hello, i'm nancy kacungira. every public building in england should be checked for structural problems caused by the lightweight concrete, raac. that's the call from the opposition labour party after more than a hundred schools were ordered to close classrooms until they can be re—enforced. there are warnings that many more public buildings, such as hospitals and prisons, could be affected. with the latest details, here's our reporter zoe conway. the risk posed from raac concrete has been known since this roof collapsed into a school staff room five years ago. luckily, no one was there. now the government is so concerned about the condition of the concrete in more than a hundred schools and colleges in england that they have been told to close or partially close.

katherines primary academy in essex won't open next week, parents are asking why the warning was so last—minute. it is a bit frustrating because it just seemed to be last—second that they decided to say the building is not safe. this school in south london has been partially closed. i have two children, one of my children is in key stage two so her building is this one here which will be closed, and she will be relocated to another site about 20 minutes that way. my son is in year two so he will stay in the building that is still safe and usable. i will have a double drop—off and pick—up. the government says it is acting now because the guidance changed after a raac beam collapsed in a school last week. the beam had previously been thought safe. raac was used in public buildings from the 19505 to the mid—1990s because it was quicker to manufacture than traditional reinforced concrete

and easier to install. as you can see, it is fairly lightweight and you can . probably see the air bubbles through the concrete itself. i it is reinforced, you can see - the groov within the concrete itself which is reinforced with rebar. one of the main issues can occur when water can get l inside the concrete itself, - it passes through these air pockets and can get to the rebar- which is obviously metal and over time can rust. obviously, metal that rusts is weak and that is what can cause - the panels themselves| to actually fail and fall. the concrete was only designed - to last for 30 years and the dangers of raac in public buildings has been known for years _ in 2019, an expert committee issued an alert on raac. by 2020, the government promised to remove it from nhs buildings by 2035. in 2021, school safety was rated critical by the department for education.

the government rejects the accusation that it has been slow to act. we did act sooner, to be fair. there was a collapse of a school ceiling back in 2018, we immediately, together with the local government association, provided a warning notice to schools, which is pretty detailed, about what they should do to assess and manage the concrete in the ceiling. in scotland, the government says that 35 schools contain the concrete, but measures are in place to protect pupils safety. in wales and northern ireland it is not yet clear whether raac is causing problems. it is notjust schools where this concrete poses a risk, other public buildings are affected. the courts, for example. and more than a0 nhs buildings. zoe conway, bbc news. live now to sarah skinner. she is the ceo of penrose learning trust in suffolk which controls eight schools,

three of which are affected. thanks three of which are affected. forjoining us. this is 5 to thanks forjoining us. this is going to have quite an impact on your schools? . , , , , schools? 0h, incredibly, yes. the late notice _ schools? 0h, incredibly, yes. the late notice and _ schools? 0h, incredibly, yes. the late notice and the _ schools? 0h, incredibly, yes. the late notice and the writing - schools? 0h, incredibly, yes. the late notice and the writing are - late notice and the writing are bound to find temporary accommodation is incredibly challenging. accommodation is incredibly challenging-— accommodation is incredibly challenauin. , ., challenging. tell us more about those challenges. _ challenging. tell us more about those challenges. what - challenging. tell us more about those challenges. what is - challenging. tell us more about those challenges. what is the i those challenges. what is the department for education asked you to do and how difficult is it going to do and how difficult is it going to be to achieve that?— to do and how difficult is it going to be to achieve that? well, we had our own surveys _ to be to achieve that? well, we had our own surveys done _ to be to achieve that? well, we had our own surveys done in _ to be to achieve that? well, we had our own surveys done in 2019 - to be to achieve that? well, we had our own surveys done in 2019 which i our own surveys done in 2019 which identified some raac. we had plans in place to work through how much of our concrete was deemed safe so we started on areas that were less good. obviously, the change in policy last week now means that i have three schools, some of those schools have areas identified as red

