and, french farmers continue their protests, with dozens of roads blocked around paris and other cities. hello, welcome to bbc news now — three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. a defining moment for northern ireland — that's how the leader of the largest party there the dup has described a deal which should see the return of power sharing in belfast imminently. politicians from across the uk and ireland have welcomed the decision which comes after two years of stalemate over disagreements about post—brexit trading. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. we are still watching some comments being made live by the northern

ireland minister, chris heaton—harris, who was taking questions from the media. he isjust walking away, but his key points was that he looks forward to restoration as soon as possible. he says this is as soon as possible. he says this is a deal that has significantly changed, but he did not tell the media more. he said the details will be published in time in parliament. this is a live shot from inside stormont at the moment, but he did also say the dup and the uk government have been in talks for months now, and what is happening at the moment is all parties in northern ireland are being briefed. that is just coming to us from chris heaton—harris, saying that the details of the agreement discussed will be published tomorrow, and the deal finalised today and different parties are being briefed, but crucially he said he believed all conditions are in place and the northern ireland assembly will be able to return. he was looking forward to that happening as soon as

possible. let's take you to college green where we were seeing chris heaton—harris, and our political correspondent is there now. i did not manage to listen to all of his comments. did we learn anything new? not very much, no. what he is being tight—lipped about is the detail of what has been agreed and discussed between the uk government and the democratic unionists, and they are the ones that have the real problem with the arrangements that have been put in place since brexit. chris heaton—harris said he thinks there is a deal there, the dup leader this morning said there is a deal there that his party is now backing, but the crucial thing is, what does the actual detail say? and that is what everyone was waiting to ask him. he said he is flying off to northern ireland, having left here. he will

go to brief the other parties who have not been sitting in on these negotiations, and then with all of that in place here, he will unveil details of the deal tomorrow. the crucial thing there is that there is an element within the dup and the unionist side who do not like that since brexit you had a situation where there have been checked on the movement of goods between the rest of the uk, so great britain into northern ireland, and they view that as an infringement on sovereignty, a weakening of northern ireland �*s ties with the rest of the uk. jeffrey donaldson said this morning on the bbc that there would now be no checks and no paperwork on goods moving that were just going to stay in northern ireland and be sold by shops and supermarkets there, and that he said is what this will deliver. his critics in the party are not sure that that is what will be delivered at all, and they are not sure that the uk can go that far

in its arrangements with the eu about how to manage all of this after brexit. that will be the crucial thing that everyone looks to wait and see, to see what happens. the other interesting thing he did say is that this will unlock money, so £3 billion, which will go to northern ireland because it has not been a functioning local government, because the dup would not allow it to happen, would not elect a speaker, if all of that goes ahead the money will flow, and crucially, that money that can be used to be handed out by a functioning government in northern ireland to pay civil servants, teachers, doctors, and they are having problems with strikes and more are planned this week, with those groups looking for pay rises, and that is important. he said that money would go once the executive is back up and running. go once the executive is back up and runninu. ., ., ~ i. go once the executive is back up and runninu. ., ., ~ _, . running. damian, thank you. we will kee a running. damian, thank you. we will keep a close — running. damian, thank you. we will keep a close eye _ running. damian, thank you. we will keep a close eye on _ running. damian, thank you. we will keep a close eye on the _ running. damian, thank you. we will keep a close eye on the reaction - keep a close eye on the reaction from northern ireland as well. there's just so you stormont today. a beautiful day in northern ireland, and also the inside. the camera

crews arejust getting and also the inside. the camera crews are just getting set up there because we just heard from chris heaton—harris that all the parties in northern ireland are being briefed. we are expecting from reaction from main parties which we will keep across for you here on bbc news. we will continue to bring you all the reaction. but it was a dramatic night, a late night for everybody in belfast last night, when the dup party leader sir jeffrey donaldson announced at 1am that they had backed a deal. quite dramatic. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. as the democratic unionist party reached a pivot point, protesters tried to increase the pressure. more hardline unionists have been urging the dup not to agree a new deal to restore the devolved government. 130 party members took part in a meeting which lasted more than five hours. but early this morning, the leader, sirjeffrey donaldson, announced he'd won support for a plan to bring back power—sharing. i believe that with the faithful delivery of this package

