' spent spent elsewhere. at least 21 people, including two children, were killed after a bus crashed and caught fire near venice. 18 people have been left injured. politcal chaos in the us — kevin mccarthy says he won't run again for house speaker, after being ousted in a dramatic vote in congress. hello, welcome to bbc news. the prime minister rishi sunak is today expected to confirm that the part of europe's biggest infrastructure project - the high speed rail line connecting england's major cities known as hs2 — will not be built as planned. the train line, which is already being constructed from london to birmingham, will not continue on to manchester. costs have risen, and the government is thought to be considering cancelling that second leg to the north. the route from birmingham to leeds

has already been scrapped. the cabinet will meet in manchester shortly. in his party conference speech shortly, rishi sunak is expected to set out alternative projects in the north of england and wales. he is likely to argue they amount to a better use of public money and can deliver improvements more quickly. speculation over the future of hs2, beset by long delays and spiralling costs, has dominated the tory conference. the west midlands mayor, andy street, a tory, ones that the prior minister is about to make an "incredible political gaffe" and he has not ruled out resigning over the issue. nick eardleyjoins us from manchester. nick, announcing that the line is going to be scrapped in the line is going to be scrapped in the city that it was supposed to get to. what is the prior minister

expecting to get from this, politically? it expecting to get from this, politically?— expecting to get from this, politically? it is pretty bold, isn't it? the _ politically? it is pretty bold, isn't it? the prime - politically? it is pretty bold, isn't it? the prime minister| politically? it is pretty bold, . isn't it? the prime minister will try to own this decision today, and the conference is all about long—term decisions, we are told, and i think he will argue that that is what he has done, he has made a long—term decision. that the costs are too high and that the money could be spent elsewhere. we heard this morning from the defence secretary, grant shapps who was transport secretary and previously in favour of hs2 reaching manchester, but here was his pitch for reallocating that money. he's taken a very close, careful look at that second part of the h52 line. i keep reading hsz itself is being scrapped — hsz will actually run. the second part of the line, the balance that's had to be made, given that that bit's not been built yet, is whether it makes sense to carry on ploughing on, building that, even though the world's changed. even though, following coronavirus, remember, i became transport minister before coronavirus, given people aren't travelling in the way that they used to,

it doesn't make sense to spend tens of billions of pounds in that way, is there something else we could do which might be better? i think that's what we need to wait for, still, in his speech today. so, a pretty clear hit from the defence secretary, that there is an alternative package coming. —— hint. i think they will look at re—spending the money, looking at what they are saving by scrapping the line from birmingham to manchester, and here is what we will spend it on instead. but don't be under any illusions. this decision is hugely controversial. it is opposed by former prime ministers, borisjohnson, theresa may, david cameron. it is opposed by the labour party, it is opposed by andy street, the conservative mayor of the west midlands, who is weighing up what to do and this morning we are told he will watch the speech by the prior minister and then respond accordingly but so far he has not ruled out resigning. other northern leaders say that this is a betrayal

of what was promised. this is the meier of manchester, andy burnham. i've never seen a party come to a conference and leave an axe hanging over the place there in for the whole week and then actually drop it on that place. ijust don't think it's fair to people in greater manchester to do this, and the plan that they're putting forward, that we've only seen it briefed overnight, because we haven't even been told what it is, takes trains off hsz at birmingham and puts them on the existing tracks of the west coast main line. that just simply is going to work. it isn't a workable plan. so, that is andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester, and he was talking about what seems to be the alternative plan that we are expecting the prime minister to confirm, which is that trains will run from central london to birmingham on a high—speed rail line that has already been built, and will then move on to the current

