actually take on these iranian—backed groups. l actually take on these iranian-backed groups. actually take on these iranian-backed u-rous. a, iranian-backed groups. i have said to my counterpart _ iranian-backed groups. i have said to my counterpart minister- iranian-backed groups. i have said| to my counterpart minister galante every time that i talk to him, and i talk to him every week —— minister g. talk to him every week —— minister g_ __ talk to him every week —— minister g. —— gallant. they emphasise the importance of protecting human lives and providing assistance to the palestinians. it is critical. there is no question there has been a tough conflict but, as i said earlier, we are starting to see the israelis kind of shift their stance and change their approach to a more focused and... controlled, controlled is probably not the right word, but a more focused effort focused on a discrete set of objectives. so i think you know, we

talked to them about that weeks ago and they said they were going to do that and they are doing that. but i will continue to emphasise and i know secretary blinken and president biden will continue to emphasise the importance of addressing the issue of the palestinian people. it's critical and, you know, we are doing more but we're doing enough. time for a few more. _ more but we're doing enough. time for a few more. let's _ more but we're doing enough. time for a few more. let's go _ more but we're doing enough. time for a few more. let's go to - more but we're doing enough. time for a few more. let's go to cnn. reporter:— for a few more. let's go to cnn. reporter: ,, . ., , ., ., ., reporter: secretary, allow me to 'oin m reporter: secretary, allow me to join my colleagues _ reporter: secretary, allow me to join my colleagues and _ reporter: secretary, allow me to join my colleagues and wishing - reporter: secretary, allow me toj join my colleagues and wishing you reporter: secretary, allow me to l join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy— join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy recovery _ join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy recovery. the _ join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy recovery. the 30 _ join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy recovery. the 30 day - join my colleagues and wishing you a speedy recovery. the 30 day reviewl speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due _ speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in_ speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a _ speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a matter— speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a matter of— speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a matter of days _ speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a matter of days now, - speedy recovery. the 30 day review is due in a matter of days now, less than _ is due in a matter of days now, less than a _ is due in a matter of days now, less than a week— is due in a matter of days now, less than a week and _ is due in a matter of days now, less than a week and i'm _ is due in a matter of days now, less than a week and i'm not _ is due in a matter of days now, less than a week and i'm not mistaken. i is due in a matter of days now, less. than a week and i'm not mistaken. do you commit— than a week and i'm not mistaken. do you commit to— than a week and i'm not mistaken. do you commit to making _ than a week and i'm not mistaken. do you commit to making that _ than a week and i'm not mistaken. do you commit to making that review- you commit to making that review puhtie _ you commit to making that review puhtie and — you commit to making that review public. and hedger— you commit to making that review public. and hedger chief- you commit to making that review public. and hedger chief of - you commit to making that review public. and hedger chief of staff. you commit to making that reviewl public. and hedger chief of staff of the resignation _ public. and hedger chief of staff of the resignation or— public. and hedger chief of staff of the resignation or have _ public. and hedger chief of staff of the resignation or have there - public. and hedger chief of staff of the resignation or have there been| the resignation or have there been discussions — the resignation or have there been discussions about— the resignation or have there been discussions about her— the resignation or have there been discussions about her resignation. the resignation or have there been| discussions about her resignation in wake _ discussions about her resignation in wake the _ discussions about her resignation in wake the failure? _ icommit to i commit to being as transparent as possible and sharing as much as possible. because this is a command