which means we cannot access those facilities at all. in two schools, i had undetermined areas which is problematic in itself because i don't know whether they are safe or not. in one of those schools we managed to get a survey out yesterday and thankfully those areas are now green and we can use them and i have a surveyor going to the third school on monday, so on monday i will know more for that skill but it is quite considerable, even taking the areas that i didn't read alone. ,. ., ., , ., taking the areas that i didn't read alone. ,. , ., ,, alone. our schools and classes being affected by this _ alone. our schools and classes being affected by this on _ alone. our schools and classes being affected by this on a _ alone. our schools and classes being affected by this on a practical - affected by this on a practical level? i affected by this on a practical level? . .. ., , affected by this on a practical level? . . . . , ., level? i have actually get to write to arents level? i have actually get to write to parents fully. _ level? i have actually get to write to parents fully. we _ level? i have actually get to write to parents fully. we sent - level? i have actually get to write to parents fully. we sent them i level? i have actually get to write to parents fully. we sent them a | to parents fully. we sent them a letter yesterday alerting them that we had some issues. i am working to the detail with my heads today to get these out today. in one school, i have ten rooms and the staff and

that i can't use. my second room, 16 schools, the gymnasium and some toilets and a third school 12 rooms. so you can see, it is quite considerable in terms of now brimming, working out who can come in, getting temporary accommodation and logistically organising all of that. , , ., , g , that. yes, big logical puzzle. just be for, that. yes, big logical puzzle. just be for. do _ that. yes, big logical puzzle. just be for. do you — that. yes, big logical puzzle. just be for, do you have _ that. yes, big logical puzzle. just be for, do you have any - that. yes, big logical puzzle. just| be for, do you have any timelines that you are working with? it sounds like there are still quite a few unknowns. like there are still quite a few unknowns-— like there are still quite a few unknowns. , ,., ., , ., , unknowns. yes, so, we had staff trainin: unknowns. yes, so, we had staff training days _ unknowns. yes, so, we had staff training days aren't _ unknowns. yes, so, we had staff training days aren't monday - unknowns. yes, so, we had staff training days aren't monday and | training days aren't monday and tuesday. going to extend that by a dayjust tuesday. going to extend that by a day just to ensure tuesday. going to extend that by a dayjust to ensure that tuesday. going to extend that by a day just to ensure that we tuesday. going to extend that by a dayjust to ensure that we can get rimmed and resources because obviously we have a number of resources in the areas were not allowed into. and so were looking to see if we can get the contractors to retrieve resources for us so we have allowed an extra day. we will have students back on each of our school sites on thursday. in the skills

that are affected with more rooms we may not be able to have all year groups back thursday and friday while we sought temporary accommodation but until monday, we won't know how quickly we can get those additional classrooms in. qm. those additional classrooms in. 0k, sarah, all those additional classrooms in. 0k, sarah. all the _ those additional classrooms in. ok, sarah, all the best with that. three schools which are affected by the change in policy. the billionaire businessman, mohamed al fayed, who went from selling soft drinks in egypt to owning harrods and the paris ritz, has died at the age of 94. his eldest son, dodi, was killed alongside princess diana in a car crash in paris, 26 years ago. an inquiry into mr al fayed's business dealings led successive governments to refuse him british citizenship. daniela relph looks back now at al fayed's life. mohamed al fayed, one of the proud owner of harrods, the world's most famous department store who yearn to

be part of the british establishment. born in egypt, he managed the sister of a billionaire arms dealer and built a business empire. he bought the ritz hotel in paris and defeated a group in the battle to buy habits. a chief executive demanded an inquiry which found mohamed al fayed had exaggerated his wealth and background. successive governments refused him british citizenship. you think this is — refused him british citizenship. ym. think this is fair from the home think this is fairfrom the home secretary? to behave the way to someone like me to have given employment to thousands of people, having for british kids, just shows what type of people you are. revenge was swift. two conservative ministers, neil hamilton and tim

smith left the government, accused of taking cash to ask questions in the commons. another, jonathan aitken resigned after mohamed al fayed revealed that he stayed free of charge at the ritz in paris at the same time as saudi arms dealers. he went on to buy fulham football club and courted the royal family. when his son dodi began a relationship with diana, princess of wales, it seemed mohamed al fayed had finally won a place at the highest levels of british society. but when dodi and diana were killed in paris, he insisted they had been murdered by mi6. the claims were investigated by the police and a coroner and found to be without substance. outside the court, he clung to conspiracy theories. the evidence, what _ clung to conspiracy theories. tie: evidence, what evidence? from clung to conspiracy theories. tye: evidence, what evidence? from where? i'm not talking to you because you are an idiot, you're part of the establishment and you are a

