suggesting it will be in the second half of the year. my working assumption is we'll have a general election in the second half of this year and in the meantime i've got lots that i want to get on with. it comes as the labour leader makes his election year pitch — setting out his vision for what he calls �*project hope�*. the late sex offender jeffrey epstein — prince andrew and bill clinton are once again linked to him, according to newly—released us court papers. arsenal's declan rice tells us how he's using his influence to tackle knife crime. and how facial recognition is helping keep track of swan families. and coming up on bbc news... we hear from the two lukes who are changing the face of darts — the new world champion and the teenager he beat in the final.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. rishi sunak has appeared to rule out a spring general election. speaking on a visit to a youth centre in nottinghamshire, the prime minister said his working assumption is that there will be a general elction in the second half of this year. an election has to be held by january 2025. in his own new year speech, the labour leader sir keir starmer said he hoped the new year would give the country a chance to vote out the conservatives. let's go live now to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman, who's at westminster. the prime minister appears to be rolling out a spring election, how much of a surprise is that? we are 'ust a few much of a surprise is that? we are just a few days _ much of a surprise is that? we are just a few days into _ much of a surprise is that? we are just a few days into 2024 - much of a surprise is that? we are just a few days into 2024 but - just a few days into 2024 but already in westminster, this year has been full of speculation about when the general election will take

place. what rishi sunak has done today, just now is try to kill that speculation at least for now. what he's saying is the general election will take place probably in the second half of the year. why has he done that? it was already clear that labour and other opposition parties were talking up the possibility of a general election in may. i think that was partly so that if the general election did take place later than that they might accuse the prime minister essentially of bottling it. but the bigger reason why he is probably waiting until later in the year is the conservatives are a long way behind in the opinion polls. and that means the big question now we have a bit more clarity on the date, is not when, but how? how can rishi sunak turn around what the opinion polls tell us is very difficult political problem for the conservative party, which may herald them leaving office for the first time 14 years. and for

the labour party and keir starmer, how can they seal the deal after so long in opposition? that is something the labour leader has been talking about a little today as my colleague reports. cameras trained, journalists gathered, a sense of anticipation in the year. it certainly feels like an election year. the year. it certainly feels like an election year-— the year. it certainly feels like an election year. please welcome keir starmer. election year. please welcome keir starmer- he _ election year. please welcome keir starmer. he hopes— election year. please welcome keir starmer. he hopes to _ election year. please welcome keir starmer. he hopes to become - election year. please welcome keir. starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, _ starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, so _ starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, so no _ starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, so no surprised - starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, so no surprised he| minister in 2024, so no surprised he has his sleeves at least partially rolled up. it has his sleeves at least partially rolled u -. , ., has his sleeves at least partially rolled u -. , . ., has his sleeves at least partially rolled u. , . ., , rolled up. it is what we have been waitin: rolled up. it is what we have been waiting for. _ rolled up. it is what we have been waiting for, preparing _ rolled up. it is what we have been waiting for, preparing for, - rolled up. it is what we have been| waiting for, preparing for, fighting for. waiting for, preparing for, fighting for~ my— waiting for, preparing for, fighting for. my year of choice, a chance to change _ for. my year of choice, a chance to change a _ for. my year of choice, a chance to change a clock that is ticking on this government.— this government. there was an acknowledgement _ this government. there was an acknowledgement that - this government. there was an acknowledgement that voters l this government. there was an i acknowledgement that voters had become weary of politics. you acknowledgement that voters had become weary of politics.- become weary of politics. you are ri . ht to become weary of politics. you are right to be — become weary of politics. you are right to be anti-westminster. - become weary of politics. you are j right to be anti-westminster. you right to be anti—westminster. you are right _ right to be anti—westminster. you are right to— right to be anti—westminster. you are right to be angry about what politics — are right to be angry about what politics has become. but hold on to the flickering hope in your heart

