it's ireland who have made an impressive start in france. a penalty put them in front. try was put over. so far so good for andy farrell's side, 10—0 they lead, 25 minutes played. ireland are hoping to repeat the success of their grand slam campaign. france have won 18 of their last 19 tests at home. the two other fixtures of the opening round take place on saturday. england begin their campaign away at italy in the stadio olympico. whilst scotland and wales meet each other in cardiff. and ahead of that match scotland have made a u—turn. they initially asked for the roof at the principality stadium to be open, but now want it to be closed, with rain forecast. wales are happy with the change, with six nations regulations saying both sides have to agree on the roof being closed. day one of the second test between india and england saw the tale of two of the sport's

newest talents making the headlines. india won the toss and chose to field, but it was england who had the early advantage. 19—year—old debutant shoaib bashir removing india's captain rohit sharma one of two wickets for him. but his fellow opener, yashasvi jaiswal stuck around for a long, long time, unbeaten all day, closing on 179 not out. india will resume on saturday on 336—6. a good day for that man. it's been a very special. — a good day for that man. it's been a very special, special— a good day for that man. it's been a very special, special day _ a good day for that man. it's been a very special, special day for - a good day for that man. it's been a very special, special day for all - very special, special day for all that i've been through in the last two or three years. it's made it even more special, so, yeah, to get rohit sharma out as well and my first wicket is incredible. a semifinal spot in the africa cup of nations is up for grabs right now

as the democratic republic of congo are playing guinea. its currently i—o. the three—time champions nigeria are already into the final four. they beat angola 1—0, ademola lookman with the only goal. nigeria did score a second through victor osimhen, but it was disallowed for offside. in the asian cup, south korea are through to the semifinals, but only just. they scored a 96th—minute equaliser against australia and then won the match in extra time — tottenham's son heung min with the winner. elsewhere, jordan beat tajikistan i—o. and it was the most highly anticipated fight in the heavyweight division for a long, long time, but everybody is going to have to wait a bit longer to see champions tyson fury and oleksander usyk fight each other. the bout, due to take place on february 17th, has been postponed after fury was cut above his eye during training. new negotiations will now need to take place to rearrange. our boxing reporter ade adeoyin explained the situation to my colleague jane dougall a little bit earlier. purica suffered a cut in training,

his team described as a freak accident. they said he needed significant medical attention. they've posted a message on social media, showing the cut, it looks like a bad one so there's no way he could go through with the fight. he posted a message saying he is devastated. he went to saudi arabia since december preparing for what would be the biggest fight in the heavyweight division since 1999. mercedes team boss toto wolff says he's surprised by the speed at which lewis hamilton's switch to ferrari happened. the seven—time world champion will leave mercedes at the end of next season to join their rivals and says he's ready for a new challenge. he told wolff of his decision to go to ferrari over a planned breakfast on wednesday. ireland have put over another try, 15-3 ireland have put over another try, 15—3 they lead france, with half an hour, keep a cross that on the bbc sport website. back to you, ben.

a line of breaking news to bring you, news that the actor carl webbers has died at the age of 76. it was best known for his role as boxer apollo creed in the first four rocky films alongside sylvester stallone. he was also of course featured in predator and happy gilmore. most recently seen on the small screen in the star was a spin off series the mandalorian. that was a guest role for which he received an emmy nomination. its manager has said the night he died peacefully in his sleep. —— his manager has said the night he died peacefully in his sleep. presidentjoe biden has taken part in a ceremony for the repatriation of the bodies of three american soldiers killed in a drone attack in jordan. the three soldiers, sergeants williamj rivers, kennedy sanders and breonna moffett died in the strike near the border with syria on sunday. the plane carrying their bodies arrived at an air force

base in delaware, where they received military honours. the white house has said the attack on its military base, which wounded a0 others, was carried out by an iran—backed militia called islamic resistance in iraq. iran has denied any involvement. this week, the us approved plans for a series of strikes on iranian targets in syria and iraq. iran denies direct involvement in a drone attack that killed three us servicemen, but we know there are a number of pro—iranian militias based in iraq, syria, lebanon, the palestinian territories and as far south as yemen. all are opposed to israel and the united states. the bbc�*s analysis editor, ros atkins, takes a closer look now at what we know about iran's alliances, and the so—called "axis of resistance". as the crisis in the middle east escalates, there's one country the us references all the time. we do not want this war to widen.

