and as smart as possible. it's in no—one�*s interest that we see escalation. translation: we will make our own decisions on our own. _ and the state of israel will do what it needs to defend itself. a former chairman of royal mail and post office, allan leighton, says the horizon it scandal is unbelievable and apologises for what happened to sub—postmasters while he was chairman. children's doctors are calling for it to be made illegal to smack children in england and northern ireland, saying current laws are �*unjust and dangerously vague'. inactivity among working age people in the uk due to long—term sickness is set to increase further over the coming years, new research suggests. sport and for a full round—up, here's the bbc sport centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. a huge night ahead in the champions league — with manchester city and arsenal potentially on course to meet

in the champions league semi—finals. they're both in quarterfinal second leg action tonight. arsenal are bayern munich. and city are at home — against real madrid. their tie finely poised, after the first leg finished 3—3. manager pep guardiola says his side are well prepared to secure the crown for a second consecutive year. in this time of games, i am not talking winning or losing, i am talking being present and being who we are. we have always had the feeling that we are prepared, prepared to perform well at maximum, our best. otherwise you can't reach the semifinals against teams like madrid. arsenal have a tough task away against bayern munich after their 2—2 draw last week. this is bayern�*s last chance of silverware this season after bayer leverkusen ended their long run of bundesliga titles. arsenal are hoping to reach the semi—finals of the champions league for the first time in 15 years. but, hoping to stop them is former spurs man harry kane.

i had a lot of history with arsenal playing for spurs are also many years and that north london derby was probably the biggest game of the season every year in the premier league, but will be there is a different moment. i am playing for a different team obviously, so my focus is on trying to beat a really good side in arsenal. i of course know there will be a lot of spurs fans watching as well hoping that bayern munich go through tomorrow night, but i can't focus on that. rangers can move to within a point of scottish premiership leaders celtic, with a win at dundee tonight. it's a game that has been called off twice due to the state of the dens park pitch. rangers accused dundee of "negligence" when last week's game was postponed for a second time due to a waterlogged playing surface. but it's since passed an inspection, and following a favourable weather forecast the match is on. it is 200% sure that we are going to play so they know the weather forecast, probably, and it is certain that the pitch will cope

with that. so it is good for us also to know where we will play, how we can prepare that and it is now a go—ahead for this game, i think. everybody, people from dundee, people from rangers are happy that we can finally play this game. fiften we can finally play this game. often at the in the — we can finally play this game. often at the in the second _ we can finally play this game. often at the in the second round - we can finally play this game. often at the in the second round of- we can finally play this game. often at the in the second round of the barcelona open. returning from a long—term injury and what could be his final year before retirement, the 22 time grand slam winners service broken in the first game and eventually lost the first set by 7—5 games. 37—year—old looked increasingly tired during the next set that went 6—1 in possibly what could be his last appearance in the barcelona open. wales' most capped hooker and oldest captain ken owens has retired at the age of 37. owens played 91 internationals for wales — and five tests

for the british and irish lions on two tours. he won four six nations titles, including two grand slams, appeared at three world cups and won a league title with club side scarlets. owens has been sidelined for almost a year with a back injury — and said it might not be the dream ending — but his career was more than he could have dreamt of. welsh cyclist steve williams has scored the biggest win of his career, with victory at the one—day classic fleche wallonne race in belgium. the 27—year—old from aberystwyth, who enjoyed a breakthrough win at the tour down under at the start of the season, broke clear on the final climb. he held on to finish clear of the peloton to become the first british man in history to win the race. that is all the support from us for now. and that's all the sport for now.

she was wrongfully dealt when she was pregnant and her inquiry heard the legal team struggle to get access to data that they hoped would help clear her name. our correspondent is at the inquiry. following all of the latest developments us now so bring us up—to—date. the developments us now so bring us up-to-date-_ up-to-date. the question to witnesses — up-to-date. the question to witnesses today _ up-to-date. the question to witnesses today have - up-to-date. the question to witnesses today have been l up-to-date. the question to - witnesses today have been revolving around what they knew about the horizon it system as well as how investigations and prosecutions were conducted. what has just wrapped up is the testimony of allan leighton often referred to here in the uk as a city grandee because of the high—profile positions that he is held. one of those being chair of royal mail beginning in 2002. so those were the early years of the scandal. this is how he started his

