07/09/2016 BBC News at Six

Targeted again - residents of a besieged Syrian city

are bombed just hours after a suspected gas attack.

Another young victim of Syria's five year long civil war,

as part of rebel held Aleppo are hit again.

As the attacks continue, opposition groups meet in London

We'll have the latest from our Middle East editor,

The Paralympics get underway in Rio tonight, with high hopes

for Britain's athletes, despite a difficult run

When people see the performances of British athletes,

especially going out and getting gold medals, I think it

Nowhere to hide - the owner of Sports Direct faces a shareholder

revolt as he promises to change the way the retailer is run.

Sent home for her black suede shoes - can school uniform

And it's bold, it's British, and it all began in East London -

And in Sportsday later in the hour on BBC News.

The Lions look to Warren Gatland once again.

Triumphant against Australia three years ago, he will lead them

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

Just 24 hours after a suspected chlorine gas attack was launched

on the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, the same area has been

Around two million people are still trapped in the city,

in desperate need of running water and food supplies.

It comes as Syria's main political opposition groups and their allies

met in London to try to find a way to end the civil war.

Our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen sent this report

It contains images you may find distressing.

Another air attack on East Aleppo which is held

Civil defence workers pulled out casualties as they have done

The attack was close to the place where local reports say bombs

containing poisonous chlorine gas were dropped on Tuesday.

The Syrian government always denies using chemical weapons,

This side of the city is at the moment the government's

The Syrian army has tried to surround the East Aleppo to seal

The Syrian army has tried to surround East Aleppo to seal

it off, and attempt to impose a siege and to staff

out the anti-regime forces which control it.

Casualties were taken to one of East Aleppo's

The fighting and attempts to impose a total siege

mean they are short of medical supplies.

The regime blames the bloodshed on foreign countries

It denies allegations it rigs elections here and says

President Assad has no plans to leave office.

We elected our president, we elected our

But these western countries would recognise only what they want or the

results they want. So we have a very strong Government, we have sustained

six war, six year war against Syria, and I assure you we shall continue

as long as the intervention takes place. In London, backed by Britain

the Saudis and others, a Syrian opposition coalition has produced

the most detailed blueprint yet. Insisting on President Assad and

what it calls his clique, leaving. They don't expect a yes any time

soon from Damascus. If Bashar al-Assad continues to be obstinate

and continues to drag his feet and engage seriously there will have to

be a plan B that would involved more stepped up military activity. This

is the centre of Damascus, this part of the capital could not look more

different to Aleppo. There is huge war damage a few miles way but this

is the regime showcase. If the demand to step down had been

delivered by victorious army at the gates of his Palace, President Assad

would have had to have listened. But the way things stand now, he

doesn't. The era of the Assad's in Syria seems to be far from over.

Hair-raising rescue journeys have been happening every day for more

than five years. These were civil defence workers in rebel held east

Aleppo racing to save casualty -- casualties in Tuesday's attack local

reports say contained chemical chlorine gas. One Syrian general I

have spoken to said the war could get much longer. Perhaps another ten

Our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet

is in London, where the meeting between Syrian Opposition groups

Given what Jeremy was saying, is there any hope that a solution to

Syria's war can be found? Syria desperately needs a war out of this

crisis but no-one anywhere expects a political process to start any time

soon. The warring sides leaf live in different world, in Damascus they

are calling this new political plan crazy, here at the Foreign Office in

London, the opposition and their backers say it is the best political

and security transition plan to move towards a new future in Syria, and

critically, would avoid the kind of political things we have seen in

neighbouring states like in Iraq and Libya. Today I can say in the last

hour, we are getting new reports that in Geneva, the US Secretary of

State John Kerry is making some progress in the effort to try to

agree a temporary truce. There is now talk again of a possible deal

this week, if, if they achieve their temporary truce it will perhaps give

a few moments of calm in a few places.

But nothing, nothing is in sight to end this devastating war.

The Paralympics get underway in Rio tonight.

More than 260 British athletes will take part in 19 sports

The organisers say they're confident that Rio is ready, despite the build

up that's been marred by poor ticket sales and funding problems.

Our correspondent Nikki Fox is in Rio.

