111 online or the helpline. 0ur correspondent tomos morgan has been speaking to striking workers on picket lines in cardiff this morning. the gmb union are striking here today. they have about a quarter of workers working in the welsh ambulance service here today, and the strike in wales began at midnight and will last for 2h hours, until midnight tonight. unlike in parts of england, there will be barely any military involvement in wales and they certainly won't be driving ambulances like they did during covid times but they might help out in the background

to a certain degree. just like in england, the welsh health minister, has said as well that people should only call 999 in real life threatening emergencies. but let's talk to somebody who has worked in the field for a number of years, ian has been here working for 30 years. i wonder if you could explain, really, how things got to this point for you, how things have changed and got harder, in your opinion? things have significantly changed over the years, insofar as health and well—being, the amount of pay that takes place, the lack of support and funding that goes on from national and uk governments, and we end up with a situation now where we are finding more and more staff are being impacted with their lifestyle and well—being, for lack of funding. so they are going to food banks and they are ending up buying cheaper food, which in turn impacts upon their health and well—being. the absenteeism is higher, the turnover of staff is higher. it has a direct effect

on what we can do for the public. have you thought about leaving the profession? i have thought on several occasions about leaving the profession but i appreciate and enjoy the core job in itself. the way things have turned out over the last few years with the hospital pressures and so forth has come to the point now where i feel that we must be doing something soon to support the nhs, otherwise it is not going to be here and i am going to be at a point where i am going to need that service sometime in the future and it is not going to be there for me. one more question to you before i turn to nathan, how difficult a decision was it for you today? i found it very, very difficult, i have been in the service 30 years and never has it come to this point. now it has come to the point where we are going to have to suffer a little pain, and i mean us, as in the staff and the general public, to maintain the service so that in the long term we have the ambulance service. nathan, just talk quickly about the numbers, i guess it is not as dramatic as some of the strikes we saw yesterday with the nurses,

tell us a little bit about the reasons for that? so the reason for that is that all of our members have a choice whether to respond to life—threatening calls or not. the majority have said that they are going to do that, which has left us with only a couple of people left because they are all out on call already. we have seen a couple of ambulances go out and as you can see behind me, there are three and there is usually ii ambulance bays there. it has got to be around that figure, plus the cars on top of that. as you can see, there are very few remaining. the other potential issue again is the bed blocking in hospitals. you may have staff stuck at hospital, unable to relieve themselves for their shift. yes, we have had reports of that this morning, the night crews that were due to finish this morning were still there. i don't know whether they have been released yet but clearly, a 12 hour shift, and add two, three, four hours on top of that and

that is a regular occurrence now. thank you, nathan and ian. as i say, the strike is due to last until midnight tonight and another union in wales will have the results of their ballot released tomorrow, whether or not they will be voting for industrial action as well in wales in the future. a little earlier, i asked our chief political correspondence nick eardley how much pressure the unions were putting the government under. it feels like the government is digging in as well. it feels like it is all actually just a big ramping up of the rhetoric about him is to blame for this this morning. the health secretary has been accusing unions of "making a conscious decision" to inflict harm on patients. that is a message you hear from others privately in government as well, who say that the decision of unions to go on strike today is one that is putting patients at risk

and is notjustified. at the same time, you have the unions saying, one, that there is an abdication of responsibility, two, that the government is not taking this seriously because they have not discussed pay, and to take the example of one union, it said that if there were any deaths today as a result of the strike action, it would be squarely at the government's door. now, there were talks between the unions and the health secretary yesterday but they didn't really go anywhere because pay was not on the table. this was what the health secretary told bbc breakfast about what went on. well, i was so concerned about the risk of uncertainty on the day from having local arrangements and individual decisions taken in call centres by members, that i met them yesterday to discuss the escalation process because i thought it was important that we had the opportunity on the day to escalate issues where patient safety risk was materialising, and so that ambulance management are able to work closely with local

union leaders to address those. of course, if you are calling people to respond to life—threatening emergency calls from the picket line, that creates further volatility as well. so that is what i was discussing with the unions, so that we can focus, which is my absolute focus, on patient safety. the unions say there was never a specific request for a nationwide deal when it came to dealing with emergency cases. i've just seen a tweet from unison, one of the unions involved, which says they are utterly shocked and the accusations are a destruction from the government's own failings. it all feels like the relationships are getting worse rather than better. that was nick eardley, our chief political correspondent. stephen raven has been a paramedic with the west midlands ambulance service for the last eight years but is on strike today, and he told me earlier he believe the blame lies with the government.

it is not something that anybody who works in a health caring profession takes lightly. when i respond today, when i go into work this evening, i will be responding to those emergencies. the truth is that the blame does lie with the government. the delays are already there. the impediment to me being able to do myjob effectively is already there. i went to a patient yesterday who had waited 18 hours and they asked me when i arrived, "is this a strike day?" no, this is the nhs. this is where we are at. i am under such personal and emotional pressure every moment that i do myjob that the pressure to take the strike action is not one i have taken lightly at all. we can speak now to mike padgham. he's chair of the independent care group, which represents care homes in york and north yorkshire. he also runs care homes in the area himself. thank you forjoining us. what are your chief concerns today? good

mornin: . your chief concerns today? good morning. well, _ your chief concerns today? good morning. well, i _ your chief concerns today? good morning. well, i am _ your chief concerns today? good morning. well, i am concerned l your chief concerns today? (emf. morning. well, i am concerned about the safety of our residents. we feel we are caught in the middle of this dispute but we will do everything we can to keep people safe. we have got a contingency plan should the worst come to the west but at the end of the day, if we can't get an ambulance, i guess that we will do a risk assessment and take our clients to hospital ourselves. qm. risk assessment and take our clients to hospital ourselves.— to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas 'ust about to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to _ to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to ask _ to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to ask you _ to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to ask you what - to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to ask you what are - to hospital ourselves. ok, so, iwas just about to ask you what are the l just about to ask you what are the contingencies? so you would if necessary take one of the people you care in your own car or perhaps even get a relative to come and help? would that be part of the planning you have done? i would that be part of the planning you have done?— would that be part of the planning you have done? i and my colleagues, we have a number— you have done? i and my colleagues, we have a number of— you have done? i and my colleagues, we have a number of vehicles - you have done? i and my colleagues, we have a number of vehicles we - we have a number of vehicles we could use, maybe not a car. i don't think we would ask relatives at this stage, it depends how things go but my understanding at the minute is quite fluid, if there is a category one incident, a threat to life, 999 is the place to call and an ambulance would be available but if it is category two, less serious,

although in the bigger picture, it is serious, having a stroke of course, we were take advice on what to do. we have got a way of getting advice over the internet and via video call from specialists, if needs be. but what i am saying is, if there is any doubt or delay and we are not sure what is happening, we are not sure what is happening, we would take it into our own hands and take that person to hospital to avoid further delay. that is how we are working things at the present. you may have heard the previous interview i did with a paramedic earlier, and he mentioned the story of a patient he saw yesterday who had been waiting 18 hours for an ambulance and who thought that yesterday was the day of the strike. the paramedic was basically saying, look, these problems already exist in the service and in that sense, today does not seem that different in terms of what the public can expect. do you feel sympathy for that perspective?— expect. do you feel sympathy for that perspective? yes, i do because i think, yes. — that perspective? yes, i do because i think, yes, things _ that perspective? yes, i do because i think, yes, things have _ that perspective? yes, i do because i think, yes, things have not - that perspective? yes, i do because i think, yes, things have not been i i think, yes, things have not been working for a long time, really. in

the health service but particularly in social care, we have had years of underfunding and years of problems. i do understand how difficult it is for the ambulance and nursing staff that are on strike, we have got sympathy with them. perhaps in my view, strike is not the way forward and we hope the government will get around the table and sort this out. but we will do the best we can in the circumstances. we are getting great support from the local authority and the nhs at a higher level. as i say, the residents are our first priority and we will make sure we care for them as best we can take the steps necessary to keep them safe. take the steps necessary to keep them safe-— take the steps necessary to keep them safe. , ., ., , ., them safe. interesting to hear you sa that them safe. interesting to hear you say that you _ them safe. interesting to hear you say that you have _ them safe. interesting to hear you say that you have sympathy - them safe. interesting to hear you say that you have sympathy for . them safe. interesting to hear you i say that you have sympathy for them but you are not quite sure about whether strike action is the way forward. but the government is saying to the ambulance staff, the call handlers and paramedics and so forth, who are out today, taking this industrial action, they are saying to them, wait, don't take strike action now, wait until next year and we will sort out the pay next year. is that a reasonable thing for the government to say

given that the paramedics are saying the service is broken? weill. given that the paramedics are saying the service is broken?— the service is broken? well, i agree with them, — the service is broken? well, i agree with them, the _ the service is broken? well, i agree with them, the service _ the service is broken? well, i agree with them, the service is _ the service is broken? well, i agree with them, the service is broken - the service is broken? well, i agree | with them, the service is broken but i think the government can take action quicker. i don't see a need to have to wait until next year. i think the pay review body could come up think the pay review body could come up with an emergency solution in between. but i mightjust say, as you would guess i probably would in the social care sector, social care lags way behind pay in terms of the nhs and we want to get parity with the nhs ourselves and social care staff are struggling. we have got sympathy but i think we have to put people first in this. i do think the government should get round the table and there should be some room for manoeuvre because in any negotiation, both sides have to move. the unions have said they would move and i think the government should move a bit further and solve this.— and solve this. thank you for “oinint and solve this. thank you for joining us- — back to our top story this hour. ukraine's president zelensky is travelling to washington, in his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february.

mr zelensky will address congress and meet president biden at the white house, where a new package of military aid will be announced. that will include patriot missiles. joining us now is radoslaw sikorski mep, chair of the us delegation of the european parliament. he served as the foreign minister and defence minister of poland in the past — including when russia first attacked ukraine, in 2014. thank you forjoining us. your thoughts first of all on the importance of this trip to the us for the president and ukraine? i forthe president and ukraine? i think it is hugely significant because it is a signal to vladimir putin that the united states will not abandon ukraine and i understand there will also be a decision announced to supply ukraine with even more sophisticated weapons, such as patriot missiles, which will help ukrainian cities be defended from the russian onslaught. i hope

president putin understands that he can't win this. president putin understands that he can't win thie— can't win this. president zelensky, on his visit — can't win this. president zelensky, on his visit this _ can't win this. president zelensky, on his visit this week _ can't win this. president zelensky, on his visit this week to _ can't win this. president zelensky, on his visit this week to back - can't win this. president zelensky, | on his visit this week to back matt, said it is extremely important for ukraine, in orderto said it is extremely important for ukraine, in order to get through this winter and next year, and he may well have had this visit to the us in mind when he said that. do you think he is concerned about continued support, given that we are imminently going to see a republican majority in the house of representatives, and some voices in the republican party have raised questions about the extent to which the us continues to support ukraine? um, he is right to be concerned but i think he will be reassured. i was in washington three weeks ago at the head of the delegation, and we consulted with both republicans and democrats, and the us has already spent $50 billion on this this year, and i understand they will use the

lame—duck session of congress to secure another comparable amount for next year. at the european parliament, we havejust passed legislation to give ukraine 18 billion euros economic assistance, thatis billion euros economic assistance, that is just the european institutions. there is also the european defence budget and then there are contributions from member states. so i think ukraine next year will be getting something in the order of another $100 billion, real money. i order of another $100 billion, real mone . ., order of another $100 billion, real mone . . ., ., , , money. i want to return to the issue of patriot missiles. _ money. i want to return to the issue of patriot missiles. last _ money. i want to return to the issue of patriot missiles. last month, - of patriot missiles. last month, germany offered patriot missiles to poland. poland said, actually, they should be supplied directly to ukraine but germany disagreed, citing fears of escalation. now that

the us is going to supply these missiles, patriot batteries, to ukraine, do you think there is a danger of escalation of the war? well, no, to help ukraine to defend their cities from russian missiles is not an escalation. it is actually an act of perfectly legitimate self—defence. i understand that the american patriot missiles will be manned by ukrainian soldiers. i think nato is sticking to its policy of not sending its troops to ukraine. and poland, now, you know, we have a nationalist government which builds its popularity on anti—german feeling so it was awkward for them to accept german assistance but after a bit of a hullabaloo, the german patriot missiles are now coming to poland, manned by german soldiers. this

missiles are now coming to poland, manned by german soldiers.- manned by german soldiers. as for diloma manned by german soldiers. as for diplomacy and _ manned by german soldiers. as for diplomacy and politics, _ manned by german soldiers. as for diplomacy and politics, is _ manned by german soldiers. as for diplomacy and politics, is there - manned by german soldiers. as for diplomacy and politics, is there any viable route to bring a resolution? well, president putin would have to acknowledge that he made a catastrophic error and to seek ways of extracting himself from this error. he is still occupying ukrainian lands, so he probably could get some kind of terms. when he is pushed out, it will be much harder. ., ~ , ., he is pushed out, it will be much harder. . ~' , ., , he is pushed out, it will be much harder. ., ~ , ., , . he is pushed out, it will be much harder. ., ~' , ., , . ., harder. 0k, thank you very much for our time harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today- _ harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. the _ harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. the chair _ harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. the chair of - harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. the chair of the - harder. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. the chair of the eu | your time today. the chair of the eu parliament's us delegation, there. members of the scottish parliament resume a debate this afternoon on proposals aimed at simplifying and speeding up the process to change gender legally. young people aged 16 and 17 will be allowed to change their legal gender after the scottish government rejected moves to keep the minimum age at 18. the government says the legislation

will ensure dignity for trans people, but critics describe it as a threat to women and girls. and we can cross to edinburgh and our scotland correpsondent lorna gordon. 0nly only 64 of 150 plus amendments were got through yesterday and the debate went on late into the night. where are we today?— are we today? well, the rest of those amendments _ are we today? well, the rest of those amendments still - are we today? well, the rest of those amendments still have i are we today? well, the rest of| those amendments still have to are we today? well, the rest of. those amendments still have to be debated and then of course, the vote has to take place. the hope is by the scheduling authorities here and of course the snp and green coalition government that this vote takes place today but that is by no means certain because of the sheer number of amendments they have to get through. they went so late into the night last night, msps debating these various proposals, that in fact the lights, which are on a

timer, switched offjust after midnight and timer, switched offjust after midnightand at timer, switched offjust after midnight and at that point, they had to end. they will resume again at lunchtime, working their way through these proposed amendments but i think perhaps it is a sign ofjust how controversial this legislation is with some people that so many amendments have been tabled. and amendments have been tabled. and 'ust in amendments have been tabled. and just in terms — amendments have been tabled. and just in terms of background to this, tell us and remind us why the government, and we are talking about the snp and green coalition government, here, want to make it easierfor trans people government, here, want to make it easier for trans people to get a gender recognition certificate and indeed to lower the age at which they can do so?— they can do so? they think the rocess they can do so? they think the process is _ they can do so? they think the process is too _ they can do so? they think the process is too difficult - they can do so? they think the process is too difficult and - they can do so? they think the process is too difficult and too | process is too difficult and too invasive at the moment. you know, some of the steps that people that want to change their gender have to go through are that they have too, for instance, have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, they have to live in their acquired genderfor at least two years. the scottish government wants to simplify and

speed up the process and as you said, lowerthe speed up the process and as you said, lower the age at which you could apply for a gender recognition certificate, from 18, down to 16. it has however proved controversial. some campaigners are worried that lowering the age brings into play some safeguarding issues and perhaps there are younger people who are just experimenting with their identity, who are going to get caught up in this process when there is not this two years waiting time where they have to live in their acquired gender. there are also some women's groups, campaigning, who say they are worried about safeguarding issues, that this could be used by predatory sex offenders to access women only spaces. we expect to see a protest from one of those women's groups later today. it has been very divisive here in scotland amongst those who are interested in this

issue, particularly online, it has to be said, where the debate has been extremely toxic. but nonetheless, even though the snp has seen the biggest rebellion in their party since they took power, with seven msps voting against an earlier stage of the legislation and one minister resigning, nevertheless, the snp msps who will vote in favour alongside the green's, who will vote in favour, and those in the labour party and the liberal democrats who will vote in favour, this legislation is likely to pass. so the question is not whether it will pass,itis the question is not whether it will pass, it is when it will pass? however, when it passes, there is still a suggestion that some groups may take legal action to try to stop it because there are also concerns about how this interacts with uk legislation in the area of equality is as well. ., ., ,., ., ., ,, legislation in the area of equality is as well. ., ., ., . ~' ,, is as well. lorna gordon, thank you very much — is as well. lorna gordon, thank you very much from _ is as well. lorna gordon, thank you

