i am humbled by the outcome today. one of the worst miscarriages ofjustice in decades. a man who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit is cleared by the court of appeal. on the 2nd of august, 2003, i was kidnapped by the state. it has taken nearly 20 years to persuade my kidnappers to let me go. the fight to find a home to rent — 20 requests to view each available property. we have the latest the figures. and this is what paris should look like exactly a year today as the 2024 paris 0lympics get under way. if the indo the road for the republic of ireland as the women

game search can't reach the knockout stage. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it's six years since the first allegations of sexual assault were made against the hollywood actor kevin spacey. he was accused of assualting four men between 2001 and 2013. the charges brought his acting career to a halt as he was dropped from role after role and he has not worked since. today he cried in the dock at southwark crown court as he was found not guilty of all nine sex offences and said he was humbled by the outcome. our special correspondent, lucy manning, is at southwark crown court this evening. kevin spacey�*s legacy, his career, possibly his freedom were on the line here in the hands of 12jurors who had helped him described as a

predator. but the actor had been steadfast in his denials. there was a moment of real tension as he could not contain his feelings as the jury foreman read out the verdict. with hugs for the court security staff, a very relieved and emotional kevin spacey walked out of court an innocent man. the results you can celebrate on his 64th birthday. 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 see 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 the decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today. fitter

humbled by the outcome today. after 12 hours of deliberation, kevin spacey heard the verdict that he wanted. not guilty repeated nine times. he sobbed in the dock and thanked his legal team and his manager stop later he went to the jurors. 0scarwinner, manager stop later he went to the jurors. oscar winner, american beauty star, house of cards leader, former old vic creative director, but 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 that he was a sexual bully who had assaulted men. he called the case week, said the men were after money or lying, or in one case he had just mistakenly made a pass. in a moment of real life

drama, thejury agreed a pass. in a moment of real life drama, the jury agreed with a pass. in a moment of real life drama, thejury agreed with him. it drama, the jury agreed with him. it is the weirdest thing. i feel like i have been any, for about 20 years. when he gave evidence earlier in the trial, he wept as he described how, after the allegations that had started in america, his world had exploded, causing his work to dry up. but even though he has been cleared of all the criminal charges, there were other questions about his behaviour at the old vic after an investigation commissioned by the theatre in 2017, 20 people alleged he had behaved inappropriately. but the star leaves court an innocent man. he will hope he can resume a career that reached the highest levels. lucy manning, bbc news. it's one of the worst cases of miscarriage ofjustice in decades. a 57—year—old man who spent 17 years injailfora rape that he did not commit has today 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. our legal correspondent dominic casciani reports. a day ofjustice, a day of truth and freedom. after two decades, andy malkinson and his lawyers walked into the court of appeal with a message for the criminal justice system, a message about how his life has been destroyed over a crime he always said he never committed. i have been let down. i have been terribly let down. i know i am not the only one either. i don't trust the only one either. i don't trust the state because the state is largely unaccountable, and it will

not... it doesn't like to admit failure. ., ., , , ., not... it doesn't like to admit failure. ., ., ,, ., g , failure. the various began in july 2003. a woman _ failure. the various began in july 2003. a woman was _ failure. the various began in july 2003. a woman was raped - failure. the various began in july 2003. a woman was raped and l failure. the various began in july i 2003. a woman was raped and left four dead near the m 61 motorway in greater manchester. a fortnight later, police visited mr malkinson. they said we are arresting you for attempted murder and rape. and then i thought, they cant think i have done, surely. what makes him think i have done that? ida done, surely. what makes him think i have done that?— have done that? no dna or forensic evidence linked _ have done that? no dna or forensic evidence linked him _ have done that? no dna or forensic evidence linked him to _ have done that? no dna or forensic evidence linked him to the - have done that? no dna or forensic evidence linked him to the victim. l evidence linked him to the victim. today the court of appeal heard a supposed eyewitness had convictions for dishonesty and had charges dropped days after identifying andy malkinson. this dropped days after identifying andy malkinson. , , . dropped days after identifying andy malkinson. , . dropped days after identifying andy malkinson. , malkinson. this is an historic case, but also an — malkinson. this is an historic case, but also an historic _ malkinson. this is an historic case, but also an historic injustice. - malkinson. this is an historic case, but also an historic injustice. his i but also an historic injustice. his original— but also an historic injustice. his original trial resulted in an unset conviction— original trial resulted in an unset conviction because of deplorable disclosure failures which must lie

