i'm sumi somaskanda. we begin tonight with reaction to the american and british—led air strikes on houthi targets in yemen. the iran—backed houthi movement says the uk and us will pay a heavy price for targeted attacks on them in yemen overnight. us officials say �*just under 30 sites�* were targeted, including in the capital city sana'a. they included what the us called command and control centres, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defence radar systems. houthi leaders said five people were killed. the pentagon says the houthis did respond with an anti—ship ballistic missile, but it didn't cause any damage. the us and uk—led strikes were in response to houthi attacks on ships in the red sea, which the houthis say is in response to israel's attacks in gaza. fighters have been targeting ships with armed drones and missiles and boarding them. a short while ago, president biden was stopped at a coffee shop, visiting small businesses in pennsylvania, where he gave

his first on—camera statement about the strikes — calling the houthis "terrorists" and warning against more aggression in the red sea. no, iran does not want a war with us. inaudible. i think they are. were the strikes successful last night, sir? _ yes. i don't think there's any civilian casualties, that's another reason why it's a success. a little earlier, we got an update on the strikes and the threat of a regional conflagration with major general patrick ryder, press secretary for the us defence department. major general, the houthis have now retaliated,

launching a ballistic misisle. what exactly impact has that had so far? what we know right 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 the situation. 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 of yemen in order to degrade and disrupt the 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 unlikely 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, major general, you sent these messages with the strikes. they were intended to

degrade the capability degrade the capability of the houthis, so was this mission a success? again, i think the scope and scale is important. so, 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, "hey, we'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 internation waterway, is safe and secure.

that's what we'll stay focused on. are you confident that is the safe now, that this route is now safed? it's probably 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. and most importantly, the houthis need to stop these attacks. some allies in the region are concerned about a wider conflict. as the us already caught up in such a conflict? is the us already caught up in such a conflict? agai, it's important to separate the different parts here. when hamas attacked israel on october the 7th, shortly after that, the united states sent additional capabilities in support of our regional deterrence. deterrence efforts.

those capabilities provide us with additional assets to respond to a wide range of contingencies. what we're seeing near yemen and the red sea is the houthi rebels attempting to exploit the situation. exploit the situation, but ultimately affecting over 50 nations that are sending commercial shipping through this waterway. we do not want to see an extension of this brought in. we do not want to see an extension of this broaden. 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 and effecting the global economy. the houthis have said they want to see the war so should the us and its allies and partners be putting pressure on israel to wind down its operation to make sure make sure there isn't a larger regional conflict? well, what you see here is the houthis attempting to exploit the situation in gaza towards their own ends.

but we, the united states, will continue to stand by israel and support its inherent right of self—defence. as a close partner to israel, we have been consulting with them regularly to learn more about how they conduct their operations and also 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. over 50 nations affected by this. it's an international problem and it will require international response. you saw last night. general, i want to ask about defence secretary austin, 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? 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. to monitor that 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 austin 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 have to leave that there, major general, but thank you so much forjoining us. we'll have to leave it there, major general, but thank you so much forjoining us. thank you, sumi, i appreciate it. live now to vice admiral kevin donegan. he's served in many roles for the us navy including deputy chief of naval operations and commander of the us fifth fleet. very good to have you on bbc news. i want to ask you, the last time the us launched strikes on the houthis, you were in charge of the fifth fleet. are you surprised of the capabilities that the houthis have developed in their abilities to disrupt shipping routes and launch these anti—ship ballistic missiles? hello, sumi, and thanks for having me on. short answer is i'm not surprised because we've been watching for years since that time. the iranians moved the greater capability to the houthis. houthis would not have

the ability to strike international commerce on the red sea if the iranians didn't provide them with the weapons, the intelligence, with the training and everything that's necessary if the iranians weren't supporting them almost 100%. weren't supporting them almost ioo%. they didn't have this capability until the iranians provided to them. do capability until the iranians provided to them.- capability until the iranians provided to them. do you think the us and _ provided to them. do you think the us and uk _ provided to them. do you think the us and uk led _ provided to them. do you think the us and uk led strikes - provided to them. do you think the us and uk led strikes are l the us and uk led strikes are adequate?— adequate? that's a question that time — adequate? that's a question that time will _ adequate? that's a question that time will tell. _ adequate? that's a question that time will tell. i - adequate? that's a question that time will tell. i think i that time will tell. i think that's the million—dollar question. i think the strikes alone always combined with elements with each statement now that nation. —— each nation. we can will presume these are put together for a message notjust the houthis, but the iranians, that what's going on and what's happening