very much from edinburgh. - and how this interacts with uk legislation is something i will be asking my next guest, michael foran, lecturer in public law at glasgow university. clearly, this is a lengthy debate which will take all of today and perhaps beyond that?- which will take all of today and perhaps beyond that? yes, it is a very contentious _ perhaps beyond that? yes, it is a very contentious debate - perhaps beyond that? yes, it is a very contentious debate and - perhaps beyond that? yes, it is a very contentious debate and part| perhaps beyond that? yes, it is a i very contentious debate and part of thatis very contentious debate and part of that is because of the complexity of the law in this area. it is also related specifically to how quickly this has gone through the scottish parliament. we have seen so many amendments being tabled precisely because there has been a difficulty in getting time to debate these issues. but i think the extent of the amendments we have seen at this stage shows us how contentious this issueis stage shows us how contentious this issue is and how many difficult questions are arising but in terms of the devolved areas, the areas in relation to the law in scotland, but

also in terms of the safeguarding as mentioned already. let’s also in terms of the safeguarding as mentioned already.— mentioned already. let's talk about that first. there _ mentioned already. let's talk about that first. there were _ mentioned already. let's talk about that first. there were shouts - mentioned already. let's talk about that first. there were shouts of - that first. there were shouts of shame on you from the public gallery yesterday, when an amendment to make it more difficult for sex offenders to change gender was voted down. there is another amendment which has been accepted which will bring checks in in some instances, but do you think the legal protections are sufficient to prevent a sex offender who is being disingenuous about this in order to who is being disingenuous about this in orderto gain who is being disingenuous about this in order to gain access? are there enough protections around that? bluntly, probably not. the amendment that was tabled, i thought would have brought in a good safeguard. i can see where there might be issues which the biglia amendment that make the particular amendment effectively had a blanket ban the anybody on the sex offenders register would not be able to get a gender recognition certificate or to change their legal

sex. that was then amended at stage three to introduce a right of appeal, which seemed to be a way to balance those concerns. but that amendment was rejected. the amendment was rejected. the amendment that was accepted more recently, to my knowledge, that is a requirement for the ability of the scottish police to investigate whether or not there has been a fraudulent claim here. but as far as i'm aware, it would require a person on the sex offenders registry to volunteer that information to the scottish police. so you can see why that might be something that someone who is seeking to abuse the system might not want to do. so there are concerns about safeguarding in the bill as it currently looks. and concerns about safeguarding in the bill as it currently looks.— bill as it currently looks. and if this bill passes _ bill as it currently looks. and if this bill passes with _ bill as it currently looks. and if this bill passes with regards i bill as it currently looks. and if this bill passes with regards to j this bill passes with regards to gender recognition, will it legally creates two different categories,

women in scotland and women not in scotland? the women in scotland and women not in scotland? ., , women in scotland and women not in scotland? . , ., ., , , , scotland? the answer to that is yes un-nooh in — scotland? the answer to that is yes un-nooh in the _ scotland? the answer to that is yes un-nooh in the sense _ scotland? the answer to that is yes un-nooh in the sense that - scotland? the answer to that is yes un-nooh in the sense that across l scotland? the answer to that is yes l un-nooh in the sense that across the un—nooh in the sense that across the board, across the law, someone who is legally recognised as a woman, that can be done either because of biological sex or someone who is in possession of a gender recognition certificate that states that they are a woman. the difference between scotland and the rest of the uk is that it would be significantly easier for that it would be significantly easierfor someone to that it would be significantly easier for someone to obtain a gender recognition certificate in scotland. in that sense, there would be a larger group of people who have access to that status, the legal status of woman or man in scotland. so there would be just dispatches at the group level. at an individual level, it would be the same whether you are biologically female or recognised as female.- recognised as female. what implications _ recognised as female. what implications can _ recognised as female. what implications can you - recognised as female. what implications can you see - recognised as female. whatl implications can you see that having? implications can you see that havin: ? , , , .. ., implications can you see that

havini? , , , ., , having? the biggest implication is ioini having? the biggest implication is iioin to be having? the biggest implication is going to be whether— having? the biggest implication is going to be whether or _ having? the biggest implication is going to be whether or not - having? the biggest implication is going to be whether or not the - having? the biggest implication is| going to be whether or not the rest of the uk recognises scottish gender recognition certificate is. if they don't, there will be circumstances where someone might be legally recognised as a man or woman in scotland, but for the purposes of things like passports and driving licences or whether they can cross the borderfrom licences or whether they can cross the border from scotland to the licences or whether they can cross the borderfrom scotland to the uk, their legal status would change. and there are also implications of that in terms of groupwide concerns for monitoring. if you are legally recognised as a woman, that means you could be included in positive measures that are designed to, for example, increase the representation of women on company boards or female only shortlists, and there will be differences between how that group is constituted in scotland versus how it is constituted for the rest of the uk. and that might raise concerns for example that the uk government not have an interesting that law being fixed more narrowly to the law in the rest of the uk.

you can see where the devolution issues could come in their in a tension between devolved legislation and national legislation.— and national legislation. michael foran, lecturer— and national legislation. michael foran, lecturer in _ and national legislation. michael foran, lecturer in public- and national legislation. michael foran, lecturer in public law - and national legislation. michael foran, lecturer in public law at l foran, lecturer in public law at glasgow university. more legal problems for donald trump. a committee in the us house of representatives has voted to make six years of the former president's tax returns public. it caps nearly a four—year legal battle by the democrats to obtain them. and it was ultimately decided by the us supreme court last month. david waddell reports. president trump first suggested he might release his tax returns back in 2011 — linking it to a demand that the us president at the time, barack 0bama, would release his birth certificate. that was produced in april of that year. mr trump later repeatedly pledged to release his tax returns, especially as the speculation heightened that he might run for president himself. in 2016 came the first signs of reticence, when he said an audit was under way, and tweeted that "no sane person would give their tax

returns during an audit". this week, democrats on the house ways and means committee said that mr trump was not actually under an audit at the time. the committee has voted to release a summary of his tax returns between 2015 and 2021 — the year when he was running for office and then serving as president. the committee also said the us internal revenue service did not follow its own rules when it failed to audit trump's tax returns during three of his four years in office. i would think what people will likely be surprised about is the extent to which the irs was not conforming to their own rules. but republican representatives see the latest developments as highly political, at a time when the former president is elevating his own political ambitions once again. democrats in the ways and means committee have unleashed a dangerous new political weapon that overturns decades of privacy protections for private taxpayers.

the era of political targeting and of congress's enemies lists is back. it's not required by law but mr trump became the first major—party presidential nominee since richard nixon in 1972 to decline to publicly release his tax returns while campaigning for office. that the issue is now being forced may lead to unwelcome scrutiny as the former president runs again for the white house in 2024. david waddell, bbc news. some news just some newsjust coming into us some news just coming into us from the courts. a man admitted the murder of a woman and three children, having previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. today, he changed his plea to murder at derby county court. damien bendall admitted murdering terry harris, her daughter lacey and sonjohn paul,

who were 11 and 13, as well as lacey's friend, also aged 11. that was in killamarsh in derbyshire last year. the 33—year—old had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but today changed his plea to murder, the murder of terry harris, her daughter lacey and sonjohn paul, were aged 11 and 13, as well as the murder of lacey's friend, who was also 11, carney gent. damien bendall also 11, carney gent. damien bendall also admitted the rape of lacey. that news is just coming to us from our bbc midlands correspondent phil mackie. damien bendall will be sentenced later today. britain's home office has acknowledged that it was holding up to 500 asylum seekers illegally in early november. internal emails obtained by the bbc in a freedom of information request reveal details about several centres

across the country including manston — the migrant processing facility in kent. police are investigating allegations that a home office official assaulted an asylum seeker at manston, as vinnie 0'dowd reports. this man spent 24 days in manston. today we hear his allegations of assault by a home office official. translation: he put his arm around my neck to the extent| that i couldn't breathe. we can reveal that police are investigating the allegation at the holding facility in kent. 0fficers came in. we had no idea that they are coming to attack and beat us. and we've obtained exclusive evidence that the home office has detained asylum seekers illegally at centres that were used as overflow from manston. ahmed, not his real name, arrived by boat. he fled his country out of fear of persecution. he told us about his 24 days in manston. he says the overcrowded conditions stripped him and others of their dignity.

we were treated like animals. there was only two toilets and showerfor 120 people in our tent. we slept on cardboard. the centre was holding 4,000 migrants, more than double than it was designed for. ahmed and others started a sitdown protest, but things didn't end there. what did the immigration officers do to you? i was crying out while underneath him. i used whatever strength i had to remove his arm from choking me. when i removed his hands, he pushed me and ifell backwards onto someone else. the same officer grabbed my head and used his knee to bash my head in and broke my nose. from this point onward, i lost consciousness. the bbc has learned that kent police is investigating ahmed's allegations, and the home office has started an internal investigation and have told the bbc that ahmed's story does not match their

understanding of events. a home office spokesperson said... ahmed was released from manston on october 31st. at the time, the management of the centre was under intense scrutiny. the week he was released, the home secretary visited, arriving by military helicopter. that same week, a critical incident was declared at harmondsworth immigration detention facility. there was a power blackout and the staff had lost operational control. the prison service's national tactical response group were deployed to assist. internal home office communications, obtained by the bbc under freedom of information,

show officials in chaos on the evening of friday, 4th of november. internal dialogue was fraught. an official at the home office outlined contingency plans if harmondsworth was evacuated. they wrote that 500 people who had arrived by boat were being detained illegally, some for many weeks, at facilities like harmondsworth. the email says that there was no reason to detain the people any longer. it urged home office colleagues to remove them to hotels asap. the home office said... a home office employee is being investigated by police for an alleged assault. but for those who were illegally detained, some may want redress. vinnie 0'dowd, bbc news.

an indefinite ban on university education for women has been ordered by afghanistan's taliban government. the order was signed by the minister of higher education, further restricting women's access to formal education, three months after thousands of girls and women sat university entrance exams across the country. azadeh moshiri reports. the taliban takeover meant only one thing for the women and girls of afghanistan — fear. fear they would lose their freedoms, their education, their future. more than a year later, the direction of travel has been cemented. women no longer have access to university. the women of afghanistan have been doing this from the very first year that they took over. the flagship of conduct is oppression of women. the war in afghanistan has not ended,

there is no peace.— war in afghanistan has not ended, there is no peace. there has been a steady stream _ there is no peace. there has been a steady stream of _ there is no peace. there has been a steady stream of setbacks. - there is no peace. there has been a steady stream of setbacks. here - there is no peace. there has been a | steady stream of setbacks. here are just a few. in march, the taliban broke their promise to reopen secondary school for girls. two months later, women were forced to veil theirfaces as months later, women were forced to veil their faces as well as their hair. in september, the women's affairs ministry was disbanded. and only last month, women were barred from parks, gyms and swimming pools in the capital. it’s from parks, gyms and swimming pools in the capital-— in the capital. it's another very troublin: in the capital. it's another very troubling move. _ in the capital. it's another very troubling move. it's _ in the capital. it's another very troubling move. it's difficult i in the capital. it's another very troubling move. it's difficult toj troubling move. it's difficult to imagine how a country can develop, can deal with all of the challenges that it has, without the active participation of women. and the education of women. it all harkens back to the — education of women. it all harkens back to the 90s. _ education of women. it all harkens back to the 90s. that _ education of women. it all harkens back to the 90s. that was - education of women. it all harkens back to the 90s. that was the - education of women. it all harkens back to the 90s. that was the last | back to the 90s. that was the last time the taliban enforced its authoritarian regime. and this is afghanistan today, the only place on earth where women do not have a

right to theirfull earth where women do not have a right to their full education. leaving little room for hope. breaking news, some more strikes to tell you about. rail workers at three train operators are going to go on strike between december the 26th and 29th in a dispute over pay and job security. these are workers from cross—country, great western and west midlands trains that will each strike for 24 hours, says the tssa union. so further strikes added to the list of industrial action by rail workers, that news just coming in. let me repeat the dates. that strike action is between december the 26th and 29. rail workers from cross—country, great western and midlands trains, each striking for 24 hours.

let's turn to china — where amid growing skepticism over its official covid figures, authorities have now clarified that only people who die from respiratory illnesses are counted in the official covid death toll. just two weeks after the most severe restrictions were lifted, cases are reported to be rising fast, but authorities have only acknowledged seven deaths. ros atkins has more. china's zero—covid policy is over, and the virus is surging. this reversal of policy came very suddenly, and people were not prepared for it. we've seen fairly chaotic responses with the very rapid spread of omicron. china's chief epidemiologist is warning that this is the first of three waves. 0ne doctor quoted by state media calls this a pandemic tsunami. and establishing how big this outbreak is isn't easy. official statistics note 16 covered deaths in the last month, but there is scepticism about these figures. today china confirmed the only deaths caused by pneumonia

and respiratory failure after contracting covid would be classified as covid deaths, even though covid may contribute to many other deaths. then, look at the far right of this chart. the number of confirmed cases is falling, but that is because mass testing in china stopped recently, which means no one is sure what is happening with the virus. even the chinese authorities admit that they don't know what the numbers are. the national health commission, which is china's top health body, has had to admit that there has been a breakdown in the testing and reporting systems across china. but there are ways we can build up a picture of this research. but there are ways we can build up a picture of this surge. the bbc�*s team in beijing filmed this queue outside a health clinic and filmed this queue outside a pharmacy. the sign says no cold and flu tablets, no thermometers and no testing kits.

social media is another source of information. by cross—referencing with other images posted online, the bbc has verified this video, which shows overcrowding at a children's hospital in northern china. we're seeing lots of other videos too, appearing to show hospitals under pressure. but these are difficult to verify. there are restrictions on certain chinese social media platforms that stop people from being able to post freely. therefore, it can be difficult to get an accurate assessment of what's happening on the ground. social media is one source. news agencies are another. reuters reports that in beijing, the local emergency hotline has been overwhelmed by over 30,000 calls per day. reuters also filmed these queues of vehicles outside a crematorium, though it's not clear if this is caused by covid. in guangzhou, a crematorium worker told the afp news agency it's three orfour times busier than in previous years. as well as news agencies, we can follow official statements too, such as this in beijing.

translation: medical supplies in the city resources are under increasing pressure due to the rapid spread of the epidemic and the continuously rising number of patients with fever. on state tv, we are seeing a door—to—door vaccination drive targeting elderly people. and there are updates from local government too. for example, one district says people are reminded not to go to the hospital unless it is necessary. or there is another city, where we're told the number of visits to emergency and fever clinics continues to rise. and all of this as further strain to the health service. there is a serious problem with overcrowding in terms and this is still at an early stage in the nationwide exit wave. one example of this pressure comes from the bbc�*s kerry allen, who reports that in guangzhou, retired medical workers have returned as there is a shortage of medical personnel. and as the health service tries to cope, so do the people of china.