at the _ disclosure failures which must lie at the door of the greater manchester police.- at the door of the greater manchester police. and this the critical evidence- _ manchester police. and this the critical evidence- dna - manchester police. and this the critical evidence- dna on - manchester police. and this the critical evidence- dna on the i critical evidence— dna on the victim's vest from another man, evidence that could have freed andy malkinson years ago. today the outcome was inevitable. threejudges quashing his conviction. outcome was inevitable. three 'udges quashing his conviction.* quashing his conviction. having waited so many _ quashing his conviction. having waited so many years, - quashing his conviction. having waited so many years, you - quashing his conviction. having waited so many years, you can| quashing his conviction. having - waited so many years, you can leave the court a free man, no longer subject to the conditions of your life sentence. cheering and applause i was kidnapped by the state in 2003. it has taken nearly 20 years to persuade my kidnappers to let me go. 17 years, four months and 16 days of that time were spent in prison. ida days of that time were spent in rison. ., ., .,, , , ., prison. no one has spent longer in rison in prison. no one has spent longer in prison in the _ prison. no one has spent longer in prison in the 21st _ prison. no one has spent longer in prison in the 21st century - prison. no one has spent longer in prison in the 21st century for- prison. no one has spent longer in prison in the 21st century for a - prison in the 21st century for a crime they did not commit than andy malkinson. but his battle for justice does not end here. he still

wants answers from greater manchester police. it says it is truly sorry for what happened, but has refused to be interviewed in relation to the case. the criminal case review commission which asked the court of appeal to look again has welcomed the result. but mr malkinson�*s lawyers say the system is broken. we malkinson's lawyers say the system is broken. ~ _, ., ., j, is broken. we welcome today's ruling overturnin: is broken. we welcome today's ruling overturning the _ is broken. we welcome today's ruling overturning the wrongful _ is broken. we welcome today's ruling overturning the wrongful conviction, l overturning the wrongful conviction, but the _ overturning the wrongful conviction, but the question which would trouble everyone _ but the question which would trouble everyone is_ but the question which would trouble everyone is why did it take nearly 20 veers — everyone is why did it take nearly 20 veers to — everyone is why did it take nearly 20 years to get here? the truth is, this case, — 20 years to get here? the truth is, this case, andy's case, is an indictment _ this case, andy's case, is an indictment of both the court of appeal— indictment of both the court of appeal and the criminal case's review— appeal and the criminal case's review commission. is appeal and the criminal case's review commission.— appeal and the criminal case's review commission. is there anything ou have review commission. is there anything you have learned _ review commission. is there anything you have learned about _ review commission. is there anything you have learned about yourself, - you have learned about yourself, which is actually made you a stronger person, able to manage the experience? i stronger person, able to manage the exerience? ~ stronger person, able to manage the exoerience?— stronger person, able to manage the exerience? ~ ., , ., ., experience? i think it has made me a stronrer experience? i think it has made me a stronger person. _ experience? i think it has made me a stronger person, yes. _ experience? i think it has made me a stronger person, yes. but _ experience? i think it has made me a stronger person, yes. but any - experience? i think it has made me a stronger person, yes. but any very i stronger person, yes. but any very difficult way, you know? through a lot pain and anguish. what a terrible way to find that out. well, so they come _

