him to take her life because she was in so much pain. also this lunchtime: teachers in england from the national education union vote to accept a 6.5% pay rise and call off industrial action. the government expands north sea drilling for oil and gas — campaigners say it flies in the face of the science on climate change. cheering commentator: , l, and australia lose wickets on the final day of the final ashes test — but can england level the series? and coming up on bbc news: co—hosts australia look to avoid elimination from their home world cup — they need a result against canada in melbourne. we'll be live with the very latest.

good afternoon. a british pensioner who killed his seriously ill wife in cyprus has walked free from court. david hunter was found guilty of the manslaughter of his wife janice at their home. mr hunter had told the court that she had begged him to end her life because she was in so much pain. he was sentenced to two years in prison, but was released because he's already spent most of that time in custody. from cyprus, fiona trott. stunned. this is the moment the retired miner never dared to imagine. i can't describe it. i'm sorry, i wish i could, i wish i could find words to describe it, but i can't. when you're under pressure for two year, wondering which way it's going to go, you don't know what to think. i would like to say thank you to all the people who have donated to me, especially my mates, my workmates. i didn't know where i would be without them.

i hope i'm feeling the same as my family when i'm talking about that. i'm talking about all my lads. we're all a family. when you work in a colliery, we're a family. and that family, thousands of miles away in northumberland, were overjoyed that david hunter was finally free. absolutely ecstatic. i couldn't — you know, if i won the lottery tomorrow, i wouldn't feel any better than i felt when i got that call today. just absolutely brilliant. i mean everybody, you know, you could sense the emotion in the whole group. it's what we've been working for, it's what we've hoped for, what we've wished for. this is the davey they knew, the lucky man who retired to cyprus, with the wife he adored. here inside their home janice was suffering. she had blood cancer, so david killed her and tried to take his own life. he admitted what he did and was

found guilty of manslaughter last week. we found guilty of manslaughter last week. ~ ~ ., , ., ., week. we think it was a fair decision _ week. we think it was a fair decision and _ week. we think it was a fair decision and in _ week. we think it was a fair decision and in line - week. we think it was a fair decision and in line with - week. we think it was a fairi decision and in line with the interest of justice, decision and in line with the interest ofjustice, it's a pity he's been so long in prison but he is looking forward to getting out and now this allows for him and his family to properly grieve. absolutely wonderful. family to properly grieve. absolutel wonderful. , . . ., absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of— absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of his _ absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of his world. _ absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of his world. he - absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of his world. he is - absolutely wonderful. janice was at the centre of his world. he is now l the centre of his world. he is now walking into a world and into a life without her. his friends say that is punishment enough. and for his punishment this is what thejudges said there and for his punishment this is what the judges said there had to wait up, the unique personal circumstances of this case, a case which they may never see again in cyprus, they said. but also they wanted to send out this message. no one can choose when someone's life should end. outside court you heard david hunter say he hoped his family back home in the uk were feeling the same way he was feeling. i can tell you they were. his daughter lesley cawthorne told us she was in tears,

she was elated, she actually managed to have a video call with her dad. and now her dad is able to visit her, his free to visit her, free to visit that mining family he was talking about back in the north—east of england but most importantly this, free to go to the village where he and janice lived. it is where he and janice lived. it is where she is buried and he hasn't been allowed to visit her grave until now. there is a tough road ahead for him but his friends who were in court here in paphos and backin were in court here in paphos and back in the uk, and his family, so they are all ready to support him. fiona trott reporting, thank you very much. members of the largest teaching union have accepted a 6.5% pay rise for teachers in england and voted to end their strike action. the national education union had staged seven days of strikes in state schools in england since february. hazel shearing is our education correspondent and outside a school in leeds.

hazel, this is just hazel, this isjust broken in the last few minutes. bring us up to date on exactly what the union have decided. it date on exactly what the union have decided. , , ., , decided. it is summer holidays so it is auiet decided. it is summer holidays so it is quiet outside _ decided. it is summer holidays so it is quiet outside the _ decided. it is summer holidays so it is quiet outside the secondary - is quiet outside the secondary school in leeds but in february there were teachers out here with banners and donning woolly hats on the first of those national strike dates you mentioned. the four teaching unions involved in this dispute have been going back to members to ask whether or not they would accept the government's pay offer. the national education union is the second to have come back. it is the second to have come back. it is an overwhelming yes and it says it will not be holding more strikes next term. this is the result that many parents, pupils and teachers would have been anxious to find out and that's because the national education union is the only one to have actually held strikes during this dispute. the union says it will continue to fight for more funding in education, but for now there is a collective sigh of relief for many that children are likely to be able to go back to school in a few weeks'

