and coming up in the programme — could it be the end of the password? we'll hear why the passkey could be the next stage of tech evolution. hello, i'm maryam moshiri. welcome to bbc news now — three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. attacks on houthis in yemen by aircraft from the united states and the united kingdom "would not go without punishment or retaliation". a houthi military spokesman has vowed to continue its support for palestinians in gaza and its attacks on ships in the red sea. iran — which has long backed the houthis — said the strikes were a clear violation of yemen's territorial integrity. according to the us, more than 12 sites were hit across yemen,

including what america says were houthi command and control centres, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems. among the areas targeted, the capital sanaa, and the port of hudaydah. this was the moment us warplanes took off from an aircraft carrier. the us air force says its planes, and those of its allies, struck more than 60 targets at 16 locations — all of which were being used by the houthi rebels. four typhoon warplanes from the uk's royal air force also took part in the mission. they flew from cyprus, carrying guided bombs. all four aircraft returned to base. four other countries — australia, the netherlands, canada and bahrain — provided support to the mission. so who exactly are houthis and what do they want? here is an explainer which should makes this a little clearer.

the houthis are an armed group from a sub—sect they are a political and military group who control a large part of yemen. most of the yemeni population lives in areas under houthi control. as well as sanaa and the north of yemen, the houthi rebels control the red sea coastline. the group collects taxes and also prints money. the group was formed in the 1990s to combat what they saw as the corruption of the then president, ali abdullah saleh. iran is suspected of supplying the houthis with weapons, and the us says iranian intelligence is critical to enabling them to target ships. the government has been backed against the houthis by a coalition of arab countries

led by saudi arabia and the uae. ..according to the us research institute the combating terrorism center. let's speak to our security correspondent frank gardner. first of all let's talk about who the houthis are. i explained it as best i could but there is a lot more going on in terms of how what is happening in yemen is viewed globally as a proxy war between iran and saudi arabia.— and saudi arabia. yeah, although there has been _ and saudi arabia. yeah, although there has been quite _ and saudi arabia. yeah, although there has been quite a _ and saudi arabia. yeah, although there has been quite a delicate i there has been quite a delicate truce that seems to be holding, which is why the saudis don't want to get involved in this at all, they are keeping their heads down, the saudi foreign minister calling for restraint. the saudis got themselves into a royal mess in yemen. they

went on in spring of 2015, thinking that using their superior weaponry they could bomb these relatively unsophisticated poorly armed, poorly organised rabble like militia straight to the negotiating table, and i went down to riyadh at the time, something called the coalition centre and i interviewed saudi officials who said it would be over by the end of the year. it has taken eight years and the houthis are still in place and i have only got stronger. although we call them the houthi rebels and they are the illegitimate government, only recognised by syria and iran, not by the un, but they are the de facto government of most of the populated areas of yemen stop they now have a very powerful arsenal of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones that iran has helped train them to use and assemble and fire. while

they were fighting the saudis for much of the last decade, they fired off a huge number of these targets inside saudi arabia. 0ne off a huge number of these targets inside saudi arabia. one month alone, march 2021, they fired over 300 drones and missiles at targets in saudi arabia, so that's why there is a deafening silence from saudi. they can't stand the houthis but don't want to antagonise them. let’s don't want to antagonise them. let's talk about how _ don't want to antagonise them. let's talk about how this _ don't want to antagonise them. let's talk about how this is _ don't want to antagonise them. let's talk about how this is viewed globally. globally what is happening now, particularly in terms of the houthi attacks and the houthis themselves, they see it as part of themselves, they see it as part of the israel gaza conflict wearers the us and uk see houthis are doing on the red sea in terms of shipping and global economy. the red sea in terms of shipping and global economy-— global economy. that's exactly ri . ht, global economy. that's exactly right. yes- _ global economy. that's exactly right. yes- the _ global economy. that's exactly right, yes. the houthis - global economy. that's exactly right, yes. the houthis startedi right, yes. the houthis started attacking shipping and firing missiles towards israel from the beginning of november, i think the

