judith moritz, many thanks. more than 50,000 rail workers are on strike, causing the biggest disruption on the railways this year. 0nly around 11% of the usual saturday services are running. it's the first time four rail unions have taken action on the same day in their long—running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions. 0ur transport correspondent katy austin reports. shutters down, empty platforms — it's the most disruptive train strike yet. i've got no train so now i'm having to... i've just rung my husband, he's got to drive two hours, well, longer than that, down to here, to pick me up. everything has gone up in price so they need to be paid for the work they are doing. but i don't like the strike, no. so, for my money, 100% behind them, all power to them, - and i hope they win. karen from staffordshire is running the london marathon tomorrow to raise money for the hospital where she had breast cancer treatment. news of the strike meant changing her plans to get there. so, for me, thisjust blew everyth

judith moritz reports. suspected of murdering the babies in her care, lucy letby wrote this note which was found after her arrest. it was shown to the jury today. she scrawled, "i haven't done anything wrong." but also, "i'm a horrible, evil person. "i killed them on purpose, because i'm not good enough." and in capital letters, "i am evil, i did this." her defence team accepts that she wrote it and say it's a note of anguish, not of guilt. the note was found when the nurse's house in chester was searched by police. they also found other notes, in which she protested her innocence. the prosecution case against lucy letby is that her malign hand was at work on the neonatal unit, but her defence team say she was a dedicated nurse who loved herjob, trained hard, and didn't harm the children in her care. outlining his case for the defence, ben myers kc told the jury that anybody who approaches this trial as a done deal has got it very, very wrong. he said that lucy letby faces a litany of allegations that are n

judith moritz reports. it's six weeks since olivia pratt—korbel was killed — six weeks of her family grieving... i feel i'm on it as well. ..and the police hunting for the gunman responsible. at last, a breakthrough, announced at a hastily arranged media conference. the crown prosecution service has authorised merseyside police to charge thomas cashman, 3a, from grenadier drive, west derby, with the murder of nine—year—old olivia pratt—korbel, also the attempted murder ofjoseph nee and cheryl korbel on the 22nd of august 2022. olivia was shot when a gunman burst into her home in the liverpool suburb of dovecot in august. he'd been chasing another man when they both ran through the front door, which olivia's mum cheryl had opened, wanting to see why there was so much noise outside. olivia's death has shattered the community where she lived. another man, a0—year—old paul russell, has also been charged in connection with the shooting, accused of assisting an offender. both men will appear at live

judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. the chancellor, kwasi kwarteng, has now agreed to set out his plan for balancing the government's finances on 31st october. that's nearly a month earlier than he'd originally intended. the economic statement is expected to give details of the chancellor's plans to pay for £15 billion worth of tax cuts, as well as proposals to reduce debt. our political editor chris mason is at westminster. what is the government trying to do here? why the change of date? it is about reassurance — why the change of date? it is about reassurance or _ why the change of date? it is about reassurance or so _ why the change of date? it is about reassurance or so they _ why the change of date? it is about reassurance or so they hope. - reassurance or so they hope. reassurance they know what they are doing, reassurance the numbers add up doing, reassurance the numbers add up and we can expect spending cuts to come in that statement in a few weeks' time. there has been other evidence of the government attem

judith moritz reporting. postal workers have become a further strike over pay and conditions in the run—up to christmas. royal mail says it needs to modernise its service because it is already losing £1 million a day, but the communication workers union says it will mean a poorer service for customers and threatens jobs. there have been fresh missile strikes overnight near the ukrainian capital kyiv and on the southern city of mykolaiv. it comes as 1a nato countries, including the uk, pledged to send advanced anti—aircraft weapons to ukraine. well, earlier in the conflict, another city in the south, mariupol, was devastated by repeated russian bombardment, and a core of ukrainian defenders spent weeks besieged in the azovstal steelworks. after being told to surrender, they were taken captive by russia, and then unexpectedly released in a prisoner exchange last month. our kyiv correspondent hugo bachega has met one of them and joins us now from kyiv. reeta, i think few believed that those fighters would e