here in the impact that's having on the global economy is not in the interest of the global community and it needs to stop. hopefully we pair that with our international partners, pressuring iran and the houthis behind the scene to stop these attacks. in the past, the question was are they did horrible —— are they did terrible. in 2016, they stopped the attacks —— houthi. —— su. i think they can be deterred again with the right mix. tuition is different now. we are seeing this war between israel and hamas —— the situation is different. israel is also facing off against

lebanon and now the houthis. do you think iran can still be deterred while it sees itself embolden?— deterred while it sees itself embolden? ., , , embolden? certainly they were testin: embolden? certainly they were testing the _ embolden? certainly they were testing the limits _ embolden? certainly they were testing the limits of _ embolden? certainly they were testing the limits of the - testing the limits of the international threshold for what can be done. i think they've reached, and as you can see, last night shows they've reached that threshold. time will tell now if it will take more to deter them. all of us know that we can't afford to have another blockage of access to the suez canal like we saw backin to the suez canal like we saw back in 2020 when the motor vessel went sideways. right now, with all these ships diverting from the red sea around africa, this is not the time with the winter here in the need for energy to get to europe, this is not the time to have an impediment of flow, of commerce and energy. hz�*ice commerce and energy. vice admiral, — commerce and energy. vice admiral. you _ commerce and energy. vice admiral, you have - commerce and energy. vice admiral, you have worked l commerce and energy. vice admiral, you have worked in the region in yemen for quite a

long time. what do you think the impact of all of this is on yemen itself?— yemen itself? human is in conflict for _ yemen itself? human is in conflict for a _ yemen itself? human is in conflict for a long - yemen itself? human is in conflict for a long time. i yemen itself? human is in| conflict for a long time. it's been a humanitarian problem for a really long time. there's a fragile truce is ongoing between the yemenis and saudi arabia. that's in the best interest. certainly, conflict there is not the interest of there is not the interest of the average houthis, although of course, the local houthis support the palestinians. what we're not seeing is the houthis advancing that call. only one ship had even a slight connection with israel. the rest were just international commerce travelling on the red sea. so, internalto yemen. i don't see the action the houthis are taking are in the

interest of the average yemeni. very good to get your opinion. thank you so much.— very good to get your opinion. thank you so much. thank you, sumi. it is election day in taiwan. the candidates have held their final rallies and polls havejust opened, with voters choosing a new president and parliament. the economy and education are key issues, but one sobering issue looms large — how taiwan should address the threat from china. let's go live now to taipei and my college steve lai. very good to see you. we know the polls have opened. tell us what's been happening. the? what's been happening. they 0 en 'ust what's been happening. they epen just a — what's been happening. they open just a while _ what's been happening. they open just a while ago - what's been happening. they open just a while ago and - what's been happening. tie: open just a while ago and will remain open untilfour p:m.. there are 19 and a half eligible pullers. turnout was about indicating that engagement is quite high. i'm

joined now bi; engagement is quite high. i'm joined no— engagement is quite high. i'm joined now by our editor, celia hatton, giving _ joined now by our editor, celia hatton, giving us _ joined now by our editor, celia hatton, giving us more - joined now by our editor, celia hatton, giving us more insight into the elections. in some ways, it's quite unique. when voters enter— ways, it's quite unique. when voters enter the _ ways, it's quite unique. when voters enter the polls, - ways, it's quite unique. when| voters enter the polls, they're going to have three ballots. they can votes for president, local counsellor and their ballot third time that will be proportioned according to party across the parliament. delegate three chances to vote. what's amazing about this system is how efficient it is. as soon as the polls close at four o'clock, each individual pole will go through a counting process by hand. it will take about half an hour for those paper ballots to be counted, the results to be forwarded on. we will start to get results in relatively quickly, steve. however, i will say there's one

big rule that you have to travel back to your hometown in order to cast your vote. you can't vote by proxy or electronically. wherever you live when you are 20 years old, when you first got the vote, that's where you have to go back. lots of trouble going on. we've spoken to people who have come back to taiwan. talk us through some of the biggest issues people have on their minds. �* , issues people have on their minds. �*, ., ~ �*, minds. it's almost like there's an election — minds. it's almost like there's an election happening - minds. it's almost like there's an election happening within l an election happening within election. if you talk to some people, many young voters for example, they're much more focused on issues that are really confronting them right now. how do i get a job? do i ever have a money —— will i ever have a money —— will i ever have a money —— will i ever have the money to buy an apartment? why is there an egg shortage or has there been one recently? that kind of thing. there are lots of older people in general who are more focused

