hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. birmingham city council, the largest local authority in europe, has effectively declared bankruptcy. it issued a section 114 notice, which blocks spending on all but essential services. birmingham called an unofficial spending freeze injune after it revealed a £760 million equal pay bill, while it attempted to resolve its financial issues. live now to our midlands correspondent navtej johal in birmingham.

just bring us up—to—date on the latest on this. just bring us up-to-date on the latest on this.— latest on this. well, this is the latest on this. well, this is the latest chapter _ latest on this. well, this is the latest chapter of _ latest on this. well, this is the latest chapter of what - latest on this. well, this is the latest chapter of what has - latest on this. well, this is the | latest chapter of what has been latest on this. well, this is the i latest chapter of what has been a sorry saga for this city, birmingham city council, as you say, but only the largest authority, local authority in the country but across europe in terms of the population that it serves. these issues have been brewing now for notjust months but for years. this all began nearly a decade ago when a landmark court case ruled that birmingham city council had to pay an unequal pay dispute, the claims that emerged from that mainly to female staff or staff that were in roles traditionally done by female staff such as teaching assistants or cleaners, the bill for that so far over the last decade or so has been more than £1 billion. but earlier this summer, it emerged that on top of what has already been paid, there

was another up to £760 million to pay as part of that ongoing equal pay as part of that ongoing equal pay liability as well. that is what is really forced the hand of birmingham city council to make this announcement today. there are other issues at play here as well. a botched it system, the role of which implementation of that has cost the city council around £100 million, then of course the issues which we know all local authorities up and down the country have been dealing with, the increasing cost of social care, the shortfall from the pandemic. and those issues if they come to a head, to the point where today we have seen this notice being issued. this has been bubbling across the summer. just a week or so ago we heard that birmingham city council had offered to its more than 10,000 staff the opportunity to be given a severance payment, to essentially leave their jobs

given a severance payment, to essentially leave theirjobs in order to help foot this bill. the problems were so extreme that earlier this summer, the prime minister ruled out a bailout for birmingham city council as well so that gives you an idea of how we have got to this point. what the section 114 notice means is that the cancer is essentially waving a white flag saying that they cannot foot the bill that it is forced to pay, that it must pay as part of this equal pay liability. so this is really the kind of final straw, the final card it had up its sleeve to play in terms of getting itself out of this hole. it's not the first consul that has done this, there are others in the uk that have also been forced to be in this position, the likes of thurrock and croydon had recently also issued a section 14 notice, but this is the uk's and europe are's biggest local authority and it is huge news here for the city of birmingham.—

and it is huge news here for the city of birmingham. navte' johal, thanks for bringing * city of birmingham. navte' johal, thanks for bringing us _ city of birmingham. navtej johal, | thanks for bringing us up-to-date city of birmingham. navtej johal, i thanks for bringing us up-to-date to thanks for bringing us up—to—date to date a story. a high level, and high stakes, meeting could happen this month between north korea's leader kimjong un and russian president vladimir putin which could impact the war in ukraine. according to us officials, kimjong unis expected to make a rare visit overseas and discuss the possibility of north korea providing moscow with weapons to support its war in ukraine. the exact location of the planned meeting is not clear. in a statement, us national security officials say that "arms negotiations between russia and north korea are actively advancing". but when asked about this possible summit, the kremlin spokesperson said he had says "nothing to say on this." and couldn't confirm the meeting. dr philip shetler—jones is a senior research fellow in the international security team at rusi in london. code to have you with us. how significant with this meeting be? ——

good to have you. a lot of people will have eyes on this but what could come out of it?— could come out of it? good afternoon- _ could come out of it? good afternoon. i— could come out of it? good afternoon. i think - could come out of it? good afternoon. i think we - could come out of it? good afternoon. i think we have | could come out of it? good i afternoon. i think we have to could come out of it? good - afternoon. i think we have to first of all be a little bit cautious about the assumption that the meeting is going to happen. after all, she said, at the moment this is based on reporting from a united states source and has been no confirmation from either of two parties, russia or north korea. having said that, it is reminiscent, you could say, of the way that us intelligence sources also pre—empted the news of the planned russian invasion of the ukraine. whether the meeting happened or not, it puts the leadership of russia and north korea in a rather awkward position, where they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. if they go ahead, it shows that the americans know what they are doing, if they don't, you might imply that they were put off in some way by the

