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thank you. that's all from us tonight. no time for the papers today. victoria's back monday. till then, have a good weekend. goodnight.

breaking news from around the world, 24 breaking news from around the world, 2a hours a day. this is bbc news. no. iran does not want a war with us. indistinct question. i think they are. were the strikes...? yes. i don't think there's any civilian casualties, that's another reason why it's a success. uk prime minister rishi sunak was visiting ukraine today, announcing a new aid package to ukraine. he also commented on the uk's involvement in the strikes on yemen's houthis, stressing the strikes were in self—defence. our aim is very clear. it's to de—escalate tensions and to restore stability to the region. and that's why allies over the past few weeks have issued several calling on the houthis to desist. and that's why allies over the past few weeks have issued several statements of condemnation of what's happening,

calling on the houthis to desist. indeed, just this week, we've seen a un security council resolution condemning what's happening and saying that states have a right to self—defense. have a right to self—defence. we have acted in self—defence. it's incumbent now on the houthis to stop carrying out these attacks, putting people's lives at risk and disrupting the global economy, which is also have a damaging impact on on people's shopping and their day—to—day shopping when they go about their lives. that's not right. we've seen the disruption that that's brought over the past year or two with the situation in russia and ukraine. we don't want to see that happen againm that happen again, and that's why it's right that we've taken action. the us and uk led the last night's military operation in yemen, but a coalition of countries were involved. the bbc�*s international editorjeremy bowen has a look at what happened, and the possible wider consequences for the region. in sana'a, the yemeni capital, a huge rally against the air and in support of palestinians filled the city's broadest boulevard.

it was organised — the houthis do not allow unauthorised protests — but without question, millions in yemen and across the arab world are appalled by israel's conduct in the gaza war and regard the american and british air strikes as an escalation on israel's behalf. during the night, the americans launched their attack from a carrier battle group in the red sea. like britain, they had warned the houthis this was coming if they didn't stop hitting shipping. the air strikes were intended to show that western red lines won't turn pink under pressure, but if anything, the houthis will be even more determined to carry on. this houthi military spokesman said the americans and british were responsible for criminal aggression which would be answered with a tax on all hostile targets on land and sea. the raf released video of its jet taking off for yemen froms

the british base in cyprus. the british are trying to distance aimed at opening the red sea from the war in gaza. it's clear this type of behaviour cannot be met without a response. we need to a strong signal that this breach of international law is wrong and people cannot act like this with impunity, and that is why together with allies, we have decided to take this action. even more emphatically, an american military spokesman told cbs news in the us that the strikes were nothing to do with gaza. it's important to differentiate between what's happening between israel and hamas was happening in the red sea, yet the houthi rebels, they are conducting instrument attacks against international shipping, over 50 countries have been affected by this affecting the economic

prosperity of multiple nations. but the houthis, whose command is captured a ship in the red sea iran provides the houthis were training and weapons and they said the attacks will go on until the fighting in gaza stops pulled up britain and the us oppose an immediate ceasefire in the war. the air strikes — this was the only raf raid — are only partly about freedom of navigation in the red sea. and the reality is that they're also directly linked to events in gaza and represent an escalation in the crisis that is gripping the middle east. jeremy bowen, bbc news. you heard briefly there injeremy�*s piece from major general patrick ryder, press secretary for the us defence department. i spoke to him earlier about the strikes and what comes next. major general, the houthis have now retaliated. what exactly impact has that had so far?— retaliated. what exactly impact has that had so far? what we know right now is that they _ that had so far? what we know right now is that they have _ that had so far? what we know right now is that they have launched - that had so far? what we know right now is that they have launched a - now is that they have launched a single missile. the initial reports

are that it has not struck anything. it landed in the water. we'll continue to monitor. it's important to understand the context. as you know last night, the us and the uk, with support from australia, bahrain, canada and the netherlands, conducted strikes in houthi controlled areas in yemen to describe houthis' ability. considering the size and the scope of the attack and some of the rhetoric we've seen coming out of the houthis, it is probably likely that we'll see these kind of activities. but it's certainly our hope they will receive the message loud and clear that these attacks are unacceptable and the international community sent a very clear message last night. so