and control of policies, of our government here, there will be elements of this that are classified but we are committed to sharing as much as possible as soon as possible. much as possible as soon as possible-— much as possible as soon as ossible. �* .,, y., . ., possible. and has your chief of staff offered _ possible. and has your chief of staff offered her _ possible. and has your chief of staff offered her resignation? l possible. and has your chief of. staff offered her resignation? she has not. staff offered her resignation? she has not- i've _ staff offered her resignation? she has not. i've seen _ staff offered her resignation? she has not. i've seen what _ staff offered her resignation? she has not. i've seen what you - staff offered her resignation? she has not. i've seen what you are i has not. i've seen what you are auoin has not. i've seen what you are going through _ has not. i've seen what you are going through up _ has not. i've seen what you are going through up close - has not. i've seen what you are going through up close among | has not. i've seen what you are - going through up close among loved ones so _ going through up close among loved ones so i _ going through up close among loved ones so i wish — going through up close among loved ones so i wish you _ going through up close among loved ones so i wish you a _ going through up close among loved ones so i wish you a fast _ going through up close among loved ones so i wish you a fast recovery. l ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've _ ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've described _ ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've described this _ ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've described this as _ ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've described this as a - ones so i wish you a fast recovery. you've described this as a gut - you've described this as a gut punch, — you've described this as a gut punch, but _ you've described this as a gut punch, but to— you've described this as a gut punch, but to ask _ you've described this as a gut punch, but to ask you - you've described this as a gut| punch, but to ask you bluntly, you've described this as a gut - punch, but to ask you bluntly, you had nearly— punch, but to ask you bluntly, you had nearly a — punch, but to ask you bluntly, you had nearly a month _ punch, but to ask you bluntly, you had nearly a month between - punch, but to ask you bluntly, you had nearly a month between the l punch, but to ask you bluntly, you i had nearly a month between the time you learned _ had nearly a month between the time you learned of— had nearly a month between the time you learned of your— had nearly a month between the time you learned of your cancer— had nearly a month between the time you learned of your cancer and - had nearly a month between the time you learned of your cancer and the i you learned of your cancer and the time _ you learned of your cancer and the time that— you learned of your cancer and the time that this _ you learned of your cancer and the time that this came _ you learned of your cancer and the time that this came out _ you learned of your cancer and the time that this came out to - you learned of your cancer and the time that this came out to inform i time that this came out to inform the president _ time that this came out to inform the president. how— time that this came out to inform the president. how could - time that this came out to inform the president. how could you - the president. how could you possibly— the president. how could you possibly think— the president. how could you possibly think it _ the president. how could you possibly think it was - the president. how could you possibly think it was ok - the president. how could you possibly think it was ok to i the president. how could you | possibly think it was ok to not the president. how could you - possibly think it was ok to not to tell him? — possibly think it was ok to not to tell him? and _ possibly think it was ok to not to tell him? and what _ possibly think it was ok to not to tell him? and what do _ possibly think it was ok to not to tell him? and what do you - possibly think it was ok to not toi tell him? and what do you believe iran tell him? and what do you believe iran knew— tell him? and what do you believe iran knew operationally— tell him? and what do you believe iran knew operationally about - tell him? and what do you believe iran knew operationally about the | iran knew operationally about the attack _ iran knew operationally about the attack in — iran knew operationally about the attack injordan_ iran knew operationally about the attack in jordan and _ iran knew operationally about the attack in jordan and how - iran knew operationally about the i attack in jordan and how important is that— attack in jordan and how important is that when— attack in jordan and how important is that when it _ attack in jordan and how important is that when it comes _ attack in jordan and how important is that when it comes to _ attack in jordan and how important is that when it comes to the - attack in jordan and how important is that when it comes to the us - is that when it comes to the us response? _

is that when it comes to the us response? hie— is that when it comes to the us re5ponse?_ is that when it comes to the us resonse? g ., , ., response? my diagnosis was made. the doctor highlighted _ response? my diagnosis was made. the doctor highlighted that _ response? my diagnosis was made. the doctor highlighted that you _ response? my diagnosis was made. the doctor highlighted that you have - response? my diagnosis was made. the doctor highlighted that you have a - doctor highlighted that you have a finite window of time to actually get this done. if you go beyond that window, then you have a problem. christmas holidays coming up. for me to be as little impact on what we are doing in the department, christmas was a time for me to take a look at getting that done. it was a look at getting that done. it was a tough decision for me and i did not decide until very close to when the procedure was done to actually do the procedure. in terms of informing the president, again, i admit it was a mistake to not talk to him about that early on. the president of the united states has a lot of things on his plate and so putting my personal issue, adding to

