mother, yet the party has changed, yes we _ mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can — mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can see _ mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can see in_ mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can see in the _ mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can see in the polls, - mother, yet the party has changed, yes we can see in the polls, when l yes we can see in the polls, when you go— yes we can see in the polls, when you go around _ yes we can see in the polls, when you go around and _ yes we can see in the polls, when you go around and talk— yes we can see in the polls, when you go around and talk to - you go around and talk to anyone, the labour— you go around and talk to anyone, the labour party— you go around and talk to anyone, the labour party does _ you go around and talk to anyone, the labour party does not - the labour party does not inspire the labour party does not inspire the same — the labour party does not inspire the same theory— the labour party does not inspire the same theory did _ the labour party does not inspire the same theory did in— the labour party does not inspire the same theory did in parts- the labour party does not inspire the same theory did in parts of. the labour party does not inspire i the same theory did in parts of the country— the same theory did in parts of the country at — the same theory did in parts of the country at the _ the same theory did in parts of the country at the last _ the same theory did in parts of the country at the last election - the same theory did in parts of the country at the last election but - the same theory did in parts of the country at the last election but it l country at the last election but it cruciatty— country at the last election but it cruciatty does _ country at the last election but it crucially does not _ country at the last election but it crucially does not inspire - country at the last election but it crucially does not inspire the - country at the last election but it. crucially does not inspire the hope it did _ crucially does not inspire the hope it did in _ crucially does not inspire the hope it did in other— crucially does not inspire the hope it did in other parts— crucially does not inspire the hope it did in other parts of— crucially does not inspire the hope it did in other parts of the - crucially does not inspire the hope it did in other parts of the country| it did in other parts of the country and also, — it did in other parts of the country and also, can— it did in other parts of the country and also, can you _ it did in other parts of the country and also, can you really _ it did in other parts of the country and also, can you really trust - it did in other parts of the country and also, can you really trust that the party— and also, can you really trust that the party has _ and also, can you really trust that the party has changed? _ and also, can you really trust that the party has changed? and - and also, can you really trust that the party has changed? and i- and also, can you really trust thati the party has changed? and i think that witt— the party has changed? and i think that will be — the party has changed? and i think that will be the — the party has changed? and i think that will be the big _ the party has changed? and i think that will be the big thing _ the party has changed? and i think that will be the big thing and - the party has changed? and i think that will be the big thing and the l that will be the big thing and the labour— that will be the big thing and the labour party— that will be the big thing and the labour party doesn't _ that will be the big thing and the labour party doesn't really- that will be the big thing and the labour party doesn't really have | that will be the big thing and the . labour party doesn't really have an answer _ labour party doesn't really have an answer for— labour party doesn't really have an answer for it. — labour party doesn't really have an answer for it, yet— labour party doesn't really have an answer for it, yet people _ labour party doesn't really have an answer for it, yet people in - labour party doesn't really have ani answer for it, yet people in cabinet like yvette — answer for it, yet people in cabinet like yvette cooper— answer for it, yet people in cabinet like yvette cooper who _ answer for it, yet people in cabinet like yvette cooper who did - answer for it, yet people in cabinet like yvette cooper who did not - answer for it, yet people in cabineti like yvette cooper who did not serve under _ like yvette cooper who did not serve underjeremy— like yvette cooper who did not serve underjeremy corbyn, _ like yvette cooper who did not serve underjeremy corbyn, and that - like yvette cooper who did not serve underjeremy corbyn, and that of. underjeremy corbyn, and that of course _ underjeremy corbyn, and that of course you have _ underjeremy corbyn, and that of course you have people - underjeremy corbyn, and that of course you have people like - underjeremy corbyn, and that of course you have people like keirl course you have people like keir starmer— course you have people like keir starmer who— course you have people like keir starmer who very _ course you have people like keir starmer who very much - course you have people like keir starmer who very much did, - course you have people like keiri starmer who very much did, and course you have people like keir- starmer who very much did, and said that he _ starmer who very much did, and said that he would — starmer who very much did, and said that he would essentially _ starmer who very much did, and said that he would essentially continue i that he would essentially continue on the _ that he would essentially continue on the policies _ that he would essentially continue on the policies and _ that he would essentially continue on the policies and approach, - on the policies and approach, and now very— on the policies and approach, and now very much _ on the policies and approach, and now very much as _ on the policies and approach, and now very much as abandoned, to| on the policies and approach, and i now very much as abandoned, to the extent— now very much as abandoned, to the extent that _ now very much as abandoned, to the extent thatjeremy_ now very much as abandoned, to the extent that jeremy corbyn _ now very much as abandoned, to the extent that jeremy corbyn is - now very much as abandoned, to the extent that jeremy corbyn is not - now very much as abandoned, to the extent that jeremy corbyn is not in l extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour— extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour party— extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour party any— extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour party any more. - extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour party any more. i- extent thatjeremy corbyn is not in the labour party any more. i think| the labour party any more. i think if there _ the labour party any more. i think if there is— the labour party any more. i think if there is a — the labour party any more. i think if there is a way— the labour party any more. i think if there is a way back _ the labour party any more. i think if there is a way back for - if there is a way back for the conservative _ if there is a way back for the conservative party _ if there is a way back for the conservative party it - if there is a way back for the conservative party it will - if there is a way back for the conservative party it will be | if there is a way back for the - conservative party it will be those questions — conservative party it will be those questions about _ conservative party it will be those questions about trust _ conservative party it will be those questions about trust in _ conservative party it will be those questions about trust in keir- questions about trust in keir starmer _ questions about trust in keir starmer l— questions about trust in keir starmer. i, starmer. i disagree with that because i — starmer. i disagree with that because i think, _ starmer. i disagree with that because i think, you - starmer. i disagree with that because i think, you know, l starmer. i disagree with that - because i think, you know, everyone thinks politicians change their minds and change their argument, and in fact there is a positive argument to be said which is politicians, if

