today at six... tens of thousands of ambulance workers on strike in england and wales and a bitter war of words between ministers and the unions. almost all trusts in england and all in wales have been affected. the health secretary said the unions had taken "a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients". this is a point when the system is already facing very significant pressure, that is the point at which the trade unions have chosen to take industrial action. on a normal day patients are suffering because there are 20 ambulances at every a&e department, so there are no ambulances to respond to the public, so patients are suffering every day. we will be looking at what ambulance

workers want and whether there is any prospect of a resolution any time soon. also on the programme... within the hour, president volodymyr zelensky is due here at the white house in a visit. listen, his first trip outside of ukraine since russia's full invasion began. and i am here on the red carpet as the stars arrived for the bbc sports personality and coming up on the bbc news channel... a busy night of league cup action. we'll have the build up to manchester united tie with burnley at old trafford. good evening. in the latest wave of industrial action this winter, tens of thousands of ambulance workers,

including paramedics and call handlers, are on strike in england and wales. they want a pay rise above inflation and a change to working conditions. it's prompted a bitter exchange of words between unions and ministers, with the health secretary steve barclay saying that ambulance unions had "taken a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients". the strikes affect all ambulance trusts in england, apart from the east of england and the isle of wight, and all those in wales. scotland isn't affected as unions are considering their next steps after pay talks, and there's been no action in northern ireland, where there was a strike earlier this month. the impact of the action depends on where you are. in england, the most serious category one calls, equivalent to red calls in wales, will be responded to. they include not breathing or cardiac arrest. each day, about 10% of calls in england are category one, 15% in wales. some category two calls in england, or amber in wales, will also be responded to,

like strokes or serious burns. but other urgent needs, such as a woman in late stage labour or an elderly person falling in their home, might not be answered. our health editor, hugh pym reports. noisy, busy, one picket line into steve �*s strike, the biggest such action by ambulance staff in more than 30 years. it is pressure at work as much as pay which they say has led to this. the work as much as pay which they say has led to this.— has led to this. the radio is going off, 'ot has led to this. the radio is going off, jot jobs _ has led to this. the radio is going off. jot jobs are _ has led to this. the radio is going off, jot jobs are coming _ has led to this. the radio is going off, jot jobs are coming in - has led to this. the radio is going off, jot jobs are coming in and . has led to this. the radio is going | off, jot jobs are coming in and you off, jotjobs are coming in and you can't get to them and that is frustrating. we go to patients who have been waiting and they have died waiting for ambulances. we are the ones seeing that at work, we face that, we talk to the families, we have to deal with that situation and other people are not seeing that, they don't know that and that is not published every day. the they don't know that and that is not published every day.— published every day. the general ublic published every day. the general public don't _ published every day. the general public don't know _ published every day. the general public don't know about - published every day. the general public don't know about this. - published every day. the generali public don't know about this. the reason _ public don't know about this. the reason why— public don't know about this. the reason why we do ourjob is not

because — reason why we do ourjob is not because of— reason why we do ourjob is not because of this, it is not because we want — because of this, it is not because we want to— because of this, it is not because we want to be rich and make lots of money, _ we want to be rich and make lots of money, it— we want to be rich and make lots of money, it is— we want to be rich and make lots of money, it is because we love doing what _ money, it is because we love doing what we _ money, it is because we love doing what we are — money, it is because we love doing what we are doing, but it is coming to a point— what we are doing, but it is coming to a point where no one wants to do it because _ to a point where no one wants to do it because it— to a point where no one wants to do it because it is unsustainable. in it because it is unsustainable. newport it because it is unsustainable. in newport south wales it because it is unsustainable. i�*i newport south wales ambulance staff from the gmb were out, the only union in wales to stage strikes. i am attending jobs that are 26 hours old before we get to see patients. that is not a service that any of us wish to provide in any circumstance. in coventry striking ambulance workers gathered outside a local station. and in liverpool in a region where all three unions called strikes, feelings were running high. we are trying to highlight the fact we need more money into the nhs so that we can recruit people and retain people because there are loads of paramedics leaving the job to go to better paid jobs in better conditions. the to go to better paid 'obs in better conditions. ., ., ~ , ., . conditions. the london ambulance service said _ conditions. the london ambulance service said around _ conditions. the london ambulance service said around 200 _ conditions. the london ambulance service said around 200 vehicles i service said around 200 vehicles were out on the road, compared to 450 were out on the road, compared to a50 on a normal day. ambulance staff are on the picket line here, but if

