at least 289 children are thought to have died or disappeared — crossing the central mediterranean sea the wife and carer of a severely disabled man had beenjailed. he was seen pictured here living in squalor in his home and said he lived under duress and threat and was served forced into survival mode. thought to be the first prosecution of its kind, two people were convicted of willful neglect and holding a person in slavery and servitude. the judge

said mr somerset how was held in slavery, kept in bed, deprived of adequate food and water, kept from his family with curtains drawn, frequently in his own you're in and detriment, unkempt and unwashed and access the content from other humans. expert said he has suffered serious psychological harm and requested a toilet were scorned. he was treated as a call to be milked. there were comments that the level of care that was given to them was only just of care that was given to them was onlyjust enough so that he didn't die. so, those some of the distressing details coming to route to us without breaking news from court as we get a fuller picture and further details will bring those to you.

world health experts have classified the artificial sweeter, aspartame, as being "possibly" carcinogenic, or cancer—causing. but — they say — the current advice on how much to have in a day — does not need to be changed. aspartame is found in diet and sugar—free versions of foods. our medical editor fergus walsh has more details. aspartame is found in thousands of products, most commonly in sugar—free drinks, but also some toothpastes, yogurts and cough sweets. it is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so you get the sweet taste for a fraction of the calories. a who committee has listed aspartame as possibly carcinogenic on the basis of limited evidence that it may increase the risk of liver cancer. and it wants more research. this shouldn't really be taken as a direct statement that indicates that there is a known cancer hazard from consuming aspartame. this is really more a call to the research community

to try to better clarify and understand the carcinogenic hazard that may or may not be posed by aspartame consumption. aspartame has been placed in a group of products deemed possibly carcinogenic to humans, along with things like aloe vera and asian pickled vegetables. this is below things deemed probably carcinogenic, like nightshift work and eating red meat. the highest group, where there is clear evidence they can cause cancer, include smoking, alcohol and processed meat. given the weakness of the evidence on cancer and aspartame, the official advice on how much we can consume is unchanged. the who safety limits for aspartame are based on a person's weight. i'm 70 kilos, or 11 stone, so i'd need to drink, for example, more than 1a cans of diet coke a day to exceed safe levels.

that's a lot of cola! i think people can be very reassured by this report, which essentially says, although there is some limited evidence for this possibly having a role in cancer, aspartame is safe at the levels that we currently recommend. when asked which was better for you — a can of diet, or regular sugary cola,a who scientist recommended a third option — water. fergus walsh, bbc news. let's get more on this now — from two experts. elio riboli is a specialist in cancer at imperial college london — and franceso branca is a food safety expert at the world health organization. they both joined me a little earlier — and i began by asking francesco how worried he was about the risks associated with aspartame. we have started to be worried when we saw that some of the epidemiological studies, particularly in france,

were showing some signs of prevalence increase of type—2 diabetes, but also some cancers in high level consumers. these are cohort studies that have limited value because of the risk of confounding. and therefore we have reassessed the risk of exposure consuming the aspartame. so that has indicated that, still, the data we have do not recommend a change in the acceptable daily intake. but at the same time we have also looked at the benefits of consuming sweeteners for preventing increased weight gain and we didn't find any benefit. so no benefit to you found, but no change in the overall amount, what is it that equivalent of 1a cans of diet cola roughly.

can ijust get now, elio, would you just tell me your on on the risk as far as you can see it? to separate two processes. one is the scientific process of evaluating whether a compound, a particular environmental factor, may be carcinogenic or not. and this is what the international agency for research on cancer based in lyon does. the other one is, once this is done and that can end up in four levels, level one, definitely carcinogenic, to say tobacco, alcohol, but also add pollution, possibly carcinogenic quite long... and probably carcinogenic quite a long list, and possibly an even longer list. and, finally, no evidence of carcinogenicity. once this is done, then there are national bodies, for example, the food standards agency uk that decides at the national level

what is the recommended level is exactly what happens for air pollution, for example, or for alcohol or for tobacco. it happens this time that the joint expert committee of the food and agriculture organisation and the who met shortly after we met in lyon at the international agency and decided to do what is called a risk assessment. risk assessment basically says what is the maximum level at which people can be exposed? for some substances is zero, asbestos is zero, but for example, air pollution is not zero. so this is why there are two different things, the science supporting the characteristic of a compound, and we judge that the science is limited for the moment, and then what you do as a public health organisation of that conclusion. i see. that's really clear. thank you for that. francesco, ijust want to come back to you're your final thought there about what the studies show

about any benefits of taking it because... or taking it or consuming it in food, because many people do, well, they know that they need to decrease the amount of sugar that they eat. so they switch out for full sugar products for these diet so they switch out full sugar products for these diet ones, especially cola. are you saying that that's not a good idea? well, we would basically like to suggest that particularly young ages, the sweetness of food is decreased altogether, that we do not use sweetened drinks as a main source of fluids, but we just use water. this would somehow adapt our taste to consuming foods and drinks that are lower, either in sugar or in sweeteners. we are concerned about the excess level of consumption that some people might have of sweeteners.

