of a vast operation smuggling thousands of migrants to europe. an australian teenager becomes the sixth person to die in suspected methanol poisoning in laos. backpackers speak to the bbc about their alarm. i won't drink from an open bottle, and i won't drink home—made alcohol. it's scary because not every day people are dying just like this. a new yorkjudge grants donald trump permission to seek dismissal of his hush money criminal case. a woman in the united states has become the first person to receive a double lung transplant done by a robot.

let's start this out with breaking news that is coming into us. a woman who accused the mixed martial arts fighter collin mcgregor of rubbing her in a hotel in dublin six years ago has won a civil case against him. thejury has found mcgregor liable and ordered him to pay her 250,000 euros in damages. that news coming into us and to see the live pictures from the courthouse. as to the microphones all set up and we will get the latest from our correspondent chris page who is covering this case and that case just ending in the last little while we will get more on that bricking development here on the programme in the next few minutes. do stay with us. two men from south wales have pleaded guilty to being part of a vast people smuggling operation bringing thousands of migrants to europe. they ran their business like a travel agency and advertised their services described as like "tripadvisor for smugglers".

the bbc can also reveal that dilshad shamo and ali khdir exploited an informal and virtually untraceable banking system to finance their operations across several countries. wyre davis has this report. from this innocuous and otherwise legitimate car wash, ali khdir and dilshad shamo ran a prolific people smuggling operation that brought thousands of migrants to europe. five, six, seven, eight. business was booming as they advertised their services on social media. thank you so, so much. migrants shot videos promoting their experiences, described as like a travel agency for smugglers. sorry to leave that report so abruptly that you can see the scenes out of the courthouse in dublin in that car surrounded

conor mcgregor who is just been found liable in that civil case that has just ended. you can see all the photographers and camera crews as he hasjust gotten into that car after being told he went to pay to 50,000 euros in damages and it all date backs to that sexual assault case from 2018. —— 250,000 euros. the car drives away but the jury finding against the mixed martial arts star conor mcgregor in that assault case. mikita at hand being awarded as i say a quarter of1 million euros. there you see the camera crews and microphonesjust there you see the camera crews and microphones just there. there you see the camera crews and microphonesjust there. we will talk to chris page, our correspondent they're covering this case, on the programme in the next little while. a second australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning, bringing to six the number of foreign

tourists who have died after apparently drinking tainted alcohol in laos. the family of australian teenager holly bowles said it was with "broken hearts" that they confirmed her death more than a week after she fell ill in the tourist town of vang vieng. herfriend bianca jones and british lawyer simone white from south—east london were confirmed to have died on thursday. in the last hour, the parents of simone white said they were "devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter". police have arrested the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the deaths. jessica lane has the latest. the death of holly bowles has been confirmed this morning, the day after that of her best friend bianca jones, who was also 19. holly had been rushed here to hospital in bangkok after drinking alcohol that's suspected to have contained methanol. she's the sixth person to have died in the suspected mass

poisoning in vang vieng in neighbouring laos. in a statement, holly's family said... holly and bianca played on a football team together at home in australia. tonight, at the season's launch, theirfriends say they will gather to remember them. families are taking a huge amount of comfort from the overwhelming support right across australia. back in vang vieng, people are worried. i won't drink from a glass. i won't drink from an open bottle, and i won't drink home—made alcohol. it's scary, because not every day people are i dying just like this. well, of course, it's going to affect tourism. i'm sure a lot of people are going to cancel. i hear there have been quite a few cancellations. 28—year—old lawyer simone white from 0rpington in south—east london has also died. the foreign office says it's supporting herfamily.

in a statement, her company paid tribute, saying... others, including an american and two danish women, are thought to have been victims of the suspected poisoning. many were staying here at the nana backpacker hostel, where staff have confirmed the manager has been detained by police. methanol is a colourless liquid that tastes similar to alcohol. it's often used in paint thinner, antifreeze and de—icer. a relatively small amount can be lethal as it's absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. prompt treatment offers the best success. and if you can get in early enough, then the outcome can be fine. laos is one of south—east asia's poorest nations, but its popular with backpackers. the government here is now warning them all to be very careful about what they drink. jessica lane, bbc news.

