we will come to all of that very shortly. first, let's get a check on the sport at the sport centre. here sarah. thank you very much, christian. let's start with football and the english league cup. the first of the semifinals is under way, between chelsea and middlesbrough. winners of the competition in 2004, middlesbrough went out of the fa cup to premier league aston villa at the weekend and are now hosting chelsea. in the first half, as you can see, it is goalless in the first leg at the riverside stadium. tomorrow, liverpool welcome fulham in the first leg of their semifinal. one game in the coppa italia tonight. last year's losing finalists fiorentina will be hoping to go one further against bologna,

who beat inter in the last round. currently there as well. —— currently goalless there as well. two more quarterfinal matches to come tomorrow, including the rome derby between lazio and roma. transfer news, and tottenham have confirmed the signing of timo werner on loan. werner becomes the north london club's first signing of the january transfer window. the former chelsea forward joins from rb leipzig. tottenham have an option to make the signing permanent. everton have been successful in their appeal following the red card given to dominic calvert—lewin in the fa cup third round against crystal palace. the striker was set to miss three matches after being sent off following a var check for this challenge on palace defender nathaniel clyne in their fa cup clash, which finished goalless. the dismissal has now been overturned by the football association. the former president of a turkish top division team told a court in ankara on tuesday that he regretted attacking a referee at the end of

a league game but denied having threatened him with death. faruk koca, who has resigned as president of mke ankaragucu after punching referee halil umut meler, has been charged with causing wilful injury to a public official, threatening an official and violating a law relating to the prevention of violence in sports. koca, who said he regrets his actions, faces up to 13 years in prison if found guilty of the charges. girona defender david lopez will miss four matches after he was suspended by the spanish football federation tuesday for saying a referee "lacked respect" for his team in girona's 5—2 win over almeria in october. lopez subsequently apologised, saying he had "total regret" for his comments. girona are level on points with leaders real madrid at the halfway point of the campaign.

now to snooker, and defending masters champion judd trump was pushed all the way by kyren wilson but won the deciding frame to go through 6—5. trump won five straight frames, but wilson clawed back two to make it 5—5 and make it winner—take—all in the finalframe. world number two trump made a 65 clearance to seal a thrilling 6—5 win and will play ali carter in the quarterfinals. it was a little bit of a scrappy game, i think. it was nip and tuck the whole way through, and obviously i felt like i kind of threw it away at 5—4. but, yes, kyren made an amazing break to go 5—0, and then he looked like he was going to get over the line in the last frame, he just left that little gap and i took him quite well. mike vrabel has become the latest nfl head coach to leave theirjob following the end of the regular season. vrabel has parted ways with the tennessee titans, after finishing last in the afc south and missing the playoffs

for the second straight year. two years ago, he was named the nfl's coach of the year and previously led the titans to the postseason for three straight seasons. remember, you can stay right up to date on all the live football happening this evening on the bbc sport website, but that is it for me at the moment. sarah, thank you very much for that. the us secretary of state antony blinken is on his fourth visit to israel since the 7th of october with one mission in mind — to stop the war spreading. but yet again today and on israel's northern border with lebanon, there has been a worrying exchange of fire. the israel defense forces have again carried out strikes against hezbollah targets in southern lebanon in retaliation for a drone strike on one of its bases. during a press conference in tel aviv earlier, secretary blinken stressed the need to allow palestinians to return to the north as soon as possible. we agreed today on a plan for the un to carry out an assessment mission.

it will determine what needs to be done to allow displaced palestinians to return safely to homes in the north. now, this is not going to happen overnight. there are serious security, infrastructure and humanitarian challenges, but the mission will start a process that evaluates these obstacles and how they can be overcome. in today's meetings, i was also crystal clear — palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow. they must not be pressed to leave gaza. as i told the prime minister, the united states unequivocally rejects any proposals advocating for the resettlement of palestinians outside of gaza. the israeli side, though, is said to have pushed back on that and will not allow an immediate return of palestinian civilians because of the situation on the ground, and also because it wants to see more progress towards a new hostage deal first. let's speak to lucia elmi,