translation: my entire family have fallen ill and are trying to get better at home. but everyone is free to go outside now, which i think has made life easier. people can go outside, but many are choosing not to, either because they have the virus or because they want to avoid it, which is something that china has been trying to do for three years. now, though, covid is spreading freely and china's vaccines and its health service are being severely tested. scientists believe they have found an example of a very small mammal being eaten by a microraptor dinosaur. in a paper published today, research says a tiny foot was found inside the ribcage of the small crow—sized dinosaur. reader in zoology from queen mary university of london and leader of this study dr dave hone joins me now. let me clarify, this isn't the very first example of a mammal being found inside a dinosaur, but it is the second, isn't it?—

the second, isn't it? yes. unfortunately, _ the second, isn't it? yes. unfortunately, we - the second, isn't it? yes. unfortunately, we were l the second, isn't it? jazz unfortunately, we were responsible for the error in the press release, but a colleague of mine pointed it out. that but a colleague of mine pointed it out. �* ., , but a colleague of mine pointed it out. �* . , . , , but a colleague of mine pointed it out. . , . , , ,., out. at any rate, it is very unusual to find something _ out. at any rate, it is very unusual to find something like _ out. at any rate, it is very unusual to find something like this, - out. at any rate, it is very unusual to find something like this, isn't i to find something like this, isn't it? ., ., , , it? yeah, we have been digging up dinosaurs now _ it? yeah, we have been digging up dinosaurs now for _ it? yeah, we have been digging up dinosaurs now for 170 _ it? yeah, we have been digging up dinosaurs now for 170 years - it? yeah, we have been digging up dinosaurs now for 170 years and i it? yeah, we have been digging up. dinosaurs now for 170 years and this is only the tenth or 12th example of bones of another animal inside a dinosaur, so it is super rare. so what can _ dinosaur, so it is super rare. so what can you learn from this in terms of the dinosaurs' diet and indeed what their prey was? it tells us a lot, because _ indeed what their prey was? it tells us a lot, because the _ indeed what their prey was? it tells us a lot, because the microraptor i indeed what their prey was? it tells j us a lot, because the microraptor is a small, predatory dinosaur about the size of a crow. we have examples of eating fish and lizards, but now we have a mammal in there as well, so it shows it was a generalist feeder hoovering up whatever it could. the microraptor was could. the microra ptor was feathered, could. the microraptor was feathered, living in the trees. it was probably gliding, but the mammal so it shows no adaptations for climbing. it was an animal that lived on the ground, showing that the microraptor came down out of the trees to hunt or scavenge. so the microraptor came down out of the

trees to hunt or scavenge. 50 it trees to hunt or scavenge. so it iives trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you _ trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you more _ trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you more of _ trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you more of an _ trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you more of an insight i trees to hunt or scavenge. so it gives you more of an insight into what their lifestyle was? exactly. aiain, what their lifestyle was? exactly. again. data _ what their lifestyle was? exactly. again, data like _ what their lifestyle was? exactly. again, data like this _ what their lifestyle was? exactly. again, data like this is _ what their lifestyle was? exactly. again, data like this is so - what their lifestyle was? exactly. again, data like this is so rare i again, data like this is so rare that we are always working from inferences or trying to look at things like claws and teeth and bite strength and speed to work out how these animals were living. but the actual 100% true evidence of them having consumed something is what you really need to test your ideas, so this fits nicely with our understanding of the microraptor is a small, generalist predator. and a small, generalist predator. and where was _ a small, generalist predator. and where was this _ a small, generalist predator. and where was this microraptor fossil found? it where was this microraptor fossil found? , ., ., .,, found? it is from north-eastern china. it found? it is from north-eastern china- it is _ found? it is from north-eastern china. it is about _ found? it is from north-eastern china. it is about 120 _ found? it is from north-eastern china. it is about 120 million i found? it is from north-eastern i china. it is about 120 million years old. it was actually first discovered in the late 90s, but it was only seven or eight years ago that we spotted that the mammal foot was in there and it has taken us a while to get the scientific paper published. idr while to get the scientific paper ublished. , ., ., ,, published. dr dave hone from queen mary university _ published. dr dave hone from queen mary university of— published. dr dave hone from queen mary university of london, _ published. dr dave hone from queen mary university of london, thank- published. dr dave hone from queenj mary university of london, thank you forjoining us. so not the first example, but certainly pretty rare

to find an example like that. you're watching bbc news. hello again. as we go through the next few days and up until christmas, the weather is going to be changeable. generally speaking, it will be mild for most of us, but there is also going to be some rain in the forecast and as we head through christmas day and boxing day, it is going to turn colder. if you want to keep abreast of what the weather is doing where you are or maybe where you are going, don't forget you can do so using the bbc weather app or of course online. what we have at the moment is a band of rain continuing to move away from the south—east. a lot of showers coming in across scotland and northern ireland, being driven in on a brisk wind. it is pretty windy in the north and parts of the west. in between all of this, we are looking at some sunshine or at worst bright skies. temperatures, 7—11 degrees.

tonight, as our low pressure area drifts across the north of scotland, you will find that the showers will tend to ease, as indeed will the wind. but coming in from the south—west, we have got of this cloud and also some rain and misty, murky conditions. the wind also strengthening across southern coastal counties and the english channel. as we start the day tomorrow, this band of cloud and rain and murky conditions pushes a bit further east, eventually easing. later in the day, more rain coming up from the south. from the midlands and northwards, it is going to be dry out. there will be variable amounts of cloud and some sunshine. fewer showers across the north of scotland than we are looking at today and not as windy. temperatures, 6—12 degrees, north to south. as we head into friday, some heavy rain pushing steadily northwards. as it does so, it will engage with the cold air in the north so we will see some sleet and snow above about 400 metres across northern england. behind it, fairly windy, strong winds in the south. highs up to 12 degrees. wintry showers across

the far north of scotland. and then as we head into christmas eve and christmas day, you can see how that weather front moves northwards. still windy behind it, although the wind is easing a touch and then we start to pull in colder air, which will come into the north during the course of christmas day and it will continue to push southwards as we head through boxing day. a bit of a change in the weather as we go through this weekend. still mild in the south on christmas eve and christmas day but the colder air starts to feed in and then we're all going to feel it on monday and tuesday.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11: ambulance workers go on strike today in a dispute over pay, as union leaders criticise the prime ministerfor not being willing to negotiate. every time the health secretary speaks, i've got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. but the health secretary says the three unions striking today have "refused" to work with the government at the national level. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky is travelling to washington today in his first overseas trip since war broke out. as the debate at holyrood continues into the night, the scottish government will allow 16 and 17—year—olds to change

their legal gender, after a vote rejects moves to keep the minimum age at 18. tens of thousands of ambulance workers, including paramedics and call handlers, have begun strike action across england and wales. the government says most have received a pay rise of at least 4%, but the unions say this isn't enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. so, how could these strikes affect you? if you need to call 999, there will be staff answering calls and sending out some ambulances. all category1 calls — classed as the most life—threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest — will be responded to by an ambulance.

however, conditions which are serious, but notjudged to be immediately life—threatening, which could include people who may be having a stroke, might not be immediately attended to by emergency teams. urgent problems that fit into category 3, such as a woman in late—stage labour, will not be prioritised. this morning, the head of the unite union, one of the three unions involved in the strikes, has accused rishi sunak of the worst "abdication of leadership" she has seen in 25 years. the health secretary says the unions involved have "refused" to work with the government at a national level. here's our health correspondent jim reed on pressures facing a&e departments. the most widespread ambulance strike in decades has gone ahead after there was no last—minute breakthrough in talks. the staggered action from three unions started

at midnight across wales, the west midlands and the north of england. at 6am, it was extended to the east midlands and the south, except the isle of wight. at midday, paramedics in london willjoin the strike. ambulance staff say the dispute is about pay, which hasn't kept up with inflation, but also patient safety. it's been one of the most difficult decisions ambulance workers have had to make. the current context we work in sees delays that have caused significant patient harm, and nobody who works for the ambulance service wants to add to that harm or increase that risk. ambulance services are already under intense pressure. here in gloucester this week, long queues of vehicles were waiting to unload patients because there was no space inside the hospital to treat them. that same problem has driven up response times across the country, with most of the services in england declaring critical

incidents this week. both the government and some managers in the health service are concerned the strikes could increase the risk to patients. ambulance unions say the most serious, life—threatening call—outs should not be affected. they should go ahead as usual. but other services are very likely to see some disruption. the impact will vary by region. the most serious category1 calls, such as someone not breathing or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as should some category 2 calls like strokes or serious burns. but other urgent problems like a woman in late—stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home might not be answered. this is going to be quite a difficult period. and there may be some delays to people but we'll make sure that those people who need the interventions in a time—critical period get that time—critical care that they need. you drive first, all right, you get round there. the government says 600 troops have been trained to step

in and drive ambulances, although they're not allowed to treat patients or use blue lights. i call on the trade unions to act responsibly. they've said that they will provide life—threatening cover, that they will provide emergency cover. it's essential that they do so to protect patients. paramedics accept patient safety may be affected, but say strike action is still justified. they've not taken the decision to take strike action lightly. they feel they have been forced into this position because year after year, the government have failed to listen to them. ambulance staff in northern ireland also went on strike last week. while in scotland a new pay offer has just been rejected by one union, but a strike has not yet been called. the message today then is still to use 999 if there's a life—threatening emergency. but in some other urgent cases, expect a longer wait for help. jim reed, bbc news.

our health correspondent, katherine da costa, has been on the picket line in coventry. yes, about 30 or so ambulance workers from the unite union are here, they have been out since 6am this morning and they have got their banners and placards. they have been using their clackers and chanting. there has been quite a lot of high spirits but of course, there is anger, too. they are calling for fair pay. ambulances have been coming out. we have seen lots with blue lights attending emergencies. some of the paramedics behind me will be on call and will have to leave the picket line and go to emergencies if they are called, because unions have agreed to respond to life—threatening emergencies. but services will be patchy across the country, depending on where you live because of what negotiations have ta ken place locally. even with contingency plans

in place, the nhs is expecting to be extremely busy today. eight out of ten hospital trusts in england had already declared critical incidents even before today's strikes because of the pressure they are under. i can speak now to sharon graham, the general secretary of the unite union. sharon, the health secretary has criticised unions for not having a national strategy for dealing with category 2 calls like heart attack and stroke. what is your response? every time the health secretary speaks, i have got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. we have negotiated locally all of the cover, the category one calls will be answered and category two will be triaged, but the important thing to say is that this government has walked away from the negotiating table. this strike didn't need to happen. they need to get back to the negotiating table so we can get a proper pay rise for these workers and everyone can go back to work. the government has said it cannot afford above inflation pay rises and has accepted recommendations

from the independent pay review body. where do we go from here? first of all, the pay review body is not independent and they pick and choose when they use it. but this is about choices. the energy companies have made £170 billion in excess profit, more than normal profit. they could use some of that, £50 billion, to plug the black hole and give these workers a 10% pay rise, that only costs £6 billion and they'd have £4 billion left over, this is about choices — they need to make the right choices and stop backing profiteering and start backing the nhs. thank you. patients are being reminded to only use 999 in a genuine life emergency, otherwise, use 111 online or the helpline. our correspondent tomos morgan is on the picket line in cardiff. what is the scene there? things are a little bit quieter—

what is the scene there? things are a little bit quieter here _ what is the scene there? things are a little bit quieter here than - what is the scene there? things are a little bit quieter here than they i a little bit quieter here than they were yesterday for the nurses strike here in cardiff. —— nurses'. this is the cardiff hq in the north—east of cardiff. there are a number of reasons why it is quieter here. firstly, it is only the gmb union striking today, and it is about one quarter of their workforce for the ambulance work service. secondly, of course, the deal is that people will be going back to work if there are a number of red calls. the most urgent calls. that has happened here today. as you can see him behind me, there are only around three ambulances now in the bay. at one point there were 11. they have been caught out today as well, the third reason of course is, well, being accident and emergency, which is what these people deal with, they are getting called out more for those most serious cases, whether the nurses work in a number of different departments, so different reasons for getting called back into work if required. the weather, of course,

terrible today, as it was last thursday, freezing temperatures, for the first nurses' straight, i'm sure thatis the first nurses' straight, i'm sure that is playing a part in the number of people coming out to take industrial action. we cross now to john harris who has been working in this field now for 21 years. john, i guess, to start with, potentially, the hardest question is how you wrestled with today and how you came to this decision to come out in force today? i to this decision to come out in force today?— force today? i wrestled my consequence _ force today? i wrestled my consequence very - force today? i wrestled my| consequence very regularly. force today? i wrestled my i consequence very regularly. i force today? i wrestled my - consequence very regularly. i was not willing — consequence very regularly. i was not willing to initially, but to be honest. — not willing to initially, but to be honest, the government's belligerence... so honest, the government's belligerence. . ._ honest, the government's belligerence... honest, the government's belliierence... ., ., belligerence... so at one point we weren't going _ belligerence... so at one point we weren't going to? _ belligerence... so at one point we weren't going to? know, - belligerence... so at one point we weren't going to? know, but - belligerence... so at one point we weren't going to? know, but the l weren't going to? know, but the government _ weren't going to? know, but the government belligerence, - weren't going to? know, but the government belligerence, of- weren't going to? know, but the government belligerence, of notj government belligerence, of not willing _ government belligerence, of not willing to — government belligerence, of not willing to get round the table, discuss — willing to get round the table, discuss pay, is finally what made me realise _ discuss pay, is finally what made me realise that — discuss pay, is finally what made me realise that we need to take a stand — realise that we need to take a stand. we need to take a stand to save _ stand. we need to take a stand to save the _ stand. we need to take a stand to save the nhs because patients' safety— save the nhs because patients' safety has been massively compromised at the moment. the workioads— compromised at the moment. the workloads are unsustainable, the delays _ workloads are unsustainable, the delays that the public at large are

suffering — delays that the public at large are suffering are just heartbreaking. while _ suffering are just heartbreaking. while i'm — suffering are just heartbreaking. while i'm attending jobs that are 26 and 28 _ while i'm attending jobs that are 26 and 28 hours old, before we are getting — and 28 hours old, before we are getting to — and 28 hours old, before we are getting to see patients, that is not a service _ getting to see patients, that is not a service that any of us wish to provide — a service that any of us wish to provide in _ a service that any of us wish to provide in any circumstance at all. can i_ provide in any circumstance at all. can i ask— provide in any circumstance at all. can i ask is — provide in any circumstance at all. can i ask is welcome of the service here in wales, the number of colleagues that you have has gone up ijy colleagues that you have has gone up by a number of hundred over the last couple of years. yet, the service that you are able to provide it still is not at the level that has been adequate. why is that? 5taii been adequate. why is that? staff turnover. staff _ been adequate. why is that? staff turnover. staff are _ been adequate. why is that? staff turnover. staff are actively looking to leave _ turnover. staff are actively looking to leave on — turnover. staff are actively looking to leave on a regular basis at the moment — to leave on a regular basis at the moment. we never haemorrhage staff like we _ moment. we never haemorrhage staff like we are _ moment. we never haemorrhage staff like we are at the moment. the workload. — like we are at the moment. the workload, as i said, has been unsustainable, —— has become. the workload. _ unsustainable, —— has become. the workload, tied with the delays at hospital. — workload, tied with the delays at hospital, when we go to hospitals and you _ hospital, when we go to hospitals and you were told, it is a 17, 18 hours _ and you were told, it is a 17, 18 hours before your patient can go through— hours before your patient can go through the door of the hospital, i think— through the door of the hospital, i think if— through the door of the hospital, i think if oshada and its service was able to— think if oshada and its service was able to out— think if oshada and its service was able to put 100 trucks in cardiff on the road _

able to put 100 trucks in cardiff on the road you have 100 trucks stuck outside _ the road you have 100 trucks stuck outside the — the road you have 100 trucks stuck outside the hospital. it would not change _ outside the hospital. it would not change anything. i think that, tied with the _ change anything. i think that, tied with the stress that that brings, on the cruise. — with the stress that that brings, on the cruise, is why we are haemorrhaging our staff. that is lon- haemorrhaging our staff. that is long with — haemorrhaging our staff. that is long with pay and conditions. —— crews _ long with pay and conditions. —— crews. when our employees with bountiful, — crews. when our employees with bountiful, not earning as much as tesco— bountiful, not earning as much as tesco and — bountiful, not earning as much as tesco and waitrose, they are not earning _ tesco and waitrose, they are not earning as — tesco and waitrose, they are not earning as much there in comparison. while _ earning as much there in comparison. while you _ earning as much there in comparison. while you work in the absence service? — while you work in the absence service? ., ~ while you work in the absence service? ., ,, , ., while you work in the absence service? ., ,, i. g ., .,, while you work in the absence service? ., ,, g ., , service? thank you, john, has been workin: in service? thank you, john, has been working in the _ service? thank you, john, has been working in the abbott _ service? thank you, john, has been working in the abbott service - service? thank you, john, has been working in the abbott service was i working in the abbott service was 21. 21 years. this strike started at midnight last night, just the gmb union, the unite is due to get a result here soon, with the unison union getting a result as well. nine ambulance trusts are expected to be affected in today's strike action. the only service which will be completely unaffected is the east of england. there is no ambulance strike on the isle of wight. stephen raven, a paramedic with

the west midlands ambulance service, says everyday is challenging working for the nhs. it is not something that anybody who works in a health caring profession takes lightly. when i respond today, when i go into work this evening, i will be responding to those emergencies. the truth is that the blame does lie with the government. the delays are already there. the impediment to me being able to do myjob effectively is already there. i went to a patient yesterday who had waited 18 hours and they asked me when i arrived, "is this a strike day? "no, this is the nhs. this is where we are at." i am under such personal and emotional pressure every moment that i do myjob that the pressure to take the strike action is not one i have taken lightly at all. let's speak to our chief political correspondent nick eardley. we seem to talk almost every day

about these strikes. more strike action today. it will worry and concern a lot of people. are there any prospective meetings at all, is there any prospect of any compromise or breakthrough that might end this wave of industrial action? particularly what we're seeing in the nhs? ., ., , , the nhs? the government, as things stand, isn't budging _ the nhs? the government, as things stand, isn't budging on _ the nhs? the government, as things stand, isn't budging on that - the nhs? the government, as things stand, isn't budging on that key - stand, isn't budging on that key issue of pay, which the unions say issue of pay, which the unions say is a prerequisite for meaningful talks that could end these disputes. one is quite interesting is this morning, that there is a blame game in full flow on it tv, the radio, newspapers, between the government and the unions, you've got the health secretary writing in the telegraph this morning to quote him, the ambulance unions have made a conscious decision to inflict harm on parents. that is a message you hear from on parents. that is a message you hearfrom governments, insiders privately as well. at the same time, some of the union in terms taking strike today, saying if there's any

deaths caused by industrial action, the government will be to blame because it had to discuss pay. other union —— and other union are saying is if the worst belligerence from the government it has seen in a quarter of a century. on a day where i suspect a lot of people will be looking for ways out of this, wondering if there are any ladders for either side to climb down, what is actually going on is some toughening up of the rhetoric. will that mean there is no deal at all? i don't think so, because, i suppose at some point, every strike has to end. the question of how that is achieved at the moment isn't clear to answer. there are a couple of things, i think, to answer. there are a couple of things, ithink, that to answer. there are a couple of things, i think, that are worth watching out for, over the next few days. unions have opened their doors to the ideas of a one—off lump sum payment, to compensate with the cost of living, something the gmb were asked about this morning. they said they were prepared to look at it.

