this is a vital service that we all as individuals benefit from and need. also on the programme, the mystery this evening over the fate of a plane russia says was carrying ukrainian prisoners of war. russia says the plane has been shot down by ukraine. kyiv has said a prisoner exchange was planned for today. the conservative mp trying to unseat the prime minister tells the bbc why. a warning over the numbers of people without access to nhs earwax removal, after the withdrawal of services in many areas. and could an ivf rhino pregnancy breakthrough save the northern white rhino, which is down to a population of two? and coming up in sport on bbc news — will it be fulham or liverpool facing chelsea at wembley at this year's league cup final?

we'll be at craven cottage ahead of tonight's second leg. good evening. welcome to the bbc news at six. more expensive stamps and fewer deliveries per week are all possibilities for the future of the postal service as a range of proposals are put forward by regulators. the centuries—old service has to be reformed they say because of the present day reality of fewer letters being sent. the royal mail is required to deliver 93% of all first class mail within one working day. but last year it managed that only for 73% of the total. second class mail was also behind target. the change in the last 12 years in the volume of letters we write and send has been significant — from more than 1a billion a year,

down to just over 7 billion. today the prime minister told mps he's "absolutely committed" to retaining deliveries six days a week. here's our business correspondent zoe conway. have you thought any more about making a hole in the wall... allison and chris young _ making a hole in the wall... allison and chris young have _ making a hole in the wall... allison and chris young have been - making a hole in the wall... allison and chris young have been married for 52 years. for their anniversary their daughter sent them a card. it was found a nearby street, two weeks late. are you quite upset about that? , , , late. are you quite upset about that? y ,, ,, that? very upset, because when you aet that? very upset, because when you net to m that? very upset, because when you get to my age _ that? very upset, because when you get to my age and my— that? very upset, because when you get to my age and my husband's - that? very upset, because when you | get to my age and my husband's age, anniversaries are very significant. to actually hold and have something she's gone out and bought with above, that's what oostende letters and cards is all about.— and cards is all about. alison has osteoporosis. _ and cards is all about. alison has osteoporosis. she _ and cards is all about. alison has osteoporosis. she says _ and cards is all about. alison has osteoporosis. she says hospitall osteoporosis. she says hospital letters are also arriving late. alison, talk to me about this envelope. it's important, isn't it? this letter is from the nuffield

hospital in oxford. it was posted to me on the 24th of november, first class. and it arrived here on the 2nd of december.— class. and it arrived here on the 2nd of december. how would you rate the service that _ 2nd of december. how would you rate the service that you're _ 2nd of december. how would you rate the service that you're getting - 2nd of december. how would you rate the service that you're getting from i the service that you're getting from royal mail at the moment? absolutely dis ustinu. royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting- royal— royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail— royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants _ royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants to - royal mail at the moment? absolutely disgusting. royal mail wants to be - disgusting. royal mail wants to be free to continue to deliver disgusting. royal mailwants to be free to continue to deliver- free to continue to deliver letters ro al mail free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made _ free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made losses - free to continue to deliver letters royal mail made losses of - free to continue to deliver letters i royal mail made losses of hundreds of millions last year. we want to find a _ of millions last year. we want to find a model that works for all our customers— find a model that works for all our customers and staff and has a sustainable customers and staff and has a sustainabl— sustainable regulator ofcom estimates — sustainable regulator ofcom estimates royal _ sustainable regulator ofcom estimates royal mail - sustainable regulator ofcom estimates royal mail could i sustainable regulator ofcom - estimates royal mail could save up to £650 million a year if it cut letter deliveries to three days a week. ,, ., ., , letter deliveries to three days a week. ., , ., ., ., week. something has got to give or the service will— week. something has got to give or the service willjust _ week. something has got to give or the service willjust be _ week. something has got to give or the service willjust be too - week. something has got to give or the service willjust be too costly i the service willjust be too costly and either stamp prices will go up