19. and very much part of their creed is death to israel, they have been anti—israel and anti—west really since they have been in existence for most of the last two decades. but you are right. it's not just the us and britain, although they are the ones who have carried out these air strikes, with some support, you have to remember that in the last 48 hours there has been a rather decisive un security council resolution that although four countries abstained, it wasn't vetoed by anybody, and that un security council resolution condemned unequivocally the houthi attacks on shipping. it is not popular with global trade, it is good driving up prices all over the world. it will fuel inflation, it will give rise to increasing fuel costs. but you are absolutely right, what's the houthis are doing is playing to the gallery, it is very popular, this, domestically, to be

rallying to the palestinian cause, and that will resonate throughout the middle east, notjust in yemen. as always, frank, thank you for your analysis. it is at worry about the economy, about what is happening along that shipping area which is pushing western powers to worry about this more than perhaps they might. so how will houthis react to the strikes? how could they potentially react to them? here is our bbc international editor jeremy bowen with his analysis. the iranians are their allies, often talked about as proxies but they are allies, really. i have spent quite a bit of time with the houthis in yemen and they are people who are highly independently minded. they have a relish for getting involved in this kind of thing. they want to be involved in the war. and so the iranians have very much beefed up the kind of firepower they have, they even have anti—ship missiles, they have various kinds of ballistic

missiles they can fire off, as well as drones, so they are well—armed, of course. compared to the us and the royal navy, it is nothing like it. less the physical damage, it is more the fact that this is a dangerous situation for navigation. yes, they have taken a ship, they have hijacked a ship and forced it into one of their ports. they have also fired off weapons towards them and caused some damage. it is not like they have sunk things but the fact is they are clearly commercial shipping companies who want to get very valuable cargo through the very narrow 16—mile—wide strait which is the mouth of the red sea. they do not want to have hostile forces firing at them. apart from anything else, insurance costs and the rest of it go rocketing up and that is why they are taking that two—week detour around the cape of good hope.

let's ta ke let's take stock of the uk political fallout. live now to our political correspondent in westminster, peter saull. we saw you for a second, come back next is where you are. tell me about how this is going down in westminster.— how this is going down in westminster. ~ , , ., , westminster. ministers have been thinkin: westminster. ministers have been thinking about _ westminster. ministers have been thinking about air _ westminster. ministers have been thinking about air strikes - westminster. ministers have been thinking about air strikes on - thinking about air strikes on houthis for some time, it has been talked about within government since before christmas but it all came to a head last night when the americans decided they wanted to carry out these air strikes, the uk government wanted to go with them so there was a hastily convened call of cabinet ministers, the leader of the main opposition party, sir keir starmer, he was invited to a call, as well. they have now gone ahead with it. this morning, as well, we have had publication of legal summary and advice to the government as to why it believes this action is justified

under international law. it talks about the attacks will continue unless action is taken to deter them and that this is the only feasible means available to deal with it, that it means available to deal with it, thatitis means available to deal with it, that it is necessary and proportionate. clearly lots of risks, how might the houthis respond to this, does it risk an escalation in the wider region? thereason economic considerations, as well. the uk government very keen to bring down inflation with ships travelling all around the african continent, that might push past. we have seen a slight impact in terms of the oil price going up. let's listen to the armed forces ministerjames heappey defending the actions of the government. a warning was issued to the houthis by a large number of nations over a week ago to say to them that they should not continue their attacks on the shipping. indeed they attacked royal navy and us navy warships only 48 hours ago. that warning remains in place and it's important people are clear that last night's mission was a mission in self defence to disrupt the houthi capacity to launch attacks on us navy, royal navy warships.

the other thing being discussed in westminster is whether or not mps should have been consulted before this action was taken. generally, but not always, there is a vote in parliament on military action overseas. we have people on the left of the labour party, for example, saying this potentially could really escalate things in a very delicate part of the world. the leader of the labour party, sir keir starmer, he is backing the government. we are supporting this action. the houthi attacks being carried out for some time in the red sea, it is on commercial shipping, civilians operating that commercial shipping. and not only is it disrupting trade and shipping, but it's putting civilian lives at risk and therefore we do support this action. i do want the prime minister obviously to make a statement to parliament as soon as possible because the scope, nature and extent of the operation

needs to be explained. we are expecting rishi sunak to give a statement in the house of commons on monday as keir starmer mentioned. the other opposition parties, the snp, lib dems, plaid cymru, all saying parliament should be recalled over the weekend to discuss this. the house of commons speaker sir lindsay hoyle said he would be happy to arrange that. it appears unlikely at this stage. it also appears unlikely that they would be a retrospective vote next week on whether this action should have taken place or not. the question is whether the uk does any more attacks, and if they were to do so, there would be quite significant political pressure to hold a vote in the house of commons.— political pressure to hold a vote in the house of commons. peter, thank ou. some the house of commons. peter, thank you- some new _ the house of commons. peter, thank you. some new lines _ the house of commons. peter, thank you. some new lines that _ the house of commons. peter, thank you. some new lines that were - you. some new lines that were getting from rishi sunak. as peter mentioned there will be statements made to parliament on monday. number