of measures, hard work and dedication, we will be able to look back on this moment as the defining time when northern ireland's place within the union was safeguarded and our place within the united kingdom internal market was restored. unionists have been strongly opposed to trading arrangements which were brought in after brexit. northern ireland follows different rules to great britain, meaning there are checks on goods arriving here from england, scotland and wales. the dup has said that separates this part of the uk from the rest. it has been negotiating with westminster for measures to remove what it sees as economic barriers. the dup says the question of how quickly the devolved government will be restored will depend on when the uk government fulfils its commitments, particularly, passing legislation. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris says he will finalise the deal as soon as possible.

when a power—sharing coalition is formed, an irish nationalist will become first minister for the first time. the sinn fein vice president, michelle o'neill, is in line to take up the position. after two years of uncertainty, frustration and division, it looks like the stalemate at stormont is coming to an end. chris page, bbc news, belfast. it isa it is a complex issue. power—sharing means there must be representatives from the nationalist community and unionists, who want northern ireland to remain part of the uk. the idea is that whatever the historic differences, both communities have a vested interest in the system. it has a first minister and deputy first minister, one unionists and the other nationalists. the devolved government last collapse of every 2022 after the democratic unionist

party withdrew in protest against post—brexit trade checks between the region and great britain, and the walk—out means that power—sharing was impossible. it's believed the arrangements under the northern ireland protocol diminished the region does not replace within the uk internal market, and a new deal called the windsor framework was agreed in 2022 between the government and european union, aimed at addressing their concerns. we are across all those different press conferences that we are expecting over the next few hours as different parties respond. we are also closely following every twist and turn on the website on bbc dotcom and our live page is covering the return of power—sharing with updates and analysis from all our correspondence across the region, and all the different players as well, so do log on and take a look. we will certainly return to this hour in the next few moments also, too. the us has named the three soldiers near the jordan—syria border. 46—year—old william jerome rivers, 24—year—old kennedy ladon sanders

and 23—year—old breonna alexsondria moffett were all from an army reserve unit in the state of georgia. they were killed, and dozens more were injured, in the attack at a remote outpost called tower 22. since israel launched its military action in gaza, after the hamas attacks, us military bases in syria and iraq have been attacked more than 170 times. the group that claims it was behind the deaths at the tower 22 base, called "islamic resistance in iraq", emerged in late 2023 and is comprised of several iran—affiliated militias operating in iraq. it has claimed other attacks against us forces in recent weeks. iran says it has had no direct involvement in any of the attacks. the us says it does not seek another war, but it will protect itself and respond appropriately. here's secretary of state, antony blinken. so the attacks that have taken place since october on our forces, on our personnel, in both iraq

and syria, have been conducted by groups that are aligned with iran, and indeed are supported by iran, funded by iran, equipped by iran. and i would note that the presence of ourforces in both iraq and syria has nothing to do with gaza, nothing to do with the conflict that's taken place since october 7th, since the horrific attacks by hamas, and everything to do with making sure that isis doesn't re—emerge. that's why they're there. antony blinken there. let's take you back to stormont as we start to get reaction, that power—sharing in northern ireland �*s devolved assembly is set to return.

to separate the fact from fiction. — to separate the fact from fiction. and _ to separate the fact from fiction, and certain facts are very, very— fiction, and certain facts are very, very clean — fiction, and certain facts are very, very clear. first and foremost, not one word — very clear. first and foremost, not one word of— very clear. first and foremost, not one word of the protocol has been altered, _ one word of the protocol has been altered, and that straightaway means that northern ireland remains wholly within_ that northern ireland remains wholly within and _ that northern ireland remains wholly within and under the eu that northern ireland remains wholly within and underthe eu 's that northern ireland remains wholly within and under the eu 's customs code, _ within and under the eu 's customs code, and _ within and under the eu 's customs code, and that means that gb according _ code, and that means that gb according to that customs code continues— according to that customs code continues to be regarded in law as a foreign _ continues to be regarded in law as a foreign country when it comes to trade _ foreign country when it comes to trade the — foreign country when it comes to trade. the second fact that it is abundantly clear is this. not one syllable — abundantly clear is this. not one syllable of eu law has been this applied — syllable of eu law has been this applied in respect of northern ireiand~ — applied in respect of northern ireland. underthe protocolthere ireland. under the protocol there are

