Its tuesday, 26th september. Im rebecca jones. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. The white house has condemned north koreas claim that it has the right to shoot down us bombers, even if they are outside its airspace. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated to the point that pyongyang claims President Trump has declared war on north korea a suggestion dismissed as absurd by the white house. Speaking this morning the us defense secretary james mattis says the United States want to resolve the escalating Nuclear Crisis with north korea diplomatically. Danny savage reports. American military aircraft, preparing for a show of force close to the north korean coast. These planes went on to fly in International Airspace near the east of the country, further north in the region than they ever have. The us said it was a demonstration of their resolve. Now north korea has reacted to Donald Trumps threats and actions by claiming the us has declared war on them. Translation since the us declared war on our country we have every right to take countermeasures, including shooting down us strategic bombers, even if they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country. The question of who will not be around for much longer will be answered them. But the white house said it is absurd to think they are at war with north korea and has tried to strike a more diplomatic tone overnight. Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when it is over international waters. Our goal is the same, we continue to seek peace over the korean peninsula. Thats our focus. Doing that through the maximum diplomatic and economic pressures. But north koreas interpretation of us actions and its proposed response is another escalation in this ongoing crisis. Even during the height of the cold war, they have never threatened to use weapons war, they have never threatened to use weapons like this, unless theyre attacked by Nuclear Weapons. When north korea is blatantly and publicly threatened they will strike the United States with Nuclear Weapons, we have never seen this kind of threat. So far, this has been and remains a war of words but if american planes do clash with the north Korean Military, the risk of tipping into conflict increases dramatically. Our correspondent danny savage is in seoul. A short time ago he sent us this update. The question people are asking is, does this push the crisis further towards conflict . On the surface, yes, but lots of experts believe north korea would have to get lucky if it were to shoot down an american aircraft, so it depends how old the americans are and how ambitious the North Koreans are. With these military operations continuing over the next few weeks. American fighters have only flown off the east coast of north korea once over the weekend, we havent heard of any further shows of force and i am sure the americans would tell us if theyre aware. So, it depends how frequently the americans will do this and how much they want to antagonise the North Koreans, if you like, by doing it. Where are they get the balance between showing force about what they could to and getting too close for comfort. My understanding is the operation this weekend stayed quite a distance off the north korean coastline, perhaps out of missile range. There is a suggestion North Koreans did not know that operation and taken place until the americans publicised it afterwards. There is all that to be taken into afterwards. There is all that to be ta ken into account. Afterwards. There is all that to be taken into account. One military expert in south korea says he does not believe for one minute that north korea has the capability to shoot down an american dollar. It could be just shoot down an american dollar. It could bejust more rhetoric. To shoot down an american bomber. If it is compatible to a game of tennis, the ball at the moment is in the American Court. What will they do next . They have been threatened with having one of their planes shot down. Do they keep a wary distance oi down. Do they keep a wary distance or carry on . That was only emerge over the coming days. Some sad news, the actress, liz dawn, best known as the actress, liz dawn, best known as the duckworth in coronation street, has tied, that announcement from her family. She first appeared in coronation street in 1974 and she did leave in 2008, although she did reappear ina did leave in 2008, although she did reappear in a guest appearance in 2010. But today, in a statement from the family of liz dawn, they say they are devastated and heartbroken to announce the death of their much loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother, as they put it, the incredible liz dawn. She died peacefully last night, at home with family around her. They said she had been the love, light and inspiration in our lives. The statement also on behalf of coronation street, the soap opera in which she appeared so famously for so many years, which added its condolences and it said that her family at coronation street are heartbroken. The statement from coronation street continues, we have been blessed to have lives in oui have been blessed to have lives in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague. 34 years as Vera Duckworth, she brought so muchjoy and happiness to so many. She was a wonderful actress, who will forever bea wonderful actress, who will forever be a true coronation street legend. And on behalf of itv and the executive producer of coronation street, kieran roberts, they said, liz dawn was a true coronation street legend, everyone lucky enough to have worked with her during her 34 years playing corrie icon Vera Duckworth, will remember her