Sophie, we are four hours Wray from the opening certain anyof the 15th

summer Paralympic Games, despite the problems and there have been some

serious problems, all the venues have been built and crucially, all

the athletes will be here. The funding crisis we know about has led

some to question whether it is possible for the Paralympic movement

to capitalise on the success of London 2012. Please be warned my

report contains flashing images. Please be warned my report

contains flashing images. Just over two weeks since the flame

was put out on South America's The city's most iconic landmark has

been lit up once more. But this time it is in the colours

of the Paralympics. Expectations were high

following London 2012, undoubtedly the most successful

Paralympic games to date. The record number of tickets sold

and more people tuning in than ever before,

the Paralympic movement But the build-up to Rio has been

beset with serious problems. A month ago when the International

Olympic Committee revealed there was no money, many feared

the Paralympic movement We should not be taking

out our begging bowls. We understand that people are living

in difficult times but what we don't understand is why we have to be

an afterthought every time. Why should these Games be

staged on a shoestring? Despite emergency measures

like moving a fence and reducing transport facilities,

ticket sales are on the up, There will be no team not

here because of lack of money. The Paralympic movement has come

together as has the people of the world, the people

of Britain in particular, as I know from when

I was back there. No one was going to let

the Paralympics die here. For the British team

and their famous faces, their one and only

concern now is winning. People might be looking negative

but I think everyone will be presently surprised and when people

see the performances of British athletes especially,

going out and getting gold medals, Over 4000 athletes from more

than 160 countries will join The Games are about to begin,

but perhaps here in Rio the Paralympic movement has already

passed its hardest test. There have been angry

exchanges at Sport Direct's annual general meeting,

with shareholders expressing frustration at the way

the company is run. The founder and majority

shareholder, Mike Ashley, has been criticised by MPs

for what they called "Victorian" working practices and payments

below the minimum wage. Our business correspondent

Emma Simpson was there Welcome to Sports Direct HQ

and its billionaire founder who has opened the doors to lead us

on the tour. Clearly I could have

done a better job. A charm offensive

at breakneck speed. And then he emptied his pockets

to show how they do around But it was always going to be harder

to impress this lot, the shareholders, who came

to have their say at the AGM. Sports Direct has had a difficult

year and it needs to put We believe a change in the corporate

governance in the board composition I will be supporting

an independent inquiry. Into the way in which this

company does its business, because I think it's

unsustainable and exploitative. The chairman Keith Hellawell

conciliatory, admitting that the way the company had acted had been

embarrassing at times. But Mike Ashley looked glum

and he clashed with the Unite union reps, saying, "Don't put me

down, it doesn't help". While corporate shareholders pressed

for changes at the top. And they voted for

the chairman to go, I believe that in 12

months' time we will see that he does have the confidence

of the independent investors because I believe that we should be

given time to work on the areas of the business where

we have had shortcomings. It is a damning blow from investors

but with a majority stake Mike Ashley ultimately calls

the shots and he seems The BBC has learned that the chief

executive who resigned as head of the troubled mental health trust,

Southern Health, has had a new job created for her -

with a salary of almost Katrina Percy stepped down

from her previous role, after it emerged that hundreds

of deaths hadn't been investigated. This is what the Trust told

the BBC's David Fenton. Did that new job exist before

Katrina took it? Did you advertise that job

so other people could apply? Was she the only

candidate? To many people, that

will sound like a fix. Our sober affairs correspondent is

here. All rather awkward for the trust It's a complete mess, bear in

mind that Katrina Percy is the only executive it has had since it was

created in 2011, there were two highly damaging and critical reports

that were published in the past few Mondays highlighting care failings

at southern health, problems that the report say were cribbed to by

poor leadership an management. Bear in mind people have died after

management were told the units were unsafe for people who were, had

contemplated suicide, so when people see Katrina Percy resigning and

being given this role on the same salary they think this is unfair.

Lots of people have said why don't they just sack her? The answer I am

hearing they fear they would lose any subsequent court case, if she

decided to take them to an employment tribunal she may well win

it, and that would be because despite the care failings we have

seen, they don't think that Katrina Percy ispersonly responsible for

them, but despite the chairman in that interview saying she was

uniquely qualified she will be gone in 12 months.