all the things that he's got on his plate, ijust didn't all the things that he's got on his plate, i just didn't feel that all the things that he's got on his plate, ijust didn't feel that it was a thing that i should do at the time. but again, i recognise that that was a mistake and i shouldn't have done that, i should have done that differently. we believe that the attack was done by an element of what is known as the axis of resistance. these are iranian proxy groups and how much iranian proxy groups and how much iran knew or didn't know, we don't know, but it really doesn't matter because iran sponsors these groups, it funds these groups and, in some cases, it trains these groups and advanced conventional weapons. i think without that facilitation, these kind of things don't happen. let's go to ft and then politico to close _ let's go to ft and then politico to close out — let's go to ft and then politico to

close out. ., , ., , let's go to ft and then politico to close out-— let's go to ft and then politico to close out. . y., , ., , , , close out. have you seen any signs that china has _ close out. have you seen any signs that china has been _ close out. have you seen any signs that china has been successful- close out. have you seen any signs that china has been successful in i that china has been successful in pressuring — that china has been successful in pressuring iran— that china has been successful in pressuring iran and _ that china has been successful in pressuring iran and the - that china has been successful in pressuring iran and the houthis i that china has been successful inl pressuring iran and the houthis in the red _ pressuring iran and the houthis in the red sea? _ pressuring iran and the houthis in the red sea? we— pressuring iran and the houthis in the red sea?— pressuring iran and the houthis in the red sea? we have not. what's ha enin: the red sea? we have not. what's happening in _ the red sea? we have not. what's happening in terms _ the red sea? we have not. what's happening in terms of _ the red sea? we have not. what's happening in terms of closed - happening in terms of closed communications between leaders, we don't know but we've not seen any visible evidence that they are encouraging or pressuring iran to cause the houthis to back off of what they've been doing. final question- _ what they've been doing. final question- i _ what they've been doing. final question. i wish _ what they've been doing. final question. i wish you _ what they've been doing. final question. i wish you a - what they've been doing. final question. i wish you a speedyl question. i wish you a speedy recovery- _ question. i wish you a speedy recovery. first _ question. i wish you a speedy recovery. first of _ question. i wish you a speedy recovery. first of all, - question. i wish you a speedy recovery. first of all, do - question. i wish you a speedy recovery. first of all, do you | recovery. first of all, do you regret— recovery. first of all, do you regret not _ recovery. first of all, do you regret not personally telling the deputy— regret not personally telling the deputy the details that are times that you — deputy the details that are times that you would in the hospital and the authorities were transferred to her? _ the authorities were transferred to her? do— the authorities were transferred to her? do you think she had a right to know? _ her? do you think she had a right to know? and — her? do you think she had a right to know? and i— her? do you think she had a right to know? and i have a question in the middle _ know? and i have a question in the middle east— know? and i have a question in the middle east as well. as know? and i have a question in the middle east as well. asi know? and i have a question in the middle east as well.— know? and i have a question in the middle east as well. as i said in my 0 enin: middle east as well. as i said in my opening statement, _ middle east as well. as i said in my opening statement, i— middle east as well. as i said in my opening statement, i apologise - middle east as well. as i said in my opening statement, i apologise to. opening statement, i apologise to all my colleagues and also the

american people that i wasn't as transparent as i probably should have been upfront. is transparent as i probably should have been upfront.— have been upfront. is there any discussion _ have been upfront. is there any discussion right _ have been upfront. is there any discussion right now— have been upfront. is there any discussion right now of - have been upfront. is there any- discussion right now of withdrawing troops _ discussion right now of withdrawing troops from either syria or iraq, especialty— troops from either syria or iraq, especially given what has happened in the _ especially given what has happened in the last— especially given what has happened in the last couple of weeks? what has happened _ in the last couple of weeks? what has happened in _ in the last couple of weeks? what has happened in the _ in the last couple of weeks? what has happened in the last - in the last couple of weeks? transit has happened in the last couple in the last couple of weeks? wusgt has happened in the last couple of weeks is not driving us to consider withdrawing troops from syria. there are ongoing discussions with the iraqi leadership about our future footprint in iraq and i think that has been fairly well publicised. a high military commission have taken the first steps in conducting those meetings and so that will play out over time. ,., , ., meetings and so that will play out over time. , ., . over time. does that include discussions _ over time. does that include discussions about _ over time. does that include i discussions about withdrawing over time. does that include - discussions about withdrawing troops from irag? _ discussions about withdrawing troops from iraq? it discussions about withdrawing troops from ira: ? . from iraq? it will include discussions _ from iraq? it will include discussions about - from iraq? it will include discussions about our. from iraq? it will include - discussions about our footprint going forward. studio: the defence secretary concluding a very lengthy news

