whether speculate in public about whether there _ speculate in public about whether there will— speculate in public about whether there will be any imminent military action_ there will be any imminent military action but— there will be any imminent military action but it seems we may get confirmation sometime soon. we'll be looking at what's led to this and at what might follow. and we'll be speaking to our international editorjeremy bowen. also tonight — sub—postmasters who were wrongly convicted of theft come face to face with one of the post office investigators who accused them. terror at the tv station — we speak to the presenter in ecuador whose studio was overrun by masked gunmen you've been amazing, you really have. and an unexpected honour — prince william surprises rob burrow and kevin sinfield with their cbes in leeds, for their campaigning work on motor neurone disease. and on newsnight at 10.30, we'll go deeper behind the headlines and speak live to key players on today's big stories, plus a first look at tomorrow's front pages.

good evening. the uk is on the brink of military action with the us against houthi rebels in yemen. rishi sunak held an evening briefing with cabinet ministers and the labour leader sir keir starmer has also been informed of the situation. the houthis, who are backed by iran, have launched a series of strikes against ships in the red sea, disrupting trade and adding to fears that the conflict between israel and hamas could escalate throughout the region. let's go straight to westminster and to our political editor chris mason.— all this has just happened, what more do we know? this moment has been looking increasingly likely in the coming days. let me talk you through the choreography of this evening and what it is reasonable for us to

deduce from it, in addition to the conversations privately that i've had with senior figures in westminster. so at a little before 8pm this evening the prime minister held a conference call, a briefing for his cabinet, which you would expect prior to uk military action if time were to allow that. in addition to that, we saw the shadow defence secretary for labour, john healey, and the speaker of the commons, the house of commons, sir lindsay hoyle, arriving at 70 whitehall, just down the road from here. i understand they were briefed by senior government officials and sir keir starmer, the labour leader, alsojoined those sir keir starmer, the labour leader, also joined those conversations remotely. now, the uk government by convention can act militarily without wider consultation, but where possible the convention is to speak to seniorfigures where possible the convention is to speak to senior figures like the leader of the opposition and the speaker of the house of commons. those conversations have concluded

this evening and the expectation is that the uk government is poised with international allies to be involved in military action as soon as tonight. involved in military action as soon as toniaht. , involved in military action as soon as tonight-— as tonight. chris, we'll be back to ou ve as tonight. chris, we'll be back to you very shortly _ as tonight. chris, we'll be back to you very shortly but _ as tonight. chris, we'll be back to you very shortly but in _ as tonight. chris, we'll be back to you very shortly but in the - as tonight. chris, we'll be back to . you very shortly but in the meantime the us says there's been 27 attacks in the red sea since mid november by houthis who say they support hamas and are targeting ships headed to israel. let's get more now from our security correspondent frank gardner on who the houthis are and what the effect of their attacks has been. armed, angry and defiant. yemen's houthi rebels. a tribal mountain militia that controls much of yemen and its red sea coast. they've declared their support for hamas in gaza and since november they've been attacking ships in the red sea. britain, the us and the un have all demanded a stop to the attacks. we cannot have a situation where a major sea route,

a major ability to move goods around the world, is being cut off by terrorists and thugs and we therefore must act. this was a heli—borne raid they did on a container ship in november, seizing the vessel and its crew and steering it back to yemen. the houthis have defied all warnings to stop targeting shipping. translation: we are more determined - to continue to target ships linked - to israel and we will not back down from that. 0ur position stems from our faith. the americans should know what that means. the houthi attacks are having a global effect. around 15% of world trade passes through the nearby bab—el—mandeb strait, but now major shipping companies like bp and mersk are having to avoid the red sea altogether. as this computer tracking shows, they're re—routing round the far side of africa, adding days