testimony. when tappan has been a terrible thing _ when tappan has been a terrible thing for— when tappan has been a terrible thing for everyone involved particularly the sub—postmasters, the sub—postmistress is. it is unbelievable that it has happened and i_ unbelievable that it has happened and liust— unbelievable that it has happened and ijust wanted to say that i am sorry— and ijust wanted to say that i am sorry that — and ijust wanted to say that i am sorry that the elements of thought that occurred in my tenure at the royal— that occurred in my tenure at the royal mail, i am sorry for that. now, he was asked about his knowledge of prosecutions by the post office and he said he was aware that the post office had the power of initiating prosecutions. not all executives have actually said that. just last week, alan cook who is managing director of the post office, so intimately involved with the running of the post office said, he did not know, for many years, that the post office had that power. in terms of a key focus for the royal mail's board, allan leighton said it was also the financial

situation, the way he described it, the post office situation was, quote, pretty dire. but he said he never had been told of any problems with horizon it as far as he could remember. we also heard as you mention, from john longman, a post office investigator investigations of course being a big part of the scandal and he was the investigator in the case of seema misra who was sent to prison when she was eight weeks pregnant. he said, he, in hindsight, would have done things differently, even i have at the time, he had been told the horizon system was robust. let's take a listen even though, by the way, seema misra did not quite accept that apology. it was not disclosed in seema misra's— it was not disclosed in seema misra's trial, the receipts of a mismatch_ misra's trial, the receipts of a mismatch bug was not disclosed in seema _ mismatch bug was not disclosed in seema misra's trial, without deliberate?—

seema misra's trial, without deliberate? ., ., , ., deliberate? not on my part, no because i— deliberate? not on my part, no because i do — deliberate? not on my part, no because i do not _ deliberate? not on my part, no because i do not think - deliberate? not on my part, no because i do not think i - deliberate? not on my part, no because i do not think i was - deliberate? not on my part, no i because i do not think i was aware of it _ because i do not think i was aware of it [_ because i do not think i was aware of it. ., ., ,~' because i do not think i was aware of it. ., ., i. ., of it. i will now ask you, what did ou do of it. i will now ask you, what did you do wrong in _ of it. i will now ask you, what did you do wrong in seema _ of it. i will now ask you, what did you do wrong in seema misra's . of it. i will now ask you, what did - you do wrong in seema misra's case? welcome _ you do wrong in seema misra's case? welcome at _ you do wrong in seema misra's case? welcome at the time i didn't think i had done _ welcome at the time i didn't think i had done anything _ welcome at the time i didn't think i had done anything wrong, but - had done anything wrong, but obviously. _ had done anything wrong, but obviously, since _ had done anything wrong, but obviously, since the _ had done anything wrong, but obviously, since the inquiry. had done anything wrong, but obviously, since the inquiry it| obviously, since the inquiry it seems — obviously, since the inquiry it seems that— obviously, since the inquiry it seems that the _ obviously, since the inquiry it seems that the disclosure - obviously, since the inquiry it seems that the disclosure of| obviously, since the inquiry it- seems that the disclosure of other potential— seems that the disclosure of other potential horizon _ seems that the disclosure of other potential horizon integrity - seems that the disclosure of other potential horizon integrity issues i potential horizon integrity issues should _ potential horizon integrity issues should have _ potential horizon integrity issues should have been _ potential horizon integrity issues should have been named - potential horizon integrity issues should have been named on- potential horizon integrity issues should have been named on to l potential horizon integrity issues l should have been named on to the defence _ i have to lie to my eldest son, that mum is pregnant. that's why she is special hospital. and i refuse to go out because i'm really blessed and really proud of my family. i didn't want her to know that i'm related to them. each and every person is responsible for the scandal. the government which play a vital

part imposing the horizon under the post office. each and every official, either how big or small they were, which was a part of the scandal. we need to put them behind the bar to prove that system does work in the country. nobody can take law in their own hand like the post office did. what so many victims have been saying is that they want accountability and they want to see people responsible face prosecution. but that does not what this inquiry is concerned with. this inquiry is trying to understand how, what is widely seen as the most widespread miscarriage ofjustice in the united kingdom, and its history, could possibly happened.— kingdom, and its history, could possibly happened. thank you very much. let's turn out to the war in ukraine. for more than two years bbc news russian service and its partners have been gathering and verifying the identities of russian fighters killed in ukraine. they have now established more than 50,000 have died.