they do change their mind, that's a good thing, they are learning from evidence. i think the better line for the tories is, if things start to get a bit rosier for the economy, if progress is made on immigration, i think what they will want to say is, don't risk this because actually, on things like the environment, immigration, public finances, keir starmer and labour, you can't really trust them, they are a bit more radical. so the tories will really be trying to force that dividing line. but the fact is that keir starmer and labour are playing it so safe, they are hiding very close to the tory line, it's going to be difficult for the tories to do that so i don't think it will be successful... find tories to do that so i don't think it will be successful. . ._ it will be successful... and keir starmer can't _ it will be successful... and keir starmer can't take _ it will be successful... and keir starmer can't take the - it will be successful... and keir starmer can't take the younger| starmer can't take the younger voters — starmer can't take the younger voters and first—time voters for granted — voters and first—time voters for granted. he's got to enthuse them out, they're seen as naturally more labour— out, they're seen as naturally more labour supporting, and the dangers in trying _ labour supporting, and the dangers in trying to— labour supporting, and the dangers in trying to placate the centre and the more — in trying to placate the centre and the more independently minded tory voter, _ the more independently minded tory voter, you're losing that connection with the _

voter, you're losing that connection with the much more passionate and engaged _ with the much more passionate and engaged younger voters.— engaged younger voters. yeah, i mean, engaged younger voters. yeah, i mean. we've _ engaged younger voters. yeah, i mean, we've seen _ engaged younger voters. yeah, i mean, we've seen some - engaged younger voters. yeah, i i mean, we've seen some protesters engaged younger voters. yeah, i - mean, we've seen some protesters at keir starmer�*s speeches before, some of the younger to climate change activists, so i think that is definitely a problem for them. i think the bigger problem for the conservatives is that they don't seem to have a single strategy they're weaponising at the minute. they do refer to keir starmer as a softy and flip—flop and there are lots of criticisms around that, they are trying the sort of attacks on the economy, but nothing seems to be sticking, partly because of course the attacks on the economy blow back in their own face because they're the ones who the economy crashed under, you can argue whether it was them who did it or whether it was because of external factors but it was certainly during their watch. and so it certainly very difficult, it's a dangerous game play, accusing labour of the people you don't want to trust with the economy when we are all paying the price for what has happened over the last few years. has happened over the last few ears. ~ ., ., ., ., ., years. we are almost at a time. can