10 has also rejected criticism that the strikes against the houthis were not proportionate. in fact a spokesperson for the prime minister also rejected claims made by the president of turkey that the uk and us are trying to turn the red sea into, in his words, a sea of blood. the spokesperson said we would not agree with that, this was limited and targeted strikes in response to aggression. we acted in self defence in accordance with article 51 of the un charter. of course we will have more on those statements from rishi sunak�*s people imminently. we'rejoined now by dr sidharth kaushal, research fellow on sea power & military sciences at the royal united services institute. good to talk to you. thank you for joining us here on bbc news. what i want to get from you today is where we think the houthis response potentially could lie and how damaging it could be.- potentially could lie and how damaging it could be. sure. in some wa s, in damaging it could be. sure. in some ways. in order— damaging it could be. sure. in some ways, in order to _ damaging it could be. sure. in some

ways, in order to maintain _ damaging it could be. sure. in some ways, in order to maintain pressure| ways, in order to maintain pressure on international shipping, the houthis don't necessarily have to be very actively effective, they seem to —— need to in effect keep doing what they are doing. because even if warships in the reggie —— red sea achieve a high intercept rate, commercial shipping may well choose to avoid the area entirely. the key question for the coalition is whether the houthis interprets the statement of intent that has been made through these strikes as holding the risk of more to come if they don't desist, or whether they regard it as a set of losses that they can shrug off and effectively continue their pre—strike strategy. which do you think they will go for? it is hard to say for sure right now. it is notable that in his statement this morning the leader of the movement on the one hand

threatened escalation, as you would expect, but on the other hand seemed to take pains to underscore that the houthis were not intent on attacking vessels that were not headed towards israel, which might be interpreted as an attempt on their part to climb down but it is hard to say. it is entirely possible that the houthis continue to indiscriminately attack shipping transiting the red sea. the target that was chosen was quite broad and included what might be quite high value targets for the houthis so one would think that might be something they interpret as serious a statement of intent. dr sidharth kaushal, good to talk to you, thank you for your time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's stay with those strikes in yemen, and hear from lord dannatt, crossbench peer and former head of the british army. he explained why the uk and us committed to military action. this situation has been building over the last few days and a couple of weeks and we've seen evidence, growing evidence, of attacks by houthi missiles and drones

on international shipping in the red sea. of course, that has begun to have quite a significant effect, diverting a lot of international shipping around the cape, obviously extending journey times for international trade and international commodity and increasing the costs of shipping. that, obviously, is going to have an effect on domestic economies. so the decision has been, i think, quite rightly taken, that action must be taken against the houthis to stop them attacking international shipping, to protect the international sea lanes of the world and, hence, we've seen the action that began late last night. let's stay with that story now. rishi sunak has been speaking for the first time since there strikes

last night. he is currently in ukraine. let's listen.- ukraine. let's listen. very straightforward _ ukraine. let's listen. very straightforward question. | ukraine. let's listen. very - straightforward question. why ukraine. let's listen. - straightforward question. why did you authorise military action against houthi targets in yemen? 0ver against houthi targets in yemen? over the last month we have seen a significant _ over the last month we have seen a significant increase in the number of houthi — significant increase in the number of houthi attacks on commercial shipping — of houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the red sea. that is putting — shipping in the red sea. that is putting innocent lives at risk, it is disrupting the global economy and it is also— is disrupting the global economy and it is also destabilising the region and in _ it is also destabilising the region and in that time we have also seen the single — and in that time we have also seen the single biggest attack on an navy warship, _ the single biggest attack on an navy warship, a _ the single biggest attack on an navy warship, a british navy warship, in the case _ warship, a british navy warship, in the case it— warship, a british navy warship, in the case. it is clear that that type of behaviour cannot carry on, that's why we _ of behaviour cannot carry on, that's why we joined with allies in issuing very public— why we joined with allies in issuing very public condemnation of this behaviour. — very public condemnation of this behaviour, and why i made a decision with allies _ behaviour, and why i made a decision with allies to — behaviour, and why i made a decision with allies to take what i believe to be _ with allies to take what i believe to be necessary, proportionate and targeted _ to be necessary, proportionate and targeted action against military targets— targeted action against military targets to degrade and disrupt houthi — targets to degrade and disrupt houthi capability. we will not hesitate _ houthi capability. we will not hesitate to protect lives and ensure the safety _ hesitate to protect lives and ensure the safety of commercial shipping.