that figure is eight times more than the losses russia has acknowledged. the data collected by the bbc reveals that more russian fighters died in the second year of the war than the first — a reflection of how russian tactics have changed over time, and confirmation that the human cost of the war has only risen. lead investigator olga ivshina has more. in russia, the number of war graves is growing fast. 5th of november... 9th of november... listing the dates of death, volunteers have sent us this video from the city of vladivostok. here is the same cemetery from above. in the last two years, it has grown twice in size a pattern seen in graveyards all over russia. since the start of the invasion the bbc and its partners have verified photos of graves, social media posts and news articles to track down the number of russians killed fighting in ukraine. so far we have verified 50,000 names.

our data shows that russia has lost 23% more troops in the second year of the invasion compared to the first. this reflects a shift in tactics. at first russia was relying on its professional soldiers. but since january 2023, russia started sending thousands of inexperienced troops to what soldiers called themselves the meat grinder. the russians are now able to bring a lot more firepower to bear against the ukrainian positions when they go into the offensive. as long as the ukrainians are unable to shift that balance of firepower, the meat grinder tactics will very likely continue to be successful in taking limited areas of ground across the front. prisoners are recruited and sent to war and have been crucial to these tactics. in return for six months

on the frontline they were promised freedom, if they survived. to understand the average military lifespan of a prison recruit, we have tracked down more than 1,000 inmates from the day they signed up to the day they died. our data reveals that more than half of the prisoners in our sample have died within just 12 weeks of arriving at the frontline. the prisoners will be sent first to the ukrainian positions and that would force the ukrainians to reveal themselves and engage possibly with artillery. the real units would then be able to conduct their own offensive against already pre—weakenedd ukrainian positions. against already pre—weakened ukrainian positions. whilst our account only includes deaths recorded publicly, data from cemeteries across russia suggests the true figure is likely to be twice as high. asked for comment, the russian government did not respond. as russian forces continue to push on, pictures of new graves keep coming every day.

children's doctors are calling for it to be made illegal to smack children in england and northern ireland, without any exceptions. it is currently banned in scotland and wales, but a report published today by the royal college of paediatrics and child health demands that a defence of �*reasonable punishment�* be removed from all uk legislation. with me is professor andrew roland, officer for child protection at royal college of paediatrics and child health. thank you for your time today. so why does the current law and not work from your perspective? we need e . ual work from your perspective? we need equal protection _ work from your perspective? we need equal protection for _ work from your perspective? we need equal protection for england - work from your perspective? we need equal protection for england and - equal protection for england and northern ireland children to match that what they already have in wales and scotland. currently children are able in circumstances through a legal loophole to be physically punished at home and that is not right, it�*s not good for their health and not good for their rights. i health and not good for their riahts. ~' .,

health and not good for their riahts. ~ ., ,, health and not good for their riahts. ~ ., i. ., health and not good for their riahts. ~' ., ,, ., ., health and not good for their riahts. ~ ., ., ., ., ~' rights. i know you have done work lookin: rights. i know you have done work looking into _ rights. i know you have done work looking into what _ rights. i know you have done work looking into what the _ rights. i know you have done work looking into what the long-term i looking into what the long—term impacts of machen, a physical punishment are on children. tell us what you found. we punishment are on children. tell us what you found.— punishment are on children. tell us what you found. we have conducted a comprehensive _ what you found. we have conducted a comprehensive scientific _ what you found. we have conducted a comprehensive scientific review - what you found. we have conducted a comprehensive scientific review of. comprehensive scientific review of the evidence that exists. there is no need for debate on this any more. physical punishment of children harms their health, it places them at increased risk of until health problems in the future, it worsens their behaviour, rather than making their behaviour, rather than making their behaviour, rather than making their behaviour better and it actually places them, potentially, up actually places them, potentially, up to seven times more likely to suffer really serious physical assault in the home.- suffer really serious physical assault in the home. seven times more likely- _ assault in the home. seven times more likely. compared _ assault in the home. seven times more likely. compared to - assault in the home. seven times more likely. compared to a - assault in the home. seven times more likely. compared to a child | assault in the home. seven times - more likely. compared to a child who has not been — more likely. compared to a child who has not been physically _ more likely. compared to a child who has not been physically punished - more likely. compared to a child who has not been physically punished at l has not been physically punished at home, studies show that children are up home, studies show that children are up to seven times more likely to suffer from serious physical assault compared to those that have not been physically punished. so compared to those that have not been physically punished.— physically punished. so the implication _ physically punished. so the implication is _ physically punished. so the implication is that - physically punished. so the implication is that if - physically punished. so the i implication is that if someone physically punished. so the - implication is that if someone is prepared to physically punish their