that things can be better. that messaue that things can be better. that message of— that things can be better. that message of project _ that things can be better. trust message of project hope is designed to persuade you to put across in a box and he attempted to counter the argument, including from some within his own party that his parties are unambitious.— his own party that his parties are unambitious. ~ , ., �* , unambitious. why labour? because we serve our unambitious. why labour? because we serve your interests. _ unambitious. why labour? because we serve your interests. why _ unambitious. why labour? because we serve your interests. why labour? - serve your interests. why labour? because _ serve your interests. why labour? because we — serve your interests. why labour? because we will grow every corner of our country — because we will grow every corner of our country. why labour? because we have a _ our country. why labour? because we have a plan— our country. why labour? because we have a plan to take back our streets. _ have a plan to take back our streets, switch on great british energy. — streets, switch on great british energy, get the nhs back on its feet, _ energy, get the nhs back on its feet, tear— energy, get the nhs back on its feet, tear down the barriers to opportunity and get britain building again _ opportunity and get britain building again. can opportunity and get britain building aaain. . . ., , opportunity and get britain building aaain. . .., , ,, ., ~ again. can i welcome, rishi sunak, the prime minister. _ again. can i welcome, rishi sunak, the prime minister. as _ again. can i welcome, rishi sunak, the prime minister. as for- again. can i welcome, rishi sunak, the prime minister. as for number| the prime minister. as for number ten's incumbent, _ the prime minister. as for number ten's incumbent, he _ the prime minister. as for number ten's incumbent, he has _ the prime minister. as for number ten's incumbent, he has been - the prime minister. as for number ten's incumbent, he has been a i ten's incumbent, he has been a battleground in the east midlands and gave the strongest hint yet about when polling day might be. mi; about when polling day might be. m general about when polling day might be. m: general assumption about when polling day might be. m; general assumption is we will have a general assumption is we will have a general election in the second half of this year but in the meantime i have a lot i want to get on with. we

are introducing a significant tax cut. �* . , ., , are introducing a significant tax cut. �* . , ., ., ., cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high- — cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high. it _ cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high. it is _ cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high. it is one _ cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high. it is one of- cut. but he argues taxes are at a record high. it is one of the - cut. but he argues taxes are at a. record high. it is one of the issues the election will be fought on and there will be plenty more pressing afresh the ship but the campaign proper could be many more months away. associates, friends and alleged victims of the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein have been made public, after previously private court documents were made public overnight. the 900 pages relating to the disgraced billionaire, who killed himself injailfive years ago, contain dozens of references to prince andrew, who was accused by one woman of having sex with her when she was 17. they also include testimony from another woman who claimed that he had groped her. the prince, who has denied all the allegations against him, stepped down from public duties in 2019. simonjones has this report. jeffrey epstein was a billionaire financial adviser to the rich and powerful, but he was also a serial abuser of underage girls. now the

release of almost 1000 pages of court documents has shed new light on his acquaintances. there were more than 60 separate references to prince andrew, these include a claim from one woman he said he put his hand on her breast atjeffrey epstein's manhattan apartment in 2001, to pose for a photo with another accuser. buckingham palace previously said the allegation was categorically untrue. virginia giuffre said she had been forced to have sex with the prince when she was 17. the prince said he had no recollection of ever meeting virginia giuffre, or miss roberts, as she was then. you virginia giuffre, or miss roberts, as she was then.— as she was then. you can say categorically _ as she was then. you can say categorically that _ as she was then. you can say categorically that you - as she was then. you can say categorically that you don't i as she was then. you can say - categorically that you don't recall meeting virginia roberts, dining with her, dancing with her, going on to have sex with her in a bedroom in a house in belgravia? i can absolutely. _ a house in belgravia? i can absolutely, categorically i a house in belgravia? i can i absolutely, categorically tell a house in belgravia? i can - absolutely, categorically tell you it never —

absolutely, categorically tell you it never happened. in absolutely, categorically tell you it never happened.— it never happened. in 2022, the prince settled _ it never happened. in 2022, the prince settled a _ it never happened. in 2022, the prince settled a private - it never happened. in 2022, the prince settled a private case - prince settled a private case brought by virginia giuffre against him, but made no admission of liability. he withdrew from public life. the court documents named bill clinton and johanna schoenberg testified thatjeffrey epstein once told them that bill clinton likes them young, referring to girls. but there is no implication of any illegality. bill clinton has previously said he knew no knowledge ofjeffrey epstein's crimes. of jeffrey epstein's crimes. epstein's ofjeffrey epstein's crimes. epstein's abuse of young girls went back decades. he was first investigated in 2005 accused of molesting miners in his palm beach mansion. in 2008, aftera molesting miners in his palm beach mansion. in 2008, after a plea deal he was sentenced to 18 months in prison but spent most of it on a work release programme. that deal gave him immunity from prosecution, which was fought by his victims. the