response to it. we were put off in some way by the response to it.— were put off in some way by the response to it. we will talk about the substance _ response to it. we will talk about the substance about _ response to it. we will talk about the substance about the - response to it. we will talk about the substance about the meeting i response to it. we will talk about i the substance about the meeting in the substance about the meeting in the second but let's talk about the fact that news of the speculative meeting has actually come from the us. ., �* , ~ meeting has actually come from the us. . �* , ~ , , us. that's right. i think this is now seen _ us. that's right. i think this is now seen as _ us. that's right. i think this is now seen as a _ us. that's right. i think this is now seen as a pattern - us. that's right. i think this is now seen as a pattern of- us. that's right. i think this is - now seen as a pattern of managing the information aspect of this conflict by coming out with intelligence information. it demonstrates you have access to the planning of come in this case, the russian side, that you're able to foresee and forewarn, already take a position on things before they come about and in some ways you might actually make them less likely to happen by doing so. bud actually make them less likely to happen by doing so.— happen by doing so. and there is lots of speculation _ happen by doing so. and there is lots of speculation around - happen by doing so. and there is lots of speculation around this i happen by doing so. and there is l lots of speculation around this part how might kimjong and lots of speculation around this part how might kim jong and travel to this meeting and where might it be? i've seen various reports about some of those details. == i've seen various reports about some of those details.— of those details. -- kim jong-un. historically. _ of those details. -- kim jong-un. historically, the _ of those details. -- kim jong-un. historically, the leader _ of those details. -- kim jong-un. historically, the leader of - of those details. -- kim jong-un. historically, the leader of north l historically, the leader of north

korea doesn't travel very much. when it happens it is usually by land, by train, armoured train, so it would be normal to expect him to avoid long distance travel or travel by air. so vladivostok one of the areas where a north korea borders russia would be a possibility, and i think probably more probable than going to moscow for example white supper very briefly, who do you think needs this meeting more, russia or north korea? i think for russia, it would be in some ways a mixed blessing. it could yield some benefits in terms of technology, material gains from korea in terms of some of the parts and munitions they need to restock. but it also demonstrates to beijing that moscow is not entirely dependent on chinese support in its efforts and has other options. likewise the leadership of north korea, incensed the same signal to

beijing that their relationship is not one of interdependency and very few friends, but there are other options they can develop with russia as well. ., ~ , ., options they can develop with russia as well. ., ~' , ., , options they can develop with russia as well. ., ~ ,, , . ., as well. thank you very much for brinuain as well. thank you very much for bringing us _ as well. thank you very much for bringing us your _ as well. thank you very much for bringing us your insight - as well. thank you very much for bringing us your insight on - as well. thank you very much for bringing us your insight on that. l the un secretary—general has called on the world to make africa a renewable energy superpower. his comments came on the second day of the africa climate summit in the kenyan capital nairobi. mr guterres said developing the huge potential for renewable energy on the african continent would bring many benefits. adequate access to financial resources at reasonable cost and technological support. renewables could dramatically boost economies, grow new industries, create jobs and drive development, including by reaching the over 600 million africans living without access to power. renewable energy could be the african miracle, but we must make it happen. we must all work together

for africa to become a renewable energy superpower. but more than 500 african civil society organisations have written an urgent letter to the organisers of the summit, calling for it to be halted. in the letter, they claim that western governments, consultancy companies, and philanthropic organisations have disregarded africa's climate interests. they argue they're using the summit to advance a pro—west agenda, to the detriment of africa. one particular issue that has been highlighted is the use of carbon credits, which can be purchased by western governments to offset their own carbon footprint. i am nowjoined by hardi yukubu, the coordinator of africans rising, a pan—african movement and one

of the signatories of that letter. good to have you with us on the programme. tell us more about why you have written this letter.- you have written this letter. thank ou ve you have written this letter. thank you very much- — you have written this letter. thank you very much. we _ you have written this letter. thank you very much. we wrote - you have written this letter. thank you very much. we wrote this - you have written this letter. thank. you very much. we wrote this letter because we so very clear signs which have the potential of being an important and relevant point in africa's opportunity to offer solutions, credible and unique solutions, credible and unique solutions to the climate crisis facing the world. we saw very clear signs of this summit being hijacked for interests other than african interests, and we made it a point to raise these concerns to the organising parties and make sure that these concerns were tabled