judith moritz, bbc news, saddleworth. soldiers have announced a coup, claiming to "throw that leader. an army captain took to tb to say that he add denounced the leader. protests have broken out across the country over the security situation. it's less than two months now until the football world cup kicks off in qatar. excitement is building for supporters all around the globe. a lucky few will travel to see the matches in person — while many more will be watching on television. but some are showing their enthusiasm in a very particular way — as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. football fever on a somewhat smaller scale. football fever on a somewhat smallerscale. before football fever on a somewhat smaller scale. before every major tournament people start collecting stickup books. but this year, for some, it has not been that easy. in argentina there is a major shortage of stickers. shops have sold out, albums are yet to be filled, however some are luckier than others. translation: ' , others. translation: ~ , ., ot

our north of england correspondent judith moritz reports. it's six weeks since olivia pratt—korbel was killed, six weeks of her family grieving... i'm on it, as well. ..and the police hunting for the gunman responsible. tonight, at last, a breakthrough, announced at a hastily arranged media conference. the crown prosecution service has authorised merseyside police to charge thomas cashman, 34, from grenadier drive, west derby, with the murder of nine—year—old olivia pratt—korbel. also, the attempted murder ofjoseph nee and cheryl korbel on the 22nd of august, 2022. olivia was shot when a gunman burst into her home in in the liverpool suburb of dovecot in august. he'd been chasing another man and they both ran through the front door which olivia's mum cheryl had opened, wanting to see why there was so much noise outside. olivia's death has shattered the community where she lived. another man, paul russell, has also been charged. another man, paul russell, has also been char-ed. both another man, paul russell, has also been charged. an

judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. police searching for a 19—year—old who has not been seen for more than three years say they have found human remains. leah croucher disappeared while walking to work in milton keynes in february 2019. thames valley police say they have launched a murder investigation. our correspondentjo black is in milton keynes for us. tell us more about what has been going on there today.— going on there today. yes, leah croucher went _ going on there today. yes, leah croucher went missing - going on there today. yes, leah croucher went missing on - going on there today. yes, leah croucher went missing on the i going on there today. yes, leah l croucher went missing on the 15th going on there today. yes, leah - croucher went missing on the 15th of february 2019, she was captured on cctvjust february 2019, she was captured on cctv just after 8am around february 2019, she was captured on cctvjust after 8am around half february 2019, she was captured on cctv just after 8am around half a mile fro

judith moritz, bbc news, saddleworth. it's less than two months now until the football world cup kicks off in qatar. excitement is building for supporters all around the globe. a lucky few will travel to see the matches in person — while many more will be watching on television. but some are showing their enthusiasm in a very particular way — as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. football fever on a somewhat smaller scale. before every major tournament, people start collecting sticker books. but this year, for some, it's not been that easy. in argentina, there is a major shortage of stickers. shops have sold out, albums are yet to be filled. however, some are luckier than others. translation: my dad said, "i hope we get messi". - he opened it, and we got messi. i went around the house, shouting, "i got messi! "i got messi!" here in buenos aires, they are literally queueing around the block. desperate times call for desperate measures. translation: i arrived at 5:00 in the morning and discovered l they are selling stick

thank you, judith moritz reporting. king charles has sent his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the irish village of creeslough, when an explosion at a petrol station left ten people dead. a parish priest in the village, in county donegal, says it's been hit by a "tsunami of grief". the youngest of the victims was a five year—old girl who'd gone to the shop at the petrol station with herfather to buy a birthday cake for her mother. charlotte gallagher reports. a teenage girl buying ice cream on her way to a sleepover. a devoted son, a carer for his elderly mum, picking up her prescription. a father and his five—year—old daughter out buying a birthday cake after school. shauna was a playful, energetic little girl and why we remember her is that she always asked for a lollipop. she always asked for a lollipop, which is a tradition in community pharmacies. shauna was one of those children who always came in and asked for a lollipop and sometimes her mum would try and talk her out of it. so looking at her ph