judge ordered the release of a new document as part of a legal case associated to ghislaine maxwell. she is serving a 20 yearjail term for helping him abuse girls. the papers don't appear to reveal any new bombshell revelations about epstein, who died injail, but more documents are expected to be released in the coming days. simonjones, bbc news. let's go live now to our correspondent in new york, nada tawfik. 900 pages of documents, whilst they have to say? irate 900 pages of documents, whilst they have to say?— have to say? we do expect more documents _ have to say? we do expect more documents to — have to say? we do expect more documents to be _ have to say? we do expect more documents to be released - have to say? we do expect more documents to be released over. have to say? we do expect more l documents to be released over the coming days and weeks. yet much of this first portion contains names and incidents that have long been out there in the public domain and indeed, thejudge in her ruling to unseal, said as much. noted that others didn't raise an objection to the release of documents. as we heard, some of the most prominent

individuals in politics, tech, banking were known to have links to the sex offenderjeffrey epstein, because a previous media investigations and court proceedings. two new names that came up proceedings. two new names that came up in this release where the magician, david copperfield and the singer, michaeljackson. both not accused of any wrongdoing but johanna schoenberg in her deposition released, for the first time, noted the magician david copperfield asked her if she was aware that other girls were being asked to recruit girls were being asked to recruit girls forjeffrey epstein. i think we will continue to see massive public interest in uncovering any new details about epstein's criminal activities and the website hosting the documents crashed because of how many people try to access it. it is certainly underscoring epstein's victims and the public feel they will never get all their questions

answered. . ~ will never get all their questions answered. ., ~ , ., a man has been arrested after a number of shooting incidents in liverpool last night. officers received reports that a man had fired a gun at a newsagents, a cinema and a residential property. the man, who's 49, was detained early his morning. no injuries have been reported. a row about emergency cover has broken out between nhs chiefs and union leaders, as a six—day strike byjunior doctors in england enters its second day. the doctors' union, the british medical association, has accused health leaders of mis—using the system for calling doctors back to work when patient safety is at risk. joining me now is our health editor, hugh pym. what's the latest with this row? this system was set up early on in this dispute, apparently it has worked well until now, under which if hospital managers felt they were extreme circumstances, emergency care was under threat, they would ask the doctors union, the bma to

bring striking doctors back off the picket lines. the dna say that process has not been properly observed, they need evidence there are no other sources of doctors who could be called in and that some of these requests have not met that threshold. they say there have been 23 requests in the last few days, almost all of them have been rejected. some because the documentation and the paperworkjust wasn't adequate. one health leader has responded that managers really don't have time to sit down and do complicated paperwork if suddenly hospitals come under extreme pressure. the prime minister rishi sunak has given his backing to nhs leaders and managers saying it is absolutely right they do what they feel is necessary to get doctors into the hospital to allow patients to be properly looked after. but it shows how delicate the situation is right now. rishi sunak also called for talks to resume and said the

strike was extremely damaging and all this at a time of real pressure in the nhs with some hospitals declaring critical incidents. hugh . m, declaring critical incidents. hugh pym. thank— declaring critical incidents. hugh pym. thank you _ declaring critical incidents. hugh pym, thank you very _ declaring critical incidents. hugh pym, thank you very much. - the clothing company next has warned supplies of its products could be delayed if disruption to shipping in the red sea continues. attacks by houthi rebels has resulted in ships avoiding their usual route through the suez canal. instead they are opting to take the long way round past the cape of good hope — which takes around nine days longer on average. ikea has said supplies of some of its products could also be delayed. the funeral of the deputy leader of hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the uk, hasjust got under way in the lebanese capital, beirut. saleh al—arouri was killed on tuesday, sparking fears of a regional war in the middle east. in a moment we'll speak to our correspondent shaimaa khalil in ramallah in the west bank, but first to hugo bachega who's in beirut. what sort of scene is there at the