terrible way to find that out. well, so they come outside _ terrible way to find that out. well, so they come outside court - terrible way to find that out. well, so they come outside court tonight, there was a lot of anger from andy malkinson, a lot of questions you want answering from greater manchester police, starting with exactly what went wrong right at the beginning of this. he wants those answers. it is not clear what he is going to get, although the force has offered to meet him to give him an apology. but perhaps his mother made one of the strongest comments that her son was not a monster, but out there that is another victim, the woman who was raped. a greater manchester police, they now face the very difficult situation or potentially prosecuting this case again, if they charge the new suspect in this case, and expecting that women to trust them all the way through to that trial. dominic casciani, thank you. the former ukip leader nigel farage has called for further changes at natwest, following the resignation of the bank's chief executive dame alison rose. she stepped down overnight after admitting she was the source of an inaccurate story about the closure of his accounts at natwest�*s private banking arm, coutts. she'd claimed the former

ukip leader didn't have enough money in them, but it subsequently emerged his political views were also a factor. 0ur economics correspondent dharshini david reports. more women than ever are starting a new companies. more women than ever are starting a new companies-— more women than ever are starting a new companies. dame alison rose, the natwest boss — new companies. dame alison rose, the natwest boss who _ new companies. dame alison rose, the natwest boss who stepped _ new companies. dame alison rose, the natwest boss who stepped down - new companies. dame alison rose, the natwest boss who stepped down over l natwest boss who stepped down over the row about closing nigel for ash's she admitted she had told the bbc it was a commercial decision. but incorrectly denied it reflected his political views, too. she was seen as a highly experienced banker, a safe pair of hands to handle the accounts of millions, until now. the first real accounts of millions, until now. ire: first real banking accounts of millions, until now. iie: first real banking client confidentiality. and she, over a sociable dinner, with simonjack, the bbc business editor, clearly said some things that were not very wise. since when is a bank a moral arbiter of who they deem to be suitable as a customer or not? fin suitable as a customer or not? on the 29th ofjune, nigel for raj the 29th ofjune, nigel for raj claimed his account had been close. the next week, the bbc business

editor tweeted that a senior source had told him the former de kepper leaderfell had told him the former de kepper leader fell short had told him the former de kepper leaderfell short of had told him the former de kepper leader fell short of coutts financial requirements. mr tim obtains a document that says coutts says his views do not align with theirs. later, they apologise for theirs. later, they apologise for the deeply inappropriate comments. six days later, the bbc apologises to mr farage. the business editor tweets his senior source's information was incomplete and inaccurate. the next afternoon, dame alison admitted to being the source. the natwest board notes her error of judgment, but says it retains full confidence in her. however, just eight hours later, in the middle of the night, natwest announced she is stepping down. coutts prides itself on having served the brightest and best, it says, for over 300 years. once dubbed the queens bank, it is a 0nce dubbed the queens bank, it is a stranger to scandal. yet it finds

itself embroiled in a crisis, not a financial one, but a reputational one. and one which has provoked a discussion about how banks should view their customers. the city minister summoned senior bankers to discuss where the line should be drawn between risk and freedom of expression. it drawn between risk and freedom of exression. ., , drawn between risk and freedom of exoression-— expression. it was right that alison, expression. it was right that alison. the _ expression. it was right that alison, the chief _ expression. it was right that alison, the chief executive l expression. it was right that| alison, the chief executive of natwest, resigned. the government has been clear throughout that it is wrong to close someone's bank account because of their political views or something that they have said. i views or something that they have said. . . , views or something that they have said. . ., , ., �* ~' said. i certainly don't think anybody — said. i certainly don't think anybody should _ said. i certainly don't think anybody should be - said. i certainly don't think anybody should be refused said. i certainly don't think- anybody should be refused banking services _ anybody should be refused banking services because of their political views _ services because of their political views. whoever they are. for nigel fara . e, views. whoever they are. for nigel faraue, it views. whoever they are. for nigel farage. it is _ views. whoever they are. for nigel farage. it is a _ views. whoever they are. for nigel farage, it is a personal— views. whoever they are. for nigel farage, it is a personal crusade. i farage, it is a personal crusade. today banks were told they would have to give customers more notice when the closed accounts. but there is relatively few complaints about account closures. 1&00 last year and