but if iran or its proxies attack us personnel anywhere, make no mistake — we will defend our people, we will defend our security, swiftly and decisively. last weekend, three us soldiers were killed in a drone attack. the location was northeastern jordan. the target was a us military base called tower 22. the group claiming responsibility is the islamic resistance in iraq. but the us is clear on where blame really lies. our teams here are continuing to do the analysis, but we know that iran is behind it. and certainly as we've said before here in this briefing room, iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks. iran calls these claims "baseless accusations". but iran does have a network of allies across the region. it has a name for it, the axis of resistance — united, it says, in its opposition to israel and the us.

this axis includes the group behind the tower 22 attack. iran has taken advantage, frankly, of the current moment of conflict to do what iran has been doing for many, many years, which is to disrupt, to target the us and partners in a variety of ways, mostly through the efforts of its proxy militias. and since hamas's attack on october 7th and israel's response to it, this disruption has taken many forms. for example, houthi rebels in yemen have repeatedly attacked shipping in the red sea. the us says there have been over 160 attacks by militia on its military positions in iraq and syria. but how does this network of allies work, how close is their relationship with iran, and what is iran trying to achieve? if we go back to 1979, there was an uprising in iran against the monarchy — iran became an islamic republic. ever since, it's sought to spread its influence in the region.

in recent years, that's involved support for the assad regime in syria, where iranian forces have been deployed, support for large militant groups such as hezbollah in lebanon and the houthis in yemen, and support for smaller groups, including in iraq. we have a whole range of iraqi shia militias, which have been formed in lots of different ways and have very different connections with iran. and, in fact, they're in an umbrella movement that has non—shia militias included as well, so it's very complicated to navigate the types of links within that part of the axis of resistance. and iran's support for its network comes in several forms. first, money. in 2020, the us estimated that iran gave hezbollah $700 million a year, as well as $100 million a year to palestinian groups including hamas, and it estimates the houthis have received hundreds of millions of dollars too. iran soesn�*t acknowledge this funding. but as well as money,

iran is supplying weapons too. recently, two us military personnel died in an operation to intercept a boat in the red sea. the us released this image. it says the boat was transporting iranian—made weapons to the houthis. 0r there's hezbollah. 0ne estimate put its arsenal at 130,000 rockets and missiles. it's believed many of them come from iran. and if iran is supplying money and weapons, is it also coordinating the actions of its allies? after 0ctober seventh, the us acknowledged, "we have not yet seen evidence that iran directed or was behind this particular attack." more broadly, iran's allies appear to operate with a significant degree of independence. but that needs placing in context. iran does not necessarily exert day—to—day operational control over each and every one of its proxies. but that being said, when you provide strategic direction, when you provide

significant materiel, and you provide significant training, you cannot avoid culpability. and given this level of support from iran, inevitably, many are asking, what does it want? well, to understand this, we again need to look at iran's history — not least the iran—iraq war of the 1980s, which began when iraq invaded. iran doesn't necessarily see itself as an aggressive actor. it sees itself as deeply vulnerable. in particular, memories of the iran—iraq war, when it was very vulnerable to iraqi missiles and many people died, are absolutely key in iran's political conception of where it sits in the region. so its whole policy is built on never again allowing itself to be encircled or isolated. and to meet that goal, the axis of resistance is crucial.