are on the picket line here, but if a request comes through to respond to a life—threatening case, a team will get to their vehicle quickly and out on the road to see the patient. ministers made clear they felt the union's action was putting patients at risk. we felt the union's action was putting patients at risk.— felt the union's action was putting patients at risk. we know there are vafious patients at risk. we know there are various things _ patients at risk. we know there are various things happening _ patients at risk. we know there are various things happening all - patients at risk. we know there are| various things happening all through the day, across the country today, who is responsible for any deaths that happened today? it is who is responsible for any deaths that happened today?— who is responsible for any deaths that happened today? it is the trade unions that are _ that happened today? it is the trade unions that are taking _ that happened today? it is the trade unions that are taking the _ that happened today? it is the trade unions that are taking the strike - unions that are taking the strike action— unions that are taking the strike action at— unions that are taking the strike action at a — unions that are taking the strike action at a point of maximum pressure _ action at a point of maximum pressure for the nhs and in doing so are not— pressure for the nhs and in doing so are not giving an undertaking to cover— are not giving an undertaking to cover all— are not giving an undertaking to cover all life—threatening and emergency responses. but cover all life-threatening and emergency responses. but one union leader said undertakings _ emergency responses. but one union leader said undertakings on - leader said undertakings on emergency calls had been given at local level. for emergency calls had been given at local level. ., ., . ., emergency calls had been given at local level. ., ., _, ., local level. for him to come out and make those — local level. for him to come out and make those kinds _ local level. for him to come out and make those kinds of— local level. for him to come out and make those kinds of outrageous - make those kinds of outrageous remarks, i don't know why he was doing it, just trying to spread fear and put the blame on us, when actually the blame lies fairly and squarely with this government who have consistently refused to negotiate with us.—

negotiate with us. military personnel— negotiate with us. military personnel were _ negotiate with us. military personnel were deployed l negotiate with us. military. personnel were deployed to negotiate with us. military - personnel were deployed to work negotiate with us. military _ personnel were deployed to work with ambulance teams, but there have been reports that a&e departments were quieter than usual. but the underlying realities remain. eight out of ten ambulance services in england by yesterday had declared critical incidents, even before the strikes, with long delays at hospitals handing over patients and unprecedented call numbers. the strikes may be ending tonight, but there have been warnings from one ambulance service that the effective disruption will continue for the next few days, and one union is planning another strike next week. let's get more from our correspondents in cardiff and derby on the impact of strike action there. first to hwyel griffith in cardiff. hywel. yes, as hugh said, it is only the gmb member striking today, but that still meant only half the ambulance staff across wales have been working

as normal. there are those out on the picket line and paramedics responding to only the most urgent call, but there have been enough calls that at times this picket line has dwindled to a couple of people because at this time there is huge strain on the ambulance service. it is a service which notjust in winter, but all year round, it's paramedics tell me, is struggling to cope with demand. paramedics telling me about ambulances being stuck aside a&e for over 2a hours, unable to hand over their patients. these are familiar pressures around the uk, but in wales it is the welsh labour government that runs the nhs and it is responsible for setting pat’- and it is responsible for setting pay. the health minister says she understands the frustration and the impact of inflation, but it is their budget and she says only the uk government can fix a strike by handing down more money. thanks hwyel. and now tojo black who's in derby. what is the situation where you are?

there have been some picket lines in the east midlands with some gmb union workers deciding to walk out on strike, but as we have been hearing, some decided to come off those picket lines and answer category one and category two calls. here at the royal derby we are told ambulance handovers have gone really well today. just down the road in the kings medical centre we were told that the a&e department was slightly quieter with fewer people coming in by ambulance. northampton general hospital where i was earlier today, that also seemed much quieter. derbyshire is one of the three counties in the east midlands that has declared a critical incident, whichjust shows that has declared a critical incident, which just shows the extreme pressure that the health care system is under. even though the nhs plans to mitigate the impacts strike action has on patients with future industrial action plan, there could be some tricky days ahead.— so what has pushed ambulance workers to strike? firstly, pay.

