one giant commercial step for mankind? billionaire businessman jared isaacman becomes the first non—professional astronaut to walk in space. we'll assess what it means for the future of space travel. modernising the nhs — a damning report into the state of the health service. the prime minister says the funding tap will not be turned on until the plumbing is fixed, but what does that reform look like? and a stark warning from vladimir putin — any use of western—supplied long—range weapons to strike targets in russia would, he says, put nato "at war" with russia. hello and welcome. hundreds of miles above earth, history was made today — the first ever privately—funded spacewalk. a50 miles above the earth,

the billionaire entrepreneur jared isaacman clambered out of spacex's dragon capsule and performed a series of manoeuvres near the hatch. he was followed by sarah gillis, a spacex engineer who is part of the four—person, all—civilian crew. this is the image of mr isaacman emerging from the spacecraft silhouetted against a spectacular view of earth. here's our science correspondent pallab ghosh. back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, earth looks like a perfect world. historic words for an historic moment. out comes the first private sector astronaut to walk in space. silhouetted in earth's orbit, billionaire jared isaacman paid millions of dollars for this experience. he remains partly in the capsule, so more baby steps than a walk in space, but a chance to move around in the newly developed

spacesuit to test its mobility. the entire operation end to end is two hours, so we just got to kind of see how everything progresses through it. but we don't need very long out there, and frankly other than the test matrix, we're not building structures on the international space station or repairing anything, so as soon as we get the data that we have, we'll cycle another crew member in and out. sarah gillis. that other crewmember is mission specialist sarah gillis. it's her first time in space, and she's already making history, standing outside the dragon capsule. most crewed spacecraft have an airlock, which is a sealed door between the vacuum of space and the rest of the spacecraft. normally, it's depressurised when astronauts go in and out. but dragon doesn't have an airlock, so the entire craft has to be depressurised. the non—spacewalking astronauts have to be fully suited up and strapped into their seats, and extra nitrogen and oxygen have to be added to repressurize the capsule when the spacewalk is over.

the astronauts blasted off on tuesday, going further into space since the apollo moon missions of their spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of 870 miles above the earth. that's nearly three and a half times the distance to the international space station, which is 250 miles. its orbit took it through a region of space that's higher in radiation, called the van allen belt, which starts at about 600 miles. but the astronauts were safe inside the spacecraft. the vessel then came below the radiation belt to 435 miles so the astronauts could carry out their spacewalk safely. up until now, every single spacewalk that's happened has been professional astronauts through a government agency, either the soviets or the americans,

the russians these days, and so to have the first one that's done commercially is a big step forward for the commercial sector, and it's going to push the boundaries of what they can it was 60 years ago that alexei leonov became the first person to walk in space. since then, it has only been astronauts working for government space agencies to have done this... ..until now. this is the first—ever private—sector crew to have walked in space. the aim is to reduce costs so that space travel can become more commonplace and humans can have a long—term presence on the moon, and possibly even on mars. rather than just stepping out of a spacecraft, next time we might be stepping onto the surface of the moon, we might be building research bases and places for people to live for extended periods of time on the moon. you know, everything is incremental, but there's real forward momentum gaining now.

the historic spacewalk now over, and so many firsts already achieved, the crew's attention returns to carrying out experiments before beginning theirjourney home in two days�* time. pallab ghosh, bbc news. with me tonight, rocket scientist and editor of nasawatch.com keith cowing. thank you for being with us. this is the most dangerous thing you can do as an astronaut, but my goodness — what a view of earth. astronaut, but my goodness - what a view of earth.- what a view of earth. yeah, they plan — what a view of earth. yeah, they plan these _ what a view of earth. yeah, they plan these things - what a view of earth. yeah, they plan these things out | what a view of earth. yeah, i they plan these things out and usually they go outside to do stuff, to fix things and so for. but we're all human so when your astronauts are floating around, we can just enjoy the view. we floating around, we can 'ust enjoy the viewi floating around, we can 'ust enjoy the view. floating around, we can 'ust en'o the view. ~ enjoy the view. we saw them get back in at the _ enjoy the view. we saw them get back in at the end _ enjoy the view. we saw them get back in at the end of _ enjoy the view. we saw them get back in at the end of the - back in at the end of the report. it made me think that