it is not looking for a massive escalation and a war outright with the us or israel. what it's interested in, however, is maintaining the kind of equilibrium and violence groups that it has across the region. in a statement this week, iran's revolutionary guard said, "we do not seek war, but we are not afraid of war." iran's motivations and ambitions are a fiercely contested subject. but as the us calibrates its response to the tower 22 attack, there's no debate that the axis of resistance is crucial to iran's efforts to position itself in the region and to challenge israel and america. that's our analysis editor, ros atkins. alessio patalano is a professor of war studies at king's college london and specialises in maritime strategy and doctrine. thank you for being on the programme tonight. as we know at this stage very few details about what these strikes will look like or even what

the targets may be, but what is your expectation of what will be going on right now question about what planning will go into these counter strikes against those in the union backed militia?— backed militia? festival, good evenin: , backed militia? festival, good evening. and _ backed militia? festival, good evening, and thank— backed militia? festival, good evening, and thank you - backed militia? festival, good evening, and thank you for - backed militia? festival, good - evening, and thank you for having me on the platform. if we look at what's happened over the past few weeks we know already particularly if we put in context the shift in strategy applied in response to the attacks in the red sea, we've seen that when that shift happened the decision was to choose an option that would limit the damage beyond the boundaries of degrading the military capabilities that put the attacks in existence in the first place, so i think it is absolutely fair to suggest that what we are looking at is an operational plan that will try to achieve something

very similar, identifying the sources, the military sources, the various components of the train and decide which one to take out in order to give a signal one knows where these sources are and one wants to focus on compelling the authors of the attacks not to make that choice again.— authors of the attacks not to make that choice again. yes, that seems to be the point. — that choice again. yes, that seems to be the point, doesn't— that choice again. yes, that seems to be the point, doesn't it, - that choice again. yes, that seems to be the point, doesn't it, here i to be the point, doesn't it, here question mark this is beyond the realms of providing a deterrence, this is about removing the capability of those militias to launch future strikes. find capability of those militias to launch future strikes.- capability of those militias to launch future strikes. and i think ou are launch future strikes. and i think you are absolutely _ launch future strikes. and i think you are absolutely right. - launch future strikes. and i think you are absolutely right. i - launch future strikes. and i think you are absolutely right. i think. you are absolutely right. i think perhaps we should say that apply the logic or the wording of deterrence, particularly if we start with what we've seen in terms of attacks that have been claimed to be connected to the war in gaza and we focus on the red sea, it wasn't about deterrence in that case, it was about forcing the houthis to either make a choice

of their own or imposing our will on them so they cannot make that choice, and i think that's exactly where we are here in this context. this is not about deterring, because deterrence means you don't want them to take the first act to begin with stop here is about creating the conditions for compel and is and the best way to do it is by removing the components of the key chain that would enable them to actually wanting and be willing and able to make that choice. find wanting and be willing and able to make that choice.— make that choice. and iran has denied any _ make that choice. and iran has denied any responsibility - make that choice. and iran has denied any responsibility or - make that choice. and iran has| denied any responsibility or any involvement, yet if we look at some of the military hardware that's being used, the types of drones that are being used, particularly on that strike on the us air base and we also look at the attacks by the houthis on shipping in the red sea, there are striking similarities which start to draw links between all of these groups, aren't there? absolutely. first of all we have to say that in particular if we go back to the mid—2010s, we had a series of

attacks that were connected but some of these groups that are part of this so—called axis of resistance, the components on the entire capability where eyes are manufactured in iran or manufactured by some of these groups and iranians support, guidance, if not components, and we certainly know that weapons have been shipped to the houthis, for example, which have been intercepted, and a closing section of the most recent drones and missiles that have been taken down, clearly we can see this very striking resemblance between, you know, the drones, which is a family of drones that is iranian made and missiles, particularly the anti—ship ballistic missiles that are all

either of origins or in some cases with a short range missiles used in the red sea, the houthis had but enhanced with sensors that were of iranian origins, so the link there, when it comes to the capability, is clear. you don't get access to that kind of capability unless the person in question has provided it to you and above all to use it to maximum effect, the way we've seen them and certainly the route to use them, you need to be trained, you need to be introduced, familiarised, acquainted, socialised with these capabilities and you have to learn about it and that creates a fundamental link.- about it and that creates a fundamental link. . , ., fundamental link. really good to get our insiaht fundamental link. really good to get your insight on _ fundamental link. really good to get your insight on the _ fundamental link. really good to get your insight on the programme, - your insight on the programme, alessio patalano, professor of war studies at king's college london, thank you. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news.