international community sent a very clear message last night.— clear message last night. so you sent these _ clear message last night. so you sent these messages _ clear message last night. so you sent these messages with - clear message last night. so you sent these messages with the i sent these messages with the strikes. they were intended to degrade the capability of the who sees —— houthis, so was this a success? i sees -- houthis, so was this a success?— sees -- houthis, so was this a success? ~ ,_, , ., success? i think the scope and scale is important — success? i think the scope and scale is important. one _ success? i think the scope and scale is important. one missile _ success? i think the scope and scale is important. one missile doesn't. is important. one missile doesn't really constitute a significant retaliatory action. i don't know if i would necessarily describe that as retaliatory or whether what we're seeing is an effort on part of the houthis to say they're still standing. ithink houthis to say they're still standing. i think the houthis are evaluating what capabilities they have. whether or not they want to continue to feel the condemnation and the results and the response for the international community, our focus is on ensuring the red sea, this vital waterway, is safe and �*s secure. that's what we will focus

on. r , ., secure. that's what we will focus on. r y ., secure. that's what we will focus on. r , ., ., secure. that's what we will focus on. ., , on. are you confident that is the safe now. _ on. are you confident that is the safe now, that _ on. are you confident that is the safe now, that this _ on. are you confident that is the safe now, that this route - on. are you confident that is the safe now, that this route is - on. are you confident that is the safe now, that this route is not i on. are you confident that is the i safe now, that this route is not set —— now saved? it’s safe now, that this route is not set -- now saved?— safe now, that this route is not set -- now saved? it's probably s22 -- too soon to — -- now saved? it's probably s22 -- too soon to tell. _ -- now saved? it's probably s22 -- too soon to tell. we've _ -- now saved? it's probably s22 -- too soon to tell. we've heard - -- now saved? it's probably s22 -- too soon to tell. we've heard the l too soon to tell. we've heard the rhetoric since november. we will continue to work both through prosperity guardian and the partners around the world to ensure mariners can make it through the red sea waterway safely. it wasn't portly, the houthis need to stop these attacks. ., , ., attacks. some allies in the region are concerned _ attacks. some allies in the region are concerned about _ attacks. some allies in the region are concerned about a _ attacks. some allies in the region are concerned about a wider - are concerned about a wider conflict. as the us already caught up conflict. as the us already caught up in such a conflict? it’s up in such a conflict? it's important _ up in such a conflict? it's important to _ up in such a conflict? it�*s important to separate the different parts here. when hamas attacked israel on october the 7th, shortly after that, the us sent additional capabilities in support of our

regional deterrence. those capabilities provide us with additional assets to respond to a wide range of contingencies. what we're seeing near human in the red sea is the houthi rebels attempting to exploit the situation. ultimately, they're affecting over 50 nations that are sending commercial shipping through this waterway. we'll continue to work hard on that, but at the same time, we can't allow the houthis to continue these attacks, putting innocent mariners' lives at risk. the houthis have said they want to see the war on gaza end, so should the us and its partners be putting pressure on israel to wind down its operation to make sure there isn't a larger conflict?—

larger conflict? well, what you see here is the — larger conflict? well, what you see here is the houthis _ larger conflict? well, what you see here is the houthis attempting - larger conflict? well, what you see here is the houthis attempting to l here is the houthis attempting to exploit the situation in gaza towards their own ends. we the united states will continue to stand by israel and support into inherent of self—defense. as a close partner to israel, we have since consulted with them regularly to learn more about how they conduct their operations and making very clear expectations in terms of taking civilian safety and humanitarian assistance into account. so we'll continue to do that, but at the same time, it's important to understand that the houthis are doing here is in fact attacking the international community. over50 in fact attacking the international community. over 50 nations affected by this. it's an international problem and it will require international response. you saw last night. international response. you saw last niuht. , ., international response. you saw last niuht. , . ., international response. you saw last niuht. , ., ., ., ., ., night. general, i want to ask about defence secretary _ night. general, i want to ask about defence secretary austen, - night. general, i want to ask about defence secretary austen, who - night. general, i want to ask about| defence secretary austen, who has been hospitalised, and the president today said he had confidence in his defence secretary. how is he doing

and is he still able to carry through his tasks as this operation goes on? through his tasks as this operation noeson? ~ , , ., ., goes on? absolutely. first of all, the secretary's _ goes on? absolutely. first of all, the secretary's in _ goes on? absolutely. first of all, the secretary's in good _ goes on? absolutely. first of all, | the secretary's in good conditions and good spirits. he was very actively engaged throughout this operation both overseeing and directing it. on tuesday, when the houthis conducted their complex attack in the red sea, the secretary conducted a meeting with the joint chief and central commander to monitor the attack. he subsequently has had two meetings with the president and also multiple daily calls with our national security adviser, with our chairman and with the central commander to look at response and ultimately execution options once the president gave the authorisation to conduct these strikes. yesterday, secretary austen was the one who gave the order to the us central commander to go ahead and execute the strikes and he monitored it real—time from his

