hello, i'm lucy hockings, welcome to bbc news now. rescue workers have been combing through the rubble of a popular restaurant destroyed by a russian missile attack on the ukrainian city of kramatorsk, that's in eastern ukraine's donetsk region. kramatorsk is under ukrainian control but close to russian—occupied parts of the country. at least ten people were killed and dozens were injured in the strike. it's feared others are missing and the final number of victims isn't clear. the missile also damaged nearby apartment buildings and shopping premises. president zelensky said the attack showed russia deserved defeat. the kremlin has denied any involvement saysing they only hit military targets. i've been speaking to journalist arnaud de decker, who was at the restaurant in kramatoskjust before the strike. i was in the lounge eating a pizza and drinking a nonalcoholic beer.

i paid and left and ten minutes later, i heard a very loud explosion, first one and then moments later a second one, and i immediately understood it was the lounge that was hit. i went to the place and it was an absolute disaster. the restaurant was totally gone, people were in the street and rescue workers were trying to help the people from underneath the rubble. it was absolutely a disaster. there must have been an awful sense of panic and also complete despair? absolutely. people running everywhere, wounded, covered in blood everywhere, soldiers but also journalists, civilians, volunteers. the place was a popular gathering place, more than just a restaurant, it was always packed with internationaljournalists,

volunteers, civilians and also military, so it was more than just a restaurant here in downtown kramatorsk. kramatorsk is very close to russian positions, did people still feel they can go out in the evening and eat safely? the war is going on now since more than a year, so people unfortunately get used to this dramatic situation and these dramatic events. now we are still in the city centre of kramatorsk and people are just, well, continuing their life because they got used to it somehow since the year that the war is going on. so it's not a surprise here to the people of kramatorsk. from what we understand, they are still trying to look for possibly survivors, is that what you know too? is that rescue operation continuing? absolutely. when i left the restaurant, i know i saw myself 15 staff

workers in the restaurant and possibly even more clients eating and sharing drinks together in the restaurant, so it was full of people. the restaurant is completely gone, so i do believe people are still under the rubble, probably alive, maybe other killed people too. and your reaction to this statement from the kremlin that russia only strikes on military targets, not civilian ones? this is absolutely a civilian target. like you said, it's a gathering place for all kinds of people, from volunteers to journalists to civilians and also military people, they gather here and it was clearly a direct hit on the restaurant, so it was absolutely not a military target, it was a civilian restaurant where everyone was welcome and

it was hit directly by russia. while the rescue efforts continue in kramotorsk, ukraine has reportedly been hit by another attack from russia. according to kharkiv�*s regional head, three civilians have been killed in russian shelling. the strikes come just days after a weekend of instability in russia, where the wagner mercenary group staged a rebellion against the country's military leadership. in the end, that mutiny proved short—lived, coming to a halt when wagner leader yevgeny prigozhin told his troops to stand down just hundreds of kilometres away from russia's capital. belarus�*s leader aleksandr lukashenko says he persuaded russian president vladimir putin not to wipe out prigozhin. on tuesday, he revealed that the wagner chief flew to the belarus capital minsk but there's uncertainty now over the wagner leader's exact current location — he may even be back in russia.

we know that yesterday alexander lukashenko said progozhin was in belarus, we know that his privatejet which is linked to yevgeny prigozhin landed in the morning in minsk yesterday, so we believe he was there during the day. we also know that same plane departed from belarus last night at around about 10:30pm and that it was actually heading for russia, first towards moscow and then toward st petersburg, where it landed in the early hours of this morning. we don't know mr prigozhin was on board but we do believe it was the plane that took him to minsk in the first place, and also a second plane which has been shadowing the first recently also left belarus for st petersburg. so a big question mark over exactly what's happening and what the terms of this deal was that ended the mutiny and whether or not mr prigozhin is not only a free man after starting what president putin said yesterday could have led to a civil war, but also apparently he is still in russia.

