before they reached their decision. a man who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit has had his conviction overturned by the court of appeal. at every parole hearing, i sat before a panel who shook their heads at me, considering me to be dangerous. and all that time, the real perpetrator, the real dangerous person was free. a special report from yemen where 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance after eight years of civil war. 0h, jesu! wildfires rage in at least nine mediterranean countries. the greek authorities say they're facing their most dangerous day yet. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala,

welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. ajury in london has found the hollywood actor kevin spacey not guilty of all nine sex offences he was facing. the allegations, which covered more than a decade up to 2013, were made by four men. mr spacey wept as the verdicts were read out. speaking afterwards outside the court, he thanked the jury, saying he was humbled. i imagine that many of you can understand that there is a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. but i would like to say that i am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision.

and i am humbled by the outcome today. i also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse the security and all of those who took care of us every single day my legal team for being here every day. and that's all i have to say for the moment. thank you very much. that was kevin spacey, those verdicts coming a couple hours ago. lucy manning has more on the background to this case. oscar winner, american beauty star, acclaimed stage actor, house of cards lead, old vic theatre creative director and, thejury decided, an innocent man. for all the awards and acclaim, this could be kevin spacey�*s most satisfying moment. for more than three weeks, the actor, returning to england

as he said he would to defend himself, listened as allegations were made at southwark crown court that he was a sexual bully who had assaulted men. he called the case weak, said the men were after money or lying, or in one case, he just mistakenly made a pass — and thejury agreed with him. during the trial, he had the support of high—profile friends, including sir eltonjohn and his husband, david furnish, who had given evidence in his defence. the actor had faced a civil trial on separate sexual assault allegations in america. last year, a jury there had also dismissed those claims. they say we get the leaders we deserve. in court in london, the house of cards actor wept as he described how, after the allegations, his world had exploded, causing his work to dry up. most of the allegations took place when kevin spacey was artistic director of london's old vic theatre. even though he's been cleared of all the criminal charges, there were other questions

about his behaviour at the old vic after the theatre commissioned an investigation in 2017. 20 people alleged inappropriate behaviour by mr spacey. most of them were former staff, all were men. it's the weirdest thing. ifeel like i've been in a coma for about 20 years. but the american beauty star leaves court and england an innocent man, able to resume a career that reached the highest levels. lucy manning, bbc news. lets speak to ellie phillips, the media journalist. lets speak to ellie phillips, the mediajournalist. he lets speak to ellie phillips, the media journalist. he was clearly emotional when he came out today, speaking about being humbled. i think this was the best pardon he

could've asked for, we saw a difference there from the videos he'd previously released on social media, trying to explain in an odd way what's happened. this all kicked off in 2017, so this has been a huge ordealfor him, six years of his life, and you have to remember that when the initial allegations emerged, he was completely shunned from hollywood, erased from the ridley scott film which was released that december, christopher plummer reshot his role as the billionaire john paul getty. his role as frank underwood in house of cards, which was hugely successful, he lost that. what he set outside the court, that's what he has to say for now, but up their stuff really more to come from mr spacey. he said in an interview that there were directors and producers ready to hire him the moment he's cleared of his charges in london. so for him personally, he's definitely hoping and expecting

this result of the jury trial — he's always maintained his innocence throughout everything that's happened, and he's actually been working throughout, we must remember that this is someone who has not acted for six years, although it was acted for six years, although it was a small independent film, he was in a small independent film, he was in a production released in november, an italian independent future about an italian independent future about a blind artist. so that's not the hollywood blockbusters we know, but he has been acting and is a phenomenal actor. and sadly, the film which was released after the allegations came out that he last started and that was a big blockbuster, the billionaires boys club doormat, didn't do well, but now he'll be wanting to get back to the big productions and big money deals. ., ., , ., ., deals. you said at the start of the answer that he's _ deals. you said at the start of the answer that he's been _ deals. you said at the start of the answer that he's been shunned i deals. you said at the start of the | answer that he's been shunned for years now within hollywood, do you think on all counts today, is there a way back for him? i

think on all counts today, is there a way back for him?— think on all counts today, is there a way back for him? i think it won't be overnight. _ a way back for him? i think it won't be overnight, he _ a way back for him? i think it won't be overnight, he won't _ a way back for him? i think it won't be overnight, he won't be - a way back for him? i think it won't be overnight, he won't be cast - be overnight, he won't be cast as being batman or superman, i think what's more likely to happen is that he's cast in an independent film and hopefully, with his incredible skills as an actor, he manages to use that as his way back in. and actually a lot of independent film producers will love to have him back on because everyone will be looking at what does next. all the charges have gone, the only thing that has ever come out of this in a negative light was when he had to pay the $31 million which came out of american arbitration to the creators of house of cards because he was sacked and of cards because he was sacked and they said he breached his contractual obligations, and that's why he had to pay that money. in terms of the criminal stuff that's there, it's no longer there, he's been cleared of all charges, so there's no reason anyone won't work with him. it he's likely to go an independent route where he shows his