i ask, years. we are almost at a time. can i ask. how does _ years. we are almost at a time. can i ask, how does your _ years. we are almost at a time. can i ask, how does your satire - years. we are almost at a time. can i ask, how does your satire change, | i ask, how does your satire change, if at all, if labour should win the next election?— next election? how does it...? i need to see _ next election? how does it...? i need to see what _ next election? how does it...? i need to see what they're - next election? how does it...? i need to see what they're like, . need to see what they're like, first! — need to see what they're like, first! ., ., i need to see what they're like, | first!_ i remember need to see what they're like, - first!_ i remember doing first! fair enough! i remember doing a weekly tepical _ first! fair enough! i remember doing a weekly topical show _ first! fair enough! i remember doing a weekly topical show during - first! fair enough! i remember doing a weekly topical show during the - a weekly topical show during the blair— a weekly topical show during the blair the — a weekly topical show during the blair the height of their years, and it was— blair the height of their years, and it was very— blair the height of their years, and it was very much looking at his obsession— it was very much looking at his obsession with spin, managerialism, playing _ obsession with spin, managerialism, playing safe, that sense of control. and treing — playing safe, that sense of control. and being responsible, really, for something that's involved every government since, that centralising of more _ government since, that centralising of more and more power in number tent _ of more and more power in number ten. taking— of more and more power in number ten, taking it away from ministers. being _ ten, taking it away from ministers. being very— ten, taking it away from ministers. being veryjealous of any minister who has— being veryjealous of any minister who has any amount of talent! making sure they— who has any amount of talent! making sure they don't rise... and what we have found, — sure they don't rise... and what we have found, and it reached its and with lil— have found, and it reached its and with liz truss, is someone coming in elected _ with liz truss, is someone coming in elected and — with liz truss, is someone coming in elected and thinking she could rule the road _ elected and thinking she could rule the road and she couldn't. —— it

reached — the road and she couldn't. —— it reached its _ the road and she couldn't. —— it reached its nadir. the road and she couldn't. -- it reached its nadir.— reached its nadir. there we will leave it. thank _ reached its nadir. there we will leave it. thank you _ reached its nadir. there we will leave it. thank you for - reached its nadir. there we will leave it. thank you for being i reached its nadir. there we will. leave it. thank you for being with us. thank you. that's all from us tonight. i'm back tomorrow. see you then — goodnight. breaking news from around the world 24 breaking news from around the world 2a hours a day. this is bbc news. leaders will hope to get a grip on this crisis in the next year until it best unless it festers into a more troublesome, generational discontent. laura bicker, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

these rocks date back to the dinosaurs. the creatures preserved inside them give an insight into what marine life was like in a time before humans.— what marine life was like in a time before humans. there's no denying 'ust how before humans. there's no denying just how exciting _ before humans. there's no denying just how exciting people _ before humans. there's no denying just how exciting people find - just how exciting people find fossils, you know, how manyjobs, hobbies and passions has finding fossils inspired? there's no question about it, it did for me. i used to collect fossils every day. so it certainly has that natural history attraction. the ammonites here in somerset _ history attraction. the ammonites here in somerset are _ history attraction. the ammonites here in somerset are around - history attraction. the ammonites here in somerset are around 197 l here in somerset are around 197 million years old. but some have been seriously damaged — police have confirmed two people from france were spoken to for a democrat allegedly using an angle grinder to try to remove some of the fossils. we are used to seeing people collecting them on a small scale. yeah, _ collecting them on a small scale. yeah, just— collecting them on a small scale. yeah, just the magnitude of this, you can _ yeah, just the magnitude of this, you can see — yeah, just the magnitude of this, you can see they've taken out a

large _ you can see they've taken out a large portion of that inclined there some _ large portion of that inclined there some point you're live with bbc news. to the uk now — and it was a declaration, of sorts, from rishi sunak today, saying the much—anticipated general election, is likely to be held in the "second half of this year". but he could still call a snap election, after not ruling out going to the country before the autumn, on a visit to nottinghamshire. meanwhile, in a new year speech in bristol, the labour leader, keir starmer, said he hoped 2024 would give the country a chance to vote out the conservatives, accusing mr sunak of "squatting in downing street for months on end". here's chris mason. can i welcome to you this morning, rishi sunak, the prime minister? mansfield, in nottinghamshire — a town the conservatives want to hold on to at the general election. happy new year! how are you doing? the prime minister taking questions at a youth centre and taking this crucial question from a reporter. it's a new year — is it also going to be a general election year?