time without further disruption. hazel shearing, are education correspondent in leeds, thank you. production of oil and gas in the north sea is to be expanded. the government is offering hundreds of new licences for drilling. the prime minister says it will boost britain's energy independence. but environmental campaigners say more drilling for fossil fuels flies in the face of the science around climate change. the government has also announced £20 billion worth of backing for two new carbon capture projects — as our political correspondent ione wells reports. july saw the world heating up. now political debates around energy and at are also hotting up. the government has said it will back hundreds of new licences for oil and gas production sites like this in the north sea. it has also confirmed it will support two new carbon capture and storage projects in north—east scotland and the humber. these would capture carbon dioxide where fossil fuels are burned and

piped it under the sea to store it. climate campaigners fear it is a tactic to give the fossil fuel industry in business. the prime minister on a visit to aberdeenshire argued today's announcements would help the uk reach its net zero target by 2050 while still backing new oil and gas.— target by 2050 while still backing new oil and gas. even in 2050 when we are at net _ new oil and gas. even in 2050 when we are at net zero _ new oil and gas. even in 2050 when we are at net zero it _ new oil and gas. even in 2050 when we are at net zero it is _ new oil and gas. even in 2050 when we are at net zero it is forecast - we are at net zero it is forecast that around a quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas. that's why technologies like carbon capture and storage are important. but what is important is that we get the oil and gas in the best possible way and that means getting it from here at home. the conservatives _ getting it from here at home. the conservatives have been keen to draw a dividing line with the labour party. laboursay a dividing line with the labour party. labour say it wouldn't back a new oil and gas licences, arguing they would be bad for the climate, not cut bills or create long—term jobs and would instead focus on investing in renewable alternatives. quite frankly i am astonished that rishi sunak is doubling down on his failing and weak policy on climate

action. businesses and individuals and families have suffered 13 years of failing tory energy policy. that has left us the worst hit of any western european country during this energy crisis. the western european country during this energy crisis-— energy crisis. the snp said it is important _ energy crisis. the snp said it is important to — energy crisis. the snp said it is important to keep _ energy crisis. the snp said it is important to keep the - energy crisis. the snp said it is important to keep the oil - energy crisis. the snp said it is important to keep the oil and i energy crisis. the snp said it is l important to keep the oil and gas workforce in scotland employed but have called for a just transition towards greenerjobs. this have called for a just transition towards greenerjobs.- towards greener “obs. this is a nuanced towards greenerjobs. this is a nuanced discussion, _ towards greenerjobs. this is a nuanced discussion, it - towards greenerjobs. this is a nuanced discussion, it needs l towards greenerjobs. this is a nuanced discussion, it needs a grown-up— nuanced discussion, it needs a grown—up approach, not the drill baby, _ grown—up approach, not the drill batry, drill. — grown—up approach, not the drill baby, drill, approach the westminster government is taking at this point— westminster government is taking at this point in time which ignores the reality— this point in time which ignores the reality of— this point in time which ignores the reality of energy security in the years _ reality of energy security in the years to — reality of energy security in the years to come and lack of investment they are _ years to come and lack of investment they are putting into renewables, but it_ they are putting into renewables, but it also— they are putting into renewables, but it also ignores the reality of the climate crisis that we face. a prime the climate crisis that we face. prime minister faces tensions in his prime ministerfaces tensions in his own party, too, with some tory mps calling on the prime minister to water down the net zero target, others accusing him of being on the wrong side of history by backing more oil and gas. dividing lines that are only set to grow as the

next election nears. ione wells, bbc news. so would those carbon capture projects announced by the government be enough to offset the new push to drill more oil and gas — and how does carbon capture actually work? our climate editorjustin rowlatt is here to explain. powering up britain, from britain is the prime minister's slogan. he says he wants to "max out" oil and gas production from uk reserves. many climate scientists and environmentalists say the carbon dioxide emissions from these new projects will bust through the uk's climate targets. so, will the carbon capture and storage projects he has announced today offset the emissions? carbon capture and storage plants are designed to trap that planet—warming co2 — or take it directly from the atmosphere — and store it underground. take this gas—fired power station, for example. as the natural gas is burned to generate electricity, the carbon dioxide is separated out. it's pumped underground to be stored in empty gas and oil reservoirs. the government has announced investments in a plant at st fergus

