Just bring us up to date on the latest on this. Just bring us uptodate on the latest on this. Latest on this. Well, this is the latest on this. Well, this is the latest chapter latest on this. Well, this is the latest chapter of latest on this. Well, this is the latest chapter of what latest on this. Well, this is the latest chapter of what has latest on this. Well, this is the | latest chapter of what has been latest on this. Well, this is the i latest chapter of what has been a sorry saga for this city, Birmingham City council, as you say, but only the largest authority, local authority in the country but across europe in terms of the population that it serves. These issues have been brewing now for notjust months but for years. This all began nearly a decade ago when a Landmark Court case ruled that Birmingham City council had to pay an unequal pay dispute, the claims that emerged from that mainly to female staff or staff that were in roles traditionally done by female staff such as Teaching Assistants or cleaners, the bill for that so far over the last decade or so has been more than £1 billion. But earlier this summer, it emerged that on top of what has already been paid, there was another up to £760 million to pay as part of that ongoing equal pay as part of that ongoing equal pay liability as well. That is what is really forced the hand of Birmingham City council to make this announcement today. There are other issues at play here as well. A botched it system, the role of which implementation of that has cost the city council around £100 million, then of course the issues which we know all local authorities up and down the country have been dealing with, the increasing cost of social care, the shortfall from the pandemic. And those issues if they come to a head, to the point where today we have seen this notice being issued. This has been bubbling across the summer. Just a week or so ago we heard that Birmingham City council had offered to its more than 10,000 staff the opportunity to be given a severance payment, to essentially leave their jobs given a severance payment, to essentially leave theirjobs in order to help foot this bill. The problems were so extreme that earlier this summer, the Prime Minister ruled out a bailout for Birmingham City council as well so that gives you an idea of how we have got to this point. What the section 114 notice means is that the cancer is essentially waving a white flag saying that they cannot foot the bill that it is forced to pay, that it must pay as part of this equal pay liability. So this is really the kind of final straw, the final card it had up its sleeve to play in terms of getting itself out of this hole. Its not the first consul that has done this, there are others in the uk that have also been forced to be in this position, the likes of thurrock and croydon had recently also issued a section 14 notice, but this is the uks and europe ares biggest local authority and it is huge news here for the city of birmingham. And it is huge news here for the city of birmingham. Navte johal, thanks for bringing city of birmingham. Navte johal, thanks for bringing us city of birmingham. Navtej johal, | thanks for bringing us uptodate city of birmingham. Navtej johal, i thanks for bringing us uptodate to thanks for bringing us up to date to date a story. A high level, and high stakes, meeting could happen this month between north koreas leader kimjong un and russian president Vladimir Putin which could impact the war in ukraine. According to us officials, kimjong unis expected to make a rare visit overseas and discuss the possibility of north korea providing moscow with weapons to support its war in ukraine. The exact location of the planned meeting is not clear. In a statement, Us National SecurityOfficials Say that Arms Negotiations between russia and north korea are actively advancing. But when asked about this possible summit, the kremlin spokesperson said he had says nothing to say on this. And couldnt confirm the meeting. Dr Philip Shetler Jones is a Senior Research fellow in the International Security team at rusi in london. Code to have you with us. How significant with this meeting be . Good to have you. A lot of people will have eyes on this but what could come out of it . Could come out of it . Good afternoon could come out of it . Good afternoon. I could come out of it . Good afternoon. I think could come out of it . Good afternoon. I think we could come out of it . Good afternoon. I think we have | could come out of it . Good i afternoon. I think we have to could come out of it . Good afternoon. I think we have to first of all be a little bit cautious about the assumption that the meeting is going to happen. After all, she said, at the moment this is based on reporting from a United States source and has been no confirmation from either of two parties, russia or north korea. Having said that, it is reminiscent, you could say, of the way that Us Intelligence sources also pre empted the news of the planned russian invasion of the ukraine. Whether the meeting happened or not, it puts the leadership of russia and north korea in a rather awkward position, where they are damned if they do and damned if they dont. If they go ahead, it shows that the americans know what they are doing, if they dont, you might imply that they were put off in some way by the response to it. We were put off in some way by the response to it. Were put off in some way by the response to it. We will talk about the substance response to it. We will talk about the substance about response to it. We will talk about the substance about the response to it. We will talk about