natasha moore is a british backpacker who has been staying in the same area this week, and she told us more about how tourists were reacting. so i've just got out of vang vieng now, but i've been there the last five nights. and it's just been awful. all of us have been so scared. you feel safest in your own hostel, so then hearing about all of this, it's just awful. apologies to leave that as we are back in dublin with more. i want to thank everyone at the sexual assault unit and at the hospital for looking after me, especially my own doctor. i want to think the rape crisis centre, especially who has been by my side throughout this entire period. i want to thank all the guards and the able its crew. i want to thank all the

women and men who have supported me throughout this trial. for every person who reached out to me, a kind letter or e—mail or anything, it is not gone on unnoticed. thank you, i really appreciate so much. i want... thank you, i really appreciate so much. iwant... i thank you, i really appreciate so much. i want... i want to thank my partner gary, who has been so supportive over the last four years and has held my hand throughout this trial every day and every other day. i want to thank my mum and all my family i want to thank my mum and all myfamily and i want to thank my mum and all my family and friends. last week i want to thank my daughter freya, who i'm most grateful for. daughter freya, who i'm most gratefulfor. she has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice. i want to show fran and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is an injustice will be served. to all the victims of sexual assault, i hope my story is a reminder that no matter how

afraid you might be, speak up. you have a voice. keep on fighting forjustice. i know this is notjust impacted only my life commit my daughter's, my life commit my daughter's, my family and friends to me to sleep and it's something that i will never forget for the rest of my life. and thatjustice has been served, i can now try to move on and i look forward to move on and i look forward to the future with my friends and daughter.— to the future with my friends and daughter. what have the last two weeks _ and daughter. what have the last two weeks been - and daughter. what have the last two weeks been like? i and daughter. what have the last two weeks been like? al last two weeks been like? nightmare. last two weeks been like? a nightmare. what _ last two weeks been like? a nightmare. what is - last two weeks been like? a nightmare. what is it - last two weeks been like? a nightmare. what is it like i nightmare. what is it like to finally be — nightmare. what is it like to finally be believed? - nightmare. what is it like to finally be believed? i'm - nightmare. what is it like to finally be believed? i'm out| nightmare. what is it like to l finally be believed? i'm out of words, finally be believed? i'm out of words. it's _ finally be believed? i'm out of words, it's wonderful. - finally be believed? i'm out of words, it's wonderful. do - finally be believed? i'm out of words, it's wonderful. do you | words, it's wonderful. do you feel vindicated _ words, it's wonderful. do you feel vindicated now? - words, it's wonderful. do you feelvindicated now? i- words, it's wonderful. do you feelvindicated now? i do, - words, it's wonderful. do you feelvindicated now? i do, i. feelvindicated now? i do, i do. feelvindicated now? i do, i d0- thank— feelvindicated now? i do, i do. thank you, _ feelvindicated now? i do, i do. thank you, it's - feelvindicated now? i do, i do. thank you, it'sjust... l thank you. talking there briefly and _ thank you. talking there briefly and thanking - thank you. talking there l briefly and thanking those thank you. talking there - briefly and thanking those who have supported her. you heard that question right at the end, what is it like to be believed?

and of course that culmination of that case, she has been awarded a quarter of1 million euros after thejury came awarded a quarter of1 million euros after the jury came back in that civil case against conor mcgregor. they have been deliberating for the last little while at the high court in dublin and conor mcgregor facing those accusations in that civil action that he brutally raped and battered her in a hotel in dublin back in december 2018. the irish sports star had previously told the court he had consensual sex with her, but thejury believing her and awarding her that amount of money. and you sawjust her reaction, a very tearful and relieved nikita hand talking to journalists there as that case comes to its conclusion. we get more reaction from dublin on the programme here in the next little while.