to the journey, driving up costs in europe and elsewhere. a us—led task force, including the royal navy's hms diamond, has been in action. they shot down 21 houthi drones and missiles on tuesday. but the houthis, helped by iran, have got plenty more missiles and have vowed to use them, which is why the us and britain say they must now bear the consequences. frank gardner, bbc news. 0ur international editor jeremy bowen is here. potentially imminent military action against the houthis, jeremy. will it work? ~ ., against the houthis, jeremy. will it work? ~ . ., ., against the houthis, jeremy. will it work? . ., ., , against the houthis, jeremy. will it work? ~ . ., ., , . work? way a lot of it may become a bit of a deterrent _ work? way a lot of it may become a bit of a deterrent but _ work? way a lot of it may become a bit of a deterrent but with _ work? way a lot of it may become a bit of a deterrent but with the - bit of a deterrent but with the houthis i sort of doubt it because the saudis bombed them after 2015 for some years until the current ceasefire in yemen took hold and i spent quite a lot of time with the houthis in yemen and they are not the kind of people who are worried tjy the kind of people who are worried by threats. in fact, they quite like

them. among their favourite slogans this death to america and death to israel. they want to be in this fight, ithink, and being threatened by the west is almost something that i think they want to show to their people, look what we are doing, we are still fighting them. they are allies of iran. they are not proxies of iran. they are not directed from tehran, but they are helped out, they get the weapons from tehran, and i think it's in the interests at the moment of both countries to keep this pressure up to and from the us and the uk point of view one thing they are concerned about is that they've been accused especially the americans in recent weeks of when they are under pressure red lines turn pink. they want to show that their red lines are really deep red. you mentioned the houthi slogan there. how much is all this connected to what's going on with israel and hamas is yellow it's absolutely connected to it is what the houthis say. they have got involved in this and they've tried

to bomb israel.— involved in this and they've tried to bomb israel. their weapons are bein: to bomb israel. their weapons are being shot — to bomb israel. their weapons are being shot down _ to bomb israel. their weapons are being shot down by _ to bomb israel. their weapons are being shot down by the _ to bomb israel. their weapons are being shot down by the americans to bomb israel. their weapons are i being shot down by the americans as they go up the red sea and that's because they want to intervene in this war, they want to be part of it. that makes them quite a difficult and obdurate enemy and, you know, there's been a lot of concern about the spread of the war, will it spread. i think we can see, it has spread. it's not spread, it has spread, it is happening, and the only i suppose bright thing you can look at right now is that it's still at a relatively low level outside of gaza. the fear has to be it could become more than that and one more thing happened, the iranians in the gulf of oman a little bit further round the arabian peninsula, took over an oil tanker today. now, round the arabian peninsula, took overan oiltankertoday. now, it's linked to an earlier dispute with the americans confiscating oil that iran believed was theirs and they

want to get the money back but you know what, timing is everything and i think it happened today, because the iranians also want to show if you put pressure on us and our allies we can do things too. tibia allies we can do things too. 0k, jeremy bowen. _ allies we can do things too. 0k, jeremy bowen, thank you very much. in a moment we'll speak to chris again. first to washington and our north america editor, sarah smith. the uk wouldn't be doing this without the us, would they? almost certainly not. _ without the us, would they? almost certainly not, but _ without the us, would they? almost certainly not, but here _ without the us, would they? almost certainly not, but here officials - certainly not, but here officials will not speculate in public about what they describe as potential future military operations. that's what we heard from the white house and the pentagon today. but the us administration has been talking tough for days about this, warning that there would be consequences, as they call it, if the houthis didn't stop their attacks on ships in the red sea, and we heard that again from the white house today, saying these attacks have to all the houthis will bear the consequences. right now the us secretary of state,

their equivalent of the foreign secretary, antony blinken, is on his way back from an extensive trip around the middle east and one of his key objectives was to try to stop the israel gaza war escalating. the us has been most worried about this conflict spreading and drawing in other countries. yet at the same time whilst he was there, antony blinken also said it is articulately important that we respond when we are faced with aggression like that that we are seeing from the houthis, so he is drawing a clear line there and saying america isn't going to be provoked to the point where they will not act. that said, asjeremy was pointing out, america is very clear that the houthis are armed, funded and encouraged by iran, but if action is taken, if we do get that confirmation america will want to make it crystal clear that the us does not see this as them getting into any kind of fight with iran itself. �* , , into any kind of fight with iran itself. . , , , ,