talent and pushes himself back into the limelight. after that, i assume he'll do well notjust because of intrigue and interest, but because he's an incredibly talented actor. and then, the big money might start coming again from the big blockbuster films.- coming again from the big blockbuster films. ellie phillips, thanks forjoining _ blockbuster films. ellie phillips, thanks forjoining us _ blockbuster films. ellie phillips, thanks forjoining us live - blockbuster films. ellie phillips, thanks forjoining us live on - blockbuster films. ellie phillips, thanks forjoining us live on the| thanks forjoining us live on the programme. a man who spent 17 years in prison for a rape in england he did not commit has had his conviction formally overturned by the court of appeal. andy malkinson has been fighting since 2003 to clear his name. papers disclosed in court today show that the original jury was misled about the honesty of a key witness, and the dna of another man has been found on the victim's clothing. this is the moment andy malkinson learned his conviction had been overturned. mr malkinson, having waited so many years, you can leave the court a free man, no longer subject to the conditions of your life licence.

that was just one of the three judges in terms of the quashing of that sentence. about half an hour later, he spoke to the media. let's have a listen. 0n the 2nd of august 2003, i was kidnapped — 0n the 2nd of august 2003, i was kidnapped by the state. it has taken nearly— kidnapped by the state. it has taken nearly 20 _ kidnapped by the state. it has taken nearly 20 years to persuade my kidnappers to let me go. 17 years four months and 16 days of the time spent _ four months and 16 days of the time spent in _ four months and 16 days of the time spent in prison. i sat before a panel— spent in prison. i sat before a panel who _ spent in prison. i sat before a panel who shook their head at me, considering — panel who shook their head at me, considering me to be dangerous, and all that_ considering me to be dangerous, and all that time, the real perpetrator, the real— all that time, the real perpetrator, the real dangerous person is free. -- was _ the real dangerous person is free. -- was free — i'm joined now by katie whitely, partner and head of crime, fraud and regulatory at bindmans llp. thank you so much for being here with us. the details of this case are quite extraordinary, aren't

they? are quite extraordinary, aren't the ? , , ., �*, are quite extraordinary, aren't the? , they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely — they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely shocking _ they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely shocking that _ they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely shocking that he - they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely shocking that he had i they? yes, they are. it's obviously absolutely shocking that he had to j absolutely shocking that he had to wait so long to clear his name, and it also shows that it is only with the most unbelievable determination and patience that somebody who finds themselves wrongly convicted can get their convictions overturned. find themselves wrongly convicted can get their convictions overturned.- their convictions overturned. and we heard from his _ their convictions overturned. and we heard from his lawyer— their convictions overturned. and we heard from his lawyer saying - their convictions overturned. and we heard from his lawyer saying that. heard from his lawyer saying that there are serious questions now that there are serious questions now that the police in greater manchester have to answer, and also the criminal cases review commission. he had begged them on several occasions to reinvestigate the case. but had begged them on several occasions to reinvestigate the case.— to reinvestigate the case. but there will have to — to reinvestigate the case. but there will have to be _ to reinvestigate the case. but there will have to be a _ to reinvestigate the case. but there will have to be a very _ to reinvestigate the case. but there will have to be a very thorough - will have to be a very thorough review about what has happened. that is not going to give him his years back. they are lost forever. but those responsible for the investigation do need to account for

how this trial progressed and why it was that key evidence was not produced at the time it should've been and shared with him so he could have used for his defence. serra; been and shared with him so he could have used for his defence.— have used for his defence. sorry to interru -t have used for his defence. sorry to interrunt but _ have used for his defence. sorry to interrupt but thought. _ have used for his defence. sorry to interrupt but thought. he - have used for his defence. sorry to interrupt but thought. he spoke i have used for his defence. sorry to interrupt but thought. he spoke so powerfully outside of the core about those extra years. to actually get to the probation and be released, he had to accept what is done, and he said hejust would not had to accept what is done, and he said he just would not make a false confession. said he just would not make a false confession-— confession. he's not alone in that. there are others _ confession. he's not alone in that. there are others who _ confession. he's not alone in that. there are others who had - confession. he's not alone in that. there are others who had the i confession. he's not alone in that. l there are others who had the same dilemma. he had to make that choice, it turned out. he can walked with his head held high now. find