unison have said the same, although, we should point out, ministers are not offering that at the moment. the thing we do have quite a lot from people in government is about next year's pay deal, but the process thatis year's pay deal, but the process that is under way now to look at what pay rise nhs staff might get in at 2023. again, that is something that unions don't want to talk about as a compensation for a lower deal this year, but it is something that ministers are dangling, i think, is a prospect of a potential olive branch. sitting here this morning, it feels very similar to the conversations we have had over the last few days. it is stuck, both sides are pretty entrenched, and at the moment, waiting for the other to blink. ., ., ~ ., ., , ., ., blink. you talk about a blame game, there, i wonder, _ blink. you talk about a blame game, there, iwonder, in _ blink. you talk about a blame game, there, iwonder, in political- blink. you talk about a blame game, there, i wonder, in politicalterms, l there, iwonder, in political terms, and let's look at this politically, he will the voters, ultimately, blame? he will be electric blame? with a blame the unions or blame the government for all of these strikes that we are seeing? —— will lay blame at? the abbey and its staff,

the call handlers, the paramedics? i think one of the reasons we are seeing the blame game today, ministers in party want to say, this is a responsible... —— irresponsible, ministers do not hold this early about the different policies they will take on a category 2999 calls, the emergency but not threatening calls. —— category two. but speaking in the past 24 hours ago, they think this support is solid. they think they have decent backing, the unions, with the public, meaning they can carry on with this strike action, because they think people understand why they are doing it. i've got to say, chatting to lots of tory mps in a private, those who won't say things publicly, i think quite a few of them are worried about this idea that the government cannot take on nurses and i as drivers because they did so much during a pandemic. it is a battle that ministers are unlikely to win. —— during the pandemic. the

counterargument that if the government caves on this, it will have to cave on other things. it might make other union is more likely to take strike action, thinking they can get concessions from ministers as a result. i think the government does think that over time, support for unions will wane it, it will point to what it seems the maxis is a reduction for the real unions, although the real unions i'm sure would dispute that is in any way a significant drop in support. that is part of the calculation at the moment. sorry. i took a pause for breath!— took a pause for breath! we've got took a pause for breath! we've got to net a took a pause for breath! we've got to get a word _ took a pause for breath! we've got to get a word in — took a pause for breath! we've got to get a word in edgeways! - took a pause for breath! we've got i to get a word in edgeways! wonderful as ever, brilliant analysis, thank you so much, nick eardley, chief political correspondent. michael kill is ceo of the night time industries association, which represents businesses in the hospitality and entertainment sectors across the uk.

michaeljust give us an idea how all of these strikes are affecting you and your members? this of these strikes are affecting you and your members?— and your members? as you can appreciate. _ and your members? as you can appreciate. we _ and your members? as you can appreciate, we work _ and your members? as you can appreciate, we work very - and your members? as you canl appreciate, we work very closely with the emergency services, and policing, and they are a phenomenal support for us, particularly in the night—time economy, when we are dealing with medical emergencies, which we come across quite regularly, across our sector, so to have the provision to be very limited, it is going to have to drive us towards considering contingency planning for further medical support on site. for us at the moment, it is a concern, but as you can appreciate, we are having to work through this and contingency plan around the medical provision within each of the signs.— plan around the medical provision within each of the signs. when you talk about contingency _ within each of the signs. when you talk about contingency planning, i talk about contingency planning, what sort of thing without the? in many cases, when you have what sort of thing without the? ii many cases, when you have bigger events, you would tend to have

medics on its site. as you can appreciate, with the limited service in terms of emergency services, on the strike days, we are have to consider the risk that is going to be warranted and whether we need to get additional medical provision on site, whether we look at stjohn's ambulance, or other provisions in the private sector to ensure that we are covered for some of those routine issues around things like asthma attacks, diabetes, epilepsy, etc and drunkenness. for us, we are going to have two consider how that is going to impact, how we can alleviate any stress or pressure, giving the limiting service. this alleviate any stress or pressure, giving the limiting service. as we were 'ust giving the limiting service. as we were just discussing _ giving the limiting service. as we were just discussing a _ giving the limiting service. as we were just discussing a whole - giving the limiting service. as we | were just discussing a whole wave giving the limiting service. as we - were just discussing a whole wave of industrial action, were just discussing a whole wave of industrialaction, not were just discussing a whole wave of industrial action, notjust in the health service, but significantly, as far as you and your members are concerned, the rail strikes, that we are seeing, in the run—up to christmas, how badly are they hitting your members? it is something _ hitting your members? it is something that _ hitting your members? it is something that is _ hitting your members? it 3 something that is widely reported.

the accessibility, the ability for our consumers to be mobile, has had a huge impact. we have seen businesses to the detriment of about 50%, the downturn in trade. i think, because it is such a critical period, we build up our cash reserves, to be able to survive early next year, in the slower trading period, it is going to have a devastating impact. in some cases, it will see many businesses go to the wall. for us, the strike action across the board, particularly with the transport has been phenomenally... has had a critical impact on our position, in terms of the applet services, we have the ability to look at contingency planning. —— ambulance services. if it is life—threatening, we will not have the ability to deal with it. i'm pleased to hear that we will still have a provision available, even though there is a strike action on both wednesdays. goad even though there is a strike action on both wednesdays.— even though there is a strike action on both wednesdays. good to talk to ou, on both wednesdays. good to talk to you. michael. _ on both wednesdays. good to talk to you, michael, thank— on both wednesdays. good to talk to you, michael, thank you. _ on both wednesdays. good to talk to you, michael, thank you. michael- you, michael, thank you. michael hill, from the night—time is

associations. —— hill. the level of disruption during today's ambulance strike varies depending on where you live. you can use the interactive tool on the bbc website to find out which unions are on strike at your local ambulance service. visit the bbc news website for more details. we turn our attention to ukraine are now. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, says he's on his way to the united states in his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. us media had reported he was travelling to washington — and in the last hour, on twitter, mr zelensky confirmed the trip. "on my way to the us to strengthen resilience and defence capabilities", he said. he added: "i will also have a speech at the congress and a number of bilateral meetings." we've also had confirmation of the trip from the white house too, in a statement, it added: "president biden will announce a significant new package of security assistance to help ukraine". let's talk about this very significant visit now.

joining me now from poland is a pulitzer prize—winning journalist and staff writer for the atlantic, anne applebaum. thank you very much for being with us, and. —— anne. as a sign that he isa us, and. —— anne. as a sign that he is a worried about continued american support for ukraine, given that quite a lot of republicans are saying, actually, the united states needs to spend a little bit less money on military aid for ukraine? the visit has been discussed for some time, so it might have happened last summer, there was talk about it happening again, later in the autumn, but this turned out to be the moment when it was possible, so i would not make too much of the timing. it is true that the house of congress is about to shift, about to have republican leadership in the house of representatives, though the democrats keep control of the senate. i do think the ukrainians thought this was a good moment to come to the united states, and thank

people and express their gratitude for what united states and the western alliance has done for them. and to hope that it will continue. i do not think there is a real threat of the republicans cutting off a zelensky or cutting off ukraine, rather. there is pretty solid support for this because in the senate, and among those republicans who understand the significance of ukraine, notjust for europe, but forthe ukraine, notjust for europe, but for the rest of the world, for china, other autocracies that are watching, there is a pretty widespread understanding of why it is important to keep doing this. from the ukrainian's point of view, it never hurts to make that argument face—to—face. in it never hurts to make that argument face-to-face-— face-to-face. in terms of what ukraine really _ face-to-face. in terms of what ukraine really needs _ face-to-face. in terms of what ukraine really needs at - face-to-face. in terms of what ukraine really needs at the - face-to-face. in terms of what - ukraine really needs at the moment, what do you think mr zelensky will be saying when he is in america? patriot missiles, particularly, air defences? is that what he wants? patriot missiles are already happening, i do not know whether the

ukrainians are already training to use them, but the united states, the white house has said that they will be trained to use them. it may be a month or two before they actually appear in ukraine. more broadly, what the ukrainians have been asking for from everybody, from from what the ukrainians have been asking forfrom everybody, from from other allies, air defence. to prevent the drone and missile attacks on their cities, on their power infrastructure, on their power plants, that have cut the electricity in the ukraine, cut the heating and water in many ukrainian cities, and made it very difficult particularly now, as it is getting cold there, for ukrainians to survive. i think really, that is the priority at the moment, as winter turns into the spring, i'm sure they will also be talking once again about ammunition and other tools that they need to take back their territory, as they have begun to do successfully earlier this autumn. can ijust successfully earlier this autumn. can i just ask you, successfully earlier this autumn. can ijust ask you, i think successfully earlier this autumn. can i just ask you, i think you successfully earlier this autumn. can ijust ask you, i think you are a friend of borisjohnson when you are at oxford. i'm not sure if that was right? in terms of the support

that britain has been giving to ukraine and president zelensky, there seems to be a special bond between boris johnson, there seems to be a special bond between borisjohnson, in between boris johnson, in particular, between borisjohnson, in particular, the president zelensky. do think that has continued under the new prime minister? —— do you think? the new prime minister? -- do you think? , ., , . ., , the new prime minister? -- do you think? , . ., , think? just to be clear, my husband was at oxford _ think? just to be clear, my husband was at oxford with _ think? just to be clear, my husband was at oxford with boris _ think? just to be clear, my husband was at oxford with boris johnson, i was at oxford with borisjohnson, and i knew him as a journalist in the 1990s, but i don't have that level of acquaintance. it is surely clear that for prime minister johnson, it was an opportunity, the support for ukraine, to involve britain in something that was not to do with brexit. important foreign policy cause, it was also important because it helped solidify nato support for ukraine, it was a very important decision that he made. my impression, though, is that this understanding of the significance of the war in ukraine, for britain, and forthe the war in ukraine, for britain, and for the rest of europe, is shared by

most of the tory cabinet, and indeed, by most of the labour party. i do not think it is something that one can attach specifically to johnson, ora one can attach specifically to johnson, or a yacht —— or to any other one figure in the british government. the ukrainians of course also understand that there was a marvellous moment during the liberation of tehran, the southern ukrainian city, that was recently freed by ukrainian troops, when i believe a british journalist was one of the first people to make it into the city and he was swarmed by welcoming people, he was surprised by british journalist. welcoming people, he was surprised by britishjournalist. —— kherson. there is a very strong understanding in ukraine of the role that britain played in ukraine, particularly at the beginning of the conflict, making its contribution to the war, clear, loud, and strong at the very beginning. clear, loud, and strong at the very beatinnin. ., ., ,, ., beginning. good to talk to you, anne. speaking _ beginning. good to talk to you, anne. speaking to _ beginning. good to talk to you, anne. speaking to us _ beginning. good to talk to you, anne. speaking to us from - beginning. good to talk to you, -

anne. speaking to us from opponent. we speak now 21. , a chair of the uk ukraine friendship group. what do we now... —— lesia vasylenko. ukraine friendship group. what do we now... -- lesia vasylenko.— now... -- lesia vasylenko. president zelensky will — now... -- lesia vasylenko. president zelensky will be _ now... -- lesia vasylenko. president zelensky will be representing - zelensky will be representing ukraine's wants and needs. this is the strengthening of ukraine's military. the defence and security sector is much in need of weapons, sophisticated weapons, defence, yes, we have been promised a son, but they are yet to be delivered. the artillery that we have been receiving, different systems, the air defence systems, they need ammunition, and they need a constant flow of this ammunition, so that ukraine can be fighting off the

russian advances. and so that the ukrainian army can carry on with the counter offences, even it through winter. the number of weapons that need to be coming into ukraine, they need to be coming into ukraine, they need to be doubled, tripled, they need to be doubled, tripled, they need to be much, much bigger, so that we can really say that by the end of spring, we have a victory over russia and that victory will notjust be over russia and that victory will not just be for over russia and that victory will notjust be for ukraine, standing its ground, making sure that we stay an independent country, but it will also be a victory for democracy in many senses. also be a victory for democracy in many senses-— also be a victory for democracy in man senses. ., , . y ., . many senses. can i 'ust ask you, are ou many senses. can i 'ust ask you, are you worried _ many senses. can i 'ust ask you, are you worried about — many senses. can ijust ask you, are you worried about some _ many senses. can ijust ask you, are you worried about some of _ many senses. can ijust ask you, are you worried about some of those - you worried about some of those voices in washington, republican voices, who are saying, how on a minute, we need to think about spending so much money on military supplies to ukraine? is that why mr zelensky has gone there, to try to calm those voices? in a zelensky has gone there, to try to calm those voices?— calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more —

calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so _ calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so i _ calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so i think— calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so i think it _ calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so i think it is _ calm those voices? in a way, yes, but more so i think it is about - but more so i think it is about making more deals, about more of the high range, sophisticated weapons that ukraine needs on the ground. there are also some weaker voices expressing concerns that how ukraine is using those weapons, and that sometimes they do so, in a much more efficient manner, which is ridiculous, because we are fighting a war, fighting a war against a massive military machine that is russia, that stops at nothing, that has zero principles, breaks all the rules, of humanitarian law, when it comes to waging wars. we are responding in the only manner which we can, to save our military and in order to save our country. i think these are the points that president zelensky will be making in congress and also in his meeting with president biden.—

and also in his meeting with president biden. ., ,, , president biden. ok, thank you very much indeed- _ president biden. ok, thank you very much indeed. we're _ president biden. ok, thank you very much indeed. we're just _ president biden. ok, thank you very much indeed. we're just hearing - president biden. ok, thank you very| much indeed. we're just hearing that president zelensky is in poland, as he makes his way to the united states. thank you very much, for being with us, lesia vasylenko,. to bring you up—to—date on the situation with nurses, because nurses in scotland, we are hearing, are set to announce dates for strike action in early 2023, early next year after members of the rcn overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer from the scottish government. 82% of members balloted voted against accepting it. so it looks like there is going to be strike action potential amongst nurses in scotland after the overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer and the scottish government, 82% of members balloted voted against accepting that offer. let's see what is happening in the world of sport.