it is a curious question to watch but he himself has said nothing and we have heard nothing from him in the past couple of days. what about mr prigozhin�*s fighters? are they still operational in eastern ukraine? we heard from the belarusian leader who was really relishing giving details of his role in bringing this crisis to an end, negotiating a deal which allowed yevgeny prigozhin to stand down. as part of those colourful descriptions, he said that the wagner fighters were still at their bases in eastern ukraine and they were essentially deciding what to do next. he said prigozhin had told him some of the men were going to sign up with the russian defence ministry, which is where this dispute all started at the very beginning. some of them, he said, have not been home for six months or so and they were going to visit family but they were welcome to come

to belarus if they wished. impression to belarus if they wished. i got was they were not involved impression i got was they were not involved in fighting any more. yesterday, the defence ministry talked about the handover of heavy weaponry from the 500 wagner group to the defence ministry and even though it appears that they are not fighting and having done a deal in great haste and under great pressure, now the reality of how that actually works on the ground is being worked out. what does mr lukashenko want out of this situation, what is he hoping to gain? i think he was dragged into this situation to give some kind of resolution to it, so he's making the most out of a situation that was thrust upon him. he's really enjoying the moment, presenting himself as the hero that saved the day, although he said clearl,y don't although he said clearly don't portray me as a hero or even a mediator, although that is clearly how he wants to be seen. then there is a question of what happens going forward.

if this army, essentially, the wagner group, end up in belarus, what does that mean for lukashenko? are they armed, is that some potential threat to him that vladimir putin could somehow use against him, or is it potentially a force that he can count on? publicly all he has said is that they have a lot of experience, and he has expressed quite a lot of respect for the wagner fighters, that they have a lot of experience that the belarusian military could learn from, but how much of this is just words and theatre, with lukashenko, you never really know. the uk government says it's prepared for a �*range of scenarios�* following reports thames water could be on the brink of collapse. it serves 15 million people and has been under pressure over its performance including spells of sewage and billions of pounds of debt.

thames water is the biggest water company in the country serving 15 million customers in london and the thames valley. underfire million customers in london and the thames valley. under fire for leaks, dumping raw sewage in reverse, complex privately owned business thatis complex privately owned business that is now under financial pressure as well. ., , ., , , as well. the main problem is the com an as well. the main problem is the company has _ as well. the main problem is the company has £14 _ as well. the main problem is the company has £14 billion - as well. the main problem is the company has £14 billion of - as well. the main problem is the company has £14 billion of debt i as well. the main problem is the | company has £14 billion of debt so it has got a substantial interest bill to play every year, that is currently going up because interest rates are going up. some of those payments are related to inflation which is very high. at the same time it is having to spend well over £1 billion a year in infrastructure, water mains, stopping leakage and there is a big regulatory review coming up in a couple of years' time so they will have to invest even more. . , ~ ., ., ., , more. thames water need to raise money from _ more. thames water need to raise money from somewhere _ more. thames water need to raise money from somewhere but - more. thames water need to raise money from somewhere but if - more. thames water need to raise money from somewhere but if it i money from somewhere but if it cannot get it to the government is looking at options. we cannot get it to the government is looking at options.— cannot get it to the government is looking at options. we need to make sure it thames _ looking at options. we need to make sure it thames water _ looking at options. we need to make sure it thames water as _ looking at options. we need to make sure it thames water as an - looking at options. we need to make sure it thames water as an entity - sure it thames water as an entity survives, there is a lot of work the government is trying to do on

resolving sewage. at the moment, or “p resolving sewage. at the moment, or up until now, the regulator has been focused on keeping consumer bills down but there is a lot of infrastructure work that needs to take place and we need that entity to survive and continue going. in a statement — to survive and continue going. in a statement thames _ to survive and continue going. in a statement thames water says... ceo sarah bentley was leading it but she resigned yesterday with immediate effect, adding to concerns. it immediate effect, adding to concern— immediate effect, adding to concerns. , ., ., , ., concerns. it is an absolute scandal what has happened. _ concerns. it is an absolute scandal what has happened. huge - concerns. it is an absolute scandal. what has happened. huge dividends paid out, huge debts taken on, customer bills rocketing, sewage being dumped into our rivers. so the government has got to come forward and explain what are they going to do to sort this out. the and explain what are they going to do to sort this out.— do to sort this out. the financial resilience _ do to sort this out. the financial resilience of _ do to sort this out. the financial resilience of this _ do to sort this out. the financial resilience of this whole - do to sort this out. the financial resilience of this whole industry | resilience of this whole industry may be tested, given the scale of