formally. unfortunately, the worst fear is that we had have now been very manifested in the summit... this summit is in africa, there are african leaders and stakeholders taking part in that summit, so this is an african generated summit, it's not the west telling africa what to do, is it? ., ., , ., , do, is it? no, that is what it is. it is publicised _ do, is it? no, that is what it is. it is publicised as. _ do, is it? no, that is what it is. it is publicised as. but - do, is it? no, that is what it is. it is publicised as. but if - do, is it? no, that is what it is. it is publicised as. but if you're| it is publicised as. but if you're working in these areas, working with people across the continent, you realise that the actual programme itself, in its design, the consultancies that were put on to it to work on it and the concept of the programme design, and if you look at the content of the programme itself, you look at the room where these

things are being discussed, it is more like pot even if you look at the side events that are being hosted, only about 30% of the side events at the conference are african side events or african led events. the rest of the 62% are either western governments, institutions or philanthropic organisations or companies, consultancies that are obviously not african. and this is very clear in terms of the solutions that are being proposed. we are very clear about whether the advancement of carbon credits is something that actually provides a solution to the

climate financing conundrum. it is like somebody in a pet who continues to dig, hoping that they can get out of the pit why stocks are to stop there, we have run out of time, thank you so much for your insights into that issue. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making the news. the electoral commission says it failed a basic cyber—security test run by the uk government before it was hacked last month. names and addresses of 40 million voters were accessible. a spokeswoman for the commission admitted the failings, but claims they weren't linked to the cyber—attack. she also added that the commission had still not passed the test. scotland's first minister, humza yousaf, is expected to make a significant announcement on early—years childcare when he outlines his programme for government. earlier this year, mr yousaf said he wanted to offer 22 hours of free childcare every week

for one and two—year—olds. he also signalled he will set out action to help people living in the private rented sector. an original proof of harry potter and the philosopher's stone that was rediscovered at a primary school could be worth thousands of pounds. the book was found at st kenelm's primary school in oxford. it was bought for £1 in 1997. it is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction. you're live with bbc news. lebanon is one country that is heavily affected by cost of living crisis. before the country's ongoing troubles, families met $1.5 billion of the country's annual education costs, with the government spending only 1.2 billion. runaway inflation has led to major drops in household income, spikes in private school fees and a nationwide teachers' strike. now 15% of households have taken children out of schools. as part of our series on how

the cost—of—living crisis is impacting the world's children, caroline hawley has been speaking to children compromising their future to help their families make ends meet. there's no other option for many children here but to grow up fast. hassan's been working for two years, helping sell cigarettes. he comes here after school. translation: i'm working here to get some money. | and because it's better than being in the streets. i asked him if he prefers school or work. translation: school. hassan's father sells vegetables for a living. but prices have risen so fast that these are now a luxury for many people in lebanon. the global cost of living crisis has hit a country already suffering an economic meltdown and a currency collapse. according to the un, nine out of ten families can't afford the basics anymore.

translation: if | could | afford it, of course i would prefer him to study. working isn't the best thing for him, but it brings some money. together, they help make sure the whole family has what they need. and growing numbers of children are having to do the same. nine—year—old kareem and six—year—old adam are getting ready for school. their 14—year—old brother is already at work at a supermarket. their mother has two jobs and is looking for a third. a once decent salary is now worth very little and middle—class people have fallen into poverty. their mother works at their school in the kitchen. it's part of a project funded by the world food programme, employing mothers of schoolchildren. giving them some income with the aim of keeping their children in school and them and their classmates properly fed. they feel hungry.

they ask for sandwiches for their parents. so many students ask us for, "can i have this tomato for my mum?" they knock on the door of the kitchen every day. tens of students, not one or two. and it didn't used to be like this? no. i never seen that in lebanon before. and if you didn't have this job, what would your situation be? worse. too bad. because i don't have enough money to get food for my kids and to keep going in my life. that's it. the un children's fund says one in ten families in lebanon don't send their children to school any more because they can't afford to. it's a sensitive issue which brings embarrassment, even shame. most of the street sellers here are syrian refugees. but more and more lebanese children

are nowjoining them. in homes up and down this country, families have had to sell belongings as well as send their children to work. mohammed, who's 15, provides for both his little sisters and for the whole family. their father can't work after he injured himself falling from a ladder. mohammed's been out of school since he was 11. there's no time any more to see his friends. translation: i would like to go to school, of course. _ but in this situation, who would think of going to school? we need to provide for ourfamily. i asked him how that felt. translation: i'm suffocating. suffocating- — but i have to put up with it. some people curse me when they pass. and tell me not to get any closer. some people humiliate us.

