when i went to high city when i went to high school, it was clear to me that some of my classmates were growing up in poverty. and now nearly 50 years on my youngest son attends a local school in perth where there are children, my constituents, growing up in the same poverty. after the passage of half a century, the persistence of child poverty is testament to how westminster has totally and utterly failed scotland. this week labourer attacked the snp for the spending decisions we have made in government as part of our progressive, modern left of centre agenda. it was a rather baseless attack given that the snp government has balanced the budget every

single year since 2007. but we have taken spending decisions and believe you me, iam proud of them. we are spending hundreds of millions of pounds to lift children out of poverty. through the scottish child payment we are putting £26 a week directly into the hands of low income families for each eligible child, a measure described as the most significant intervention in tackling inequality in europe since the 1980s, that is what you're snp government is doing. and labour, the labour government is pushing tens of thousands of children in scotland into poverty by keeping the tory, now at the labourer, to child, by sticking to tory debt rules and by extension forcing the whole of the uk to do the same. labourer

appeared to want us to abandon low income families, to abandon children in poverty. delegates, we are not going to do that. up —— lets instead resolved together it to abandon the whole rotten westminster system, that is what we should be abandoning. applause conference, next week i will set out a programme for government building on the snp record, building on our beliefs, investing in our people, our public services and our planet as a means to building prosperity for all. in an building prosperity for all. ll�*i an era of building prosperity for all. in an era of westminster cuts we are going to have to work harder and smarter if we are to deliver on our ambitions for scotland. at this party has never been afraid to work hard in pursuit of a better

scotland, that is what we all came into politics to do. i will set out how we can better support families and should get the help they need when they needed to lift those families out of poverty. the support, this whole family support, will not have the immediate impact of ending the two child. but it is an example of the sustained, smarter policymaking we are delivering in government. the expansion of early learning, the scottish child payment, these policies are helping to transform the chances of children in our country, that is the investment we are making in scotland's future. applause _

. and we will also prioritise our public _ . and we will also prioritise our public services, - . and we will also prioritise i our public services, including our public services, including our cherished national health service. reforms to shift the balance of care to preventative and community—based support. none of this could be possible without the hard work day in and out of our nhs staff. i am determined to be do everything we can to support them. that is why the page yield the snp government has put on the table will interest scotland's nurses and nhs staff are the best paid in the united kingdom and we should be proud of that. primary schools, we have got record levels of literacy and numeracy. every young person deserves the best possible education and i will ensure that all of us, government, councils, teachers and parents are able to play our part in delivering that. and housing. the snp have delivered over 40% more affordable homes for the

population than in england and over 70% more than in wales. but it is not enough. i am acutely aware that we face a housing emergency, and my government will do everything we can within the powers and resources that we have to tackle that housing crisis. so, conference, we can work to end child poverty and to sustain our public services. we need to have a dynamic scottish economy, an economy that can transition to net zero. in office the snp has been building a greener economy. when we took office, renewable technologies generated at the equivalent of around 20% of scotland's grosse electricity consumption. since then, this has soared to 113%, from 2230. think has soared to ii3%, from 2230. think about that. scotland is literally bursting with energy. it is part of the uk we are

paying some of the highest energy prices in europe. and what is our new labour government and about all this? labour promised to cut energy bills by £300. but in october, at the start of winter, energy bills will rise by an average of £149 bills will rise by an average of £119 and, bills will rise by an average of £149 and, 900,000 bills will rise by an average of £119 and, 900,000 pensioners in scotland will lose their winter heating payment. delegates, labourer it should be ashamed to show either of their two faces in scotland ever again. their two faces in scotland everagain. —— labourshould be ashamed. 0ur renewable revolution is

gathering peace. we have supported... bringing up to 300 jobs as part of a growing offshore wind supply scheme. we are supporting investment to our port so it can become a critical offshore wind hub and a major source ofjobs and growth. the highlands of scotland, breathtaking in their beauty, and now a vibrant centre of renewables —based manufacturing. that is the kind of action we are delivering in government. these projects are symbolic of my ambitions for the scottish economy. they are illustrative of what i want my ministers to be securing every day of every week so they cannot say they were not warned. i want my ministers out there getting investment, investment, investment, in the future of scotland. that is how we will grow the economy and