it will become unsustainable so we are opening up a debate on this today. we are not proposing a specific answer. what we want to do is hear people's views. for specific answer. what we want to do is hear people's views.— is hear people's views. for the number of _ is hear people's views. for the number of delivery _ is hear people's views. for the number of delivery days - is hear people's views. for the number of delivery days to - is hear people's views. for the number of delivery days to be | is hear people's views. for the i number of delivery days to be cut from six to five or even three days a week, we'll need a vote in westminster. and that's not going to happen anytime soon because politicians of all the parties know how much the post means to people, particularly the elderly, who are especially good at turning out to vote. �* . especially good at turning out to vote-_ sort _ especially good at turning out to vote-_ sort it - especially good at turning out to vote._ sort it out. i especially good at turning out to | vote._ sort it out. for vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the _ vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the post _ vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the post is _ vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the post is an _ vote. don't cut it. sort it out. for alison, the post is an essential. alison, the post is an essential public service. but how does that square with royal mail's need to compete and survive? nothing is going to happen this side of an election, but if the quality of an election, but if the quality of the service deteriorates further, if letters and deliveries get worse in royal mail loses even more money, then politicians could be forced to

lift some of those legal obligations of royal mail. studio: correspondent zoe conway, thank you. russia and ukraine are locked in claim and counter—claim this evening over the fate of 65 ukrainian prisoners of war. russia says they were on board a plane shot down by ukraine as they were being transported to a prisoner exchange. footage suggests the plane was shot down in mid air. ukraine says a prisoner swap was planned for today and that it's investigating. the aircraft came down in the western belgorod region of russia, close to the ukrainian border. our russia editor steve rosenberg has the latest. caught on mobile phone, the moment a russian military transport plane fell from the sky. woman speaks russian. "good god," she cries, as the consequence of what has happened becomes clear. the wreckage was strewn across the fields of belgorod region. not only did russia accuse ukraine of shooting the plane down,

it claimed that on board were dozens of ukrainian prisoners of war who were about to be exchanged. translation: on board the plane there were six crew members, - 65 ukrainian servicemen for a prisoner swap, and three russian military personnel escorting them. the crew and all the passengers on the plane were killed. with this terrorist attack the ukrainian leadership has shown its true colours. over at the russian parliament, mps were quick to condemn ukraine and those countries who have been supporting kyiv during the war. but this is a war the kremlin began, with president putin's special military operation. moscow has made its position clear — ukraine is to blame, ukraine shot the plane down. now, we cannot confirm that here, but what is clear is that russian officials are using what happened today to try to discredit kyiv,

to try to portray the ukrainian government as the aggressor in this war. but keep in mind it was russia, nearly two years ago, that launched a full—scale invasion of ukraine. these russian soldiers were part of the last prisoner exchange between russia and ukraine. it took place earlier this month. ukraine has confirmed that another swap had been arranged for today, but it accused russia of deliberate actions to risk the safety of the ukrainian prisoners. the belgorod region where the plane came down has come under increased shelling and drone attack from ukraine. but the ukrainian authorities say that some of the attacks on their country have been carried out from this part of russia. and in the village near the crash site, a memorial service. amid the mutual accusations, more victims of this war.

steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. sarah rainsford is in ukraine for us now. we've heard what the kremlin is saying — what is kyiv saying? ukraine took a while to make any comment but we have had two statements this evening from the military intelligence service and also from the chief of staff. i think they amount really to an implicit acknowledgement that ukraine did shoot down that plane, but crucially what there isn't is information about who or what was on board. ukraine has confirmed a prisoner swap was planned for today and that did not happen. but it also said usually russia would give information about the kind of transport it could use and the routes used for the prisoner swap so it can happen safely, and again that didn't happen this time. i think as well what is interesting, the chief of staff is underlining very firmly