what _ the safety of commercial shipping. what if— the safety of commercial shipping. what if it— the safety of commercial shipping. what if it doesn't work, doesn't deter the houthis? tote what if it doesn't work, doesn't deter the houthis?— what if it doesn't work, doesn't deter the houthis? we have carried out a series — deter the houthis? we have carried out a series of— deter the houthis? we have carried out a series of strikes _ deter the houthis? we have carried out a series of strikes that - deter the houthis? we have carried out a series of strikes that we - deter the houthis? we have carried out a series of strikes that we will l out a series of strikes that we will believe _ out a series of strikes that we will believe will degrade and disrupt capabilities. we have targeted loan sites for— capabilities. we have targeted loan sites for missiles and drones, initial— sites for missiles and drones, initial indications are that the strikes — initial indications are that the strikes have been successful and we will continue to monitor the situation. it is clear this type of behaviour— situation. it is clear this type of behaviour cannot be met without a response — behaviour cannot be met without a response. we need to send a strong signal— response. we need to send a strong signal that— response. we need to send a strong signal that this breach of international law is unacceptable. 0ur international law is unacceptable. our aim _ international law is unacceptable. our aim is — international law is unacceptable. 0uraim is very international law is unacceptable. our aim is very clear, it is to de—escalate tensions and to restore stability— de—escalate tensions and to restore stability to — de—escalate tensions and to restore stability to the region. that is why allies— stability to the region. that is why allies over— stability to the region. that is why allies over the past few weeks have issued _ allies over the past few weeks have issued several statements of condemnation of what is happening, calling _ condemnation of what is happening, calling on— condemnation of what is happening, calling on the houthis to desist. this week— calling on the houthis to desist. this week we saw a un security council— this week we saw a un security council resolution condemning what is happening and saying the states have a _ is happening and saying the states have a right to self defence. we have _ have a right to self defence. we have acted in self defence, it is

incumbent _ have acted in self defence, it is incumbent now on the houthis to stop carrying _ incumbent now on the houthis to stop carrying out _ incumbent now on the houthis to stop carrying out these attacks, but pepple's — carrying out these attacks, but people's lives at risk and disrupting the economy, which will also have — disrupting the economy, which will also have a — disrupting the economy, which will also have a damaging effect on people's— also have a damaging effect on people's shopping and their day—to—day shop and when they go about— day—to—day shop and when they go about their— day—to—day shop and when they go about their lives. it is not right, we have — about their lives. it is not right, we have seen instruction that brings over the _ we have seen instruction that brings over the last year or two, the situation _ over the last year or two, the situation with russia and ukraine, we don't _ situation with russia and ukraine, we don't want to see that happen again— we don't want to see that happen again which is why we have taken action _ again which is why we have taken action. ,, ., again which is why we have taken action, ,., again which is why we have taken action. ., ., again which is why we have taken action. . . , ., action. some said parliament should have been consulted _ action. some said parliament should have been consulted first. _ action. some said parliament should have been consulted first. i - action. some said parliament should have been consulted first. i chaired i have been consulted first. i chaired a cobra meeting _ have been consulted first. i chaired a cobra meeting yesterday - have been consulted first. i chaired a cobra meeting yesterday and - a cobra meeting yesterday and relevant — a cobra meeting yesterday and relevant opposition politicians were informed~ _ relevant opposition politicians were informed. every case is different. what _ informed. every case is different. what we — informed. every case is different. what we have done here is take limited — what we have done here is take limited and necessary action in response — limited and necessary action in response to a specific threat in self defence and if you look at similar— self defence and if you look at similar situations in 2015 and 2018, a statement was made to parliament after the _ a statement was made to parliament after the action and that is what i will be _ after the action and that is what i will be doing on monday, making a full statement in parliament and taking _ full statement in parliament and taking questions then. we full statement in parliament and taking questions then.— full statement in parliament and taking questions then. we are in ukraine. taking questions then. we are in ukraine- you _ taking questions then. we are in ukraine. you have _ taking questions then. we are in ukraine. you have announced i ukraine. you have announced britain's new financial military