on the north east coast of scotland and another in the humber. it has already announced plans for two other such plants. government advisors say this technology is vital to meet net zero climate targets. most sectors we can get to zero emissions, but there's a few where we still expect to have emissions in the future, so think of the steel sector, for example, or the cement sector, possibly aviation, even farming, so emissions continuing, actually, past 2050 and beyond. so we need carbon capture to reduce emissions to zero in those sectors, or close to zero, and actually to remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and store those away too. we also need that carbon capture technology. some environmentalists and climate scientists say carbon capture and storage is a "dangerous distraction" that could give polluters a licence to carry on polluting. and the cash the government is announcing is to try and kick—start a new industry.

it will be many years before it will be capable of trapping the millions of tonnes of co2 these new oil and gas fields will produce. and there is another issue — the uk's ability to lead on the climate. why would other countries listen if the uk urges them to scale back oil and gas production when it is chasing down its last reserves of oil and gas? ben. justin, thank you. our correspondent rebecca curran is in st fergus, aberdeenshire, where one of those carbon capture projects will be. rebecca, what will this mean for the area? as you mentioned, you can see behind me the st fergus gas terminal and on any given day it supplies up to 15% of the uk's gas so is already fulfilling an importantjob for the uk's energy needs. but this will come as a welcome boost to this area and beyond with the estimate of

around 21,000 newjobs. but there is around 21,000 newjobs. but there is a bit of history here and people here might be forgiven for thinking i'll believe it when i see it because over the years there have been many promises and pledges for similar carbon capture schemes that for one reason or another have not come to fruition. but the news has been broadly welcomed, the business community say the carbon capture and storage scheme will provide innovation and also those newjobs and also the new licences signal a vote of confidence in the north sea sector. that is not a view shared by scotland's first minister humza yousaf. he says the prime minister has effectively signalled that his government is not serious about tackling the climate emergency when it comes to issuing these new licences and that is a view held by many environmental groups, too. but people here will be digesting the news and really looking for some more detail about timescales and just exactly how much money will be coming for the acorn project.

rebecca curran, thank you very much. i rebecca curran in st fergus. ukrainian troops are continuing to make advances around the city of bakhmut in the east of the country. russia captured it earlier this year after intense fighting and the battle for bakhmut has become one of huge symbolic importance in the war. our defence correspondent jonathan beale has been given access to a team of elite ukrainian snipers there: they are called the ghosts of bakhmut. we're on our way to a secret location, a place they call the edge of existence. behind the wheel, the man simply known as ghost. he tells me his team of snipers are all known as the ghosts of bakhmut because they silently bring death. their base is already well within range of russian artillery.

explosion that was close. but they'll be going even closer towards enemy lines. translation: you can hide from artillery, - but not from snipers. and their work is more precise than the shelling. do you know how many russians your team have killed? translation: yes, - the confirmed number is 524. 76 of those are mine. the ghosts have been operating on the edges of bakhmut for the past six months, often looking for high—value russian targets. they record every kill through their sights. kusia will be the marksman for tonight's mission. before the war, he worked in a factory. translation: when i was a civilian, i didn't like weapons, but now - i've had to take up arms

to defend my country. of course i'm scared. only a fool wouldn't be. a quick blessing. music plays we leave with dusk approaching. the music to lift the mood and mask the sound of artillery. several times, the driver, kuz, warns "incoming". they wear british—supplied uniforms. the insertion of the team can often be the most dangerous part of the mission. from here, they'll have to walk another mile to reach their target. explosion and that's a big explosion. we soon discover that shrapnel has torn through one of the back tyres.

it's a long, nerve—racking limp home. metallic clunking now the anxious wait for the team's return. ghost says he hand—picked each man for their patriotism. while he waits for news he calls his seven—year—old daughter. he's already taught her how to strip a gun. seven hours later, the two—man team are extracted, early morning just before the shelling resumes. the relief is palpable. kusia, the sniper, says the mission was a success. just one shot. "one shot, one target," he says. the commander ghost is just relieved they're safe. translation: every trip could be our last. but we are doing a noble deed.