back to the us and the strikes going on in los angeles and new york. this is a screen actors guild, the union, 160,000 or so performance stop working in midnight at the same time as a writers guild of america are on strike as well. a huge strike attempting to bring to a halt production of many tv and films will stop notjust in the us but all around the world as well. you can see them out on the picket lines, they're asking for is better split of buffets from streaming companies and also for better working conditions, also concerns about al. the vast majority of people involved there are not the big hollywood anti—listers that we all see on our screens but those hollywood a listers are supporting them and we can hear now from the actor brian

cox. ican i can see it going on to end—of—the—year. they're trying to beat us into the ground because there's a lot of money to be made in streaming and they know that and the desire is not to particularly want to share it with either the writers or performers. that was my colleague katie wrestled speaking to brian cox. we will keep you up—to—date with those pictures of life coming from the us and the impact of those strikes. the unite union has announced that almost a thousand workers at gatwick airport, including baggage handlers and check—in staff, will go on strike for eight days this summer. the industrial action is over pay and it starts later on july 28th, potentially disrupting what could be the busiest summer holiday period since the pandemic. our transport correspondent

katy austin has more details. the prospect of strike action during a busy summer period at one of the uk's busiest airports will be worrying news for thousands of holiday—makers hoping for a smoother time this year after the issues last year which was largely down to staff shortages. and the dates announced for this action are in two chunks of four days. friday the 28th ofjuly to tuesday the 1st of august and then friday the 11th of august to tuesday the 8th of august. now, airlines bring in specialist companies to dojobs like ground handling, baggage handling, check—in, and it's those jobs that the hundreds of workers involved in this dispute do. so, if the strikes go ahead, i do think some delays and disruption are likely. it's happening, if it goes ahead, it's happening on top of challenges the industry is already facing around air space and air traffic control challenges which have been causing some cancellations already. now, easyjet is the biggest airline at gatwick. they told us today they were extremely disappointed to hear of this proposed industrial action

and gatwick itself said it would support airlines with contingency plans to make sure as many flights as possible, they said, operate as scheduled. now, it looks like more talks are planned early next week between the union and some of the companies involved to see if they can head off this action and stop those strikes go ahead. at least 289 children are estimated to have died or disappeared this year attempting to cross the perilous central mediterranean sea migration route from north africa to europe, according to unicef. that figure equates to nearly 11 children dying or disappearing every week. ?a new report by the un children's agency has warned, however, that many shipwrecks leave no survivors or go unrecorded, making the true number impossible to verify. zari kargar has been taking a closer look at the the latest numbers. according to the united nations, there are currently millions of children on the move

from different parts of the world. most of these children are driven from their homes because of poverty, conflict, climate change and some just simply leave their homes to find a better future. the data we have on children refugees from unicef which was published in the year 2020. this data shows that europe has accepted over 218,000 new asylum seekers. out of that number, over 69,000 of them have been children, which is one third of that number. most of these children have travelled from syria which tops the number at 22%. after that, it's afghanistan, then iraq, eritrea, venezuela, and colombia at 4%. the most popular destination for children asylum seekers or refugees is germany, which has accepted most of the children or refugee children. and after that, countries like united kingdom, france, spain and greece. anyone under the age of 18

is considered to be a child. 45% of the children refugees have been girls. the rest are all boys, because boys are usually the ones who travel unaccompanied. according to unicef, children refugees face discrimination, danger and detention on theirjourneys. and it also adds that the suffering and exclusion of these children is unacceptable, but also preventable. japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the fukushima nuclear power plant into the pacific ocean could begin any day now. it was backed by the un's nuclear watchdog last week — but it's sparked concern and anger injapan itself, and the wider region. our tokyo correspondent, shaimaa khalil, has been given access to the plant — and she sent this report. a triple disaster that crippled the country and shocked the world. japan's most powerful earthquake