they're asking for a rise above inflation, currently at 10.7%, without naming a precise figure, and also a plan for recouping lost earnings over many years. the government wants to stick to a rise of around a% set by the independent pay review body when inflation was much lower. but the action is also about working conditions and pressures on the service. in november in england, it tookjust over nine minutes on average for an ambulance to arrive for a life—threatening call against a target of seven minutes. for category two emergency calls, for a heart attack or stroke for example, average waiting times were 30 minutes longer than the target. and, as we've been reporting for months, there are long delays outside hospitals. by late november, more than 11,000 ambulances spent over an hour stuck in queues outside hospitals every week. so how might any of this be

resolved? 0ur political correspondent leila nathoo is in westminster. the war of words between ministers and unions is getting even more bitter. �* , , and unions is getting even more bitter. . , , ., ., , ., bitter. any sign of any resolution? from what — bitter. any sign of any resolution? from what we _ bitter. any sign of any resolution? from what we have _ bitter. any sign of any resolution? from what we have been - bitter. any sign of any resolution? from what we have been hearing i bitter. any sign of any resolution? | from what we have been hearing it does not seem so. the language from the health secretary steve barclay and the heads of the unions representing ambulance workers is getting stronger. there seems to be increasing animosity between the very people who are supposed to be talking to each other. each side blaming each otherfor talking to each other. each side blaming each other for the strikes and any death that may occur as a result of today's action. those comments by steve barclay that the unions have made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients. the unions describe this as insulting and a blatant lie. the unite union says the health secretary has lost all credibility over this. a real hardening of positions. the government insist they will not negotiate over pay and they think it is unaffordable. if they do it here, they will have to do it elsewhere.

but you are seeing ministers pointing to next year was my peer—review process and hints from some unions that they would look at lump—sum payments. there is clearly a lot to discuss, but for any compromise to be reached both sides need to come together and it seems to me this evening they are moving further apart. members of the royal college of nursing union in scotland have rejected the latest pay deal offered by the scottish government. the rcn said dates for strike action would be announced early next month. scotland's health secretary said he was disappointed but would continue negotiations. a man who murdered his pregnant partner, her two children and her daughter's friend in derbyshire last year has been sentenced to a whole life prison term, meaning he will never be released. damien bendall killed his victims with a claw hammer. the judge described his attacks as vicious, brutal and cruel. 0ur midlands correspondent phil mackie has the story. four lives lost in the most

horrific circumstances. terri harris, a care worker who was pregnant with the killer's child, her sonjohn bennett, aged 13, his sister, lacey, who was 11, and herfriend connie gent, also 11, who was on a sleepover. 0n the day they died, the girls had held a charity sweet sale. among the family statements which were read out in court was one from angela smith, who'sjohn and lacey's grandmother. she said, "i used to tell them there was no such thing as monsters. "how wrong i was." mrjustice sweeney described damien bendall as abusive and controlling, violent and unstable. he'd been selling his partner's possessions to fuel his drug habit. do you know what's going to happen to you now, mate? i know what's going to happen. going to prison, obviously, again. why? have you done something to anyone else? yeah. what have you done? murdered four people. this was him the morning after he'd killed them all, and raped lacey. first, he had gone to sheffield to swapjohn's xbox for more drugs before he dialed 999.

i'm arresting you on suspicion of murder. how would you describe bendall? as a monster. as a callous monster who brought about the trust of a family and he shattered that in a matter of a few minutes. and how are they now? difficult to put into words. they need to come to terms with what happened today. ithink, obviously, a relief with regards to the fact that it is a whole life order, because that's what they were all hoping for, that's what we as a police service were hoping for, and that's what justice sweeney has brought about today. it was a distressing day for the families, who were satisfied with the whole life sentences handed out but say it won't make up for the fact they will never see their loved ones again. phil mackie, bbc news, derby. a man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of nine—year—old 0livia pratt—korbel in liverpool last summer. thomas cashman, who's 3a, appeared via video link at liverpool crown court earlier today. 0livia was fatally shot last august by a gunman who chased

convicted burglarjoseph nee into her home in dovecot in liverpool. the president of ukraine, volodymyr zelensky, is in washington on his first trip abroad since the russian invasion in february. he'll hold talks with president biden at the white house, where a new package of military aid will be announced. the trip comes as president putin said he still sees ukraine as a brotherly nation and that russia is not to blame for the war. 0ur north america correspondentjohn sudworth is at the white house now. a short while ago, president zelensky�*s plane touched down here in the us capital, and he is on his way to the white house for what is a piece of made for television diplomacy, the image of a wartime president travelling halfway across the world to the heart of us democracy has been drawing comparisons in the us press with