journalist, you work for mi6, you idiot. journalist, you work for m16, you idiot. ., , ., . ., , , idiot. competitive and increasingly embittered. _ idiot. competitive and increasingly embittered, mohamed _ idiot. competitive and increasingly embittered, mohamed al - idiot. competitive and increasingly embittered, mohamed al fayed i idiot. competitive and increasingly . embittered, mohamed al fayed spent so many of his later years determined to destroy an establishment he had once been so keen tojoin. michael cole the former bbc royal correspondent who went on to work for mohamed al fayed as director for public affairs at harrods, spoke to me on mr fayed's last days. well, i think it's worth saying that he died on wednesday, which was the day before the 26th anniversary of the tragic. death in paris of his eldest son, dodi, and the family's dear friend diana, princess of wales. and he was entombed in a private mausoleum in the grounds of his surrey estate yesterday. the day after that anniversary. so whether there was an element of kismet, a wonderful arabic word forfate in all that, i do not know. but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

mohamed was a remarkable man in many, many ways. he owns the most celebrated department store in the world. he owned the most glamourous hotel ever known, the ritz in paris. and he owned a very iconic football ground, which is many people's favourite second team, the fulham football club, down by the river thames at craven cottage. the people who knew him, who worked for him, who were his customers, who were the fans of his club, knew him well and they liked him. he was, as you say, controversial. but one thing i think ought to be said is that he didn't yearn to be part of society. he hated nightclubs. he never went to smart restaurants. he was interested in his family and his firms and his customers and his staff. and it's not true that he took revenge on the british government. what happened was after he'd made, at his own expense and to great cost

to himself, revelations about sleaze at the heart of the john major conservative government. four months after those revelations came out in the guardian newspaper, it was the british government that turned down his application for naturalisation as a british subject four months later. so if anybody was taking revenge, it was the british government on mohamed, but he took it all in his stride. and contrary to what your reporter thinks, he didn't yearn to be part of or want to be part of the royal family. yes. he loved diana as a daughter. and he was very close to her father. and for a0 years, he was close to raine spencer, her stepmother, who was a director. yes. he he hoped the best for his son, dodi and diana. and he thought they were going to have a wonderful future together.

and he was. it was of course, i'm sorry to jump in, but he was, of course, greatly affected by the death of his son. just your reflections on that and how it affected the trajectory of his entire life, really? well, of course. i mean, he was very stoic. he was very strong and steadfast and courageous during that terrible week. but i could tell, because i knew him quite well, that he was he was not the same person. i could see the sadness at the back of his eyes always. but he said to me, you know, i've got 7,000 staff, i've got a family, i've got to show leadership. i can't walk around with a long face. and he had to smile and he had to carry on. but nothing was ever really quite the same, because he'd lost his first—born son and now he is in this tomb, lying alongside him for eternity. in the last couple of hours, india has launched its first observation mission to study the sun. large crowds gathered

to watch the rocket carrying the aditya—l1 satellite blast off from the sriharikota space centre in the southern state of andhra pradesh. the probe aims to work out what drives space weather, and gather a better understanding of the dynamics of solar wind. its one point five million kilometre orbit around earth will give it a clear view of our nearest star. earlier we spoke to our reporter janhavee moole in mumbai. she says this is a big moment for india. but it is much more ambitious than the chandrayaan—3 mission, because this time, the spacecraft is expected to travel four times the distance between earth and moon. a that is around 1.5 million kilometres, which may seem a little menacing compared to the distance between earth and sun, but it is a place from where the spacecraft should be able to study the sun, the outer atmosphere of our closest star. remember, this is not a very

powerful rocket in the world, but it's one of the most trusted rockets that isro, that is indian space research organisation, has. and it is expected to carry the spacecraft into a certain orbit around earth from where it will keep orbiting our planet and gain velocity. and ultimately it will be launched towards the point l1, which is a point between earth and sun where the gravitational pull from both of these is quite neutral, meaning that spacecraft would be able to hover in that region. it's something similar to the james webb telescope that nasa has on the other side of the earth. and on this side, at point l1, added the l1 isro's spacecraft is expected to study the sun. it is the first solar observatory of this kind that india is sending out. now it's time for a look at today's