commitment for the next year. why has it taken so long to make this announcement, and why only for one year? we announcement, and why only for one ear? ~ ., ., announcement, and why only for one ear? . . ., ., 4' . �*, announcement, and why only for one ear? ~ ., ., ., ,, ., �*, year? we are one of ukraine's most siunificant year? we are one of ukraine's most significant supporters, _ year? we are one of ukraine's most significant supporters, particularly l significant supporters, particularly when _ significant supporters, particularly when it— significant supporters, particularly when it comes to providing military aid, and _ when it comes to providing military aid, and i'rn — when it comes to providing military aid, and i'm pleased to be here today— aid, and i'm pleased to be here today to — aid, and i'm pleased to be here today to announce an increase in the aid we _ today to announce an increase in the aid we are _ today to announce an increase in the aid we are providing. the age we have _ aid we are providing. the age we have in— aid we are providing. the age we have in place already run through to the early— have in place already run through to the early part of this year so we are acting — the early part of this year so we are acting in advance so this is a new— are acting in advance so this is a new commitment of {2.5 billion, more than in _ new commitment of {2.5 billion, more than in previous years, representing the seriousness of the situation here _ the seriousness of the situation here and — the seriousness of the situation here and our determination to stand with ukraine and that is why i'm here _ with ukraine and that is why i'm here on— with ukraine and that is why i'm here on my— with ukraine and that is why i'm here on my first foreign visit of this year. — here on my first foreign visit of this year, the first foreign leader to visit— this year, the first foreign leader to visit ukraine this year. i want to visit ukraine this year. i want to a _ to visit ukraine this year. i want to a strong _ to visit ukraine this year. i want to a strong signal of support to the ukrainian _ to a strong signal of support to the ukrainian people but also a strong signal— ukrainian people but also a strong signal of— ukrainian people but also a strong signal of support that vladimir putin— signal of support that vladimir putin needs to recognise, we are not going _ putin needs to recognise, we are not going anywhere, i am here with one clear— going anywhere, i am here with one clear message, the uk stands with ukraine _ clear message, the uk stands with ukraine. ., ~ clear message, the uk stands with ukraine. ., ,, , ., clear message, the uk stands with ukraine._ quick - clear message, the uk stands with ukraine._ quick update | clear message, the uk stands with l ukraine._ quick update on ukraine. thank you. quick update on the death toll _ ukraine. thank you. quick update on the death toll from _ ukraine. thank you. quick update on the death toll from gaza. _ ukraine. thank you. quick update on the death toll from gaza. the - ukraine. thank you. quick update on the death toll from gaza. the hamas run health ministry in the territory

it says that 23,708 palestinians have now been killed in the israeli offensive taking place since october at the seventh. in light of that, today we have seen a continuation of the international court ofjustice. israel has called on the icj to reject the case brought by south africa, alleging it is committing genocide in gaza. 0n the second and final day of hearings at the un's highest court, israel's foreign ministry adviser tal becker said that south africa had presented a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. the applicant has regrettably put before the court a profoundly distorted factual and legal picture. the entirety of its case hinges on a deliberately curated, decontextualised and manipulative description of the reality of current hostilities. south africa purports to come to this court in the lofty position of a guardian of the interest of humanity.

but in delegitimising israel's 75—year existence in its opening presentation yesterday, that broad commitment to humanity rang hollow. and in its sweeping counterfactual description of the israeli—palestinian conflict, it seems to erase bothjewish history and any palestinian agency or responsibility. it is the second day of the landmark case, which began yesterday with the south africa presenting its argument. let's listen back to yesterday's closing statement from the lawyer representing their legal team. the international community continues to fail the palestinian people, despite the overt, dehumanising, genocidal rhetoric by israeli governmental and military officials matched by the israeli army's actions on the ground. despite the horror of the genocide against the palestinian people

being livestreamed from gaza to our mobile phones, computers and television screens, the first genocide in history where its victims are broadcasting their own destruction in real time in the desperate so far vain hope that the world might do something. live now to our correspondent anna holligan, who's in the hague. just bring us up to date with what we have been hearing from belsize, please. == we have been hearing from belsize, lease. . w' we have been hearing from belsize, lease. . a ., we have been hearing from belsize, lease. . ., , , please. -- check out both sides. powerful statements _ please. -- check out both sides. powerful statements give - please. -- check out both sides. powerful statements give you i please. -- check out both sides. powerful statements give you a l please. -- check out both sides. - powerful statements give you a sense of how much the icg is a legal battle ground for all of this. today we heard from israel, they accuse south africa of weaponising and trivialising the genocide convention pointed out that israel wants one of the first signatories and israel was