itself. and chris, this news 'ust broke a few �* itself. and chris, this news 'ust broke a few hours i itself. and chris, this news 'ust broke a few hours ago i itself. and chris, this news 'ust broke a few hours ago this h itself. and chris, this newsjust - broke a few hours ago this evening. what has the reaction been more widely in westminster? just tying to . ether a widely in westminster? just tying together a couple _ widely in westminster? just tying together a couple of _ widely in westminster? just tying together a couple of strands - widely in westminster? just tying together a couple of strands first | together a couple of strands first reeta _ together a couple of strands first reeta from sarah and jeremy in that sense _ reeta from sarah and jeremy in that sense as _ reeta from sarah and jeremy in that sense asjeremy reeta from sarah and jeremy in that sense as jeremy articulated thereof deep red _ sense as jeremy articulated thereof deep red lines, if you look at the rhetoric— deep red lines, if you look at the rhetoric from the uk defence secretary grant shapps tying in with what other — secretary grant shapps tying in with what other allies of the uk have said in— what other allies of the uk have said in recent days, they all pointed _ said in recent days, they all pointed towards a moment like the one we _ pointed towards a moment like the one we are — pointed towards a moment like the one we are discussing this evening, that given _ one we are discussing this evening, that given what they had said publicly— that given what they had said publicly as well as privately, if the provocations continued they would _ the provocations continued they would be — the provocations continued they would be compelled to act and it looks— would be compelled to act and it looks like — would be compelled to act and it looks like that action is imminent. in looks like that action is imminent. in terms— looks like that action is imminent. in terms of— looks like that action is imminent. in terms of the wider reaction here at westminster, firstly, i thought about— at westminster, firstly, i thought about the — at westminster, firstly, i thought about the prime minister. it is the most _ about the prime minister. it is the most solemn moment for any prime minister— most solemn moment for any prime minister to— most solemn moment for any prime minister to consider military action and this— minister to consider military action and this will be the first significant moment for that for rishi _ significant moment for that for rishi sunak. as far as wider

reaction _ rishi sunak. as far as wider reaction is _ rishi sunak. as far as wider reaction is concerned, we've heard tonight— reaction is concerned, we've heard tonight from some of the opposition parties. _ tonight from some of the opposition parties, from the liberal democrats, from the _ parties, from the liberal democrats, from the scottish national party, from _ from the scottish national party, from the — from the scottish national party, from the welsh nationalists plaid cymru. _ from the welsh nationalists plaid cymru, they are saying that at moments _ cymru, they are saying that at moments like this parliament ought to be recalled. as i said a couple of minutes— to be recalled. as i said a couple of minutes ago, it is the prerogative of a british government to take _ prerogative of a british government to take military action when it deems — to take military action when it deems it— to take military action when it deems it to be fit, although convention more recently has been to consult _ convention more recently has been to consult parliament if not before then _ consult parliament if not before then as — consult parliament if not before then as soon as possible afterwards and i_ then as soon as possible afterwards and i think— then as soon as possible afterwards and i think that will come in the next _ and i think that will come in the next couple of days. what i suspect is likely— next couple of days. what i suspect is likely is _ next couple of days. what i suspect is likely is we won't hear publicly on camera — is likely is we won't hear publicly on camera or in any kind of written statement — on camera or in any kind of written statement from anyone within government until or after the point that any— government until or after the point that any strikes have taken place with the — that any strikes have taken place with the expectation those strikes could _ with the expectation those strikes could happen in the coming hours. 0k, many— could happen in the coming hours. 0k, many thanks, chris will be back ok, many thanks, chris will be back to you a bit later in the programme with an update but for now, thank you. a fraud investigator

for the post office has come face to face with some of the sub—postmasters he investigated. at the public inquiry, which resumed this morning, stephen bradshaw denied claims that he and others "behaved like mafia gangsters" when looking into losses at branches. the post office carried out its own investigations and private prosecutions, without the need to involve the police or the crime prosecution service. our business correspondent emma simpson is here with more. stephen bradshaw is just the latest post office investigator to appear before this long—running inquiry. there are another 13 to go. this phase is looking at the action against the sub—postmasters, how the post office pursued and prosecuted hundreds of branch managers. and it's raising questions about the conduct and competence of those involved. it was bad luck for mr bradshaw, that he was the first up after the itv drama that's pushed this inquiry back into the spotlight. a warning — there is some offensive language in this report.