sport with hugh ferris. for the eighth time in grand slams, novak djokovic came back from two sets down to win a match. and his victim on this occasion was his fellow serb laslo djere at the us open. djokovic avoided a shock as he attempts to equal the overall grand slam record of 24. winning the decider in the early hours of the morning in new york saying that he gave himself a pep talk in the mirror during a break once he'd lost the second set. djokovic is through to round four. as is the women's world number one iga swiatek. although she was only court for 50 minutes as she beat her best friend kaja juvan of slovenia. that friendship extended far enough to give upjust one game to her opponent in the whole match. and caroline wozniacki's dream comeback continues. she came from a set down to beat jennifer brady in three. former world number one wozniacki retired in 2020 and had two children, but returned last month and is now looking forward to a fourth round meeting with another, coco gauff. the four british players to reach the third round stage

are back in action today. one of those is dan evans who has the little matter of taking on the top seed from spain, tennis' new superstar — carlos alcaraz. alcaraz is an unbelievable player, but what is the point of me going out there thinking: he is number one in the world, you have got no right to beat him. this is going to be... if i get into an opportunity where i need to get a big point, i am going to be nervous, i've made myself nervous, and i think that's what is important. you realise they are very good at what they do, but they are still human, they still get nervous. two of the six matches in the premier league on saturday could provide new leaders. manchester city and spurs have a chance of replacing west ham at the top of the table. city host fulham while spurs are at burnley. here's a check on all the games. the early match is between

sheffield united and everton. they're two of four sides yet to pick up a single point and everton haven't even scored in the league yet. they are new to the division, they will have the crowd behind them, that new feel, to take on the game. we have performed well, we haven't won, but we have performed well for two out of three. we got the job done last night. so we will see what's here and we can piece together and see if we can go there and take it on with a proper performance like the last two out of the three, but we've got to score goals, i've said that all along. the leaders will tee off in the next hour or so at golf�*s european masters. england's matt fitzpatrick produced a third round of 65 on his 29th birthday to leave him one shot clear of sweden's alexander bjork and two ahead of france's romains langasque and alex fitzpatrick. who i imagine would like nothing more than to ruin his brother's birthday weekend. british middleweight chris eubankjunior says defeat to liam smith tonight would spell the end of his career. the pair meet again in a rematch at manchester arena, eight months on from smith's

victory injanuary. eubankjunior says this is the biggest moment in his career. and he can't afford to get it wrong. this is the most important fight of my career, 100%.— this is the most important fight of my career, 100%. everything is on the line. everything _ my career, 100%. everything is on the line. everything is _ my career, 100%. everything is on the line. everything is on - my career, 100%. everything is on the line. everything is on the - my career, 100%. everything is on the line. everything is on the line. j the line. everything is on the line. i have to go out there, i have to assert my dominance, have to take this man out. i have no other choice so that is why get my confidence choice. there is no other option for you but to win. choice. there is no other option for you but to win-— you but to win. have to expect different, _ you but to win. have to expect different. we _ you but to win. have to expect different, we have _ you but to win. have to expect different, we have to - you but to win. have to expect different, we have to come - you but to win. have to expect. different, we have to come with you but to win. have to expect - different, we have to come with the same _ different, we have to come with the same game — different, we have to come with the same game plan. another loss, it is over for— same game plan. another loss, it is overfor him. — same game plan. another loss, it is over for him, that is why chris is saying _ over for him, that is why chris is saying that — over for him, that is why chris is saying that but, you know, i'm not thinking _ saying that but, you know, i'm not thinking about the cycle. ijust need — thinking about the cycle. ijust need to— thinking about the cycle. ijust need to win tomorrow to keep going for i need to win tomorrow to keep going for i want _ need to win tomorrow to keep going for i want to— need to win tomorrow to keep going for i want to go. the need to win tomorrow to keep going for i want to go— for i want to go. the first bite was very bad-tempered. _ for i want to go. the first bite was very bad-tempered. certainly, - for i want to go. the first bite was| very bad-tempered. certainly, the very bad—tempered. certainly, the lead up to it was. final pratice starts shortly at monza.

