determination to help others. ——and we revisit the young blind boy in war—ravaged yemen and his inspirational determination to help others. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. stories and checking out let's start with a man—hunt in the uk after a dramatic prison break yesterday. the government has ordered an independent review after a terror suspect, daniel khalife, escaped from wandsworth prison by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van leaving the jail. the 21—year—old was awaiting trial, accused of leaving fake bombs at a military base while serving in the army. ports and airports, are now on high alert. graham satchell reports. it looked like business as usual at wandsworth today — prison vans coming and going, but the jail is now at the centre of a growing storm, with serious questions about how a terror suspect managed to escape. daniel khalife was working in the kitchen. he broke out by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van. in the house of commons, the justice secretary announced a series of reviews to answer some basic questions. who was on duty that morning? in what roles? ranging from the kitchen to the prison gate, what protocols were in place? were they followed? there are more questions. why was a terror suspect being held at a category b prison? what kind of checks were there on the vehicles coming in and out? you'd expect a mirror to be run under the van on its way out in the same way as there is a dome above where you can look down to see if anyone�*s on top of the van. now, why did that fail? daniel khalife is a former soldier. he joined the army in 2019. three years later, he became the subject of a counter—terrorism investigation. he's accused of planting fake bombs at the barracks in stafford where he was based, and was arrested injanuary. he's been charged with preparing an act of terrorism and collecting information useful to a hostile state, now understood to be iran. yesterday's escape has drawn attention to wider problems in the prison system — overcrowding, understaffing. the prison officers' association has blamed the government for what it calls the "decimation of the service". i was made aware that there were significant staff shortages, so i looked about investigating this and actually discovered that in december last year, only seven members of staff turned up for a night shift to look after 1500 inmates. daniel khalife has been on the run for more than 2a hours. police are urging anyone who sees him to call 999. graham satchell, bbc news. meanwhile, charlie taylor, his majesty's chief inspector of prisons, told sarah montague on the world at one that prisons are now failing in their core duties. i think, ultimately, ithink, ultimately, prisons i think, ultimately, prisons have two responsibilities. they have a public protection responsibility to keep people locked up and to stop them getting out, and so they serve their sentence, them getting out, and so they serve theirsentence, but them getting out, and so they serve their sentence, but they also have a public protection responsibility to make sure people are less likely to reoffend when they come out. and if prisoners are coming from a jail where they have been banged up in their cellar for 22 hours a where they have been banged up in their cellarfor 22 hours a day, if they are not getting any opportunities to fill in the huge skills gaps there are for many prisoners, they're not getting a chance to get into work and education, my concern is prisons are failing to fulfil that public protection function in prisoners, when they come out, more likely to reoffend, to create more victims, to cause mayhem in their communities, and that can't be good enough. the communities, and that can't be good enou:h. . ., , , enough. the chief of prisons. -- chief inspector _ enough. the chief of prisons. -- chief inspector of _ enough. the chief of prisons. -- chief inspector of prisons. - live now to the bbc�*s mark lobel who is outside wandsworth prison in south london. questions to be answered about how this man is kept in the first place, but any update on the manhunt itself? it but any update on the manhunt itself? . , ., ., , itself? it was around this time yesterday _ itself? it was around this time yesterday that _ itself? it was around this time yesterday that we _ itself? it was around this time yesterday that we got - itself? it was around this time yesterday that we got the - itself? it was around this time | yesterday that we got the news itself? it was around this time - yesterday that we got the news that he had escaped. an appeal to the public was released by the police, and since then, we have had nothing from the police. it is interesting because at the moment, they are still saying they suspect probably remains in the london area, but you look around you, and we see what is happening in the airports, ports, and the m20, a major motorway leading to the port of dover, and we see huge queues are because of enhanced security checks. we can only imagine police are talking to the family and friends of the suspect and also coming through cctv, notjust here at wandsworth prison from where daniel escaped from, but also around the area. and working out if he was acting alone or not, but at the moment, we have not had any update from the police about any sightings, for example, of the suspect. about any sightings, for example, of the sweet-— the suspect. what are the prison authorities _ the suspect. what are the prison authorities are _ the suspect. what are the prison authorities are saying _ the suspect. what are the prison authorities are saying about - the suspect. what are the prison authorities are saying about the | authorities are saying about the investigation, about every aspect of this, staffing levels, for example, why he was in that category prison in the first place? well, prison officers themselves, inquire defensive position at the moment. they are saying they will await the results of an internal investigation because we are talking about a gate like the one you can see over my shoulder where the food delivery van would have