actually, that was the riskiest part of the whole hour long process, was in it?- part of the whole hour long process, was in it? yeah, there are some _ process, was in it? yeah, there are some first _ process, was in it? yeah, there are some first and _ process, was in it? yeah, there are some first and john - process, was in it? yeah, there are some first and john first - are some first and john first —— non—firsts. they have enough affair for —— non—firsts. they have enough affairfor six or seven —— non—firsts. they have enough affair for six or seven hours, but these guys didn't have the backpack. instead, they had a really sexy looking spacesuit. but they were tied in, so they really weren't in danger when they stood up like this. unless they stood up like this. unless they cut their suit, but they're not going to do that. in the future, you may see a backpack on these things and they may go back by themselves. if you go to the moon, you need new spacesuits. and nasa spacesuits are four years old. they've been trying to make new ones —— new ones. with money

from mr isaacman, space set —— spacex has done something nasa has taken decades to do. someone said it looked as if they were wearing just a motorcycle helmet, but they were very rigorously tested. they were in a place where the sun's molecules moderate. how do you think they performed? they were in the very high orbit. they did address the orbit. they did address the orbit so they wouldn't be exposed. the suit offered a little protection from radiation, but not a lot. it's inside the spacecraft and by coincidence, a big solarflare, but they'll be back on the ground before that's an issue. but in the time they were up there, they got about three times the exposure you would get on the space station over six months. so it's not without

risk, but again, space travel�*s always been a little risky even when you're safe.— always been a little risky even when you're safe. this might be from a neat _ when you're safe. this might be from a neat freak, _ when you're safe. this might be from a neat freak, but - when you're safe. this might be from a neat freak, but when - from a neat freak, but when they were preparing to go out, i was just they were preparing to go out, i wasjust thinking, they were preparing to go out, i was just thinking, how rigorous you have to be about tying everything down and making everything secure? because of it's not, then crucial things could float out at the hatch, couldn't they? we learned that _ at the hatch, couldn't they? - learned that back in the '605, learned that back in the �*60s, and they didn't expect that. now you have a checklist of things. two of the crew were strapped in and all the other stuff was kept in bags and compartments. 0nly stuff was kept in bags and compartments. only the things they needed were out and they rebuilt velcro don i'm sure, because you don't want to lose the things —— velcro if they don't it then it becomes a satellite.

. i it then it becomes a satellite. . i could talk to you for hours. _ . i could talk to you for hours, keith, - . i could talk to you for hours, keith, but- . i could talk to you for hours, keith, but we . . i could talk to you for i hours, keith, but we are . i could talk to you for - hours, keith, but we are tight for time. thank you very much. my for time. thank you very much. my pleasure. the statistics and, for many, the lived experience of visiting hospital tell a story of an nhs under severe strain. today, the prime minister concluded the health service in england is "broken but not beaten" after a damning review by lord darzi, a surgeon and former labour minister. it found there were long waits for care and poor survival rates for cancer. sir keir said investing in the health service would always be a priority, but before the money taps can be turned on, the plumbing had to be fixed. the government said three big shifts were needed — preventing illness in the first place, moving more care from hospitals to care in the community and a renewed push to improve the technology to create a digital nhs. here's our health editor hugh pym. voices from the nhs front line today. it's a really difficult time to be a gp. the attitude and some of the rhetoric that you hear is just really demoralising.