why it might target a russian cargo plane. it is saying, pointing to the fact there has been a real increase in military strikes from the belgorod region into the kharkiv region of ukraine in particular recently with lots of civilian casualties and those planes are used to deliver the missiles that are then launched across the border. so some answers tonight but still questions and i think in particular for the families of the many ukrainian prisoners of war inside russia who will now want to know whether their relatives are safe. sarah rainsford in kyiv, thank you. now, have a look at this image from kenya. these are the world's last two northern white rhinos — the final survivors of a species almost wiped out by illegal poaching. both are female and there is now a glimmer of hope for the future after scientists successfully achieved a surrogate ivf pregnancy in the closely related southern white rhino. here's our science editor rebecca morelle.

the last two northern white rhinos left on the planet. najin and fatu, a mother and daughter, living in a reserve in kenya. the species is all but extinct. now, a fertility breakthrough has offered some hope. in a world first, scientists have successfully carried out rhino ivf, but in a less endangered southern white rhino — a close cousin to the northern white. a southern white rhino embryo created in a lab from sperm and an egg was implanted into a surrogate mum. it's taken years and 13 attempts for a rhino to fall pregnant. it is really a great milestone to achieve the first successful embryo transfer in the rhino. it's very challenging in terms of placing an embryo inside of the reproductive tract, which is almost two metres inside of the animal. with this achievement, we are very confident that we will be able to create northern white rhinos in the same manner.

the material they need is held in a lab in berlin. this is a frozen ark. tissues from hundreds of different animals are perfectly preserved in liquid nitrogen inside these tanks. but the most precious samples are stored inside here. a small number of northern white rhino embryos, created by the scientists here. and they're the last chance of saving this species. there are just 30 of these lab—made northern white embryos, but there's a complication. najin and fatu, the last northern whites, can't carry a pregnancy. so instead the embryos have to be implanted into a southern white rhino surrogate mother. ivf across two subspecies has never been attempted before, but the team is confident it will work. the speed of progress we did, we will see relatively soon the first calf on the ground, and then i may retire before

the first reintroduction into the wild will take place, but i think it is not too far away. it might be in 10, 15 years. but the ivf success with the southern white rhino was struck by tragedy. two months into the pregnancy, the rhino died of an unrelated bacterial infection. a postmortem found the foetus had a 95% chance of being born, proof that the technique works. the team's attention is now turning to the northern white rhinos, so the first calf will be born while najin and fatu are still around. it's a race against time for this species. rebecca morelle, bbc news. the former minister and critic of the prime minister sir simon clarke says he acted alone in his call for rishi sunak to go and it is the start of the conversation . in his first interview, he told the bbc, the conservatives were currently on course

for a massive defeat at the next general election but he didn't however say who he would like to replace mr sunak. downing street has said that most conservative mps support the prime minister. here's our political editor chris mason. sir simon clarke used to work alongside rishi sunak in the treasury. now he saying rishi sunak should go because he reckons he's leading the conservatives into a massacre at the general election. let's be clear, you think rishi sunak is so bad that the better option would be another round of the conservative pantomime of whose turn is it next? we conservative pantomime of whose turn is it next? ~ ., ., ., ~' is it next? we need to look in the mirror as a _ is it next? we need to look in the mirror as a political— is it next? we need to look in the mirror as a political party. - is it next? we need to look in the mirror as a political party. as - mirror as a political party. as professional politicians, and recognise the reality of what is likely to happen unless we act. but if ou look likely to happen unless we act. but if you look in the mirror and the alternative is a fourth prime minister in a parliamentary term people will say that's a joke. i totally accept that clearly, political unity is a very valuable thing but if the unity is behind the wrong project or a project that is not connecting with people, then it's not worth anything.—