investment now needed. ba; may be tested, given the scale of investment now needed. by 2050 the environment — investment now needed. by 2050 the environment agency _ investment now needed. by 2050 the environment agency and _ investment now needed. by 2050 the environment agency and the - investment now needed. by 2050 the environment agency and the water. environment agency and the water companies believe about 50 billion needs to be invested to get sewage overflows down to an acceptable level. you are talking about very large sums of money to restore and enable water infrastructure and are sewage infrastructure to be fit for purpose. but sewage infrastructure to be fit for --urose. �* ., ., ,, , purpose. but whatever happens, thames water _ purpose. but whatever happens, thames water will _ purpose. but whatever happens, thames water will continue - purpose. but whatever happens, thames water will continue to i purpose. but whatever happens, i thames water will continue to flow to customers. in the longer term, higher bills for all consumers is in the works. live to paris, we are looking at pictures from parliament where questions are being asked and there is much discussion about the big story there with protest and unrest erupting over night after police shot dead a 17—year—old who failed to stop when ordered to by traffic police. we havejust seen parliament has come to a standstill and held a minutes silence over his death. the

17—year—old failing to stop, when ordered to by traffic police. we have had responses from president macron who has described it as inexplicable and unforgivable. that is a very rare criticism of the police. the teenager has been named. the teenager, named as nael m, died from bullet wounds to the chest. he is the second person in france to have been killed in a police shooting at a traffic stop this year. 31 people were arrested during the demonstrations, and 24 police injured. a real sense of unease in paris today. hugh schofield reports from paris. his report contains images of the incident moments before the shooting. riots again in the paris banlieus. the troubled suburbs. disaffected youth taking it out on private property and symbols of the state, police responding with tear gas. it's happened before when there's a grievance against the police, like now. and now, it's a big one.

two officers stopped a yellow car for a control. there was a discussion and one officer pointed his weapon at the driver named as 17—year—old nahel. then the car moved off and the officer fired. a few seconds later, the car veered off the road, the driver fatally shot. translation: for the shooting to be legal, the police officer i had to be in danger. this was not the case, since it was clearly seen in the video that the police officers are on the side of the car and not in front of the vehicle. the government is very aware how situations like this can trigger prolonged disturbances, like in the weeks of rioting that followed the deaths of two youths in 2005. translation: yesterday| we dispatched 1200 police and gendarmes to maintain public order. i would like to thank the police, gendarmes and firefighters who responded to the many rubbish bin fires. and to tell you that i am obviously calling for calm. i am calling for the judicial investigation to be completed as quickly as possible.

comments clearly designed to calm nerves. president macron has said the shooting was inexplicable and inexcusable. translation: first of all, i i want to express the emotion of the entire nation at what has happened and the death of a young man, and to give his family our solidarity and the affection of the nation. but nahel�*s mother has called for a march in nanterre tomorrow, a revolt, she said, on behalf of her son. and tonight there'll be police reinforcements out on patrol. there's a distinct fear this tragic episode is far from over. hugh schofield, bbc news, paris. lots of reaction coming in across france to this incident. our paris correspondent has been telling me more. , ., ., ., , ,, more. there is a real nervousness in government — more. there is a real nervousness in government and _ more. there is a real nervousness in government and an _ more. there is a real nervousness in government and an awareness - more. there is a real nervousness in government and an awareness of. more. there is a real nervousness in | government and an awareness of how quickly this could spiral out of control, as it has done before when young people die at the hands of

police in the paris suburbs. it can easily lead to major against the state, widespread rioting. that is why we have seen everyone from the french president to several ministers in the cabinet come out and clearly called for calm and justice. i think one of the things thatis justice. i think one of the things that is adding to the anger in the situation is the sense, the accusation that the police may have lied about what happened. yesterday french police sources were telling me to hear that nahel, the driver, had driven into police officers before he was shot. the video that has come out directly contradicts that narrative. that is fuelling some of the anger we are seeing here. , ., , ., ., , , here. this troubled relationship that has existed _ here. this troubled relationship that has existed between - here. this troubled relationship that has existed between the i here. this troubled relationship - that has existed between the police and people in these states has been there for a very long time. have there for a very long time. have there been efforts in recent years to try and change that? yes. there been efforts in recent years to try and change that? yes, there have has been _

