the true path to ensure peace is only through supporting israel's mission, absolutely not to call for a cease—fire. when you refuse to call for a cease—fire, you are refusing to call for the only thing that can put an end to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. all eyes on the un security council this evening. the uae has called a vote on an immediate ceasefire in gaza. we are expecting it shortly. the us say they will be using their veto. we will get the thoughts of barack obama's former middle east peace envoy, frank lowenstein. also tonight, the costs of rishi sunak�*s policy are mounting, as is the pressure

within the tory party. not a single migrant has been sent to rwanda, and yet we have already spent £240 million. a deal that tees up the biggest shake—up in world golf — jon rahm joins the saudi—sponsored liv golf for a reported $300 million. good evening. we start in new york, where the un security council has been debating through the afternoon the situation in gaza. they are due to vote shortly on a draft resolution proposed by the united arab emirates demanding an immediate ceasefire. it will fail because the united states will object. that is despite the pleas of the secretary—general antonio guterres, who called on the 15—member council to "use all its influence" to prevent "a humanitarian catastrophe". we start tonight with this report form our international editor jeremy bowen. and a warning — you may find the footage distressing.

gaza is on the brink of a full—blown collapse, says the un. almost 2 million people have been driven from their homes by israeli forces. civil order, the un warns, is breaking down. in deir al—balah, the mosque was bombed with such force that the yafa hospital next door was put out of action. the hospital director said gaza's health care system is being targeted systematically. israel said it launched a50 strikes in the last 2a hours. it released these night—vision pictures without a soundtrack. the americans repeated warnings that israel is killing too many civilians. it is a war crime to target civilians or harm them with an indiscriminate attack. more pictures are emerging on social media of israel's round—up of hundreds of palestinian men it says are hamas suspects.

they were ordered to leave a un shelter, forced to strip to their underwear and bound before being driven away for interrogation. israel still has not beaten hamas in northern gaza. fighting continues in an urban wasteland. the video has been traced to israeli soldiers posting out of gaza, and since it went viral, has been deleted from tiktok. the way hundreds of thousands of palestinians in gaza are being forced to live was filmed by a freelance journalist working for the bbc. atar is sheltering in a tent made of plastic sheets in the grounds of a hospital in deir al—balah, in the middle area of gaza. gaza's people are looking into the abyss, according to the un secretary—general. he's implored the security council to end their ordeal by passing a cease—fire resolution tonight. atar said he's trying to get his kids to forget the good food they used to enjoy.

translation: idon't| know what to tell you. the only thing we have to eat is tea with no sugar. the only three words we hearfrom our children are "hungry, cold, thirsty". and we would rather die than see them get sick. israel destroyed the historic omari mosque in gaza city. it is close to an area israeli troops are assaulting. palestinian diplomats at the un says israel wants to force the people out. israel once again rejected a cease—fire. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's go tojerusalem. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is with us. paul, i want to talk first ally about a video that has been released, i've seen your copy you just filed about a hostage she was being held, and it seems there was an israel defense forces operation

to rescue him, but from the evidence of this video, it does not seem to have gone very well. what do you know? ., , . , know? two separate things, christian- — know? two separate things, christian. first _ know? two separate things, christian. first of _ know? two separate things, christian. first of all, - know? two separate things, christian. first of all, a - know? two separate things, i christian. first of all, a briefing by the israeli army's main spokesman, in which he referred to a hostage rescue operation last night, in which two israeli soldiers were seriously wounded, no hostage was recovered and a number of hamas gunmen killed. he did not give any more details of that. separately we had a video released by hamas which shows three things, first of all a hostage, not naming him, speaking, apparently sometime in the middle of last month and identifying himself, then some images of the bloody images of the aftermath of some kind of gun battle, lots of blood on the ground, some captured weaponry,