hospital room with access to full communication suite. he's been very active and continues to monitor the situation. we active and continues to monitor the situation. ~ ., ., , ., , situation. we have to use that they are, ma'or situation. we have to use that they are, major general, _ situation. we have to use that they are, major general, but _ situation. we have to use that they are, major general, but thank - situation. we have to use that they are, major general, but thank you | situation. we have to use that they i are, major general, but thank you so much forjoining us. —— we have to leave that they are. i much forjoining us. -- we have to leave that they are.— leave that they are. i appreciate it. joining us now our state department correspondent tom bateman. ask forjoining us. ask for joining us. we ask forjoining us. we heard the white house is being very careful about how the houthis respond with these anti—ship missiles. what you make of that? with these anti-ship missiles. what you make of that?— with these anti-ship missiles. what you make of that? that's significant because that's _ you make of that? that's significant because that's a _ you make of that? that's significant because that's a confirmation - you make of that? that's significant because that's a confirmation from | because that's a confirmation from patrick ryder in your interview that the houthis did retaliate. this was an anti—ship ballistic missile. the importance is those weapons are one of the things that have worried the americans so much, the fact that they have this weaponry, according to defence analysts, probably supplied directly at least in part

by the iranians. these are weapons that would sink a ship if they hit a commercial vessel. the point about them is they fall from very high trajectory very fast, faster than a cruise missile, is very hard to manoeuvre. president biden announced the strikes last night, specifically referring to anti—ship ballistic missiles. i think it is important that we've seen them now being used in retaliation already within hours of the uk — us strikes. it shows they still have the capability, although you heard patrick ryder described as the houthis is saying they're still here, i think it matters a bit more than that. it tells you what is the red line for another us—uk strike on yemen. —— us-uk another us—uk strike on yemen. —— us—uk strike. they're talking about

the swarming strike that was using suicide drones and a variety of missiles against shipping. but it shows you the dangers of, the tit—for—tat exclamation in the americans trying to do tour the houthis in the red sea. trier? americans trying to do tour the houthis in the red sea. very careful talkin: houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about _ houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about that _ houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about that -- _ houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about that -- to _ houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about that -- to deter. - houthis in the red sea. very careful talking about that -- to deter. the i talking about that —— to deter. the white house has been very clear that these strikes have nothing to do with the war in gaza, but that's clearly not with the houthis are saying. clearly not with the houthis are sa inc. �* , clearly not with the houthis are sain. , saying. because what's happened here is since october _ saying. because what's happened here is since october the _ saying. because what's happened here is since october the 7th, _ is since october the 7th, particularly november, when the houthis started these attacks in angen houthis started these attacks in anger, they have built a further base of popular support— notjust in human but across the region, because they're trying to present themselves as standing up against the israelis. that's how they presented these

attacks. the american and the british are firing directly in military confrontation in the middle east, the very thing they wanted to try and avoid at the outset of all this. the us in the uk trying to say this. the us in the uk trying to say this is nothing to do with israel and hamas. this isjust about protecting international shipping. and hamas. this isjust about protecting internationalshipping. i think it's difficult for people to swallow in a sense that it's not entirely accurate because it's still linked to the middle east war. they don't want the arab world to see this as a western military force. they know it has the potential to create further escalation. what they're trying to prevent is a wider flare—up, a spread, and escalation. we're now seeing a kind of narrative battlefield escalating as well. that's a really interesting point, tom. thank you so much. i'm sure it will continue in the coming days, so

we will look for your report. tom bateman, thank you so much. let's look at some other stories making news. there's been a 30—fold increase in the number of people contracting measles across europe, with cases in the uk also on the rise. the west midlands, is seeing its highest infection rates in 30 years. phil mackie has the story. this week, the who said there had been 30,000 cases, where is the whole of 2022, there have just been 941. during the last big outbreak here, there was 126 confirmed cases. since october, there have already been 133 confirmed, and they're reviewing another 96. the measles virus leads to breathing difficulties — a fee fever and a rash all over the body. the current

outbreak is spreading around young children who have not been vaccinated. you can read more about the symptoms and what to look out for on our website, bbc.com/news. you're live with bbc news. it is election day in taiwan. hours ago, candidates held their last rallies before voting on the island's presidential election began. but a sobering issue looms large over the campaigns — how taiwan should address the threat from china. on the ballot is taiwan's current vice president, william lai of the ruling dpp. he's vowing to strengthen the island's ties with other democracies. the opposition party candidate, hou yu—ih of the kmt, says he'll push for more dialogue with beijing. the upstart tpp led by ko wen—je is seeking a middle ground, and gaining traction with young voters. from taipei, our rupert wingfield—hayes reports.

