the us plans to give ukraine advanced long—range missiles to help with its ongoing counteroffensive against russia, according to reports in the american media. they quote us officials familiar with the issue as saying ukraine will get some atacms missiles — similar to the ones we're seeing here — with a range of up to 190 miles. that would allow kyiv to hit russian targets deep behind the front line. neither the us nor ukraine have officially confirmed the media reports. it comes as the ukrainian military claims it struck the headquarters of russia's black sea naval fleet in occupied crimea — with storm shadow cruise missiles, supplied by britain and france. the building in sevastopol appears to have been hit by at least two missiles, causing extensive damage. black smoke was still rising from sevastopol hours after the attack. the head of ukraine's military intelligence has claimed

in an interview that russian commanders were among those injured in the attack — this has not been independently confirmed. this has not been independently russia's ministry of defence said on friday that one serviceman was missing. samir puri is a lecturer in war studies at king's college london. he says the commitment by the us to supply more weapons is significant. as the army tactical missile system that the us has finally authorised the gifting to ukraine and it is about the range of the missiles they can fire. 190 miles, significantly further in the storm shadow missile which is 150 miles range. the significance is this is something that ukraine and those supporting the arming of ukraine have really been asking for four months and months and months. arguably creating the impression this is a wart winning weapon whereas i think in

reality, what this will do is give the ukrainian armed forces another two to try and degrade the russian defensive positions but by no means guarantee actually breaking through and kicking the russian army out of all parts of ukraine. we and kicking the russian army out of all parts of ukraine.— and kicking the russian army out of all parts of ukraine. we are hearing about the attack _ all parts of ukraine. we are hearing about the attack that _ all parts of ukraine. we are hearing about the attack that happened - all parts of ukraine. we are hearing about the attack that happened just yesterday on that russian fleet that killed commanders and we heard previously that one russian serviceman was missing and now russia are claiming according to the wire is that several senior commanders have been victim to it. what do we know about this area, the significance of this attack by ukraine? the crimean peninsula, this is an enormous achievement by the ukrainian armed forces because let's

not forget, march next year will mark the ten year anniversary of the annexation of crimea sought the crimean peninsula as well as being an important staging grant for the russian invasion of ukraine in the last 19 months or so it's probably the prestige symbol of vladimir putin and to slow annexation of the different parts of ukraine and one other point about this strike, coming at the same time as a report of ukraine being granted this us system, i think the sort of symbolic impact is that you will probably expect the ukrainians to pull off long distance precision strikes of this nature against highly sensitive and strategic russian targets that are by the way, sebastopol is hundreds and hundreds of kilometres away from ukrainian cities of dnipro and it shows what can be achieved with weapons of that length and

range. with weapons of that length and ran . e. ., , with weapons of that length and ranue. ., , ., , , ., range. previous to this trip to the us the americans _ range. previous to this trip to the us the americans in _ range. previous to this trip to the us the americans in particular . range. previous to this trip to the i us the americans in particular were rather reluctant to provide advanced technology and weaponry to ukraine. the critics of the biden administration including those in the usa who want to see a rapid arming of the ukrainian armed forces are seeing the biden administration has been successively incremental in drip feeding these advanced weapon systems and they have been coming, we have also had the announcement that advanced work aircraft will be supplied to ukraine. that is really the criticism is not so much the reluctance to give the advanced weapons systems, it has been the drip feeding incremental nature of it and from the biden administration perspective what they do not want to do is give ukraine reckons that ukraine could use to strike weapons in moscow that could result in some kind of greater escalation if putin and russia says this is a canadian

