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. ukraine has claimed that dozens of russian military personnel , of russian military personnel, including senior commanders, were killed or injured the attack. this has not been independently confirmed. russia has said only that one serviceman is 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 than 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 for months and months and months. arguably creating the impression this is a war winning weapon whereas i think in reality, what this will do is give the ukrainian armed forces another tool 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. the missle strike on 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. so 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... and 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. 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 abducted. we know 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 very worrying because this situation has inspired a bbc africa eye investigation called the band at warlords on some of thoseit 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 because there is no official statement from the government, no statement 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. back on social media. 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 before joking 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't want to go - all the way, he had a reputation - for sometimes getting angry or a bit nasty if people wouldn't sleep 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. earlier i spoke to professor betty

raman, associate professor at the university of oxford, who told me more about the study. 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 does that mean for individuals, how will they experience these symptoms and will they necessarily be aware of what is going on? yes, in people who have 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. that was the doctor who led the study. live now to 0onagh cousins, former british rower and ambassador for long covid support. clearly your life is very different to when before you had covid. yes. clearly your life is very different to when before you had covid. yes, i was very different. _ to when before you had covid. yes, i was very different. i _ to when before you had covid. yes, i was very different. i was _ to when before you had covid. yes, i was very different. i was a _ was very different. i was a full—time rower, training 16 times a week in training for the olympics. how has covid impacted your lifestyle and what do you do in terms of your identity? it’s lifestyle and what do you do in terms of your identity? it's been really difficult _ terms of your identity? it's been really difficult and _ terms of your identity? it's been really difficult and there's - terms of your identity? it's been really difficult and there's been l terms of your identity? it's been| really difficult and there's been a lot of ups and downs but i have had to give up rowing. the beginning,

when i was first sick i was unable to do more than four hours of basic daily tasks a day and that went on for a number of months. daily tasks a day and that went on fora number of months. so, yes, it is been incredibly debilitating and it is taken a really, really long time to recover. i am three and a half years and just about making a decent enough recovery.— half years and just about making a decent enough recovery. people might associate long — decent enough recovery. people might associate long covid _ decent enough recovery. people might associate long covid with _ decent enough recovery. people might associate long covid with older - associate long covid with older people but you don't necessarily fit the demographic. can you identify with what this study has concluded with? the long—term impact on other major organs. with? the long-term impact on other major organs-— major organs. yes, there is narrative — major organs. yes, there is narrative around _ major organs. yes, there is narrative around covid-19 l major organs. yes, there is i narrative around covid-19 and narrative around covid—19 and effecting the vulnerable and the old is totally false. it can affect anyone. i was as fit as i think anyone. i was as fit as i think anyone could be and it is completely debilitated me. in regards to the study, its really great this research is coming in now. when i

was first sick and at my most sick in the beginning i had so many tests done and nothing came back. they didn't have the right test for what we have but i was so sick and there was nothing anyone could do. it's great that the research is coming out now. i think it speaks to how serious this illness is and we need to keep going with the research. you are seeinr to keep going with the research. you are seeing some green shoots of recovery now. what has recovery been like? it recovery now. what has recovery been like? , ., ~ ., recovery now. what has recovery been like? , .,~ ., ., recovery now. what has recovery been like? ., ., ., , recovery now. what has recovery been like? , ., ., ., , ., like? it is taken a lot of rest and i think this _ like? it is taken a lot of rest and i think this is — like? it is taken a lot of rest and i think this is something - like? it is taken a lot of rest and i think this is something that. like? it is taken a lot of rest and i think this is something that is l i think this is something that is really important to talk about. my recovery has been completely dependent on british rowing supporting me and i have been allowed to take a lot of time out of work. and i've been pacing things and able to slowly make a recovery. but if you have to push yourself and go back to work or of you have kids, i'm very lucky that i have little demand so i've been to prioritise my hell. but not many people can prioritise the health of three and a