existing west coast main line, the idea being that if you stay on the same train, it will start going a bit slower. let's chat this over with a representative from the rail industry association. darren, what is your reaction?— is your reaction? first of all, i can't tell— is your reaction? first of all, i can't tell you _ is your reaction? first of all, i can't tell you how _ is your reaction? first of all, i can't tell you how much - is your reaction? first of all, i j can't tell you how much chaos is your reaction? first of all, i - can't tell you how much chaos has been _ can't tell you how much chaos has been in _ can't tell you how much chaos has been in manchester this week and it is a reel— been in manchester this week and it is a real disgrace. real people are affected _ is a real disgrace. real people are affected by these decisions. it is notiust— affected by these decisions. it is notjust the prime minister making a statement _ notjust the prime minister making a statement. it is people in companies, communities around the country— companies, communities around the country and — companies, communities around the country and there is real uncertainty. we are very concerned. they don't _ uncertainty. we are very concerned. they don't understand the capacity issues _ they don't understand the capacity issues on — they don't understand the capacity issues on the railways. the levels, about— issues on the railways. the levels, about 96% — issues on the railways. the levels, about 96% of pre—coronavirus levels, they are _ about 96% of pre—coronavirus levels, they are going up in the future, and capanty— they are going up in the future, and capacity is— they are going up in the future, and capacity is important in the future. this scheme would be like a motorway

running _ this scheme would be like a motorway running to— this scheme would be like a motorway running to birmingham, and then hitting _ running to birmingham, and then hitting an— running to birmingham, and then hitting an a — running to birmingham, and then hitting an a road going part of the way. _ hitting an a road going part of the way, and — hitting an a road going part of the way, and then a country road up to manchester— way, and then a country road up to manchester because the capacity that the west _ manchester because the capacity that the west coast main line is already so busy _ the west coast main line is already so busy in — the west coast main line is already so busy. i'm not sure if rishi sunak has reatiy— so busy. i'm not sure if rishi sunak has really thought through this scheme — has really thought through this scheme. a has really thought through this scheme. �* . ., has really thought through this scheme. ~ . ., ., ., has really thought through this scheme. �* u, ., ., _ scheme. a counter argument made by some politicians _ scheme. a counter argument made by some politicians in _ scheme. a counter argument made by some politicians in parts _ scheme. a counter argument made by some politicians in parts of _ scheme. a counter argument made by some politicians in parts of the - some politicians in parts of the north of england is that the biggest problem you have is getting east to west, getting from one part of the north of england to the other part of the north of england. the problem is not getting to london, however busy those trains might be. is there an argument for saying look, if we can save £40 billion here and spend that on infrastructure in the north itself, that would improve the region more than a faster time to london. , ., , ., , ., london. this money does not straightforwardly _ london. this money does not straightforwardly go - london. this money does not straightforwardly go to - london. this money does not straightforwardly go to other| straightforwardly go to other projects. the money goes back into the treasury part so other government departments can bid for the money — government departments can bid for the money. it won't necessarily go on these _ the money. it won't necessarily go on these schemes. the government 's track record _

on these schemes. the government 's track record on delivering on existing _ track record on delivering on existing schemes is pretty poor. it has paused — existing schemes is pretty poor. it has paused the leg between euston and oldham: and now cutting off the lead from _ and oldham: and now cutting off the lead from birmingham to manchester and among others, so how can we be sure that _ and among others, so how can we be sure that other schemes will be delivered? but sure that other schemes will be delivered?— sure that other schemes will be delivered? �* . ., ., delivered? but the counterargument of this has just _ delivered? but the counterargument of this hasjust ballooned, _ delivered? but the counterargument of this has just ballooned, that - delivered? but the counterargument of this hasjust ballooned, that a - of this has just ballooned, that a mixture of the coronavirus spending that the government had to invest in, plus inflation, have meant the costs of this project are unjustifiable. costs of this pro'ect are unjustifiableh costs of this pro'ect are un'ustifiable. ., ., , ., unjustifiable. the government has to own this preject. _ unjustifiable. the government has to own this project, it _ unjustifiable. the government has to own this project, it is _ unjustifiable. the government has to own this project, it is the _ own this project, it is the government specifications that they are working too on the skin. there is chop— are working too on the skin. there is chop and — are working too on the skin. there is chop and change in the scheme, and this— is chop and change in the scheme, and this wiii— is chop and change in the scheme, and this will inevitably add cost. there _ and this will inevitably add cost. there was— and this will inevitably add cost. there was the issue of inflation, but that— there was the issue of inflation, but that is— there was the issue of inflation, but that is coming down in the years ahead _ but that is coming down in the years ahead so _ but that is coming down in the years ahead. so do then scrap it, it is a nuclear— ahead. so do then scrap it, it is a nuclear option. work with us on a viable _ nuclear option. work with us on a viable scheme. get together with politicians, the rail industry, and other— politicians, the rail industry, and other stakeholders and we can work this out _ other stakeholders and we can work this out. we can make a high—speed