it's a big day forjanet skinner. she's on her way to come face—to—face with the man who interrogated her, which led to her going to prison. she lost herjob, her house, and her health. over the past few days, i think it's becoming more anger. it doesn't make me nervous. i'd like to see him be put under pressure like i was under pressure when i was questioned. i haven't seen him since 2006. what do you want him to say today? apology? yes, that would be a good start. she's not the only one interested. i swear by almighty god... that the evidence... steven bradshaw started in the investigation team in 2000, and is still employed by the post office today. under pressure now about his behaviour. under pressure now about his behaviour-— under pressure now about his behaviour. . , ., behaviour. each solitary quite often terrified sub-postmaster _ behaviour. each solitary quite often terrified sub-postmaster sitting - terrified sub—postmaster sitting across an interview desk from you or one of your team would have been

told they were the only ones with the problem. i’zre told they were the only ones with the problem-— told they were the only ones with the roblem. �* ,. . ., the problem. i've never said that to an bod . the problem. i've never said that to anybody- what _ the problem. i've never said that to anybody. what i've _ the problem. i've never said that to anybody. what i've interviewed, - the problem. i've never said that to l anybody. what i've interviewed, that you are _ anybody. what i've interviewed, that you are the _ anybody. what i've interviewed, that you are the only one who is got this issue. _ you are the only one who is got this issue. we — you are the only one who is got this issue, i've never said that and i will stick— issue, i've never said that and i will stick to _ issue, i've never said that and i will stick to that. in issue, i've never said that and i will stick to that.— will stick to that. in this document, _ will stick to that. in this - document, sub-postmaster will stick to that. in this _ document, sub-postmaster chassis document, sub—postmaster chassis sadiq that mr bradshaw called her a pitch in a telephone call, witnessed by her husband.— do not call anybody that kind of name. do— do not call anybody that kind of name. y ., do not call anybody that kind of name. , , . name. do you accept you behaved unprofessionally? _ name. do you accept you behaved unprofessionally? no. _ name. do you accept you behaved unprofessionally? no. do- name. do you accept you behaved unprofessionally? no. do you - name. do you accept you behaved i unprofessionally? no. do you accept it was part of the culture inside the team to intimidate and abuse sub—postmasters? ihla. he denied sub—postmasters? no. he denied bullying and intimidation. in this interview transcript he said to one sub—postmistress, you told me a pack of lies. it’s sub-postmistress, you told me a pack of lies. �* , ., . sub-postmistress, you told me a pack of lies. fl ., . . of lies. it's not a nice interview, normally _ of lies. it's not a nice interview, normally before _ of lies. it's not a nice interview, normally before an _ of lies. it's not a nice interview, normally before an interview . of lies. it's not a nice interview, l normally before an interview with the majority of times i'd speak to people _ the majority of times i'd speak to people and say to them, you know, it's not— people and say to them, you know, it's not personal, the questions have _ it's not personal, the questions have to — it's not personal, the questions have to be _ it's not personal, the questions have to be asked but i and he said his bosses— have to be asked but i and he said his bosses never told him about