half years and that has been fundamental to my recovery. what fundamental to my recovery. what would your — fundamental to my recovery. what would your advice _ fundamental to my recovery. what would your advice be _ fundamental to my recovery. what would your advice be to _ fundamental to my recovery. what would your advice be to people who are going through what you were going through and who have contracted long coviddon't let gas like you. we contracted long coviddon't let gas like ou. ~ ., �* contracted long coviddon't let gas like ou. ., �* ., , contracted long coviddon't let gas like ou. ., , ., like you. we don't have test for what ou like you. we don't have test for what you have _ like you. we don't have test for what you have so _ like you. we don't have test for what you have so the _ like you. we don't have test for what you have so the only - like you. we don't have test for. what you have so the only person like you. we don't have test for- what you have so the only person who can advocate for you is the patient themselves because we don't get a label. it's very difficult to get diagnose and difficult for people to say, this is what is wrong with you. so the other thing would be just to rest as much as you can listen to your body and take care of yourself. the more rest you can get early on the better. the more rest you can get early on the better-— the more rest you can get early on the better. ., ,, , ., , . ., the better. thank you very much for “oininr us. the better. thank you very much for joining us- we _ the better. thank you very much for joining us. we wish _ the better. thank you very much for joining us. we wish you _ the better. thank you very much for joining us. we wish you the - the better. thank you very much for joining us. we wish you the very - joining us. we wish you the very best on your recovery. 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. now it's time for a look at today's sport with with mike bushell. hello — it's a huge weekend, at the rugby world cup in france, where some teams could see their involvement ended, while others march towards the quarterfinals. and on saturday night, the top two teams on the planet, ireland and south africa, have never met on a world cup stage before, come head to head and it will feel like a final, under the lights in paris tonight, in front of 80,000 fans but at this point, it'sjust about taking control of this toughest of groups. as andy swiss reports.

it paris but it feels like dublin in disguise. ireland fans are already flocking for what is the match of the tournament so far. they are confident that they will beat south africa? just a little. i confident that they will beat south africa? just a little.— africa? just a little. i think we have a great _ africa? just a little. i think we have a great chance _ africa? just a little. i think we have a great chance and - africa? just a little. i think we have a great chance and we i africa? just a little. i think we i have a great chance and we have africa? just a little. i think we - have a great chance and we have a great team. we are number one in the world and we will win the world cup! i think we are going to win.— i think we are going to win. 10096. wh so i think we are going to win. 10096. why so confident? _ i think we are going to win. 10096. why so confident? they _ i think we are going to win. 10096. why so confident? they are - i think we are going to win. 10096. why so confident? they are doing| why so confident? they are doing areat. why so confident? they are doing great- they _ why so confident? they are doing great- they are — why so confident? they are doing great. they are having _ why so confident? they are doing great. they are having a - why so confident? they are doing great. they are having a great - great. they are having a great tournament.— great. they are having a great tournament. , ., , tournament. they are the number ones, i tournament. they are the number ones. i am _ tournament. they are the number ones, i am delighted _ tournament. they are the number ones, i am delighted to _ tournament. they are the number ones, i am delighted to be - tournament. they are the number ones, i am delighted to be here. | ones, i am delighted to be here. number— ones, i am delighted to be here. number one _ ones, i am delighted to be here. number one in— ones, i am delighted to be here. number one in the _ ones, i am delighted to be here. number one in the world. - ones, i am delighted to be here. i number one in the world. cheers. cheers. ., �* , ., . , number one in the world. cheers. cheers. ., �*, ., . , ., cheers. tonight's match might be a u-rou cheers. tonight's match might be a group game — cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but _ cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but it _ cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but it feels _ cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but it feels more - cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but it feels more like l cheers. tonight's match might be a group game but it feels more like aj group game but it feels more like a final. ireland are the six nations champions, but south africa of