unicef special representative. she is very much across the casualty figures and the conditions for children in gaza. in fact, we have had a new report today that among the 23,000 people who have been killed, those are figures from the hamas run health ministry, there are 10,000 children, lucius. == hamas run health ministry, there are 10,000 children, lucius.— 10,000 children, lucius. -- lucia thank yom _ 10,000 children, lucius. -- lucia thank yom i _ 10,000 children, lucius. -- lucia thank you. i just _ 10,000 children, lucius. -- lucia thank you. ijust returned - 10,000 children, lucius. -- lucia thank you. ijust returned from i thank you. ijust returned from gaza, spent a week there on the ground, conditions continue to be very, very, very dire. there are now approximately 150,000 people have approximately 150 , 000 people have been approximately 150,000 people have been displaced several times, moved several times, from the north, from middle areas. now the areas under heavy shelling. basically we have three quarters of the population of gaza, the gaza strip, really overcrowded in overcrowded areas. we are very concerned about the

increasing number of people, increasing number of people, increasing number of communities being displaced several times and trying to find emergency shelters, tents, makeshift shelter, and very dire sanitation conditions. as unicef, we have raised the alarm over the past few days on the increase of diseases, and in children, the number of children, the number of cases of diarrhoea has doubled since last week and we are really also very concerned about the status of children... really also very concerned about the status of children. . ._ status of children... which is a real problem, _ status of children... which is a real problem, when _ status of children... which is a real problem, when there - status of children... which is a real problem, when there are| status of children... which is a l real problem, when there are 36 hospitals, are there, in gaza? even the al—aqsa hospital in the middle is now being vacated by doctors and medics, so is there, as far as you are aware when you were there, could

you see, is there much medical care for children who are suffering from illness, from disease was alone we manage last week to bring in for the first time since _ manage last week to bring in for the first time since october _ manage last week to bring in for the first time since october life-saving i first time since october life—saving critical vaccines. 16,000 vaccines, including polio, measles, tetanus, because many, many children, approximately 60,000 children per month, have missed critical vaccinations, they missed their shots, so we managed to bring in vaccines, vaccinations are starting to resume, and this is at the health clinic in rafah city, and was really incredible was a long queue of mothers and fathers bring their children to get the vaccinations. this is definitely a public health concern and the community wants to get the chilled and exited, because it is an additional way of

production where there is no safe for children at the moment. secretary blinken is pushing today for a un team to have access to the north, to see with the infrastructure is like, to see if some of these children and their families can go back to their homes. what would you say a un team that goesin what would you say a un team that goes in on a fact—finding mission like that would discover? we goes in on a fact-finding mission like that would discover?- like that would discover? we are t in: to like that would discover? we are trying to go _ like that would discover? we are trying to go to — like that would discover? we are trying to go to the _ like that would discover? we are trying to go to the north - like that would discover? we are trying to go to the north of- like that would discover? we are trying to go to the north of the i trying to go to the north of the past ten days, since the beginning of the year, and none of the missions, including two ring and convoys of medical supplies and fuel for the north, were allowed to go in. so i would really like to urge, for the entire community to have a predictable and safe access for the human engineering teams and the con was to go where the needs are. —— humanitarian team and he convoys to go. access to the north, safe access to the middle area, to be able to deliver the so much needed fuel and

medical supplies and supplies to the community have been cut off are so many weeks now. community have been cut off are so many weeks "ow-— community have been cut off are so many weeks now-— many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef, many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef. thank _ many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef, thank you _ many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef, thank you so _ many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef, thank you so much - many weeks now. lucia elmi from unicef, thank you so much for- many weeks now. lucia elmi from - unicef, thank you so much for coming on the programme. greatly appreciate it. ., ~ on the programme. greatly appreciate it. . ~ , ., the regular flier in the united states used to say, "if it ain't boeing, iain't going." but how many are now questioning the company's once stellar reputation? since the mid—air blow out of a door plug over the state of oregon last week, the fleet of the much maligned 737 max 9s have been grounded pending further investigation. and that investigation has turned up some serious questions about the company's manufacturing, quality control and safety practices. both alaska and united say their mechanics have found loose bolts on a number of their max 9 planes. let's speak to dai whittingham, who's an expert on aviation safety. let's focus on the door plug, if we could. what do these bolts do? how do they keep the door in place? so

do they keep the door in place? sr the door do they keep the door in place? 6r the door asked much like the lock on a standard conservatory patio door, so it has 12 plugs that sit one behind the other, but to do that, you have to basically lift the door, to get them to disengage. so you 50 door and drop it down into position, and then that is secured with boats, four bolts, to stop the thing rising, and it appears that that is the mechanism that the national transportation safety board believe has failed on this occasion. so transportation safety board believe has failed on this occasion.- has failed on this occasion. so the air pressure _ has failed on this occasion. so the air pressure within _ has failed on this occasion. so the air pressure within the _ has failed on this occasion. so the air pressure within the cabin, - has failed on this occasion. so the | air pressure within the cabin, once the plane is in the air, that would push the door against these bolts, would it? and if the polls are loose or if they are not there at all, the door goes out of the space? yeah, it would push — door goes out of the space? yeah, it would push the _ door goes out of the space? yeah, it would push the door— door goes out of the space? yeah, it would push the door towards - would push the door towards basically it would improve the seal on it, but if those are not aligned, and the door has been allowed to