those for many reasons. for the vast majority, it is business as usual. dharshini david, bbc news. junior doctors in england have announced a further four—day strike as part of their long—running pay dispute. they'll walk out from seven o'clock in the morning on friday, the 11th of august, until seven in the morning on tuesday the 15th. their union, the british medical association, has renewed its call for new talks with ministers. the prime minister has giving evidence at the infected blood inquiry today. it's thought around 3,000 people died and about 30,000 were infected with hiv and hepatitis c as a result of being treated with contaminated blood products since the 1970s. rishi sunak is facing calls to authorise full compensation payments. 0ur health editor hugh pym reports. some infected in the treatment scandal and others who lost loved ones demonstrated before the hearing. some of those who've gathered here have been campaigning for more than 30 years. for much of that time, they felt thwarted and ignored.

in their number was deborah, whose husband barry was infected with hepatitis c as a result of his haemophilia treatment. he later developed liver cancer. breaks my heart. i met them a year ago while i attended the inquiry. barry died a couple of months later. today, deborah told me of her sadness and frustration. the government are still making us wait, they're still... they're continuing this anguish and it's cruel. it is really, really cruel. i shouldn't be sitting here now saying all of this. they should recognise notjust what i've gone through, and i can't imagine what it must be like for people like barry or the others who are infected. their concern is that the inquiry chair has called for compensation scheme to be set up a head of the final report later this year, but that hasn't happened. the prime minister said the government

was committed to acting swiftly. i believe what has happened has been an appalling scandal. but he was pressed by the inquiry council on why, after three years, there was no concrete compensation framework. is that good enough? ithink... what i did say is of course people want to see... crowd clamours so... all i'd say is in order for the government to make decisions on compensation, it rightly has asked an independent inquiry to conclude its word to provide the advice to government —— inquiry to conclude its work to provide the advice to government recommendations about what to do. mr sunak said the government would act at the end of the inquiry. the thought of continuing fighting — although i will, i will continue until the day i die if need be — but the thought of that is hard. and ijust... i want to believe him, i really do. i want to keep that hope. others infected because of the scandal were sceptical. i have watched government after government behave appallingly over this,

and regardless of what the prime minister has said today, i do not feel any more reassured because of the prevarication and the resistance which is very, very clearly still there. the chancellor will give evidence on friday. the inquiry findings are due in the autumn. hugh pym, bbc news. the time is just after quarter past six. our top story this evening... the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey says he is humbled after being found not guilty of sex offences. coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news, we're going to get the latest from the oval on the eve of the final ashes test, where england say there's still plenty to play for.

i must warn you now that this next report is difficult to watch. it tells the story of desperate parents and their very sick small children who are caught up in a forgotten war in yemen — the arab world's poorest country. it's very difficult for journalists to get into yemen and see for themselves what is happening. but our senior international correspondent orla guerin has managed it, and these are some of the women she found desperately looking for help for their children. after eight years of civil war, 21 million people — that s two thirds of the population — need humanitarian assistance, and the un is struggling to raise enough money. the war began when iranian—backed houthi rebels seized the capital sana'a in 2014. they still control this area in purple. a saudi—led coalition — backed by the uk and the us?— intervened in 2015 aiming to reinstate the internationally recognised government, which now controls the areas in grey.

there is no sign of peace. orla guerin has made it to hodiedah in the southwest. there are distressing images of malnourished children in her report. imagine if this was where you had to turn for help, if this was your local clinic. every child here is in need. like safaa, 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 opened 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? dr 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 safaa's worried mother, umm ahmed. her baby girl is severely malnourished and has a liver complaint. 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, safaa and many more fight for life.