horizon — his bosses never told him about horizon computer problems. stephen bradshaw— horizon computer problems. stephen bradshaw admitted to signing a court statement that horizon was robust but he'd _ statement that horizon was robust but he'd never written it. this from a man— but he'd never written it. this from a man who — but he'd never written it. this from a man who said he wasn't technically minded _ a man who said he wasn't technically minded the — a man who said he wasn't technically minded. the inquiry also heard he was sent— minded. the inquiry also heard he was sent a — minded. the inquiry also heard he was sent a memo about a court case, how a _ was sent a memo about a court case, how a guilty— was sent a memo about a court case, how a guilty plea to a lesser charge of fraud _ how a guilty plea to a lesser charge of fraud might be acceptable as long as the _ of fraud might be acceptable as long as the defendant said it was nothing to do— as the defendant said it was nothing to do with _ as the defendant said it was nothing to do with horizon. at this point the chair— to do with horizon. at this point the chair intervened. is it appropriate _ the chair intervened. is it appropriate for _ the chair intervened. is it appropriate for someone representing the post _ appropriate for someone representing the post office — appropriate for someone representing the post office to _ appropriate for someone representing the post office to say, _ appropriate for someone representing the post office to say, we _ appropriate for someone representing the post office to say, we will - the post office to say, we will accept — the post office to say, we will accept your— the post office to say, we will accept your plea _ the post office to say, we will accept your plea but - the post office to say, we will accept your plea but only - the post office to say, we will accept your plea but only if i the post office to say, we willi accept your plea but only if you don't _ accept your plea but only if you don't blame _ accept your plea but only if you don't blame horizon? - accept your plea but only if you don't blame horizon?— accept your plea but only if you don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you- — don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you- so _ don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you. so what _ don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you. so what did _ don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you. so what did janet - don't blame horizon? probably not. thank you. so what did janet make | don't blame horizon? probably not. l thank you. so what did janet make of it all at the end? _ thank you. so what did janet make of it all at the end? i _ thank you. so what did janet make of it all at the end? i thought _ thank you. so what did janet make of it all at the end? i thought he - thank you. so what did janet make of it all at the end? i thought he was - it all at the end? i thought he was cold, i thought — it all at the end? i thought he was cold, i thought it _ it all at the end? i thought he was cold, i thought it was _ it all at the end? i thought he was cold, i thought it was arrogant. i it all at the end? i thought he was i cold, i thought it was arrogant. you didn't aet cold, i thought it was arrogant. you didn't get an _ cold, i thought it was arrogant. you didn't get an apology. no, - cold, i thought it was arrogant. you didn't get an apology. no, no. - didn't get an apology. no, no. frustration _ didn't get an apology. no, no. frustration but _ didn't get an apology. no, no. frustration but no _ didn't get an apology. no, no. frustration but no surprises i didn't get an apology. no, no. - frustration but no surprises either as this inquiry slowly starts to join the dots. emma simpson, bbc news.

joining me now is our home and legal correspondent, dominic casciani. dom, how is it that the post office was able to bring these prosecutions? quite simply, that is the law. anybody in england and wales can bring a private prosecution to take a suspect for a crime to court, if the state isn't doing it. historically, the post office has always investigated fraud in relation to the post office. rather like the rspca investigates animal cruelty cases. the difference is that the post office is effectively the complainant in the case, the investigator and the prosecutor, so there is no impartiality through that process. why that is important is because the rule of disclosure using legal language requires prosecutors to provide the defence, in any case, with any material that undermines what the prosecution are saying, or, alternatively, helps the defendant to put their case before a judge. the reason why those rules exist is to ensure a fair trial, a just trial. in withholding this

information about the horizon system, the post office effectively drove a coach and horses through those rules. the penny only seemed to drop in 2019, when a seniorjudge at the high court issued an absolutely damning ruling, asking what had gone wrong with disclosure in these cases. the post office then brought in and outside legal firm to advise it. it started on providing the documents to the now convicted suspects, and that opened the floodgates to the real scandal and exoneration. the government are saying it is going to review the rules about private prosecutions in light of what is going on. three years ago, thejustice committee asked ministers to do exactly that and they said there needs to be a binding code of standards. organisations like the post office should be subject to watchdog reviews and inspections. the response from ministers, they rejected those proposals. 0k, rejected those proposals. ok, dominic, many thanks. the united nation's highest court, the international court ofjustice in the hague,

has heard from lawyers for the south african government that israel's military offensive in gaza amounts to genocide. israel has strongly denied this, calling it an outrageous allegation. as part of its case, south africa is calling for an immediate halt to israel's military operation. paul adams reports. for three months the world has looked on in horror at the images from gaza. scenes of death and destruction which south africa says is evidence of genocide. this killing is nothing short of destruction of palestinian life. it is inflicted deliberately. no—one is spared, not even newborn babies. the last three months have been utterly grim. over 23,000 palestinians have been killed, including entire families. around 300,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged, and 85% of gaza's population has been displaced. that's almost two million people.