moved into the centre of that area, they would have been dated either side, and we heard in that report, there should have been checks underneath —— they would have been dated. the food delivery van then was then released. any questions or who was on duty, what happened, but they say cuts have consequences. we have heard from a string of police officers and former prisoners saying this was an accident waiting to happen and it has opened a pandora's box on the state of uk prisons. we heard about the investigations that have been opened up by thejustice secretary just 2a hours after the public learned about the some investigation into the categorisation of wandsworth prisoners and those in custody charged with terrorism charges are being reviewed at the moment. �* , _, , live now to rob peerce from the howard league for penal reform. thank you for being here in the programme. when you hear the details of the security failings, it almost beggars belief, doesn't it? it is very concerning _ beggars belief, doesn't it? it 3 very concerning indeed. we do not know the precise details as to what has happened, but what we have been able to glean so far is extremely concerning. what we do know is that wandsworth is a prison under immense pressure. we at the howard league keep a record of the prison population, how it goes up and down. wandsworth is a big prison in london, the second most overcrowded prison in england and wales and at the end ofjuly it is designed to hold no more than 950 men, but was holding 1600 at that time. as your correspondent has rightly identified, staffing shortages as well. everyone in one's ward has been working under extreme pressure, so i'm not surprised something like this has happened, although prison escapes being quite rare. in this has happened, although prison escapes being quite rare.— escapes being quite rare. in terms of a staffing _ escapes being quite rare. in terms of a staffing shortages, _ escapes being quite rare. in terms of a staffing shortages, what - escapes being quite rare. in terms of a staffing shortages, what are l of a staffing shortages, what are the sort of numbers we are actually talking about here. 17 the sort of numbers we are actually talking about here.— the sort of numbers we are actually talking about here. ? we are seeing more peeple — talking about here. ? we are seeing more people leaving _ talking about here. ? we are seeing more people leaving the _ talking about here. ? we are seeing more people leaving the service - talking about here. ? we are seeingj more people leaving the service and joining in some prisons and in wandsworth, we are hearing of a very small numbers. i can't go into precise detail. it varies at different times of the week. we see reports on weekends where staffing is much smaller and in the evenings as well. what we know is a staffing shortages are such that most people are spending hours on end locked inside their cells with nothing to do. it is not unusual in prison such as wandsworth to hear people spending as little as an hour outside their cells in every day. what it means is they are not getting access to exercise, education, training, work, all the things you would expect to see going on any present, and we have seen alongside that, a rise in incidents of self—harm in many prisons, high levels of violence. so this is what we have at the moment, more than half of men's prisons... more than half of men's prisons... more than half of men's prisons... more than half of prisons across england and wales are overcrowded, even more so among men's presents, and people had been asked to do too much for too long with two little —— men's prisons. we have seen high skill disturbances in the past, very worrying statistics elsewhere, and this is the first escape we have seenin this is the first escape we have seen in a while, but i fear it will not be the last if we continue to see the system running to the ground as it is at the moment. in see the system running to the ground as it is at the moment.— as it is at the moment. in terms of recent inspections, _ as it is at the moment. in terms of recent inspections, have _ as it is at the moment. in terms of recent inspections, have there - as it is at the moment. in terms of. recent inspections, have there been obvious red flags?— obvious red flags? their heart. the official prisons _ obvious red flags? their heart. the official prisons watchdog, - obvious red flags? their heart. the official prisons watchdog, his - official prisons watchdog, his majesty's inspectorateof prisons, visited the jail last year and raised a number of concerns. they revisited the prison injune last year to check the progress against recommendations and found a mixed picture, but pointed to the chronic overcrowding we have seen in wandsworth and high rates of violence. it is simply unconscionable you could have a prison that is designed to hold 950 men holding more than 1600. how can you possibly get anything positive happening inside the jail? it provides some context to this incident, but the precise details were still waiting find out and this investigation is really important. thank you very much for that update. if we hear any more from the authorities, police or prison officials, we will obviously bring that to you. let's move to ukraine. 