to try and change that? yes, there have has been something - to try and change that? yes, there have has been something that - to try and change that? yes, there have has been something that is l to try and change that? yes, there have has been something that is a| have has been something that is a growing concern, ever since the 2005 widespread riots that we saw in the paris suburbs, but there is more and more spotlight on police actions more spotlight on police actions more generally, both in terms of these traffic stops. it is not the first time police have shot at drivers in these situations and during protests here, ever since the creation of new specialist units to try and deal with trouble inside those protests. there has been a real spotlight recently on the actions of the police and who polices the police and on the accuracy of narratives from the police about what actually happens. in this situation, it is quite striking that the interior minister who is normally one of the staunchest people to stand up in defence of the police, he has been quite critical this time around and has described the video images that have come out as extremely shocking. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

let's take a look at some other stories making news in the uk. a new report says an estimated 700—thousand children in england are being taught in unsafe, or ageing school buildings, which are in need of major repairs. according to the national audit office — the education department has since 2021 assessed the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse as �*very likely and critical�*. but the risk hasn�*t been addresed because of underfunding. a marking and assessment boycott by staff at queen�*s university belfast — which is part of uk—wide industrial action — has ended after several months. an agreement to end the dispute follows talks between queen�*s and the university and college union. in a joint statement, they say students affected �*will receive their classification as a matter of urgency�*. six teenagers have been charged with the murder of a 14—year—old boy — who was stabbed in newcastle last year. gordon gault died in hospital after suffering serious injuries

on november nine. the boys are all aged 16 or 17, and will appear in court later. you are alive with bbc news. 14—year—old twins have been named in the attack. condolences have been expressed saying a russian rockets stop the beating of the hearts of two angels. twin sisters who were killed in the strike. the bbc has just arrived in kramatorsk. in the centre of kramatorsk _ just arrived in kramatorsk. in the centre of kramatorsk where - just arrived in kramatorsk. in the centre of kramatorsk where the i centre of kramatorsk where the missiles hit in the blast area around it is huge. there are buildings all around me, hundreds of

metres away that were damaged, right behind me is the place that took the hardest hit, the restaurant popular with locals, with soldiers, with journalists and aid workers. i went there a lot myself. and we understand rescue workers are still looking for many survivors who may still be trapped underneath the concrete. we have heard sars and other lifting equipment as those workers try to dig through the rubble. why the spot was targeted, we don�*t know if it was deliberately targeted, by two russian missiles but it is clearly a popular area in the centre of town and whatever the russians may or may not have been trying to target, it was clear this was a big city and a busy time of the evening, with many civilians around. and as we have seen so often in this conflict many civilian casualties. in in this conflict many civilian casualties.—

in this conflict many civilian casualties. ., , ., ., ,., casualties. in the last hour or so, the oscar-winning _ casualties. in the last hour or so, the oscar-winning actor- casualties. in the last hour or so, the oscar-winning actor kevin i casualties. in the last hour or so, - the oscar-winning actor kevin spacey the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey has left court in london. in the last hour or so, the oscar winning actor kevin spacey has left court in london where he is standing trial accused of sex offences which allegedly occurred more than a decade ago. mr spacey has already pleaded not guilty. court has now ended for the day and will resume on friday. our reporter, helena wilkinson, joins us live from southwark crown court. he arrived here pretty early this morning, the doors to the court room opened at eight o�*clock but we can show you the pictures of a hollywood actor arriving here at about ten past eight uk time. he went into the court building, he stopped before he went in to smile and wave and say good morning to some of those waiting but there were dozens and dozens of reporters outside, crews notjust dozens of reporters outside, crews not just from the dozens of reporters outside, crews notjust from the uk but around the world. it is a case that is attracting a huge amount of

interest. kevin spacey while he was inside quite was in the dock, he was wearing a pink tie, a blue shirt and a suitjacket, and he was asked to stand. the court clerk asked him are you kevin spacey fowler? that is his full name, to which mr spacey replied i am. he is facing 12 sexual offence charges relating to four male complainants. the allegations between 2001 and 2013. one of the charges that he is facing carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. what happens earlier on in court one today was the jury was selected and sworn in, and the judge told them after that process orjust before the jurors were sworn in, thejudge said i am sure the

