hello, i'm lucy gray. you're watching the context on bbc news. translation: we are on our way to a complete victory. _ the victory is at our reach. it's not about years or decades, it's about months. looked very carefully and would come from hamas and there are clearly non—starters and what it is put forward. non-starters and what it is put forward. . . non-starters and what it is put forward. , , ., , ., forward. this is now seen as a resnonse _ forward. this is now seen as a resnonse to — forward. this is now seen as a response to get _ forward. this is now seen as a response to get the _ forward. this is now seen as a response to get the efforts . forward. this is now seen as a response to get the efforts of| forward. this is now seen as a i response to get the efforts of the cease—fire. joining us tonight — deputy director of the centre—right think tank onward, adam hawksbee. and contributing editor at politico and professor at american university school of international service, elise labott. first though the latest bbc news.

at least 28 people have been killed in two bomb blasts in pakistan. the explosions took place at political offices in the baluchistan province — on the eve of the country's general election. the united nation's humanitarian coordinator has warned that the crisis in sudan is being forgotten by the international community. martin griffiths said at least 25—million people were in urgent need of aid because of the civil war. the un is appealing forjust over four billion dollars to fund aid operations. the british dental association has called the government's plans to give bonuses to dentists who take on new nhs patients in england " rearranging the deckchairs". the measures include one—off payments to those who practice in under—served areas, incentives to take on new patients and more help for children. labour says the plans don't go far enough. prince william has returned to royal duties, after taking some time to be with his wife, the princess of wales, as she recovers from surgery. this evening, he has been attending a charity gala to raise funds for the london air ambulance.

we start in the middle east — the us�* top diplomat, secretary of state antony blinken says there's �*still space for agreement�* on a deal to release israeli hostages in gaza. secretary blinken met with regional officials today — including israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu and president isaac herzog. the secretary of state also met palestinian leader mahmoud abbas. it's his fifth visit to the region since the war began. talks have focused on the latest proposal for a new ceasefire in gaza. last week a proposal — backed by israel, the us, qatar and egypt — was released. the details haven't been made public. in the last day, hamas laid out a series of demands in response. in the past hour, we've heard from secretary blinken, who appeared hopeful an agreement could still be reached. what i can tell you is while there

are some clear non—starters and hamas response, and creates space for an agreement to be reached and we will work on that relentlessly until we get there. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has rejected hamas's proposed ceasefire terms — saying "total victory" in gaza is possible within months. translation: we are on our way to a complete victory. _ the victory is at our reach. it's not about years or decades, it's about months. hamas has responded, holding its own press conference. the reuters news agency quoted a senior hamas official as saying mr netanyahu's remarks on the ceasefire proposal show he intends to pursue the conflict in the region. the official is quoted as saying hamas is prepared to deal with all options. and that a delgation will visit cairo to pursue ceasefire talks. an egyptian official source told the bbc that

a new round of negotiations is expected to start tomorrow, sponsored by egypt and qatar. let's go to our panel. perhaps if i start with you, so much pressure on the administration in general to be getting somewhere today and yet, today, not much of a difference of what benjamin netanyahu was saying about what was going on and antony blinken singh there's still room the steel to be made. �* . there's still room the steel to be made. �* , ., , ., made. it's not the first time that the secretary — made. it's not the first time that the secretary of _ made. it's not the first time that the secretary of state _ made. it's not the first time that the secretary of state is - made. it's not the first time that the secretary of state is gone i made. it's not the first time that i the secretary of state is gone with really well in tensions notjust trying to get... fix, really well in tensions not 'ust trying to get. . .fi really well in tensions not 'ust trying to get... really well in tensions not 'ust t inuto net...�* , , trying to get... a few problems with her audio, trying to get... a few problems with her audio. but _ trying to get... a few problems with her audio, but adam, _ trying to get... a few problems with her audio, but adam, let's -