supplied weapon and it is as good as nato striking us. that is something vladimir putin could say about that is why there is still a risk with providing advanced weapons systems to ukraine. h0??? providing advanced weapons systems to ukraine. ., ., ., ., i, , ~ to ukraine. how do analysts like ourself to ukraine. how do analysts like yourself expect _ to ukraine. how do analysts like yourself expect russia - to ukraine. how do analysts like yourself expect russia to - to ukraine. how do analysts like yourself expect russia to react i to ukraine. how do analysts like| yourself expect russia to react in the situation knowing they are acquiring this weaponry and also acquiring this weaponry and also acquiring more finance as well from the likes of the us and canada? i think the russians like the ukrainians see that this war is at a really critical middle stage from which it could go and all sorts of different directions. in terms of russian responses we have heard the nuclear sabre rattling, not only vladimir putin but also dmitry medvedev close to the top of the kremlin saying that all necessary means will be used to retaliate against nato supplied weapons but some of those threats are empty and the west and the us in the uk have found they can provide more advanced weapons systems without that sort of retaliation but i think the bigger

picture russia will still be hoping to hold out and hope its front lines can hold out and absorb precision strikes, long—distance strikes destruction of arms depots, it may killings of some of its generals as long as russia holds the front lines that they have into the winter, russia will consider that to be a relative success. local media in nigeria is reporting that six students abducted by gunmen at a university in the north west state of zamfara have been rescued by the army. students described armed bandits arriving on motorcycles and firing indiscriminately during the incident in gusau in the early hours of friday. the state governor's spokesperson said 35 people were taken, the majority of them female. 0ur correspondent azeezat 0laloowa is in lagos and following developments. about six people have been rescued and that was yesterday and the rescue operation is still ongoing.

the governor of the state called an emergency security meeting yesterday, reading the riot act to the security chiefs that they must do everything within their power to secure an immediate release of everyone of that we note that the governor said one of the main focus was coming into power to tackle the insecurity that his state is known for and he would not at any time negotiate with criminals so this appears to be a litmus test to see how it will handle the situation. hearing this news will remember the time of the chebbak girls and various other incidents, have there been many clampdowns on this sort of events and incidents and how do parents feel about sending their children to school knowing these sorts of things can happen? it’s sorts of things can happen? it's ve sorts of things can happen? it�*s very worrying because this situation has inspired a bbc africa eye

investigation called the band at warlords on some of those interviewed after the government negotiated for the release of more than 300 students kidnapped in 2021, some of them told bbc news they will not even consider going back to school and that is the real threat these kinds of security situations have on the future of young people especially girls in northern nigeria. the president came into power and promise to would tackle the insecurity in the country but this area in particular is known to be very notorious for kidnapping for ransom. at the moment, we do not know any other information but there is no official statement from the government, from the security architecture and we do not even know which parents have come forward to say anything to the government. everything is under wraps because of the ongoing rescue operation. comedian and actor russell brand has made his first public statement since sexual

assault allegations were made against him a week ago. in a video posted on his youtube channel, he did not directly address the claims but thanked supporters for "questioning" the media reports. he also criticised the government and technology companies. 0ur reporter simonjones has more. hello there, you awakening wonders! obviously, it's been an extraordinary and distressing week, and i thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information that you've been presented with. july 1st, 2012, was when my rape happened. this week, russell brand faced allegations of rape and sexual assault following claims by four women made in an investigation by channel four�*s dispatches and the sunday times, claims he had previously denied. he insisted his relationships had always been consensual. the bbc also heard from one woman who said in 2008, in this building in los angeles, where russell brand was recording his radio 2 programme, he allegedly exposed himself

to her in a bathroom beforejoking about the incident minutes later on air. and one comedian who worked with russell brand in the early 2000 said he had had concerns about his behaviour, claims mr brand has not responded to. a lot of the modelling | agents would sit down and tell their models, - tell their stables, warn them about him. things like, you know, - people go back to his house and they fooled around and then if they didn'tl want to go all the way, _ he had a reputation for sometimes getting angry or a bit nasty if people wouldn't sleep i with him the first time. youtube has now suspended russell brand's channels from making money from adverts for violating its creator responsibility policy. the culture, media and sport committee had expressed concerns about mr brand being able to monetise his content, something the comedian hits out at on his latest video. by now, you're probably aware that the british government have asked big tech platforms to censor our online content