Viewers in the south will be able to see a documentary on this later

tonight and on the BBC News channel at 8.30.

The Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has denied exaggerating

economic warnings in the run-up to the EU referendum.

Mr Carney told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee that the bank's

actions since the vote had helped to mitigate the impact of the vote,

and he had not added to the fear factor.

Here's our economics editor, Kamal Ahmed.

A slowdown, possibly a recession, if Britain voted to leave

Before the referendum in June the governor was in warning mode.

Of course there is a range of possible scenarios

Which could possibly include a technical recession.

Could possibly technically include that.

Now, after the Bank of England cut interest rates and some

positive economic figures, Mark Carney was talking not

I'm quite comfortable with the analysis we did in advance

and the preparation we did in advance and the effectiveness

of the contingency measures, all of which put us in a position

to help the economy adjust and help, if I can bring it back to the issue

at the heart of the referendum, to help make the leaving

of the European Union a success as quickly as possible.

With almost icy politeness,

Jacob Rees Mogg, who backed Brexit,

The Bank of England was contributing to a

fear in the market about what would

happen in the event of Brexit, which

That seems to me to be at the heart of the problem.

We were absolutely clear about the risk, that is our

job, we charge by Parliament to do that.

The next step is not just to

We have made the crystallisation of those risks less likely.

Mark Carney said he welcomed evidence of an

As a barometer of investor confidence in the UK economy,

the value of the pound against the dollar is a pretty good guide.

Before the referendum, sterling was riding high -

one pound was worth $1.50 on the markets.

After the Brexit vote, the pound's value plunged to $1.28.

Good for exports - not so good for imports,

such as food and energy, which become more expensive.

Since then, the pound has seen some volatility,

Investors are feeling more confident, as the threat

Residents of the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo are bombed just hours

It is British, raw. I never thought it would get this big. But don't get

confused, because now grime is on the six o'clock news.

Coming up in Sportsday in the next 15 minutes on BBC News.

Bernie Ecclestone says he'll still be involved

in the running of Formula One even if there's a takeover.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers using trains in London, Sussex,

Surrey and Hampshire have once again had their journeys disrupted by a 48

It's the fifth strike since April - in a bitter dispute with the RMT

Our Transport Correspondent Richard Westcott reports.

After five walk-outs in six months, strikes are almost becoming routine

This is one of the morning services that will eventually

You can see it's not horrendously busy.

On strike days some people make other plans.

But passengers on Southern were already experiencing

some of the worst delays and cancellations in the country,

Week after week it's the same thing all the time.

It's extremely tiring and inconvenient.

I have no idea what time I'll get home this evening.

Are you getting used to strikes then?

Yes, the past couple of weeks I've been coming home 40

minutes late and the train is just constantly delayed.

Not necessarily striking, but late all the time.

The company wants more drivers rather than the on board guards

It's an absolutely safety critical role and we can't allow the trains

to be travelling without any guard on board.

We have to have longer trains, and new trains.

And we need to improve the performance.

And we know doing that through driver-only operation

London Underground has driver-only trains.

Nearly half of Southern's services already use the system

and the industry's safety body says it's not dangerous.

We wanted to get a driver's view but we have kept him anonymous

in case speaking out gets him in trouble.

He told us it comes down to the different camera systems

The cameras are mounted three inches from the body of our trains

They were using cameras mounted on the platform itself.

And this gives an offset view so we could see the doors.

Nothing is going to replace the guard who can step

off the train and deal with the passengers directly.

The government wants more driver-only trains to cut costs.

Whatever happens on Southern sets the tone for all our rail

A brief look at some of the day's other other news stories.

Scotland's First Minister has criticised the UK government

for maintaining a "cloud of secrecy" around its plans for

Earlier today, the Prime Minister, Theresa May refused to give

what she called a "running commentary" on the talks

when pressed for details on plans for membership of the single market.

But Nicola Strugeon said "there must be greater transparency"

In rugby union - Warren Gatland has been named British and Irish Lions

coach for the second time and will lead them on the 2017

He'll temporarily relinquish his role coaching Wales.

The Lions have not won a series against New Zealand since 1971.

One of the UK's tallest concrete structures has been demolished.