ride up, which appears to be the mechanism in place here, and that air pressure willjust blow the plug out of the cabin, but it is a very good reminder as to why you should have your seat belt on up when you're in your seat if you don't need to be moving about. but that's quite a lot of force coming out of a cabin, even at that altitude, and obviously a cruising level, you can pretty much double that. so much force that the _ pretty much double that. so much force that the headset _ pretty much double that. so much force that the headset of - pretty much double that. so much force that the headset of the - pretty much double that. so much | force that the headset of the pilot, which was found in portland, had come back 26 rows in the plane. that tells you the force of the explosive decompression that they had. you can sort of excuse maybe one plane having a defect like this, but that's not the case here was to alaska and united have checked a number of planes, and these bolts are loose to the naked eye. how on earth does that happen? find i are loose to the naked eye. how on earth does that happen? and i think that is something _ earth does that happen? and i think that is something that _ earth does that happen? and i think that is something that the _

earth does that happen? and i think that is something that the ntsb, i that is something that the ntsb, the investigation, will be looking at, and at face value, it seems there is and at face value, it seems there is a quality issue there, assuming that thatis a quality issue there, assuming that that is in fact the mechanism, whether the bolts are loose now does not mean they were loose when that fuselage section was manufactured, so there may be another mechanism thatis so there may be another mechanism that is helping them to come loose, shall we say? fir that is helping them to come loose, shall we say?— shall we say? or is it some of their contractors — shall we say? or is it some of their contractors who _ shall we say? or is it some of their contractors who who _ shall we say? or is it some of their contractors who who produced - shall we say? or is it some of their. contractors who who produced these bolts? it contractors who who produced these bolts? . ., , contractors who who produced these bolts? _, , contractors who who produced these bolts? , -- contractors who who produced these bolts?_ -- is - contractors who who produced these bolts?_ -- is it- bolts? it could be both. -- is it bellowing? _ bolts? it could be both. -- is it bellowing? try _ bolts? it could be both. -- is it bellowing? try and _ bolts? it could be both. -- is it bellowing? try and find - bolts? it could be both. -- is it bellowing? try and find the - bellowing? try and find the engineering _ bellowing? try and find the engineering cause, - bellowing? try and find the | engineering cause, whether bellowing? try and find the i engineering cause, whether it bellowing? try and find the - engineering cause, whether it is a simple human factors issue, where somet has either not fitted the bolt or not fitted them tightly enough, or not fitted them tightly enough, or whether the bolts have been loose, and that is on the investigation will look at, but if it is a quality issue, then we may have cove into blame for that, and while that might seem strange, one of the things that happened for

boeing was a perfect storm —— we might have covid to blame. with the max grounded with the earlier issues of the flight control system, they cannot just of the flight control system, they cannotjust keep building aircraft at the rate that they were, and of course you have covid, so the result of that was a lot of workers, highly skilled workers, being laid off, and when we say highly skilled, you cannot just take somebody when we say highly skilled, you cannotjust take somebody out of, say, a garage or workshop somewhere and make them an aircraft engineer. there are some very specific disciplines they need to learn, their licence. when those people were laid off, that's one issue. whether they came back is another. if they were getting more money at starbucks for easier work, that is where they are going. it starbucks for easier work, that is where they are going.— starbucks for easier work, that is where they are going. it did because a lot of companies _ where they are going. it did because a lot of companies problems, - where they are going. it did because l a lot of companies problems, indeed, the lay—offs at that time. dai whittingham, thank you so much. plenty more to come, no doubt, on the boeing story.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. - brock could be back in a big way. kent county council fears, come october, part of the m20 will have to become a giant lorry park for freight waiting to cross the channel pretty much permanently. new checks are due to be introduced for people entering the eu from outside the bloc, including the uk, leading to this warning... the first step is that you will have your fingerprints taken and also a facial biometric. that happens the first time you register for the entry/exit system. the big problem is, how on earth do you get people to do that safely and in a fashion which isn't going to gum up kent for weeks? eurotunnel reckons it will add an extra five to seven minutes per car. it's increasing fivefold the number of lanes for passengers to be checked. but the port of dover has very little room for additional infrastructure. and when things go slowly, the impact on the rest of kent can be huge.