0fficials there say a number of russian drones have attacked the danube river port of izmail for the fourth time in five days. the regional governor said the assault lasted for three hours and saw civil and port infrastructure facilities, an elevator and an administrative building damaged. one person sustained minor injuries. meanwhile russia says it downed several ukrainian drones during attempted attacks on the capital moscow and the rostov and bryansk regions in the early hours of thursday. the latest overnight attacks come as the us secretary of state, antony blinken, continues a two—day visit to kyiv, during which he announced a further package of aid for ukraine worth more than a billion dollars. well, let's go live now to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams in kyiv. paul, what do we know about these drone overnight in moscow and southern russia? it is very much a pattern, it has been going on for more than a month now —— those overnight russian attacks. we have had attacks on those port facilities along the danube river, which forms the border between ukraine and romania. and since russia pulled out of the un brokered black sea grain initiative, which was brokered a year ago, since they pulled out of that injuly, ukraine has been trying to compensate by getting green out along the danube and boats that hug the remaining coast down to the port of consta nza, the remaining coast down to the port of constanza, then at the ships can move from there. russia has been trying to stop this, which is why we have seen these repeated drone attacks. wave and wave. they are aware that the ukrainian air defences in that region are not nearly as sophisticated as here in the capital kyiv. the ukrainians do manage to shed quite a few of those drawn down, but every night we are about damage, damage to storage facilities, port infrastructure. and it is definitely having an impact and are something that is a worrying at the ukrainians a great deal because exporting their grain is absolutely vital. i because exporting their grain is absolutely vital.— because exporting their grain is absolutel vital. ., �* ., , absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken. absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken- took _ absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken. took me _ absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken. took me through _ absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken. took me through the - absolutely vital. i mentioned antony blinken. took me through the latest about that trip, because he has been talking today about landmines, and immediate problem for ukraine. and i very much a long—term one as well. absolutely. definitely both. it is part of the aid package he brought with him that had a military component and many, many civilian components too. it is notjust about the minefields we have been hearing a great deal about down on the battlefield in the south, minefields that the ukrainian forces have had to work their way through. it is also about the fact that the vast swathes of this country have been mined, including territory where the ukrainians have taken it back, and at their having to painstakingly go through their territory to make sure there is no unexploded ordinance or mines littered around in the fields near communities, so mr blinken paid a visit to a border guard facility just outside of the city today and had these words to say about the problem of mines in ukraine. it's so easy to sometimes get lost in abstractions, numbers — how many people lost their lives or were wounded? what the larger effects are? but it all comes down to the human dimension, to the lives, the stories of men, of women and children, like the men, women and children who were imprisoned in the basement of this building next to us, which normally was a school, and were held there for a month. 127 people in a room not even fit for one person for human habitation. children as young as a month old not allowed to come out. and this isjust one building in one village, in one community in ukraine. and this is a story that we've seen again and again and again. antony blinken has also announced an extra billion dollars worth of support and military aid, including depleted uranium tank shells, doesn't it? in terms of how that has gone down, tell me that that? this is all art gone down, tell me that that? this is all part of _ gone down, tell me that that? this is all part of the _ gone down, tell me that that? ti 3 is all part of the americans trying to inject a bit more momentum into a counteroffensive in the south that, by general admission, has not gone as quickly as people would have hoped. so the americans have done two things in the last few weeks, that they were reluctant to do before, one, say they will supply cluster munitions to the ukrainian military, and the other now talking about depleted uranium rounds, which haven't yet arrived, should arrive later this month. this is about giving the ukrainians the ability to deal with the enormous array of russian defences in the south, in those trenches, those minefields, and all of those defences, but also when the time comes, to send their armoured vehicles through any gap that the ukrainians managed to establish, that those armoured vehicles, those tanks, whether they be leopards, abrahams, early british challenger, that they have the ability cut as much damage as possible. those depleted rounds, that have caused concern over the decades, over whether that have caused concern over the decades, overwhether or that have caused concern over the decades, over whether or not they leave a radioactive residue or dust, most scientific studies suggest that danger is minimal. what they really are very good at is punching holes in armoured vehicles. they are a devastating way of attack. russians are almost certainly using depleted uranium rounds already in the battlefield in ukraine, so americans are saying you should have them too. paul adams, thank you, life as they are in care. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. police say they're launching an investigation into maternity failures at nottingham university hospitals nhs trust. the care provided by the trust is already the subject of the biggest maternity inquiry in the history of the health service — with at least 1700 families involved after dozens of babies died or were left with serious injuries. a review of veterinary services in the uk has been launched over concerns that pet owners are facing "eye—watering" bills. the competition and markets authority said vet fees were rising faster than other goods and services during the cost of living crisis and people may not be getting value for money. royal mail has unveiled a collection of stamps to mark 70 years since the start of dame shirley bassey�*s career. they include a picture of the welsh singer's performance at the opening ceremony of the 1999 rugby world cup in cardiff. she is the