The 244-metre chimney at a defunct power station on the Isle of Grain

in Kent was detonated earlier creating 40,000 tonnes of rubble.

It was taller than 55 double-decker buses stacked on top of each -

Pupils have been sent home again from a school in Kent

Yesterday 50 children were turned away from Hartsdown Academy

and the police even got involved after a disturbance outside

For these children, attendance wasn't an issue today,

all in the right uniform, according to school policy.

But around 70 children have been sent home for the wrong uniform.

Causing scenes of angry parents at the school gate.

This is the second day at home for Kimberly Hopper.

I'm very angry because I came in on Tuesday and was ready

I then got given a letter and sent home.

Now her father is considering moving her to another school entirely.

My daughter was at school perfectly dressed, suitable for everything,

suitable for a day's worth of education.

The school says some pupils have turned up wearing tracksuits

and trainers that cost far more than school uniform.

It's not about money, but raising expectations.

At this school in Margate 75% of pupils failed

The headteacher says adhering to a strict uniform code

would raise standards, much needed in coastal towns.

Can children not still succeed without the right uniform?

Actually taking a stand where we say we care

about you so much that even uniform, these things matter

It makes sure children believe in themselves and in the school,

However, this stance has taken us a huge step towards that.

Pupils will continue to be turned away until standards are met.

It's driven by social media - and it's taking the world by storm.

Grime - a unique mash-up of musical influences - started in East London

around 15 years ago, and is now more popular than ever.

Tonight our correspondent Colleen Harris is at

This is where it happens tonight, this is the rehearsal for the rated

awards where the top people will be seeking recognition. Next week two

of the biggest stars of grime will be up for the Mercury awards but the

very appeal of the music is its independence, from corporations and

the establishment, but it is still breaking through into mainstream

territory and the world is taking notice.

It's British, it's raw, it's from the streets.

What punk was to rock, grime is to hip-hop.

Less about champagne and fast cars, more about life on the margins.

# That's not me, and it's shut down #.

This home-grown scene has emerged without big record label backing

and at times has been criticised for being too aggressive, too dark.

But with Mercury award nominations for MCs Skepta and Kano,

along with big brand sponsorships knocking on the door,

She is one of the few female MCs and is from Birmingham.

New artists in the scene have brought something very refreshing

to the scene and people are like, grime is popping again,

Social media is one of the best things that could have

Or someone who wants to start writing.

You pick up your phone and that is all your supporters

How much has social media driven the movement of grime?

I think grime has been very good at harnessing what digital

media is and can be, and translating that not only

into followers, but into ticket sales and album sales.

For many on the underground scene, it's growth and appeal

to new audiences has attracted commercial interest.

The brands want to reach out to the people that these artists

Obviously this is a very youthful audience.

And naturally brands are going to love that

and want to associate themselves with the music.

They can get direct access to the consumer.

This grimy sound, now shaping up to secure its place

It is hot out there, the last day of summer? This could be the swansong

of summer, but too early to call. It has been 30 in some places, the

hottest day in Guernsey for more than 30 years. Things are about to

change in terms of the feel of the weather, and this evening we have a

weather front coming to western parts, more cloud and some rain for

Northern Ireland and western Scotland, that could be quite heavy.

Clearer skies ahead of that. One more warm and muggy like to come,

because the weather front is changing and introducing cooler air

from the Atlantic and we are losing the humidity. The feel of the muggy

weather from the continent. The weather front moves through,

outbreaks of rain mostly for Northern England and into Scotland,

and further south the occasional spot, and then a few showers to

Northern Ireland and western Scotland where it will be very

windy. Breezy day for the Channel Islands. Not as hot tomorrow. For

England and Wales mainly dry in the afternoon, and some good sunny

spells and the fresher feel. Breezy and quite windy, the Irish sea,

maybe gusts around 50 mph. Some rain moving north through the Northern

Isles. Maybe some rain coming to western parts of the UK later.

Friday we are left with a few showers and a more substantial

weather system coming to Northern Ireland and western Scotland to end

Friday and that means heavy rain again and stronger winds. And all of

that is sweeping East across the UK and so we will all have a spell of

heavy rain for time. We will keep you up-to-date regarding the weekend

but it is looking decidedly mixed.