that's all the sport for now. rail passengers in england are facing a second day of disruption as thousands of rmt union members go on strike. some journeys into scotland and wales will also be affected. train drivers with aslef walked out yesterday, as both unions continue disputes with rail operators and the government over pay. today's rail work shifts from the working week to leather travel. whether it is trying to visit friends or family over the weekend, are travelling to a sporting fixture, would—be rail passengers are likely to be disappointed. up to 20,000 rail workers at the rmt union, typically station staff or guards, are on strike for 2a hours. it is part of a long—running dispute over pay, jobs and working practices. the rail delivery group, which represents more than a dozen operators, has offered a 5% backdated pay rise and a pay rise of 4% this year if changes to the way staff work can be agreed.

we would have to agree to these draconian cuts in ticket offices, we would have to agree to cuts in catering, engineering and other grades. we simply can't do that. i'm not going to get my members to vote for their own demise. there is no stand—alone pay rise for us or any of the other grades in the industry or any of the other unions. they are dependent on us accepting these drastic cuts to service and cuts to jobs. fewer than half of rail services in england are expected to run today, although it will vary in different parts of the country. some services into wales and scotland could be all affected. all of this follows a 24—hour strike by train drivers at this aslef union yesterday. they took to the picket lines in dispute over pay. drivers are back to work today but are refusing to do any overtime. the rail company and government said the pay offer to unions is reasonable and should be put to members for a vote. no fresh negotiations are planned, so after more than a year

of industrial action, there is still no end in sight. mark ashdown, bbc news. polar exploration has long been male dominated, but now more women are acting on their dream of discovering the secrets of the artic and antartic. a new four—year programme has been launched, taking a group of mostly women to explore the polar regions, redressing the industry's gender imbalance in the process. i'm joined now by marine ecologist and social scientist, chloe nunn. great to have you on the programme. it is not everyday you speak to a polar explorer. even more rare that it is a woman. did you get interested in this?- it is a woman. did you get interested in this? ., ~ , interested in this? yeah, i think my interested in this? yeah, i think my interest in exploration, _ interested in this? yeah, i think my interest in exploration, really, - interest in exploration, really, started from quite a young age. i was encouraged to be outdoors, play outdoors, with the under appreciated that when i was younger but i have come to appreciate it a lot more now and i'm looking at careers which will take me and have taken me into remote places. i think having a

healthy collection of things like national geographic magazines and watching david attenborough programmes and things like that really inspired me to explore my own interests and those of taking me to many different places but some of the most amazing and awe—inspiring places have certainly been the arctic. t places have certainly been the arctic. .., places have certainly been the arctic. .. ., , places have certainly been the arctic. ., , ., places have certainly been the arctic. ., , . arctic. i can only imagine the sort of hotos arctic. i can only imagine the sort of photos you _ arctic. i can only imagine the sort of photos you have _ arctic. i can only imagine the sort of photos you have on _ arctic. i can only imagine the sort of photos you have on your - arctic. i can only imagine the sort of photos you have on your phone arctic. i can only imagine the sort - of photos you have on your phone but quite a journey, isn't it, from interest to actual experience and career. what was that like? how did you get your training and gather experience? you get your training and gather exoerience?_ you get your training and gather exerience? . ,., , ., ., experience? yeah, so i started out doinu a experience? yeah, so i started out doing a degree _ experience? yeah, so i started out doing a degree in _ experience? yeah, so i started out doing a degree in oceanography i experience? yeah, so i started out| doing a degree in oceanography and the highlight of that degree for me was all of the fieldwork, being out on boats, you can see, i'm still out on boats, you can see, i'm still out on a boat now and i really sought out opportunities to do fieldwork. i think there was some training, sea survival training for oceanography but there was not a huge push or