with huge affection. That is the sad news that liz dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in coronation street for 34 years, has died. Labour claims the nhs needs a half a billion pound bailout from the government in order to avoid a potential Winter Health crisis. Jon ashworth, the Shadow Health secretary will call for the money to be spent on boosting the number of beds as well hiring extra staff. Our assistant Political Editor norman smith is in brighton. The nhs is familiar ground, of course, for labour, norman, this seems a specific figure, how did they arrive at it . Well, they calculated the additional pressures they believe will be on the nhs overwinter based on what is happening in the summer. At the moment, they said bed occupancy is at record levels, the number of delayed discharges has gone up by 1196, delayed discharges has gone up by 11 , an increase in people waiting in a e departments and that is at summer. They cant do that by winter, things will be much tougher because people are more susceptible to illness, elderly people are more vulnerable, they suggest to me that possible pressure, you need to put in halfa possible pressure, you need to put in half a billion to start recruiting more nurses now, to be ready for that. There was a separate announcement to try to get the gambling industry to pay more money to help people suffering Mental Health problems around gambling. Currently in the hall, there are arguing about rule changes to the constitution, which might sound technical but it is very important because many people say the rule changes that are being proposed are consolidating the grip of mr corrigan and his supporters on the labour party. More members on the National Executive committee. , labour party. More members on the National Executive committee. , also changes to elections for a future leaders to try to make it easier to get left wing candidates. I spoke to John Ashworth out there and i was impressing him about why there hadnt been more of a fight by those opposed to this . Lam i am pretty relaxed about the number of candidates on the ballot paper. And i would say, we have over 500,000 members in our labour party, i would say, stand for the nec, i wa nt i would say, stand for the nec, i want the biggest possible choice for the membership when they vote for out the membership when they vote for our nec members, put yourself forward and get involved. Often, some of the most interesting things can happen at fringe meetings and there was one last night, a momentum meeting addressed byJohn Mcdonnell, and remember the big announcement from yesterday about nationalising pfi contracts, well, you get a sense of the pressure he believes a Labour Government might come under from the city, from the banks, where they to go down that nationalisation road was talking about how he thought they would be coming for us and how privately he and others have been war gaming scenarios where there is a phoney value of the pound, capital flight, a phoney value of the pound, capital flight, have a listen to him talking to about momentum group. We will face all the challenges i am sure you have discussed and we have a scenario planned for those that is exactly what were doing at the moment. Bringing the relevant expertise together at every level, to talk through what happens if there is such and such . What are the errors are run on the pound . What happens if there is this concept of National Flight . You never know, so we have a scenario planned for about. Mr odonnell also said, dont think that a Jeremy CorbynLabour Government would be a traditional Labour Government. They would be a radical administration. Labour government. They would be a radicaladministration. I Labour Government. They would be a radical administration. I guess what we have seen here is this is a very different labour party led byJeremy Corbyn, presumably previous policies would not have considered scrapping pfi contractor renationalising the water industry, railways, royal mail, part of the energy sector, very, very different labour party. Norman, thank you for that. Act now to the news that coronation street actress liz dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap for 34 years has died. Her family duckworth in the soap for 34 years has died. Herfamily hasjust announced the news that she died last night. In a statement, the soap called her a true coronation street legend. Our arts correspondent looks back on her life. All i can say is i hope Prince Charles never set eyes on it admiring my stone cladding it is certainly. She may have been snooty about giving ups taste but without her, coronation street would not have been the same. Are you trying to be funny or what . Are you not going to carry her over the threshold . When list on first arrived, she said she felt like cinderella, her palace, number nine coronation st. Could you make us some chips . You are a right romantic. Vera and jack and the pensions and despite the bruises, their relationship lasted because there is Something Special about this double act. She was born sylvia butterfield, home was the holton moor estate in leeds. butterfield, home was the holton moor estate in leeds. I never really felt poorer. Because we always had a love and nobody has anything in them days. She did all sorts ofjobs, from selling wigs to singing in working mens clubs under a new stage name, liz dawn. The money where good. I had three children under school age and i really did it for money, singing at weekends. The tv acting work came at a time when directors were looking for talent was natural, authentic, the sort of person you could truly believed would live on coronation street. Ella mac you will laugh on the