child, to smack their child, that that escalates, that it may get more out of control. the that escalates, that it may get more out of control.— out of control. the study show that that violence _ out of control. the study show that that violence towards _ out of control. the study show that that violence towards children - out of control. the study show that that violence towards children can l that violence towards children can escalate. we really need for those children in england and northern ireland the protection they have in scotland and wales. find ireland the protection they have in scotland and wales.— scotland and wales. and scotland illeual in scotland and wales. and scotland illegal in 2020 _ scotland and wales. and scotland illegal in 2020 and _ scotland and wales. and scotland illegal in 2020 and in _ scotland and wales. and scotland illegal in 2020 and in wales - scotland and wales. and scotland| illegal in 2020 and in wales 2022, so relatively recently, but is there evidence from scotland and wales about the level of impact that making this physical punishment illegal is having? irate making this physical punishment illegal is having?— making this physical punishment illegal is having? we are hearing from paediatricians _ illegal is having? we are hearing from paediatricians that - illegal is having? we are hearing from paediatricians that this - illegal is having? we are hearing from paediatricians that this has | from paediatricians that this has made a difference to their interactions with children in clinic and their abilities to work with parents in a more positive way. it is probably too early for robust scientific studies to look at the outcome in scotland and wales, but we can look elsewhere around the world because it 65 countries have already prohibited physical punishment of children. let�*s look at germany for example. a 30% of children reported physical punishment before the law change, thatis

punishment before the law change, that is down to about 3% afterwards. in sweden, more than 50% of children were physically punished until the law change and now it is not too a few tiny percent. this has a lasting impact on children�*s help. few tiny percent. this has a lasting impact on children's help.- impact on children's help. looking u . impact on children's help. looking u- at the impact on children's help. looking up at the government _ impact on children's help. looking up at the government in _ impact on children's help. looking i up at the government in westminster is saying about this, it says it is monitoring the situation in scotland and wales, but it has not said anything about looking at a change in the law yet. so what is your message to the government? in here and might not?— and might not? there is no need for further monitoring _ and might not? there is no need for further monitoring here _ and might not? there is no need for further monitoring here or— and might not? there is no need for further monitoring here or northern | further monitoring here or northern ireland, the science are clear. it is a violation of children�*s rights in it harms their health to continue to permit, in any circumstances, physical punishment at home. follow the example of scotland and wales which have taken the steps to protect children and health and rights. protect children and health and riahts. �* , ., protect children and health and riahts. �*, ., ., �* rights. let's get that here. you've sent a rights. let's get that here. you've spent a year _ rights. let's get that here. you've spent a year and _ rights. let's get that here. you've spent a year and you _ rights. let's get that here. you've spent a year and you and - rights. let's get that here. you've spent a year and you and your - spent a year and you and your colleagues have put a lot of work into this. irate colleagues have put a lot of work into this. ~ ., , , ., into this. we have. this is a cooperative, _ into this. we have. this is a cooperative, balanced, - into this. we have. this is a cooperative, balanced, fair, unbiased review. the science here is fairly clear in the time for debate