the ukrainian air force says a shortage of us—made patriot missiles was the key reason for the success of the russian air attacks on monday. the ukrainians intercepted less than half of the kamikaze drones, ballistic and cruise missiles that were launched by the russian armed forces at both military and civilian targets. they managed to hitjust 40% of incoming missiles and drones. previously, success rates were at 75%. the russians, of course, are going after the power infrastructure, a tactic they employed last winter. and in plunging sub—zero temperatures, it is especially cold right now. that has serious implications for civilians around the country. president zelensky is of course waiting on a decision over the $60 billion aid package that is being held up in the us congress. reports today suggest the two sides in washington are still miles apart on that issue, with no sign the europeans are filling the gap.

yesterday, the german chancellor said this year's planned contributions by most eu members is far "too small". let's speak to dr patrick bury, senior lecturer in security at the university of bath. it really is the perfect storm, this, isn't it? you've got really cold weather coming in, supplies drying up and we have seen just cold weather coming in, supplies drying up and we have seenjust in the last 2a, 48 hours drying up and we have seenjust in the last 24, 48 hours what that means on the ground?- the last 24, 48 hours what that means on the ground? good evening, christian. means on the ground? good evening, christian- yes. _ means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it _ means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it is, _ means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it is, but— means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it is, but it— means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it is, but it is- means on the ground? good evening, christian. yes, it is, but it is to - christian. yes, it is, but it is to be expected, especially the cold weather and the russian barrages. we know the russians basically to stockpile over a fallow period, especially their more advanced cruise missiles, and then we also knew that the ukrainian energy infrastructure would be their target. i think the less obvious thing at the stage of the war is the fact that the democracy of the world are not really getting their arsenals going for what is a pretty much showdown, at this stage,

becoming clearer and clearer. d0 much showdown, at this stage, becoming clearer and clearer. do you think it is sharpening _ becoming clearer and clearer. do you think it is sharpening focus _ becoming clearer and clearer. do you think it is sharpening focus in - think it is sharpening focus in chancellery surround europe and perhaps in congress right now, that actually with the delays and the foot dragging, they are real implications for people? i foot dragging, they are real implications for people? i think the messa . e implications for people? i think the message needs _ implications for people? i think the message needs to _ implications for people? i think the message needs to get _ implications for people? i think the message needs to get out - implications for people? i think the message needs to get out there. . implications for people? i think the - message needs to get out there. some of it is leadership. are the leaders actually talking about it enough? some of it is ourselves who keep covering ukraine. and then some of it is popular opinion. people need to understand what is at stake here, i think, because democracy basically is in a fight for his life, and it is in a fight for his life, and it is happening in numerous places around the world, and i think the cost to the west into the average person, it seems an abstract thing, but this could be very serious indeed. ., ., , ., indeed. olaf scholz the german chancellor _ indeed. olaf scholz the german chancellor has _ indeed. olaf scholz the german chancellor has put _ indeed. olaf scholz the german chancellor has put europeans . indeed. olaf scholz the german | chancellor has put europeans on notice. there is a big summit coming up notice. there is a big summit coming up in february. who is he 20 think that in particular? first up in february. who is he 20 think that in particular?—

that in particular? first of all, there was _ that in particular? first of all, there was some _ that in particular? first of all, there was some good - that in particular? first of all, there was some good news i that in particular? first of all, i there was some good news here, because looks like as of this evening, they may allow the money to go yearly, in terms of it is viewed every year from go yearly, in terms of it is viewed every yearfrom du, which could get money in, because it is having a real—world impact on the front line —— from du. there might be some thinker —— finger pointing towards hungry for some the second is for the nations to step up. the baltics are doing great, it's getting even countries are doing great, poland is doing good, germany is doing ok but it needs to give more than it has said it is going to come of what it said it is going to come of what it said it is going to come of what it said it will do, rather than offer more, and then the uk is doing well, the us doing well, other nations and just up to the plate, and they think they are saved from this because of their geographical position, but thatis their geographical position, but that is not in his early du —— not necessarily the case if ukraine loses. the chance of holding