ireland. underthe protocolthere are hundreds upon hundreds of eu laws that_ are hundreds upon hundreds of eu laws that we don't make, that we can't _ laws that we don't make, that we can't change, that govern our goods economy~ _ can't change, that govern our goods economy. here from annex two of the protocol _ economy. here from annex two of the protocol of _ economy. here from annex two of the protocol of the mere titles of those hundreds, — protocol of the mere titles of those hundreds, running themselves to many, _ hundreds, running themselves to many, many pages. those are laws which _ many, many pages. those are laws which shape — many, many pages. those are laws which shape everything to do with our goods— which shape everything to do with our goods economy. it is also important _ our goods economy. it is also important to note that they are the identical— important to note that they are the identical laws which govern the goods— identical laws which govern the goods economy of the republic of ireiand, _ goods economy of the republic of ireland, and none of them have been removed _ ireland, and none of them have been removed so — ireland, and none of them have been removed. so we are left in a situation _ removed. so we are left in a situation where, as far as the laws that govern — situation where, as far as the laws that govern our goods economy, which is a vital— that govern our goods economy, which is a vital part. — that govern our goods economy, which is a vital part, as far as those laws — is a vital part, as far as those laws are _ is a vital part, as far as those laws are concerned, they are not the laws are concerned, they are not the laws that _ laws are concerned, they are not the laws that prevail in the rest of the uk. laws that prevail in the rest of the uk they— laws that prevail in the rest of the uk. they are identical to the laws that prevail in the irish republic stop so, — that prevail in the irish republic stop so, by that means, the

transition _ stop so, by that means, the transition of an all ireland economy remains _ transition of an all ireland economy remains secured under the protocol. and, _ remains secured under the protocol. and. of— remains secured under the protocol. and, of course, the manifestation of the fact— and, of course, the manifestation of the fact that we are under the eu customs — the fact that we are under the eu customs code, with gb decreed a foreign _ customs code, with gb decreed a foreign country in terms of trade, the fact— foreign country in terms of trade, the fact that we are under eu law manifest— the fact that we are under eu law manifest itself in the irish sea borderm _ border... that was party leader border... — that was party leader of the traditional unionist, just responding to the deal and the details that he is learning from stormont. just some of the reaction we will bring you from northern ireland throughout the day. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. a man armed with a crossbow has been shot dead by armed police in south—east london. the met police said the man

was trying to force his way into a building in the surrey quays area just before 5am on tuesday, and was threatening to hurt the people inside. two women have died following a fire at a block of flats in aberdeen. emergency services were sent to back hilton road on monday evening and the two women were pronounced dead at the scene. a joint police and fire investigation is being carried out into the cause of the blaze but police said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. the nhs app has been updated for users in england. the new features include a prescription tool with a digital barcode that can be used in pharmacies — without the need for a paper prescription. nhs digital says the app will also show average local hospital waiting times for patients who require non—urgent treatment. you're live with bbc news. dozens of major roads around paris and several other cities in france remain blocked by farmers

who are protesting about several issues. let's just show you some life pictures that we are getting in. we had those a moment ago. we can show you some in a moment, some pictures from the day. among their grievances, falling incomes, increasing environmental regulations, and growing competition from imports. the farmers say their protests are open—ended — so far, they've rejected concessions put forward by the french government as not going far enough. our correspondent bethany bell has more from paris. a number of major roads into paris remain blocked. we were out with protesters last night and many of them said they would stay there for as long as it takes. they were camping out on the motorway which they blocked with large bales of straw and a huge line of tractors parked all the way along the motorways. this is something so far they have rejected the first offers of concessions put forward by the government

a couple of days ago. what we have been told by a government spokesperson is another offer, more measures, may be announced later today. we wait to see what they are and what the reaction will be from the protesters. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan and the country's former foreign minister shah mahmood qureshi have both been sentenced to ten years in prison for leaking diplomatic correspondence. the case relates to a document sent between washington and islamabad when mr khan was prime minister. mr khan says the allegation was part of a us conspiracy to topple his government — an assertion washington denies. the former cricketer—turned—politician was ousted from power after losing a confidence vote in april 2022. he is currently injail in connection with other cases. our pakistan correspondent carrie