her mother knows where this road can lead to. she has already buried four of her nine children because of disease and malnutrition. back home, safaa is in the arms of herfather, anwar taleb. he is 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 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 safaa, there is some hope. we bring her parents to a local clinic that is functioning. her tiny body is racked 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 safaa back home. orla guerin, bbc news, hodeidah, yemen. orla guerin reporting there on the terrible suffering of children in yemen. 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.

he is expected to appear in the southern district of new york court later today. his lawyer said charging him was an "egregious error" and that the charges would be "defended vigorously in court". the greek fire service has warned that today could be one of the most dangerous for wildfires on the islands of rhodes, corfu and evia. and it's by no meansjust greece that's being affected. the heatwave shows no sign of letting up across the mediterranean. the dark colours on this map show the areas most at risk from fire. here in portugal, firefighters and local residents battled through the night to save homes near lisbon. and this woman in sicily had a terryfying drive had a terrifying drive through the flames near palermo, where a couple in their 70s were found dead in their burnt—out holiday home. the competition for rental properties in britain has intensified so much since the pandemic that the number of viewing requests per property has more than tripled

to 20 requests on average. figures commissioned by the bbc from property portal rightmove show the area with the most demand is the north west of england, where viewing requests have more than quadrupled to 30 per property in the last three years. scotland had 27 requests to view each property, up from eight. and wales saw the number of requests per property jump from five to 20 since 2019. our cost of living correspondent colletta smith is in salford in greater manchester, one of the areas that has seen the most demand. there is a real crunch in the rental market happening right the way across the uk. the number of properties available to rent has fallen by 45%, according to the right move, over the last three years. at the same time here in the north west, there has been a bigger

than average increase in the number of people trying to get hold of those properties, so of course prices have gone up in the rental market. but even if you are lucky enough, making sure your name is at the top of the list to get hold of it has become increasingly difficult. and then you come to this amazing kitchen. | look at this. wow. it's not easy to rent anywhere at the moment. prices are going up, landlords are selling up and there's more people hoping for a dream home. i could see me cooking in here. but here on the outskirts of preston, there's a particular problem. nonstop. we've had phone calls, we've had people coming into the office. we've got loads of emails coming through. how many applications do you reckon you'll get for a place like this? well, so far, we've got about 55 people who are interested in viewing. applications, we'll probably get, i would say, 20 out of the 50.

wow! figures from rightmove show that there are now 30 enquiries for each rental property in the northwest of england. you've got your own en suite. that's twice the amount of interest for properties in london. demi and andrew know that only too well. but after so many viewings, they're holding their breath again. it's been about two, i three months we've been looking, haven't we ? you just go round in circles. so even with the two wages coming in, it's not straightforward to get hold of somewhere to rent, then? no, definitely not. and you can have all the money in the world, but it'll still be a long process. it's been a very long process for keith, he has been flat hunting in central manchester for 18 months, putting others on 15 places and viewed a lot more. it is probably somewhere _ viewed a lot more. it is probably somewhere about _ viewed a lot more. it is probably somewhere about 32 _ viewed a lot more. it is probablyj somewhere about 32 properties. viewed a lot more. it is probably i somewhere about 32 properties. and thatis somewhere about 32 properties. and that is not me being fussy because i don't like it. i remember when i started off quite fussy, i don't like the front of that building, i don't like where it is, but by the end of it i willjust be glad to