it turned out. he can walked with his head held high now.— it turned out. he can walked with his head held high now. and as his leralteam his head held high now. and as his legal team said _ his head held high now. and as his legal team said on _ his head held high now. and as his legal team said on the _ his head held high now. and as his legal team said on the court i his head held high now. and as his| legal team said on the court steps, it is a double injustice notjust for him and everything he went through, but for the victim herself. also, meanwhile there must be somebody else who was responsible and who has not been brought to justice. and who has not been brought to 'ustice. . , ., and who has not been brought to 'ustice. ., , ., , ., ., justice. can you understand from the details ou justice. can you understand from the details you read _ justice. can you understand from the details you read why _ justice. can you understand from the details you read why it _ justice. can you understand from the details you read why it took - justice. can you understand from the details you read why it took so i justice. can you understand from the details you read why it took so long l details you read why it took so long for he is dna to be double checked with 7 ? i'm sure his legalteam ? i'm sure his legal team will help ? i'm sure his legalteam will help with that. i've _ ? i'm sure his legalteam will help with that. i've only _ ? i'm sure his legalteam will help with that. i've only seen _ ? i'm sure his legalteam will help with that. i've only seen media i with that. i've only seen media reports. when i read suggested there was an advancement in dna science which allowed some testing to be done. but i don't know be on that why exactly the delay arose in

evidence coming forward. aha, why exactly the delay arose in evidence coming forward. a final thou~ht evidence coming forward. a final thought on _ evidence coming forward. a final thought on compensation. i evidence coming forward. a final thought on compensation. what| evidence coming forward. a final i thought on compensation. what how does someone who spend 20 years wrongly accused, how can he be compensated?— wrongly accused, how can he be compensated? well, i have to say i'm a criminal lawyer _ compensated? well, i have to say i'm a criminal lawyer and _ compensated? well, i have to say i'm a criminal lawyer and i _ compensated? well, i have to say i'm a criminal lawyer and i don't - compensated? well, i have to say i'm a criminal lawyer and i don't tend i a criminal lawyer and i don't tend to deal with compensation claims, so is not something i can answer in detail here, but there are mechanisms via statutory scheme and he would be able to speak advice about that. he would be able to speak advice about that-— he would be able to speak advice about that. ., . ., ,., about that. thanks so much for your time, about that. thanks so much for your time. thank — about that. thanks so much for your time, thank you. _ around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories making news across the uk. junior doctors in england are to stage a four—day strike in august. it's their fifth such strike in an ongoing pay dispute. the walk—out begins on 11 august. the british medical association

is asking for a 35% pay rise after a series of below inflation pay increases. but the government has offered 6% this year, plus £1,250 in cash. a public consultation, into the proposed closure of hundreds of railway ticket offices in england, has been police officers in england will no longer respond to concerns about mental health if there is "no risk to life" or a crime being committed. the government says the policy could save a million hours of police time every year, but mental health charities have expressed concern over the changes. a public consultation into hundreds of railway closures has been extended until september. it was confirmed by the rail delivery group. train companies have faced legal challenges with the concerns closures will affect disabled people. you're live with bbc news.

we turn to yemen where, after eight years of civil war, 21 million people — that's two thirds of the population — are in need of humanitarian assistance. but international aid is shrinking, with the united nations only raising a quarter of the funds it needs for yemen this year. hunger, always a problem in yemen, has been compounded by the conflict. nearly 500,000 yemeni children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year. unicef also estimates that around ten million children live without adequate access to health care. 0ur senior international correspondent 0rla guerin has been reporting on yemen for the past decade — this is her second report for us this week on the country's "forgotten war" — and this report comes from hudaydah province, in southwest yemen. and a warning that some viewers may find 0rla's report on the impact of extreme hunger on young children distressing. imagine if this was where you had to turn for help, if this was your local clinic.

every child here is in need, like safa, wasting away at 13 months. war, hungerand poverty are intertwined here. this is a room full of desperation. mothers have come here to show us how sick, how thin their children are. but this clinic is normally closed. it's been open todayjust because we are here. and doctors say they'll be able to do nothing for these children except send them home. tell me, doctor, why is the clinic normally closed? doctor ali bin ali says the staff are on strike because they haven't been paid for the past four months and can't feed their own children. neither can safa's worried mother. her baby girl is severely malnourished and has

a liver complaint. translation: some days| she doesn't have any food, translation: some days | she doesn't have any food,, when her father is at sea. when he comes back, we buy food for her. i'm very worried about her illness. i'm afraid for her. i want to get help for her, but our situation is hard. the mothers drift away, left to fend for themselves. increasingly, this is the story of yemen. there are deep cuts in aid across the country. and as foreign donors hesitate, safa and many more fight for life. her mother knows where this road can lead. she has already buried four of her nine children because of disease and malnutrition. back home, safa is in the arms of herfather, anwar taleb.

