statutory public inquiries are noted in if i wasn't prepared to give assurance and i would have the ability and the sabia judge let statutory public inquiry. however, now, she says, she noted key points from her whatsapps and then deleted them. i was very thorough, notjust in the pandemic but in all my work in government

to ensure that things were appropriately recorded, but in line with the advice i had always been given since my first day in government, probably, was not to retain conversations like that on a phone that could be lost or stolen and therefore not secure. but did you delete them? yes. but others have provided whatsapps. the inquiry was shown messages for october 2020 in which ms sturgeon told her chief of staff, "i'm having a bit of a crisis of decision—making in hospitality, not helped by the fact i haven't slept". after discussing the possible restrictions on pubs and restaurants in detail, ms sturgeon concludes, "it is all so random but i think we need to be prepared for a bit of a backlash". but critics, including some of those bereaved in the pandemic, want to know what was in the whatsapps which we haven't seen. james cook, bbc news, edinburgh.

the deaths and care homes here in scotland but there's no getting away for the former first minister from some very difficult questions and particularly about the two the evidence and we do not know presumably whether it was evidence or not or how critics want to know what, if anything she was trying to hide. details of the steel with the democratic unionist party to bring back power—sharing to northern ireland. it will mean no routine checks on goods from great britain in stag and northern ireland and the dup has boycotted this for almost two years and protests weaving northern ireland without a government. our political editor is in westminster for government. our political editor is

in westminsterfor us. government. our political editor is in westminster for us. this all boils down to the complexities of northern ireland politics colliding with the complexities of brexit. the peace process means that there's a long desire for northern ireland in uk in the republic in the eu and different rules about borders and a long—running row trying to square that circle. four years ago today, the uk left of the european union, brexit happen. leading to this between northern ireland and england, scotland and wales. in the last half hour, the dup leader and the northern ireland secretary have been giving the new plan the big cell. ., ., cell. committed to delivering the steel swiftly _ cell. committed to delivering the steel swiftly so _ cell. committed to delivering the steel swiftly so we _ cell. committed to delivering the

steel swiftly so we can _ cell. committed to delivering the steel swiftly so we can build - cell. committed to delivering the steel swiftly so we can build a . steel swiftly so we can build a brighter future for northern ireland in the united kingdom. and it is now time for elected representatives of northern ireland to come together. this agreement is something we work hard to— this agreement is something we work hard to deliver on for the people of northern_ hard to deliver on for the people of northern ireland. this is our achievement and after two years of hard work— achievement and after two years of hard work in negotiations. with achievement and after two years of hard work in negotiations.- hard work in negotiations. with us in this new — hard work in negotiations. with us in this new plan _ hard work in negotiations. with us in this new plan and _ hard work in negotiations. with us in this new plan and a _ hard work in negotiations. with us in this new plan and a delusion - in this new plan and a delusion of attempted reassurance for the story that brexit has diluted northern ireland splits in the uk. making trade easier is the core promise and there will be no routine checks from scotland to great britain and northern ireland and northern ireland goods will be sorting great britain and also instances. the east—west council will be set up and uk wide trade and cooperation. a uk law will be tweeted to emphasise

changes to eu law that impacts northern ireland can be scrutinised and voted on by stormont. debating the plan, labourers worked with the government on that it is full of praise for ministers. i government on that it is full of praise for ministers.— praise for ministers. i like to thank the — praise for ministers. i like to thank the secretary - praise for ministers. i like to thank the secretary of - praise for ministers. i like to thank the secretary of state | praise for ministers. i like to i thank the secretary of state for praise for ministers. i like to - thank the secretary of state for the tireless efforts that have brought us to this point and this is a great achievement. but us to this point and this is a great achievement.— achievement. but not all democratic unionist or happy- — achievement. but not all democratic unionist or happy. there _ achievement. but not all democratic unionist or happy. there are - achievement. but not all democratic unionist or happy. there are still- unionist or happy. there are still eu manned _ unionist or happy. there are still eu manned border— unionist or happy. there are still eu manned border posts - unionist or happy. there are still eu manned border posts being l unionist or happy. there are still. eu manned border posts being built which _ eu manned border posts being built which within their own country. and with this _ which within their own country. and with this brexit betraying government that will not go on. apologies for the technical issues, thank you for staying with us and let's turn to the us where some of

the most powerful people in the world are being grilled in court, before the us congress to answer questions about children safety and tick—tock, formerly twitter, snapping discord or testifying before the senate judiciary committee or what steps taken to counter child sexual exploitation on the platforms. hundreds of millions of users are particularly worried about the reports about explicit images of children being shared, including those created by artificial intelligence tools. discussing this further let's speak to baroness beeban kidron. she is a crossbench peer in the house of lords and chair of five rights foundation — a digital safety campaign group. welcome and thank you forjoining us and what have you made of what you have been hearing at the committee so far? it