it's also part of ukraine's psychological warfare. killing from a place that can't be seen and with a sound that can't be heard. jonathan beale, bbc news, bakhmut. the time is 13:18. our top story this afternoon. a british man who killed his seriously ill wife walks free from a court in cypus. david hunter was jailed for two years but had already spent 19 months in custody. coming up — we speak to britain's first black female tv reporter, half a century after she made her debut on screen. coming up on bbc news. defeats today for scotland and wales at the netball world cup — a little later it's england's turn, as they take on tonga. local authorities across the uk say

some vulnerable people are waiting years for the social care they need. research for the bbc suggests that in around a quarter of council areas, some had to wait more than a month on average just to be assessed for social care. and that's having a knock on effect on the nhs, as patients become stuck in hospitals, meaning fewer beds are available. wyre davies reports. i can't afford to waste time at my age. i could go any day. lily is 96—years—old. she's frail and needs help with everyday tasks. but in the words of her friends, she's as sharp as a tack and she knows what she wants. i have to get out. i've had enough. ijust can't stand any more. lily's been in hospitalfor 11 months, and is a striking example of a common problem. a patient well enough to go home,

but unable to leave hospital because there's no care available. with the help of friends, she's been keeping a video diary. so what's stopping you now from going home? no carers. we're just waiting because you can't find any carers that would care for me. there are a lot of people like me and we're holding up beds and everything, so they should be pushing us out. i'm lying here in- the praying position. the praying position, yes. carers like rebecca and jessica, who work here in the vale of glamorgan, love theirjobs but are under daily pressures. for retired policeman nigel, who has multiple sclerosis, they're crucial for his quality of life, after he spent three months waiting for care. if it wasn't for the carers, . at this time of the day now, i would be stuck in the bed. it's like solitary confinement. but the system is under huge strain.

we found that private companies have handed back thousands of care contracts to councils across the uk, the equivalent of more than 70,000 hours. staffing was the most common reason. our local asda pays £13 to start with, and to start you off with no previous experience, so we can't really compete. the reported staffing crisis in the care sector has a direct impact on the availability of beds in hospitals across the uk. so today we've got 58 patients who are what we call medically fit for discharge. that's nearly three wards of patients that do not need to be here. it's not sustainable, and i think something does need to change. we've been told many times that higher pay for carers and extra money for councils to make that happen might be part of the solution here. but where might that money come from? this is the necessary spending

on social care that's going up. five years ago, gerry holtham wrote a paper for the welsh government, anticipating the inevitable rising cost of care. his conclusions then haven't changed. the basic notion of a ring—fenced tax to cope with social care i think still has to be on the table. the uk government and the devolved administrations do have the powers to raise taxes to pay for social care if they wanted. they say they are spending billions more, but councils say much of that is being soaked up by rising costs. at least lily, after waiting almost a year, is now going home. oh, my trees, some of the trees are still there. two carers visit four times daily, allowing her to live as she wishes. so what's it like to be back home? wonderful. bubbling over inside of me is the fact that i'm home. the vale of glamorgan council has apologised unreservedly for the delay.

and although the health board said the level of care she needed contributed to her stay in hospital, it understood her concerns. lily isjust glad to be home and finally enjoying the view from her own window. wyre davies, bbc news. in pakistan, police are still investigating who was behind yesterday's bombing at a political rally which left 45 people dead. more than 150 others were injured in the suicide attack. our pakistan correspondent caroline davies is in islamabad — what's the latest? ben, first a notification we had this morning was from the police confirming this was a suicide bombing, today they confirmed it and said they believe the suicide bomber used about 10 kilograms of explosive and had ball bearings to cause the

most destruction. the number of injured is round 150. no group has yet claimed this attack, and the authorities have refuted the idea the so—called islamic state is behind it. what they have said is there are some indications a local chapter with links to the so—called islamic state. that sounds like a contradictory statement, it shows how often these groups are splittered and sometimes operate independently. splittered and sometimes operate independently-— is this month marks 55 years since britain's first black female tv reporter made her debut. in the 1960s, barbara blake hannah, like many others of the windrush generation, came to the uk in search of new opportunities. but she faced constant racism, and after eight years she returned to jamaica. and after eight years she's been talking to the bbc�*s simi jolaoso.

july 31st, 1968, the times newspaper printed a spread on barbara blake hannah. the night before, she'd become the first black woman to report the news on british television. yes, to be in the times, old page, to be a journalist on television is the highest praise for a journalist to be. and i'd achieved that. that was really cool. that was really nice. barbara reported on community stories eamonn andrews' show on thames television. that was until her contract came to an end afterjust nine months. too many viewers had complained about having a black person on their screens. you just have to accept it. that was all part of the, "you're not good enough. you're black. you're not good enough." racism was a big awakening. she later got a job on atv, a regional channel based in birmingham, but things didn't improve during her six months there.