scheme _ this out. we can make a high—speed scheme and — this out. we can make a high—speed scheme and enable the capacity we need to— scheme and enable the capacity we need to get to manchester and leeds. it's a need to get to manchester and leeds. it's a nuclear— need to get to manchester and leeds. it's a nuclear option to scrap this and i_ it's a nuclear option to scrap this and i think— it's a nuclear option to scrap this and i think the government is going down _ and i think the government is going down the _ and i think the government is going down the wrong path. we and i think the government is going down the wrong path.— and i think the government is going down the wrong path. we spoke to a government — down the wrong path. we spoke to a government minister _ down the wrong path. we spoke to a government minister yesterday - down the wrong path. we spoke to a government minister yesterday who | government minister yesterday who said one of the biggest challenges they are facing now is a lack of confidence in the uk, that investment will be seen through. what impact do you think this decision will have on investment in the rail industry in the uk? ilrrui’eiiii. the rail industry in the uk? well, it is a terrible _ the rail industry in the uk? well, it is a terrible message _ the rail industry in the uk? well, it is a terrible message out - the rail industry in the uk? well, it is a terrible message out to - the rail industry in the uk? well, | it is a terrible message out to the world _ it is a terrible message out to the world that — it is a terrible message out to the world that we can't build a high—speed rail line, but it affects our multinational businesses. just yesterday. — our multinational businesses. just yesterday, one of our members that they can't— yesterday, one of our members that they can't give their staff guarantees they will have jobs in the future — guarantees they will have jobs in the future because it was reliant on this scheme. multiply that by thousands. 710,000 jobs, £43 billion, — thousands. 710,000 jobs, £43 billion, and every £1 you spend on the rail— billion, and every £1 you spend on the rail you — billion, and every £1 you spend on the rail you generate to pass 50 in the rail you generate to pass 50 in the wider— the rail you generate to pass 50 in the wider economy. we are jeopardising all about this. this is not a _ jeopardising all about this. this is not a long—term decision that has been _ not a long—term decision that has been planned for, it is kneejerk

decision— been planned for, it is kneejerk decision made in the last couple of weeks _ decision made in the last couple of weeks and — decision made in the last couple of weeks and frankly this is a disgrace, the way it has come out. darren— disgrace, the way it has come out. darren campbell from the rail industry association. thank you for your view. as we were reflecting a minute ago, there is outrage at this in certain parts of the north of england, in certain parts of industry. we should mention that there are a lot of particularly conservative politicians who never liked the idea of hs2, thought it was too expensive, too damaging to the countryside in england. but this is a debate, i think, that willjust run and run and run. the big question is, does the prior minister have something in his back pocket, or something up his sleeve, that will help reduce some of those concerns when he makes his speech later this morning?— concerns when he makes his speech later this morning? judith is at manchester piccadilly. well what the prior minister be

expected to announce as an alternative be likely to be welcomed in manchester, or at least be seen as adequate compensation for the loss of the hs2 leg —— prime minister? loss of the h52 leg -- prime minister?— loss of the h52 leg -- prime minister? ~ ., ., ., ., minister? we will have to wait and see. we minister? we will have to wait and see- we don't _ minister? we will have to wait and see. we don't yet _ minister? we will have to wait and see. we don't yet know _ minister? we will have to wait and see. we don't yet know the - minister? we will have to wait and see. we don't yet know the detail| minister? we will have to wait and i see. we don't yet know the detail of what is going to be offered as an alternative. let's see. certainly, the people that i have spoken to here have said that that is going to be really important when they come to assess the fallout from this. the noise we are hearing at the moment from business leaders, illicitly, and from leaders as well, —— politically —— is on the whole negative. andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester said this will leave the community as second—class citizens. the chief executive of the northern powerhouse partnership, represent businesses across this part of the world, has said that