create the fair and just society of our aspirations. the latest survey on inward investment from the financial services fund said this recently. scotland outpaced both the uk and europe with foreign direct investment growth last year. that is good news. very good news. but we need to build on that performance and make it better. because when we look at small independent countries across europe, they have higher business investment than the uk. higher productivity. higher living standards. lower inequality and lower levels of poverty. that, my friends, is what independence brings. and it would scotland be able to achieve that? we are a country

not just of extraordinary energy resources, but exceptional food and drinks sector, advanced manufacturing, outstanding strength and creativity and innovation. some of the world's the very best and finest universities, thriving financial and business services, magnificent cities and breathtaking scenery for the best tourism experience anywhere on the planet. above all else, we have our talented and resourceful people, scotland has what it takes to be a successful, independent nation. the snp fought elections in 2017, 2019 and in 2021 on a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on independence. we very beating heart of europe, as an indepw on ent country. very beating heart of europe, as an indepw on independence. we one each of these elections and referendum on independence. we one each of these elections and

each time with a higher share each time with a higher share of the boat that labour of the boat that labour achieved either here in achieved either here in scotland or across the uk back scotland or across the uk back in the lith ofjuly. each of in the lith ofjuly. each of those elections, the those elections, the westminster parties denied and westminster parties denied and continue to deny scottish continue to deny scottish democracy. they blocked the democracy. they blocked the democratic will of the people democratic will of the people of scotland. they could not of scotland. they could not have been more short—sighted. have been more short—sighted. because they have destroyed, because they have destroyed, destroyed the basis upon which destroyed the basis upon which many people in scotland believe many people in scotland believe the uk to be founded, an equal the uk to be founded, an equal partnership of nations and a partnership of nations and a voluntary union. i will tell voluntary union. i will tell you what an equal partnership you what an equal partnership looks like. an independent looks like. an independent scotland, working in harmony scotland, working in harmony with our closest friends in the with our closest friends in the rest of the uk and back where rest of the uk and back where we belong, not part of a broken we belong, not part of a broken brexit britain that back at the brexit britain that back at the very beating heart of europe, very beating heart of europe, as an independent country. as an independent country.

so, my leadership is about earning the right to be heard. bite delivering on the public�*s priorities, it is about people, prosperity, public services and the planet, staying true to our values amid westminster austerity. totalfaith in scottish democracy and campaigning on an independence platform deeply intertwined with people's everyday concerns. that is how we will lead our country to a more

hopeful and optimistic future with independence. delegates, if you ever wanted to remind yourself what hope, optimism, and a sense of possibility feel like, cast your minds back a decade. 2014 was an incredible year where real change, real change was truly in the air. it began with one of the most significant moments in the history of our country when members of the scottish parliament debated and approved equal marriage legislation. love deed triumph. —— love triumphed. it was a year or scotland showcased ourselves to the world as we hosted the commonwealth games and the ryder cup. it was a year when scotland was energised as we debated our future as a country, a debate rich with

imagination and excitement. there was contagious and it was empowering. delegates, in a few weeks' time, it will be exactly ten years since the independence ten years on we live in a united kingdom that took away our european citizenship. uk ruling from the almost unimaginable partnerships of borisjohnson partnerships of boris johnson and partnerships of borisjohnson and liz truss. and when a labour prime minister once arrived in downing street to the tune of things can only get better, become prime minister tells us, the labour prime minister tells us quite openly that things can only get worse. that is not the future of scotland was promised in 2014, we were told we were better together. we were promised, and do not laugh too much, strong and stable. but instead, in

2024 the labour government tells us the united kingdom is in the worst economic state since world war ii. so, my friends, it falls on us, the national party of scotland, to awaken that sense of optimism and hope amongst our fellow scots, to rekindle the imagination of our nation, to show them that a better future is possible, to unite our country to win independence. that is what we have got to do and that is what we are going to do. applause conference... conference.