which the hamas say were captured from the israelis, and then finally at the end of the bloody corpse of someone who resembles but we cannot say with any certainty the hostage scene at the beginning of the video. so we don't they know too much about how that was recorded. these two separate things do seem to be referring to the same incident, but the details are a little unclear, and there seems to be a degree of manipulation, i would say, about the hamas video. fik. manipulation, i would say, about the hamas vide0-— hamas video. 0k. separately, these photographs — hamas video. 0k. separately, these photographs of _ hamas video. 0k. separately, these photographs of men _ hamas video. 0k. separately, these photographs of men in _ hamas video. 0k. separately, these photographs of men in their- photographs of men in their underpants kneeling on the floor, blindfolded, jeremy told us that this appears to have come from footage that was recorded by the idf troops. what do we know about the men videos and their whereabouts now? , . , ,. , , ., now? the israelis say these were all men arrested. _ now? the israelis say these were all men arrested, detained, _ now? the israelis say these were all men arrested, detained, into - now? the israelis say these were all men arrested, detained, into parts. men arrested, detained, into parts of the northern gaza strip. areas

where the israelis say that they have been telling everyone to leave for weeks and that consequently anyone still found there, any man of fighting age found there, will be immediately considered to be a suspected member of hamas, so that probably explains the circumstances in which they were all rounded up. we know from messages this morning that some of those people have already been released. there is one palestinian journalist whose family say he is currently being held in a military base inside israel, but this does seem to be part of an ongoing effort by the israelis to round up people in those key areas in the northern part of the gaza strip, figure out who they have got, interrogate people, if they are found to be hamas members, you can expect them to be injailfor a good long while, and then release some

others. it is in some ways, it looks shocking, these people have been stripped of their underpants, they are blindfolded in some cases with their hands tied behind their backs, but it is sort of what militaries tend to do in situations like this. yet, you probably would not take the risk if you are in a built—up area with gunmen around. just briefly, i on the intensity of the attacks in the last 2a hours, paul, a50 bombs dropped from land, sea and air — thatis dropped from land, sea and air — that is a remarkably high number. do you sense the israelis are in a hurry now? i you sense the israelis are in a hurry now?— you sense the israelis are in a hur now? hurry now? i suspect they probably are, hurry now? i suspect they probably are. because _ hurry now? i suspect they probably are, because if _ hurry now? i suspect they probably are, because if you _ hurry now? i suspect they probably are, because if you put that - hurry now? i suspect they probably are, because if you put that beside j are, because if you put that beside the comments that we heard from antony blinken, the us secretary of state, overnight about this disparity between israel's intention not to harm civilians and the evidence of what exactly happening on the ground, put to one side the american reluctance to endorsed that

resolution at the un security council, that was never going to happen, but there are clear signs of american disquiet and already you're hearing people here in israel saying, you know what, we have probably only got it a few weeks left, and they obviously want to make maximum use of that time. they have key hamas leaders who they would love to lay their hands on or kill, they want the rest of the hamas military infrastructure in the southern part of the gaza strip destroyed, so i think they are conscious the time is running out and, at times like that, israel's military operations tend to intensify. military operations tend to intensify-— military operations tend to intensi. . , g intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank ou intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank you very _ intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank you very much _ intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank you very much for _ intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank you very much for that. - intensify. pauladams, in jerusalem, thank you very much for that. let's l thank you very much for that. let's talk further about the vote at the security council. frank lowenstein was a us special envoy for israeli palestinian negotiations under the 0bama administration. mr lowenstein, you're very welcome to the programme, thank forjoining us. the secretary of state in tinley beacon said last night there's a gap the commitments the israelis made to protect civilians and the numbers that are dying —— secretary of state

antony blinken. if that is the case why is the secretary of state sending in the way of a cease—fire tonight? sending in the way of a cease-fire toniaht? �* u, , sending in the way of a cease-fire toniaht? �* , , ., tonight? because in the minds of the united states — tonight? because in the minds of the united states any _ tonight? because in the minds of the united states any biden _ united states any biden administration, there are different thoughts here. the first is, should there be a cease—fire that effectively allows hamas to stay in place and we've been very clear we oppose that. at the same time we have been pushing this really is as hard as they can, to put more in, andi hard as they can, to put more in, and i think that is where the united states is going to be under increasing pressure, to start putting tougher measures in place to ensure that israel actually does comply with managerial law. lie comply with managerial law. us ambassador said a cease—fire and i would overcome the seeds for the next war —— international law. i must, he says, has no desire their will so further from his must, he says, has no desire their will so furtherfrom his him, it will undermine trust that will be required to have a durable peace?