davies has more from islamabad. this case has been happening for a couple of months, all inside the jail where imran khan is currently being held. he was initially convicted in august on a different case but he got bailed from that case. he was kept behind bars because he was detained for these other cases that have been mounting against him. let's talk about this particular case. this is relating to an appearance on stage in march 2022 of imran khan, a month before he was ousted from power in a vote of no confidence. imran khan appeared on stage waving a piece of paper he said showed a foreign conspiracy against his government. he then went on to detail it, saying it said "all will be "forgiven if imran khan is removed from power." he did not specify which country this foreign conspiracy was coming from but then he proceeded to be very critical of america throughout the course of the speech so people

drew the lines themselves. the prosecution said imran khan's actions amounted to leaking state secrets, disclosing state documents and had damaged diplomatic relations. that is a second charge against him, damaging diplomatic relations, and that holds potentially long sentences, up to life imprisonment or even the death sentence. we are hearing from local media that were allowed to attend inside court but we were not able to attend the court case inside the jail, but we heard from them that the judge has found imran khan and his former foreign minister guilty, and they are being sentenced to ten years in prison. live now to salman safdar, imran khan's lawyer. he's in lahore. good to have you with us here on bbc news. ., ., ., , .

news. your reaction to this verdict? of course we _ news. your reaction to this verdict? of course we are _ news. your reaction to this verdict? of course we are appalled _ news. your reaction to this verdict? of course we are appalled and - news. your reaction to this verdict? of course we are appalled and we i news. your reaction to this verdict? l of course we are appalled and we are quite disgusted with the verdict for the simple reason that this trial has been concluded and the most objectionable and condemnable manner, and the way the judge has handled the proceedings, showing sheer haste. this is unprecedented because this trial was in the midst of recording evidence some two days ago. we have general elections scheduled on february the 8th, and imran khan, being the most popular leader, has bright chances of coming back to the power corridors. in fact, this prosecution and this conviction, just a week before the elections, is an attempt to sabotage his possibility of coming back to the elections, coming back to power. speaking about the conviction, about

18 witnesses were examined in one day, which is a shocking number of witnesses being examined, and the lawyers of mr imran khan were ousted from the proceedings, which is again unconstitutional, illegal, and is a practice not seen in the history of criminal proceedings in pakistan. so he has been convicted along with the foreign minister today all of a sudden without completing a formal trial. now we are, of course, going to challenge this conviction in the islamabad high court which will be done tomorrow morning, and we are hoping and expecting that within a week his appeal will be taken up, and this conviction will be quashed. as a lawyer, do you not take issue now with the judicial system itself in pakistan, the fact that the targeting of politicians through the

political system and the legal system has been happening for years, including when imran khan was prior minister? i including when imran khan was prior minister? ., including when imran khan was prior minister? . , ., ' :: :: , minister? i agree with you 100%. this has minister? i agree with you 10096. this has to _ minister? i agree with you 10096. this has to stop. _ minister? i agree with you 10096. this has to stop. political- this has to stop. political victimisation, one government prosecuting the previous government and their officials, this is an exercise or an abuse of power and authority which has damaged the criminaljustice authority which has damaged the criminal justice system, authority which has damaged the criminaljustice system, and the country itself. i was speaking to imran khan the other day and i said, if you ever come back to power you must come up with a strategy of burying the hatchet because this has given a lot of damage to the country overall. and if i may highlight during the past 16 months imran khan, against him alone there are 42 criminal cases registered in the whole of pakistan, in every city and every province. murder, sedition,