is over. . ~ fairly clear in the time for debate is over. ., ,, , ., fairly clear in the time for debate is over. . ~' , ., , fairly clear in the time for debate is over. ., ,, i. , . fairly clear in the time for debate is over. . ~ ,, , . ., is over. thank you very much for our is over. thank you very much for your time. _ is over. thank you very much for your time, professor. _ since the pandemic, inactivity among uk people of working age due to long term sickness has soared, pushing up the benefits bill and holding back the wider economy. new official figures this week showed another rise. that has all prompted a major "back to work" push from the government. but new research from the health foundation seen by bbc newsnight suggests the inactivity crisis is set to get considerably worse over the coming years, not better. newsnight�*s ben chu reports. my health caught up with me. it was that and it was nothing else and it was the worst thing in the world for me to stop working. i hated it. i still hate it. it's mainly my autism and my anxiety that comes around with the autism as well. they are the main reason that i qualify for the benefits that i do. two faces of economic

inactivity in 202a. but will there be many more in the decades to come? since the covid pandemic began in early 2020, inactivity among working—age people — that�*s those aged between 16 and 64 — has risen by around 770,000, and the biggest driver of that rise in inactivity has, by far, been the rise in long—term sickness. that has been a brake on the economy and prompted the creation of a major back to work programme from government ministers. but if ministers were hoping for a rapid turnaround, here is a reality check. the health foundation think tank projects that the number of working age adults suffering from major illness — whether diabetes, depression, chronic pain or heart problems — is actually set to rise significantly over the coming decades, in fact, by an extra 700,000 by 2040. fran springfield, a nurse for decades, was forced to give up work while she was in her 50s due

to back problems that left her needing to use a wheelchair. the sadness of it all has been is that there is no real great desire to go back and work part—time. i only know of one other nurse in the uk who is a wheelchair user and still works. and troublingly, new research from the foundation seen by newsnight suggests 80% of that 700,000 projected increase in working—age people suffering from major illness is expected to be from among the least well off part of the english population, shown on the left. a lot of people who live in more deprived areas actually, you know, as we saw in the pandemic, many of them are key workers, many of them are the people that are absolutely vital to keeping our economy going, so we can�*t kind of discount a whole segment of the workforce, simply because they are poor. ijust enjoyed it since, for as long as i can remember. i always know when my mental health is going downhill when i stop doing my art. charlotte, a 26—year—old single mother, is economically inactive

because of her mental health problems, including anxiety and borderline personality disorder. i think if someone is struggling financially... and i know this is an extreme example, but if someone is struggling to feed themselves and their child at the same time, then that is going to cause you a massive amount of depression and anxiety. i need more mental health support. so what sort of mental health support are you getting at the moment, then? ..have appointments with a mental health nurse, but i have only had one so far. i have not had any other support for a long time. so that is one in the last year or...? over what period? it would be the past couple of years. in an ideal world, i would be able to see somebody potentially once a week. the policy challenge when it comes to inactivity is twofold — to stop people getting into it, but also to help people out of it. ben chu, bbc news.

more on that story for our uk viewers on newsnight tonight. adidas says it expects to make profits of more than $740 million this year. the company has had a turbulent 18 months after cut ties with the wrapper, kanye west. after its break—up of partnership with kanye west, things are looking up for adidas. kanye west, things are looking up foradidas. in kanye west, things are looking up for adidas. in fact it says it expects to make profits of more than $740 million this year. that is about £598 million. the news comes after adidas reported its first losses in 30 years last month. lesser member come the sportswear brand cut ties with kanye west in 2022 over anti—semitic comments he made on social media. and in february adidas said it planned to sell its remaining trainers for cost price. now the company making

trainers said its operating profit had significantly increase compared with a year earlier when it was hit by the split with the wrapper. adidas then pledged to donate some of its proceeds from the yeezy stock to charity saying the remainder would be sold later this year but without any further profit. they�*ve been called the longest running band in pop history. the searchers were formed way back in 1957 and had hits such as �*needles and pins�* and �*sweets for my sweet�*. well now they�*re in their 80s but, it seeems, they�*ve got no intention of putting their feet up for a quiet life of retirement — in fact, they�*re on yet another tour. our arts correspondent david sillito has been to meet them. thank you. welcome. # sweets for my sweet... # we are the oldest band going, yeah. that�*s the merseybeat bands. i'm 82. 83 this year.