all of this, in an area no bigger than the isle of wight. for three hours, the court listened to south africa's case. each day, yet more desperate people will be forced to relocate from where they are sheltering and will be bombed in places where they have been told to evacuate to. entire multi—generationalfamilies will be obliterated. and yet more palestinian children will become wcnsf — wounded child, no surviving family. but what is genocide? according to a191r8 convention, it is a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group in whole or in part. israel says it was acting in self defence, following the murderous hamas assaultof october the 7th,

the worst attack on jews since the holocaust. translation: we are fighting terrorists, we are fighting lies. today, we saw an upside down world. israel is accused of genocide, while it is fighting against genocide. outside the court, emotions were running high. israel will make its case tomorrow, but it supporters say the charge of genocide is outrageous. people are talking about what israel is doing. but hamas is committing crimes against humanity every day my brother, and the rest of the hostages are there. and no—one is talking about it. the court will take years to reach its verdict, but it could, within weeks, rule that israel should, in the meantime, halt its military operation. it has no power to make that happen, but it would add to the pressure mounting on israel to act differently in gaza. paul adams, bbc news. ecuador�*s armed forces say they have arrested more than 300 suspected gang members since the president

declared a state of emergency. they also confirmed that 178 prison officers are being held hostage. the unrest began on sunday when a drug lord escaped from jail, prompting a security crackdown. will grant reports from the city of guayaquil, which has seen much of the violence. after the violence, the crackdown. hundreds of suspected gang members were rounded up by police and soldiers as the president's self—declared war gets under way. and this, says the government, is only the start. meanwhile, the worst affected city, guayaquil, is trying to reopen for business. it's been an emotional and expensive time for stallholders likejorge, forced to shut down for days. "i'm not scared, though," he tells me. "i just want to see peace back in my ecuador." these are the first faltering steps of a city trying to get back to some kind of normality.

small businesses, doing their best in uniquely difficult times. people here are still recovering from the violent events of this week. they're just hoping they don't get caught in the middle of the government's war with the gangs. yet it's far from business as usual for the families of 180 prison staff still held hostage inside the jails. andres's brother is one of them. he spent hours outside ambato prison waiting for news. translation: the only information we've heard is from the guards - who managed to get out. they told us that our relatives were ok. but the police only say they're waiting for orders to enter the prison. we haven't seen any movement from them since tuesday. it feels like the authorities have forgotten about the guards. the most brazen part of the violence was when a public tv station was invaded live on air by armed men. the presenter, urging for calm with a gun to his head, described the ordeal. "they sent kids armed

to the teeth to spread fear, anxiety and chaos," he says, "to send the message they can just walk in and take over one of the biggest media outlets in the country." as the days pass, it may look like ecuador is returning. but it's actually falling away, towards an entrenched armed conflict and ever closer to becoming a full narco—state. will grant, bbc news, guayaquil. yorkshire county cricket club has approved a takeover bid by a consortium headed by its former chairman. colin graves was in charge for part of the period during which the club was fined for failing to address the systemic use of racist or discriminatory language. the former player at the centre of the allegations, azeem rafiq, says the move will empower racists. all it does is confirms and sends the message loud and clear to south asians that, you know, cricket is not

a welcoming place and a safe place for us. in rugby union, ireland boss andy farrell says it's an honour to be appointed head coach of the british and irish lions for their 2025 tour of australia. the englishman succeeds warren gatland, having previously served as his assistant on two lions tours. farrell recently signed a new contract to stay with ireland until 2027. the prince of wales has surprised the former rugby league players rob burrow and kevin sinfield by awarding them with their cbes at headingley stadium in leeds — in front of family and friends. prince william praised them for their efforts raising awareness of motor neurone disease. the pair have raised more than £5 million for charity. graham satchell was there. prince william at headingley stadium, home of rugby league team the leeds rhinos. waiting inside, rob burrow and kevin sinfield. i don't know how much of a surprise it is that i'm here!