defendant would be gratified to know that many of you know his name or have seen his films, that doesn�*t preclude you from sitting on this jury. thejudge also preclude you from sitting on this jury. the judge also went on to warn jurors that this is a case that is going to attract a huge amount of media interest and they must not look at any coverage at all, and they must try the case, try the defendant on the evidence they hear in court over the child. they have been told to return back to court here on friday. —— over the trial. mr spacey denies i2 here on friday. —— over the trial. mr spacey denies 12 charges against him. we can see him now living quite in the last hour or so and he will return here on friday. he denies those charges and the trial is expected to last for up to four weeks. thank you. the greek minister has

held his first cabinet meeting since the election on sunday where we have some pictures, there he is, at the head of the cabinet table. he is the leader of the new democracy party. he won a second term by a landslide. the country�*s government supposed for what is always called the family photo, happening outside the pm�*s office. what he has told his colleagues as he wants this term in power to be known for its effectiveness and for its great leaps. we can take you to mecca where officials have confirmed more than 1.8 million muslims are taking part in the annual pilgrimage. a figure that fell short of the record number of more than 2.5 million that saudi arabia have been preparing for. it is the first time restrictions on attendance have invested since the pandemic. —— lifted. all muslims are expected to

take the pilgrimage at least once in their lives. a painting has sold for hundred and $8 million, the most valuable work of art sold in auction at europe. lady with a fan was sold to a hong kong collector who triumphed in a 4—way bidding war. the project of the unnamed woman was still in an easel in the studio when the painter died in 1918. things do not get much cuter than this. take the look at the moment a 28—year—old champ kinsey vanilla sees the outdoors for the first time. —— a chimpanzee. this is herfirst steps outside a cage or enclosure. she is a surviving gem from an experimental medicine laboratory. this is her with her sister at a century home in florida. a pretty special moment.

one that is being shared widely around the world. to stay with us here on bbc news. we will have the latest business news including the latest business news including the latest with what is happening with thames water here in the uk. hello there. it�*s a very cloudy picture for many parts of the country again today, but the weather is changing towards the northwest. we�*re seeing some sunshine coming through, particularly across northern ireland. but here and in scotland, as the sunshine follows the rain, we�*re going to find cooler, fresher air moving in. it�*s going to be a bit warmer for england and wales, even with all that cloud around, particularly in the muggy air that we�*ve got in eastern england, temperatures are likely to be into the mid 20s. but we do have that rain around separating the cooler, fresher air from the muggy air. that band of rain becoming more

fragmented, more showery, one or two heavy bursts, perhaps for a time. that wetter weather drifts down slowly towards east anglia in the southeast, clearer skies following from the west away from those showers in the west coast of scotland. cooler tonight for scotland and northern ireland. quite muggy, though, still for east anglia in the southeast because that rain is still around. first thing tomorrow morning, that weather front does move away. mind you. and then we�*re all going to move into this westerly airstream with that cooler and fresher air. but it could take all morning, actually, for the rain to finally clear the far south east of england once it does roll in the same boat. sunny spells, but some showers coming into northern ireland, scotland, 1 or 2 for northern england. further south, it�*s likely to be dry with more in the way of sunshine. sunshine would be nice, but the air is cooler and temperatures at this time of the year should be a bit higher than 18 or 19 degrees. all our weather is coming in from the west and by the end of the week, this weather front increasing the cloud,

bringing some rain on friday, all wrapped around that area of low pressure which is going to hang around into the weekend, as we�*ll see in a moment. but eastern areas of the uk will start to dry. bright with some sunshine on friday, does tend to cloud over bits and pieces of light rain here and there, but more persistent rain coming into scotland, perhaps into northern ireland on a stronger breeze as well. temperatures only 16 degrees in the central belt of scotland, 21 or 22 towards the south east of england. now, that area of low pressure that we�*ve got is going to be sitting to the north of scotland just in time for the start of the school holidays in scotland. it�*s going to bring some really windy weather as well, maybe gales in the northwest and most of the rain will be in the north and west of scotland as well. a few showers perhaps at times for northern ireland and northern england. further south, it�*s going to be dry, but it will be quite a blustery weekend, particularly further north with those stronger winds.

the uk government holds emergency talks over the future of thames water, as it struggles with its debt. and the us takes its chips off the table, as the trade war with china rumbles on.