there was a dramatic game in the scottish premiership as rangers somehow came from behind to beat aberdeen 3—2. and it was all thanks to scott arfield. the glasgow side were trailing 2—1 in stoppage time but the midfielder scored twice in two minutes to give them victory. it means new manager michael beale has won both of his games in charge 3—2 but his side still trail champions celtic by six points. they play livingston this evening. at the moment we are playing in patches rather than having control over the whole game defensively, we still need to tighten up, it was something i wanted to see tonight. i'm not sure it is there, i'm not sure we can score three goals every year but away from home, three points is all that matters at the moment, with confidence and time together we will surely improve. there were wins for newcastle, leicester, southampton and wolves in the english league cup last night. the competition continues — tonight there are three matches. blackburn rovers, who are third in the championship, play nottingham forest. charlton also have premier league

opposition at the valley as they face brighton. at old trafford manchester united play the championship leaders burnley. united are likely to field a strong line—up, with casemiro, fred, antony, bruno fernandes, diogo dalot, marcus rashford, luke shaw, and harry maguire all in contention to play after returning from the world cup. tomorrow holders liverpool travel to the etihad to face manchester city. both clubs have said they are "fully committed to dealing with unacceptable behaviours" following trouble at their recent games. after they met last month with fans' groups, the clubs have sent a letter to supporters asking them to report any incidents "that cause harm". in the women's champions league, arsenal are away to zurich tonight. the gunners are top of the group on goal difference from lyon, while zurich haven't won a point yet.

the work we have put in so far, also to top the group with this would be great. anything in the next round is to be a tough one. we want to give herself an advantage, you play every game to win. eddiejones says he's not ruled out the possibility of a return to international coaching. he's been linked with a return to australia as a replacement for under—pressure wallabies boss dave rennie. speaking to bbc radio 4's today programme, the former england boss — who took england to the final of the last rugby world cup says he could sense a change in the air — but has no regrets about his time in charge. there is always judgments that you make with answer. i thought i was

coaching well, when i look back now i don't feel like... that's the only thing i can control. the murray brothers could play their final doubles match this week as part of an exhibition series in aberdeen which sees scotland take on england. the battle of the brits will see the famous pair play dan evans andjack draper. jamie murray set up the event and hopes not to be beaten by the english on home soil. it's definitely not our plan, yeah, we are not in the business of losing to england. we will be doing our best. they have a great team and we have a strong team as well. a lot of competitive matches so it should be a good one for the fans. there will be no fairy tale run at the pdc world darts championships for fallon sherrock this year after she was beaten in the first round by ricky evans. sherrock was nicknamed the "queen of the palace" after becoming

the first woman to win two consecutive matches at the event in 2019. that's all the sport for now. back to you, ben. back to you, ben. back to you, ben. back to our top story. as we've been mentioning today, thousands of ambulance workers in england and wales are taking strike action as part of a dispute about pay and working conditions. mike padgham is chair of the independent care group — which represents care homes in york and north yorkshire. he also runs care homes in the area himself. he told us what he's worried about today. iam i am concerned about safety, we feel we are caught in the middle of this dispute, but we will do everything we can to keep people safe. we have to continue —— and we have a continuity plan should the worst come to the worst but if the end of the day, if you can't get an ambulance, i guess we will do a risk assessment and take our clients to hospital ourselves. this assessment and take our clients to hospital ourselves.— hospital ourselves. this is the situation with _ hospital ourselves. this is the situation with care _ hospital ourselves. this is the situation with care homes. i how could the current wave of strikes be sorted?

let's speak to simon sapper — an experienced trade union negotiator who now runs an industrial relations consultancy. good to have you with us. it looks like we are in stalemate on a number of these industrial actions. the nurses, the ambulance staff, the rmt rail strikes, doesn't look like any kind of progress is being made, can you see any way forward out of the impasse? you see any way forward out of the im asse? ., . you see any way forward out of the imasse? ., ., �*, , impasse? you are right, it's very challenging _ impasse? you are right, it's very challenging and _ impasse? you are right, it's very challenging and the _ impasse? you are right, it's very challenging and the remarks - impasse? you are right, it's very challenging and the remarks by i impasse? you are right, it's very. challenging and the remarks by the secretary of state for health and social care this morning really do not help. social care this morning really do not hel. , , social care this morning really do not hel., , ., social care this morning really do not hel. , ., . ., , ., social care this morning really do nothel. , ., , ., , not help. just to clarify what it is he said that _ not help. just to clarify what it is he said that you _ not help. just to clarify what it is he said that you think _ not help. just to clarify what it is he said that you think doesn't i not help. just to clarify what it is i he said that you think doesn't help? steve barclay said the unions were choosing to put patients in harm's way. i think people need to ratchet down the rhetoric rather than turn it up, because actually if you turn it up, because actually if you turn it up, because actually if you turn it up you crowd out the space for any other dialogue. i can see some glimmers of light. acas are involved in most of these disputes if not

all, the conciliation body, with a great track record have been able to find common ground where superficially none seem to exist. second, the unions want a settlement. all the unions want a settlement. all the unions want a settlement because going on strike is really, really hard. you have members out in the cold not being paid, and public support, and we could argue endlessly to what extent the public support the action, but the public support the action, but the one thing that is for sure is that it isn't infinite. there is a huge pressure and a huge desire on the part of the unions to find some common ground. unfortunately, as you say, it seems that desire is not being reciprocated and i think the government has to become involved here because whether they like it or not they are involved. we have something approaching a national crisis because of the range of industrial action we have at the moment. they are the paymaster in a number of important areas and also of course they set the tone for the political debate. the government at the moment i have to say, they are stirring the pot or they are digging a hole but either way, they need to

try and reflect on their position on the contribution to the debate. to take one example, the nurses, they are looking for a 19% rise. the government has said they will talk about anything but not about money, not about pay stop presumably if they got together and negotiated, they got together and negotiated, they could be a bit of haggling and conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is _ conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is for _ conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is for 19% _ conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is for 19% but _ conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is for 19% but as - conceivably a bargain? absolutely. the claim is for 19% but as the - conceivably a bargain? absolutely. | the claim is for 19% but as the rcn themselves have said the art in the mood to negotiate if there is a sensible offer on the table. but you're right in the sense that you could talk about resourcing, you could talk about resourcing, you could talk about staff shortages, you can talk about terms and conditions. the difference between that and money i think is rather spurious. you can't get away from the fact that this is about resourcing, how to manage it. i suppose within a can of industrial dispute, both sides, well, certainly the management or the government side is worried about showing

weakness, about backing down, so if they did now suddenly say, we've changed our minds, we will negotiate with you, the nurses, that could be seen as a sign of weakness, is that a concern in industrial relations generally? it a concern in industrial relations generally?— generally? it can be a concern allocation- _ generally? it can be a concern allocation. i— generally? it can be a concern allocation. i have _ generally? it can be a concern allocation. i have to _ generally? it can be a concern allocation. i have to say, - generally? it can be a concern allocation. i have to say, i- generally? it can be a concern i allocation. i have to say, i think the public... that would be an output of relief if the government would say, we think we've got it wrong on this issue. however it looks like that is not going to happen. the key thing is to get people in the room round the table, and then all sorts of things can be discussed, all sorts of linkage can be made from all sorts of alternative solutions can be devised and developed and come into the open. which may save face for the government, it may give the unions as to what they want, but the key thing is, find the space to talk. find the means to try and look for the common ground. that is the biggest challenge at the moment, i would say.

biggest challenge at the moment, i would sa . ,, ., ., ,, , would say. simon, thank you very much indeed. _ would say. simon, thank you very much indeed. an _ would say. simon, thank you very much indeed. an experienced - would say. simon, thank you very i much indeed. an experienced trade union negotiator who now runs an industrial relations consultancy. young people aged 16 and 17 will be allowed to change their legal gender after the scottish government rejected moves to keep the minimum age at 18. some snp msps were among those who argued that 16 is too young to make such a "profound change". the gender recognition reform bill has been seen as one of the most controversial pieces of roposed legislation presented to the scottish parliament — with opponents of the measures raising concerns about the impact — as they see it — on the safety of women and girls, especially when it comes to the provision of single—sex spaces. the scottish government says lowering the age is in keeping with other rights and responsibilities people gain at 16. joining me now from helensburgh on the west coast of scotland is aileen mcharg, professor

of public law and human rights at durham university. it is very controversial, there have been quite angry scenes in the scottish parliament, lots of proposed amendments, lots of rows about this, just boil it down, what does this legislation say, what is different about it?— different about it? basically, the - ur - ose different about it? basically, the purpose of _ different about it? basically, the purpose of the — different about it? basically, the purpose of the legislation - different about it? basically, the purpose of the legislation is - different about it? basically, the purpose of the legislation is to i purpose of the legislation is to change in scotland the basis on which people can apply for what's known as a gender recognition certificate. currently that is governed by a uk wide statute, that requires amongst other things a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, but the scottish parliament wants to change the basis on which you can apply for a gender recognition certificate to make it easier, basically, to allow people to apply on what is called a self identification basis. as well as, as

you mentioned, lowering the minimum age from 18 to 16. 50 you mentioned, lowering the minimum age from 18 to 1th— age from 18 to 16. so how does that leave uk law _ age from 18 to 16. so how does that leave uk law on _ age from 18 to 16. so how does that leave uk law on this _ age from 18 to 16. so how does that leave uk law on this very _ leave uk law on this very controversial area? that leave uk law on this very controversial area? �* ., controversial area? at the moment because it is _ controversial area? at the moment because it is a _ controversial area? at the moment because it is a uk _ controversial area? at the moment because it is a uk wide _ controversial area? at the moment because it is a uk wide statute, - because it is a uk wide statute, gender recognition certificate is are recognised throughout the uk, but legal gender change, which occurs abroad, is only recognised in the uk if thejurisdiction in which it was issued is on a list of recognised countries or territories. so as things currently stand, scottish gender recognition certificates would be recognised in the rest of the uk, albeit now that they would be issued on a very different basis. but that's not really an impact on the scottish bill, but it's a consequence of the law that would continue to apply in the rest of the uk, unless it's

changed. the rest of the uk, unless it's chanted. the rest of the uk, unless it's changed-— the rest of the uk, unless it's chanted. , ., , ., changed. so, if this goes through, could there _ changed. so, if this goes through, could there be _ changed. so, if this goes through, could there be legal _ changed. so, if this goes through, could there be legal challenges i changed. so, if this goes through, could there be legal challenges to | could there be legal challenges to it, do you think?— it, do you think? well, i think it's very likely _ it, do you think? well, i think it's very likely there _ it, do you think? well, i think it's very likely there will— it, do you think? well, i think it's very likely there will be _ it, do you think? well, i think it's very likely there will be legal- very likely there will be legal challenges. a number of different grounds of challenge have been suggested in addition to the points you have raised about the impact on the rest of the uk. there are some issues about the impact on equal opportunities and particularly the equality act. equal opportunities is a reserved matter under the scotland act, so the scottish parliament cannot legislate in that area. however, the difficulty is that this bill, the primary purpose of the bill, the primary purpose of the bill falls in the area of what you might call personal status, it's more like legislating on marriage or adoption or things like that. so the primary purpose of the bill is clearly a devolved purpose. and

there is an uncertainty about whether its impact in the area of equal opportunities would be sufficient to take it beyond the scottish parliament's legislative scottish pa rliament�*s legislative powers. scottish parliament's legislative powers. as you mentioned earlier, there are also some questions about there are also some questions about the impact on women's rights and in particular compliance with international human rights law, but there have been conflicting opinions from different international legal experts on whether self id is compatible with human rights law. so it's very picture legally. goad compatible with human rights law. so it's very picture legally.— it's very picture legally. good to talk to you. _ it's very picture legally. good to talk to you, thank _ it's very picture legally. good to talk to you, thank you _ it's very picture legally. good to talk to you, thank you for - it's very picture legally. good to talk to you, thank you for that l talk to you, thank you for that analysis. professor of public law and human rights at daman —— durham university. many thanks. the headlines on bbc news. abbott's workers are striking today in a dispute over pay as union leaders criticised the prime minister for not being willing to negotiate. the health secretary has said the three unions striking today refused to work with the government at a

national level. volodymyr zelensky is travelling to washington today in his first overseas trip since the ukraine war broke out. a man has admitted to the murder of a woman and three children as well as the rate of one of the murdered children. president zelensky is on his way to the united states, his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. american media have reported he was to travel to washington and then on twitter we heard from mr zelensky himself, he said... we've also had confirmation of the trip from the whitehouse.

and he has just and he hasjust been and he has just been seen and he hasjust been seen in poland on his way to the us. i'm joined now by general sir richard shirreff, who served as nato's deputy supreme allied commander in europe during the russian invasion of crimea. thank you for being with us. why do you think mr zelensky is going to the united states? we have heard from quite a of republican voices who are doubtful about whether the united states should continue with this massive programme of military assistance, because simply, it costs so much. i assistance, because simply, it costs so much. ~' , ., assistance, because simply, it costs so much. ~ ., ., , , so much. i think you have in a sense answered your— so much. i think you have in a sense answered your own _ so much. i think you have in a sense answered your own question - so much. i think you have in a sense answered your own question for- so much. i think you have in a sense answered your own question for the | answered your own question for the reason he is going is to make it very clear to any doubters about the importance of that military assistance to ukraine is that now is absolutely the time to double down on it. we are at a really important moment, i think, on it. we are at a really important moment, ithink, in on it. we are at a really important moment, i think, in the campaign. and if the allies, led by america, come ramp up the support of military equipment, defence weapons, tanks,

defensive capabilities, as well as significant advance of ammunition, ukraine can really make some significant gains and bring this thing to a close much more quickly. so you're saying really upped the ante and if anything rather reduce american supplies, increase them? absolutely upped the ante. the bottom line is this, whatever the west, america, nato and the allies do, ukraine will continue to fight. they are not going to stop. i was talking yesterday to a well established contact in kyiv, that is the message. what the west can do, what america and the allies can do, is speed the process up. by ramping up is speed the process up. by ramping up mapping the ante and giving them the tools they need to do the job. president zelensky, we all know he is a great communicator and a very charismatic figure, do you think he,

with his presence in washington, he is addressing congress, can he persuade some of the doubters? i think he will, think you will carry a very powerful message and i think it's an indicator frankly that in a sense of the door is waiting to be opened even wider by the fact that he's been invited to speak to congress, because that's a rare honour accorded to only very few foreign politicians and statesmen and women. foreign politicians and statesmen and women-— foreign politicians and statesmen and women. �* , and women. and 'ust the fact he has left ukraine. — and women. and 'ust the fact he has left ukraine, has — and women. and just the fact he has left ukraine, has gone _ and women. and just the fact he has left ukraine, has gone abroad - and women. and just the fact he has left ukraine, has gone abroad in - and women. and just the fact he has left ukraine, has gone abroad in the | left ukraine, has gone abroad in the middle of the war. what about, though, the possibility of belarus during this work was met we saw president putin in belarus, do you think that is now a possibility, that belarusian troops willjoin the russian side? that belarusian troops will 'oin the russian side?�* that belarusian troops will 'oin the russian side? . , ., , , russian side? clearly putin has been leadin: , as russian side? clearly putin has been leading. as you _ russian side? clearly putin has been leading, as you say, on belarus. - leading, as you say, on belarus. —— putin has been leaning. there is a massive information operation by the russians too in a sense get the ukrainians to look north, distract

them, and put resources aside to withstand any potential threat from the north. but there are certainly indications that the russians are moving stuff into belarus, and it is something that western intelligence needs to watch very carefully as well as... in order to help the ukrainians guard against any potential threat from the north. there is talk about new russian potentially in the new year. what is the big picture here, how do you see the big picture here, how do you see the war going? we have had that ukrainian counteroffensive around kherson, that was very successful. but do you think ukraine is tipping the balance in this war or are we still in a kind of stalemate? i think ukraine is tipping the balance. you mentioned the kherson offensive which was an outstandingly successful operation, but going back to the earlier point, it would have been even more successful if ukraine had had tea and munition it needed to complete a rout of the russians. —— had had the ammunition. i think