it took seven years, cost £121 million, and hold—ups today, a new bridge over the river yare in great yarmouth opened. today, the grande opening. for all those who pass — today, the grande opening. for all those who pass under _ today, the grande opening. for all those who pass under it _ today, the grande opening. for all those who pass under it and - today, the grande opening. for all those who pass under it and sail. those who pass under it and sail through it. those who pass under it and sail through it— those who pass under it and sail throu:h it. "pi: ,':ifi :: i: through it. back in 1930 3000 turned out for the opening _ through it. back in 1930 3000 turned out for the opening of _ through it. back in 1930 3000 turned out for the opening of a _ through it. back in 1930 3000 turned out for the opening of a bridge. - out for the opening of a bridge. in the crowds then, jenna brown, who at the crowds then, jenna brown, who at the sprightly age of 105 was guest of honour at today's opening. irate of honour at today's opening. we were all of honour at today's opening. - were all lined up, the children, and crowds of people and the then prince of wales opened it. yes. here crowds of people and the then prince of wales opened it. yes.— of wales opened it. yes. here you are now at — of wales opened it. yes. here you are now at the _ of wales opened it. yes. here you are now at the third _ of wales opened it. yes. here you are now at the third river - of wales opened it. yes. here you | are now at the third river crossing. it's a wonderful thing, what they've done. ., ., , ., , it's a wonderful thing, what they've done. ., ., , ., done. for more stories from across the uk head _ done. for more stories from across the uk head to _ done. for more stories from across the uk head to the _ done. for more stories from across the uk head to the bbc _ done. for more stories from across the uk head to the bbc news - done. for more stories from across i the uk head to the bbc news website. you are life with bbc news.

it's long been alleged that contact sports like rugby could contribute to serious brain injuries and other medical conditions later in life. but for the first time, a new report alleges that the risk of injury is tantamount to child abuse. the report, by british academics, argues that children should no longer participate in sports such as rugby, where there is a risk of head contact, or boxing, where blows to the skull are allowed. it also demands that parents be better informed about the long—term risks. let's talk about it with derek anderson, a professor of sport at the university of winchester and mark machado, and i met a player and a former rugby club secretary. eric, it's the research you put together. the child—abuse line is quite a serious allegation. why are you so concerned about these findings? we find concerned about these findings? - find abuse to children acceptable if we were to talk to for example about

allowing children to smoke, right, or allowing children to drive cars, or allowing children to drive cars, or to do all sorts of other dangerous activities that are prohibited and we would call abusive, so what we're doing is we are highlighting that both the national institute ofs and the center for disease control have said there is a cause and effect relationship between repetitive sub—consists of hits, the kind of hits that occur in rugby and concussive hits that occur in boxing and long—term brain trauma for children. this is not a question any more. it's now settled medical science. if know that children's brains are vulnerable and that these sports, supports that structure impact into the sport, not sports that occur by accident, but where children are compelled to strike each other or collide each other, we know that that causes permanent, irreversible brain trauma, and what else could you describe that other