off a russian conventional, larger conventional force off a russian conventional, larger conventionalforce for a off a russian conventional, larger conventional force for a long off a russian conventional, larger conventionalforce for a long period starts to really dwindle. they need the stuff, they need it yesterday, and hopefully the right decisions are made. irate and hopefully the right decisions are made. ~ ~ , ., are made. we will keep asking the ruestions. are made. we will keep asking the questions- dr _ are made. we will keep asking the questions. dr bury, _ are made. we will keep asking the questions. dr bury, good - are made. we will keep asking the questions. dr bury, good to - are made. we will keep asking the questions. dr bury, good to talk i are made. we will keep asking the | questions. dr bury, good to talk to you, as ever. questions. dr bury, good to talk to you. as ever-— 2024 is the year of the vote. countries that are home to nearly half the world's population will choose governments in the year ahead. and on top of that, three wars will dominate — russia—ukraine now into its third year, the war in the middle east now into its third month, and the united states vs itself, which looks ready to kick off at any moment. our regular panelist, the eurasia group president ian bremmer, says it is the voldemort of years, the annus horribilis, the year that must not be named. he has just published the group's top risks for 2024 and is here to guide us through it. iam i am intrigued that you list the election in the united states as one of three conscious we need to watch this year. why do you see it in such pessimistic tones? because it could at the end of it be a triumph of us

democracy. at the end of it be a triumph of us democracy-— democracy. yeah, it's really does not feel that _ democracy. yeah, it's really does not feel that way _ democracy. yeah, it's really does not feel that way the _ democracy. yeah, it's really does not feel that way the stub - democracy. yeah, it's really does not feel that way the stub that's l not feel that way the stub that's keepin not feel that way the stub that's keep in mind that there was this triumph of us democracy back in 2020, and you've had biden as president now for over three years, and yet the us belief and trust and political institutions has only continued to deteriorate over that period of time. the checks and balances that you have, for example the speaker of the house, the us without a house speaker for weeks, and massive politicalfight making it more difficult to do basic governance in the united states, the potential for the judiciary to act as a check on executive power, all of this continues to be challenged. biden has done his level best, but he is not been able to bring that come look to a close, and there is very little reason to believe that evenif very little reason to believe that even if biden were to win substantially in november, coming up, that a substantially in november, coming up, thata biden substantially in november, coming up, that a biden presidency from the years of age of 82 to 86 are going

to be more successful than the last four, and of course that is if biden winds big. any other outcome... and there are a lot of other actors interested in that this year, we are interested in that this year, we are in very different situation. the us, the most powerful country in the world, but also the dysfunctional democracy by far among the g7. there is no other advanced industrial democracy facing any of these challenges right now. talk democracy facing any of these challenges right now.- democracy facing any of these challenges right now. talk to me about the external _ challenges right now. talk to me about the external factors. - challenges right now. talk to me about the external factors. 4 - about the external factors. 4 billion people going to the polls this year. one unknown factor in all of this is ungoverned ai. what you point to in this article. particularly, of course, generative ai. we know what russia did with the old technology full to what does the new technology have in store? certainly gpt five, which is going to roll out within months, is going to roll out within months, is going

to make what you use today look like a child's toy. and i'm very excited about that, in the sense i think it is going to drive a lot of productivity and unlike human capital and create efficiency in sectors across the global economy, that's all great, but the technology is moving at speed far faster than our ability to govern it, and that is a serious problem in terms of disinformation, especially in elections, and the us as you just suggested, much more challenging than non—ai empowered disinformation. and also of the fact that so many individual actors, government actors and individual citizen actors, will have access to these tools and can use them for destructive purposes, like for cyber hacks and malware and creating new weapons. that's all something we are going to have to really deal with for the first time in earnest in 2024. ., , ., ., 2024. yeah. let me bring two of the risks to gather— 2024. yeah. let me bring two of the risks to gather full _ 2024. yeah. let me bring two of the risks to gather full so we _ 2024. yeah. let me bring two of the risks to gather full so we talked - risks to gather full so we talked about the wars in ukraine and the middle east — is that driving the

trifecta of rogue states, namely, russia, iran and north korea, closer together? and where do you think that takes us in 2024? it together? and where do you think that takes us in 2024?— that takes us in 2024? it really is, the russian _ that takes us in 2024? it really is, the russian invasion _ that takes us in 2024? it really is, the russian invasion of— that takes us in 2024? it really is, the russian invasion of ukraine, l that takes us in 2024? it really is, l the russian invasion of ukraine, not in 2014 but 2022, not only did it and the peace dividend for europe, 30 years and running, but it also turned russia into the most powerful rogue state that we have ever seen in history. massive, 6000 clear weapons, massive cyber keep abilities, big military standing, and of course big natural resource wealth, but the west no longer works with russia, no diplomatic relations that are engaged, you've got no... even macron is not talking to putin any more, certainly biden is not. there is very little economic trade thatis there is very little economic trade that is happening, their assets have been frozen, they are not welcome to the table, and russia's real friends, that are providing them sport