triggered a tsunami that swept through the east coast, killing more than 18,000 people. and causing this — a nuclear meltdown. this is the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant now, surrounded by tanks filled with radioactive waste water. this is what more than a million tonnes of water looks like. think 500 olympic sized pools and that's what you get in over 1,000 tanks. this is water that's been used to cool the destroyed reactors from the fukushima nuclear meltdown in 2011. the water is treated and then stored here, but now these tanks are running out of space. japan has just been given the go ahead to release the treated contaminated water into the sea. but it's causing a huge amount of anger and anxiety, notjust here, but around the region. tepco, the company running the plant, says the water will be treated, diluted and tested for safety before it's discharged. here at the advanced

liquid processing system, all radioactive compounds will be removed except one tritium, so the water won't be completely radiation free. tritium, tepco says, will be well below international safety standards of concentration. as part of the testing process, this fish is swimming in water at the same radiation level as that which will be released. translation: | am a radiation l expert, so i know that tritium has very little effect on the human body and living organisms. we are all concerned about the same thing, radiation. and that is why we are so anxious. i hope that these data and images will help to reassure people a little. but fukushima fishermen are not reassured. they're furious. for years, they've struggled to fight the stigma and convince people to buy their fish. now they say the reputational damage from the water release plan will be another huge blow. fishing has been in toru takahashi's

family for generations. his son and his grandson now run his boat. he worries about the uncertainty discharging the waste water would bring. translation: before we were able to fish i across four other prefectures. now we're not allowed to do that. theyjust don't want to be associated with us. the prices were recovering little by little, but now they could drop drastically. i've had so many conversations with the japanese government and tepco. nobody wants to release this dangerous water. if it's so safe, i told them, just take it to tokyo. the government may have all the technical approvals it needs, but it doesn't have the support of those who'll be most affected by this plan. the people of fukushima will once again have to navigate their way through its troubled waters. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, fukushima.

uk hasa uk has a security agency issued a warning about measles cases due to low level of vaccination take—up. low level of vaccination ta ke—up. according low level of vaccination take—up. according to the latest mathematical calculations, an outbreak could affect between 110,900 92,000 people. there was an urgent need to vaccinate children, teachers and young adults. with me now is a consultant and epidemiologist at the house and security agency. thank you for coming the programme. how worried and concerned are you? we are worried and concerned are you? - are worried which is why we issued a warning. measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to us and affects really easy. it can be serious. the children who get it are poorly and miserable and it can last for weeks. we know in the uk about

30% of cases will end up in hospital with various melodies. and sometimes some children die. this is all preventable, we have the vaccine which we offer to all children when they turned one, the first verse, and the second dose at three years and the second dose at three years and four months. we want to make sure children are fully protected before they start school and start mixing. that is the court today. let ne . lect to mixing. that is the court today. let neglect to the first thing you said about how easy it is to spread, how do you catch it?— do you catch it? how does it work? you catch it — do you catch it? how does it work? you catch it through _ do you catch it? how does it work? you catch it through breathing - do you catch it? how does it work? | you catch it through breathing other people, the next somebody who has it. so, coughing, sneezing, breathing, being in close proximity, it's easy to catch and you get, you can pass it on before you get the really nasty symptoms.— can pass it on before you get the really nasty symptoms. right, so you can ass it really nasty symptoms. right, so you can pass it on — really nasty symptoms. right, so you can pass it on without _ really nasty symptoms. right, so you can pass it on without knowing - really nasty symptoms. right, so you can pass it on without knowing and i can pass it on without knowing and thenit can pass it on without knowing and then it continues to spread and spread, and you mentioned some of the nasty, potential, and impacts of

it. so talk us through, just remind us why people haven't had the correct vaccinations.— us why people haven't had the correct vaccinations. over the last decade we — correct vaccinations. over the last decade we have _ correct vaccinations. over the last decade we have seen _ correct vaccinations. over the last decade we have seen the - correct vaccinations. over the last decade we have seen the uptake i correct vaccinations. over the last l decade we have seen the uptake of the vaccine and other routine vaccines on year on year and in london the uptake is around 75% for the two doses when children turned five. what we want to make sure todayis five. what we want to make sure today is that parents now check whether their children are up—to—date and i've had the two doses. get your redbook out and if you haven't, catch up. you can get the vaccine for free on the nhs whatever your age subs call up your gp and you can catch up now. important to do it now if you are travelling over the summer because we are already seen measles outbreaks in different parts of the world. we have already had one agency for cases in the uk are rated this year. —124. agency for cases in the uk are rated