than child abuse?— else could you describe that other than child abuse? mark, is he right, is it child abuse? _ than child abuse? mark, is he right, is it child abuse? 0h, _ than child abuse? mark, is he right, is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely - is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely not and to _ is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely not and to be — is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely not and to be honest, _ is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely not and to be honest, ben, - is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely not and to be honest, ben, i- is it child abuse? 0h, absolutely i not and to be honest, ben, i think it's a _ not and to be honest, ben, i think it's a hit_ not and to be honest, ben, i think it's a bit tragic that he is using that_ it's a bit tragic that he is using that term, _ it's a bit tragic that he is using that term, considering since covid we know_ that term, considering since covid we know there's been an increase in quite _ we know there's been an increase in quite serious — we know there's been an increase in quite serious child abuse. there will he — quite serious child abuse. there will be many people, many victims of child abuse _ will be many people, many victims of child abuse who will be reading trio's _ child abuse who will be reading eric's work and hearing his words and will— eric's work and hearing his words and will think it's absolutely unforgivable that he is using that term _ unforgivable that he is using that term to _ unforgivable that he is using that term to compare it to playing a game of rugby. _ term to compare it to playing a game of rugby, which most children, most people _ of rugby, which most children, most peorrte who — of rugby, which most children, most people who play it and most adults who are _ people who play it and most adults who are involved in it, do it in terms — who are involved in it, do it in terms of— who are involved in it, do it in terms of enjoyment. they don't intend — terms of enjoyment. they don't intend to — terms of enjoyment. they don't intend to have any abuse with it. intent— intend to have any abuse with it. intent is— intend to have any abuse with it. intent is not account. the brain does not care whether it's hit intentionally or by accident. the trauma caused to the brain is the trauma caused to the brain is the trauma that's caused to the brain and when we have sports that are fantastic, get them exercising, fight the obesity epidemic, learned the value of team sports and do it

in a safe manner, like tag rugby, that's absolutely fantastic, but to intentionally structure children to collide is absolute abuse to their brains. �* ,., ., collide is absolute abuse to their brains. �* ., , ., brains. and so what is a safe alternative? _ brains. and so what is a safe alternative? is _ brains. and so what is a safe alternative? is there - brains. and so what is a safe alternative? is there a - brains. and so what is a safe alternative? is there a way l brains. and so what is a safe| alternative? is there a way of making what you do safer? i think this is the problem _ making what you do safer? i think this is the problem that _ making what you do safer? i think this is the problem that a - making what you do safer? i think this is the problem that a lot - making what you do safer? i think this is the problem that a lot of. this is the problem that a lot of people — this is the problem that a lot of people have had today, from the rugby— people have had today, from the rugby community when they've been reading _ rugby community when they've been reading eric's work. he is conflating two things here, there is clearly— conflating two things here, there is clearly an— conflating two things here, there is clearly an issue in rugby with making — clearly an issue in rugby with making it _ clearly an issue in rugby with making it a safe sport and injury prevention — making it a safe sport and injury prevention and there is no one in rugby. _ prevention and there is no one in rugby, you'd be hard—pressed in rugby— rugby, you'd be hard—pressed in rugby to— rugby, you'd be hard—pressed in rugby to find people who don't want to find _ rugby to find people who don't want to find rugby —— don't want to make rugby— to find rugby —— don't want to make rugby a _ to find rugby —— don't want to make rugby a safer— to find rugby —— don't want to make rugby a safer sport and he is conflating that with the idea he's concocted of child abuse and making kids play— concocted of child abuse and making kids play it _ concocted of child abuse and making kids play it and that is why i think so many— kids play it and that is why i think so many people have quite a visceral reaction _ so many people have quite a visceral reaction to— so many people have quite a visceral reaction to this report. but so many people have quite a visceral reaction to this report.— reaction to this report. but it's about whether _ reaction to this report. but it's about whether you _ reaction to this report. but it's about whether you have - reaction to this report. but it's about whether you have a - reaction to this report. but it's l about whether you have a choice reaction to this report. but it's - about whether you have a choice to do it at school, isn't it, mark? if you are in a pe lesson and they say