course of the world champions after their triumph in 2019. ireland no defeat would be damaging but victory would be some statement. so far ireland have been unstoppable at this world cup. in the first two games, they scored 1111 points but they know that their title credentials are about to face the very toughest test. it’s credentials are about to face the very toughest test.— credentials are about to face the very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is very toughest test. it's not a must win- it is not — very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is not a _ very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is not a do _ very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is not a do or— very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is not a do or die type - very toughest test. it's not a must win. it is not a do or die type of. win. it is not a do or die type of game but it is pretty important to both teams, let's put it that way. i think everyone else thinks so and they are going to win this game. i can see why because of the form that they shown but we don't feel like that. �* , . , they shown but we don't feel like that. �*, ., , ., ., , that. it's a big day for the family with andy's _ that. it's a big day for the family with andy's son _ that. it's a big day for the family with andy's son turning - that. it's a big day for the family with andy's son turning to - that. it's a big day for the family | with andy's son turning to captain england. they are up against chile, the lowest ranked team in the tournament but they know there is no room for complacency. we tournament but they know there is no room for complacency.— tournament but they know there is no room for complacency. we want to add and what to what _

room for complacency. we want to add and what to what we _ room for complacency. we want to add and what to what we have _ room for complacency. we want to add and what to what we have already - and what to what we have already done. we are not underestimating our position. we've seen the people are giving their all and winning games, we know we are in for a big game. there are also two hefty games on sunday, wales could effectively knock out australia while scotland know that they have to beat tonga. the home nations a weekend of world cup drama beckons. it's a time to dig in and stick together — according to the manchester united manager, erik ten hag. after recent defeats in the premier league and then in munich in the champions league. today united go to newly promoted burnley, who are next to bottom, and united are adopting a siege mentality. it's not always only going up. you will have your gaps. you get stronger from will have your gaps. you get strongerfrom it will have your gaps. you get stronger from it as long as you stay

together and that's what we are doing, all the staff, coaches, medical, everyone is united and at united you fight. also later on saturday there's a london derby as crystal palace take on fulham. newly promoted luton welcome wolves while leaders manchester city face nottingham forest. struggling everton are at brentford. and plenty of big games across the rest of europe today. barcelona will go top of la liga with a win over celta vigo. ac milan face verona at the san siro, whilejuventis travel to sassu—olo. in germany bayern munich take on bochum, borussia dortmund are at home to wolfsburg while rb leipzig travel to borussia monchengladbach. a busy saturday. and that's all the sport for now. thank you. we will catch up with you later on. armenian civilians are warning of a humanitarian crisis russia says its peacekeepers

in the disputed enclave of nagorno— karabakh have started to receive weapons from ethnic— armenian separatists. on wednesday, the separatist authorities there agreed to disarm, to stop a lightning military offensive by azerbaijan. let's get more on this with our correspondent in tbilisi, rayhan demytrie. right now, the focus is really on the humanitarian situation in nagorno—karabakh where thousands of people have basically collected in the regional capitals, without any kind of certainty of what happens next to them. there is a dire humanitarian situation as it was reported today by the international community which is called on azerbaijan to take steps to help these people. what happened on tuesday september the 19th is a

24—hour military operation. before that the entire community of nagorno—karabakh, an estimated 120,000 ethnic armenians, they have been subjected to economic blockade. the nine months, they were not getting proper nutrition, there were severe shortages of food. people had to queue for bread four hours. no medical supplies, to queue for bread four hours. no medicalsupplies, no to queue for bread four hours. no medical supplies, no hygiene supplies. this is the situation now. after experiencing this blockade for nine months, then there was this military operation that lasted 26 hours. a lot of people had to run away from their homes without any belongings and they are all now concentrated in the regional capital without knowing what comes next. it sounds like a dire situation. in terms of shoots of hope is there any offer of hope those affected? absolutely. azerbaijan says that it