this is a national economic disaster because it will mean, he says, that the economy of the north of england will remain and become a much smaller than that in the south in years to come. that is the corporate and political view from some quarters. but when you talk to people in the street here, people coming off the trains at piccadilly, and it is a quiet day here today because there is a strike so numbers are down, but those i've stopped to speak to have said, look, high speed rail is fine, it is important for some in this community, but for a lot of us who are trying to either get across the pennines from liverpool or manchester and cross over to yorkshire, also people trying to get themselves from parts of the area into the airport, so from the city centre up to manchester airport, they have said thatis manchester airport, they have said that is desperate for upgrade, and that is desperate for upgrade, and thatis that is desperate for upgrade, and that is going to be key. you asked

me what people make of the prime minister �*s announcement on the alternatives are being offered, and i think that is what people are looking for, particularly around the connection between the airport and the city centre. and that was going to be fundamentally linked to the creation of hs2. so there is a lot still here that is up in the air. that's not helpful. people say they want to know what is going on. this has been on and off, and rolling along now for so many years. the uncertainty, apart from anything else, has been very damaging, they say. so, all eyes on the speech by rishi sunak later this morning. judith moritz, thank you. and we will of course bring you rishi sunak �*s speech live on the bbc news channeljust �*s speech live on the bbc news channel just after 11:30am. we �*s speech live on the bbc news channeljust after 11:30am. we also have a live page online, you can scan the code on your screen and our

correspondence are constantly updating from the conference and bringing reaction from across the country. you can of course also access the live page on bbc.co.uk/news or go via the bbc app. this is what is on that right now. the suite is likely to define how the british public will view it rishi sunak in the run—up to the general election, and there is no better place to get all the facts and background than be news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. tesco says it is trying to lower prices wherever possible as customers grapple with cost of living pressures. it comes as more than 80 retailers call to action to tackle the surge in shoplifting triggered by the crisis. tesco boss ken murphy says the pace of rising food prices will continue to slow,

easing the pasta the macro pressure on households. train drivers at 16 companies are currently on strike again in a long—running dispute over pay and conditions. the train drivers' union aslef are have walked out today, though the rmt union, which represents other rail workers, cancelled their walk out on the london underground. both unions have regularly taken industrial action over the past 18 months. petrol prices have risen for the fourth month in a row, jumping by 4.5p a litre on average a litre in september, with diesel was up 8p. the rac says the increased fuel costs are being driven by higher global oil prices, but it also claimed that petrol was being "overpriced". retailers deny this. you're live with bbc news. officials say at least 21 people have died after a bus crashed off a flyover and caught fire near the italian city of venice. two children are among the dead. the bus broke through a barrier and plunged near railway tracks in the district of mestre, which is connected to venice by a bridge.

italian news agencies sate several ukrainians are among the dead. louisa pilbeam has more details. through the early hours, emergency crews battled to rescue the injured and recover the dead. this bus had been full of tourists returning from a day out in venice. now burnt out and overturned. from high up where it veered through crash barriers, you can see the drop. it plunged off this bridge and burst into flames. translation: we lifted the bus to have mathematical— certainty that there were no other people underneath. as you've seen, the bus flipped upside down. the impact was terrible because it fell from over ten metres. there were 39 people, it wasn't easy. in the impact, the electric batteries of the bus caught fire. ukrainians, germans and french nationals are so far believed to be among the dead,

according to italian officials. the mayor of venice was at the scene and gave an idea of the scale of casualties at the time. translation: 19 are here. two died in the hospital, so it's 21 now. some of them are ok. then there are some critical in padua. some burned. four children died for now. it happened across the water from venice's tourist centre in the mestre district last night. now, as investigators try to find out how this happened, the italian transport minister has said the driver believed to be among the dead could have suddenly become unwell. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. the bbc�*s harry farley is following developments from rome. well, the main question that the investigation will look to answer is exactly how this could have happened. the reaction this morning in italy