conference, talking about it being a dangerous moment in the middle east, he said it had been difficulties for the department of defence on sunday's attack which killed three service personnel injordan_ then there was that lengthy apology about that controversy about his hospital visit being treated for prostate cancer which, visit being treated for prostate cancerwhich, of visit being treated for prostate cancer which, of course, the president was not told about. he apologised to the american president, to his team and the public. he gave a long explanation but said it was an explanation, not an excuse. listening to all of that, nick beek is injerusalem for us. let's return to the many comments he made on the potential us retaliatory action. minimal detail but what we have learned is that the attacks, over a number of days, they will be inside iraq and syria, and crucially not inside iranian territory itself. i thought it was really interesting, listening to the us's top defence

official there, outlining how the white house sees iran as a stirring things up in the middle east. we've already heard from one of his colleagues how this part of the world faces a danger it hasn't seems for some 50 years —— it hasn't seen, and lloyd austin believed iran was responsible for this through funding and supporting various groups across this region. chiefly, some of the groups that have been operating within syria and iraq, he said it didn't really matter how much iran knew about that specific attack at the weekend in which three american service personnel were killed. he said the fact iran had given backing to these groups means that iran is responsible and that's why iranian targets will be looked at in the coming hours and days at a time of america's choosing. there will be no strikes on iranian soil, that was always seen as unlikely, the white

house saying they don't want to exacerbate things but they have to send a message and that extends to a few different things in the middle east at the moment, notably the houthis who have been fighting within yemen out towards the red sea, they say they have been hitting ships which are linked to the us, the uk, israel, and they've been doing this in solidarity with the people of gaza. they say they will continue to hit shipping until the fighting stops and israeli forces withdraw. there is clearly no sign of that happening at the moment so there are concerns that with more military activity in the middle east, america is setting out how it will respond to those deadly attacks but they will do it in a calculated manner and at the same time sending a message to iran that this sort of activity from their proxies will not be tolerated.—

activity from their proxies will not be tolerated. thank you, nick from our be tolerated. thank you, nick from your pempective — be tolerated. thank you, nick from your perspective from _ be tolerated. thank you, nick from your perspective from jerusalem. l be tolerated. thank you, nick from i your perspective from jerusalem. tom your perspective from jerusalem. tom bateman was listening from washington. what was your assessment?— washington. what was your assessment? �*, ., ,, ., ., assessment? let's talk about iran first of all- _ assessment? let's talk about iran first of all. what _ assessment? let's talk about iran first of all. what is _ assessment? let's talk about iran first of all. what is new _ assessment? let's talk about iran first of all. what is new today - assessment? let's talk about iran first of all. what is new today is i first of all. what is new today is that our colleagues at cbs news reporting that the approval has been given for strikes over a series of days and, crucially, on iranian personnel and facilities but not inside iran itself. i think there are two things behind this, the fact that this information is now coming out because what we heard from lloyd austin is they are not going to telegraph their military action, they are not going to speculate before it happens on exactly where might be targeted, that's the public line from the podium but this information is coming out from elsewhere in the administration. i think what they want to do is show

to the iran hawks here in washington that they are going to respond decisively. they are keeping things in a holding pattern because people will be asking, why haven't there been any military strikes already since these three soldiers were killed at the weekend? i think there's one thing to say about the targeting, which is that it's very noticeable, that this does not mention iran itself which is what some hawks here want to see but it talks about iranian personnel in iraq and syria. that is still a considerable action, there are islamic revolutionary guard corps, irgc, iranian personnel in parts of iraq and syria so the targeting of them by the us would be significant. that is supposed to meaningfully deter further strikes against us personnel but the fact is the reported approval here doesn't