today we are playing rugby, you can't opt out of it, can you? you can't, can't opt out of it, can you? you can't. but _ can't opt out of it, can you? you can't. but rugby _ can't opt out of it, can you? you can't, but rugby should be well coached — can't, but rugby should be well coached with high quality coaching and good — coached with high quality coaching and good technical side of it and nobody— and good technical side of it and nobody is — and good technical side of it and nobody is coached to hit their head against _ nobody is coached to hit their head against something else. both talk these _ against something else. both talk these are _ against something else. both talk these are accidents that happen. we can't be _ these are accidents that happen. we can't be in _ these are accidents that happen. we can't be in a — these are accidents that happen. we can't be in a situation where we are trying _ can't be in a situation where we are trying to— can't be in a situation where we are trying to mitigate against any possibility of any concussions or any other— possibility of any concussions or any other injuries. we need people like eric, _ any other injuries. we need people like eric, we — any other injuries. we need people like eric, we need academics like eric who— like eric, we need academics like eric who don't good work, to be working — eric who don't good work, to be working alongside rugby to make it a safer sport. — working alongside rugby to make it a safer sport, to understand the culture — safer sport, to understand the culture within the sport and understand how it is coached and understand how it is coached and understand how it is coached and understand how the culture works. people _ understand how the culture works. people like eric have to come along with us— people like eric have to come along with us for— people like eric have to come along with us for the ride, helpers are 'ust with us for the ride, helpers are just the — with us for the ride, helpers are just the sport to make it safer for people _ just the sport to make it safer for people to — just the sport to make it safer for people to play it. there is nobody in the _ people to play it. there is nobody in the sports that one concussion. let me _ in the sports that one concussion. let me ask— in the sports that one concussion. let me ask you this, are there

lessons that can be learned from other sports that have tried to make things safer that you can still get the spirit of rugby, you can still get the contact of rugby, you can still get the rough and tumble of rugby, but do it in a manner that's not going to risk young people's brains and head injuries? let’s brains and head in'uries? let's hiuuhliht brains and head in'uries? let's highlight a h brains and head in'uries? let's highlight a couple- brains and head injuries? let's highlight a couple of— brains and head injuries? let�*s highlight a couple of things real quick. over200 highlight a couple of things real quick. over 200 schools surveyed in england, 86% compelled boys to play rugby, that's compel... i5 england, 86% compelled boys to play rugby, that's compel. . ._ rugby, that's compel... is this where parents _ rugby, that's compel... is this where parents need _ rugby, that's compel... is this where parents need to - rugby, that's compel... is this where parents need to get - rugby, that's compel... is this - where parents need to get involved and decide whether they do or don't want their children to play at school? ~ , ,., , want their children to play at school? ~ , , , want their children to play at school? i, , ., school? absolutely because 86% of bo s in this school? absolutely because 86% of boys in this country _ school? absolutely because 86% of boys in this country are _ school? absolutely because 86% of boys in this country are compelled l boys in this country are compelled to play rugby as part of pe.- to play rugby as part of pe. mark, should it be _ to play rugby as part of pe. mark, should it be optional? _ to play rugby as part of pe. mark, should it be optional? should - to play rugby as part of pe. mark, should it be optional? should you| to play rugby as part of pe. mark, i should it be optional? should you be able to opt out of playing if you are worried about your kids at school? . ., , ,., , school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will sa school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will say is — school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will say is rugby — school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will say is rugby is _ school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will say is rugby is a _ school? yeah, absolutely, the thing i will say is rugby is a massive - i will say is rugby is a massive part— i will say is rugby is a massive part of— i will say is rugby is a massive part of a — i will say is rugby is a massive part of a lot of schools' cultures and it's — part of a lot of schools' cultures and it's quite regional in england, there _ and it's quite regional in england, there are — and it's quite regional in england, there are some parts of the country that play—