the russians would be really pushed. i think the talk of an offensive is absolutely there, but all the indications are that they are significantly constrained. the losses they have suffered are staggering. you don't scoop up young men off the streets, give them a day's training, chuck them into the firing line and expect to mount a successful offensive with that. nevertheless, because ukraine is to guarded against any potential russian offensive but i think at the same time, if we give them the tools to do thejob, same time, if we give them the tools to do the job, they can same time, if we give them the tools to do thejob, they can pre—empt that by attacking and gaining significantly and i think i go back to my earlier point about this being a really important moment. you talked about _ a really important moment. you talked about american support and how you would like to see that increased if anything. what about britain and british support? do think the new prime minister is as committed to ukraine as boris johnson, for example, was? we know he was very close to mr zelensky he was premised. i he was very close to mr zelensky he was premised-—

was premised. i think the british government _ was premised. i think the british government is _ was premised. i think the british government is steadfastly - was premised. i think the british - government is steadfastly committed and frankly in a pretty choppy sea, this has been one stand a commitment that i don't because change, the commitment to ukraine. so yes, the british absolutely must continue to come and ramp up, and i include as well as the americans and every other ally needs to ramp up its capability and its support to ukraine. but of course britain is constrained. with armed forces of the size they are now, there's not a lot go round. our successive governments over the last 15 years have run down the size of the armed forces, and you can't do much with that. , ., ., forces, and you can't do much with that. , ., ., ~ forces, and you can't do much with that. , ., ., ,, ., i. that. very good to talk to you. thank you- — elon musk has said he will resign

as twitter�*s chief executive, once he found, what he described as "someone foolish enough to take the job". the billionaire promised to abide by the result of a twitter poll, which asked users to vote on whether he should step down from the role. mr musk says he will still run the software and server teams after his replacement is found. let's talk to marcus gilroy—ware, an academic specialising in social media and politics and a lecturer in creative digital media at soas university. thank you for being with us. is he really prepared to have somebody else run twitter, do you think? i think he is prepared to have somebody run twitter nominally. i would be surprised if the person who takes that job will would be surprised if the person who takes thatjob will have much autonomy, freedom to really run twitter the way they want to run the company. i suspect mr musk cos influence will continue to be quite strong at twitter. i

influence will continue to be quite strong at twitter.— influence will continue to be quite strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it anti spent _ strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it anti spent 40 — strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it anti spent 40 odd _ strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it anti spent 40 odd billion - strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it anti spent 40 odd billion dollars| it anti spent 40 odd billion dollars buying it. he won't really let somebody take it in a completely different direction.— different direction. exactly. he's been saying. _ different direction. exactly. he's been saying, this _ different direction. exactly. he's been saying, this is _ different direction. exactly. he's been saying, this is not - different direction. exactly. he's been saying, this is not the - different direction. exactly. he's been saying, this is not the first| been saying, this is not the first time he has said he is going to hand over the leadership, one brother thinks of when putin handed over the presidency of russia to get round constitutional limits, he was still running the country. i don't think mr musk will be going anywhere. he has invested a lot of money in buying twitter, and exactly why or whether he wanted to go through with the sale is another matter. but now he's got it and he has to make this work. . �* ., , ., ~ ., work. . are not sure elon musk would a- reciate work. . are not sure elon musk would appreciate being _ work. . are not sure elon musk would appreciate being competitive - work. . are not sure elon musk would appreciate being competitive adamal appreciate being competitive adama put on! but anyway. do you think he is now regretting buying twitter for all that money? i suspect so. all of the kind of science i have from having worked on this stuff for a long time, don't think he really wanted to go through with the sale.

in fact we know he was forced to by the courts in the us to complete the sale when he tried to get out of it, and the twitter board were very sure about making him do that. and he has told the courts as well that he has too much on, he doesn't really want too much on, he doesn't really want to be running twitter, so this poll much more significant is not that he has said again he wants to stand down, because we kind of knew that he was feeling that, but rather, when he asks the twitter base, the users, did they also want him to stand down... users, did they also want him to stand down. . ._ users, did they also want him to stand down. . .— users, did they also want him to stand down... they don't like him? they don't- — stand down... they don't like him? they don't. journalists _ stand down... they don't like him? they don't. journalists and - they don't. journalists and politicians especially now that i mean, twitter was quite a functional public sphere type place where you could really share information and there was a certain kind of... there was something good about it. for all the criticisms i make of social media there was something quite functional about it. so now a lot of that has been destroyed and

undermined by mr musk�*s acquisition of the platform and i think there is a sense that he is inevitably associated with that change and they want to see him out of the way. marcus, thank you very much indeed, we will see what happens next. good to talk to you. let's take a look at the weather. hello again. as we go through the next few days and up until christmas, the weather is going to be changeable. generally speaking, it will be mild for most of us, but there is also going to be some rain in the forecast and as we head through christmas day and boxing day, it is going to turn colder. if you want to keep abreast of what the weather is doing where you are or maybe where you are going, don't forget you can do so using the bbc weather app or of course online. what we have at the moment is a band of rain continuing to move away from the south—east. a lot of showers coming in across scotland and northern ireland, being driven in on a brisk wind.

it is pretty windy in the north and parts of the west. in between all of this, we are looking at some sunshine or at worst bright skies. temperatures, 7—11 degrees. tonight, as our low pressure area drifts across the north of scotland, you will find that the showers will tend to ease, as indeed will the wind. but coming in from the south—west, we have got of this cloud and also some rain and misty, murky conditions. the wind also strengthening across southern coastal counties and the english channel. as we start the day tomorrow, this band of cloud and rain and murky conditions pushes a bit further east, eventually easing. later in the day, more rain coming up from the south. from the midlands and northwards, it is going to be dry out. there will be variable amounts of cloud and some sunshine. fewer showers across the north of scotland than we are looking at today and not as windy. temperatures, 6—12 degrees, north to south. as we head into friday, some heavy rain pushing steadily northwards. as it does so, it will engage with the cold air in the north so we will see some sleet and snow above about 400 metres across northern england. behind it, fairly windy, strong winds in the south. highs up to 12 degrees.

wintry showers across the far north of scotland. and then as we head into christmas eve and christmas day, you can see how that weather front moves northwards. still windy behind it, although the wind is easing a touch and then we start to pull in colder air, which will come into the north during the course of christmas day and it will continue to push southwards as we head through boxing day. a bit of a change in the weather as we go through this weekend. still mild in the south on christmas eve and christmas day but the colder air starts to feed in and then we're all going to feel it on monday and tuesday.

and as workers are struck in a dispute over pay as union leaders criticised the prime minister for not being willing to negotiate. every time the health secretary speaks i have my head in my hands, i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. the health secretary says the three unions striking today have "refused" to work with the government at the national level. members of the royal college of nursing in scotland reject the latest pay offer from the nhs and they plan to strike early next year. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky is on his way to washington today in his first overseas trip

since war broke out. a man has admitted to the murder of a woman and three children, and her daughter's friend. it was in killer marsh last year. —— killamarsh. tens of thousands of ambulance workers, including paramedics and call handlers, have begun strike action across england and wales. the government say most have received a pay rise of at least 4%, but the unions say this isn't enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. so, how could these strikes affect you? if you need to call 999, there will be staff answering calls and sending out some ambulances. category1 calls — classed as the most life—threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest — will be responded to by an ambulance.

however, conditions which are serious but notjudged to be immediately life—threatening — which could include people who may be having a stroke — might not be immediately attended to by emergency teams. urgent problems that fit into category 3 — such as a woman in late—stage labour — will not be prioritised. this morning, the head of the unite union, one of the three unions involved in the strikes, has accused rishi sunak of the worst "abdication of leadership" she has seen in 25 years. the health secretary says the unions involved have "refused" to work with the government at a national level. here's our health correspondent jim reed on pressures facing a&e departments. the most widespread ambulance strike in decades has gone ahead after there was no last—minute breakthrough in talks. the staggered action from three unions started at midnight across wales, the west midlands and the north of england.

the staggered action from three unions started at 6am, it was extended to the east midlands and the south, except the isle of wight. at midday, paramedics in london willjoin the strike. ambulance staff say the dispute is about pay, which hasn't kept up with inflation, but also patient safety. it's been one of the most difficult decisions ambulance workers have had to make. the current context we work in sees delays that have caused significant patient harm, and nobody who works for the ambulance service wants to add to that harm or increase that risk. ambulance services are already under intense pressure. here in gloucester this week, long queues of vehicles were waiting to unload patients because there was no space inside the hospital to treat them. that same problem has driven up response times across the country, with most of the services in england declaring critical incidents this week.

both the government and some managers in the health service are concerned the strikes could increase the risk to patients. ambulance unions say the most serious, life—threatening call—outs should not be affected. they should go ahead as usual. but other services are very likely to see some disruption. the impact will vary by region. the most serious category1 calls, such as someone not breathing or in cardiac arrest, will be responded to, as should some category 2 calls like strokes or serious burns. but other urgent problems like a woman in late—stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home might not be answered. this is going to be quite a difficult period. and there may be some delays to people but we'll make sure that those people who need the interventions in a time—critical period get that time—critical care that they need. you drive first, all right, you get round there.

the government says 600 troops have been trained to step in and drive ambulances, although they're not allowed to treat patients or use blue lights. i call on the trade unions to act responsibly. - they've said that they will provide life—threatening cover, that they will provide emergency cover. it's essential that they do so to protect patients. paramedics accept patient safety may be affected, but say strike action is still justified. they've not taken the decision to take strike action lightly. they feel they have been forced into this position because year after year, the government have failed to listen to them. ambulance staff in northern ireland also went on strike last week. while in scotland a new pay offer has just been rejected by one union, but a strike has not yet been called. the message today then is still to use 999 if there's a life—threatening emergency. but in some other urgent cases, expect a longer wait for help. jim reed, bbc news.

our health correspondent, katherine da costa, has been on the picket line in coventry. about 30 or so ambulance workers from the unite union are here, they have been out since 6am this morning and they have got their banners and placards. they have been using their clackers and chanting. there has been quite a lot of high spirits but of course, there is anger, too. they are calling for fair pay. ambulances have been coming out. we have seen lots with blue lights attending emergencies. some of the paramedics behind me will be on call and will have to leave the picket line and go to emergencies if they are called, because unions have agreed to respond to life—threatening emergencies. but services will be patchy across the country, depending on where you live because of what negotiations have ta ken place locally. even with contingency plans in place, the nhs is expecting to be extremely busy today. eight out of ten hospital trusts in england had already declared critical incidents even before

today's strikes because of the pressure they are under. i can speak now to sharon graham, the general secretary of the unite union. sharon, the health secretary has criticised unions for not having a national strategy for dealing with category 2 calls like heart attack and stroke. what is your response? every time the health secretary speaks, i have got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. we have negotiated locally all of the cover, the category one calls will be answered and category two will be triaged, but the important thing to say is that this government has walked away from the negotiating table. this strike didn't need to happen. they need to get back to the negotiating table so we can get a proper pay rise for these workers and everyone can go back to work. the government has said it cannot afford above inflation pay rises and has accepted recommendations from the independent

pay review body. where do we go from here? first of all, the pay review body is not independent and they pick and choose when they use it. but this is about choices. the energy companies have made £170 billion in excess profit, more than normal profit. they could use some of that, £50 billion, to plug the black hole and give these workers a 10% pay rise, that only costs £6 billion and they'd have £4 billion left over, this is about choices — they need to make the right choices and stop backing profiteering and start backing the nhs. thank you. patients are being reminded to only use 999 in a genuine life emergency, otherwise, use 111 online or the helpline. that was catherine acosta —— the cost of reporting there. our chief political correspondent nick eardley has been there is no ambulance strike on the

isle of wight. a paramedic with the easel and service says everyday is challenging when you work for the nhs. it challenging when you work for the nhs. , ., , ., ., nhs. it is not something that an bod nhs. it is not something that anybody who _ nhs. it is not something that anybody who works _ nhs. it is not something that anybody who works in - nhs. it is not something that anybody who works in a - nhs. it is not something thatl anybody who works in a health nhs. it is not something that - anybody who works in a health care profession takes lightly. when i respond to decor and are going to work this evening, i will be responding to those emergencies. the truth is the claimant does lay with the government. the delays are already there. —— the claimant does lay. the impact to do myjob is already there. i went to do a job yesterday, and a patient for 80 hours, they asked, is this a strike day? no, this is the nhs. this is where we are out. i'm under such personal and emotional pressure, every moment that i do myjob, that the pressure to take the strike action is not one i have taken lightly at all. action is not one i have taken lightly at all-— lightly at all. that was stephen raven, a paramedic— lightly at all. that was stephen raven, a paramedic with - lightly at all. that was stephen raven, a paramedic with the i lightly at all. that was stephen i raven, a paramedic with the west midlands ambulance. our political

correspondent, nick eardley has been following the action from within westminster. the government, as things stand, is not budging on that key issue of pay, which the unions say they prerequisite for any meaningful talks that could end these disputes. what is quite interesting, this morning, is that there is a blame game in full flow on a tv, radio, in the newspapers, between the government and the unions. we have the health secretary, writing in the telegraph this morning, to quote him, the ambulance unions have been a __ him, the ambulance unions have been a —— has made a conscious decision to inflict harm on parents. there is the message you hearfrom governments government come inside, privately. some unions on strike that if there is any deaths caused by industrial action, the government will be to blame, because it had refused to discuss pay. another union is saying that it is the worst belligerence from the government that it has seen in a quarter of a century. on a day where i suspect a

lot of people will be looking for ways out of this, wondering if there are any ladders for either side to climb down, what is actually going on is some toughening up of the rhetoric. will that mean there is no deal at all? i don't think so, because, isuppose, at deal at all? i don't think so, because, i suppose, at some point, every strike has to end. the question of how that is achieved at the moment is not clear to answer. there are a couple of things, i think, that are worth watching out for over the next few days, one is that unions have opened their doors to the idea of a one—off lump sum payments, to compensate with the cost of payments, it is something the gmb were asked about this morning, they said they were prepared to look at it. unison have said the same, although, we should point out, ministers are not offering that at the moment. we are hearing quite a lot from people in government, about next year's pay deal, about the process under way now to look at what's pay rise nhs

staff might get in 2023. again, there is something that unions do not want to talk about as a compensation for a lower deal this year. it is something that ministers are dangling, i think, as a prospect of a potential olive branch. sitting here this morning, it feels very similar to the conversations we have had over the last few days. it is stark. both sides are pretty entrenched and at the moment, waiting for the other to blink. that is nick eardley, chief political correspondent. in a moment, we will talk about how the ambulance strike is affecting elderly people. let's first hear from... 77—year—old margaret who slipped and fell this morning and called her carers to help her. she told bbc radio 5 live what happened. i'm disabled and i have trouble walking. this morning, a slit getting out of bed, and i was

sitting on the floor. in the past, i have called an ambulance, about four times, and they have come and got me up, and sometimes they have taken me to hospital. everything was then ok. this morning, i called my carers and they were here within minutes, and they were here within minutes, and they got me back in my wheelchair. these carers are unsung heroes. the paramedics were wonderful, but everybody forgets the carers. they can't go on strike. they get paid a pittance. and these carers got me in the care or chair, they checked me over, they got me to stand up again, and got me a cup of tea. i want to champion the carers today. also the paramedics, i can't make my mind up whether they should be striking or not, i don't know. that whether they should be striking or not, i don't know.— not, i don't know. that was margaret. _ not, i don't know. that was margaret, who _ not, i don't know. that was margaret, who was - not, i don't know. that was margaret, who was 77, - not, i don't know. that was margaret, who was 77, in i not, i don't know. that was - margaret, who was 77, in orpington, who slipped and fell. as she said, she got some help from carers, which she got some help from carers, which she very much appreciated. we can speak now

to caroline abrahams, charity director from age uk. how worried are you about elderly people in this time, now that nurses, paramedics and staff are striking as well?— striking as well? hello. very worried- _ striking as well? hello. very worried. these _ striking as well? hello. very worried. these services - striking as well? hello. very worried. these services are l worried. these services are absolutely crucial for elderly people. it is good to hear that margaret's or right, of course, in future, what the nhs is trying to do is to create actual community—based fault services. —— all right. so when it somebody does fall, there can be a quick service, you don't need to serve the you might call an ambulance. it will probably take a year or two to set that up, but this is a very worrying time for elderly people, particularly if they are alone, at home, in declining health, because these services are absolutely crucial for them. the government. — absolutely crucial for them. the government, one _ absolutely crucial for them. the government, one government minister said people should not be undertaking any risk activities, but if you are elderly and you are walking about, maybe especially if it is a snowy or icy, that is a risky activity in itself! what would