breaking news from the us, where a judge in new york has allowed donald trump to seek dismissal of the so?called hush money case against him. donald trump became the first former or sitting president to be convicted of a crime in a trial earlier this year. lawyers for the president? elect had argued for the case to be dismissed as it would have caused what they described as "unconstitutional impediments" in his ability to govern. let's speak to the bbc�*s jessica parker, who's in washington. tell us more about what has been happening in that new york court. , , ., court. there is but a document issued, court. there is but a document issued. just — court. there is but a document issued. just a _ court. there is but a document issued, just a page _ court. there is but a document issued, just a page long, - court. there is but a document issued, just a page long, but l issued, just a page long, but it confirms thejudge issued, just a page long, but it confirms the judge has in issued, just a page long, but it confirms thejudge has in us legal terminology stayed ascendancy, effectively posit indefinitely. there was there to be a sentencing hearing next week. that is now not going to happen. what he is also said is for the two sides, the defence in the prosecution, to submit their filings by early december. so the whole thing

rattles on, but donald trump's team are saying this is a decisive win for them. people may remember it was earlier this year that donald trump was convicted on 3a counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to an adult film star that it was alleged that donald trump has had a sexual encounter with, though he is always denied that. since then, if you were just think, his legal team have recently been seeking to have the case thrown out on the grounds of presidential immunity. the prosecution have resisted this, although there have been indications that they are willing to delay sentencing until the end of donald trump's presidential term. until the end of donald trump's presidentialterm. so until the end of donald trump's presidential term. so of course thatis presidential term. so of course that is quite a long way away. and over offer donald trump, it's been quite a turnaround in terms of the cases he has been facing. there are of course to federal investigations and those are now reportedly being wrapped up, while another

investigation into alleged election interference in georgia has become very bog down. so i think overall donald trump's team will be celebrating this decision, although it is not what they absolutely want. what they are going to continue to push for is to have the case thrown out altogether. is to have the case thrown out altogether-— altogether. let's talk about those picks _ altogether. let's talk about those picks up _ altogether. let's talk about those picks up by _ altogether. let's talk about those picks up by donald i altogether. let's talk about - those picks up by donald trump for his new cabinet. we know that matt gaetz is apple so, he was replaced of in terms of the nomination, the name put forward, and any of the other nominations that look at peril. yeah, so matt gaetz had deftly become the most headline grabbing contentious nomination for donald trump for attorney general and as we have been reporting he withdrew his name yesterday saying his nomination had become a distraction. he faced various allegations including what had been an ongoing ethics committee report

in terms of sexual misconduct, financial misconduct and illicit drug use and he denies wrongdoing. the woman who replaces him as the nominee is pam bondi. she is another and we have a consistent theme, donald trump loyalist. she has known him for many years, defended him in his first senate impeachment hearing. another outspoken supporter of donald trump, the former florida attorney general as well. i think the broad feeling is that hurt nomination is certainly less contentious than that of matt gaetz but i think it's interesting politically that we have been talking all over the last couple of weeks about various pics that have been picked over and are seen as controversial, whether that is robert f kennedyjuniorfor health or pete hegseth for

defence. matt gaetz withdrawing with the blessing of donald trump does suggest that political pressure can work on donald trump if the senators who would have to confirm matt gaetz were suggesting that they thought it was good to be very hard to confirm mr gaetz given some of the allegations that were swirling around, but equally nowwill republican senators feel that donald trump who is essentially still in a very powerful position, will they feel that they won't want to resist too much his other nominations. we don't know for sure and this is of course a process that is going to run into next year but i think there will be still plenty of scrutiny on the existing field of candidates.— scrutiny on the existing field of candidates. jessica poss -- jessica parker _ of candidates. jessica poss -- jessica parker there _ of candidates. jessica poss -- jessica parker there in - jessica parker there in washington, thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are watching bbc news. let's return to a story we showed you a while ago.