not connecting with people, then it's not worth anything. who do you think should _ it's not worth anything. who do you think should be _ it's not worth anything. who do you think should be prime _ it's not worth anything. who do you think should be prime minister? i l think should be prime minister? i have been very conscious, chris, that i did not spell that out in the article. that's partly because there are a number of people who can do it and i don't want to tarnish anyone by saying this. i have done this on my own. let by saying this. i have done this on m own. ., ., ., , by saying this. i have done this on m own. ., ., .,, ., by saying this. i have done this on m own. ., ., ., ., ., my own. let me have a last go at who ou miaht my own. let me have a last go at who you might want _ my own. let me have a last go at who you might want to _ my own. let me have a last go at who you might want to be _ my own. let me have a last go at who you might want to be prime _ my own. let me have a last go at who you might want to be prime minister. | you might want to be prime minister. suella braverman, kemi badenoch, robertjenrick, simon clarke? i suella braverman, kemi badenoch, robert jenrick, simon clarke? i have a lot of admiration _ robert jenrick, simon clarke? i have a lot of admiration for _ robert jenrick, simon clarke? i have a lot of admiration for lots _ robert jenrick, simon clarke? i have a lot of admiration for lots of - a lot of admiration for lots of colleagues but i'm not putting myself forward for leadership. sir simon's decided to see rishi sunak leave here permanently has dominated here today. keir leave here permanently has dominated here toda . ,, ., leave here permanently has dominated here today._ including - here today. keir starmer. including at rime here today. keir starmer. including at prime ministers _ here today. keir starmer. including at prime ministers question - here today. keir starmer. including at prime ministers question time. | at prime ministers question time. the country forced to endure their division _ the country forced to endure their division and chaos for the longest ever episode of eastenders ever put to film _ ever episode of eastenders ever put to film. , ., , ., ., to film. things are improving and we are makin: to film. things are improving and we are making progress. _ to film. things are improving and we are making progress. wages - to film. things are improving and we are making progress. wages now i are making progress. wages now rising, mr speaker, debt on track to

be reduced and inflation more than halved from 11% to 1t%. ihe be reduced and inflation more than halved from 1196 to 496.— halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has not a halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has got a plan. — halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has got a plan, but _ halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has got a plan, but look _ halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has got a plan, but look at - halved from 1196 to 496. he says he has got a plan, but look at that. has got a plan, but look at that front bench, not many smiles going to waste. it front bench, not many smiles going to waste. . . front bench, not many smiles going to waste. , , ,, ., ,, , to waste. it is rishi sunak still the best person _ to waste. it is rishi sunak still the best person for _ to waste. it is rishi sunak still the best person for the - to waste. it is rishi sunak still the best person for the job? i to waste. it is rishi sunak still- the best person for the job? 10096. the best person for the “ob? 10096. plen of the best person for the “ob? 10096. plenty of conservative _ the best person for the job? 10096. plenty of conservative mps - the best person for the job? 10096. plenty of conservative mps did - the best person for the job? 10096. | plenty of conservative mps did want to support the prime minister and go for simon clarke.— for simon clarke. that's 'ust one erson's for simon clarke. that's 'ust one person-s view * for simon clarke. that's 'ust one person's view and h for simon clarke. that's 'ust one person's view and i _ for simon clarke. that'sjust one person's view and i don't - for simon clarke. that'sjust one person's view and i don't think i for simon clarke. that'sjust one person's view and i don't think itj person's view and i don't think it is representative of how the party feels. ., , , ., �* , feels. not entirely sure what he's u . feels. not entirely sure what he's u- to with feels. not entirely sure what he's up to with this — feels. not entirely sure what he's up to with this and _ feels. not entirely sure what he's up to with this and it's _ feels. not entirely sure what he's up to with this and it's not - feels. not entirely sure what he's up to with this and it's not the i up to with this and it's not the mood — up to with this and it's not the mood of— up to with this and it's not the mood of the party in general. he hasn't _ mood of the party in general. he hasn't read — mood of the party in general. he hasn't read the room. if mood of the party in general. he hasn't read the room.— mood of the party in general. he hasn't read the room. if we were to do something _ hasn't read the room. if we were to do something as _ hasn't read the room. if we were to do something as foolish _ hasn't read the room. if we were to do something as foolish as - hasn't read the room. if we were to do something as foolish as have i hasn't read the room. if we were to do something as foolish as have an| do something as foolish as have an internal_ do something as foolish as have an internal argument _ do something as foolish as have an internal argument at _ do something as foolish as have an internal argument at this _ do something as foolish as have an internal argument at this stage, i do something as foolish as have anj internal argument at this stage, all that would — internal argument at this stage, all that would do— internal argument at this stage, all that would do is _ internal argument at this stage, all that would do is open— internal argument at this stage, all that would do is open the - internal argument at this stage, all that would do is open the door- internal argument at this stage, all that would do is open the door fori that would do is open the door for keir starmen _ that would do is open the door for keir starmer. so— that would do is open the door for keir starmer.— that would do is open the door for keir starmer. ., ., , ,, ,, ., keir starmer. so what does sir simon clarke of all— keir starmer. so what does sir simon clarke of all of— keir starmer. so what does sir simon clarke of all of that? _ keir starmer. so what does sir simon clarke of all of that? nobody - keir starmer. so what does sir simon clarke of all of that? nobody likes i clarke of all of that? nobody likes the au clarke of all of that? nobody likes the guy who _ clarke of all of that? nobody likes the guy who is _ clarke of all of that? nobody likes the guy who is shouting _ clarke of all of that? nobody likes the guy who is shouting iceberg i clarke of all of that? nobody likes. the guy who is shouting iceberg but i suspect that people will be even less happy if we hit the iceberg. sir simon says he's acting alone but privately others share his view. rishi sunak as to whether this public and private grumbling on his own side as mps fear defeat. chris