yes! so, look, 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. words that grab attention, say something — but commit to nothing. 150 miles away, on a visit to bristol at exactly the same time, we tell keir starmer what rishi sunak has just said. the prime minister is now hinting, without setting a date, that it might be later in the year. squatting in downing street for months on end, dithering and delaying, when the country wants change. what's he hiding? the conservatives have a mandate, don't they, to serve in government throughout this year? you can clamourfor an early election, but that's the constitutional truth. but what mandate does the third... well, they won the last general election. ..the third prime minister that they've had since the one in 2019! and it's notjust keir starmer with a keen eye on when the election is.

i think the prime minister is running scared of the voters. people are fed up with the government's economic policies, with their health policies. they want change and they want an election. the liberal democrats agree with them. rishi sunak isjust clinging on to power. i don't think it really matters in the scottish context, whether the election is in may or indeed later on this year, because what we know for certain is that the tories will get beat, just as they've done every election in scotland since 1955. back here on the outskirts of bristol, in a spot that labour needs to win from the conservatives, sir keir took on criticism from one of his own mps that it's not obvious what he stands for, and he claimed people are increasingly annoyed, irritated, by all politicians. the biggest challenge we face, bar none — the shrug of the shoulder. because this is the paradox of british politics right now. everyone agrees we're in a huge mess.

everyone agrees as well that it's been like this for a while, that britain needs change, wants change, is crying out for change. and yet trust in politics is now so low, so degraded, that nobody believes you can make a difference any more. well, it turns out there may be a little more time than some thought for political leaders, whoever they are, to take this on. words, crowds, persuasion, promises — 2024 will have the lot of them. chris mason, bbc news. there've been hundreds of flood alerts across england today, as heavy rain continued to batter parts of the country. and there are fears tonight the river trent, could come close to its highest water mark on record this century. a major incident has already been declared in nottinghamshire due to widespread flooding, caused by storm henk. the county council is urging

residents in "at risk" areas to prepare, in case they need to evacuate, with the environment agency at one stage issuing more than 50 flood warnings and flood alerts, for the east midlands alone. navtej johal reports. storm henk may be gone, but it's certainly not forgotten. this is what it left behind in nottinghamshire, where a major incident has been declared and water levels on the river trent are as high as they've been in more than 20 years. the council is making the decision could see the river surging past their headquarters, but not every seat here was suitable for a good view. its similar levels to that of 2000, so it's that serious, and we must ask people to be aware and stay safe. flooded roads are causing problems and making it harder for people to evacuate. in places it's become difficult to tell what's river, watts canal, what's supposed to be dry land.

in the village of east bridge road, many people have never seen it so bad. —— east richford. we went to bed last night knowing the river was coming up, so my partner set the alarms to check it every couple of hours in the night. the river started coming into the property at 6am this morning. we've spent most of today keeping it out, which we did a very good job of until about 2.30pm this afternoon, where the river trent got the better of us. in radcliffe, on trent, the fire service needed to be carried in at this static caravan park and rush hour was proving difficult. the yellow warning for heavy rain covers most of the southwest, southeast, and parts of the midlands, and there are more than 200 flood warnings across england. and in wiltshire tonight, flooded fields have led to flooded homes and frustrated residents. we've got water flooding under floors, we've taken upstairs. the council have the phone off the hook. the police aren't interested in closing the road,

i'm amazed there hasn't been an incident. the fire brigade isn't interested, no one is interested. we were sat having a nice glass of wine by the fire and my partner's friend texted and said, i hope you are ok, and we were, like, 0k, what's going on? so we came out and went, oh, yeah. the rain is disrupting rail services and all sorts ofjourneys. it's difficult to get around, even for those who know the land best. this is gloucestershire. these cows and horses won't be roaming far on their new island in leicestershire. some have been able to see the lighter side of it all though. good afternoon, welcome to the rose and crown, riverside view, and probably the best guinness... the landlord of this pub has no chance of a dry january. glynisjohns, the british actress