funeral, hugo? what sort of scene is there at the funeral. hugo?— what sort of scene is there at the funeral, hugo? large crowds have cathered funeral, hugo? large crowds have gathered here _ funeral, hugo? large crowds have gathered here in _ funeral, hugo? large crowds have gathered here in sunny _ funeral, hugo? large crowds have gathered here in sunny area - funeral, hugo? large crowds have. gathered here in sunny area beirut, head of the procession that will happen later today. this fascination of saleh al—arouri is not only a blow for hamas, but also hezbollah. we heard from the influential leader of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah who described it as a blatant israeli aggression and it was a crime that would not go unpunished. the israelis have not confirmed they were behind this attack but the key question in lebanon is, what will happen next? hezbollah has been carrying out these attacks, targeting israeli positions almost every day. the israeli military has been retaliating. but so far this violence has been contained to the

border area between lebanon and israel. so hassan nasrallah needs to be seen to be responding to what happened here on tuesday, but any kind of reaction needs to be calibrated to avoid a major response from israel. calibrated to avoid a ma'or response from israel.— and what sort of feelings have been triggered in the west bank by this hamas's leader's death.— triggered in the west bank by this hamas's leader's death. there is a dee est hamas's leader's death. there is a deepest sense _ hamas's leader's death. there is a deepest sense of— hamas's leader's death. there is a deepest sense of anger _ hamas's leader's death. there is a deepest sense of anger at - hamas's leader's death. there is a deepest sense of anger at the - hamas's leader's death. there is a | deepest sense of anger at the west bank where he was from. his hometown is not very far from where i am, bank where he was from. his hometown is not very farfrom where i am, in the heart of the city of ramallah. the theme is very different last night, there was a call for a general strike after the killing of saleh al—arouri and the shops were closed. protesters were out on the streets, some are carrying palestinian flags and some are carrying hamas flats. people told me he was notjust an ordinary person,

he was notjust an ordinary person, he was notjust an ordinary person, he was a fighter and an intellectual and there was deep respect for him in the west bank. there was fury and anger among people. saleh al—arouri's death may have taken important name of israel and the us most wanted list, but for the people here they have lost a figure of resistance. he was a significant figure but politically military, he linked hamas with the iran backed hezbollah. there was always fair after the october the 7th attacks and there were in gaza that the conflict will spill into the west bank and across the region. the international fear is this killing could be the target, even though we don't know what the retaliation is going to look like.— don't know what the retaliation is going to look like. thank you very much. the time is 1.15. our top story this afternoon... rishi sunak has appeared to rule out a spring general election, saying his "working assumption" is that there will be "a general

election in the second half of this year." hi, my name's will. i'm 18 and i have severe mental health problems. the story of the young social media star who documented his mental health issues online — and who died alone in supported accommodation. coming up on bbc news, emma raducanu loses her second match back from injury but there are good signs as she takes a set off second seed elina svitolina. the teenage darts sensation, luke littler, says he's taking the positives from reaching the world final last night, after he lost to the pre—tournament favourite, luke humphries. littler says he hopes to have inspired other young people to try darts. here's our sports correspondent, andy swiss. normally it's all about the champion, but as luke humphries

celebrated this was as much about the runner—up. luke littler! just weeks ago almost no one had heard of him. now, everyone has. walking in the littler wonderland, they sang, for a teenager who says his next challenge is learning to drive. i can't wait to start my driving lessons, i think 17 days until my birthday now, but it's just another birthday, another age added on. i'm just happy with it. maybe it could have gone my way if i went 5—2, but it is what it is. the final itself was more an emotional roller—coaster. littler�*s fans back in st helens dared to dream, as he raced into an early lead. 180. but his fairytale finish didn't materialise. instead, it was humphries that held his nerve.