on the geopolitical situation, the possible threat from china. it's almost like two collections are happening at once, depending on who you speak to. if once, depending on who you speak to-_ once, depending on who you seakto. , ., ., speak to. if we stay on china, we did see — speak to. if we stay on china, we did see a _ speak to. if we stay on china, we did see a statement - speak to. if we stay on china, i we did see a statement from the people's liberation army saying that they would crush any attempt or movement towards taiwan independence. we should expect at this time?— expect at this time? that's ri . ht. if expect at this time? that's right- if we _ expect at this time? that's right. if we look _ expect at this time? that's right. if we look back - expect at this time? that's right. if we look back to i expect at this time? that'sl right. if we look back to the first election in 1996, we've seen the same kind of rhetoric. these are things that been said before, but i do think we need to put these in context. yes, they seem quite threatening, but we should remember that the chinese military has had high—level talks with the united states, with their cheap rival. most were quite cordial, quite responsive to one

another, so i think we need to keep that threat level in check when we think about the comments coming from the military. it comments coming from the milita . , ., ., military. it will be hard to ”aue military. it will be hard to gauge because _ military. it will be hard to gauge because it - military. it will be hard to| gauge because it depends military. it will be hard to . gauge because it depends on where your priorities are for the selection. to get your thoughts on the selection in particular — three parties are contesting. there's a bit more potential for different outcomes.— potential for different outcomes. �* �*, ., ., , outcomes. and it's a really excitina outcomes. and it's a really exciting election. - outcomes. and it's a really exciting election. there . outcomes. and it's a really| exciting election. there are outcomes. and it's a really . exciting election. there are so many things going on, wejust can't compute at the moment. you mentioned these three parties. this third party, we had two major parties vying for power since that first election. now we have the rise of the third party. that's an option that's really favoured by a lot of young voters. what we don't know is how well they will do in the selection. we don't know how many people are really going to cast their ballot for that third party not knowing if they will have a real chance in power or at the

last minute, will they switch their vote to something else? we could also see a split. we could see one party winning presidency, another party or a set of parties win the parliament. we haven't really seen that, steve, since the year 2000, seen that, steve, since the year2000, between seen that, steve, since the year 2000, between 2000—2008. there eight years of this split. it wasn't a great time in taiwanese politics. it was very difficult to get things done. a lot of real high temperatures in taiwanese politics at that time. however, now, some analysts are saying this kind of split if we see it might actually result in maybe a little bit more of a centrist kind of attitude in taiwan, a little bit more cooperation. maybe some of those more fringe element tempered. it might turn out to be a good thing if that's what we see.- out to be a good thing if that's what we see. just very cuickl , that's what we see. just very quickly. what _ that's what we see. just very quickly, what is _ that's what we see. just very quickly, what is it _ that's what we see. just very quickly, what is it you're - quickly, what is it you're looking out for most as the day progresses? i’m looking out for most as the day progresses?— progresses? i'm going to be

fascinated _ progresses? i'm going to be fascinated to _ progresses? i'm going to be fascinated to see _ progresses? i'm going to be fascinated to see the - progresses? i'm going to be fascinated to see the voter i fascinated to see the voter turnout. the ten how many young people — more than 1,000,008 able to cast for the first time — where they will put their post. - where they will put their ost. . ., - where they will put their ost. . ~' ,, - where they will put their ost, ., ~' y., ., - where they will put their ost. . ,, ., post. thank you for your thoughts _ post. thank you for your thoughts on _ post. thank you for your thoughts on that. - post. thank you for your | thoughts on that. there's post. thank you for your i thoughts on that. there's a post. thank you for your - thoughts on that. there's a lot at stake here, sum, and polls will be open until four at stake here, sum, and polls will be open untilfour p:m.. very interesting, steve and celia. thank you very much. for more on the upcoming election, i'm joined byjennifer welch, former us national security director for china and taiwan. really good to have you on the show. ijust wanted dive right in with the parties. what will it mean for taiwan if there is a continuation of the current ruling party?— ruling party? thank you for havin: ruling party? thank you for having me _ ruling party? thank you for having me on, _ ruling party? thank you for having me on, sumi. - ruling party? thank you for having me on, sumi. this. ruling party? thank you for- having me on, sumi. this would be unprecedented for taiwan and the history of having open i

elections. the democratic present... also in terms of a lot of their areas of priority. the economy, quality of living, cost of living and other issues are on top of the mind there. i do think if we see a lai ching—te victory, i think we will see some response from beijing. they've been targeting exports for the last couple months. i would also expect is on history of beijing's reactions to taiwanese events, we are likely to see a military presence around the island in the days coming. where it goes tomorrow might depend on signals that type is sending to beijing and washington —— that taipei is sending. beijing and washington -- that taipei is sending.—