is in control and that it is sent yesterday to trunks with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and separately to trucks with bread to its armenian population in nagorno—karabakh. the question is how this food is being distributed. in the regional capital, there are no azerbaijan authorities. it is still under the control of local ethnic armenian authorities. russia has been involved in helping to distribute these things but we are also getting reports from the local population that despite everything that is happening they might refuse to take this humanitarian aid because... thank you very much forjoining us. 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. 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. this the ideological battle of the government is actually 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 in jail. 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. and a man's been arrested, after being spotted climbing a london skyscraper known as the cheesegrater. these pictures show a free—climber making their way up the 225 metre leadenhall building in the centre of the city, without any climbing equipment. police say a suspect was met by officers on the roof and taken into custody. i shouldn't need to say it — but please, don't try this at home.

stay with us here on bbc news. hello. 0ur weekend is certainly shaping up to be a tale of two halves. we've had some beautiful sunrise pictures this morning. there's some lovely sunshine out there. take, for example, earlier on, north ayrshire, but this is one of the areas where we could see a really different story tomorrow, increasingly wet and windy. so get out and enjoy the sunshine if you can. the morning cloud and a few scattered showers easing away across northeast england. sunny spells elsewhere. yes, it will cloud over from the southwest, with rain into northern ireland by the end of the afternoon. but temperatures will peak between 12 and 18 degrees and the winds will be light. but the change comes from out in the atlantic. the remnants of what was ex—hurricane nigel is going to intensify an area of low pressure. not unusual at this time of year, just adds a little bit more energy

into the atmosphere. and that means it's going to turn increasingly wet and windy for the second half of the weekend. and we'll start to see the signs of that as we close out saturday. some rain pushing in from the west and that is going to act like a blanket of cloud, so it isn't going to be as chilly as start. so it isn't going to be as chilly a start. in fact, widespread double digits for many first thing on sunday morning. now, the rain to begin with could be quite light and patchy, but it will intensify as we go through the day. a conveyor belt of wetter weather driven in by the strong to gale force winds from a southerly direction. not all of us will see the rain. central and southeastern areas may stay dry with some sunshine and more warmth for sunday. but again, a windy day. so, the rain really turning quite heavy as it pushes its way out of north wales into north west england and northern ireland. temperatures all a degree or so higher in comparison to today, perhaps peaking at 21 degrees. but the rain will be accompanied

by 50,60 mile an hour gusts of winds. and we close out the day on sunday, heavier bursts into northern ireland and in particular into western scotland. areas we've already seen significant rainfall so far this month. so, there is a possibility that we could see some localised localised flooding. that front will ease away, and then monday — a slightly quieter day. not for long though. more wet weather is expected to push in from the west. so our week ahead, once we've got monday out of the way, looks likely to be showers or longer spells of rain and still windy at times.

hello, everybody. a very warm welcome to this special edition of talking business weekly. with me, aaron hazelhurst, coming to you from long beach, california. let's go and take a look at what's on the show. a flight full of dollars. that's right. the airline industry is on course to return to profit this year after the turbulence of covid. so we're going to find out how they're investing that cash in the next leg of ourjourneys. holy cow. from virtual reality to robot wheelchairs, we're here at the airline passenger experience expo to find out what airlines are doing with the latest technology and innovations to help us enjoy our flights. i'm going to be sitting down with one of the most influential

figures in the industry, the big boss of qatar airways, to hear how he's expanding his network to meet our soaring demand for travel. and have you ever wondered what it's like up the front of the plane? well, lufthansa is showing it all off in virtual reality. so we're going to find out how the latest tech is cutting costs and changing our on board experience. plus, shaping the future of flight. the big boss ofjet zero tells me how a radical redesign of the actual planes that we fly, along with millions of dollars from the us government could drastically cut the amount of pollution from flying. wherever you'rejoining me from around the world, once again, a big hello and a warm welcome to this special edition of the show. hey, you know, this is the year where airlines are soaring again. the industry, its on course to make a profit for the first time since covid. as demand for travel continues to rebound from the lows of the pandemic.

now, despite the delicate state of the global economy