he's out here day in and day out, all hours. one of so many forced to fend both for themselves and their families. their childhood, a stressful daily grind. caroline hawley, bbc news, southern lebanon. live now to manos antoninis, director of the global education monitoring at unesco. thanks very much forjoining us. what are the biggest concerns in terms of the cost of living crisis impacting children's right to education?— impacting children's right to education? ., . ., , education? you chose a very good examle, education? you chose a very good example, lebanon _ education? you chose a very good example, lebanon is _ education? you chose a very good example, lebanon is of— education? you chose a very good example, lebanon is of course - education? you chose a very good| example, lebanon is of course one education? you chose a very good - example, lebanon is of course one of the countries that are most affected. i think the first thing we need to look at is how much councils are interpreting to education spending globally. in the cobilas,

family establishment out of pockets. —— how much families are interpreting. —— in the global north. if we go to lower middle income countries, it is as much as 40% that comes from families and other countries, lebanon is one, where the public education system is very weak and families spend 70%, sometimes more of the total education spending in the country, thatis education spending in the country, that is leading to inequality. find that is leading to inequality. and how does this _ that is leading to inequality. and how does this have a gender dimension was met because we know and some low—income countries, fewer girls go to school. i and some low-income countries, fewer girls go to school-— girls go to school. i think you said riuhtl , girls go to school. i think you said rightly. lower— girls go to school. i think you said rightly, lower income _ girls go to school. i think you said rightly, lower income countries, l rightly, lower income countries, there used to be and there still are gender differences because one of the biggest items that families spend on education is when they send them to private school. there is a gender differential in countries where a lot of children are in

private schools who actually go to a private schools who actually go to a private schools who actually go to a private school and the parents actually prefer boys to girls in some countries. but this has changed and is changing rapidly because globally there are more children completing —— more girls completing secondary school than boys. it is on the poorest countries where there is to a gender difference at the expense of girls. bud to a gender difference at the expense of girls.— to a gender difference at the expense of girls. and very briefly, what can be _ expense of girls. and very briefly, what can be done _ expense of girls. and very briefly, what can be done to _ expense of girls. and very briefly, what can be done to ensure - expense of girls. and very briefly, what can be done to ensure that l what can be done to ensure that children who are not getting the education they deserve and have a right to get back to school during this cost—of—living crisis? i right to get back to school during this cost-of-living crisis?- this cost-of-living crisis? i think we all know _ this cost-of-living crisis? i think we all know that _ this cost-of-living crisis? i think we all know that education - this cost-of-living crisis? i think. we all know that education should this cost-of-living crisis? i think- we all know that education should be free. it is free normal in most countries. at families end up spending a lot more. there are public education systems that have disintegrated, families feel they need to pay extra to guarantee their

children's success. i think governments are obliged to look at how much households spend, they have not done that systematically and they missed the fact that a lot of families are left out. i think that is something the global education monitor has been doing. we need to look at that aspect of family contributions.— look at that aspect of family contributions. ., ~ , ., , . contributions. thank you very much for sharin: contributions. thank you very much for sharing your _ contributions. thank you very much for sharing your insights _ contributions. thank you very much for sharing your insights on - contributions. thank you very much for sharing your insights on that. for sharing your insights on that very important story. in the us state of nevada, organisers have given the go—ahead for large numbers of attendees to leave the burning man festival after wet conditions eased. new video shows a caravan of cars and vans leaving the festival site after the driving ban was lifted. rare rainstorms turned the area into a muddy mess, leaving 70,000 people stranded. some attempted to walk nearly ten kilometres — that's six miles — to the nearest road with plastic bags on their feet. the authorities said the death of one man at the event was unrelated to the weather.

live now to cbs news' elise preston in the black rock desert. tell us what the latest is from the site. a stream of cars still departing behind you. yes, you can see that caravan _ departing behind you. yes, you can see that caravan right _ departing behind you. yes, you can see that caravan right behind - departing behind you. yes, you can see that caravan right behind me. | see that caravan right behind me. good morning. they havejust see that caravan right behind me. good morning. they have just snaked around the desert. these cars have been lined up for hours trying to get out of black rock. keep in mind that people have been here, some of them for 12 to 14 days, this is a counterculture festival where people come from all around the world to this site and it's really about self—reliance, so they bring supplies, but what happened is when the rain pounded this area so quickly, there was nowhere for the water to go, it turned this dust into mud, so and they were told to