when i talk to people, it's, "i can't wait for my retirement, i've got this amount of time left." it's a burnt—out workforce. and callers to the bbc included patients. i just thought what brilliant people thatjoined those dots and literally saved my life. i think it is really important that no—one expects anything to change overnight. all on a day when a bleak report on the state of the nhs in england was published. louise's experience sums up one of the key problems — long—waiting lists. we spoke to her in april, when she'd waited a year and a half for a knee replacement and had to take early retirement as a teacher. my mobility was so poor that i didn't feel comfortable or safe in the classroom. five months later, we meet her again. she's had the operation — but went private. she felt she just couldn't wait any longer on the nhs. i feel selfish for doing that and for betraying something that i believed in very firmly all my life. but i felt i didn't have any choice, and i feel so guilty

about the people who can't do what i've done and are not lucky enough to have a pension to ride. i mean, we're not wealthy, i'm just a teacher, my husband isjust an it, but were still lucky enough to do it. the prime minister says the answer is nhs reform, rather than just money, but what does that mean in practice? you talk about shifting resources into community health care, improving technology, and prevention of ill health. but these ideas have been talked about for some time, some progress has already been made. what's new and different about your reform ideas? that we've got a raw and honest assessment of where we're really at, that we're clear—eyed about this, meaning we need a ten—year plan, not a short—term set of decisions, and that we've got the mandate for change to carry this through. the diagnosis of what's gone wrong came from this leading surgeon, lord darzi. he carried out a rapid review for the government. the nhs is in a critical condition,

but the vital signs are stable. we need, as i said, the resources, we need to motivate the staff, we need the infrastructure to transform every pathway of care, and we can get it back. his report highlights crumbling nhs buildings and low investment in equipment. tackling that, he says, will make the nhs more efficient, but that'll need money, which ministers warn is hard to find right now. hugh pym, bbc news. joining me now is chair of health care and workforce modelling at london south bank university, professor alison wearing. thanks for being with us. the one figure that reallyjumps out is the increasing number of staff members in the nhs. 0ne staff members in the nhs. one

in ten patients were waiting 12 hours in a in the end that is 81 times as many as in 2019 —— in a&e. 81 times as many as in 2019 -- in a&e. �* ., ., , in a&e. although the absolute number of _ in a&e. although the absolute number of staff _ in a&e. although the absolute number of staff have - in a&e. although the absolute i number of staff have expanded, we really seen a loss of very experienced staff. that meant that the workload has gone up, so it's gone up significantly. care is more complex, the work is more complex, and generally the people in our lives experience.— the people in our lives experience. the people in our lives exerience. ~ ., , experience. we saw the last programme _ experience. we saw the last programme in _ experience. we saw the last programme in 2012. - experience. we saw the last programme in 2012. do - experience. we saw the last programme in 2012. do you| experience. we saw the last - programme in 2012. do you think there'll be some resistance to this? i there'll be some resistance to this? ~' ., , ., , this? i think reform is always unsettling — this? i think reform is always unsettling for _ this? i think reform is always unsettling for people - this? i think reform is alwaysj unsettling for people working in the system. they were open

to a lot of criticism. 0ne in the system. they were open to a lot of criticism. one of the primary reforms that he disestablished a lot of really important infrastructure like the print structure. i think there will be quite a lot of people quite concerned about any proposed reform. prevention is ke to any proposed reform. prevention is key to this. — any proposed reform. prevention is key to this, the _ any proposed reform. prevention is key to this, the prime - is key to this, the prime minister said, and is key to this, the prime ministersaid, and gp is key to this, the prime minister said, and gp services are central to spearheading that. but we know as well, we've been hearing from gps in recent weeks that they're under immense pressure, so how do they do that?— they do that? that's a really aood they do that? that's a really good question. _ they do that? that's a really good question. there - they do that? that's a really good question. there has i they do that? that's a really i good question. there has been they do that? that's a really - good question. there has been a fairly significant reduction in the availability of general practice and general practice of course is notjust gps. it's

up of course is notjust gps. it's up expanded, but with different type of work. what we are seeing a different is a deficit of general practice nurses and gps. what we need to think about is how to retain that workforce. that's one of the only ways that that is really going to be able to eat that need not quite one of the other big stories of the day was this report from the office for budget responsibility, which talked about debt as a proportion of our gdp. it's around 98% at the moment, but they say in the next 50 years, it will be up 70% of output. how much of that and extraordinary debt is how we run our health services? it’s run our health services? it's actually fairly _ run our health services? it�*s actually fairly efficient in terms of economics when you think about it. it's one of the better performing economies.