moritz reports. it is six weeks since 0livia pratt carbello was killed, six weeks of her family grieving. i am on it as well. and - weeks of her family grieving. i am on it as well. and the - am on it as well. and the iolice am on it as well. and the police hunting _ am on it as well. and the police hunting for - am on it as well. and the police hunting for the - am on it as well. and the - police hunting for the gunman responsible. tonight, alas, breakthrough announced at a hastily arranged media conference.— conference. the crown prosecution _ conference. the crown prosecution service i conference. the crown | prosecution service has authorised merseyside police to charge thomas cashman, 34, from grenadier drive in west derby, with the murder of nine—year—old 0livia pratt—korbel and also the attempted murder of cheryl korbel. . . , attempted murder of cheryl korbel. ., , ., ., korbel. olivia was shot when a iunman korbel. olivia was shot when a gunman burst _ korbel. olivia was shot when a

judith moritz reporting- — defence ministers from the nato military alliance are meeting in brussels discussing how to step up support for ukraine after this week's russian missile attacks there. nato's secretary general has said sending more air defences to the country is a top priority. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, has called for what he calls an "air shield" against future russian attacks. our correspondent in kyiv is hugo bachega. has there been more russian attacks on ukraine today?— on ukraine today? yeah, in zaporizhzhia, _ on ukraine today? yeah, in zaporizhzhia, a _ on ukraine today? yeah, in zaporizhzhia, a city - on ukraine today? yeah, in zaporizhzhia, a city in i on ukraine today? yeah, in zaporizhzhia, a city in the l on ukraine today? yeah, in i zaporizhzhia, a city in the south on ukraine today? yeah, in - zaporizhzhia, a city in the south of the country that has become a frequent target by russian forces. officials say a rocket hit a residential area overnight, creating a huge crater. there were no casualties. this morning, seven people were killed afte

our north of england corrrespondent judith moritz reports. lucy letby worked with particularly vulnerable babies, those born prematurely or with illnesses. her job was to give them the most tender care. now she is accused of murdering seven and trying to kill another ten who survived. in the year between june another ten who survived. in the year betweenjune 2015 another ten who survived. in the year between june 2015 and june 2016, the babies for all patients in the neonatal section of the countess of chester maternity unit. the person —— the prosecution said it is a hospital like many others in the uk, but unlike those there was a poisoner at work. lucy letby entered not guilty pleas to all the charges before the trial got underway. the iury before the trial got underway. the jury was told that the babies' deaths and collapses were not naturally occurring tragedies, they were the work of the woman in the dock, the constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse. the prosecution said the methods by which the 17 babies

judith moritz, bbc news. a leading expert in infectious diseases has said the uk's fight against the monkeypox virus is looking "very positive". professor neil ferguson said vaccines and vigilance have helped to drive down the number of cases from its peak injuly — to below a hundred new infections a week. our global health correspondent naomi grimley has more. painful lesions, long self—isolation periods and queues for vaccines. for many men who have sex with men, the monkey pox outbreak has caused huge worry, and even triggered a worldwide public health emergency as cases multiplied on a scale not seen it before. sam, who has asked us to keep his identity private, fell ill with the virus in the first few weeks of the outbreak. since then, he's noticed a change in the social scene he's part of. lots of gay men are having a lot less sex, and are having sex with less people. some people i know have been avoiding going out to places like sex clubs. the idea of going out, meeting lots of people in the dark,

moritz is there for us now. joining me now from manchester is our correspondent, rowan bridge. bring us up—to—date on what is happened today? bring us up-to-date on what is happened today?— bring us up-to-date on what is happened today? friends and family of lu happened today? friends and family of lucy letby — happened today? friends and family of lucy letby of _ happened today? friends and family of lucy letby of those _ happened today? friends and family of lucy letby of those who - happened today? friends and family of lucy letby of those who have - of lucy letby of those who have accused had appeared in front of a glass wall. they told the jury is that they would have an instinctive reaction of horror to the charges that lucy letby faces. they told them it was theirjob to put emotions to one side and judge that the case on the facts as they saw them. at the start the prosecution case explained as he put it there had been a poison or at work in the neonatal unit but the at the countess of chester hos

our north of england corrrespondent judith moritz reports. lucy letby worked with particularly vulnerable babies, those born prematurely or with illnesses. herjob was to give them the most tender care. now she is accused of murdering seven and trying to kill another ten who survived. in the year betweenjune 2015 and june 2016, the babies were all patients in the neonatal section of the countess of chester maternity unit. the prosecution said it is a hospital like many others in the uk, but unlike those there was a poisoner at work. lucy letby entered not guilty pleas to all the charges before the trial got underway. the jury was told that the babies�* deaths and collapses were not naturally occurring tragedies, they were the work of the woman in the dock, who was the constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse. the prosecution said the methods by which the 17 babies were harmed or killed varied. sometimes they were injected with air, sometimes with milk or anotherfluid, sometimes it was insulin. the jury was shown a l

judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. the prime suspect in the disappearance of madeleine mccann has been charged in germany with unrelated sexual offences. christian brueckner, who's a convicted sex offender, is accused of five offences between 2000 and 2017 in portugal. german prosecutors say the investigation into her disappearance is ongoing separately. in the uk a big constitutional question. the highest court — the supreme court — has been asked to decide whether the scottish parliament can hold another referendum on independence without the agreement of the uk government in westminster. scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon wants to have another vote next year but the uk government has said no. our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie has been outside the supreme court in london. today was the turn of the scottish government to put forward its legal argument. this was done by the lord advocate. she asked the supreme court if the scottish parliament could hold a legal independent night independence ref

her defence team are expected to outline their case tomorrow. judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. the nhs in england has declared an amber alert for critically low blood supplies for the first time. a spokeswoman said there were just over three days worth of overall blood stocks, but supplies of o—type blood, which is important during emergencies and when someone's blood type is unknown, had fallen to below two days. dr gail miflin is the chief medical officer at nhs blood and transplant what we really need people to do is if you are an existing donor and you are group o if you are an existing donor and you are group 0 positive or negative, we would really like you to make an appointment and an eight in one of our centres, we are welcoming people to all of our centres. the best way to all of our centres. the best way to do that is through our app and we are asking specifically for existing donors because we already know your blood group and we know that you know the what it takes to donate, so that's a key message today. if you are an existing donor, we would love to see you if

our north of england correspondent judith moritz is there for us now. joining me now from manchester is our correspondent, rowan bridge. what did we hear in court today? the court was packed at manchester crown court as friends and family of those lucy letby is accused of attempting to murder lined up to get attempting to murder lined up to get a seat on the court this morning. the case began with the judge in the case outlining to the jury the instinctive reaction of horror that he would expect them to have to the charges but he told them that their job was to put emotions to one side and judge the case on the facts in front of them. this afternoon we had the beginning of the prosecution outlining the case. mickjohnson accused lucy letby of murdering seven children and attempting to murder a further ten. he said she had been a constant and malevolent presence in the neonatal hospital in chester and went on to say how the hospital itself had noticed over a period of a year or more an unexpected rise in the number of catastrophic collapses of deaths of premature babies at the neonatal

our correspondent judith moritz reports from manchester crown court. the prosecution are continuing to lay out the case against lucy letby. this is a case involving 17 babies. we are not identifying them, we are not naming those babies because of reporting restrictions imposed here, so we are referring to them instead by letters in the alphabet and a 17 babies means babies a— by letters in the alphabet and a 17 babies means babies a- q. the prosecution has been going through each case of those babies are one by one and thejury each case of those babies are one by one and the jury hearing more detail now about the way in which the prosecution allege lucy letby attack them. we heard that three of the babies died and one had a life—threatening episode with any two—week period injune 2015. and we have been told about a range of different methods that the prosecution say lucy letby carried out these attacks, including injecting air into the babies, which proved fatal, and, in some cases, injecting insulin. we have also been told that a lucy letby sear

judith moritz, bbc news, saddleworth. ukraine has applied for fast—track membership of nato, after vladimir putin formally declared four regions in eastern ukraine a5 ru55ian. our correspondent hugo bachega is in kyiv. talk u5 talk us through the response from ukraine to what has been announced in moscow. the ukrainians are saying nothing really— the ukrainians are saying nothing really changes, everything that happened in moscow yesterday was a farce with _ happened in moscow yesterday was a farce with no legitimacy, no legal implication. they say that going ahead _ implication. they say that going ahead with the counteroffensive to take back— ahead with the counteroffensive to take back territory which is now an russian _ take back territory which is now an russian hands. president zelensky last night— russian hands. president zelensky last night said that the path was difficult — last night said that the path was difficult but he was confident that victory _ difficult but he was confident that victory would c