ration food and water. but a lot of people said they were prepared, they shared their supplies with people who were not. some people we spoke to just yesterday had been stuck here for several days trying to get out, but they couldn't. but as you can see, people are finally leaving black rock desert this morning. 50. black rock desert this morning. so, a lot of frustration and relief? yes. it's interesting, because a lot of people who are still here, they say that they still wanted to be here, the festival moved back one of its main ceremonies to last night, so a lot of these people stayed for that. and this festival, as i mentioned earlier, is about self—reliance, kind of going off the grid, so a lot of people said it was like part of the experience. but as you can imagine, being stuck somewhere not being able to leave was very frustrating for some. some people had to change their plans. i

can tell you, flights now out of reno, which is the next town, about an hour and a half away on a good day, flights out of reno are pretty booked... , ., . i. day, flights out of reno are pretty booked... , ., . booked... sorry to cut you off there, booked... sorry to cut you off there. we _ booked... sorry to cut you off there, we are _ booked... sorry to cut you off there, we are at _ booked... sorry to cut you off there, we are at the - booked... sorry to cut you off there, we are at the end - booked... sorry to cut you off there, we are at the end of. booked... sorry to cut you off. there, we are at the end of the programme. thank you forjoining us. hello. we've two seasons in one day again today. the early morning autumn fog clearing and then temperatures will soar. yesterday we had 30 degrees, once again through today and for the rest of the week we'll see temperatures in that sort of category in the hottest spots, the warmest spots. plenty of sunshine as well. there are a few flies in the ointment. this is a weak weather front still across parts of northern scotland, just threatening a few showers as well in the south and the west of both england and wales. even the odd rumble of thunder, but the exception rather than the rule. what that will do is increase the humidity. and the breeze is picking up a little in southern areas as well. and it's an easterly, it's going to drag some low clouds and sea haar and fret close

to the east coast of scotland and northeast england. so the highest temperatures for scotland further west today, perhaps 26. but widely the mid 20s, the high 20s possibly, into the low 30s in the south and east. there's that low cloud, though, and it will creep further inland as we go through the night. so it is going to increase in humidity, both because we've got that moisture coming off the north sea and that south to south easterly flow further south. temperatures 14 and 15s quite widely but a little higher in some of our biggest cities. there's the high pressure that's keeping things dry sat to the east of us. therefore, we've got this southerly wind across the uk, or southerly or south easterly, which will continue through tomorrow, when we expect the peak of the heat to come actually through wednesday and thursday with some really humid nights wednesday night and thursday night. quite uncomfortable for sleeping given the time of year. but there will be some relief during the evening, at least with the nights a little longer. so that low cloud gets burnt away a little bit on wednesday,

perhaps hugging some of the coasts in eastern scotland. perhaps some early morning fog elsewhere. but most of the sun's energy taken in lifting those temperatures at once again. come thursday, there's probably a slight increased risk of showers breaking out as that low pressure setting to the south just starts to push a little bit further north. so most likely central and northern areas, but not putting any detail on that just yet. temperatures once again in the mid to high 20s for many parts of england and wales, certainly the mid—20s further north as well. but just the hint that by the end of the weekend, things start to cool down and turn a little more unsettled once again.

this is bbc news. the headlines: 200 women in the uk are given permission to take group legal action against the manufacturer of a contraception device that left them in pain. the government says it will publish a list of the more than 150 schools in england that contain dangerous concrete. sewage in our water — a bbc investigation suggests that three major water companies released raw sewage illegally hundreds of times last year. 200 women in the uk who claim they were left in pain from a permanent contraception

device have been given permission to take a group legal action against its manufacturer. lawyers say the essure coil, which was withdrawn from sale in 2017, "has caused irreparable damage physically and mentally". the german company bayer says it will vigorously defend the claim. live now to philippa roxby, our health reporter. tell us more about this legal action at the moment. it is tell us more about this legal action at the moment.— at the moment. it is called the essure, at the moment. it is called the essure. and — at the moment. it is called the essure, and it _ at the moment. it is called the essure, and it is _ at the moment. it is called the essure, and it is a _ at the moment. it is called the essure, and it is a tiny - at the moment. it is called the essure, and it is a tiny metal l at the moment. it is called the l essure, and it is a tiny metal coil that goes into the tubes to the woman because my ovaries to prevent pregnancy, so it is a bit like sterilisation without the need for surgery. in most women it is effective and it works well without any complaints, but some women allege that it has caused them continuous pain after using the

device and they have also experienced side effects like