beijing and washington -- that taipei is sending. very much at stake here- _ taipei is sending. very much at stake here. what _ taipei is sending. very much at stake here. what about - taipei is sending. very much at stake here. what about the - stake here. what about the kmt party? they've advocated for closer ties with ageing. how much support do you think they actually have among voters —— with beijing? actually have among voters -- with beijing?— with bei'ing? they faced some real with beijing? they faced some real challenges _ with beijing? they faced some real challenges in _ with beijing? they faced some real challenges in taiwan. - with beijing? they faced some| real challenges in taiwan. they picked a pretty unique candidate. hou yu—ih was born and raised in taiwan, he speaks the local language quite well and he's sort of a local hero is a former police chief and cop. when he's promising to bring to the table is what he would frame as a pragmatic approach by engaging beijing in approach by engaging beijing in a way that's protecting taiwan's interest. it's a little different from what we've seen and i think it's intended to address those voter concerns. it will remain to be seen how voters are persuaded ijy seen how voters are persuaded by that when the polls close

tonight and we start to see the vote count,. tonight and we start to see the vote count”— tonight and we start to see the vote count,. jennifer, how much influence has _ vote count,. jennifer, how much influence has china _ vote count,. jennifer, how much influence has china on _ vote count,. jennifer, how much influence has china on the - influence has china on the selection? wishing the warning from the us that china should not interfere in the election. what's your sense?- what's your sense? there's really two _ what's your sense? there's really two forms _ what's your sense? there's really two forms of - what's your sense? there's really two forms of it. - what's your sense? there's i really two forms of it. there's the top of the iceberg, the stuff that you can see. there's been some signals coming out in beijing they are likely to take additional measures towards taiwan. that's what we can see, but there is also probably a tremendous amount under the water in terms of information influence attacked us. that's something we've seen beijing become very to skilled at. what we've heard from experts is that beijing has become more sophisticated in its tactics. a lot of taiwanese are used to seeing information that they think is coming from china, but what beijing has been doing recently is to build more distrust around issues that don't seem to have a specific political focus.

don't seem to have a specific politicalfocus. make it more confusing to know what's up and what's down. a lot of those focuses on information are quite concerned about the level that could be coming from beijing. to what extent that will influence voter attitudes, i think it remains to be seen. it doesn't seem pertinent to a specific candidate so much as it is around larger issues like some of the local scandals that have been at play in the elections.— have been at play in the elections. just one more question- _ elections. just one more question. we _ elections. just one more question. we have - elections. just one more | question. we have about elections. just one more l question. we have about a minute left. what do you think is at stake for the region and the rest of the world looking at this election?— at this election? this is one ofthe at this election? this is one of the most _ at this election? this is one of the most consequential. of the most consequential elections notjust of the most consequential elections not just for of the most consequential elections notjust for taiwan elections not just for taiwan in elections notjust for taiwan in terms of policies, the new government would bring, but really for the region and for the world. the taiwan strait has become one of the most important chokepoints, notjust important chokepoints, not just in important chokepoints, notjust in terms of shipping and traditional trade, in terms of shipping and traditionaltrade, but for critical supply strange ——

supply chains. the level of risk is something that is not within the region only, but around the world. this is an election that i think is very closely watched and rightly so, and everyone will be very much looking forward to the results and what they mean going forward. ~ , ., ., forward. we see that voting auoin forward. we see that voting going on — forward. we see that voting going on as _ forward. we see that voting going on as we've _ forward. we see that voting going on as we've been - going on as we've been speaking. jennifer welch, thank you so much for sharing your analysis with us today. thank ou. scientists say they have made a discovery that challenges our understanding of the universe — a giant ring—shaped structure in space. experts at the university of central lancashire say it's 1.3 billion light years in diameter and appears to be roughly 15 times the size of the moon in the night sky as seen from earth. named the big ring by the astronomers, it is made up of galaxies and galaxy clusters. structures that big shouldn't exist,

according to one of the guiding principles of astronomy. now some scientists say it's time to reconsider how we think the universe works. that's our show at this hour. please join us at the top of the hour. we'll have an update of the top headlines and thank you for watching bbc news. you can also had to our website. stay with us. 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 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 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 frost where we see the clear spells, a week where the front sinking southwards, bringing outbreaks a week weather 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 north sea—facing coasts with this feature running across northern ireland into southern scotland and perhaps northern england. so, here, the snow risk will extend further southwards through the day on tuesday. and then we look to the southwest to see this weather frontjust 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.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

this week, we're riding wheels of steel with a swedish scooter that's as flat—packed as its furniture. with the curve folding, we dance with the metal. joe's investigating the future of passwords and passcodes, and they're looking a little different. it's probably not enough to fool you, but can it fool a machine? ai in agriculture — how technology is helping farmers in india to make smarter decisions about their crops. and the robot that sinks seaweed. in the future, we'll be able to gather like, information about wind speeds, temperatures on the surface and map everything. scooters. they're lean, nifty, greener than cars — really green if they're electric.