and for a player who nearly retired from the sport because of mental health issues, just look what it meant. it's something that dreams are made of and it's something we have - to work incredibly hard for, i and to have that trophy right next to me is worth everything that i've gone through. - but while the present belongs to one luke, the future could belong to another. littler by name, but greatness surely beckons. andy swiss, bbc news. britain 5 emma raducanu is out of the auckland classic tennis tournament after losing in the second round to elina svitolina. raducanu started well and took the first set after a tie break, but lost the next two sets. it was just her second match since recovering from wrist and ankle surgery. it kept her out for eight months. she is set to play in the australian open, which starts in ten days' time. from a young age, will melbourne was described as a genius

with a troubled mind. he was a rising social media star who documented his mental health struggles online. at the age of 19, he died alone in supported accommodation. three years on, his inquest has finally taken place, and will's family say they only got the answers they needed because of a trail of evidence that he had left for them. ruth clegg has the story — and you may find parts of her report upsetting. hi, my name's will, i'm 18 and i have severe mental health problems. he was passionate about so many things. he was intelligent. he was so loving. he had been troubled his whole life. go away. right. stop harassing me. will was 19 when he died. his family and will himself say he was let down by the services that should have supported him. are you going to kill me? are you going to throw me down the stairs? . as the need got stronger, the help

seemed to fall away even more. i it's incredible. no one should have to wait until they're in crisis to be treated. it's now been three years since we lost will and we have the inquest this morning. three years ago, little did they realise that they'd have to be the ones to investigate his death. we have worked out how will died. with a lack of support for his mental health, will began to self—medicate with illegal drugs. and that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. let go. his life began to spiral out of control. let go. you're strangling me. let go. i went for a risk assessment and they said to me, something has to change. you can't live in the same house with your son. that isjust... ..the most painful thing, because that feels like... that feels like you're throwing

out your sick child. his room was at the back of the house. i this is where will died, in assisted accommodation, where he should have been checked on every day. he'd been lying dead in that room for almost three days. there were some tablets near enough above him from where he was found. so we asked the coroner that they analyse them, because one of the things that we knew was that will had self—medicated by ordering various tablets on the dark web. so this is a document that he made. there's a column. drug taken, oxycodone, - those are the two tablets that were missing from the bag of tablets on his desks — he thought he was taking oxycodone to help his anxieties. unfortunately the drug that was

supplied — unfortunately the drug that was supplied wasn't, _ unfortunately the drug that was supplied wasn't, it _ unfortunately the drug that was supplied wasn't, it was - unfortunately the drug that was supplied wasn't, it was a - unfortunately the drug that was supplied wasn't, it was a nastyl supplied wasn't, it was a nasty drug — those were, as we now know, metonitazene and we're absolutely sure that that's how he died. we've just come out of the inquest now. it was a relief that the coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause of death was the toxicity of metonitazene because we know that from everything we've seen, and everything we've worked towards, like making sure those tablets were tested. despite all the things that were going against us that's something that we can take from this. everything is a fight. everything all the way along has been a fight. and luckily my parents did that for me. - but imagine if you couldn't do that or if you don't have parents. - thanks for watching. the voice of will melbourne, ending that report by ruth clegg. scientists have discovered a new class of antibiotic that appears to kill one of three bacteria considered to pose the greatest threat to human health because of their extensive drug—resistance.

joining me now is our medical editor, fergus walsh. how excited should we be by this? this is promising and a bit of good news. research published in the journal nature, its over 50 years since we had a new class of antibiotic against this type of bacterium. the book in question is resistant, acinetobacter baumannii, or crab for short. crab thrives in hospitals where patients are already immune suppressed. they may have blood infections, be in intensive care, and it has a mortality rate of around 50% because there are so few drugs to treat it. now, this particular antibiotic in trials in the labs and in mice, it killed the bacterium. now, in humans, we are a long way off from having a new one that we can use in hospitals, it

might take five or ten years, if all the human trials go well, but it's important because antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats to human health, killing around 5 million people worldwide every year. around 5 million people worldwide eve ear. . ~' around 5 million people worldwide eve ear. ., ~ , ., around 5 million people worldwide eve ear. . ~ , ., y around 5 million people worldwide eve ear. ., ~ , . every year. thank you very much, fer us. arsenal take on liverpool in the fa cup this weekend, but with one big difference. arsenal are swapping their familiar red shirts for white ones. it's all part of an initiative to tackle knife crime in london. here's our sports correspondent, nesta mcgregor. commentator: good tackle, declan rice. i declan rice, a central midfielder known for being a tough tackler. commentator: the challenge from declan rice is brilliant. i an england international, he recently swapped west ham for arsenal, in a transfer worth more than £100 million. although this weekend his new club are swapping their iconic red shirts for an all—white one. no more red. it's part of arsenal's no more red campaign, an initiative aimed at tackling youth knife crime in london. you know, i was that young kid once that looked up