that is another point the united states has been making very, very clearly and repeatedly, lloyd austin has said publicly on the number of different occasions israel risks strategic defeat in this where they go about trying to limit hamas's and the tuqul abilities and amenities creates more terrorist than it takes off the battlefield —— military capabilities. to be clear we have a very limited amount of influence with the israelis when it comes to their decisions about their military operations. they are going to do what they think is in their own self—interest for regard as to what anybody else says, so the question for the us becomes, do we start taking actions to back—up our words? we start allowing security council resolutions to move through, do we allow congress to condition military assistant to the israelis? that allow congress to condition military assistant to the israelis?— assistant to the israelis? that is really interesting. _ assistant to the israelis? that is really interesting. can _ assistant to the israelis? that is really interesting. can i - assistant to the israelis? that is really interesting. can i ask- assistant to the israelis? that is really interesting. can i ask you | assistant to the israelis? that is l really interesting. can i ask you to take a technicality? we are told france has asked for consultations before it votes — what would they need to know? were further would they need to know then what is already been supplied? i am

they need to know then what is already been supplied? i am not sure what the french _ already been supplied? i am not sure what the french are _ already been supplied? i am not sure what the french are up _ already been supplied? i am not sure what the french are up to _ already been supplied? i am not sure what the french are up to exactly, i what the french are up to exactly, the vote was delayed in part because secretary lincoln is currently bidding with saudi arabia, the iraqis, thejordanians, ear, and we're probably trying to do is make sure we can train had off the resolution, we don't like to be in a position of vetoing these things, we would like to avoid it —— the emiratis. the other element is the us would use leverage trying get the israel is to change their approach to the battle. israel talking about another 7—8 weeks of this heavy military bombardment and that is longer than what the biden administration want to keep defending them botley, internationally and domestically, so there will be a message to the israelis, we can only do this for so much longer. either you change your behaviour or he will take tougher action as you publicly, so that is the tension right now. the secretary-general - the tension right now. the secretary—general was pretty blunt in his assessment of what is going on in israel, in gaza, at the moment, he said that this is a collective punishment, there will be

some who disagree with that, but there is no doubt hundreds of thousands of people are being forced now into thinner and thinner areas, where they are safe. people are bound to ask, in light of the casualties, and we are over 17,000 now, what is the purpose of the security council if it is not to bring a cease—fire at a moment like this? i bring a cease-fire at a moment like this? ~ . , . , this? i think that is a broader auestion this? i think that is a broader question about _ this? i think that is a broader question about what - this? i think that is a broader question about what the - this? i think that is a broader question about what the role | this? i think that is a broader. question about what the role of this? i think that is a broader- question about what the role of the un is in these conflict what the us is doing is using this as an opportunity to put as much pressure as it can on the israelis to change their behaviour and really the president of the united states has been very clear on the humanitarian front. that is where collective punishment becomes most prevalent, not long fuel and food and medicine in, and i think biden was very clear that he said there is an urgent need for more humanitarian assistance to get in, so i would imagine that is a point the israelis may be susceptible to some persuasion on the united states front, to get around this question of whether it