encouragement for students to seek other aspects of training so it was really quite challenging when i decided on my masters research topic to go to the arctic and undertake that research, it was really quite challenging to know what i needed to know, really. there was no one telling me that and no one really encouraging me to find that information out.— encouraging me to find that information out. . ,, . information out. that is such a big roblem, information out. that is such a big problem. isn't _ information out. that is such a big problem, isn't it? _ information out. that is such a big problem, isn't it? for— information out. that is such a big problem, isn't it? for women i problem, isn't it? forwomen especially who have the interest but don't quite know how to get where you are. do you think this programme will help with that? is that the solution? ~ , ,., , ., solution? absolutely. i think there are a number— solution? absolutely. i think there are a number of— solution? absolutely. i think there are a number of issues _ solution? absolutely. i think there are a number of issues that i solution? absolutely. i think there are a number of issues that need i are a number of issues that need addressing. fostering anti harassment cultures would be a good start, providing clothing that is safe and fits women and everyone, really, appropriately. addressing theissues really, appropriately. addressing the issues that hamper women's involvement in polar science. and

courses like this are a great starting point for that.- courses like this are a great starting point for that. they do hel , starting point for that. they do help. don't _ starting point for that. they do help, don't they? _ starting point for that. they do help, don't they? clearly, i starting point for that. they do | help, don't they? clearly, great starting point for that. they do i help, don't they? clearly, great to speak to you. we'll let you carry on with your adventures. thanks for joining us that from plymouth. you're watching bbc news. we have got much more for you so do stay with us. the headphones injust a moment. for many of us, we are looking warm sunny spells into this afternoon. that was the scene this morning. a lovely cam starter to the day there. this is the satellite image. you can see quite a bank of cloud to the far north—west of the uk but, generally speaking, across the uk, this is

where we have got the clear skies, the finer weather as we go to this weekend. still a bit of cloud. central areas continuing to clear away. a good catchjust central areas continuing to clear away. a good catch just the odd shower across the far south—west of england and across wales but really, for most of us, it is going to be a dry day with those warm sunny spells. temperatures getting up to about 21—24 quite widely. the t— 18 for the north and west across scotland with a cloud will thicken later in the day. tonight, there will be some patches of mist and fog developing mainly across southern areas of england. the midlands, towards east anglia as well, that cloud thickening in the far north and west of scotland. some outbreaks of rain here but milder night to come compared to last night. temperatures last night down close to freezing in the north—east but, tonight, 13—15. for sunday, then, still that cloud and rain across the far north—west. any of the mist and fog across southern areas clearing away and lots of sunshine expected during sunday. and with light winds

across england and wales that will feel quite warm. for easier across scotland and the far north—west, really. with the cloud, light winds across england and wales that will feel quite warm. the easier across scotland and the far north—west, really. with the cloud, that rain, that freeze, it keeps things relatively settled and with that, a south—easterly wind will bring in a much warmer conditions. this is the air mass picture. there is a lot of orange here on the map and that is to shower us we have got this warm air coming infrom to shower us we have got this warm air coming in from the south—east. temperatures will rise throughout the week particularly for england and wales. 25—28, perhaps 30 degrees on in aberdeen, 2a, 25 further south to come. 0n through next week high pressure will move its way a bit further eastwards. but what it does, it keeps things relatively settled and with that, a south—easterly wind will bring in a much warmer conditions. this is the air mass

picture. there is a lot of orange here on the map and that is to shower as we have got this warm air coming in from the south—east. temperatures will rise throughout the week

this is bbc news, the headlines: ministers in england are facing calls from labour to arrange assessments of public sector buildings potentially at risk because of a lightweight concrete. more than 100 schools and colleges have been forced to shut or partially close because of concerns about collapses. the billionaire businessman, mohamed al fayed, who went from selling soft drinks in egypt to owning harrods and the ritz hotel in paris has died —— at the age of 94. in paris has died at the age of 94.

his eldest son, dodi, was killed alongside princess diana in a car crash in paris, 26 years ago. india launches its first observation mission to the sun, just days after the country made history by becoming the first to land near the moon's south pole. the studies will help scientists understand solar activity. those are the headlines on bbc news. now on bbc news, talking business. hello everybody, a warm welcome to talking business weakling with me, aaron heslehurst. let's take a look at what is on the show. a demographic time bomb: the global life expectancy has doubled in just over 100 years. but it is not all good news, what does our rapidly ageing population mean for society and our wider economy. in some places, there is a growing imbalance between an increasing older

generation and a birth rate that seems to have