have been hearing at the committee so far? . , have been hearing at the committee so far? ., , ., ., ., , so far? it was quite extraordinary because in _ so far? it was quite extraordinary because in such _ so far? it was quite extraordinary because in such an _ so far? it was quite extraordinary because in such an incredibly - because in such an incredibly divided congress, there was this consensus among senators that time had to be called on the technology sector that failed to look after children and they were really concerned about the number of things children's privacy, the addiction, the child sexual abuse material that you referred to in your introduction, self—harm, suicide, being able to buy goods that they ingest and cost them their lives what they had never seen before and i've been doing this for a decade or more is the entire room was filled with parents and families of bereaved children, children who have lost their lives and were connected to technology in is very emotional

atmosphere. to technology in is very emotional atmosphere-— to technology in is very emotional atmoshere. , ,., ., , atmosphere. there is some moments where they're — atmosphere. there is some moments where they're asked _ atmosphere. there is some moments where they're asked to _ atmosphere. there is some moments where they're asked to turn _ atmosphere. there is some moments where they're asked to turn and - atmosphere. there is some moments where they're asked to turn and face l where they're asked to turn and face the families were there and there is a cross party agreement that something needs to be done but it's a little trickier to agree on how to go about doing it, isn't it? it is. go about doing it, isn't it? it is, it is very _ go about doing it, isn't it? it is, it is very difficult _ go about doing it, isn't it? it is, it is very difficult and _ go about doing it, isn't it? it is, it is very difficult and i - go about doing it, isn't it? it is, it is very difficult and i think- go about doing it, isn't it? it is, | it is very difficult and i think one of the issues that came up was fantastically interesting and a bit of a drumbeat throughout the whole testimony was the way that the companies actually lobbied against regulation and legislative change and in fact, regulation and legislative change and infact, i've regulation and legislative change and in fact, i've had some experience in this in california trying to copy will be done in the uk successfully and keep it private and privacy equal safety online and

they were slammed by the association lawsuit which we believe will go all the way to the supreme court and what they said there was that corporations for free speech should trump safety protections or design protections for children and that is quite a claim that they're willing to take it all the way to the supreme court. it to take it all the way to the supreme court.— to take it all the way to the supreme court. to take it all the way to the sureme court. , ., _ ., ._ supreme court. it is easy to lay the blame at the _ supreme court. it is easy to lay the blame at the tech _ supreme court. it is easy to lay the blame at the tech giant _ supreme court. it is easy to lay the blame at the tech giant store - supreme court. it is easy to lay the blame at the tech giant store but . blame at the tech giant store but there should be, the issue is that needs to be tougher legislation and why hasn't that been forthcoming? americas rest stop right now, pre—election year, they won't help each other out and is a very thin line and people see it differently. i think there's a chance that they might pull a bill out of the hat

before the american election but i think what announcing is that here in the uk, made significant progress and in the eu and australia and they are beginning to question how it is that american children do not have the rights to the same sorts of protections that we bringing in here it is interesting amongst the tech companies is that many of them are bringing the legislative changes that we make in the uk in the eu was well and changing it even for american children but there's accountability, nobody can actually have site and no one in america pulls into account they think that is beginning to weigh on congress and they may find that the need outweighs their differences on the specific issue.—

specific issue. we'll see how this ans out specific issue. we'll see how this pans out burgers _ specific issue. we'll see how this pans out burgers or— specific issue. we'll see how this pans out burgers or to _ specific issue. we'll see how this pans out burgers or to get - specific issue. we'll see how this pans out burgers or to get your. pans out burgers or to get your thoughts on this and on the issue, thank you so much forjoining us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news a new scheme has launched across most pharmacies in england — allowing people to get advice and treatment for seven common health conditions — without the need to see a doctor. the list includes sore throat, earache and shingles. treatment may be an over—the—counter or prescription—only medicine. it's estimated it could save gps ten million appointments a year a man shot dead by police in south east london yesterday — has been revealed as a convicted stalker who was banned from entering the road where he was shot. the thirty year old died afterforcing his way into a home — armed with weapons including a crossbow. the independent office for police conduct is investigating the incident. sir lenny henry has announced this year's comic relief in march will be the last year he'll host the television fundraiser —

after nearly forty years at the healm. the comedian co—founded the charity with richard curtis in 1985 — and hosted the first show three years later. sir lenny has been an honorary president of comic relief since 2017. you're live with bbc news. let's turn to the conflict in sudan now, where a grim milestone has been reached, as the united nations says the earlier, norway urged coaches that it suspended funding to reconsider their decision and always says it will continue to support unwra following accusations that the part in attacks by hamas pro israel continues the bombardment the south