trying to get... a few problems with her audio, but adam, let's get your| her audio, but adam, let's get your take on this. what do you make of the very different lines coming from tel aviv from netanyahu and antony blinken? it tel aviv from netanyahu and antony blinken? . . . tel aviv from netanyahu and antony blinken? , . ., ,, ., blinken? it is clear the us have made an effort _ blinken? it is clear the us have made an effort to _ blinken? it is clear the us have made an effort to assure - blinken? it is clear the us have made an effort to assure the israeli government that they would be on their side — government that they would be on their side enough to support and that is_ their side enough to support and that is clearly gotten trickier as time _ that is clearly gotten trickier as time has — that is clearly gotten trickier as time has gone on and it's right that israei has _ time has gone on and it's right that israel has the right to defend themselves and instances of its actions — themselves and instances of its actions have been and slight error that we _ actions have been and slight error that we see between the two sides reflects _ that we see between the two sides reflects the fact that the alliance is really — reflects the fact that the alliance is really strong in their differences about foreign policy should — differences about foreign policy should be pursued and netanyahu represents a particular part of the political— represents a particular part of the political spectrum and his country and their— political spectrum and his country and their challenges he's going to have to _ and their challenges he's going to have to deal with and able to keep politicians — have to deal with and able to keep politicians he sighed and next question—

politicians he sighed and next question is more pressure to make deais— question is more pressure to make deals to _ question is more pressure to make deals to release hostages. also the criticism of trying _ deals to release hostages. also the criticism of trying to _ deals to release hostages. also the criticism of trying to appease - deals to release hostages. also the criticism of trying to appease the i criticism of trying to appease the right that seems to be the priority over everything else in your back us and carry on re—left off. is and carry on re-left off. is the first time _ and carry on re-left off. is the first time he _ and carry on re-left off. is the first time he has _ and carry on re-left off. is the first time he has gone - and carry on re-left off. is the | first time he has gone to israel with well—meaning intentions not just to get the hostages out but to try and find a way forward for israel and the palestinians and for him to really try to be dismissed by benjamin netanyahu in the cabinet by some of these comments i think from what i'm hearing from officials and president biden said that hamas response was little over—the—top but is the basis of trying to do, this is the basis of trying to do, this is a negotiation and the other side is a negotiation and the other side is going to fully give what they want these comments are benjamin netanyahu are not helping in terms of a atmosphere that israel maybe

doesn't want to stop the fighting entirely but certainly with the us is helping is a prolonged stop to the fighting notjust is helping is a prolonged stop to the fighting not just to get the hostages out and get it in but also to lower the tensions in the region. the ultimate diplomat, antony blinken and what he was saying and he was reiterating about it and adam, he was giving them a message saying that it cannot be a licence to dehumanize people. and you get the idea that he was trying to deliver his message and is own subtle way, i suppose. find subtle way, i suppose. and negotiations _ subtle way, i suppose. and negotiations will _ subtle way, i suppose. and negotiations will happen in public and is _ negotiations will happen in public and is a _ negotiations will happen in public and is a huge amount happening in private _ and is a huge amount happening in private in _ and is a huge amount happening in private in these comments and public will he _ private in these comments and public will be making clear that the us surrport— will be making clear that the us support can only go so far and there's— support can only go so far and there's only so much they can allow benjamin _ there's only so much they can allow benjamin netanyahu to be seen to be pushing _ benjamin netanyahu to be seen to be pushing and answering the share by

parts _ pushing and answering the share by parts of— pushing and answering the share by parts of international immunity intermarriage and the be using that intermarriage and the be using that in private _ intermarriage and the be using that in private at the time and some of these _ in private at the time and some of these negotiations are going on to say listen, — these negotiations are going on to say listen, we will tolerate the central — say listen, we will tolerate the central point will recognise there is a difference between but they will he _ is a difference between but they will be expecting netanyahu to move in the _ will be expecting netanyahu to move in the question is whether or not he can hold _ in the question is whether or not he can hold the — in the question is whether or not he can hold the coalition around together— can hold the coalition around together without making concessions. do you _ together without making concessions. do you think they are close to doing exactly that, but adam just said, enough is enough, this is an election year and they need to be seen having infrastructure and getting somewhere and maybe they seem threatened to withdraw support somewhat. find seem threatened to withdraw support somewhat. �* ., , ., . .,, seem threatened to withdraw support somewhat. �* ., , ., . ., somewhat. and was removed closer to the election we — somewhat. and was removed closer to the election we can _ somewhat. and was removed closer to the election we can talk _ somewhat. and was removed closer to the election we can talk about - somewhat. and was removed closer to the election we can talk about how - the election we can talk about how this is affecting president biden in swing states like michigan and other states among arabic and progressive voters and i do think that they're getting to that point where you are seeing the administration make

little moves the president biden just passed an executive order that president biden just passed an executive order against a handful of extreme lengths settlers in the west bank making violence against palestinians in the administration weighing options about recognising that palestinian state and that is probably putting the horse before the cart path, they are trying to make an condition aid to israel and i do not know if they would actually go through with this but the president does have a lot of leverage of american power and the message to israel right now is we are going to stand by you but we are getting frustrated and if you need to push a little harder, we do have levels of power at our disposal. there's been another republican primary. the battleground: nevada. the loser: nikki haley. who she lost to: no one.