he's a third generation fisherman whose life is overshadowed by war. he tells me he can no longer send his children to school, and it's a battle to feed them. translation: i don't work every day. i go to sea for 15, 20 days, and i catch what i can. god willing. i go to sea for 15 to 20 days, and catch what i can, god willing. sometimes, i find fish. sometimes, i don't. for the past three months, i had no work. he says he has already married off two of his older daughters because he couldn't provide for them. the girls are 1a and 15. for safa, there is some hope. we bring her parents to a local clinic that is functioning. her tiny body is wracked with pain.

doctors say she needs to go to a specialist hospital in aden, a five—hour drive away. that's a journey her parents can't afford. later, we learn they have taken safa back home. 0rla guerin, bbc news, hodeidah, yemen. let's speak to caroline ducarme, the head of mission in yemen for medecins sans frontieres. thank you so much for being here on the programme. desperate stories we were just watching there. you see so many safas every day every hour presumably. inaudible inaudible well, caroline, we have a problem with your sound. i think you may be

on mute. i'm going to pause and hope that you can make an adjustment can still hear me now. i'm going to try again to ask a question. i gather it is fixed. i was asking you, these are desperate stories. i assume that you must see safas every hour where you must see safas every hour where you are, every minute. yes. you must see safas every hour where you are, every minute.— you are, every minute. yes, i hope ou hear you are, every minute. yes, i hope you hear me _ you are, every minute. yes, i hope you hear me better— you are, every minute. yes, i hope you hear me better now. _ you are, every minute. yes, i hopej you hear me better now. apologies for that. this is unfortunately a familiar story that was just told before. we've seen increased numbers of malnutrition in the northern . this is worrying because between the seasonal trends, usually we reach the highest numbers. sound cuts out

reach the highest numbers. sound curs om— reach the highest numbers. sound cuts ou ., , . , sound cuts out opening new centres. caroline, — sound cuts out opening new centres. caroline. i'm _ sound cuts out opening new centres. caroline, i'm really _ sound cuts out opening new centres. caroline, i'm really sorry— sound cuts out opening new centres. caroline, i'm really sorry but- caroline, i'm really sorry but there's a _ caroline, i'm really sorry but there's a real _ caroline, i'm really sorry but there's a real problem - caroline, i'm really sorry but there's a real problem there i caroline, i'm really sorry but| there's a real problem there with there's a real problem there with the line. i know you've been waiting to talk to us for such a long time there from yemen, but the line is just falling out. we'll try to reestablish that and perhaps return to that a little later, but caroline from msf. the british billionairejoe lewis whose family trust owns the tottenham hotspur football club has surrendered to authorities in manhattan after being charged with orchestrating an insider trading scheme, according to the us attorney for the southern district of new york. our north america correspondent michelle fleury has sent this update from new york. they were brought by the us attorney damien williams. in fact, mr lewis

is due to appear after surrendering to us authorities. he will appear in a courtroom behind me, where charges will be read out to get to him. in total, 16 charges of security fraud, three of conspiracy. the most serious of those carry a maximum prison sentence of up to 25 years. for the 86—year—old, this is really a battle for his life. he has voluntarily come here on his own recognisance. he attends to fight the charges. in recognisance. he attends to fight the charges-— the charges. in terms of those allegations. — the charges. in terms of those allegations, what _ the charges. in terms of those allegations, what detail- the charges. in terms of those allegations, what detail have i the charges. in terms of those i allegations, what detail have they given? allegations, what detail have they riven? . . allegations, what detail have they riven? ., ., . given? yeah, i mean, the prosecutors have called — given? yeah, i mean, the prosecutors have called it — given? yeah, i mean, the prosecutors have called it quite _ given? yeah, i mean, the prosecutors have called it quite a _ given? yeah, i mean, the prosecutors have called it quite a brazen _ have called it quite a brazen scheme. they say mr lewis, through his company, was able to gain a lot of information. he held positions on the seats of company board and he