other side of yourface get ella mac you will laugh on the other side of your face get off me ella mac you will laugh on the other side of yourface get off me of duty, liz tom was a keen campaigner for the labour party and became lady mayoress of leaves. Say youve never loved anybody else. After the years of laughter and ups and downs, liz dawn had proved she was one of actings naturals. She admitted she didnt even quite know where liz stopped and vera began. Liz dawn, who has signed the damage. Who has sadly died. The Prime Minister, theresa may is due to hold talks with the European Council president , donald tusk, in downing street later today. Mr tusk represents the eu heads of government wholl decide next month if enough progress has been made on so called divorce issues to allow trade talks with britain. So far, the eu has refused to discuss anything but the irish border, the financial settlement and citizens rights. Our Political Correspondent leila nathoo is in westminster. How significant is this meeting . Rebecca, it is exactly because of what you said about talks trying to be pushed on by the British Government to talk about future trade and the fact the eu council is the one that will decide that, the 27 eu heads of state are the ones who will decide whether sufficient progress has been made on those divorce issues. That is why theresa may is meeting donald tusk in downing street this afternoon, as pa rt downing street this afternoon, as part of a concerted diplomatic push, a bit ofa part of a concerted diplomatic push, a bit of a charm offensive, if you like, theresa may was hosting the irish taoiseach yesterday in downing street and we had borisjohnson going to visit the czech republic, slovakia and romania. The fourth round of brexit talks are ongoing in brussels at the moment, so there is a many fronted process going on at the moment and theresa may will be hoping to keep those lines of communication open with donald tusk to try to persuade him after that florence speech in which an overture was made about the transition period and honouring obligations to the eu, she will be hoping that these talks being held alongside the official round of brexit negotiations, will go some way to persuade you cancel that sufficient progress has been made in order to kick start brexit talks on to trade. Realistically, how likely is it . I think theresa may will hope the speech in florence has generated enough good will. She has generated enough good will. She has certainly gone some way to be explicit about the uk honouring our financial obligations. Of course no figure was put up on that and that is one of the big Sticking Point in the negotiations, so far, that is what has helped them up before moving on to future trade. Theresa may also try to make an overture about eu citizens, another key point that brussels wants sorted. She promised to guarantee eu citizens and meeting with the irish tea irish taoiseach yesterday was part of that. The big picture that theresa may set out in the concrete negotiating position and i dont think donald tusk will be deviating from the line of looking for that. We have this week and then one more round to go for enough progress to be made and i think this week is crucial because it will be after theresa mays speech, where she tried to shift the tone, where we will learn a lot about how the brexit talks are going and whether the eu doesjudge that have been sufficient progress by the end of this week thank you. The headlines on bbc newsroom live. The coronation street actress liz dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap, has died at the age of 77. After an exchange of threats between america and north korea, the us defence secretary says he wants a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Labour calls for half £1 billion bailout for the nhs. To avoid a Winter Health crisis. In a moment, would banning scrums and tackling in school rugby help to reduce injury or harm the game . You like and sport, the west brom match, and sanchezis sport, the west brom match, and sanchez is accused of cheating,. They lost 2 0 at emirates. Arsenal move up to second in the table. Ben youngs says Rugby Union Players cannot be pushed any further and echoes fears of Billy Vunipola that an11 echoes fears of Billy Vunipola that an 11 month season would cause injuries and burn out. British bobsleigh withdrew Financial Support but this team will now be able to compete at the world cup and hopefully the winter olympics. More on all of those stories in the next hour. More now on that new study coronation street actress liz dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap for 34 years, has died, at the age of 77. On the line is mervyn watson, a former coronation street producer. We are grateful for you joining us on this sad day. What are your thoughts . Well, when i heard just now, literally just your thoughts . Well, when i heard just now, literallyjust now, it was shocked and upset because even though it is a long time since i worked with liz, on coronation street, 15 years ago now, she was somebody who really held a special place in my heart and in the hearts of all people who worked with her. And with her audience. She was legendary, she was wonderful. Why . What would she like to work with . Well, she was real. She wasnt a pain to work with, she was a delight to work with, a real person, and eventually end her life, she got involved with a fantastic amount of charity work. So, to meet her, you we re charity work. So, to meet her, you were dealing with a real person, a real Big Personality with a big heart, a delight, really. She was lovely. Generous and funny. People people wonder when they watch soap operas is ho