is collective punishment. can i pick u . is collective punishment. can i pick u- on is collective punishment. can i pick up on that? — is collective punishment. can i pick up on that? obviously _ is collective punishment. can i pick up on that? obviously you've - up on that? 0bviously you've operated in the field of shuttle diplomacy. the vote will be the inconclusive tonight, there will be no cease—fire, but what happens then in the back channels? is it someone like you who then goes to israel and says, we have been able to fend this one off, but it is coming back to the security council very quickly and you need to change otherwise l mac, otherwise we cannot report you? is that how it tends to work? my cuess is that how it tends to work? my auess is is that how it tends to work? ij�*i guess is they're is that how it tends to work? m guess is they're conversations is that how it tends to work? m1 guess is they're conversations like that going on as we speak, and i think in the last couple of security counsel meetings, we have vetoed some khaoui also allowed one to go through: for human carrying pauses. we have already been inserted where willing to use the tools of the un where we think it is appropriate to advance our interests and try to get the israelis to change their behaviour, so i would imagine imagine them now is, this is going to only works for you and get harder for you, your to only works for you and get harder foryou, your campaign to only works for you and get harder for you, your campaign not be sustainable on a global basis, in

terms of us support, especially given our domestic political issue here, unless you take a dramatically different approach on the humanitarian from it also terms of preventing civilian casualties. alters; preventing civilian casualties. very interesting- _ preventing civilian casualties. very interesting. frank _ preventing civilian casualties. very interesting. frank lowenstein, thank you very much for coming on the programme. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the funeral of pogues frontman shane macgowan has been held in county tipperary in ireland. johnny depp and the president of ireland took part in the funeral service, with hundreds of mourners gathering in the grounds of the church in nenagh. the singer, perhaps best known for his smash—hit fairytale of new york, died on the 30th of november at the age of 65. judges have ruled that the uk government acted lawfully in blocking scotland's gender self—id reforms. legislation making it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex was passed

by the scottish parliament last year, but the government in westminster blocked it over fears it would impact equality laws. the scottish government's legal challenge to that veto has now been rejected. yellow weather warnings for wind and rain are in place for large parts of the uk on friday and saturday, with disruption likely over the weekend. the met office say severe weather is expected in western and central england, as well as wales, south—west scotland and northern ireland. there are also almost 30 flood warnings in place, you're live with bbc news. the british government's rwanda policy will cost twice as much as was previously thought. the home office confirmed today the bill will be closer to £290 million by next year without much to show for it. so far, significantly more home secretaries have been to rwanda than asylum—seekers. the government signed a new treaty with rwanda last week, after an earlier version of the agreement was blocked by the supreme court. the government say it now has assurances the process in rwanda will be safe, lawyers supporting asylum—seekers disagree. from rwanda, mayenijones reports.

all dressed up with no—one to cook for. this used to be a refuge for survivors of the 199a genocide here in rwanda. it was repurposed to host the uk's asylum—seekers. this hostel is part of what we now know is a £2a0 million investment the british government has made into its asylum deal with rwanda. a bbc crew was here injune of last year when staff were getting ready to receive the first arrivals from the uk, but a year and a half later, it still stands empty. the home office says some of this money is for rwanda's economic development. it adds that there are significant set—up costs to ensure asylum—seekers are processed efficiently. but rights groups say the uk shouldn't be partnering with rwanda in the first place.

this is a government where fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom to vote how someone wants to, freedom from arbitrary detention and torture, these fundamental rights are not respected. the rwandan government says it respects human rights and international law. during tuesday's visit by home secretary james cleverly, rwanda's foreign minister pointed out that his country has a long history of welcoming refugees. refugees in this un—run centre were brought to rwanda after suffering abuse in libya, but although they say conditions here are good, of the 2,000 people who've passed through this camp since it was set up in 2019, none have chosen to stay in rwanda. some are the asylum—seekers who came from yemen. 26—year—old south sudanese refugee john lives in kigali. we've changed his name and hidden his identity to protect him. out of15, 16 million of rwanda populations, i can say 5 million want to leave. why? the life standard here is restricted. we all are restricted. the british government says the rwanda scheme is necessary to deter illegal migrants, and it believes the asylum—seekers it sends here will be able to rebuild their lives.