the harder it is to predictive model these things. certainly, there needs to be some issue, and we know a good health care system is beneficial to the economy. unless there is some action there, we heard a lot about the issues today, alas we have some action by government, that will cause a very significant issues in future. professor rere, thank you for coming on. professor rere, thank you for coming on— around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

welcome back, just a quick line of news to bring you that is come to us in the last few minutes. this is a posting on truth social, from donald trump, who said he will not be

participating in a second debate with kamala harris. there was some speculation. but he is saying in the last few minutes that he's decided not to do the second debate. we've got a panel coming up at nine o'clock and we will discuss that with them. let's talk about ukraine. the russian president, vladimir putin, says the west allowing ukraine to use long—range weapons to strike russian territory would amount to nato fighting russia, but there are signs the us and its allies are shifting position. poland today added its voice to calls for restrictions on ukraine to be lifted. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, was in warsaw as he wound up his trip to europe, but mr putin said the move would represent a major change in the shape of the conflict. translation: if this decision is made, it will mean nothing| other than direct dissipation of nato countries — - the united states, . european countries — in the war in ukraine. it is their direct

participation, . and this of course i significantly changes the very— essence of the conflict. this will mean that nato i countries — the united states, european countries — i are fighting with russia. president biden, who's been hesitant to take action that risks triggering direct conflict with russia, is to review the ukrainian requests tomorrow in a white house meeting with uk prime minister sir keir starmer. this is what the president had to say on the issue on tuesday. will you lift restrictions on the use of long—range weapons by ukraine? we're working that out right now. three ukrainians working for the international committee of the red cross were killed by russian shelling today. two others were injured in the strike on a village around 12 kilometres from the front—line in the donetsk region. the red cross says the team was preparing to distribute wood and coal to a village north of donetsk city to vulnerable households ahead of the winter

when their vehicles were hit. we can speak to paul mcleary, who is defence correspondent for politico. thank you very much forjoining us. i said things are starting to shift. i think the reporting here in the uk has been quite strident in the decision has been made. what are you hearing from national security people over there?— from national security people over there? the sense is that the decision _ over there? the sense is that the decision hasn't _ over there? the sense is that the decision hasn't been i over there? the sense is that | the decision hasn't been made yet. the secretary of state and the uk foreign minister were just in kyiv to hear the ukrainians out about what they want, things like that. a final decision might not be made even by friday when they meet tomorrow, but it seems that the

un general assembly meeting next week is the real target for any sort of announcement. they try to bring the germans along another allies to support this, helping ukraine with these long—range strikes inside russia. they're concerned about escalation and what the russians might do. i has described attacks inside ukraine continue, ukrainians are begging for help to hit some of these airfields. you look very — some of these airfields. you look very closely _ some of these airfields. you look very closely at - some of these airfields. you look very closely at the i look very closely at the defence industry and procurement. how concerned you think the americans are actually about the limited stockpile. actually about the limited stockpile-— actually about the limited

stockile. ., , ,., stockpile. there was some concern — stockpile. there was some concern the. _ stockpile. there was some concern the. there - stockpile. there was some concern the. there is i stockpile. there was some concern the. there is a i concern the. there is a relatively limited number of attacks in the uk. i think if the green light was given, my understanding is some caveats on it. no hitting infrastructure, things like that. just go after high—value russian military targets. this would be weapons depots, logistic hubs, airfields, things like that. they'll use them somewhat sparingly just because there is a finite quantity of these missile aslef in this war looks like it's going to go on for quite a bit. —— missiles in this war. there seems to be, the uk government seems to be, the uk government seems to be more disposed to easing the restrictions and the americans at the moment. but clearly, that has implications from the us military. the storm

shadow is _ from the us military. the storm shadow is air _ from the us military. the storm shadow is air launched, - from the us military. the storm shadow is air launched, so i from the us military. the storm shadow is air launched, so the l shadow is air launched, so the ukrainians have to figure it out. they go about 155 miles. you have to get relatively close to the border, which puts you at risk of being shot down or tracked by russian air defences. the attackers are ground launched, which carries a risk about driving the high mahrez close to the border even into russia. —— himars. they're pretty valuable for both sides. either launching by air and getting close to the ground or even driving into the units. you will be where that ramp the defence secretary said this would be decisive in this war. given the threats and the risks we just talked about,