who she lost to: no one. no, really. overnight, it was projected that haley would lose decisively to the option, "none of these candidates," with 86% of precincts reported, "none" had 63% of tuesday's primary votes, while only 31 percent voted for nikki haley. her team say they'd "not spent a dime nor an ounce of energy on nevada." and that they "didn't bother to play a game rigged for trump. "this vote is non—binding — and donald trump did not appear on the ballots. he's expected to claim the state's 26 delegates in nevada's other primary contest — caucuses — on thursday. this did not really matter, didn't? quite convoluted to get into why it didn't matter but it is embarrassing, isn't it? it’s embarrassing, isn't it? it's embarrassing _ embarrassing, isn't it? it�*s embarrassing and it did not really matter in terms of actual delegates but it mattered because it would've just some symbolic momentum that she does have support in the country and you can see the republican party is

really closing ranks around president trump and she is trailing far behind in her home state of south carolina and will be a little bit of a bump and you can not be a bigger loser than this into nobody. and this is a real blow for her but she says this but there is some anger during an moderate republican circles about the way the republican party is trying to move nikki haley out and they want to wrap this up and start raising money for donald trump and he cannot necessarily make the big money, raise the money that nikki haley has and they really want to get her out and say listen, this is no fair, she is going after the republican party now and i could help her with independence and never

trump. the help her with independence and never trum -. . ., ., , ., trump. the committee wants her to 'ust about trump. the committee wants her to just about to _ trump. the committee wants her to just about to the _ trump. the committee wants her to just about to the caboose _ trump. the committee wants her to just about to the caboose funds - trump. the committee wants her to just about to the caboose funds and where she going wrong? what you think for attacking joe biden donald trump is this grumpy old man especially when she is to get all the voters on her side? her central attack seems _ the voters on her side? her central attack seems to _ the voters on her side? her central attack seems to be _ the voters on her side? her central attack seems to be the _ the voters on her side? her central attack seems to be the right - the voters on her side? her central. attack seems to be the right one and relocated _ attack seems to be the right one and relocated from a uk perspective and what she _ relocated from a uk perspective and what she was tweeting out after this resort— what she was tweeting out after this resort happen was a vote for donald trump _ resort happen was a vote for donald trump is _ resort happen was a vote for donald trump is a _ resort happen was a vote for donald trump is a vote for chaos. they're producing — trump is a vote for chaos. they're producing the same thing over and over again — producing the same thing over and overagain and keep producing the same thing over and over again and keep choosing chaos but the _ over again and keep choosing chaos but the problem is, as true as that might— but the problem is, as true as that might be, — but the problem is, as true as that might be, with 91 criminal charges across— might be, with 91 criminal charges across four— might be, with 91 criminal charges across four states, is based does not seem — across four states, is based does not seem to care and embrace their former— not seem to care and embrace their former politics even when you see some _ former politics even when you see some of— former politics even when you see some of donald trump's language of the need _ some of donald trump's language of the need of a dictator, your people not minding that, yes some of the supporters— not minding that, yes some of the supporters saying yes, we needed that, _ supporters saying yes, we needed that, we _ supporters saying yes, we needed that, we need a strong leader will -et that, we need a strong leader will get things— that, we need a strong leader will get things done which is extremely

troubling _ get things done which is extremely troubling in the question is for finances — troubling in the question is for finances are persuasive the message is going _ finances are persuasive the message is going to _ finances are persuasive the message is going to be for swing voters, particularly in those ski states the last time — particularly in those ski states the last time forjoe biden in places like georgia and florida but that that probably is a much safer republican state. whether those peopie _ republican state. whether those people in nikki haley's message even if she is— people in nikki haley's message even if she is not— people in nikki haley's message even if she is not the messenger will be across _ if she is not the messenger will be across. 00 — if she is not the messenger will be across. y ., ~ if she is not the messenger will be across. ~ ., , across. do you think a guilty verdict would _ across. do you think a guilty verdict would change - across. do you think a guilty l verdict would change peoples opinions? i don't, frankly and i lived in the us a _ i don't, frankly and i lived in the us a few— i don't, frankly and i lived in the us a few years ago and i spend time with people who were with donald trump, _ with people who were with donald trump, the quiet ones are the ones, those _ trump, the quiet ones are the ones, those who— trump, the quiet ones are the ones, those who supported him partly because — those who supported him partly because of this economic platform, they priced — because of this economic platform, they priced in some of that chaos in they priced in some of that chaos in the comments that he makes in the reactions— the comments that he makes in the reactions of— the comments that he makes in the reactions of the things they think are a _