but as many refugees in rwanda want to relocate, that may be a tall order. mayenijones, bbc news, kigali. a first vote on the legislation which will enshrine this new treaty will be held on tuesday. it will test the prime minister's authority. our deputy political editor vicky young has more. the problem he has got, that there's at least two factions in his party who are opposed to this for diametrically opposed reasons. one side are saying, "we've got to disregard more "human rights legislation," the other saying, "well, actually, "you've gone too far already." so, this weekend, the home secretary and other ministers will be giving really a very simple message to their mps — "focus on this, don't worry about all the other things "that you are also grumpy about. "this is the best way forward." the problem, though, also, is there are two former ministers who were working on the home office in all of those who were undermining

the message, saying that they really don't think it will work. i think it is worth emphasising what a huge deal it would be if tory mps went against the prime minister next week. he has put an awful lot of effort and money into this policy, and to really go against him now would undermine his authority and i don't think anyone could then predict what would happen. vicki young there. with more on this, i'm joined byjoe twyman, co—founder and director of the public opinion consultancy deltapoll, and natasha tsangarides, the associate director of advocacy at the human rights charity freedom from torture. thank you, both, for being with us. joe, can i start with you? where is immigration on the list of the public�*s priorities? if immigration on the list of the public's priorities?— immigration on the list of the public's priorities? if you ask the ublic, public's priorities? if you ask the public. what _ public's priorities? if you ask the public, what is _ public's priorities? if you ask the public, what is the _ public's priorities? if you ask the public, what is the most - public's priorities? if you ask the l public, what is the most important issue facing the country, or indeed what is most important facing them and theirfamilies, what what is most important facing them and their families, what comes top by some distance is the cost of living, and then the next level down, you have the economy generally and you also have the nhs, and then there is a sort of third tier, quite a way below those, of which

immigration is one, and you also have things like education, taxation, crime, but it is very much a third tier issue.— a third tier issue. 0k, is there any polling on — a third tier issue. 0k, is there any polling on this _ a third tier issue. 0k, is there any polling on this specific _ a third tier issue. 0k, is there any polling on this specific plan, - a third tier issue. 0k, is there any polling on this specific plan, there on the plan?— polling on this specific plan, there on the plan? yes, there is, and the ollin: on the plan? yes, there is, and the polling has— on the plan? yes, there is, and the polling has been — on the plan? yes, there is, and the polling has been relatively - polling has been relatively consistent, just under half of people approve of the plan and around a third of people disapprove, but it is worth or membrane that no matter what the policy is announced, if it is announced as being against illegal immigration, you tend to get those kind of figures and when you follow up with, do people think it will actually work or be introduced even, you have a majority of people who don't think that it will actually work, and that is a real problem for the government among many in this situation.— problem for the government among many in this situation. natasha, the prime minister _ many in this situation. natasha, the prime minister is _ many in this situation. natasha, the prime minister is trying _ many in this situation. natasha, the prime minister is trying to _ many in this situation. natasha, the prime minister is trying to convince | prime minister is trying to convince us it is working, a reduction in the number of small boats, and if he can pass the legislation, he will save