is one of shock and one of horror. what happened last night, as louisa mentioned in her report then, several children we know are among the dead, including a baby, according to italian emergency services. the italian prime minister, julia moloney, said that she's following developments closely and she expressed her profound, profound condolences with the families of the victims and the mayor of venice, luigi bruno, he said that he was speechless at what had happened. but there are questions for the authorities. the cause of the crash at this stage remains unclear. one possible line of inquiry is whether the 40—year—old italian driver became ill shortly before the crash. that'sjust one line of inquiry at the moment. that's not confirmed to be the cause — the cause at the moment is unclear. but there are questions over how this could have happened. italy has suffered a number of deadly bus crashes in recent years. in 2017,16 people died

in a bus crash in the northern city of verona. in 2013, 40 people died when another bus crashed off a viaduct in southern italy. so there are questions for the authorities about how this could have happened, and how this was allowed to have happened amidst the grief and the horror. pope francis will open a major meeting of the roman catholic church today, with members from across the world expected to discuss issues including attitudes towards lgbt people. the pope is also likely to raise the possibility of priests blessing same—sex couples. for the first time women will be allowed to vote in the synod assembly, which acts as an advisory body to the pope. our religion editor aleem maqbool is watching events at the vatican. it's a hugely significant meeting for lots of reasons. pope francis currently presiding over mass behind me in vatican city. later, he'lladdress synod as it meets. but it is a bishop's conference.

it's still being called a bishop's conference. it meets every few years. but this time, for the first time in living memory, laypeople are going to be involved. and that means women can be involved. women can't be ordained in the catholic church as it currently stands, but around 50 of the members who will vote are women, and that's a hugely significant moment. but what is also hugely significant is how we got to this point. pope francis, throughout his papacy, has wanted more and more the rank and file catholics from around the world to really decide on the direction that the church is taking. and so there's been two years of consultation, trying to reach as many catholics in as many parts of the world as possible, and asking them what is important to them. and that's how the agenda for this 26 day meeting has been decided. and this suggestion that the pope would be open to having the catholic church bless same—sex couples, how much does

that mark a shift? it's certainly a shift in tone, and that is one of the areas that will be discussed over the next 26 days, as well as the role of women in the decision making processes within the church. but yes, earlier this week, the pope was asked very directly by a group of retired conservative cardinals on his view of blessing same sex unions. and he suggested that he might be open to finding a way to bless without conferring, as he said, the wrong idea that marriage was anything but between a man and a woman, which is still the church's teaching. it wasn't clear whether he meant the union would be blessed or whether the individuals who happen to be in the union are being blessed. but it is, as a lot of the last ten years has been under pope francis, it is a lot about the language having softened, if not the actual

doctrine of the church's teachings. i have to say that all of this might be slightly eclipsed later in the day when pope francis is due to publish a major document on his feelings about the climate crisis and what's being done to tackle it. that's our religious editor ahead of pope francis opening a major meeting at the catholic church today. let's turn our attention to nagorno—karabakh, that's the small piece of territory inside azerbaijian that's now almost entirely deserted after most of the ethnic armenians living there felt they needed to escape violence in the area. the french foreign minister is in the capital of armenia pledging to supply military equipment to meet the country's defence needs. that comes ahead of a meeting this week that could see possible peace talks between armenia's prime minister and azerbaijan's president.

live now to bbc correspondent rayhan demytrie in the armenian capital, yerevan. what is the impact likely to be of this move by france, especially when it comes to the response from russia? ~ ., �* , it comes to the response from russia? ~ . �* , ~ it comes to the response from russia? ~ ., �* , . ., russia? well, that's right. we are still waiting _ russia? well, that's right. we are still waiting to _ russia? well, that's right. we are still waiting to see _ russia? well, that's right. we are still waiting to see what _ russia? well, that's right. we are still waiting to see what russia i still waiting to see what russia says, but we always have —— already have a response from azerbaijan, its foreign ministry said france has no place in the south caucasus and that it will not succeed with its attempt. it follows the announcement that was made yesterday by the french foreign minister who said that france was ready to sign an agreement, and start supplying military equipment to armenia. she also said that france will appeal to

the eu foreign policy chief to ask him to expand the existing european union monitoring mission that has been dispatched here to armenia this year. these are unarmed officers that are patrolling daily. they patrol the border. we are still waiting to hear from patrol the border. we are still waiting to hearfrom russia because armenia is an ally in the south caucasus, although the relations between the two countries have reached a new low, following armenia �*s parliament decision to ratify a document yesterday. the founding treaty for the international criminal court, which means that armenia is now, or will be in 60 days, when this law comes into force, underthejurisdiction days, when this law comes into force, under thejurisdiction of days, when this law comes into force, under the jurisdiction of the