and that some online platforms have complied with that request. in this three—minute video, russell brand does not directly address the allegations he's been facing, but he does talk about what he calls "media corruption and collusion". the bbc has made several requests to speak to mr brand over the past week, but he has chosen to talk directly to his followers on social media rather than facing outside scrutiny. russell brand says he'll post another video on monday as investigations into his alleged behaviour continue. simon jones, bbc news. a new study has found that people living with long covid after being hospitalised are more likely to have damage to major organs. analysis of mri scans showed that the patients were three times more likely to have some abnormalities in the lungs, brain and kidneys. researchers believe there is a link

with the severity of the illness. i've been speaking to professor betty raman, associate professor at the university of oxford, and i asked her to explain a little more about how long covid might affect the internal organs. 0ur our study is one of the most comprehensive follow—up mri studies of patients who were previously hospitalised with covid—19 and we found the lungs, brain and kidneys can be affected in people who were previously hospitalised about five months from infection. what previously hospitalised about five months from infection. what does that mean for— months from infection. what does that mean for individuals, - months from infection. what does that mean for individuals, how- months from infection. what does | that mean for individuals, how will they experience these symptoms and will be necessarily be aware of what is going on?— will be necessarily be aware of what is auoin on? , , .,, ., ., is going on? yes, in people who have lona mri is going on? yes, in people who have long mri abnormalities _ is going on? yes, in people who have long mri abnormalities there - is going on? yes, in people who havej long mri abnormalities there appears to be a higher prevalence of chest symptoms like tightness and a cough but with regards to the other organs, we did not see a clear

association but on the other hand, when you look at people with two or more organs being involved, they appeared to be more likely to experience more severe physical and mental health impairment, at least four times more likely to feel unwell compared to the control population who had never previously had covid—19. in population who had never previously had covid-19-— had covid-19. in this situation, what does _ had covid-19. in this situation, what does it — had covid-19. in this situation, what does it mean _ had covid-19. in this situation, what does it mean for- had covid-19. in this situation, what does it mean for people i had covid-19. in this situation, i what does it mean for people that have long covid, what will it mean in terms of medication and how they will be able to live their lives going forward?— will be able to live their lives going forward? what our study su: nests going forward? what our study suggests is _ going forward? what our study suggests is that _ going forward? what our study suggests is that patients - going forward? what our study suggests is that patients who i going forward? what our study - suggests is that patients who were previously hospitalised may have long—term complications that requires closer follow—up over time. so physicians who look after these patients should pay close attention to the long health as well as brain and kidneys and adopt a multidisciplinary approach in the follow up of individuals and those

who experience ongoing symptoms must be aware that it is possible they might have some underlying organ damage that might require closer follow—up. 50 damage that might require closer follow-u -. ., damage that might require closer follow-u. ., , ., , ., follow-up. so what should people do, should they go _ follow-up. so what should people do, should they go to _ follow-up. so what should people do, should they go to the _ follow-up. so what should people do, should they go to the gp _ follow-up. so what should people do, should they go to the gp and - follow-up. so what should people do, should they go to the gp and tore - should they go to the gp and tore through the symptoms?— should they go to the gp and tore through the symptoms? ideally they should speak — through the symptoms? ideally they should speak to _ through the symptoms? ideally they should speak to their _ through the symptoms? ideally they should speak to their gp _ through the symptoms? ideally they should speak to their gp and - should speak to their gp and hopefully the gp should do a thorough checkup and refer them to post covid clinics especially if they had been previously hospitalised with covid—19. sudan's army chief has said he is willing, in principle, to hold talks with his paramilitary rival to end the civil war that broke out in april. general abdel fattah al—burhan, head of the sudanese armed forces, said he was ready in principle to sit down with mohamed hamdan dagalo, leader of the rapid support forces. the two men have been fighting a brutal war which the united nations says has left more 5,000 people dead and more than 5 million displaced. 0ur diplomatic correspondentjames landale spoke to him in new york, and began by asking him why neither