mason, bbc news, westminster. our top story this evening. royal mail could reduce the number of days it delivers letters —as regulators say the current service is unsustainable. and coming up — the discovery of several new emperor penguin nesting sites in antarctica. and coming up on bbc london... a new approach to driving down crime begins in finsbury park — we speak to officers about how it'll work. and day two of testimony from grenfell�*s survivors. we hear why compensation is not enough. donald trump has won the new hampshire primary — the second contest for republican presidential contenders ahead of november's us election. he beat his last remaining rival, former ambassador nikki haley,

but she has vowed to fight on. our north america editor sarah smith is live in new hampshire now. it is hard to see how donald trump could possibly fail to win his party's presidential nomination. there is already speculation about when nikki haley might have to pull out of this race and that would leave donald trump to be crowned as the republican candidate, setting up a rematch withjoe biden. which would be a repeat of the 2020 election. nikki haley... cheering and applause. when is defeat really a victory? nikki haley thinks it's when you lose by a bit less than the polls predicted. this race is farfrom over... despite losing in the state she had the best chance of winning, she insists she will battle on. well, i'm a fighter. cheering. and i'm scrappy. and now we're the last one standing

next to donald trump. cheering. and to the victor, sour grapes. donald trump is angry that nikki haley will not drop out and that she's claiming credit for being his sole remaining competitor. this is not your typical victory speech, but let's not have somebody take victory when she had a very bad night. she had a very night. as the campaign continues nikki haley argue she is the candidate best placed to beat joe biden later this year. the president, apparently agrees. he would far rather fight donald trump. after all, he's beaten him before, but it's a risky strategy. joe biden warns that mr trump poses a grave threat to america. joe biden is playing a very dangerous game. donald trump is the weakest candidate against him, but he would cause the most concern should he win.