reactions of the things they think are a hit— reactions of the things they think are a bit impolite and unacceptable as i are a bit impolite and unacceptable as i think— are a bit impolite and unacceptable as i think ultimately, he has the right— as i think ultimately, he has the right economic plan has the right thing _ right economic plan has the right thing policy wise and i don't think those _ thing policy wise and i don't think those criminal charges will matter and motivate his base. | those criminal charges will matter and motivate his base.— those criminal charges will matter and motivate his base. i think what ou're and motivate his base. i think what you're seeing _ and motivate his base. i think what you're seeing is _ and motivate his base. i think what you're seeing is the _ and motivate his base. i think what you're seeing is the republican - you're seeing is the republican party is not a party of donald trump is not the party of traditional republicans because nikki haley has a very, very conservative republican, she has a very solid reasonable message. it'sjust that the party is so in the tank for donald trump republican lawmakers and republican leaders, they want to hold onto this power and they know the other way to do that is to support donald trump because of not, the primary, they'll go after them, they're all lining up behind him and ijust think it they're all lining up behind him and i just think it that it they're all lining up behind him and ijust think it that it is donald trump's party now and i think it doesn't bode well for the future of

the conservative movement. talking about one of — the conservative movement. talking about one of the _ the conservative movement. talking about one of the us _ the conservative movement. talking about one of the us street - the conservative movement. talking about one of the us street which - the conservative movement. talking about one of the us street which is l about one of the us street which is developing the us senate and voting down new partisan legislation that has to for border restrictions with aid to ukraine in israel. the two issues were linked after republicans refused to send ukraine more money until the migration crisis was fixed. republicans claim immigration reforms included in the bill did not go far enough, while some democrats think they go too far. where does this leave things now? look, president biden did everything that the republicans are asking for in order to get this supplemental legislation passed in order to fund about israel and ukraine and the republicans pulled some bait and switch with them at the end and i think this is really coming back to bite the speaker mikejohnson who did this and this is notjust the

only law and the only legislation that did not pass in the last couple of days and an impeachment bill against the health secretary of health and human services that also did not go through and this is going to bite him and you can see republicans trying to find some common ground.— republicans trying to find some common ground. present biden is t in: to common ground. present biden is trying to squarely _ common ground. present biden is trying to squarely lay _ common ground. present biden is trying to squarely lay the - common ground. present biden is trying to squarely lay the blame . common ground. present biden is| trying to squarely lay the blame of the son donald trump, centy? this was always — the son donald trump, centy? this was always quite _ the son donald trump, centy? this was always quite a cynical ploy and not really — was always quite a cynical ploy and not really a — was always quite a cynical ploy and not really a serious believe that there _ not really a serious believe that there was — not really a serious believe that there was a link between these issues, — there was a link between these issues, fairly radical republicans, the seams— issues, fairly radical republicans, the seams of the people who disrupted the election recently several— disrupted the election recently several months ago and wanted to undermine — several months ago and wanted to undermine that support for ukraine at the _ undermine that support for ukraine at the been begging the drum for a lon- at the been begging the drum for a long time _ at the been begging the drum for a long time and the thing that must