a woman in the united states has become the first person to receive a double lung transplant performed by a robot. cheryl mehrkar is currently recovering at the langone health centre in manhattan after the landmark procedure last month. "you were the first in the world." and when you hear something like that, that... i don't know how to describe that. first in the world? what? there's 8 billion people. and i was the first to have that done. all i know, it was a younger male. that's it. when you think about that, that the family is grieving and two weeks later, i'm breathing with his lungs when i walk around. i don't need oxygen to do that. and i can breathe. and sometimes my legs get a little tired, but at least i can still breathe. so it... it's amazing what it's done for me.

it is amazing. let's speak to dr ben challacombe, clinical lead for robotic surgery at london's guy's and st thomas' hospital. thank you so much. just take me through how operations like this are done with robots. yes. this are done with robots. yes, and it's an _ this are done with robots. yes, and it's an amazing _ this are done with robots. yes, and it's an amazing operation l and it's an amazing operation that— and it's an amazing operation that they— and it's an amazing operation that they had performed there. essentially a complex surgery like this— essentially a complex surgery like this for... i'm not a lone surgeon, _ like this for... i'm not a lone surgeon, i'm a neurologist but understood the principles of what — understood the principles of what they have done which is to remove — what they have done which is to remove both of the really poorly _ remove both of the really poorly functioning loans and then— poorly functioning loans and then using the same incision, then using the same incision, the same _ then using the same incision, the same scar, with the donor lungs — the same scar, with the donor lungs inside and then they obviously have to suture the stitch. — obviously have to suture the stitch, the air pipe, the vein inthe— stitch, the air pipe, the vein in the artery on both sides to do those _ in the artery on both sides to do those joints. so it's complex because essentially it's four— complex because essentially it's four parts. you have to take — it's four parts. you have to take anb _ it's four parts. you have to take anb out and then put c in the end— take anb out and then put c in the end and it takes many hours and it's— the end and it takes many hours and it's never been done in

this— and it's never been done in this way— and it's never been done in this way before. in and it's never been done in this way before.— and it's never been done in this way before. in terms of how it's _ this way before. in terms of how it's overseen, - this way before. in terms of how it's overseen, how - this way before. in terms of how it's overseen, how the | how it's overseen, how the surgeon actually does it, how much is preprogrammed, how much is done almost like normal surgery?— surgery? well, i would say robotic surgery _ surgery? well, i would say robotic surgery is - surgery? well, i would say robotic surgery is now - surgery? well, i would say robotic surgery is now the | surgery? well, i would say- robotic surgery is now the new normal— robotic surgery is now the new normal surgery. we have got eight — normal surgery. we have got eight robots here and eight different speciality doing robotic surgery across the whole _ robotic surgery across the whole range of different types of operations you would have heard — of operations you would have heard of _ of operations you would have heard of. these are not autonomous robots. they are not able to— autonomous robots. they are not able to do— autonomous robots. they are not able to do things on their own, but they— able to do things on their own, but they are very clever in that — but they are very clever in that they or we can use little staplers _ that they or we can use little staplers and clips in different energy— staplers and clips in different energy sources, picture in picture _ energy sources, picture in picture and can look at the scans _ picture and can look at the scans so _ picture and can look at the scans. so autonomy will come but feedback, the ability to feel— but feedback, the ability to feel the organs that you were dealing — feel the organs that you were dealing with, will also come but at — dealing with, will also come but at the moment this is just microscopic surgery done with a robot— microscopic surgery done with a robot in— microscopic surgery done with a robot in an _ microscopic surgery done with a robot in an incredibly and precise _ robot in an incredibly and precise 3d way. so