money housing asylum—seekers and hotels. that is a saving over the long—term, isn't it? hotels. that is a saving over the long-term, isn't it?— hotels. that is a saving over the long-term, isn't it? look, first of all, we long-term, isn't it? look, first of all. we have _ long-term, isn't it? look, first of all, we have got _ long-term, isn't it? look, first of all, we have got to _ long-term, isn't it? look, first of all, we have got to remember - long-term, isn't it? look, first of| all, we have got to remember the reason _ all, we have got to remember the reason they're having to pay so much money _ reason they're having to pay so much money on _ reason they're having to pay so much money on hotels is because they let the backlog grow from 8000, which they narrative, up to 170,000. what needs— they narrative, up to 170,000. what needs to _ they narrative, up to 170,000. what needs to happen, not only more cost effective _ needs to happen, not only more cost effective but more importantly what would _ effective but more importantly what would be _ effective but more importantly what would be more human focused and compassionate and protection focused, _ compassionate and protection focused, would be to deliver an asylum — focused, would be to deliver an asylum system here in the uk that is able to— asylum system here in the uk that is able to make fair and effective decisions _ able to make fair and effective decisions within a prompt timeframe, because _ decisions within a prompt timeframe, because what is happening now is we have got— because what is happening now is we have got people languishing for months — have got people languishing for months and years at a time, waiting fora _ months and years at a time, waiting for a decision on their claim. rwanda _ for a decision on their claim. rwanda is _ for a decision on their claim. rwanda is not the answer. there is a feelin: in rwanda is not the answer. there is a feeling in the — rwanda is not the answer. there is a feeling in the united _ rwanda is not the answer. there is a feeling in the united states, - rwanda is not the answer. there is a feeling in the united states, where l feeling in the united states, where they have a similar problem on their southern border, that the longer it takes to process cases, the more

people think they will get in, they will be given leave to stay, pending appeal, and innocence, that is a pull factor in itself. is that the case here? —— in a sense. pull factor in itself. is that the case here? -- in a sense. what we know from — case here? -- in a sense. what we know from our— case here? -- in a sense. what we know from our clients _ case here? -- in a sense. what we know from our clients is _ case here? -- in a sense. what we know from our clients is that - case here? -- in a sense. what we know from our clients is that when | know from our clients is that when people _ know from our clients is that when people are — know from our clients is that when people are facing the risk of death, they are _ people are facing the risk of death, they are willing to really do anything, that's why we see people undertaking the most horrendous journeys, — undertaking the most horrendous journeys, absolutely dangerous, horrific _ journeys, absolutely dangerous, horrific journeys that you journeys, absolutely dangerous, horrificjourneys that you or i would — horrificjourneys that you or i would never dream of, but people do it every— would never dream of, but people do it every day~ — would never dream of, but people do it every day. we don't have evidence that deterrence by spinning out the asylum _ that deterrence by spinning out the asylum decision—making process works at all. _ asylum decision—making process works at all, because if that were the case, — at all, because if that were the case, we — at all, because if that were the case, we would see a reduction in numbers the which obviously has not happened. _ numbers the which obviously has not happened, but i think let's remember, it's not about... we have -ot remember, it's not about... we have got to— remember, it's not about... we have got to move — remember, it's not about... we have got to move away from this distance of trying _ got to move away from this distance of trying to— got to move away from this distance of trying to reduce the number of people _ of trying to reduce the number of people seeking asylum, we see a

fraction _ people seeking asylum, we see a fraction of— people seeking asylum, we see a fraction of people compared to our european — fraction of people compared to our european neighbours, and we really need to— european neighbours, and we really need to move away from this discourse _ need to move away from this discourse and move towards a more compassionate and the protection focused _ compassionate and the protection focused approach. last compassionate and the protection focused approach.— compassionate and the protection focused approach. last time you were on, joe, focused approach. last time you were on. joe. you — focused approach. last time you were on. joe. you predict — focused approach. last time you were on, joe, you predict there _ focused approach. last time you were on, joe, you predict there will - focused approach. last time you were on, joe, you predict there will be - on, joe, you predict there will be an election next year which i thought was particularly wise, but i think you were also leaning towards may. if this mode go south on tuesday or in future readings, does that become more or less likely, do you think? that become more or less likely, do ou think? �* . . , ., ., , you think? actually thought november was the or likely, _ you think? actually thought november was the or likely, but, _ you think? actually thought november was the or likely, but, may, _ you think? actually thought november was the or likely, but, may, you - was the or likely, but, may, you cannot rule it out, if there are divisions that explode into outright civil war, divisions that explode into outright civilwar, i divisions that explode into outright civil war, i don't think the government will have much choice but to call it no—confidence motion and such mechanisms, and that does make a more likely may election, but i still think the government will attempt to struggle on until autumn, and one of the reasons for that is there is some evidence to suggest