be your advice to people at the moment? ., . . be your advice to people at the moment?— be your advice to people at the moment? . . , ., ., ., , moment? our advice is to, for any older person. _ moment? our advice is to, for any older person. to — moment? our advice is to, for any older person, to reduce _ moment? our advice is to, for any older person, to reduce the - moment? our advice is to, for any older person, to reduce the risk. moment? our advice is to, for any older person, to reduce the risk ofj older person, to reduce the risk of falling, but actually, most falls happen within the home, not outside it, and it is things like rugs that do not have an underlay to keep it stable, orsloppy do not have an underlay to keep it stable, or sloppy slippers that you can chip in. they can be the problem. —— trip in. i do not think many elderly people will be taking undue risk today, but i do not think they do anyway. unfortunately, foals do happen, and they are much greater as a risk as you get older. —— falls. what would you say to the unions and to the government's? sort it out. with the cost of living crisis, they have enough to worry about already, i think it is a responsibility on all parties to be prepared to compromise, get round the table, and to resolve this dispute. we really do not want to be going into january with the prospect

of more strikes hanging over us. the more they are elongated, the worse the potential damage for everybody, but including particularly older people who really need the services to be working well. [10 people who really need the services to be working well.— to be working well. do you have sympathies _ to be working well. do you have sympathies with _ to be working well. do you have sympathies with the _ to be working well. do you have sympathies with the nurses - to be working well. do you have sympathies with the nurses and | to be working well. do you have - sympathies with the nurses and the ambulance workers? they spend so much of their time working with elderly people. i much of their time working with elderly people-— much of their time working with elderly people. i have enormous s math elderly people. i have enormous sympathy and — elderly people. i have enormous sympathy and respect _ elderly people. i have enormous sympathy and respect for - elderly people. i have enormous - sympathy and respect for paramedics, nurses. i know from my own mother's ill health, she died 18 months ago, they were salt of the earth, did fantastic things, they saved my mum's life when she fell down the stairs, so personally, as far as i'm concerned, these people are amongst the best in our society. but i think when it comes to these issue about strikes of pay, what seems to be the real question to me is at the moment, we have not got enough of these people they are very short—staffed. they feel that their pay is not high enough, so they are walking away and doing otherjobs. the problem is that that leaves

those who are left having to take on other people's job, those who are left having to take on other people'sjob, doing more work for less, and i think that is the problem we need to resolve. we need to make all of these jobs attractive to make all of these jobs attractive to people so they want to do them and they want to stay in them, and they are not going to be torn away to work in the warehouse for the same amount of money. i think all parties need to compromise and find a decent settlement that recognises the huge contribution that people like paramedics and nurses make in our society. like paramedics and nurses make in our society-— our society. good to talk to you, caroline abrahams, _ our society. good to talk to you, caroline abrahams, charity - our society. good to talk to you, i caroline abrahams, charity director from age uk. we're also hearing that nurses in scotland have rejected the latest pay offer at the royal college of nursing in scotland, overwhelmingly rejected the scottish governmentoffer by 82%. this is in a consulted ballot. our scotland correspondence as it will continue planning for strike action and will

announce the date early in next year. we move away from the strike action gets in sports news for you at the bbc sports centre. good afternoon. there was a dramatic game in the scottish premiership as rangers somehow came from behind to beat aberdeen 3—2. it was all thanks to scott arfield. the glasgow side were trailing 2—1 in stoppage time but the midfielder scored twice in two minutes to give them victory. it means new manager michael beale has won both of his games in charge 3—2 but his side still trail champions celtic by six points. they play livingston this evening. at the moment, we are playing in patches, ratherthan at the moment, we are playing in patches, rather than having control for the whole game, defensively, we still need to tighten up. it was something i wanted to see tonight and i'm not sure it is there, not sure we can score three goals every game, but away from home, three points, that is all that matters at the moment. with confidence and time together, we will surely improve.

there were wins for newcastle, leicester, southampton and wolves in the english league cup last night. the competition continues — tonight there are three matches. blackburn rovers, who are third in the championship, play nottingham forest. charlton also have premier league opposition at the valley as they face brighton. at old trafford, manchester united play the championship leaders burnley. in the women's champions league, arsenal are away to zurich tonight. the gunners are top of the group on goal difference from lyon, while zurich haven't won a point yet. the work we have put insofar, the way the girls have played is incredible, so to top the group with this win would be great. i think teams getting through to the next round, it will be a tough game, but naturally, we want to get ourselves ready. you play every game to win. i think the influence comes for us, maybe, not necessarily with who we

are going to play in the next round. eddiejones says he's not ruled out the possibility of a return to international coaching. he's been linked with a return to australia as a replacement for under—pressure wallabies boss dave rennie. speaking to bbc radio 4's today, the former england boss, who took them to the final of the last rugby world cup, says he could sense a change in the air — but has no regrets about his time in charge. there is always judgment, there is alwaysjudgment, that reflects back with the vale of hindsight, in the manner of actions i made. iwas hindsight, in the manner of actions i made. i was sacked hindsight, in the manner of actions i made. iwas sacked in hindsight, in the manner of actions i made. i was sacked in 2005 from australia and i was not coaching well. when i look back, i don't feel like i was coaching poorly at all, i thought i was coaching well. —— veil. that is the only thing i can control. that's all the sport for now. ukraine's president,

volodymyr zelensky, is heading to the united states — in his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. us media had reported he was travelling to washington. on twitter, mr zelensky confirmed the trip, saying, "presidentjoe biden and i will discuss cooperation between ukraine and the us. i will also have a speech at the congress and a number of bilateral meetings." a white house spokesperson added: "president biden will announce a significant new package of security assistance to help ukraine". we can see some of the latest pictures of president zelensky. then as him, i think, pictures of president zelensky. then as him, ithink, in pictures of president zelensky. then as him, i think, in poland, pictures of president zelensky. then as him, ithink, in poland, in transit in poland. he has left ukraine, a rather blurry image there, but he is heading towards the united states. it is his first trip, as i say, outside ukraine. quite a symbolic moment. heading to the united states because there have been some republicans in the us, in particular, who have said that they think the amount of us military assistance for ukraine should be scaled down, scaled back, and we

talk now to ukraine's former deputy prime minister and for european integration. ivanna klympush—tsintsadze. thank you for being with us. why is he going to washington? is it about some of the republican spending the money, being sceptical on the amount of money they are spending? i just of money they are spending? i 'ust returned recently i of money they are spending? i 'ust returned recently from i of money they are spending? inst returned recently from the united states and i was assured by the majority of the republicans that they have a solid majority of their party supporting the ukraine eight. i hope that this visit of resident zelensky is going to just bring the upscaling of this is support that we are receiving from the united states, as a leader of the free world. i hope that others willjoin as well to help us to survive first

this very, very difficult winter that we are going through right now, and also to protect our four civilians and to liberate our territories.— civilians and to liberate our territories. ~ ., ., ~ territories. what do you think he will be asking — territories. what do you think he will be asking for, _ territories. what do you think he will be asking for, in _ will be asking for, in particular? we hear lots of talk about patriot missiles, for example, to stop some of those on ukrainian infrastructure, that have been hitting ukrainian supplies? i believe that we need patrons to defend ourselves, we also need to make sure we are breaking the logistical supply chains of the russian troops, that are trying to conquer our additional territories. we also need additional tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, and other munitions that would empower us and protect us to deliver on our territories. i hope that the new package, as a result of this address, president lenski, to the congress, and also as a result of

his bilateral meetings, —— president zelensky, that will be the response for ukrainian people, that do deserve a real upscaling of the support that is coming. also on the top, of the weaponry support, we desperately need repair equipment for our electricity grids, in order for our electricity grids, in order for us to go through this very, very challenging winter. mr for us to go through this very, very challenging winter.— for us to go through this very, very challenging winter. mr zelensky, we know he is quite _ challenging winter. mr zelensky, we know he is quite a _ challenging winter. mr zelensky, we know he is quite a charismatic- know he is quite a charismatic figure on the world stage, he is a very good at making speeches and so on, is he the right person in a way, if there are some doubtful mines in washington, to go there and just sort of make the case for ukraine? to make the case that ukraine it needs to keep getting the supplies of weapons, if it is going to fight off russia and maybe one day even defeat russia? i off russia and maybe one day even defeat russia?— defeat russia? i think you have to understand. _ defeat russia? i think you have to understand, for _ defeat russia? i think you have to understand, for example, - defeat russia? i think you have to understand, for example, i -

defeat russia? i think you have to i understand, for example, i represent an mp from opposition, but i believe that president zelensky is the democratically elected president, of ukraine, and it is important that he presents the case, on behalf of the ukrainian people. irrespective of which political party we belong to here, we are all fighting for the same goal, and one and only aim. that is to defend the country and to have the victory. a thing that everybody from the western societies and from the free world, has to get on board, with regards to ukraine being victorious in this war. —— i think. not only the ukraine and —— ukraine and the west, can lose the war, but this is the case of a hope president zelensky is going to make also in the congress and during his trip. we also in the congress and during his tri, . ., also in the congress and during his tri . _ . ., ., ~' also in the congress and during his tri, . ., ., ~' ., also in the congress and during his tri. . . ,, ., ,, ., , trip. we hear talk that russia is re iiarin trip. we hear talk that russia is preparing a _ trip. we hear talk that russia is preparing a new _ trip. we hear talk that russia is preparing a new kind _ trip. we hear talk that russia is preparing a new kind of - trip. we hear talk that russia is l preparing a new kind of offensive against ukraine, perhaps that belarus is going to get involved in

the war, and send its troops in. mr putin was in belarus the other day. are you going to be worried about what russia will do next? we are you going to be worried about what russia will do next?- what russia will do next? we are iioin to what russia will do next? we are going to be _ what russia will do next? we are going to be worried _ what russia will do next? we are going to be worried about - what russia will do next? we are going to be worried about what i going to be worried about what russia is going to do next, but we hope is that our partners are not just going to watch the situation and wait until it evolves. we really hope that everyone understands that belarus has been part of this war from the very beginning, because the aeroplanes have been hitting us from that territory, as we speak right now. we are in the air raid alert situation, because some of the aeroplanes of russian federation have taken off from the belarusian airfields. we are expecting yet another attack on kyiv and other cities across ukraine. we hope that

we can, altogether, just to speed up the support and urgently deliver the support to ukraine, because otherwise, if we will not win here, that means that russia will get a blank cheque, the possibility for further attack —— to further attack the free world. further attack -- to further attack the free world.— further attack -- to further attack the free world. thank you very much for beini the free world. thank you very much for being with _ the free world. thank you very much for being with us, _ the free world. thank you very much for being with us, ukraine's - the free world. thank you very much for being with us, ukraine's former i for being with us, ukraine's former deputy prime minister. thank you very much for your time. we are going to pause and take a look at the latest weather forecast for you. it is from helen willis today. hello. if you have been out and about today, there is a little bit of dry, bright and sunny weather today, this shot taken more recently. in between where we have that brighter weather, this band of cloud and showers, in the south, we have heavy, thundery showers rushing in across much of scotland, few as you can see in the east. there are one or two in northern ireland, and thatis one or two in northern ireland, and that is really the shape of things, for the rest of the afternoon. we

can mention that there is a brisk wind across scotland and northern ireland, lighter winds in the south. temperatures are only a little bit above average for the time of year. they have dipped away compared with recent days, but the mild errors not far away, cold air to a snob, but this milder air will bring in more cloud through the night, southern counties, and through the day tomorrow. further north, it will track, but we have the clear skies, temperatures will fall within a degree or two of the freezing. that will be the theme for the next couple of nights, but generally mild.

hello this is bbc news with me, ben brown. the headlines: ambulance workers go on strike today in a dispute over pay, as union leaders criticise the prime ministerfor not being willing to negotiate. every time the health secretary speaks, i've got my head in my hands. i have never seen such an abdication

of leadership than i have from rishi sunak and the health secretary. members of the royal college of nursing in scotland reject the latest pay offer from the nhs. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky is on his way to washington today in his first overseas trip since war broke out. a man has admitted to the murder of a woman and three children, as well as the rape of one of the murdered children. the home office has acknowledged that it was holding up to 500 asylum seekers illegally in early november. internal emails obtained by the bbc in a freedom of information request reveal details about several centres across the country including manston — the migrant processing facility in kent. police are investigating allegations that a home office official assaulted an asylum seeker at manston, as vinnie o'dowd reports. this man spent 24 days in manston. today we hear his allegations of assault by a home office official.

translation: he put his arm around my neck to the extent| that i couldn't breathe. we can reveal that police are investigating the allegation at the holding facility in kent. officers came in. we had no idea that they are coming to attack and beat us. and we've obtained exclusive evidence that the home office has detained asylum seekers illegally at centres that were used as overflow from manston. ahmed, not his real name, arrived by boat. he fled his country out of fear of persecution. he told us about his 24 days in manston. he says the overcrowded conditions stripped him and others of their dignity. we were treated like animals. there was only two toilets and showerfor120 people in our tent. we slept on cardboard. the centre was holding 4,000 migrants, more than double than it was designed for. ahmed and others started

a sit down protest, but things didn't end there. what did the immigration officers do to you? i was crying out while underneath him. i used whatever strength i had to remove his arm from choking me. when i removed his hands, he pushed me and ifell backwards onto someone else. the same officer grabbed my head and used his knee to bash my head in and broke my nose. from this point onward, i lost consciousness. the bbc has learned that kent police is investigating ahmed's allegations, and the home office has started an internal investigation and have told the bbc that ahmed's story does not match their understanding of events. a home office spokesperson said...

ahmed was released from manston on october 31st. at the time, the management of the centre was under intense scrutiny. the week he was released, the home secretary visited, arriving by military helicopter. that same week, a critical incident was declared at harmondsworth immigration detention facility. there was a power blackout and the staff had lost operational control. the prison service's national tactical response group were deployed to assist. internal home office communications, obtained by the bbc under freedom of information, show officials in chaos on the evening of friday, 4th of november. internal dialogue was fraught. an official at the home office outlined contingency plans if harmondsworth was evacuated. they wrote that 500 people who had arrived by boat were being detained illegally, some for many weeks, at facilities like harmondsworth. the email says that there

was no reason to detain the people any longer. it urged home office colleagues to remove them to hotels asap. the home office said... a home office employee is being investigated by police for an alleged assault. but for those who were illegally detained, some may want redress. vinnie o'dowd, bbc news. let's return to ukraine. president volodymyr zelensky is heading to the united states — in his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. us media had reported he was travelling to washington. on twitter, mr zelensky confirmed the trip, saying...

