this is bbc news, i'm ben brown, the headlines. anti—government protests in china against strict covid restrictions are spreading, with some demonstrators calling for the country's leader, president xi, to go. people who use social media posts to encourage self—harm will face criminal prosecution under new government proposals. two 16—year—old boys have died after being stabbed about a mile apart in south—east london, police say they are trying to establish if the two incidents are linked. with further rail strikes expected before christmas, the transport secretary says reform is needed to fund wage rises. what has to happen is we have to agree on a set of reforms. it's the reforms that free up the savings that then unlock