that the net migration figures, looking at all migration now, not just the specifics of small boats, net migration figures have been, if you like, artificially inflated as a result of the covid pandemic and that next year the impact of that inflation will be reduced, and as a result, the number will come down anyway, so regardless of what ashley takes place or does not take place, it may be a better story to tell on the net migration even though it is unlikely to placate many of the opponents. unlikely to placate many of the opponents-— unlikely to placate many of the o- onents. g ., . ., . . ,, opponents. 0k, joe, natasha, thank ou ve opponents. 0k, joe, natasha, thank you very much- _ opponents. 0k, joe, natasha, thank you very much. we'll _ opponents. 0k, joe, natasha, thank you very much. we'll be _ opponents. ok, joe, natasha, thank you very much. we'll be back- opponents. 0k, joe, natasha, thank you very much. we'll be back after. you very much. we'll be back after quick break. hello there. we've got a couple of areas of low pressure for this weekend. that will bring spells of mild, but also wet weather at times. it will be noticeably mild compared to what we had last weekend. there will be some sunshine around over the weekend. it's not going to be a complete wash—out. and it's going to be windy both days, but particularly late on saturday. this is saturday's low pressure

system hurtling through, bringing a band of rain, squeezing the isobars, bringing those gales. and then sunday's low pressure moves through. not quite as windy on sunday, but still another band of rainfall. you will notice both by day and by night it's going to be very mild for the time of year. now, with more rain falling on already saturated ground, we've already got a number of flood warnings. this is going to exacerbate the issue, and we could see more flood warnings by the end of the weekend. so stay tuned to the forecast. head online if you have any concerns. through tonight, it stays very wet, central and southern scotland. windy for the northern isles, and then here comes the next batch of wet and windy weather pushing into northern ireland, wales, the midlands, southern and south—west england. very mild with it, but generally it's going to be a frost—free night for most. very wet, windy day, certainly morning for saturday, northern ireland, england and wales. the rain becomes confined to central, southern scotland. to the north of it, brighter, sunshine, a few showers. and it brightens up later in the day across england and wales. sunny spells, a few scattered showers, a very mild 1a degrees in the south—east. but the winds will become a feature later in the day on saturday.

widespread gales northern ireland, england and wales, and then there's a risk of gusts of 60—70 mph in northern ireland, particularly so into north—west england and north wales. this could cause some disruption for a time through saturday evening, the first part of the night. as we move through saturday night, the winds remain strong, but ease down somewhat. it stays quite showery across scotland, but we'll see a slot of drier, clearer weather for england, wales and northern ireland for a time on sunday morning. and again largely frost—free. sunday starts off fine, some early sunshine in central and eastern areas, but it won't be long till the next low pressure system moves through to bring wetter and breezier weather. the rain becomes confined to northern and eastern areas, and again we should see a bit of sunshine into the afternoon for england and wales, where we'll see temperatures 10—12 degrees here. it stays unsettled into the start of the new week, on the mild side, but then there's hints of it turning drier as high pressure builds in for the end of the week, with increasing amounts of sunshine. take care.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. saudi arabia emerges as a key player in top sports events dismissing claims of sport washing.

before we talk about that, we'll get the rest of the news. hello from the bbc sport centre. russian and belarusian athletes who've qualified for next summer's paris olympics will be allowed to participate as neutrals. the international olympic committee confirmed the decision earlier. athletes from those nations were banned following russia's invasion of ukraine in february last year but the ioc says letting individuals take part is about "respecting human rights." our sports news correspondent alex capstick has been following developments. since march, the international committee is recommended to the sports federations that athletes from russia and belarus should be allowed to compete as neutrals as long as they have no connection to the military in most sports federations have gone along with bed and confirmation of those qualified for the limits will be allowed to compete in paris next year is eight russians and three belarusians this is not include teams and individual athletes and only known as