mutiny, terrorism, foreign funding, corruption. you name the offence, and... �* ., corruption. you name the offence, and... �* . ., ., , and... but what did imran khan is have to say _ and... but what did imran khan is have to say about _ and... but what did imran khan is have to say about that _ and... but what did imran khan is have to say about that when - and... but what did imran khan is have to say about that when you i have to say about that when you tackled him on that very issue? he was the prime minister when sharif was the prime minister when sharif was put in prison in a case that has now been dismissed and we now see mr sharif running again in these elections. sharif running again in these elections— elections. well, you have to understand _ elections. well, you have to understand the _ elections. well, you have to| understand the prosecutions elections. well, you have to i understand the prosecutions of criminal cases against imran khan are on flimsy, trivial charges. there are no proper charges of corruption like happens in pakistan when you are in power. yes. corruption like happens in pakistan when you are in power.— corruption like happens in pakistan when you are in power. yes, but the case against — when you are in power. yes, but the case against mr— when you are in power. yes, but the case against mr sharif _ when you are in power. yes, but the case against mr sharif was _ case against mr sharif was dismissed.— case against mr sharif was dismissed. , ., , . case against mr sharif was dismissed. , ., . ~ dismissed. yes, that is correct. and this is again — dismissed. yes, that is correct. and this is again very— dismissed. yes, that is correct. and this is again very unfortunate - dismissed. yes, that is correct. and this is again very unfortunate that l this is again very unfortunate that the law enforcing agencies are busy

for years and establishing a case, and then they are seen giving a clean sheet to the convictions. in clean sheet to the convictions. in terms of this political victimisation and targeting that has been happening, as i have mentioned that happened under imran khan as well, what did he say to that question what did he promise that if he was in power he would change this system? he he was in power he would change this s stem? ., , ., he was in power he would change this s stem? .,, ., _, , system? he was of course, i did receive a — system? he was of course, i did receive a very — system? he was of course, i did receive a very positive _ system? he was of course, i did receive a very positive nod - system? he was of course, i did receive a very positive nod and i system? he was of course, i did l receive a very positive nod and his precise reply was that he is counting on people like yourself and advocates who would... i have witnessed the condition of the prison, i have seen the condition of the courts, of the policing and everything needs reform this would be a top priority if we ever come back to power. 50 be a top priority if we ever come back to power.— back to power. so this was the response- _ back to power. so this was the response. and _ back to power. so this was the response. and how _ back to power. so this was the response. and how does - back to power. so this was the response. and how does this l back to power. so this was the - response. and how does this affect imran khan himself question what he is now in prison which means he cannot stand in elections. edi is now in prison which means he cannot stand in elections. of course there is no —

cannot stand in elections. of course there is no special— cannot stand in elections. of course there is no special treatment - cannot stand in elections. of course there is no special treatment for - there is no special treatment for him inside the jail. he is like any other prisoner who is serving a sentence. i think the cases against him do not hold much substance, and it would be a matter of weeks, as soon as the elections take place. i do see a change in the wings. briefly, do you believe the high court, once you have appealed this case, you believe they will quash this verdict? i case, you believe they will quash this verdict?— case, you believe they will quash this verdict? i 10096 and convinced and optimistic _ this verdict? i 10096 and convinced and optimistic for _ this verdict? i 10096 and convinced and optimistic for the _ this verdict? i 10096 and convinced and optimistic for the reason - this verdict? i 10096 and convinced and optimistic for the reason that l this verdict? i 10096 and convinced j and optimistic for the reason that i have looked at the evidence and i have looked at the evidence and i have looked at the evidence and i have looked at the overall manner in which this trial was conducted and concluded, and above all, whether it is uk, us or pakistan, no criminal justice system would tolerate that an advocate of the accused choice is

thrown out of the proceedings and the trial is completed. so this is my personal grievance. that in representing him, just to accelerate the conviction because elections are only a week away. the conviction because elections are only a week away-— the conviction because elections are only a week away. very good to have our only a week away. very good to have your thoughts- _ only a week away. very good to have your thoughts. we _ only a week away. very good to have your thoughts. we have _ only a week away. very good to have your thoughts. we have to _ only a week away. very good to have your thoughts. we have to leave - only a week away. very good to have your thoughts. we have to leave it i your thoughts. we have to leave it there but thank you forjoining us. that was imran khan �*s lawyer speaking to us from pakistan. hello again. after yesterday's heavy rain, especially across northern england, things are a bit quieter today. we started off with a lot of cloud, patchy light rain and drizzle left over from this area of low pressure which brought us the rain yesterday. it's now pulling away, allowing this area of high pressure to build in. what's going to happen through the afternoon is the cloud continuing to push down towards the south—east where it will linger. but for the rest of the uk, it's mostly a dry day with some sunny spells. could catch the odd isolated shower across the north of scotland,