and joe biden, at 81 years old and clearly showing his age, is the weakest democrat. he is betting the house that he can defeat the most extreme republican and if he fails, he will never be forgiven. will you shut up, man. american voters don't want to listen to this all over again. they say they are depressed by the prospect of a rematch. yet that seems almost inevitable as donald trump looks all but certain to be his party's candidate for president in november. sarah smith, bbc news, manchester, new hampshire. £600 million has been announced as emergency funding for councils in england, after increasing warnings about the fragile state of local authority finances. some councils say they are looking at cutting services from sports facilities to public toilets to try and avoid bankruptcy. our political correspondent alex forsyth reports from somerset. on a freezing morning earlier this

month, protesters gathered outside somerset council's offices. they are trying to save their recreation centre, which is threatened with closure. i don't really understand it. like, why would they want to get rid of something that's so important to everyone? here the council leader said the rising cost of care, which they have to provide, means making cuts elsewhere. anything that we can do, we will do it. but it's tough times ahead. the council allowed us to film as they discussed their budget. they are facing a shortfall of £100 million. right now, councils around the country are going through a similar process with many planning to cut services to balance the books. these are not things that we would ever wish to be considering. here they want to increase council tax by 10%, and have been upfront about what might go, including funding for the recreation centre, which has caused such concern. it would be another nail in the coffin of the area of south somerset, which is recognised as one

of the most deprived areas in the southwest. later on we went to yeovil to see the sports facility. this is the only facilities we have around here which everyone can play. what did you think when you heard it might lose its funding and therefore would be at risk? i wanted to cry, i can't lie. this is where i get to relax and escape reality for a bit. when you come along here, the strength of feeling is obvious. these are just the hockey players, but there's also the athletics club and the football club as well. they've mounted a huge campaign to try and save this, but this isn't the only thing that's at risk. the council is also looking at turning off all cctv cameras, closing public toilets, withdrawing funding for some support services like citizens advice. and there are some people who are really worried about the impact on the community. it's the groundswell of concern about the impact of cuts on places like this that's pushed the government to act and announce extra funding for councils and care services in particular. it's a way of making sure that they get the extra support

they need at a critical moment. we know that children's services, the support that children particularly with special educational needs need has increased and what we've done is we've made sure that the extra money, £600 million, is there. this afternoon, somerset�*s council leader told me it was welcome but warned there would still be difficult decisions to come. we think this is about £5 million for us here at somerset council. just a reminder, our budget gap is forecast to be £100 million. this is welcome, it will help, but the underlying issue still remains that there is a broken model of local government finance and of social care that needs to be fixed. today's announcement will ease the immediate pressure facing councils, but it won't solve the longer term problems. alex forsyth, bbc news, somerset. a police chief has said more should have been done to arrest a man who went on to kill three

people in nottingham. a warrant for valdo calocane's arrest had been issued in september 2022, after an alleged assault on a police officer but he was never arrested. nine months later he fatally stabbed school caretaker ian coates and students barnaby webber and grace o'malley—kumar. the 32—year—old is being sentenced at nottingham crown court. the hearing loss charity rnid is warning today of the impact of ear wax removal on the nhs being withdrawn in many areas of england. wax build—up can have a significant effect on hearing, communication, and quality of life, and the charity says guidelines on access to nhs services that can help are often being neglected. our health correspondent jim reed reports. let's have a look in those ears and see what's going on. more than two million people need this kind of treatment each year. a build up of earwax can be extremely painful, leading to tinnitus, earache and hearing loss. it's more common in the elderly, those with hearing aids and people with learning disabilities. at a private clinic like this,

treatment can cost up to £100. it used to be widely available on the nhs, but this new research found one in six people in england are now living in areas with no free provision whatsoever and treatment in other areas of the country is patchy at best. helen kendall from somerset says she has to pay out hundreds of pounds a year because her gp has stopped its free service. i was very, very deaf and i was desperate actually, and i had to ask a friend to find somewhere and to ring them for me. i literally couldn't hear on the phone and i was quoted £80 for it, which was a bit of a shock because that's a lot of money. and campaigners are worried those who can't afford to go private are left trying to remove the wax themselves. so as audiologists, we always say, never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow. we hear of people sticking cotton buds in their ears. they're not cotton earbuds,