himself didn't hold those positions, then he had employees who did who shared information that was not made public. he shared those in the form of stock tips to romantic partners, friends and assistance. two of his personal pilots also are facing security fraud charges. he had an investment in one biochemical company. he knew the results of a clinical trial which happened yet been made public. —— had not yet. he strongly advised these two pilots to buy stock in this company. they held onto the stock. the stock rose sharply, the gentleman in question made a lot of money. that's the kind of accusations that are being brought brought the prosecution, but i have to say that a lawyer for mr lewis has said these are without

merit, but in fact, he said the prosecutors had made an egregious error. we'll find out more of what he's going to say a bit later on today, but these are serious charges which the us prosecutor has called a classic corruption corporate case. he said it was a case of cheating and it was against the law. that was michelle fleury. _ and it was against the law. that was michelle fleury. i— and it was against the law. that was michelle fleury. iwant— and it was against the law. that was michelle fleury. i want to _ and it was against the law. that was michelle fleury. i want to talk i michelle fleury. i want to talk to back to delaware. —— take you back. we've seen hunter biden there before a federaljudge to plead guilty to two tax crimes and possessing a gun as a drug user. they have to present it to thejudge, as a drug user. they have to present it to the judge, and as we've been saying in the last 20 minutes or so, it appeared to be falling apart in the courthouse itself with quotes

from the prosecution and from hunter biden's team, saying the deal was falling apart in court. that was widely reported, butjust in the last few minutes, i'm also seeing lines being reported that the plea deal appears to be back on track. certainly, there are negotiations going on in that courthouse. i'll take you back to the live pictures in delaware. things clearly still moving on that story, so we'll try to get the latest from our correspondent here on the programme in the next few minutes. do you stay with us here on bbc news. hello. wednesday did bring us a bit of blue sky and sunshine, particularly for many northern and eastern parts of the uk. but really, july 2023 is turning out to be a pretty soggy month for much of the uk.

and there's more rain overnight tonight, moving from west to east. quite a humid feel to the weather tonight certainly compared to recent nights. here is that area of rain through this evening, then across scotland, central and eastern parts of england, slowly moving northwards and eastward. so something a little bit clearer for northern ireland, perhaps during the early hours of thursday, pushing in across western parts of britain, too. but a lot of low cloud, humid airwith us, so temperatures staying in the mid—teens for most of us. a little bit cooler for the north of scotland, down into single figures up towards the northern isles. but we start thursday then under the influence of this area of low pressure. it sits well to the northwest, but these trailing weather fronts will be slow—moving across parts of scotland, initially close to southern england, as well. so i think rain easing away from the south, but perhaps persisting for the channel islands. the northeast of scotland will keep patchy rain all day. elsewhere, murky, low cloud, drizzle around through the morning, but brightening up gradually, so some sunny spells for the afternoon and a few showers around, too. some sunshine perhaps for northern ireland into parts of northern england and wales. temperatures 16—24 for most of us, again, a little cooler

for the northern isles, but it is, of course, the first day of the fifth and final test in the men's ashes at the oval — lots of cloud around there in general could be a passing afternoon sharp shower, i think, but not persistent rains, so there should be plenty of play, as there should be as we head into friday, as well. now, overnight, then, into friday, most of the showers fade away, mostly dry, just some rain lingering up towards the northern isles. but again, it's a humid night, so temperatures for most of us sitting in the mid—teens. that's how we start friday morning, some sunshine from the word go. it will be the better day, i think, of thursday and friday. so, yes, it's still a few showers, but more sunshine around, and the showers will move through fairly quickly. top temperatures, a little bit warmer than recent bit warmer than recent days, 18—24 celsius. still a bit colder than that, though, for lerwick, sitting there atjust15. into the weekend, low pressure drifts eastwards across the northern half of the uk, plenty of showers wrapped around the area of low pressure. we've got another one actually waiting out in the wings, as well. so an unsettled picture, fairly blustery weekend, showers around, a bit drier

in the south perhaps on sunday. till the second week of august. bye— bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... a humanitarian crisis in yemen, where 21 million people are in need of assistance after eight years

of brutal civil war. wildfires rage and at least nine mediterranean countries. the greek authorities say they are facing the most dangerous day yet. and the chief executive of the british bank natwest resigned after admitting she was the source of an inaccurate bbc story about the high—profile client nigel farage. marc edwards is here with the sport. we're going to head straight to the women's world cup, where there's been disappointment for ireland in perth. they've lost 2—1 to canada and have been knocked out of the tournament, with a group game still to go. they did get off to the perfect start, though — irish captain katie mccabe scored the republic's first world cup goal when her superb corner flew into the net

after just four minutes. however, the reigning olympic champions levelled just before