taiwan elections are noisy, boisterous affairs. the islands democracy is still young, and enthusiasm for voting is palpable. in front of the presidential building in taipei, supporters of the ruling dpp are hoping for an unprecedented third presidential term. young voters told me they want to send a message to beijing. to send a message to beijing — that taiwan is nothing like china. in taiwan, we can stand for our right. we can, on the street, express our opinion. we can vote our for president. we can have many, many different voices, no matter who you are, support government or not. but in china, you can you can be only one voice. there is nothing like this in china. this is what sets taiwan apart. people here are free to choose their own leaders. they are proud of their democracy. they are proud of their democracy, but they also fear it's now under threat from china like never before. across town, the opposition kmt

is holding its own huge rally. the party's presidential candidate says a third term for the dpp would be a disaster that could lead the island to war with china. if elected, he says, he will open a peace dialogue with beijing. we prefer to get along with them peacefully, right, so our economics can be improved. yeah, that's what we want. yeah — we don't want our young people to be requested to get into the war. they may differ on how to manage the threat from beijing, but both the major parties in taiwan agree on one thing neither of them but both the major parties in taiwan agree on one thing — neither of them wants unification with china. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news in taipei. it's the final day of south africa's landmark case at the international court ofjustice against israel, whose been accused of genocide in gaza in its war against hamas. who's been accused of genocide in gaza in its war against hamas. israel has slammed these allegations, telling judges that the case is distorting the truth.

in an emotional testimony, israeli lawyer tal becker showed images of the 132 israelis still captive in gaza — saying the allegations deny israel its right to defend itself. he argued that the harm committed in the fight against hamas is "not evidence of genocide", claiming its a misuse of the term. claiming it's a misuse of the term. if the term genocide can be so diminished in the way that advocates, if provisional measures can be triggered in the way that it suggests, the convention becomes an aggressor�*s charter. it will reward, indeed encourage, the terrorist. south africa is seeking preliminary orders to stop israel's military campaign in gaza, where, according to the hamas—run health ministry, more than 23,000 palestinians have died. let's listen back to thursday's closing statement from on of the lawyers representing south africa. 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. the un's top legal body has now heard two days of powerful legal arguments from both sides. here's the bbc�*s anna holligan with an update from the hague. in court, israel accused south africa of weaponising the term genocide and trivialising the genocide convention itself, under which this case was brought. under which this case was brought, and israel's lawyers invoked memories of the holocaust. it says it was acting in self defence in response to the hamas which it said were a calculated mass murder of israelis, the worst since the nazis. and what we've heard today from israel is an attempt to reinterpret some of the arguments presented by south africa on yesterday.

for example, when south africa talked about the the military campaign, the bombings, israel said they were attempting to remove the threat posed by hamas. while south africa talked about forced displacements, israel said it had been acting to try to protect and preserve civilian life. israel says it's acting in self—defense in line with international law. the judges self—defense in line with international law. thejudges have to decide how they interpret this evidence. presidential campaigners and the us media are descending on iowa for the start of the 2024 primary season. but blizzards and bone—chilling temperatures are making the last few days of campaigning difficult. the national weather service estimates the coldest caucus night in modern history with monday's high temperature expected to be —3 degrees fahrenheit or —19.4 degrees celsius. the unrelenting weather forced some candidates to cancel in—person events, and is stoking worries that the cold might depress caucus—goers from turning out.

this was the scene in iowa's capital city of des moines on friday morning. a blizzard blanketed the city in nearly a foot of snow, and is forecast to continue into the weekend. our reporter bernd debusmann is in des moines and gave me the latest. i don't even know what to ask, but what are things like, it looks pretty miserable.— what are things like, it looks pretty miserable. well, at the moment. _ pretty miserable. well, at the moment. it's _ pretty miserable. well, at the moment, it's about _ pretty miserable. well, at the moment, it's about 13 - pretty miserable. well, at the moment, it's about 13 below i pretty miserable. well, at the i moment, it's about 13 below and pretty miserable. well, at the - moment, it's about 13 below and it's been very, very windy. it started snowing last night and it's been very steadily snowing throughout the night and into this morning. the conditions were quite dicey on the roads. it was almost nearly white out conditions. it was very slippery. it's only gotten worse. at the moment, the temperatures are starting to drop in the wind is picking up. now the national weather service has warranted in the next coming days there could be life—threatening conditions. they warned exposed skin could get