the substance about the meeting i response to it. We will talk about i the substance about the meeting in the substance about the meeting in the second but lets talk about the fact that news of the speculative meeting has actually come from the us. , � , ~ meeting has actually come from the us. � , ~ , us. Thats right. I think this is now seen us. Thats right. I think this is now seen as us. Thats right. I think this is now seen as a us. Thats right. I think this is now seen as a pattern us. Thats right. I think this is now seen as a pattern of us. Thats right. I think this is now seen as a pattern of managing the Information Aspect of this conflict by coming out with intelligence information. It demonstrates you have access to the planning of come in this case, the russian side, that youre able to foresee and forewarn, already take a position on things before they come about and in some ways you might actually make them less likely to happen by doing so. Bud actually make them less likely to happen by doing so. Happen by doing so. And there is lots of speculation happen by doing so. And there is lots of speculation around happen by doing so. And there is lots of speculation around this i happen by doing so. And there is l lots of speculation around this part how might kimjong and lots of speculation around this part how might kim jong and travel to this meeting and where might it be . Ive seen various reports about some of those details. Ive seen various reports about some of those details. Of those details. Kim jongun. Historically. Of those details. Kim jongun. Historically, the of those details. Kim jongun. Historically, the leader of those details. Kim jongun. Historically, the leader of of those details. Kim jongun. Historically, the leader of north l historically, the leader of north korea doesnt travel very much. When it happens it is usually by land, by train, armoured train, so it would be normal to expect him to avoid Long Distance travel or travel by air. So vladivostok one of the areas where a north korea borders russia would be a possibility, and i think probably more probable than going to moscow for example white supper very briefly, who do you think needs this meeting more, russia or north korea . I think for russia, it would be in some ways a mixed blessing. It could yield some benefits in terms of technology, material gains from korea in terms of some of the parts and munitions they need to restock. But it also demonstrates to beijing that moscow is not entirely dependent on Chinese Support in its efforts and has other options. Likewise the leadership of north korea, incensed the same signal to beijing that their relationship is not one of interdependency and very few friends, but there are other options they can develop with russia as well. , ~ ,. , options they can develop with russia as well. , ~ ,. , options they can develop with russia as well. , ~ ,. , as well. Thank you very much for brinuain as well. Thank you very much for bringing us as well. Thank you very much for bringing us your as well. Thank you very much for bringing us your insight as well. Thank you very much for bringing us your insight on as well. Thank you very much for bringing us your insight on that. L the un Secretary General has called on the world to make africa a Renewable Energy superpower. His comments came on the second day of the Africa Climate summit in the kenyan capital nairobi. Mr guterres said developing the huge potential for Renewable Energy on the african continent would bring many benefits. Adequate access to Financial Resources at reasonable cost and technological support. Renewables could dramatically boost economies, grow new industries, create jobs and drive development, including by reaching the over 600 million africans living without access to power. Renewable energy could be the african miracle, but we must make it happen. We must all Work Together for africa to become a Renewable Energy superpower. But more than 500 African Civil Society organisations have written an urgent letter to the organisers of the summit, calling for it to be halted. In the letter, they claim that western governments, consultancy companies, and philanthropic organisations have disregarded africas climate interests. They argue theyre using the summit to advance a pro west agenda, to the detriment of africa. One particular issue that has been highlighted is the use of Carbon Credits, which can be purchased by western governments to offset their own carbon footprint. I am nowjoined by hardi yukubu, the coordinator of africans rising, a Pan African Movement and one of the signatories of that letter. Good to have you with us on the programme. Tell us more about why you have written this letter. You have written this letter. Thank ou ve you have written this letter. Thank you very much you have written this letter. Thank you very much. We you have written this letter. Thank you very much. We wrote you have written this letter. Thank you very much. We wrote this you have written this letter. Thank. You very much. We wrote this letter because we so very clear signs which have the potential of being an important and relevant point in africas opportunity to offer solutions, credible and unique solutions, credible and unique solutions to the Climate Crisis facing the world. We saw very clear signs of this summit being hijacked for interests other than african interests, and we made it a point to raise these concerns to the Organising Parties and make sure that these concerns were tabled formally. Unfortunately, the worst fear is that we had have now been very manifested in the summit. This summit is in africa, there