good to see you. the prince is given a brief tour and a look at the pitch. i bet it was spine—tingling when you came out here for big matches. yeah, it was great, yeah. william is here to pay tribute to two rugby league legends who have done so much to raise awareness of the degenerative neurological disorder motor neurone disease. it is amazing what you two have done, honestly, the amount of money you've raised, and the profile you've done for mnd is just phenomenal, it really is. you should be so proud, both of you, of what you've done. it's completely elevated it to another level. is there anything you specifically want people to know about living with mnd? hopefully, through the campaigning - we have done, we have helped to make people aware of mnd and to give people and families affected - by the disease some hope. we have to keep raising funds to fight this disease and looki after those with mnd until we have a cure. | rob burrow and kevin sinfield played more than 400 times together for leeds rhinos, winning title after title. after his diagnosis in 2019, rob decided to go public. his honesty and openness have been an inspiration to the whole mnd community.

his best friend and team—mate kevin sinfield has undertaken a series of challenges, running marathon after marathon. together, they have raised more than £15 million to help fund research for a cure. i brought your cbes up here today. i thought i might give them to you, if that's ok, while you're in your home up in leeds, surrounded by your family and friends. congratulations for all the inspirational work you've done, rob. you've been amazing, you really have. and everyone's so proud of you. i've been following your case and the money you're raising. you've changed so many people's lives with mnd in what you've done. we're all so proud of you. big smile. this was an intimate meeting, a personal royal seal of approval for two extraordinary men fighting the cruellest of diseases. graham satchell, bbc news, leeds.

let's return to our main story — the uk is on the brink of military action with the us against houthi rebels in yemen after a series of strikes against ships in the red sea. let's go back to chris mason in downing street. the prime minister is about to take one of the most serious decision is a leader kante? that's right, reeta and it is a huge moment for any prime minister to contemplate authorising uk military action. that is what we understand the prime minister talked of his cabinet about this evening, with the anticipation that the strikes could take in the coming hours, with profound political, geopolitical, diplomatic and economic sequences. there is concern, of course, about the prospect of a widening regional conflict in the middle east. there is economic concern around the significant decline of around about a third of ship traffic through the

red sea under the suez canal, and the additional economic burden that places on the world economy. as well as the potential economic consequences more broadly if this action were to more broadly escalate into something more wired, particularly if there was any knock—on consequences for oil prices. so, a big moment for the prime minister. to underline that, and the conversation has been involved in this evening, we are told by downing street he has spoken told by downing street he has spoken to the egyptian president, abdul fattah al—sisi, acknowledging that conversation the attacks on commercial shipping in the red sea. a downing street spokesman saying tonight that the prime minister said the uk would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea. we could see that military action within hours. chris mason in downing street, thank you very much.

time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. it's been another day that's been pretty cloudy for most parts of the country with a thick sheet of cloud rolling back in off the north sea. it has been thick enough to give a bit of drizzle to east scotland at least in areas of england. just on the top of the cloud sheet, we have had some dry air. as the wind has flowed over the mountains in scotland, some of the dry air got mixed downwards and evaporated the clouds. look at this picture. hard to believe it is the same day. this is in the highlands of scotland, bathed in sunshine. a similar process eating away at the clouds for west wales, and overnight today the cloud comes back again, particularly across england. widespread drizzle across eastern areas. where it stays cloudy, frost free. temperatures between 2—6. in scotland, where we have clearer skies, temperatures could get down as low as —10. a freezing cold start, at least there should be some sunshine here. otherwise, cloudy again. drizzle for eastern areas, slowly fizzling out and getting dry

into the afternoon. may be a few breaks on cloud for northern ireland, the north—west or both england and wales. temperatures, give or take about 6 degrees, but colder than that in scotland. there might be one or two marketplaces that don't get above freezing all day after that cold start. on saturday, the wind goes through to a more westerly direction. more chance of the cloud braking to give sunny spells. if few patches of brain coming to north scotland and the odd spit in the air for northern ireland. temperatures, six or 7 degrees. still a little bit below average. as we go to sunday and monday we started a northerly wind. snow showers are going to move into northern scotland. they could bring one or two market issues here. there is the potential of seeing something more widespread later on in the week. there is still quite a bit of uncertainty about that. it looks like some of us next week will see the return of some snowfall.