there are some parts of the country that play a — there are some parts of the country that play a lot of rugby, where it's part of— that play a lot of rugby, where it's part of the — that play a lot of rugby, where it's part of the cultural identity, right? — part of the cultural identity, right? we all know that there is a massive _ right? we all know that there is a massive obesity epidemic going on, pun intended, we all know that we... let mark— pun intended, we all know that we... let mark finish? we pun intended, we all know that we. .. let mark finish?— let mark finish? we want to get kids active, right? _ let mark finish? we want to get kids active, right? pe _ let mark finish? we want to get kids active, right? pe teachers _ let mark finish? we want to get kids active, right? pe teachers are - active, right? pe teachers are against — active, right? pe teachers are against the force of people who don't _ against the force of people who don't want kids to participate in various— don't want kids to participate in various sports. eric clearly has an axe to _ various sports. eric clearly has an axe to grind — various sports. eric clearly has an axe to grind against rugby, i don't know— axe to grind against rugby, i don't know what— axe to grind against rugby, i don't know what it is or where it's come from _ know what it is or where it's come from and — know what it is or where it's come from and he — know what it is or where it's come from and he is trying to chuck the kitchen _ from and he is trying to chuck the kitchen sink— from and he is trying to chuck the kitchen sink at it to stop people playing — kitchen sink at it to stop people playing it — kitchen sink at it to stop people playing it. i saw in his report even suggests— playing it. i saw in his report even suggests that parents shouldn't... don't _ suggests that parents shouldn't... don't really have a say on whether or not _ don't really have a say on whether or not their— don't really have a say on whether or not their kids can play rugby or not _ or not their kids can play rugby or not i_ or not their kids can play rugby or not i don't— or not their kids can play rugby or not. i don't really understand why eric is _ not. i don't really understand why eric is so — not. i don't really understand why eric is so opposed to the game. is eric is so opposed to the game. is he not eric is so opposed to the game. is he not saying you can play but you can play in a safer way? he.

he not saying you can play but you can play in a safer way?— can play in a safer way? no, eric doesnt can play in a safer way? no, eric doesn't want _ can play in a safer way? no, eric doesn't want any _ can play in a safer way? no, eric doesn't want any contact - can play in a safer way? no, eric doesn't want any contact at - can play in a safer way? no, eric doesn't want any contact at all i can play in a safer way? no, eric| doesn't want any contact at all in the sport. — doesn't want any contact at all in the sport, from what i can read. erich _ the sport, from what i can read. eric, is — the sport, from what i can read. eric, is that— the sport, from what i can read. eric, is that true? let me ask eric, is it true, do you not want any contact in rugby, quickly? you will have to give _ contact in rugby, quickly? you will have to give me _ contact in rugby, quickly? you will have to give me an _ contact in rugby, quickly? you will have to give me an opportunity . contact in rugby, quickly? you will have to give me an opportunity to| have to give me an opportunity to answer the charges stop rare have to give me an opportunity to answer the charges stop we haven't much time- — answer the charges stop we haven't much time- we _ answer the charges stop we haven't much time. we are _ answer the charges stop we haven't much time. we are suggesting - answer the charges stop we haven't much time. we are suggesting this| answer the charges stop we haven't i much time. we are suggesting this is for children alone. _ much time. we are suggesting this is for children alone. we _ much time. we are suggesting this is for children alone. we haven't - for children alone. we haven't issues with adults playing. number two, i'm a huge advocate and have my children playing tag rugby. number three, lets us mark, mark, do you think it's child abuse for children to box and receive direct blows to the brain? hf to box and receive direct blows to the brain? , ., to box and receive direct blows to the brain? , . the brain? if they are getting good technical coaching _ the brain? if they are getting good technical coaching then _ the brain? if they are getting good technical coaching then they - the brain? if they are getting good technical coaching then they are i technical coaching then they are probably— technical coaching then they are probably not being coached to smash _ probably not being coached to smash... . . probably not being coached to smash... , ., ., , �* probably not being coached to smash... ., , �* ., smash... the brain doesn't care how it's struck. — smash... the brain doesn't care how it's struck, there's _ smash... the brain doesn't care how it's struck, there's no _ smash... the brain doesn't care how it's struck, there's no is _ smash... the brain doesn't care how it's struck, there's no is such - it's struck, there's no is such thing as good tactical coaching to protect the brain from a strike. i think the use of child abuse as a term _ think the use of child abuse as a term here — think the use of child abuse as a term here is abhorrent. your think the use of child abuse as a term here is abhorrent. your time is u - , term here is abhorrent. your time is u-, i'm term here is abhorrent. your time is up. l'm going _ term here is abhorrent. your time is