appear to be against iran itself, they are trying not to draw them into a wider confrontation between the us and iranians. it's important that they have also mentioned the weather, they talk about cloud cover, i think it is a suggestion this hasn't happened so far because they haven't got the weather to guarantee the targeting. that's a kind of side bar mention towards the more hawkish members of congress that might suggest why it hasn't happened yet. pare that might suggest why it hasn't happened yet-— that might suggest why it hasn't happened yet. are really lengthy a olo . happened yet. are really lengthy apology for _ happened yet. are really lengthy apology for that _ happened yet. are really lengthy apology for that hospital - happened yet. are really lengthy apology for that hospital stay, i happened yet. are really lengthy l apology for that hospital stay, that cancer diagnosis he had had but he kept from his department, the public and the president. he went at great length to go through the detail of all of that. this is the first news conference he has actually had since all of that controversy blew up. it's the first time he's been at the pentagon publicly since all of this. this has put huge pressure onjoe

biden during the biggest military conflagration in the middle east in many years, this crisis he has been trying to deal with, he's had his own defence secretary literally taking part in calls about operational activity from his hospital bed. this has put huge pressure on an issue of transparency, of accountability because the senior level of the administration didn't know about the fact he was hospitalised at the start. we have this very, very lengthy apology, a very, very lengthy apology, a very, very lengthy explanation as to why he hadn't told the president at the start and he said he was very sorry for that. start and he said he was very sorry forthat. it's start and he said he was very sorry for that. it's been a very difficult episode for the white house and the pentagon during this very serious crisis in the middle east. said pentagon during this very serious crisis in the middle east.- crisis in the middle east. said he did not handle _ crisis in the middle east. said he did not handle it _ crisis in the middle east. said he did not handle it right _ crisis in the middle east. said he did not handle it right and - crisis in the middle east. said he did not handle it right and he - did not handle it right and he apologised. tom bateman at the state department, thank you.

to brussels now — where european leaders have agreed a 50 billion euro funding dealfor ukraine. the money is locked in for four years and gives kyiv some stability in its war with russia. the deal was announced as ukraine said, it had destroyed a russian warship in the black sea, just off the crimean peninsula. the bbc is still trying to verify this footage — released by the ukrainian ministry of defence. it's said to show, the moment the russian vessel came under attack. it shows a small vessel approaching the russian ship. a large explosion follows, and at the end of the two—minute video, the warhip appears to start rolling over and sinking. live now to ukrainian mp oleksandra ustinova in washington dc. she is taking part in efforts to unblock the aid package to ukraine.

thank you for being with us. how is the lobbying going in the us to unlock that $60 billion package that has been snared up? so unlock that $60 billion package that has been snared up?— has been snared up? so far, the situation is _ has been snared up? so far, the situation is pretty _ has been snared up? so far, the situation is pretty difficult - situation is pretty difficult because ukraine is basically held hostage in the internal politics between the republicans and democrats but i think the decision that was made today in brussels will help us because one of the key questions in the us congress that people are asking me personally is why europe is not doing enough, why is it only the united states who should be supporting ukraine? i'm always trying to explain that it's not only the united states and the europeans are still hosting 6 million ukrainian refugees, supporting them with health care, education and housing sometimes and this is a big portion of what europe has done to support my country.

ursula von der leyen was talking earlier saying this package would mean more helicopters, air defence systems, missiles, all of what ukraine needs but unless you get that american assistance, i mean, how close are you to running out of these key things are not having enough to either defend ukraine or make significant advances? president zelensky was — make significant advances? president zelensky was very _ make significant advances? president zelensky was very clear _ make significant advances? president zelensky was very clear when - make significant advances? president zelensky was very clear when he - zelensky was very clear when he visited washington, dc in december, he had a meeting with president biden and the speaker. he said ukraine can last and hold until march. if there is no support coming after march, is going to be very difficult for us to basically protect ourselves and one of the key things that i myself have been trying to explain to every congressman, we are talking about air defence and civilian is because russia is the only country in the world, unfortunately, who managed to