to people like myself and, you know, it's an honour, for me to be able to help young kids, to be able to talk, to be able to use my voice to show that, you know, i was a youngster once and that i've been in tough positions as well. you know, for me, it's all about youngsters growing up now being happy, feeling comfortable in their environment, and things like what no more red have done with the pitches and them types of spots, it's obviously such a massive initiative that young people can feed off. according to official figures, 18 teenagers were fatally stabbed in london in 2023, with one of the attacks taking place less than two miles from arsenal's emirates stadium. no more red aims to create safe spaces for young people, including regenerating football pitches where they can play, have better access to trusted role models, and make a positive impact on their community. the campaign is in its third year, and for people like kai, it's been life—changing. now 22, he's a qualified football coach, an opportunity he feels may not have come about without the scheme.

the benefit for me isjust seeing kids, you know, not going down that bad route. i want them to be safe, being sure they're having fun. young people nowadays have a mindset where they don't know what to do. i'm so thankful for my mum that day, she took me down and i look at that woman and i think to myself, how different could my life have been and it'sjust, you know, a blessing, you know? so arsenal clearly have an effect on and off the pitch in north london and declan rice says it's a responsibility he and the club take very seriously. you see stories, you know, all the time about knife crime and, you know, things that are going on. you see the ages of these things and obviously it's terrible to see, you know, it seems like it's getting younger. it's about education, you know, it's about having the right support networks, having people that they can speak to, whether it's at school or a safe place, have a think about the situation you're about to put yourself into if you're thinking about doing something, what's going to happen after that and how it's going to impact your life, you know, it's not worth it.

just 25 years old, the arsenal midfielder is considered a future england captain and this weekend he will be hoping to make more strong statements of the footballing kind when arsenal host liverpool in the fa cup third round. nesta mcgregor, bbc news. you'd probably recognise your pet dog or cat from their face alone, but what about a bird? well, each bewick�*s swan has a unique face which enables researchers to count them and track their family histories — and that's exactly what's been happening at the slimbridge wetland centre, in gloucestershire, as our environment correspondent jonah fisher reports. he whistles. breakfast time at slimbridge. and somewhere amongst the squabbling geese an increasingly rare type of swan. the bewick�*s swans are really unique because they're literally recognisable by their faces, a bit like us. smaller than mute swans, the yellow and black beak pattern

of each bewick�*s is distinct, enabling researchers to recognise them year after year. george ii. the swans arrive from the russian arctic each autumn and are counted every day. names are given to individuals. they definitely have distinct personalities. and there are swan family dynasties. the most famous is the gambling dynasty. we've also had the tea party as well, teapot and teabag. the cheese dynasty was quite a big one. roquefort, cheddar and stilton. probably best to think of them as mafias rather than families. this year, 91 bewick�*s swans have been seen at slimbridge. in the 19705, there was sometimes more than 600. its numbers are plummeting very, very quickly and have been for quite some time. so just to give you an idea, in the mid—1990s we were looking at around 29,000 birds in the population in europe and now we think that's fewer than,

there is fewer than 18,000. so welcome to the scott house museum. this is where the bill pattern study first started in 1963. this winter is the 60th anniversary of the bewick�*s swan survey. it was started by conservationist sir peter scott, who sat at this window meticulously painting the beaks of every swan. you can see here these beautiful drawings that he did of each individual bill pattern and you can see that there are three perspectives that he painted for each swan. this is one of the world's longest running animal research projects. the advantage of having so much data year after year is the information it provides notjust about how they live and how they migrate, but how this beautiful swans are adapting to our warming, changing climate.

the decline of the bewick�*s is being blamed in part on their wetland habitat being destroyed. climate change is also altering their migration routes. longer summers in the russian arctic and warmer european autumns mean the swans don't have to come as far as slimbridge to find winter feeding grounds. it's just one lake and a single species, but chronicled over 60 years the bewick�*s fate is a telling snapshot of our rapidly changing planet. jonah fisher, bbc news, at slimbridge. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. great weather for webbed feet, i think, is the best description. it's really trying our patients at the moment. it seems to have been relentless. a lot of the countryside looking like this, fairly flooded.

there are literally hundreds at the