have somewhere!— end of it i willjust be glad to have somewhere! ., , ., ., have somewhere! keith only managed to net his have somewhere! keith only managed to get his current _ have somewhere! keith only managed to get his current flat _ have somewhere! keith only managed to get his current flat by _ have somewhere! keith only managed to get his current flat by putting i to get his current flat by putting on an offer before he had been to see it. �* , , on an offer before he had been to seeit. h i, ., see it. it's very strange when you turn u- see it. it's very strange when you turn on to — see it. it's very strange when you turn up to properties _ see it. it's very strange when you turn up to properties and - see it. it's very strange when you turn up to properties and there . see it. it's very strange when you turn up to properties and there is 20 other people who want the place. no one talks to each other and you are trying to second—guess everyone. landlords have been selling up when faced with higher mortgages and more red tape, but the number of hopeful tenants has skyrocketed with more people arriving from abroad and more people arriving from abroad and more people unable to afford to buy so renting for longer. wherever you live in the uk, there are things you can do to try to make sure your application gets to the top of the pile. if you are going to a viewing, make sure you take physical paperwork with you, something like a job reference and payslips helps. there's lots of other tips and information on the bbc news other tips and information on the bbc news website. other tips and information on the bbc news website. however other tips and information on the bbc news website. however many others they are up against, demi and andrew haven't given up hope of a new home yet. i could see us here.

coletta smith, bbc news, in leyland. a new study suggests that doing the plank for two minutes or wall squats could be a good way of reducing blood pressure. researchers in the uk who analysed clinical trials say current guidance, which focuses mainly on aerobic exercises such as running and cycling, should be updated. it's a happy 85th birthday to the beano, the world's longest—running comic, which has drafted in several famous faces to feature in a special commemorative issue. you may be able to make some of them out on the front cover. they include the singers harry styles and adele, the rapper stormzy, and f1 star lewis hamilton, and even king charles and queen camilla make an appearance. they were all chosen by 3,000 children who were asked which celebrities they'd most like to see in cartoon form. 2,023 of the special issues will be given out to classrooms across the country to mark the occasion.

this is what paris should look like a year today when the 2024 olympics get under way. for the first time, the opening ceremony is not going to take place in a stadium. our sports news correspondent alex capstick has more. a games fit for the future in the heart of historic paris, with a promise to be the most sustainable olympics and paralympics ever. three—time olympic champion tony estanguet is the man making it happen. we want to demonstrate that paris and france can deliver the games in a different way than in the past, and it is this best balance of the passion of the games but also the purpose. we have to be engaged in a new model of delivering the games. that includes a laser focus on the environment. an emphasis on existing venues means there aren't many big construction projects. the largest is the athletes' village, but here, low carbon materials are being used, and the games will be the first to be run on renewable energy. well, certainly reducing our emissions by 50% is one of our most important objective.

major events cannot be run the way they were run before, not with the current climate and environmental issues that we are seeing. the river seine has even been cleaned up to stage open water swimming events, and it will host the first ever opening ceremony outside a stadium, which, in light of france's historic issues with security and civil unrest, has raised concerns. when you organise an event, the first thing you have to be sure is the place where you welcome athletes, delegations, and spectators will be safe. that is the first thought and a major one. so, as i told you, we work on that point, essentially to be sure that we will be able to do it in a full security aspect. with a year to go, eight—time olympic champion usain bolt was on hand to mark the official countdown. looking forward to coming back next year, just to see the competition and be in the stadium, with the atmosphere and just to feel the energy, so i am excited about that.

new stars and stories will emerge in a changing games, with france, as ever, embracing the revolution. alex capstick, bbc news, paris. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. for most of today we had a west east split in the weather. eastern parts of the uk enjoying some sunshine for most of the day and it was a bit warmer as well, but if we have a look at the satellite picture, this is what we were looking at yesterday. this cloud has been streaming in from the atlantic and it brought a very different data western areas. cloud and outbreaks of rain, and muggy air, especially in the south—west. low cloud, mistiness and fog over the hills as well. this is where the rain is at the moment so it's pushing into parts of eastern england quickly. it will arrive across all areas of the uk except the far north of scotland. the rain will be steady but it

becomes drier later on, and it will becomes drier later on, and it will be warmer