mmp world, unfortunately, who managed to ramp up their production lines, they produced three times more missiles in 2023 and 2022. unfortunately, none of the european countries are the united states have managed to mmp the united states have managed to ramp up the production lines so we can double ourair ramp up the production lines so we can double our air defence systems. president zelensky said we can make it till march but if there is no support coming, we are going to be in trouble. there is plan a and plan b. plan a is congress passing supplementalfor b. plan a is congress passing supplemental for ukraine, b. plan a is congress passing supplementalfor ukraine, there b. plan a is congress passing supplemental for ukraine, there are a lot of discussions on the hill whether the supplemental should be split, basically the border issue is separate from the ukrainian and israeli support but it should be as one package. senators are still negotiating but that was one of the ideas that mitch mcconnell talks to his party about, that if we are stuck with border and we cannot negotiate with the democrats, maybe

we should just proceed separately with ukraine because these countries cannot wait for the military support coming from the united states. the second plan is that the new —— is what the us administration is going to do if there is no supplemental, i will they be supporting ukraine if it is stuck in congress? we can see they can do that with israel because they can do that with israel because they had a lot of contracts with them before the war broke in israel. unfortunately, ukraine was in a different position but we have to be looking for plan b now if congress is a stock because this year will be a big election campaign not only for the president of the us but the mid—term election to congress and that's why we understand that every congressman, especially from the republicans, especially from the districts where there is a lot of immigrants, understand that on one hand they need to support ukraine and on the other hand they need to

solve that issue because otherwise they are going to lose elections. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a man has appeared in court charged with the murders of two teenage boys in bristol on saturday. 16—year—old max dixon, and 15—year—old mason rist died in hospital after being stabbed on the knowle west estate. 44—year—old anthony snook will be held on remand in prison until the next hearing tomorrow. firefighters who were injured in the grenfell tower fire in 2017 have received a total of £20 million in compensation. the fire brigades union says, more than 100 of its members made claims, some of whom hadn't been able to work again because of severe trauma. alan bates, a former sub postmaster who led the campaign forjustice in the post office horizon scandal, has said he will reject an offer of compensation from the government. mr bates, whose story inspired

a recent itv series on the scandal, told the telegraph the government's offer was "offensive" and "around a sixth" of what he'd requested. you're live with bbc news. now to russia. in december we saw the high profile, political activist alexi navalny suddenly moved to a penal colony — no warning, no contact. this week, there are fears for another russian opposition figure, vladimir kara—murza — also moved, no warning no contact. the uk foreign secretary — david cameron — posted on x:

we spoke to evgenia kara—murza. i have been worried for the safety of my husband since 2015 when he was poisoned for the first time, attacked by a team of fsb operatives who carry out such attacks on behalf of the russian state. since then, he survived another assassination attack in 2017 and now he is serving his 25—year prison sentence for so—called high treason. on monday, he was indeed moved without any indications of that move being prepared. he was moved from the strict regime prison colony to yet another type of penitentiary institution that is called a special regime prison colony, which is the harshest grade in the russian penitentiary system. so he is still in the omsk region, in the so—called special

regime prison colony, and is in solitary confinement where he has been since last september. we have been able to establish contact with him because on monday, he was able to send a note from that new colony to his lawyer saying he had been transferred because, apparently, he had been declared a consistent violator of the rules of serving his sentence. the violations are absolutely ridiculous and are being used to further and further isolate political prisoners. let me ask you about where you ended that answer because i mentioned in the introduction, alexei navalny was suddenly moved to a really harsh penal colony and now your husband, why do you think that is actually happening? is it to airbrush them out so there is no view of these people or is it to further punish them? both things, of course, because these people are seen

as traitors, as foreign agents, spies, all of these things. they are being represented like that by russian propaganda and, of course, the regime does believe them to be traitors because they completely reject the official narrative and they reject the policies of vladimir putin, and they continue speaking out against the regime and against the war from behind bars, so there is a need to isolate them completely. before i look at some of the other issues, just briefly, you mentioned solitary confinement. in terms of, so far, how he's being held, what have you heard about the conditions, how he's holding up? it is still solitary confinement as it has been since september of last year, so nothing much has changed in that regard. he still has his bed fixed

to the wall from morning till night, he still has a backless stool as the only piece of furniture in the cell and he gets his pen and paperfor 90 minutes. i don't know if that will change in this special regime prison colony because that is the harshest grade in the russian penitentiary system, so i think that it might also affect the visiting hours by the lawyer or his ability to correspond with us. we will find out more in the coming weeks. here, police are trying to find a man who attacked a woman and her two children with a corrosive substance in south london last night. the mother and the youngest girl, who is three, are said to have life—changing injuries. an eight—year—old girl from the same family is also in hospital. live now to our correspondent who's at the scene in south london.