first solo female music artist to be honoured with a dedicated stamp issue. you're live with bbc news. a deal has been struck for the uk to rejoin the european union's flagship scientific research programme horizon. post—brexit trading rows meant british—based scientists were missing out on grants for their work from a 95 billion euro fund — that's around £81 billion. here's pallab ghosh. the first picture of a black hole, implants that help the paralyzed walk again, mapping the human brain — these are just some of the projects funded by europe's horizon programme. the uk should have been part of it after brexit, but disagreements with the eu meant that britain was frozen out and falling behind other eu countries. together we will transform these ideas into new solutions. but finally, after years of delay, we're back. well, this is really the best of news. ifelt a genuine kind of burst ofjoy when i heard the news was actually confirmed, and i know that science and research—led organisations, including all of our members — these are businesses, universities, health charities — they are going to be delighted today and also relieved. constantinos pitsiladis is among the researchers celebrating the news. did that hurt? not too bad. until now, his project to find better medicines for rheumatoid arthritis has suffered because of the uncertainty. we find it more difficult to attract researchers from europe. i was in an international lab, we had 15 nationalities in our lab and really thrived there, the collaborative ethos of this research. the uncertainty has had a negative effect on uk research. so what's been the impact of the delay? well, since brexit, 337 of the country's best scientists were given europe's top grants, but they weren't able to take them up, so 41 of them left the country. the treasury allocated £1.6 billion for horizon. it was supposed to be spent on science, but the treasury took the money back. and in 2019, when we were still part of the programme, the eu gave scientists £820 million. this year, it was just £19 million. the ggovernment has made up a large portion of that, but experts say that we're still tens, if not hundreds of millions of pounds short. but this is in the context of a huge multi—billion—pound increase in research spending by the government. and now that horizon has finally been sorted out, it's hoped that researchers such as professor pitsiladis can continue with their science full steam ahead. pallab gosh, bbc news. live now to dr paul bate. he is the ceo of the uk space agency. delighted to have you here in the programme. your reaction to this news about the uk rejoining? goad news about the uk re'oining? good afternoon, thank — news about the uk re'oining? good afternoon, thank you- news about the uk rejoining? good afternoon, thank you for _ news about the uk rejoining? (emf. afternoon, thank you for having me. and absolutely delighted and are delighted that we have rejoined horizon, and that we have rejoined the copernicus programme, the programme for earth observation from space. i am delighted because it means that for uk scientists, for uk industry, for companies up and down the country, and for all of us who have a vested interest in understanding better what is really happening with the climate emergency and when there are disasters around the world, being able to act quickly, being part of this gold standard programme of copernicus, and it is the best programme in the world, means we cannot at the forefront again of the work brings the benefits of space back down to life on earth. teiiii the benefits of space back down to life on earth-— life on earth. tell me more about the benefits _ life on earth. tell me more about the benefits of _ life on earth. tell me more about the benefits of being _ life on earth. tell me more about the benefits of being involved - life on earth. tell me more about the benefits of being involved in l the benefits of being involved in this wider umbrella body, then? 50 this wider umbrella body, then? sr most globally leading science is done internationally. taking copernicus as an example, but it is not the only one in the uk is involved with, we are talking about the uk is involved with, we are talking about seven sets of satellites flying overhead every day. they are taking images we see on our screens of floods, the canopy of forests, really understanding what is happening in our climate, so if we had not rejoined, we would not have been any position to bid for the contracts that are coming up for the contracts that are coming up for the next generation of these missions. so take one example, at the moment, it is very hard to establish just how the moment, it is very hard to establishjust how much the moment, it is very hard to establish just how much carbon dioxide is coming from humans versus other sources. we have climate change models which give us a decent view, but we really need that exponential data. one of the copernicus programme missions is doing exactly that. the uk is very well—placed to participate strongly in that mission. well-placed to participate strongly in that mission.— well-placed to participate strongly in that mission. and, of course, we have been — in that mission. and, of course, we have been out _ in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of— in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of it _ in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of it here _ in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of it here in - in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of it here in the - in that mission. and, of course, we have been out of it here in the uk | have been out of it here in the uk for the last three years. during that delay, we have seen a drop in uk scientists working on a european project, we have also seen at the same time eu nationals working in the uk, sometimes returning with their research work to their home country. has there been damaged by being out of this system for three years? and is that damage going to be residual, going to last a while before it fades?