presumably they have to balance what effect it would have with what's coming the other way. there's no magic bullet. no singular weapon is going to win the war. what the ukrainians want to do is use some of the storm shadows and the french scout missile to hit russian air defence system close to the border, hitlerjustice -- hit —— hit logistics hubs. it would give a little more leeway to fight close to the border and hit russian targets. i think it's part of a wider strategy and i don't think the ukrainians are underany ukrainians are under any pretence ukrainians are underany pretence thatjust ukrainians are underany pretence that just getting ukrainians are underany pretence thatjust getting this capability is going to win the war. it will increase the cost of russia, but it won't completely change the course of the war. ., n ., ,

completely change the course of the war. ., a ., , ., ~ the war. paul mccleary, thank ou for the war. paul mccleary, thank you for coming _ the war. paul mccleary, thank you for coming in _ the war. paul mccleary, thank you for coming in the - you for coming in the programme. we are going to take a short break. the other side, it is time for al decoded. we will focus on the very sophisticated ai chips that are being developed in a deal that will be signed this week between one of the us manufacturers of those chips and the saudis. what does that mean for the big data centres that are being built in the desert? all about to come. ai decoded redhead. stay with us. hello there. it's been cold again today. we've seen the heavy showers pushing further south into southern england. but things are going to change in the next few days. we're going to cut off that supply of cold air. the wind direction will change. we'll see atlantic winds coming in and that will lift the temperatures over the weekend. but it's cold already this evening.

we're going to find showers tending to die out. keep a few maybe in the far north of scotland for a while down those north sea coasts, perhaps into north wales. but clear skies, light winds. it's going to be cold. it'll be colder than the last couple of nights, and these are the towns and city temperatures. but in rural areas we could see a touch of frost, particularly southeast scotland, northern england, southeast wales and the west country. but wherever you are, it will be a chilly start, sunny start for the most part. we'll see a bit of cloud bubbling up, but we're not expecting the showers that we've had over the past few days. we'll cloud over in northern ireland — that rain holding off until very late in the day, northern areas seeing temperatures again 11; degrees, but a little bit milder further south across england and wales. those temperatures beginning to rise underneath

that area of high pressure, and that's giving us the dry day on friday. but pressure will lower in the northwest. these weather fronts will bring some rain. there could be a little rain to begin with across scotland, but the main rain will arrive later in the day in western scotland and also northern ireland. in the northwest, it will be windy. the winds won't be as strong for england and wales, with some sunshine here, particularly for the midlands temperatures could reach 19 or 20 degrees and for all of us, it will be a milder day on saturday. temperatures higher than what we've got at the moment, and it won't be as cold overnight either. we do have that weather front in the north west continuing southwards into high pressure, so it will be weakening and how quickly southwards it will move is still open to doubt. we may well see a bit of rain to begin with in northern england. in northern england — that should clear away some rain for wales. a few spots of rain in the midlands and the southwest. to the north, any rain clears away and we'll get some sunshine. it won't be as windy here and temperatures are still reaching 17 or 18 degrees in the southeast.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. coming up, we'll talk to the ceo of groq, one of the most exciting new ai chip—makers shaking up the market. but before that, let's get some

support. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. we start with football. the hearing into manchester city's alleged 115 breaches of prmeier league financial rules is set to start on monday, subject to any legal delays. the current champions are accused of failing to comply with the regulations dating back to the 2009—10 season. city deny the charges. they claim they have a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of their position, but the club could face penalties such as a points penalty or significant fine if found guilty. the hearing, held by an independent commission, could last up to two months, with a final verdict expected before the end of the current premier league season. here's our chief football reporter simon stone. this could go on for months, and we won't really know the detail of what is being said behind closed doors. eventually, we will get a verdict. the premier league, if city are found guilty, they have unlimited punishment and so,

that is wide—ranging in itself.