up. l'm going to _ term here is abhorrent. your time is up. l'm going to let _ term here is abhorrent. your time is up, i'm going to let you _ term here is abhorrent. your time is up, i'm going to let you carry - term here is abhorrent. your time is up, i'm going to let you carry on - up, i'm going to let you carry on fighting this out when we are off air but thank you for being with us on the programme. it proves there is so much to talk about when it comes to this, doesn't it? the headlines up to this, doesn't it? the headlines up next. hello, the weekend is looking mild for most of us but it's often going to be cloudy, very blustery and on top of that some rain in the forecast too, the heaviest of which is expected to cross western and north—western scotland. let's have a look at the satellite picture from the last couple of days. you can see big swells, patterns in the cloud here, big storms moving from the north atlantic across the norwegian sea, they've been slamming scandinavia especially norway in the last couple of days. this is to the jet stream here. the air is relatively mild across the southern half of the uk this evening and overnight, and weather front here and lots of layers of cloud, bits and lots of layers of cloud, bits and pieces of rain. to the north of thatjust and pieces of rain. to the north of

that just about cold and pieces of rain. to the north of thatjust about cold enough and pieces of rain. to the north of that just about cold enough for a touch of frost in the highlands but glasgow will be seven, belfast nine, and look how mild it is in the morning across the bulk of england and wales, we are talking about double figures. the forecast for saturday, high—pressure to the south, nasty lows across the norwegian sea, a lot of isobars, a big pressure gradient and those strong west south—westerly winds and it's going to be again quite blustery and relatively cool across scotland, some sunny spells here, temperatures will be around 7—9. i say relatively cool compared to the south where it will perhaps be as high as 1a degrees, often cloudy with dribs and drabs of rain. how about the six nations? spots of rain possible for a time, heavy for a moment or two and relatively mild, a bit blustery. here's the forecast into sunday. another weather front move then. while south—westerly is across the southern half of the uk but further north this when the front will be responsible for the heavy rain across western and north—western scotland, particularly sunday night into monday and in fact

the met office warns that widely across that part of scotland, the west and the north west, could be around 50 millimetres, perhaps as much as 100—150 millilitres, may be more in the extreme case and very blustery too but south of that, south of the lowlands it's generally cloudy with spots of rain from time to time. a bit of sunshine towards the east is certainly not impossible. the outlook through next week, there is an indication it could be colder weather heading our way. it's a long way off but initially reaching northern parts of the uk from thursday onwards.

hello, i'm ben thompson. you're watching the context on bbc news. what's new about this is that this is a joint statement, it's been combined, and it has that extremely forceful wording. the americans are saying that this is going to happen overa number of days, that they're going to target iranian interests and uranian personnel in iraq and syria. we will see whether the us does also hit targets either as part _ of a response to the killing. of the three american soldiers in jordan, also hits targets. in and around yemen itself. our pannel this hour — esther brimmer, former us

assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs and senior fellow in global governance at the council on foreign relation — and leon emirali, a pr advisor and former aide to the current environment secretary, steve barclay. more than 800 officials from the us and europe have criticised their governments' policies on israel and the war in gaza. in a statement, they say israel has shown "no boundaries" in its military operation. the officials also warn that western countries may be complicit in "grave violations of international law". presidentjoe biden has taken part in a ceremony for the repatriation of the bodies of three american soldiers killed in a drone attack in jordan. two 16—year—olds who murdered another teenager in a frenzied knife attack near warrington last year have been named.

scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliffe lured brianna jai