of gaza in districts of gaza city in the north, is really thinks and continued to bombard areas from the hospital, the largest still functioning in gaza, they described it as uninhabitable due to the skill of the destruction, here's our middle eastern correspondent. desperately asking its donors to reconsider their decisions. the donors who have said there will be stopping funding to this agency will after palestinian refugees in gaza in this comes after israel makes allegations that some members of staff in the organisation were actually involved in the october the 7th hamas attacks. if they the heads of various united nations saying you have to look at the wider picture that there are some 13,000 members of staff working for this particular un agency in gaza and palestinian should not be made to suffer as a

result, he of the united states coming forward to say that even though they are pausing their contributions, for now, they believe the organisation does vital work that no other agency should come in certainly be able to come in and do over what is an active war zone. the fighting continues we have seen israelis using sea water in trying to pump it down into the vast underground tunnel networks and he sends part of their internal networks to try to eradicate hamas but the last 2a hours, there's been deaths on both sides in the israeli defence force said if palestinian fighters and also in terms of casualties on the israeli side, at least three soldiers have been killed in the fighting does go on. live now to california but the military affairs analyst and retired colonel and his last assignment was chief of staff for us marine corps

forces in europe and thank you so much forjoining us and i like to get your thoughts and latest developments on the situation on the ground in gaza would israel's reaction is? aha, ground in gaza would israel's reaction is?— ground in gaza would israel's reaction is? a level of violence that are really _ reaction is? a level of violence that are really has _ reaction is? a level of violence that are really has been - reaction is? a level of violence i that are really has been virtually the same for the last two months since the response to october seven and it is unfortunate that they have cut back, significantly on the bombardment of a housing areas of your witnessing earlier on and they made so much progress but this is just an ugly situation and it will continue into the foreseeable future. why do you think there'll be any change in how the reaction continues? they are very astute not only an opinion but the opinion of

the israelis themselves, the occupants of their country and the jewish diaspora around the world and i think they're going to be very careful as to how they work the levels of violence and how they're going to try to bring about some settlements of the can go i had to get these hostages out because the family understandably in israel are making an awful lot ofjustifiable noise in their minds to try to get theirfamily members out noise in their minds to try to get their family members out and all we can do with them is sympathises the stage. but can do with them is sympathises the sta . e. �* , ,., , can do with them is sympathises the state. �* , ., stage. but the messages coming out ofthe stage. but the messages coming out of the white — stage. but the messages coming out of the white house, _ stage. but the messages coming out of the white house, not _ stage. but the messages coming out of the white house, notjust - stage. but the messages coming out of the white house, notjust in - of the white house, notjust in terms of trying to ensure civilians are getting the aid that they need but in terms of not to allow this to spill out to the wider region. does

next one question _ spill out to the wider region. does next one question that _ spill out to the wider region. lire" next one question that has some very complex answers to it but i think they're under a lot of pressure from they're under a lot of pressure from the white house by the same time, they are under a lot of pressure from within israel and you also have the pressures from the israeli people in thejewish people worldwide and a lot of other people like myself who are just absolutely appalled by what happened on october seven and quite frankly, i will give credit where credit is due, hamas is done an absolutely masterfuljob in obtaining the media high ground. the number of people in the united states to support hamas and simply have bought into the narrative that hamas is been putting forth that these descriptions of the violence on october seven are just not true. it is astonishing what's going on in

to your question about whether this can escalate and go further, i think there is a good chance that he could buy the same time, i don't think iran wants it. in buy the same time, i don't think iran wants it.— iran wants it. in terms of people in the states supporting _ iran wants it. in terms of people in the states supporting hamas, - iran wants it. in terms of people in the states supporting hamas, are. the states supporting hamas, are there figures are evidence of people supporting hamas specifically as opposed to showing support for palestinian civilians? it is opposed to showing support for palestinian civilians?— opposed to showing support for palestinian civilians? it is hard to sa . palestinian civilians? it is hard to say- hamas _ palestinian civilians? it is hard to say. hamas has _ palestinian civilians? it is hard to say. hamas has been _ palestinian civilians? it is hard to say. hamas has been very - palestinian civilians? it is hard to say. hamas has been very adept| palestinian civilians? it is hard to l say. hamas has been very adept at going in at the large demonstrations in the united states if you look at the media reporting, you will see signs in those groups of demonstrators who talk to supporters and it is ongoing, hamas is there and it is ongoing, hamas is there and behind the demonstrations there's no doubt about it. i