when ijoined this party as a teenager, i did not really in all honesty know what i was getting myself into. i can still remember heading out to my very first snp branch meeting only a couple of miles from where we are today. on the way out to the house, i remember my mother shouted to me, whatever you do do not go to the pub. delegates, i went to the pub. delegates, i went to the pub. that is because i had made friends with a bunch of incredibly passionate and committed like—minded people. dedicated activists who were determined to get the job done. some of them sadly did not live to see the reconvening of the scottish parliament. and one of their... joining its membership. many knew they might not never see the independent scotland for which they had campaigned their whole lives. but they also knew that

without their efforts, without their passion, these goals would never be achieved. and they have passed the torch on to us. 0ver they have passed the torch on to us. over the years, i have been privileged to have a front row seat, as this nation has steadily grown in confidence. taking the first steps to self—government and rediscovering our own voice on the international stage. every other morning i get up and go for a run through the streets of edinburgh, it clears my head and gets me ready for the day. but it does something else. when i watched the rising sun, light up the buildings of this ancient and stunning city, i often think about howl ancient and stunning city, i often think about how i am looking at the very same steeples, streets and geology that inspired some of the greatest minds ever to have lived. visionaries who understood the world around them, not only as it was, who had the imagination to see things differently and to show

others what they could seem. that, my friends, is the spirit that we still in the early morning of the century must capture in our own small way. we rightly celebrate scotland's significant contribution to the modern world. but doing so is only worthwhile if it motivates us to build a modern scotland that contributes every bit as much, if not more, to the world of tomorrow. i have complete faith in the people of scotland to take the right decisions about their future. if we give them the tools, they can build whatever country they want to. scotland has got what it takes, we can be a successful, happy and prosperous nation. there is much that lies ahead of us that we know about, not much that we don't. whatever our future holds, that future it would be better if it is created by us, the people of scotland. we have to make it happen and we have to make it happen and we have to do so together. thank you very much.

applause you are watching bbc news, let's take you a funeral of one of the hostages whose body was

discovered by israeli forces. we are told, this is the funeral of a 24—year—old woman from tel aviv. she was captured by hamas at the novak music festival last october the 7th and spent nearly 11 months in captivity. herfamily believed captivity. her family believed her to captivity. herfamily believed her to be alive untiljust a couple of days ago. when israel says that its troops found her along with five other hostages who had been killed and their bodies were in a tunnel in rafah in the south of the gaza strip. we know that there aren't many people taking to the streets across israel to mourn the hostages, but also to try to put pressure on the prime minister netanyahu to come to a deal to bring about a

cease fire and bring home the remaining hostages. two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a 13—year—old boy in 0ldbury. the boy died at a house in lovett avenue on thursday afternoon. west midlands police says the two teens were detained today in connection with the stabbing and have been taken into custody for questioning. the force said the victim's family are aware and its thoughts remain with them at this time. people are voting in two elections in eastern germany, where the far—right afd party is expected to perform strongly. the party is anti—immigration, wants to replace the euro with the deutschmark; and opposes the national government's approach to the war in ukraine and climate change. for more on the significance of these regional elections i've been speaking to our europe correspondent jessica parker, who's in the eastern state of thuringia. the context is, people might say these are two regional

elections, why do they matter to the broader picture? this would be the greatest success for the far right in—state election since the end of the second world war. for some germans that is a nightmarish scenario, but for those who are cheering alternative for deutschland on, and i have been speaking to supporters over the last week here in the state of thuringia, they talked a lot about immigration and concerns they have about what they described as mass immigration. that has been fuelled, i think, after last week's attack three people were stabbed and the suspect detained was a syrian asylum—seekers, a failed syrian asylum—seekers. there are also concerns about the cost of living, sending weapons to ukraine. the afd�*s message seems to be resonating particularly with people here in the east of germany, the former communist east. there is also a lot of dissatisfaction about the weight reunification has been handled over recent

decades, so you have got to look at this has something that combines a more short—term concerns with things that have been brewing for a very long time as well.— been brewing for a very long time as well. jessica parker in eastern germany. _ airports in the european union and other schengen—zone countries — which had scrapped 100 millilitre liquid limits for hand luggage — have been told they must put the restrictions back in place from today. the european commission said it's a temporary measure to address a technical issue with new equipment — but it's not said how long it will remain in place. here's our transport correspondent, katy austin. for a while, it looked like the era of the tiny toiletry was nearly over. all major airports in the uk were told to put in new state—of—the—art scanners. they would allow the 100ml limit on liquid containers going through security and cabin bags to be lifted. put your tray underneath! there have been delays getting the kit in place at the biggest hubs, but some regional ones had fully installed it beforejune this year and dropped the old rules. then, injune, the government suddenly announced the 100ml restriction was back.