— before it fades? well, we always wanted to be _ before it fades? well, we always wanted to be part _ before it fades? well, we always wanted to be part of _ before it fades? well, we always wanted to be part of this - before it fades? well, we always - wanted to be part of this programme and it is a real shame that it has taken so long, but that is the consequences of the position with the european commission until now. so damage has been done to some extent, but we also realise that if we were not part of copernicus, it was important to put money into other observation programmes, so that you keep at £400 million of investment into european space agency programmes and programmes within the uk itself, just back last november, so it mitigated a lot of the problems that would otherwise have been there, but no doubt about it, being part of copernicus is about being at the table for future decisions and able to give access to academics to the very best data in the most timely way. and for industry to compete for those all—important contracts. just all-important contracts. just briefly come _ all-important contracts. just briefly come in _ all-important contracts. just briefly come in terms - all—important contracts. just briefly come in terms of the damage over the last three years, tell me what that amounted to. what was the most damaging aspect, simply uk scientists not being seen as setting amongst the decision—makers? weill. scientists not being seen as setting amongst the decision-makers? well, i think the challenge _ amongst the decision-makers? well, i think the challenge when _ amongst the decision-makers? well, i think the challenge when you - amongst the decision-makers? well, i think the challenge when you do - amongst the decision-makers? well, i think the challenge when you do not i think the challenge when you do not know if you're going to be part of a programme like copernicus, is the uncertainty that it does. we always have access to the data, so we would be able to do that good science, but for our industry, and we had all invested hundreds of millions of pounds into the copernicus programme in the past over the last decade, our industry needed to know, are we going to be able to continue all the work, develop the next generation, build only technologies that we are home to the uk quest market is the certainty that we now have that we can continue to do that.— can continue to do that. about 45 seconds left- _ can continue to do that. about 45 seconds left. in _ can continue to do that. about 45 seconds left. in terms _ can continue to do that. about 45 seconds left. in terms of - can continue to do that. about 45 seconds left. in terms of going i seconds left. in terms of going forward, in terms of the big brands that are potentially available. what do you hope the uk could be pitching for, briefly? do you hope the uk could be pitching for, briefl ? ~ , ., for, briefly? well, there is a new generation. _ for, briefly? well, there is a new generation, next _ for, briefly? well, there is a new generation, next generation - for, briefly? well, there is a new generation, next generation of i for, briefly? well, there is a new. generation, next generation of the sentinel mission satellites, orbiting overhead. i expect our industry to be pitching for those, building on the work already happening, providing batteries, services too. thank you for being so brief. good to talk to you here on bbc news. hello. 0ur september heatwave is not loosening its grip just yet. in fact, this is turning into quite an exceptional run of hot days for the time of year. the last few days have brought temperatures above 30 celsius. today and the next couple of days also bringing temperatures above 30. in fact, it's going to be the longest run of september days above 30 degrees on record. but there are some exceptions. this was the scene in fife earlier on with some mist and murk and low cloud. a lot of that is clearing, but some will continue to linger close to the eastern coast of scotland. a few showers moving across parts of southern and western scotland and northern ireland — the odd hefty one, but in the hottest places today, well, 28 in the north—west highlands, 31 or 32 across parts of south—east england. and then through this evening and tonight, we will continue to see a few showers marching across parts of scotland, more of that mist and murk and low cloud for some eastern coasts. another very, very mild — indeed warm night for some of us. so tomorrow morning, if you're starting your day across eastern and central parts of scotland, expect some areas of fog, some mist, some low cloud. the same goes for eastern england. some of that rolling quite a long way inland for the first part of the morning, but then tending to retreat towards the coast, i think, as we go through the day. small chance of one or two showers out towards the west, but for the majority, it is another fine day with quite a lot of hot sunshine and those temperatures easily getting to 30 or 31 degrees, but parts of highlands scotland getting to 29, so this very warm weather quite widespread. late in the day, though, we could well see some sharp showers and thunderstorms just starting to break out across the south—west of england. and through the weekend, it's a story of very slow changes. the further north and west you are on saturday, the greater the chance of seeing some showers and thunderstorms breaking out, whereas further south and east there will be some sunshine. and actually this could be the hottest day of all with highs of 32 or maybe 33 degrees. but as we move out of saturday into sunday, the area of high pressure that has been with us tends to retreat eastwards, and not with any great organisation, we see some clumps of unsettled weather trying to make a move. i think it will still be hot towards the south—east corner on sunday, but into the start of next week it turns more unsettled and markedly cooler. this is bbc news. the hunt continues for the former soldier who escaped prison in london on wednesday. daniel khalife had been accused of trying to gather information for iran the uk rejoins the eu's science research schemes horizon and copernicus.