responding in self defence under international humanitarian law to attacks by hamas gunmen. they said those attacks, the atrocities committed by hamas on the 7th of october, constituted the biggest 0ctober, constituted the biggest calculated mass murder ofjews since the holocaust. you might be able to see behind me, the court hearing has just ended. yesterday south africa had three hours, today israel did. that is it's now in terms of the interim measures, hearings, the judges will now go away and deliberate, look at what belsize have said. south africa accusing israel of genocide. judges have to work out whether or not there is a plausible reason to believe that they could be a risk of genocide in order to rule in favour of south africa, and why this matters, this court doesn't have any powers of enforcement, and if thejudgment goes against israel and israel ignores an orderfrom goes against israel and israel ignores an order from the judges

here to cease military hostilities, as south africa has requested, then it will make it very difficult for countries like the uk and the us to continue to support israel, and we are expecting a decision on this within weeks.— are expecting a decision on this within weeks. ., ,, , ., , . within weeks. thank you very much indeed. within weeks. thank you very much indeed- anna _ within weeks. thank you very much indeed. anna holligan, _ within weeks. thank you very much indeed. anna holligan, our- indeed. anna holligan, our correspondent outside the hague. if you want to read more about what happened yesterday and today at the icj, go to the bbc website, lots of stories on this. i am back in a few minutes. hello. we've got a window of slightly less—cold weather for the next couple of days. we didn't see such widespread ice and frost around this morning — certainly compared to earlier in the week. so still quite chilly and cloudy for many of us, but temperatures not as low as they have been. so high pressure holding onto our weather. the winds rotating, coming in off the atlantic and the north sea, so bringing quite a lot of moisture and that's bringing that blanket of cloud for most of us. clearer skies today will be across scotland. there could be the odd lingering misty patch around there. so temperatures only about 2—4 degrees across scotland,

but for most of us, typically around about 6—8. into the evening hours, and we'll see this weather front in the north slipping further south, so that'll bring a bit of overnight rain to scotland, perhaps some snowjust on the very highest mountains. that'll slip further south across parts of northern ireland and northern england first thing saturday morning, but either side of that, some clear spells. so expect a bit of frost, i think, first thing tomorrow — it'll be a colder morning than it was first thing this morning. through the day on saturday, then, a fair amount of dry and bright weather, a few splashes of light rain, perhaps, northern ireland, north wales, towards the midlands. sunny spells breaking through the cloud either side of that, and reasonably mild — 5—8 degrees on saturday. still lower than average, but not as cold as it has been. into sunday, and the winds turn to more of a northerly direction, so you can see the white colours — the snow showers — starting to move in across parts of northern and north—eastern scotland in particular. most of us, though, still relatively dry and quiet on sunday. but that change in wind direction through sunday into monday does bring that chance of some snow showers — particularly for parts of scotland, but also some of these exposed

coasts around these irish sea coasts and the north sea coasts, as well. heading on through into tuesday, we could well see this area of low pressure starting to move in, so the potentialfor a little bit more sleet and snow for parts of northern ireland, scotland, perhaps into northern england for tuesday and wednesday. midweek onwards, then, as we head through wednesday and into thursday, well, we've still got the cold northerly winds in the north. this area of low pressure may well stay across france, but it does have the potential to be a little bit further north. so just a small chance, wednesday, thursday, we could see some wintriness in the far south of england, but again it is mostly going to be parts of scotland and northern ireland that see that chance of something a bit more wintry. either way, next week looks colder with those northerly winds setting in, so some snow showers, could be some disruption. do keep tuned to your latest forecast.

this is bbc news. the headlines: explosions across yemen as us and uk forces launch air strikes against houthi targets in retaliation for attacks on ships in the red sea. rishi sunak says that the strikes are a "limited, necessary and proportionate action in self—defence". but a senior houthi leader warns that the us and uk would "pay a heavy price" and says the attacks on ships are set to continue.

the international court ofjustice hears israel's defence against accusations of genocide brought by south africa. coming up in the programme, could it be the end of the password? we'll hear why the passkey could be the next stage in tech evolution. let's return to the middle east. much of the world? or the natural gas comes from the region. the red sea carries 15% of goods traded typically east to west. already, as vessels face attack, many shipping firms have diverted to this route you see here. it takes ten days longer, it adds $1 million to the

average container ship's fuel costs.