it's given no date for scrapping it again. now, any eu airports which had moved over to the new scanners are also having to revert to the old limit. the european commission says a technical issue with the equipment needs sorting. the big issue we've got now is there is real lack of clarity for consumers. so, we've seen in the busy periods when people are travelling, the confusion that entails when people are really not sure of what the process is now when they're travelling with liquids. and we have real disparity not only across uk airports, but also across the eu as well. rome and amsterdam are among the locations which had brought in the high—tech scanning machines. some others had started rolling them out. it's a very mixed picture, but what's for sure is that any which had got the scanners in place and eased their rules are now having to revert to 100ml. as with the uk, the eu has given no indication of when the restrictions will end. katy austin, bbc news.

stay with us here on bbc news. much more on all of the main stories in the hour to come. hello there. the weather pattern looks quite complicated for the next couple of days, we have generally got low pressure close by with weather fronts. and we are picking up quite a bit of humidity and warmth off the near continent. so, that is going to really complicate the story somewhat with showers and thunderstorms will appear. but for many of us it is going to feel warm and humid for part two of the weekend, as we draw this air off the near continent. there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms, areas of cloud, but also some sunshine. the best of that sunshine will be across the southeast where we could be up to the high 20s celsius. further north and west, more cloud around than what we had on saturday. and there will be some heavy showers and thunderstorms a bit more widespread through parts of the midlands, into wales, spreading further northwards as we go into the evening. high teens across

the north, there we will see some warmth for the highlands and very warm in the southeast. it stays muggy and humid tonight, we see showers and longer spells of rain, some of it sundry, pushing across parts of the midlands, northern england and into scotland. for all areas it is going to be a warm and muggy night. warmer across scotland and we have had recently. around 17 degrees in the southeast. monday we have got weather fronts across the uk, it looks pretty mixed. a lot of cloud around, some mist and murk, across northern and eastern england pushing up towards scotland. we could see the odd thunderstorm developing further south as well, with more cloud around, less sunshine. temperatures not quite where we like but still up to 25 degrees in the southeast. as we move into we start to see this area of high pressure begin to exert its force across the country. that will try to push the weather fronts away. tuesday is a mixed picture, at the moment it looks like we could see weather fronts bringing showers to western

scotland, northern ireland, and there could be a few showers or it thundery downpours across the southeast. some sunshine in between, temperatures a bit lower and we are picking up some cooler and fresher air from tuesday onwards, losing that humidity. so, 17-22 . and then from wednesday onwards this area of high pressure it will exert its force across the country, it could bring a few showers into northwestern areas and low pressure over the near continent weather fronts, they will always later just south of the uk. there is a chance of some heavy showers or thunderstorms towards southern areas. but i think generally speaking, particularly the further north you are, it should start to settle down with increasing amounts of sunshine.

continuing this is bbc news, the headlines. israel's trades union federation orders a general strike for monday to try to force the government to make a deal with hamas, after the bodies of six hostages are recovered from gaza. the first full day of a mass polio vaccination programme in gaza is hailed a success by humanitarian agencies. they are aiming to immunise more than 600,000 children under the age of ten. people are voting in regional elections in eastern germany. the anti—immigrant �*afd�* party is forecast to win its first state, in a ballot labelled a litmus test for next year's federal election. polls close in 30 minutes. airports in nearly 30 european countries — which had scrapped limits for liquids in hand luggage — are being made to reinstate the restrictions from sunday. the eu says the reversal

is a "temporary" measure to address a technical issue with new equipment. now on bbc news — newscast. hello. throughout the summer, we have been bringing you interesting conversations with interesting people here on newscast. we have gone to the theatre, to the house of lords, we have gone into space. now we are going to go across the whole world in a geopolitical sense because my guest is doctor fiona hill, former white house adviser, former student at st andrews university, now chancellor of durham university and a really interesting thinker on foreign policy, who came to the world's attention when she was summoned as a witness in the impeachment trial of then—president donald trump. here is the conversation i had with her in the newscast studio. newscast from the bbc.