every detail of this attack is horrifying. every detail of this attack is horrifying-— every detail of this attack is horri in. , , ., ~ horrifying. truly terrible. talking to the neighbours, _ horrifying. truly terrible. talking to the neighbours, they - horrifying. truly terrible. talking to the neighbours, they have - horrifying. truly terrible. talking l to the neighbours, they have been left devastated by what happened last night because not only were two young children involved, an eight—year—old and a three—year—old, the three—year—old left life changing injuries, but in total, 12 people became involved with this. neighbours came out and try to stop the attack and i think it was violent as well, very violent. there are some cctv pictures emerging of a man throwing a three—year—old to the floor twice, slamming them to the floor twice, slamming them to the floor twice, slamming them to the floor twice before this alkaline substance is used, which left people with serious burns injuries. for everybody in this quiet residential street in south london, a horrifying night last night. street in south london, a horrifying night last night-— night last night. what our police are sa inc night last night. what our police are saying about _ night last night. what our police are saying about the _ night last night. what our police i are saying about the perpetrator? night last night. what our police - are saying about the perpetrator? a are saying about the perpetrator? significant development today, they have named a suspect called abdul

ezedi from the newcastle area, who may have been known to the police and has a significant injury to the right side of his face. police are working closely with british transport police and police in northumbria and have urged the public to get in touch if they see him but not to contact him because they say that he is extremely dangerous. that's the significant update today, an appeal for a 35—year—old man, abdul ezedi, originally from newcastle and made his way down here yesterday to london to carry out, we think, this terrible, terrible attack. that was the efit picture that the police have released. we will have all the latest headlines when we returned. hello, thanks for joining hello, thanks forjoining me. the outlook is looking rather like the picture behind me, these lumpy,

layered clouds on the way over the next few days. on top of that, it's going to be very mild, windy, a bit of rain around. there has been a bit of rain around. there has been a bit of turn about wintry weather possibly heading our way sometime next week but that's really a long way off. it's quite the opposite at the moment. if anything, we will see even milder air streaming in from the south, this arc of cloud, i weather front to the north and south, high pressure here. take a look at this air stream, that mild air spreading across the uk and pushing the cold air and that's what's heading our way for the next few days. could be some clear spells for a time across the southeast and east anglia, but overall thick cloud across the uk with bits and pieces of rain really and mild in the morning — ten degrees in the north, about seven degrees in east anglia and the southeast. and then i think friday

overall, quite an overcast day for many of us. a really blustery day as well, with some rain at times in the northwest. but those winds really will be quite strong in the coming days, sort of bumping, flowing and blowing across the uk. gusts to the east of the pennines around 50 miles an hour, 13, 1a degrees celsius. now, if you look at the pressure chart, these isobars, we've got high pressure to the south, low pressure to the north, that big temperature or rather pressure gradient that is. and we get those winds rushing across the uk. so, in the north, a little bit colder here with some showers, seven degrees in stornoway. but across the bulk of england and wales, temperatures are actually pushing the mid—teens. spot the difference as we head through saturday and into sunday. again, high to the south, low to the north, big pressure gradient, weather fronts sneaking in the middle, bringing a lot of cloud and also some outbreaks of rain. again, very strong winds, gale force winds around some coasts and really mild conditions, 1a in the south, about 12 in liverpool, but a little bit colder there in the north. single figures.

and take a look at the outlook. very little change. in fact, what's the average in london into next week? about 1a degrees. it really is very mild indeed. bye— bye.

live from london. this is bbc news. let's turn our main headlines this

half hour. the us defence secretary once in a