robot in an incredibly and precise 3d way.— robot in an incredibly and precise 3d way. so the skill of the surgeon — precise 3d way. so the skill of the surgeon is _ precise 3d way. so the skill of the surgeon is still _ precise 3d way. so the skill of the surgeon is still absolutely | the surgeon is still absolutely within the equation here. what are the advantages? take me through a little more of the advantages of doing surgery this way. advantages of doing surgery this wa . ~ , , this way. well, the issue with sun e this way. well, the issue with surgery is _ this way. well, the issue with surgery is smaller _ this way. well, the issue with surgery is smaller scars, - this way. well, the issue with surgery is smaller scars, less | surgery is smaller scars, less recovery, _ surgery is smaller scars, less recovery, less blood loss. but with— recovery, less blood loss. but with robotics you can potentially do the operation notjust— potentially do the operation notjust as well potentially do the operation not just as well but maybe better— not just as well but maybe better and can get into little places — better and can get into little places uab could not get in so easily— places uab could not get in so easily with open surgery. and the quality of the image and the quality of the image and the ability to do the suturing and the _ the ability to do the suturing and the stitching is extremely good — and the stitching is extremely good. so, yeah, these surgeons would _ good. so, yeah, these surgeons would have done every single stitch — would have done every single stitch of— would have done every single stitch of all of those six different joints, stitch of all of those six differentjoints, one by one. and — differentjoints, one by one. and meticulously to get that incredible result. it and meticulously to get that incredible result.— incredible result. it is extraordinary. - incredible result. it is| extraordinary. doctor, incredible result. it is.

extraordinary. doctor, i incredible result. it is- extraordinary. doctor, i know you squeeze this into your busy schedule so i'm really grateful for that. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. for that. thank you for “oining us here on bbc news. in the last few minutes vladimir putin has been speaking about the growing tensions between russia and the west in ukraine and says precautions are being taken to construct a new missile and the russian community has to ensure as international leaders have been reacting to the russian attack on the ukrainian city of dnipro using what what i could describe as a conventional intermediate missile. that speak to a bbc russian reporter whojoins us live speak to a bbc russian reporter who joins us live from lobby. tell us more about some of the things that vladimir putin has been saying in the last 50 to 20 minutes.— been saying in the last 50 to 20 minutes. .,, ,., ., 20 minutes. the most important thin it's 20 minutes. the most important thing it's a _ 20 minutes. the most important thing it's a fact _ 20 minutes. the most important thing it's a fact that _ 20 minutes. the most important thing it's a fact that he _ thing it's a fact that he claims it russia has lots of those missiles and that they already producing them in the power plants and pretty soon

those missiles will reach russian forces. so the fact is that this is something, sort of a new weapon as vladimir putin claims it. he says it is nothing compared to anything produced in the soviet times, which i'm sure he debunks all those claims recently made by some analysts that were just do something based on an older soviet missile he claims this one is a new one and he threatens that the mass strike with these missiles could be damage looking like using a strategic nuclear weapon. he also claims that this missile is invincible so that western rivals don't have any ways and means to intercept one. band rivals don't have any ways and means to intercept one. and he is also saying — means to intercept one. and he is also saying they _ means to intercept one. and he is also saying they will - is also saying they will continue to be included in combat conditions will stop thatis combat conditions will stop that is a phrase that will alarm a lot of those western

leaders listening and waiting for developments.— for developments. yes, of course- — for developments. yes, of course. this _ for developments. yes, of course. this all _ for developments. yes, of course. this all sounds - for developments. yes, of i course. this all sounds quite alarming, and also something new from what are prudent, yesterday claiming that once russ will be using those missiles, they will warn civilians and they are about to do so, to afton to move out from the territory where this missile is about to fall. this is something that putin never promised ever before and kind of a strange situation that russia will be doing that. yeah, we have to leave it there but thank you very much. let's return to that news that we had to interrupt a little earlier, a second australian teenager died suspected of methanol poisoning bringing to six a number of foreign tourists who have died after apparently drinking tainted alcohol in laos. natasha moore is a british backpacker who has been staying in the same area this week, and she told us more about how tourists were reacting. so i've just got out of vang vieng now, but i've been