side appeared willing to engage in peace talks. translation: we have the desire and well to end this war. we know the sudanese people and make no the atrocities committed again as the sudanese people and we are ready to engage in negotiations whenever. but are you prepared to sit down and talk with the sf leader? translation: if the leadership of this mutinous versus have the desire to return to its senses and pull its troops from the residential areas and return to its barracks, then we will sit with any of them. but in principle are

you ready to sit down and talk with him? translation: , absolutely, whenever he commits to what we need to do, we will sit and resolve the problem. are you confident of victory? translation: definitely. if you are so confident of victory for having relocated and the strong it on effectively giving up the strong it on effectively giving up cartoon? translation: in cartama, the diplomatic missions and all government organs cannot carry out their duties as normal because it is a war zone. there are snipers and military operations taking place. your army is accused of killing civilians. by the united nations, by ngos so why are the civilian casualties so high, why are your forces deliberately targeting

civilians? translation: this is not correct. there are fabrications of some stories by the forces, they bomb civilians and film it as if it was the armed forces. we are a professional force and we work with precision and select targets in areas where only the enemy is present. as the future of south sudan a failed state like somalia or a divided state like libya? translation: sudan would remain united. because of its sons, it will remain intact, not a failure state. shortly after speaking to general al—burhan, our diplomatic correspondentjames landale sent us this assessment of the sudanese army leader's aims while he was attending the un general assembly in new york.

the general is on a negligible diplomatic tour trying to drum up some kind of international legitimacy and that is why his language is incredibly he says he is in favour of peace, he is willing to discuss a ceasefire, confident of victory. but language like this, very positive language, in past months has not led at any stage to a lessening in the fighting so i do not think we should expect any kind of peace talks any time soon. what i think the general really wants is more international engagement, engagement that is more supportive of him. that is why he is denying against all the evidence, that his forces are targeting civilians. the un says very explicitly that they are. but the problem is the world is distracted by other issues at the moment. ukraine, global economic woes and so its focus is not on the fighting in sudan. if you talk to

diplomats here at the united nations, and you ask them about sit they throw their hands up in frustration, it is not a conflict that they are confident of influencing. but i think the big problem and the big risk is that the fighting spells out over the borders of sudan and fuels regional instability and i think if that happens, then this war will then rise very fast of the international agenda. we want to bring you with some live pictures from france where pope francis is continuing his visit in marseille. here he's attending the �*mediterranean meetings — they bring together about 70 bishops and 60 young people of all faiths from 30 countries surrounding the mediterranean to dialogue together. earlier, he was with french president emmanuel macron, meeting with people experiencing economic hardship.

now he is on stage, it looks as if he is quitting many involved with the event. he is here at the summit, meeting other leaders of the christian faith. for the past year, italy has had the most right—wing government since world war ii. now it's planning to criminalise people who travel abroad to have children via surrogacy, which is already banned at home. while the majority of italians who seek surrogacy abroad are believed to be heterosexual, many same—sex parents fear the new law is targeting lgbt families, by making it harder for them to have children. a recent ipsos poll shows that 45% of italians oppose the idea of surrogacy, but 45% were also in favour of granting legal recognition for children born via surrogacy. 0ur correspondent sofia bettiza has this report.

applause. since georgia meloni swept to power as italy's first female prime minister, lgbt families have felt under attack. a few months ago, the government ordered city councils to stop the registration of most children with same sex parents. this has left hundreds of children in legal limbo, like mauro and mauricio's twins. they were born in america through surrogacy — when a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple. something happened and we have to go to the hospital. we legally, we cannot take decision for them. we should call a judge. under the eye of italian law

we have no relationships whatsoever with these children now. the ideological battle of the governments actually is damaging the children. and now the italian government is planning to make surrogacy a universal crime. that means that couples who go abroad to countries where it is legal could face a e1 million fine and up to two years injail. so what is a universal crime? it's a crime so serious that it's prosecuted even if committed abroad, but that is normally human trafficking, paedophilia or war crimes. it feels odd that surrogacy, which is legal in many countries, would fall under this category. many people feel that this is about ideology. it's a political attack, and it's personal.