—— support militarily, for this or thatis —— support militarily, for this or that is so prickle for them and put in going forward, north korea and iran, and in return the russians are providing them with a fair amount of technology, with some economic benefits, with some intelligence and also with some diplomatic cover, and those three states, rogue states, that want chaos in the international environment, that want to undermine and fragment and destroy well—functioning countries around the world, or maybe not so well—functioning, that is a danger thatis well—functioning, that is a danger that is growing. by the way, china is not a member of this group. john is not a member of this group. john is an adversary of the united states, but they're not trying to destroy the international system, they recognise they need a functioning international system for their own well—being long—term. that's not the case of russia, iran and north korea. all the leaders of those three states are supposed to be five i don't know if that means anything, but ijust be five i don't know if that means anything, but i just throw that out for you.

anything, but i just throw that out foryou. —— anything, but i just throw that out for you. —— five we are out of time. ian bremmer, we'll see on the programme shortly. let's go back to the breaking news in ecuador. armed men have stormed a life tv programme. you can see the live moment they came in, the broadcasters being held up at gunpoint, the man wearing balaclava bursting into the studio. this is in the port city of guayaquil, taking hostages, and ucd crew are then forced onto the ground. we will get some reaction to that in the next hour —— and uc the crew. hello there. tuesday was another cold but much sunnier day for the vast majority of the country. however, there were a few areas that saw some snow, like here injersey and the channel islands. also saw some across south—west england, for example, around bodmin moor and some

across the far north of scotland, around the murray coast. still have something of a hangover, though, from the very wet weather of last week. there are still 100 flood warnings in place with some communities still badly affected. satellite picture shows much sunnier weather then across the bulk of the country. we do have some thicker clouds just working in across the far north of scotland, and that's starting to bring a little bit of drizzle in. and as we go through this evening and overnight, the cloud across the north sea is going to thicken. so it will turn damp for these areas with drizzle becoming a bit more extensive. otherwise, it's cold and frosty with a threat of some icy stretches on roads and pavements as we head into wednesday morning. now, wednesday, that thicker cloud around across east scotland, eastern england, will be bringing some damp weather. you might find an odd spot going across north—west england and eastern counties of northern ireland. best of the sunshine, southern wales parts the south midlands, east anglia, southern parts of england. probably not too bad though for western scotland as well. wherever you are it will continue to be cold for the time of year with temperatures give or take around about six celsius. now heading into thursday,

the same area of high pressure is still dominating the weather picture, but it's changing orientation and so, too, are the winds — north—easterly winds this time bringing the cloud in and moving it further southwards. so the sunshine becoming a bit more limited to the far south of england. bright skies again across north western areas. the cloud, a little bit thinner, so there should be less in the way of drizzle for east scotland and around those eastern coastal areas of england. beyond that, through friday and the weekend, the weather pattern stays pretty quiet, really. some mist and fog patches around a bit of frost, cloud varying but mostly dry with some bright or sunny spells. however, into next week, for those of you who like wintry weather, we get a blast of northerly winds moving in. definitely with snow showers returning to northern areas. we could see an atlantic weather system move into that cold air and that could bring a more widespread area of disruptive snow. so we're pretty certain that snow showers will be across the north coming right down to low levels. question mark as to whether we see that atlantic system bringing a zone of more disruptive snow, but keep in touch with the forecast.

you hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. secretary blinken has held extensive discussions today in tel aviv. but who are the real decision makers in the war cabinet, and is the israeli prime minister in full control of his coalition? donald trump says there will be "bedlam" if the justice department

is allowed to prosecute him on election interference. we will discuss whether, his appeal in washington today, we will discuss whether his appeal in washington today, will work and how the courts decision might effect the 2024 election. and the french president has just appointed a new prime minister as he seeks to reboot his second term. the new man is gabriel attal — the youngest man ever to hold that post. we will get the thoughts tonight of lord peter ricketts, formerly the british ambassador in paris, after he had served as david cameron's national security advisor. joining us a little later tonight victoria coates, who herself was a deputy national security adviser to the former president donald trump. she will be with us later in the programme. i want to start with the breaking news i brought you last hour in ecuador, the life of men who have stormed into a live tv programme. the men, wearing balaclava's, were

in the tv station