racism was more pronounced in birmingham, on the set and on the streets. we were at a party, at a bar, a glass broke and splinters jumped up and cut me. and some drunk white girls said, "oh, its red." she thought my blood was going to be another colour. how did you cope with all the racism that you faced in the uk? because you were there for about eight years. you would ignore it. you ignore that kind of behaviour as best you can. some people can't. i guess i learned how to, at least for eight years, until i thought enough is enough, time to leave. you know, why stay where you're hated? barbara moved behind the scenes, working on films and tv shows. she championed jamaica's arts and culture, and founded the reggae film festival. she also continued her journalism, interviewing celebrities and politicians. in 1984, she herself became jamaica's first rastafari senator. barbara later received

an order of distinction from the jamaican government, but to her, one accomplishment matters the most. my greatest achievement is having had a child. being a mother. having had a wonderful child. my son, makonnen. all my awards and medals, these are just special gifts along the way. now 82, barbara hopes her legacy will inspire others. simijolaoso, bbc news, kingston, jamaica. england take on china in theirfinal group match of the women's world cup in adelaide tomorrow, but they'll have to do it without one of their best players. midfielder keira walsh is injured and can't play in a match that england must not lose. jane dougall is in adelaide for us — jane. yes earthquake ben, england's prematch media conference ended a

few hours ago and there are many questions about keira walsh, we knew she wouldn't be fit enough to play against china but we didn't know the extent of the injury or if she would be ruled out for the remainder. the england manager held her cards close to her chest when she was asked about that very thing, she said she didn't know only it was not or an terse you ligament which is good new, wiegman might want to play down the absence of one of her best players to the opposition, keira walsh is probably one of the best midfielders in the world. she was sold to barcelona for a record fee, a word record fee and it height hamper england's chances of progress, they will miss her sorely in tomorrow's match against china. if england are to get through to the knock out stages they will want to top their group and that means they will be guaranteed to go through but they will have to beat china do that, if they draw, and other results go their way they will come

second, theyst still get through, if they lose it gets complicated and it is difficult enough without the linchpin of their squad. ben. jane. linchpin of their squad. ben. jane, thank ou linchpin of their squad. ben. jane, thank you very _ jane, thank you very much. it's all to play for on the final day of the final ashes test at the oval. australia are chasing 384 to win, but england's bowlers have taken three wickets this morning. joe wilson has been watching the action. well, ifeel your pain, you'd want to watch, everything was still variable, so many scenarios are still possible, even on the ashes final day. here we go. chris woakes to david warner to jonny bairstow. translation: surely he's gone. australia had to reach 384, england needed ten wickets, this made it 140—1. immediate progress. 1a years into his australian career, warner had surely played his last ashes innings. usman khawaja had been

utterly immovable yesterday. over to the umpire, lbw. woakes and england had another. look at ben stokes' reaction to england's start. this is the last day of stuart broad's career, bowling now to marnus labuschagne. spot on with that shot. labuschagne on 13 and no more. the hands of zak crawley, the power of mark wood, three key batters removed in the first hour of play. just to get rid of steve smith. he'd do things his way, like he always does. living every moment. up—and—down, back and forth, the fortunes of this final day. james anderson bowling. think again, that's the game. remember, every run takes australia closer to victory in the ashes hours which remain.

and australia 288 for 3. ben stokeses took a catch. the umpire said not out, that was steve smith reprieved and i wonder the clouds behind me, the flood lights, what part of the weather may play as the game moves on this afternoon. joe, we are wondering about the weather, joe, we are wondering about the weather, thank you. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. knot good today or wednesday for the cricket, but low pressure will be dominating our weather for the rest of this week, it has been very wet, so farfor many of this week, it has been very wet, so far for many areas through of this week, it has been very wet, so far for many areas throuthuly. the skies above so far for many areas through july. the skies above lynmouth so far for many areas throuthuly. the skies above lynmouth in so far for many areas through july. the skies above lynmouth in devon depict what it is like across the uk at the moment, outbreaks of fairly heavy rain in place, and will continue with low pressure dominating through the week and feeling cool for the time of year, i mentioned july has been very wet. record—breakingly so for some areas, we have seen double the amount we

formally see, preston lancashire three times the amount