winston churchill's christmas i9ai trip across the atlantic. president biden is expected to use the meeting here to confirm the provision of patriot missile systems which will seriously upgrade ukraine's air defence capabilities. but even though broad bipartisan support for this kind of assistance has held up, and even as congress debates sending another $aa billion worth of aid, some republicans have begun to raise concerns about what they cause blank check funding for this war, and with that in mind president zelensky is here to deliver a particular message, and in so doing the extraordinary powerful symbolism of this moment, his address to a joint session of congress tonight, goes hand—in—hand with that more narrow strategic purpose — he needs that supply of weapons and military assets to continue. john, many thanks, john sudworth reporting there.

members of the scottish parliament have been debating plans to make it easier to change gender legally. the scottish government says the legislation will ensure dignity for trans people. but critics describe it as a threat to women and girls. the bbc�*s scotland editor, james cook, has been following events. yeah, i came out as trans when i was 18. and i was really lucky, all of my friends and family were so supportive, it was a really positive experience for me. ellie gomersall is now 23. she's been trying, and failing, to change the sex on her birth certificate for nearly five years. i often joke that the hardest thing about being trans is the admin, and there is definitely truth in that. i mean, certainly, to apply for a gender recognition certificate can be so costly, it can have so much admin related to it, which can be really, really stressful. how important is this legislation to you? i think that this legislation is actually going to be transformational. i think, ultimately, the only person who can

really describe my own identity, my own gender, is me. i promise you, we will keep fighting. at holyrood, a very different view — from feminists furious and fearful about what will happen if anyone born male can simply declare themselves to be a woman. a lot of this involves the total acceptance of the premise that sex is not real and that it's a feeling, and that sex doesn't matter, and as women's rights campaigners, we cannot accept that. people who would argue in favour of this bill say that this is actually about protecting a group of people who are especially vulnerable. i think that some of the most vulnerable people are people like women in prison or women in domestic shelters or women who have been raped — i think they are vulnerable. the lights will temporarily go out at midnight... - the passage of this bill has been far from smooth. late last night,

msps will still bickering about procedure when this happened. when trans people are under attack, what do we do? trans rights activists have been here this week too, fighting for the bill's passage. they're on the brink of victory, but even then their opponents, including the uk government, may try to challenge this new law in court. this is an issue which attracts real passion, real anger, and that may be because, for those in favour and against the legislation, it's notjust a political issue, it's notjust a legal issue, but a moral one. james cook, bbc news, edinburgh. in around 30 minutes' time, the bbc sports personality of the year awards will get under way. here's the shortlist of this year's six contenders. gymnast jessica gadirova won gold, silver and bronze at the world championships, including britain's first all—round medal. footballer beth mead won the golden boot at the euros

and was named player of the tournament when the lionesses lifted their first major trophy. eve muirhead led great britain to curling gold at the winter olympics in beijing. ronnie 0'sullivan claimed his seventh world snooker championship title this year. cricketer ben stokes captained england to the men's t20 world cup title and four test series wins, including a record—setting tour in pakistan. and athlete jake wightman produced a stunning run to take the 1500m gold at this year's world championships. 0ur sports correspondent andy swiss is on the red carpet. andy. yes, reeta, welcome to the red carpet here in salford, always one of the most glittering lights of the sporting calendar, and over the last hour or so we have seen some of the biggest names in sport arriving here for tonight's ceremony, and there is a real buzz they say, because for the first time since 2019, there will be a live studio audience.

0bviously, will be a live studio audience. obviously, the last few years were affected by covid, but this year around 750 guests will be watching inside the studio. now, we already know a few of the big winners, lionel messi has been named the world star of the air, of course he captained argentina to the world cup at the weekend, and we also know that usain bolt will receive a lifetime achievement award. but of course the big question is who will be named the bbc sports personality of the year, it is a public vote, remember, you can vote by phone or online, and details of how you can do that will be given out during the programme, which gets under way at 6:a5pm, and of course it is live on bbc sports personality of the year, it is a public vote, remember, you can vote by phone or online, and details of how you can do that will be given out during the programme, which gets under way at 6:a5pm, and of course it is live on bbc one,

reeta. many thanks. time for a look at the weather, here's stav danaos.