are African Leaders and stakeholders taking part in that summit, so this is an african generated summit, its not the west telling africa what to do, is it . ,. ,. , do, is it . No, that is what it is. It is publicised do, is it . No, that is what it is. It is publicised as. Do, is it . No, that is what it is. It is publicised as. But do, is it . No, that is what it is. It is publicised as. But if do, is it . No, that is what it is. It is publicised as. But if youre| it is publicised as. But if youre working in these areas, working with people across the continent, you realise that the actual programme itself, in its design, the consultancies that were put on to it to work on it and the concept of the programme design, and if you look at the content of the programme itself, you look at the room where these things are being discussed, it is more like pot even if you look at the side events that are being hosted, only about 30 of the side events at the conference are african side events or african led events. The rest of the 62 are either western governments, institutions or philanthropic organisations or companies, consultancies that are obviously not african. And this is very clear in terms of the solutions that are being proposed. We are very clear about whether the advancement of Carbon Credits is something that actually provides a solution to the climate financing conundrum. It is like somebody in a pet who continues to dig, hoping that they can get out of the pit why stocks are to stop there, we have run out of time, thank you so much for your insights into that issue. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making the news. The Electoral Commission says it failed a basic Cyber Security test run by the uk government before it was hacked last month. Names and addresses of 40 million voters were accessible. A spokeswoman for the commission admitted the failings, but claims they werent linked to the cyber attack. She also added that the commission had still not passed the test. Scotlands first minister, humza yousaf, is expected to make a significant announcement on early years childcare when he outlines his programme for government. Earlier this year, mr yousaf said he wanted to offer 22 hours of Free Childcare every week for one and two year olds. He also signalled he will set out action to help People Living in the private rented sector. An original proof of harry potter and the philosophers stone that was rediscovered at a Primary School could be worth thousands of pounds. The book was found at st kenelms Primary School in oxford. It was bought for £1 in 1997. It is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction. Youre live with bbc news. Lebanon is one country that is heavily affected by Cost Of Living crisis. Before the countrys ongoing troubles, families met 1. 5 billion of the countrys annual education costs, with the Government Spending only 1. 2 billion. Runaway inflation has led to major drops in household income, spikes in Private School Fees and a nationwide teachers strike. Now 15 of households have taken children out of schools. As part of our series on how the Cost Of Living crisis is impacting the worlds children, Caroline Hawley has been speaking to children compromising their future to help their families make ends meet. Theres no other option for many children here but to grow up fast. Hassans been working for two years, helping sell cigarettes. He comes here after school. Translation im working here to get some money. | and because its better than being in the streets. I asked him if he prefers school or work. Translation school. Hassans father sells vegetables for a living. But prices have risen so fast that these are now a luxury for many people in lebanon. The global Cost Of Living crisis has hit a country already suffering an economic meltdown and a currency collapse. According to the un, nine out of ten families cant afford the basics anymore. Translation if | could | afford it, of course i would prefer him to study. Working isnt the best thing for him, but it brings some money. Together, they help make sure the whole family has what they need. And growing numbers of children are having to do the same. Nine year old kareem and six year old adam are getting ready for school. Their 14 year old brother is already at work at a supermarket. Their mother has two jobs and is looking for a third. A once decent salary is now worth very little and middle class people have fallen into poverty. Their mother works at their school in the kitchen. Its part of a project funded by the world food programme, employing mothers of schoolchildren. Giving them some income with the aim of keeping their children in school and them and their classmates properly fed. They feel hungry. They ask for sandwiches for their parents. So many students ask us for, can i have this tomato for my mum . They knock on the door of the kitchen every day. Tens of students, not one or two. And it didnt used to be like this . No. I never seen that in lebanon before. And if you didnt have this job, what would your situation be . Worse. Too bad. Because i dont have enough money to get food for my kids and to keep going in my life. Thats it. The Un Childrens Fund says one in ten families in lebanon dont send their children to school any more because they cant afford to. Its a sensitive issue which brings embarrassment, even shame. Most of the street sellers here are syrian refugees. But more and more lebanese children are nowjoining them. In homes up and down this country, families have had to sell belongings as well as send their children to work. Mohammed, whos 15, provides for both his Li