there the last five nights. and it's just been awful. like, all of us backpackers have just been so scared. you feel safest in your own hostel, so then hearing about all of this, it's just awful. give me an idea of the sort of conversations you've been having with other tourists? so, i was in another place in laos just before i went to vang vieng, and when i was actually booked to go to nana hostel and on the train on the way, luckily a girl was sat next to me and she was asking where i was staying and i said nana's and she said, "have you heard what has happened?" i said no and she filled me in, and i cancelled straightaway and got into another hostel. the general consensus is we're alljust really scared. we still tried to make a good time, but we'rejust feeling so sad for the victims and family and friends, you can't even imagine it. and are you travelling on your own or with others? so i'm a solo backpacker. i've done five months

already, a little with my boyfriend, but the rest i've been on my own. and the one place you do feel the safest is in your own hostel, which makes it so much worse. luckily i made friends with a big group, and they were all so nice and we stuck together, only drank drinks if we saw them being opened or bottled. but even then we were scared because if alcohol can be spiked, what else can be spiked? we didn't know whether it was an accident, intentional, we felt very on edge. but tosh up more talking to me earlier on the programme and also a statement from simone white, saying they were devastated by the loss of their beautiful, kind and loving daughter. she was one—of—a—kind to have the most wonderful energy and spark your life and a soul that gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues. that is a statement released from simone white's parents. more of the headlines here on the programme in a moment.

hello there, good evening. well, it's all change weather—wise this weekend to something milder, but a lot more stormy. now, today was a quiet day of weather. still very cold, icy, some snow underfoot, but some blue sky and some sunshine, too. but there will be some severe weather through the weekend from storm bert. widespread gales towards coastal areas, severe gales, heavy rain, and as the heavy rain bumps into the colder air, it's likely to turn to snow. there'll be drifting snow over the tops of the hills. here are some of the snowfall amounts perhaps, and there'll even be blizzard—like conditions. snow to lower levels, toom particularly across parts of the central belt and down through north—east england. here's the storm approaching tonight. now, for a while, temperatures are likely to dip below freezing again, and there will be some snow for a while across northern ireland, parts of wales and north—west england. perhaps temperatures in eastern scotland could dip as low as —12 celsius, the coldest it's been all week. but temperatures will be rising as the storm pushes its way further northwards and eastwards. and the snow will be quickly

turning back to rain. there'll be a lot of added snow melt, and the rain continues to pile into western wales, north—west england and south—west england, too. there could possibly be some flooding here. but the air is mild. 13—15 celsius towards the south, still cold across scotland. and this is where we have our amber weather warning. across part of the grampians, there could be as much is a0 centimetres of snow. and that will drift around with those strong, gusty winds. widespread gales across the whole of the uk. some irish sea coasts and towards north sea—facing coasts, there can be gusts of wind of 60—70 mph. the winds will also be picking up across channel coasts, even towards the south—east of england as we head through sunday morning. and this is where the bulk of the rain is likely to be on sunday, across central, southern england, stretching across to south—east england. some heavy downpours at times. it's still windy up through these irish sea coasts as well. more showers packing into western scotland and into northern ireland, but also some sunny spells around. and by then, we're all into the milder—feeling air.

temperatures peaking between 9—15 degrees celsius on sunday afternoon. but it's staying stormy towards the north as we head into monday. this is still storm bert, this area of low pressure. tight squeeze on the isobars in the north, lightening winds, though, further south. and there will be some sunshine on offer into the start of next week. bye—bye for now.

let's turn to our main headlines is half hour. a woman who accused collette mcgregor of raping her in a dublin hotel six years ago has won a civil case against the irish mixed martial arts fighter. i civil case against the irish mixed martial arts fighter.— martial arts fighter. i would like to start off— martial arts fighter. i would like to start off by — martial arts fighter. i would like to start off by saying _ martial arts fighter. i would like to start off by saying i _ martial arts fighter. i would like to start off by saying i am - to start off by saying i am overwhelmed by the support i have received from everybody. the government says it will overhaul the leasehold system ? affecting around five million properties in england and wales ? by the end of the current parliament. the highly anticipated global release of wicked for that we will speak to the executives of some cinemas. first all the sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. new manchester united head coach, ruben amorim has told a packed news conference that he believes in the players at the club.

it's the first time the portuguese coach has spoken to the british