frostbite in as little as ten minutes. the caucus forecast is to be the coldest in the stretch of days. that's a concern for the candidates. days. that's a concern for the candidates-— days. that's a concern for the candidates. ~ ., ., ,., candidates. we mentioned that some had cancelled — candidates. we mentioned that some had cancelled their— candidates. we mentioned that some had cancelled their events. _ candidates. we mentioned that some had cancelled their events. is - candidates. we mentioned that some had cancelled their events. is there i had cancelled their events. is there a sense who this weather might hurt or even help?— or even help? well, there's a consensus — or even help? well, there's a consensus building _ or even help? well, there's a consensus building here - or even help? well, there's a consensus building here that| or even help? well, there's a i consensus building here that the weather would help donald trump. there's kind of an agreement among most iowans that his supporters of the most dedicated. he said —— he's come to be in the lead and ron desantis and nikki haley have significantly less supporters here. this supports them if there supporters don't caucus on monday. there are a lot of iowans who say this is kind of normalfor them,

perhaps a slightly colder... they take the responsibility seriously. i think turn out will probably be ok from what i gather from locals, but i guess we'll have to see.— i guess we'll have to see. thank you for watching — i guess we'll have to see. thank you for watching bbc _ i guess we'll have to see. thank you for watching bbc news. _ i guess we'll have to see. thank you for watching bbc news. stay - i guess we'll have to see. thank you for watching bbc news. stay with i i guess we'll have to see. thank you | for watching bbc news. stay with us. we will be back with an update on the headlines. hello there. a few wintry scenes captured by our weather watchers on friday across parts of scotland, such as here in perth and kinross. but the severe frost will become a lot more widespread as we go as we go into the start of next week, with the potential for some disruptive snow, too. where is that colder air? well, it's behind the series of weather fronts. across northern scotland on sunday, that chilly airjust spilling down from the arctic as we head through the start of next week across the whole of the uk,

with brisk and cold northerly winds blowing. so, lots of added wind chill factor into the temperatures. so, lots of added wind chill to factor into the temperatures. but this is how we start off the day on saturday, with temperatures hovering just above freezing, a few pockets of air above freezing, a few pockets of air frost where we see the clear spells, a week where the front sinking southwards, bringing outbreaks of patchy rain into northern areas of northern ireland, northwest england and north wales. to the north of the front across scotland, some winter sunshine, showers by the end of the day in the north ahead of the front across england and wales, variable amounts of cloud, but also some brighter spells, temperatures ranging between 5—8 degrees celsius. and it's more of the same, too, on saturday night into sunday morning. there will be some clear skies around at times.

we'll start to see the northerly wind pick up, brisk across the northern isles with some snow showers for the north of scotland. but again, to start the day on sunday, most of our temperatures will be slightly above freezing. but then that colder air really starts to show its hand with some snow showers even to low levels across northern scotland, with this feature just running down towards the north, further south as we head throughout the day. but we've still got the milder air with some winter sunshine across england and wales, 7—8 degrees celsius here. but on sunday night into monday, there is the risk of some snow and ice, with weather warnings in place across northern ireland and the north of scotland. that wind starts to really pick up, look at the squeeze on the isobars on monday into tuesday, so wintry showers towards the north sea facing coast with this feature running across northern ireland into southern scotland and perhaps northern england. and then we look to the southwest to see this weather front just moving its way further northwards. there is the possibility that as it bumps into the colder air, we could possibly see some snow across the south of england on wednesday, but it's still very uncertain, so my advice would be to keep an eye on the forecast. it will certainly be cold. there is the greater risk of some snow with some severe frosts by night.

an it scandal involving subpostmasters and mistresses dominates the media landscape. welcome to newswatch with me, samira ahmed. coming up, an itv drama has made the post office scandal headline news. does that mean news organisations failed in covering the story? and is investigative journalism in cases like this getting harder to do?

it's not often a television drama prompts a national discussion which seizes hold of the news agenda. but that's certainly been the case with mr bates versus the post office, broadcast last week on itv. it's been largely responsible for emergency laws announced by the government on wednesday, designed swiftly to exonerate and compensate victims of what's now recognised as one of the biggest miscarriages ofjustice in british history. that morning, breakfast had devoted large parts of its programme to the issue, including almost the whole hour between eightam and nine am. so, we brought together these nine victims for the first time on live tv to hear about the impact this scandal has had on their lives and what they think should happen next. claire sutherland wrote to us in praise of the programme,