i asked the mp who designed the bill if this is an attack on the lgbt community. translation: absolutely false. most people who use surrogacy are heterosexual. this is a law that protects women from being exploited. we are not discriminating against children. this bill only targets the parents who commission a baby. we're on our way to meet two men who are expecting a baby through a surrogacy. they are really scared of what could happen to them and their baby. and so they've asked us not to reveal their identities. they might be forced to leave italy for a more gay—friendly country. i'm afraid that our child won't have his parents because their parents are injail. so do you feel like you are having to seek political asylum? yes, i do.

i'm feeling like we have to be... to be ready to escape as quick as possible. the lgbt community is fighting back. chanting. but the proposal to make surrogacy a universal crime is likely to become law, chipping away at the already fragile status of italy's same sex families. sofia bettiza, bbc news, italy. some small signs of hope sprouting in hawaii, after wildfires devastated an iconic banyan tree on the island of maui. this is what the 150—year—old tree looked like after deadly fires ripped through the town on lahaina in august with some residents fearing it might die altogether. but now the tree is showing fresh signs of life. you can see green leaves shooting up along what is believed to be the largest banyan tree in the country — giving a signal

of hope to those still recovering from the devastating fires. stay with us here on bbc news hello. 0ur weekend is shaping up to be a tale of two halves. we had some beautiful sunrise pictures this morning, some lovely sunshine out there, take for example earlier in north ayrshire but this is one of the areas we could see a different story tomorrow and increasingly wet and windy so get out and enjoy the sunshine. the morning clad in scattered showers easing across north—east england, sunny spells elsewhere, clouding overfrom the south—west wet rain into northern ireland by the end of the afternoon but temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees, the event will be light. the change comes out in the atlantic. the remnants of what was ex hurricane nigel will intensify an

area of low pressure, not unusual at this time of year, but adds more energy to the atmosphere and that means it will turn increasingly wet and windy for the second part of the weekend. we start to see the signs of that as we close out saturday, some rain coming from the west and that will act like a blanket of cloud so it isn't going to be as chilly a start, widespread double digits for many first thing sunday. the rain to begin with could be quite light and patchy but it will intensify as we go through the day. conveyor belt of wet weather driven in by strong to gale force winds from a southerly direction. not all of us will see the rain, central and south—eastern areas missed driver sunshine and warm on sunday but a windy day. the rain turning quite heavy as it pushes from north wales into north—west england and northern ireland. temperatures a degree or so

higher in comparison to today, peaking at 21 degrees. but the rain will be accompanied by 50 or 60 mile an hour gusts of wind and because the day on sunday, heavier bursts into northern ireland and in particular western scotland. errors we have already seen significant rainfall so far this month so that is the possibility we could see some localised flooding. that front is as away and on monday a slightly brighter day, not for long more wet weather expected to push in rest of the week ahead once we have monday out of the way looks likely to be showers or longer spells of rain and still at times.

this is bbc news. the headlines: us media reports say washington has agreed to send long—range missiles to kyiv — as canada promises hundreds of billions of dollars more in military aid. the liberal democrats annual conference kicks off with a free social care plan at the heart of their policy agenda. calls for urgent action to help the most vulnerable energy customers, as a group of mps warn of high energy costs heading into winter. and borisjohnson urges the government not to scale back

plans to build hs2, amid speculation part of the route could be axed. the liberal democrats' annual conference is under way in bournemouth. the party will launch its policy agenda ahead of the next general election. the lib dems are the fourth largest party in the uk parliament, and are looking to build on recent successes in by—elections in traditionally conservative areas. 0ur political correspondent, helen catt, is in bournemouth and told us what to expect from the conference. this conference is being seen as a really crucial one by liberal democrat insiders. it's potentially the last time that they will meet before a general election and the liberal democrat conference has a particularformal role within the party in that policy is made here. so what is voted on, what is passed this weekend

will then go on to form the basis