who played mrs banks in the 1964 film "mary poppins" has died at the age of 100. she appeared in dozens of films during a career spanning more than 60 years, and was also an accomplished theatre performer. she memorably sang "send in the clowns", which stephen sondheim wrote just for her, in her tony award—winning performance in the original production of "a little night music". she was also nominated for an academy award for her performance in the 1960 film "the sundowners". britney spears has said she will "never return to the music industry" after rumours she was planning a return to the studio surfaced last week. the pop star was responding to claims in the us media that she was lining up songwriters for a tenth studio album. the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri has more. "so we're clear, most of the news is trash." that's what britney said about us media reports that she's planning a musical comeback. "not so," says britney. in an instagram post, she announced her retirement.

she wrote... now, this isn't the first time that britney has shown reservations about making a comeback. in fact, in her memoir, the woman in me, she wrote... but this is the most adamant she's ever been. now, if you're a britney fan and you're thinking, "this is outrageous", and you want another piece of her music, you may be in luck — because several other stars have announced their retirement before, and then change their minds. justin bieber is one of them — back when he was a teen singer in 2013, over the christmas holidays, he wrote... he cited media pressures and said... he's had several platinum records since. another one is nicki minaj. back in 2019, she wrote...

apparently not happy enough, because she's now celebrating her new album, pink friday 2. and just one other example is cher. now, she said she'd retire several times — but she's had multiple tours since, has even held las vegas residencies, and jumped back into the studio. now, say britney really means it, and that this is the last time we're going to hear her sing and perform again. well, she also announced in an instagram post that she's actually ghostwritten 20 songs in the last two years. so is this really the end? is britney really going to fall off the radar, or will she give us more? either way, britney's made it clear it's her prerogative. certainly is. that's all for now — stay with bbc news. hello.

after the exceptional rainfall and the significant flooding of the last few days, you may well be pleased to hear that the weather is set to change. the next few days will be drier — yes, also colder — but i'm sure some lower temperatures will be a small price to pay for less in the way of rain. we certainly saw some rain on thursday in the south of the uk, thanks to this hook of cloud. that's an area of low pressure still close by for the first part of friday morning, still bringing some rain across eastern parts of england. we've also still got some showery rain from this weather system, centred across the north of scotland. so, as we head through the morning on friday, yes, still a little bit of rain across eastern england, quite a brisk wind, as well. still windy for the northern isles, and generally cloud and some showery rain across the northeast of scotland. further west, though, some brighter skies, some spells of sunshine and, while there will be some showers, there probably won't be too many, and a decent amount of dry weather. those temperatures are touched lower than they have been — six degrees for aberdeen, nine for cardiff, for plymouth,

maybe ten for the channel islands. and then, as we head through friday night, we'll keep some quite large amounts of cloud, especially across the eastern half of the uk, with some showery rain. drier out west with some clear spells, and just 1—2 showers — that will give rise to some fog patches and a touch of frost for some. temperatures across parts of northern england, scotland, northern ireland are likely to drop below freezing. so, frost and fog to start the day for some of us on saturday. quite a lot of cloud across the eastern half of england. that will break up to some extent, and i think we will see some spells of sunshine. just 1—2 showers here and there, but a much drier story than we've been used to. temperatures coming down again, 5—9 celsius at best. through saturday nights, the last remnants of this weather system really clearing away, as high pressure builds more strongly across the uk. that will set us up actually for the forecast for next week — and certainly on sunday, we're looking at a lot of dry weather. some early mist and fog, touch of frost in places, but some spells of sunshine. small chance of 1—2 showers maybe across northeast scotland, also grazing the southeast

of england and the channel islands. and it certainly will be a colder—feeling day, 3—7 celsius. and actually, into the start of the new week, the winds will really pick up across the south, so that will add to what will be a really cold feel to the weather. but it'll be a mostly dry week ahead, some spells of sunshine with some frost and some fog at night.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour as newsday continues, straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. israel's post—7 october assault on gaza continues unabated, and it appears to command the overwhelming support of the israeli public. but what of the roughly two million civilians who are arab israelis, many with family in gaza or in the occupied west bank. my guest is aida touma—sliman, a palestinian arab member of the israeli parliament. what does this war mean for the lives and the futures of israel's arab minority?