and behind the demonstrations there's no doubt about it. i think there's no doubt about it. i think there would _ there's no doubt about it. i think there would be _ there's no doubt about it. i think there would be people _ there's no doubt about it. i think there would be people saying . there's no doubt about it. i think. there would be people saying that there would be people saying that there isn't actually evidence of that in the vast majority of protests, demonstrations and marches in the united states and other parts of the world, it's mainly made up of people showing support for civilians in gaza and calling for a cease—fire, i don't think there's evidence to say that it is all driven by support from mosques and demonstrations of support for hamas but we will leave it there and i know we could talk about the subject all day but thank you so much for your thoughts on that and brendan, a military affairs analyst, thank you for your time. let's turn to the conflict in sudan now, where a grim milestone has been reached, as the united nations says the number of people displaced by the war has reached nearly eight million. on a visit to neighbouring ethiopia, the un refugee agency chief called for urgent

and additional support, this comes as sudanese army chief lt gen abdel fattah al—burhan has ordered a large—scale offensive against the rival paramilitary rapid support forces. here's the un refugee chief describing the situation there. in two hours from the border, i was on the border and there are a few families crossing from sudan is refugees on carts. a small number that we have 500,000 almost 500,000 refugees and the situation can change very quickly we know that in november, there was a surge of fighting and there is up to 3000 people a day crossing the border and the good news but i sit on the border is from unicef and others coming into sudan from the area. you

have a lot of — coming into sudan from the area. you have a lot of experience in this field and what is the situation here currently compared to what you have witnessed before? i’zre currently compared to what you have witnessed before?— currently compared to what you have witnessed before? i've been in sudan for about four— witnessed before? i've been in sudan for about four and _ witnessed before? i've been in sudan for about four and half _ witnessed before? i've been in sudan for about four and half years - witnessed before? i've been in sudan for about four and half years and - for about four and half years and i've been here in chad for the last six months supporting our work in sudan from here. it's very serious and 8 million in terms of those and since 1a million in 1a million children in sudan and they now need help and we know that there is been an increase in reports of violations against children. the killing of children, the naming of children and

armed forces and just to give you another boring statistic, we have more than 18 million people in sudan facing a hunger crisis prorated by the situation of food security and malnutrition, the 3.5 and 2.4 million children are usually malnourished and up to 50,000 children, they don't receive simple packages and therapeutic food, they are at risk of dying. unicef chief speaking to us earlier. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. we've seen some very strong winds across northern areas of scotland today. and with those severe gales came some pretty big waves pummeling the coastline of shetland.

but it wasn't shetland where the strongest winds in this storm were. no, they were in the core of storm ingunn and that runs straight across the faroe islands to our northwest. now, landsverk is the public authority that runs the infrastructure in the faroe islands. they reported a gust on one of their weather stations of 155 mph. in relatively well sheltered torshavn, we had a top gust of 120 mph there in the capital of the faroe islands. thankfully, those really powerful winds stayed well away from our shores. we had a top gust of 75 in lerwick and not far behind that in the highlands and the hebrides. now, overnight tonight we've got a band of rain, a cold front pushing southwards across england and wales, bringing some rain that will clear later in the night. and with clearing skies and lighter

winds, one or two mist and fog patches possible, there's also likely to be one or two patches of frost around as well as we head into the first part of thursday. now storm ingunn will be bringing some very strong winds to norway on thursday, gusts over 100 mph, blizzard conditions with lots of snow. our weather is going to be a good deal quieter than that. you'll be pleased to hear. we've got a ridge of high pressure and that means for many of us, it's a bright start to the day. should stay sunny for the most part across england and wales. further north, it will tend to turn cloudier through the afternoon, with outbreaks of rain arriving across the north and west of scotland through thursday afternoon. with the wind strengthening, it won't be quite as windy as it's been though today. but friday, a lot of cloud around.

best of any breaks in a cloud across eastern areas will continue to be quite windy generally. some rain across the north and west of scotland. we may see a fern effect set up across the north east of scotland. if that happens, we could see temperatures go as high as 16, but otherwise 14 in aberdeen. well, that's still a good seven or eight degrees above average at this time of the year. it stays mild as well for most of the country on saturday, but particularly so for england and wales. still quite a lot of cloud around. gusty winds on into the east of the pennines, a mixture of sunshine and showers for scotland and northern ireland. top temperature around 14 degrees for east anglia in the south east, but even 10—11 for scotland is still well above average as we head into february. into sunday and next week, generally it's going to stay quite wet and windy across northern areas. the quietest weather will be in the south.

this is bbc news, the headlines

tech bosses are grilled by the us congress — accused of failing to protect children from online abuse. the bbc releases thousands of emails, linked to the controversy about how martin bashir secured his interview with princess diana in 1995. we'll speak to andy webb,> the journalist who exposed mr bashir. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan is sentenced to 14 years in prisonjust a day after being handed a ten yearjail term in another case. the uk government has published details of its deal with the democratic unionist party to bring back power— sharing to northern ireland. it will mean no routine checks on goods crossing from great britain and staying in northern ireland. the dup has boycotted stormont for almost two years in protest at trade arrangements after the uk left the eu — leaving northern ireland without a government.