"presidentjoe biden and i will discuss cooperation between ukraine and the us. i will also have a speech at the congress and a number of bilateral meetings." a white house spokesperson added: there's just a few days left until christmas — we can talk to the former ukrainian prime minister.— we can talk to the former ukrainian prime minister. thank you for being with us. thank _ prime minister. thank you for being with us. thank you _ prime minister. thank you for being with us. thank you for _ prime minister. thank you for being with us. thank you for having - prime minister. thank you for being with us. thank you for having me. i with us. thank you for having me. what do you think mr zelensky... first of all, how significant is it he's actually leaving ukraine for the first time since russians invaded? does that show a certain level of confidence on part? i ieit level of confidence on part? i felt that he decided _ level of confidence on part? i felt that he decided to _ level of confidence on part? i felt that he decided to pay _ level of confidence on part? i felt that he decided to pay the visit to the capital of the free world, a mutable life force for very supportive of ukraine. so that's the right sent everyone, and replace

direct into most geopolitics and domestic politics so i believe this is the right step to make. the primary goal of zelensky first of all i believe is to express the gratitude to the american people, president biden, initially show to the entire world that the western world is supporting ukraine as long as it takes. i believe that president biden will express his goal of an aaron crowd support to ukraine, for us to reclaim the territories that have been grabbed by russia. but territories that have been grabbed b russia. �* �* . territories that have been grabbed b russia. �* h ., , territories that have been grabbed b russia. �*, ., , by russia. but it's not 'ust about thankin: by russia. but it's not 'ust about thanking america, _ by russia. but it's notjust about thanking america, because - by russia. but it's notjust about thanking america, because we i by russia. but it's notjust about - thanking america, because we know there are some voices on the republican side of the debate who are saying, maybe we should ease off on all this military assistance we are giving ukraine, spend a bit less money at a time of economic crisis at home and just scale back assistance to ukraine. it mr

zelensky partly sent to those people, we still need your help? absolutely. here the thing. the primary goal of this trip is to show to entire world that the us and the allied forces are still back ukraine and will back ukraine. this is the sign that it definitely goes to the kremlin, not only their but to beijing and the rest of the world. but the rest i would say so called a domestic agenda both for president biden and for mr zelensky. it is important for zelensky to reach out to the leadership and to meet everyone and the suggested speaker of the house, to convince him that he is investing notjust in ukraine, they invest into the us security. as we are fighting for the free world. this plays a crucial role, and zelensky will definitely do this

job. zelensky will definitely do this 'ob. ~ ., zelensky will definitely do this 'ob. . . ., , zelensky will definitely do this 'ob. ~ ., ., , ,, ., ., , job. what does ukraine want in terms of... it's obviously _ job. what does ukraine want in terms of... it's obviously been _ job. what does ukraine want in terms of... it's obviously been getting - job. what does ukraine want in terms of... it's obviously been getting a - of... it's obviously been getting a high level of military assistance already, but is it asking for even more, to try and push forward with more, to try and push forward with more counteroffensive is and to drive the russians back?- more counteroffensive is and to drive the russians back? maul, this is a war of attrition _ drive the russians back? maul, this is a war of attrition and _ drive the russians back? maul, this is a war of attrition and look - drive the russians back? maul, this is a war of attrition and look what i is a war of attrition and look what putin is doing. he hasn't changed his ultimate goal, which is to take over ukraine and his ultimate goal is to impose a new kind of dictatorship regime all over the world, and he is not alone. i leave that he is supported by china and other autocratic regimes. it means that we need strong support, and in this report, the us and britain and the rest of the world are playing the rest of the world are playing the crucial role. no doubt this visit is already planned in advance and americans and ukrainians

preagreed and the messages and actually on the delivery to be made to ukrainian military. definitely we need more because russia has a huge stockpile in russia is not going to back down, but ukraine needs to prevail in this war, not only ukraine but the western world needs to prevail and to defend democracy and freedom. 5m? to prevail and to defend democracy and freedom-— to prevail and to defend democracy and freedom. ,, , , ., and freedom. stay with us, 'ust want to show you — and freedom. stay with us, 'ust want to show you some i and freedom. stay with us, 'ust want to show you some quick _ and freedom. stay with us, just want to show you some quick pictures - and freedom. stay with us, just want to show you some quick pictures of. to show you some quick pictures of the russian defence minister live, speaking in moscow, saying that russia has been speeding up new weapons supplies to the army, and alongside him has been president putin himself, he has been saying that russia will fulfil all the goals of its military campaign in ukraine, he said that russian soldiers and defence chiefs or heroes. you can see some of the military listening in there to the

defence minister will stop —— and before that vladimir putin himself, who told his generals that the russian army kit must be improved and modernised and he promised unlimited funding. mr putin said there are no restrictions on funding, the government have been giving the army everything it asks for, everything. so that is the view from the russian side. let's go back ukraine former minister. do you fear that there could be an intensified russian attack in the new year? there has talk of maybe a new offensive of belarus sending its troops into action as well. iloathed offensive of belarus sending its troops into action as well. what we discussed a — troops into action as well. what we discussed a few _ troops into action as well. what we discussed a few minutes _ troops into action as well. what we discussed a few minutes ago, - troops into action as well. what we j discussed a few minutes ago, putin hasn't changed his ultimate goal, he is not the defence minister, they are not heroes, russian soldiers, they are war criminals. and those who perpetrate crimes against

humanity. i believe an international tribunal should be set as quick as possible. in terms of whether russia is eager to actually invade or to launch russian forces from belarus, belarus is already part of the russian military and there is no longer a state, this is a puppet state so i have no doubt if russia manages to stockpile enough manpower and ammunition, they will try to attack ukraine from belarus, and it is on the 24th of february. the reason why we have to be ready, we have to be... reason why we have to be ready, we have to be---— have to be... thank you for your time, have to be... thank you for your time. the _ have to be... thank you for your time, the former— have to be... thank you for your time, the former ukrainian - have to be... thank you for yourl time, the former ukrainian prime minister. elon musk has said he will resign as twitter�*s chief executive, once he found, what he described as "someone foolish enough to take thejob". the billionaire promised

to abide by the result of a twitter poll, which asked users to vote on whether he should step down from the role. mr musk says he will still run the software and server teams after his replacement is found. earlier i spoke to marcus gilroy—ware, an academic specialising in social media and politics and a lecturer in creative digital media at soas university. to run the company. i think he is prepared to have somebody run twitter nominally. i'd be surprised if the person who takes thatjob will have much autonomy, freedom to really run twitter the way they want to run the company. i suspect mr musk�*s influence will continue to be quite strong at twitter. i mean, he owns it, he spent 40—odd billion dollars buying it. he won't really let somebody take it in a completely different direction, will he? exactly. he's been saying... this is not the first time he has said he is going to hand over the leadership. one rather thinks of when putin handed over the presidency

of russia, some years ago, to get round constitutional limits, he was still running the country — it makes me think of that. i don't think mr musk will be going anywhere. he has invested a lot of money in buying twitter, and exactly why or whether he wanted to go through with the sale is another matter. but for, now he's got it and he has to make this work. i'm not sure elon musk would appreciate being compared to vladimir putin! but anyway... do you think he is now regretting buying twitter for all that money? i suspect so. all of the kind of signs i have from having worked on this stuff for a long time, don't think he really wanted to go through with the sale. in fact, we know he was forced to, by the courts in the us, to complete the sale when he tried to get out of it, and the twitter board were very sure about making him do that. and he has told those courts as well that he has too much on, he doesn't really want to be running twitter, so this poll...

much more significant is not that he's said again he wants to stand down, because we kind of knew that he was feeling that, but rather, when he asks the twitter base, the users, that they also want him to stand down... they don't like him? they don't. journalists and politicians especially know... i mean, twitter was quite a functional public sphere type place where you could really share information and there was a certain kind of... there was something good about it. for all the criticisms i make of social media, there was something quite functional about it. so now, a lot of that has been destroyed and undermined by mr musk�*s acquisition of the platform and i think there is a sense that he is inevitably associated with that change and they want to see him out of the way. marcus kilroy ware, lecturer in creative digital media at samoise.

the headlines on bbc news: ambulance workers go on strike today in a dispute over pay, as union leaders criticise the prime ministerfor not being willing to negotiate. members of the royal college of nursing in scotland reject the latest pay offer from the nhs. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky is on his way to washington today in his first overseas trip since war broke out. let's turn to china — where amid growing skepticism over its official covid figures, authorities have now clarified that only people who die from respiratory illnesses are counted in the official covid death toll. just two weeks after the most severe restrictions were lifted, cases are reported to be rising fast — but authorities have only acknowledged seven deaths. ros atkins has more. china's zero—covid policy is over, and the virus is surging. this reversal of policy came very suddenly, and people were not prepared for it.

we've seen fairly chaotic responses with the very rapid spread of omicron. china's chief epidemiologist is warning that this is the first of three waves. one doctor quoted by state media calls this a pandemic tsunami. and establishing how big this outbreak is isn't easy. official statistics note 16 covered deaths in the last month, but there is scepticism about these figures. today china confirmed the only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure after contracting covid would be classified as covid deaths, even though covid may contribute to many other deaths. then, look at the far right of this chart. the number of confirmed cases is falling, but that is because mass testing in china stopped recently, which means no one is sure what is happening with the virus. even the chinese authorities admit that they don't know what the numbers are. the national health commission,

which is china's top health body, has had to admit that there has been a breakdown in the testing and reporting systems across china. but there are ways we can build up a picture of this research. the bbc�*s team in beijing filmed this queue outside a health clinic and filmed this queue outside a pharmacy. the sign says no cold and flu tablets, no thermometers and no testing kits. social media is another source of information. by cross—referencing with other images posted online, the bbc has verified this video, which shows overcrowding at a children's hospital in northern china. we're seeing lots of other videos too, appearing to show hospitals under pressure. but these are difficult to verify. there are restrictions on certain chinese social media platforms that stop people from being able to post freely. therefore, it can be difficult to get an accurate assessment of what's happening on the ground. social media is one source. news agencies are another. reuters reports that in beijing,

the local emergency hotline has been overwhelmed by over 30,000 calls per day. reuters also filmed these queues of vehicles outside a crematorium, though it's not clear if this is caused by covid. in guangzhou, a crematorium worker told the afp news agency it's three orfour times busier than in previous years. as well as news agencies, we can follow official statements too, such as this in beijing. translation: medical supplies in the city resources are under. increasing pressure due to the rapid spread of the epidemic and the continuously rising number of patients with fever. on state tv, we are seeing a door—to—door vaccination drive targeting elderly people. and there are updates from local government too. for example, one district says people are reminded not to go to the hospital unless it is necessary. or there is another city, where we're told the number of visits to emergency and fever

clinics continues to rise. and all of this as further strain to the health service. there is a serious problem with overcrowding in terms and this is still at an early stage in the nationwide exit wave. one example of this pressure comes from the bbc�*s kerry allen, who reports that in guangzhou, retired medical workers have returned as there is a shortage of medical personnel. and as the health service tries to cope, so do the people of china. translation: my entire family have fallen ill and are trying _ to get better at home. but everyone is free to go outside now, which i think has made life easier. people can go outside, but many are choosing not to, either because they have the virus or because they want to avoid it, which is something that china has been trying to do for three years. now, though, covid is spreading freely and china's vaccines and its health service

are being severely tested. an indefinite ban on university education for women has been ordered by afghanistan's taliban government. the order was signed by the minister of higher education, further restricting women's access to formal education, three months after thousands of girls and women sat university entrance exams across the country. azadeh moshiri reports. the taliban takeover meant only one thing for the women and girls of afghanistan — fear. fear they would lose their freedoms, their education, their future. more than a year later, the direction of travel has been cemented. women no longer have access to university. the women of afghanistan have been doing this from the very first year that they took over. the flagship of conduct is oppression of women.

the war in afghanistan has not ended, there is no peace. there has been a steady stream of setbacks. here are just a few. in march, the taliban broke their promise to reopen a secondary school for girls. two months later, women were forced to veil their faces as well as their hair. in september, the women's affairs ministry was disbanded. and only last month, women were barred from parks, gyms and swimming pools in the capital. it's another very troubling move. it's difficult to imagine how a country can develop, can deal with all of the challenges that it has, without the active participation of women. and the education of women. it all hearkens back to the 90s. that was the last time the taliban enforced its authoritarian regime. and this is afghanistan today,

the only place on earth where women do not have a right to theirfull education. leaving little room for hope. more than 300,000 families across britain could be forced into homelessness next year, according to the charity crisis. some are already facing the prospect of sleeping rough over the christmas period, so the charity has opened three hotels in london to support them. tim muffett reports. it changes your life completely. for over ten years, i didn't have anywhere fixed to live. temporary shelters, hostels, sometimes on the street. charlie spent the past decade living in many places, but never in his own home. a relationship broke down. he can't work because he has ms, a degenerative condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord.

you have multiple sclerosis. what impact does that have on your life? i only have a finite amount of energy. with the ms, it completely destroys me. when it started to get worse, i couldn't even pick up a glass of water. so it wasn't easy for me, you know, thatjust... not having my own front door, you know. yeah. two weeks ago, charly finally moved into permanent accommodation. but christmas is a difficult time. in previous years, he's relied on venues opening their doors to those in need and the volunteers who run them.

no—one has a connection to the area they're in if they're homeless. if they're homeless, they've lost all of their connections. they've lost their family. they've lost everything. having somebody to actually be with you at christmas, it's not evenjust the meal. it's the time of the year and the emotions that go with that. do you think some people don't realise how close so many people are to a situation like yours? everyone's one step away from it. nobody's exempt. it's not just crisis at christmas. it's crisis all year round. a group of secret santas in derby have been delivering 1,400 presents to vulnerable, older and lonely people this christmas.

the gift—giving was started seven years ago by maria lawrence. when she died of covid, her mum joy was determined to keep her legacy going. our reporter owen shipton was withjoy and her elves as they delivered the presents. hi, gerald. hello, love. hello. they've bought you gifts for secret santa. christmas has come early to curzon court, an assisted living home in mickleover. for weeks, generous people have been donating presents in boxes around the area. joy and her team of around 30 volunteer elves then deliver them to people in need of christmas cheer. joy�*s daughter, maria, started the scheme. in march 2020, she became one of the first people to die from covid. she used to see this blind man in the post office and she popped a gift through one year and she met him after christmas and she said, "did you have a nice christmas?" and he said yes. he said, "someone dropped me a gift. "it made my christmas. "i don't know who it was, you know." and it's that sort of feeling that you get, you know, it makes it worthwhile.

at 95, gerald is secret santa's oldest elf. he's lived here at curzon court for five years and helps to organise the deliveries. most people live here on their own. we're very, very sociable here. we have meetings in here and parties and suchlike. yes. basically, everybody lives on their own, yeah. it gives you the feeling that somebody cares, yes. these secret santas have already brought christmas spirit to families, poorly people and those who've lost a loved one recently, and they're proud to continue maria's work. some people don't get any gifts at all, and sometimes, as i say, they're very grateful and very touched that somebody�*s thought of them at christmas. i think she'd be proud of everybody forjust carrying on. she would really, yes, yes, and we're proud of her for starting it. just like the real santa, joy and her team have more

deliveries before the big day. when so many people are struggling, they're especially grateful for all the gifts they've received this year. owen shipton, bbc news. let's see if there's any presents in the latest focus now from helen. hello. after the dramatic change in our weather this week, it looks as if we will stay primarily on this south—westerly or westerly airstream of the atlantic with generally mild conditions continuing for the rest of the week. if i show you the satellite picture, there is the one driving our weather. we have further weather fronts queueing up driving our weather. we have further weatherfronts queueing up in the atlantic to bring yet more rain. in the meantime, brighter skies through the meantime, brighter skies through the afternoon, having cleared the ring mostly from the south but some heavy and thundery showers with the brisk wind blowing into scotland and northern ireland. not too far away from average, just a bit above, but lower than they have been this week. when keep the cloud and bring in

some more rain and drizzle, temperatures holding up. but when we have the clear skies, temperatures will dip within a degree or two are freezing, particularly in the north. we have the north wind are still influencing the weather. it is where we will see the brighter skies through wednesday, but a lot of uncertainty as to how far north these bands of rain and drizzle will come, a lot of murky grey weather, perhaps the heaviest rain across southern counties of england and wales. that's where it will be mildest, 11 or 12. with the brightness further north, 7 or 8. but still the offset is that we will see some centring. by thursday evening, we have a next band of probably heavier rain marching northwards across england and wales, grinding to a halt potentially and we think northern ireland stretching to parts of north wales across the eastern england. at buttons are behind it will be mild, highs of 12 or 13. at calderfurther behind it will be mild, highs of 12 or 13. at calder further north, just for or 5. or 13. at calder further north, just for or5. it or 13. at calder further north, just for or 5. it may well once the front

reaches the north on christmas eve gifts some wintry weather over the hills. then it starts to pull away to christmas day and allows the colder air back in so we could see some wintry showers. primarily over the hills but some in the —— some of the hills but some in the —— some of the heavier ones coming down to lower levels. at the moment, it is a few days off but it looks like mostly the north will have that more chilly weather. if you want to keep up—to—date with your region, the app is a good source of information, the temperatures are up to day there, but for the majority, the mild weather continues into the christmas weekend with the likelihood of any snow more in scotland. more online. more online.

thousands of ambulance workers, including paramedics, go on strike in england and wales, over pay and working conditions. it's their first industrial action in more than 30 years. both sides blame each other for the strikes. this government has walked away from the negotiating table. this strike did not need to happen. they need to get back to the negotiating table so we can get a proper pay rise for these workers and everyone can go back to work. in terms of pay, we've accepted in full the recommendations of what is an independent pay review process. health officials warn patient safety is at risk, while the unions say life threatening emergencies will be covered. we'll have the latest. also this lunchtime. president zelensky is on his way to washington for talks.