but that will be about it. these are our temperatures, 6—11, with the temperatures in the south—east going down as we go through the course of the afternoon, to about eight or nine. tonight, across england and wales, we'll have clear skies, light winds, patchy cloud and some frost. but the cloud building in over northern ireland, also northern england and scotland, with some gales likely, especially in the western isles, as the rain also comes in. milder in the north, colder in the south. so this is what's bringing the wet and windy weather across the north of the country, this area of low pressure, this front sinking south through the course of the day, taking its rain with it. but the wind will be the story, especially across scotland, where we are looking at widespread gales, gusts of wind, especially with exposure, of 80 miles an hour in the north and west. but very windy also across northern ireland and northern england. some heavy rain pushing southwards. to the south of that, the cloud will build. the far south—east hanging on to the brightness for the longest with highs here of up to about 11 degrees, and some wintry showers in the hills of scotland

following on behind the rain. that weather front sinks south as a weak feature overnight wednesday and clears. and then we've got this next ridge of high pressure building in before the next weather front comes our way. so a cold and frosty start for england and wales on thursday but a lot of sunshine. a dry start for northern ireland and scotland, with the cloud building from the west bringing in some rain. later we could see a bit of cloud and drizzle coming into the south—west. temperatures, 6—11. then on into friday, a fairly cloudy affair, the cloud thick enough for some spots of light rain or drizzle. it's going to be breezy as well with the strongest winds being across the far northwest and temperatures, 9—16, but possibly in the south, 15. let's go straight to stormont to bring you a reaction from the alliance party.

there is nothing in the deal that wasn't available in 2018 under theresa may, or that would not have been able to be negotiated alongside doing ourjobs in the executive, and i guess for me that is the better part of it, in that i simply wish we had been able to continue to do our jobs and avoid all of the harm that has been caused. we are where we are, and from our perspective the priority now is where we go from here, not where we have been. so we will be going to the castle this afternoon and engaging with the other parties constructively about how we might take northern ireland forward for the next number of years. what we will and we will not be able to achieve, given the restraints and challenges we face. at the sooner we have these institutions restored, the better as far as i'm concerned. so i am pleased we are in a position to be able to have that conversation today.

inaudible. of all the things that are embarrassing standing hit this morning, i think the length of time is probably the least embarrassing of the spectacle we have seen unfold in recent days. but from my perspective, that embarrassment is not mine. it was not alliance that blocked the deal from theresa may. it was not alliance that kick—started up all of this with the demands for brexit and it won't be our standing demands for brexit and it won't be ourstanding in the demands for brexit and it won't be our standing in the way of restoration either. what is fairly clear though to me is that given the fragility of relationships, notjust between parties, but inside some parties, if we are going to have stable institutions the government now needs to engage seriously on the issue of reform of these institutions. they simply cannot withstand another collapse, and i think government need to reflect on that in the days ahead, and what they can do to try to stabilise the institutions we have and ensure that they actually are able to function in a consistent way because if we

are going to talk about reform of our public services, we need consistency of government to deliver stop so we have to address that issue. when do you expect the assembly to be sitting? i see no reason why we cannot do it tomorrow and there nothing to stop the secretary of state tabling the measures in the next 48 hours and the assembly coming back in parallel with that. i have never believed we needed to wait for this deal in order to restore the institutions, and i don't believe we need to wait longer to do that. we stand ready to be in the chamber at the first opportunity, and as always, we will take the opportunity to get the institutions restored, but there nothing even from a dup perspective to stand in the way of that. that nothing even from a dup perspective to stand in the way of that.— to stand in the way of that. that is naomi long. _ to stand in the way of that. that is naomi long, the _ to stand in the way of that. that is naomi long, the leader _ to stand in the way of that. that is naomi long, the leader of- to stand in the way of that. that is naomi long, the leader of the - naomi long, the leader of the alliance party giving her reaction to the news that power—sharing in

the northern ireland devolved assembly is set to return