they're not for ears. we hear of people sticking their grips in their ears and pins and all kinds of things. if you do that, there's a real risk to your eardrums and to your ear canals. so that looks good. the government says it's up to local health boards in england to commission services in their areas, and gps can still refer those with hearing loss to a specialist audiology unit for treatment. jim reed, bbc news. four new emperor penguin nesting sites have been identified in antarctica — in a discovery which will help scientists track the movements of the species. the known penguin colonies in antarctica are the ones you can see marked with blue dots on the coast and the new ones are the red dots. asjonathan amos reports, penguins do move around in response to ice conditions and that means vulnerability to climate change. emperors are among the hardiest animals on earth.

they live life in the freezer, breeding and nurturing their young in temperatures as low as —60. but knowing where they all are on the continent that's so vast and remote isn't easy. it's why scientists have been using satellites. when the birds huddle together it's possible to see them. these are the four new colonies as seen from space. their locations have been found as they stain the ice with excrement. zoom in closer, the ice has turned a mucky brown. the discoveries bring the total number of colonies to 66 — there's perhaps 500,000 individual emperors on earth. but scientists are concerned for their future. the sea ice on which they live is becoming unreliable. we know that sea ice will decline with warming temperatures and that's going to affect the chicks and the chicks will go into the water and not survive. so that's quite a grim scenario. what we hope is that they'll be able to adapt and they'll be able to move to more stable ice.

if global warming can be constrained, say scientists, and other pressures, such as fishing are avoided, these iconic animals can find a resilient future. jonathan amos, bbc news. nominations for the brit awards were announced this afternoon. singer—songwriter raye has a record—breaking total of seven, including british artist of the year. this new category was introduced last year — replacing female and male artist, but was criticised when all five nominees were men. its a different story this year, as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson reports. # i don't want to feel...#. no one in the history of the brit awards has been nominated as many times in one year as raye. # you've done to me, you've done to me #. her haul of seven includes album of the year and best new act...

eight years after her first top 20 single. it took raye so long to release her debut album because she had to free herself from a major record label, which she felt didn't know what to do with her. as far as the industry was concerned i was down and out. never in my wildest dreams would i think like trying again would mean seven brit nominations! the artist of the year category has been expanded from five to 10 nominees, after a heavily criticised all male list in 2023. this time there are six women on there, including jessie ware. it's representative of the year that british music has had. you know, seven out of ten of the biggest songs this year were by women. and it's lovely to see that that is echoed in our nominations. # watch me...#. the brits will take place on the 2nd of march. colin paterson, bbc news.

time for a look at the weather. thank you. we have seen the back of stormed joslyn and the weather is looking less stormy. less windy, mostly mild but it's not playing sailing and the sill will be rain at times. this frontal system pushing in from the south and it will bring rain through tonight and into tomorrow for some. this is a warm front, it will introduce this wedge of really very mild air indeed. so expect some high temperatures as we head through the day tomorrow. in the short term, here is the band of cloud and patchy rain across the channel islands, the south—west of england and then edging northwards to already but the north of scotland as we head towards the end of the night. 1 degrees in aberdeen first thing on thursday morning. 11 in plymouth, that is where the mild air will be an them able work northwards and eastwards through the day tomorrow. outbreaks of heavy rain across northern ireland, parts of

scotland and patchy rain elsewhere with the few bright eclipses, but generally quite a lot of cloud. some sunshine into northern ireland later in the day, but look at these temperatures, nine to 13, may be getting up to 14 celsius. breezy, but not as windy as it has been. during thursday night, this frontal system produces woods, squally winds, too. that will open the door to an area of chilly weather, but some sunshine on friday. wintry showers across scotland are good spells of sunshine. however, most of us on friday afternoon in single digits. the slightly colder air doesn't last all that long, through the week and, milder air is set to surge back across our shows from the south. temperatures back to around 12 or 13 degrees, particularly by sunday. drive the most, bit of rain in the north—west. and that's bbc news at six. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are, goodbye.