this year. — 124. cases. a scathing report from mps says some people are being forced to pull out their own teeth at home, because they can't get access to an nhs dentist in england. the health and social care committee says the pain and distress of people who can't see a dentist is �*totally unacceptable in the 21st century'. many dentists are refusing to accept new adult patients — and some people are travelling hundreds of miles to get treatment. celestina olulode reports. excruciating pain caused by gum disease and no access to an nhs dentist led danielle to desperate measures. i've extracted 13 of my own teeth. last year, she told the bbc about her struggle. there are no dentists. i'd love to be able to ring a dentist up and say, "my teeth are falling out. i need help." but every time i do, it's, like... "sorry, we're not taking on nhs patients any more." and i, like a lot of other people,

cannot afford to go and get this treatment done privately. in the end, she relied on the kindness of strangers to pay for private medical treatment. i'll show you the noise, this is the little noise, like that. and then there's a little vacuum cleaner that sucks up all the water like that. is that 0k? the dentists blame an nhs contract system that they say does not pay them properly for their work. the government pay dentists by how many units of dental activity they do every year, and that means that we as dentists, as clinicians, have to see so many patients and do so much treatment in order to fulfil our contract. if i don't hit my uds, units of dental activity, by the end of the year, the nhs will fine me massively. now a group of mps are calling for change. in a report published today, they recommend making sure everyone

in need of an nhs dentist can access one within a reasonable time frame and distance... ..financial incentives for dentists to see new patients and those with greater needs and more information so the public are better informed about the treatment they're entitled to. machine hums. nhs england and wales has announced some changes to dentists' contracts. the government says it has invested more than £3 billion a year into nhs dentistry, but there's concerns rapid action could prove too little, too late. celestina olulode, bbc news. a funeral has been held for 19—year—old barnaby webber, one of three people who died when they were attacked in nottingham last month. photographs of barnaby, grace o'malley kumar — who was also 19, and 65—year—old ian coates, were on display at the service, which was held in taunton minster.

barnaby�*s father david, and his brother charlie, addressed the congregation. how do you start a speech like this? the one as a parent you thought you would never have to make. in line with today, this is a celebration of my beautiful boy's life. ever since he lit up our world and then charlie a few short years later, i have been besotted by them both. or as emma will tell you, wrapped around their little fingers. as a father, that's myjob! i would like everyone to maybe think about how we act in our day—to—day lives. and be a little bit more patient, caring with others. maybe be a little bit more barney. thank you. a 31—year—old man has been charged with the murders of barnaby, grace and ian. valdo calocane has also been charged with attempted murder, after three people suffered injuries

when they were in collision with a van, during that series of incidents in nottingham, in the early hours of tuesday, the 13th ofjune. quickly to the united states where the actors union, the screen actors guild are out on strike in the largest hollywood shutdown in decades. hello there. plants in the garden are starting to look very healthy these days. unfortunately, we can't go out and enjoy it because there's been quite a lot of rain around, hasn't there? so it's like this throughout friday afternoon with some significant puddles on the roads. now, this area of low pressure is not only with us for the rest of the day, but also into the majority of saturday as well. it's been pushing heavy rain further north and east. it's also brought some blustery winds with it as well. this has been the story so far today, that rain is now starting

to move towards the scottish borders and it will continue to do so through the early evening. in fact, once it gets into scotland it may well linger in the far north, and that could have an impact locally with the potential for some flooding. quite a lot of cloud around elsewhere. temperatures will hold up, widely, into mid—teens first thing on saturday morning. so we're going to start off on a grey note for many on saturday. that low pressure still there and still squeezed, quite tightly packed, together. the isobars, strong winds, unseasonably windy for this time of year. the strongest of the winds on saturday likely to be across central and southern wales, along with central and southern england, 50—55 mph gusts of winds not out of the question. that is unusual for this time of year. and on top of that, spiralling around the low will be significant rash of showers, some of them heavy rumbles of thunder mixed in there. now, in between the showers, there will be some drier, brighter, maybe even sunny interludes. but the temperatures subdued for this time of year, 14—22 as the overall high.

now, as we move into sunday, it's likely that the low will drift away, but we still run the risk of more significant showers or longer spells of rain in the north west of scotland. sunny spells and scattered showers elsewhere, and as we go through the day for the rest of the country, hopefully the showers should start to ease. again, highsjust peaking into the low 20s. a little bit disappointing for this time of year. so it stays disappointing across the uk. but as you've already heard at the same time across much of the mediterranean, we've got heatwave conditions at the moment, with the hottest weather likely across the south—east mediterranean. if you are heading on your holidays into next week, that heat is going to continue through spain, through italy and also through greece.

today at six — how hollywood productions are set to be disrupted as actors join writers and begin an indefinite strike. more than 150,000 performers have begun a walk—out over a better share of the profits going to studios and streaming giants. they are trying to freeze is out and

they will try to