icc, the international criminal court has an arrest warrant for vladimir putin. in theory it means if putin was to come to armenia, he might get arrested. and if we look at the situation in nagorno—karabakh, in the capital there, how much do we have an accurate picture of what has happened? the bbc and other international media outlets were refused entry not that long ago, weren't they?— refused entry not that long ago, weren't they? well, we have seen footaae weren't they? well, we have seen footage that _ weren't they? well, we have seen footage that was _ weren't they? well, we have seen footage that was published - weren't they? well, we have seen footage that was published by - footage that was published by russian peacekeepers. they are still in nagorno—karabakh and i must mention that this is another point that armenia has been complaining against russia must end that look, your main mission in nagorno—karabakh was to secure the safety and security for ethnic armenians, and look what happened. almost the entire population of ethnic armenians have fled their homes inside nagorno—karabakh. but

going back to that footage by russian peacekeepers, they showed their tank rolling in the streets, completely deserted streets, and no one can be seen there. this is the latest situation. hate one can be seen there. this is the latest situation.— latest situation. we have to leave it there, thank _ latest situation. we have to leave it there, thank you _ latest situation. we have to leave it there, thank you so _ latest situation. we have to leave it there, thank you so much. - latest situation. we have to leave it there, thank you so much. thatj latest situation. we have to leave l it there, thank you so much. that is our bbc correspondent there. do stay with us here on bbc news. over the next few days, the northern half of the country is going to be more unsettled than the southern half, and that is because high pressure is starting to build in from the south, settling things down stop whereas we have got an array of atlantic france moving across the north of the country, introducing rain. and that is the case today. heavy rain across parts of scotland. the rain getting in to northern ireland and southern scotland and

data into the far north of northern england. behind it sunshine and showers. for most of england and wales, it will be dry with hazy sunshine and isolated showers. gusty winds through the north channel with temperatures 11—19, and feeling quite pleasant in the sunshine. through the evening and overnight, the weather front continues to sink south. it weakens, but then it will pivot around and start to retreat north once again. hot on its heels, we got the next band of heavy rain coming in. most of us staying in double figures. through the sheltered glens of scotland in the north—east, damages could fall to two or three celsius. on thursday, low pressure with weather front is coming in, and bringing in heavier rain through the day. it is falling in areas which have already seen quite a bit of rain. so northern ireland and western scotland. but we will also see the rain getting into northern england and wales. murky conditions around the coasts and hills with the driest conditions in

the south and east, but even here the south and east, but even here the cloud will build through the day. temperatures 12—19 c. friday, more rain to come across the northern half of the country. again, these rainfall totals will be starting to mount up. further south, in western areas more cloud around with murky conditions around the coast and hills of wales and the south—west. dry and bright with sunshine, and getting warmer across parts of the south and east. into the weekend, things are more complicated because where you have got the remnants of a tropical storm in the atlantic, which is stirring up in the atlantic, which is stirring up the atmosphere, meaning high pressure is trying to push these weather front northwards, but if they don't then it could be quite a wet weekend across scotland. that will have an impact on the temperatures. we could also see some showers from the same system getting in across northern ireland. come south across england and wales, a lot of dry weather, and very warm.

this is bbc news. the headlines. in the next couple of hours the uk's prime minister rishi sunak is expected to confirm he's cancelling a high—speed rail link to manchester and announce "alternative options" in his speech to the conservative party conference. at least 21 people are dead — two of them children — after a bus crashed off an overpass

and caught fire near venice. political chaos in the us. republican kevin mccarthy says he won't run again for house speaker, after he was ousted in a right—wing revolt by members of his own party. police have launched a murder investigation after a man in his 50s died after being attacked by an american billy xl dog. police have launched a murder investigation, this happened in sunderland just before 655 on tuesday. police received a report that it had injured a man outside an address on maple terrace. emergency services attended, the 54—year—old man was taken to hospital and passed away. a

44—year—old man has been arrested on