i am a very proud 80. and i feel i�*m 25. i have no mobility problems. we�*ve all got a certain amount of time on this earth and i�*m going to enjoy it while it�*s still there. the searchers, back on the road in their eighties. retirement seems to be a bit of a problem for us! well, they started out in the �*50s and are still going strong. meet britain�*s oldest working rock and roll band. we�*re in chester�*s storyhouse, and the crowd are on their feet for some true rock and roll survivors. frank and john are now in the eighth decade of their playing careers. john formed the band back in the �*50s. over the years, there have been splits — two band members have died, more recently, john had a stroke and frank was hospitalised.

but as they hit their eighties, they decided rock and roll was more fun than retirement. what�*s the crowd like these days? absolutely baffling. i mean, they come, they come every every night! # sweets for my sweet...#. and they come from everywhere. # every time that you walk in the room!# would you recommend a life of rock and roll on the road for other 80—somethings? if you love it, i totally recommend it. yeah. and the secrets of your longevity is your...? moderation. moderation is the only thing i do to excess! you�*ve not lived the rock and roll life, have you? i was completely debauch free! there�*s no hint of you wanting to retire, is there? none. but on stage, you enjoy it? i love it. yeah, absolutely. yeah, but i�*m an old hand like that, you know, i just live for the applause.

indeed. when you�*ve got a crowd like this every night, rock and roll seems a pretty fun way to spend your eighties! david sillito, bbc news, chester. good on them. long made the touring continue. get in touch with me on socials. thank you for your company. stay with us here on bbc news. good evening. sunshine for some, but not for all. that has been the story today, and when the shower clouds came, they were pretty threatening. quite a dramatic weather watcher picture here sent in from north wales. most of the showers have been out to the west first thing this morning, with these frontal systems sinking steadily south. through this evening, we have a clutch of showers just

clinging on to east anglia and south—east england. they fade away, skies clear, temperatures are likely to fall away, and gardeners and growers, take note, we could see a touch of light frost in sheltered western areas with low single figures. further north and west, we keep around 4 or 5 degrees, and that�*s because we have cloud and rain spilling in from another system, which will bring some wet weather as we go through the day. into the afternoon, perhaps the best of the sunshine in east anglia, the midlands and southern england, clouding over through north wales, north midlands, up into northern england, to close to the scottish borders, where there will be outbreaks of rain. the rain not too bad in northern ireland, but it will stay fairly persistent on and off through the north—west of scotland throughout the afternoon. the rain obviously having a little impact on the feel of the weather once again, only highs of 8 to 12 degrees, but we might see 15 celsius in the south—east with the best of the sunshine. there will be some rain for all of us at some point through thursday night into the early hours of friday

morning, and then the high pressure really trying to influence its story. however, because of the position of the high, we still pick up this northerly wind, so we will be chasing cloud amounts around. it�*s going to be a breezy day on friday, and that will have an impact on the feel of the weather once again. temperatures just below par, really, for the time of year. into the start of the weekend, the high pressure is continuing to nudge its way a little bit further north and east. this weather front could enhance some showery rain for a time across eastern scotland and maybe north—east england. it also, again, depends on the direction of the wind. because of the position of the high, we are continuing to drag in the wind from the north—east, so coming from scandinavia, a cooler source, and so that means that along north sea coasts, yes, at times, those temperatures struggling and there will be a few scattered showers. so west is best for not only sunshine, but also warmth this weekend.

at six: a fall in food prices pushes down inflation. cheaper meat and crumpets are among the things that helped the fall to 3.2% last month — the lowest it�*s been for 2.5 years. the actor hugh grant says he�*s accepted an enormous amount of money to settle his case against the publishers of the sun newspaper out of court.

50,000 russian soldiers killed in the war in ukraine — the findings of a bbc investigation. the kremlin refuses to confirm or deny it. and this is what happened after a year and a half�*s rain fell yesterday in dubai. and coming up on bbc news, it�*s all to play for at the etihad, where, after sharing six goals last week, manchester city and real madrid meet once again for a place in the champions league semifinals. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. a fall in the price of some meats, crumpets and chocolate biscuits has helped push down inflation to its lowest level for 2.5 years. the rate at which consumer prices rose was 3.2% last month. that�*s down from 3.4% in february.

food prices were the main reason for the fall —