happen— long time and the thing that must happen is— long time and the thing that must happen is leaders and ukraine and supporters— happen is leaders and ukraine and supporters in the country are probably— supporters in the country are probably going to have to bake in that they— probably going to have to bake in that they would need a strategy that doesn't _ that they would need a strategy that doesn't involve us support and that is going _ doesn't involve us support and that is going to — doesn't involve us support and that is going to be extremely challenging because _ is going to be extremely challenging because a _ is going to be extremely challenging because a huge amount of resources that have _ because a huge amount of resources that have gone in and the rhetoric from _ that have gone in and the rhetoric from the — that have gone in and the rhetoric from the uk materially a huge amount of the _ from the uk materially a huge amount of the arms— from the uk materially a huge amount of the arms of the vestments going in as been— of the arms of the vestments going in as been from the us and i hope i am wrong _ in as been from the us and i hope i am wrong in— in as been from the us and i hope i am wrong in the next year following the presidential election will be continued support for ukraine and they have — continued support for ukraine and they have to be making contingencies i’ili'lt they have to be making contingencies right now— they have to be making contingencies right now because the sorts of noises — right now because the sorts of noises are _ right now because the sorts of noises are not going away. will be back with you _ noises are not going away. will be back with you when _ noises are not going away. will be back with you when i'm _ noises are not going away. will be back with you when i'm going - noises are not going away. will be back with you when i'm going to i noises are not going away. will be i back with you when i'm going to take a quick break. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news convicted sex offender and former singer gary glitter will stay in prison after losing a parole board bid. he was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. the 79—year—old was automatically released in february last year but was put back behind bars six weeks later after

breaching his licence. all proceedings at the old bailey in london have been delayed after a fire near the building. around 1,500 people were told to evacuate and around twenty—five firefighters have been tackling the blaze. there are no reports of any injuries. one person has been left with minor injuries after a passenger train struck a large tree on the track and derailed. the east midlands service partly came off the rails between thetford and harling road in norfolk on tuesday evening, on its way to norwich. an engineer at the scene said everyone on board had a "very lucky escape". you're live with bbc news. new figures obtained by the bbc have raised questions about the government's claims that poor weather conditions had no impact on a fall in small boat crossings across the channel. the figures show more days where weather conditions were worst for crossings. bbc verify�*s nick eardley explains.

the number of people coming across the channel on small boats fell by a third last year. the government saw that as a success. but there has been a big debate about why it happened, and specifically how much of it was down to the bad weather in 2023. here's the home secretary james cleverly speaking to breakfast last month. so this is nothing to do with the weather. i mean, this is... i know this is a convenient way of overlooking the incredible hard work that our officials have done with their colleagues across europe. this is not about the weather. now, whenjames cleverly said that, we asked the home office for its figures and they didn't provide them. we have managed, however, to get our hands on them through freedom of information requests, and the picture is more completed.

——complicated. let me show you this first. these are figures compiled by a part of the home office, the border force, and they come from the met office. and they show that the number of days where weather conditions were worse, where hardly anyone was coming across the channel, went up significantly. in 2022, there was 96 days where it was highly unlikely that people would cross the channel. in 2023, it was 147. that's up 50%. it means an extra 51 days, a month and a half, where hardly anyone was able to cross the channel because of the weather. now, government figures are always complicated. there are lots of different weather categories. there were also fewer days where it was unlikely people would cross — that's basically a few people crossing but not many. but we have analysed these figures. we've also spoken to experts, and they suggest that they show that the weather did play a role. let me show you this quote here from peter walsh, from the migration observatory

at the university of oxford. as you can see, he says, our data suggest weather is a factor but not the only factor. and that's important. it doesn't show that this was all down to the weather, but it does suggest that the weather played a role. i also want to show you one final thing, because the question now is what's happening this year? and the short answer is, so far in 2024, there are more people crossing the channel than there were this time last year. have a look at these figures. 2023, last year, 1180. this year it's gone up again 1335. what's interesting with that figure is it's quite similar to 2022. remember, 2022 was the year that we saw a record high number of people crossing the channel. so, look, there's a long way to go in the year. but it does suggest that the picture is a lot more complicated than we heard from the home secretary last month. there is a lot of information behind this stuff, and if you want to see

more of the figures, they are on the bbc website. the most important thing, though, is this. the weather does appear to have made it harder to cross the channel last year at certain points, and it's likely to have an impact but we can't be certain about how that big that impact was. let's go to our panel adam hawksbee — centre—right think tank onward. and contributing editor at politico elise labott whether its the weather or not, stopping the boats is a priority for sunak. in pmqs today, he refused to apologise for taking £1k bet on the success of his rwanda deterrent scheme, should he? i think, to a degree he already had, he said _ i think, to a degree he already had, he said he _ i think, to a degree he already had, he said he didn't mean to and is taking— he said he didn't mean to and is taking a— he said he didn't mean to and is taking a bit— he said he didn't mean to and is taking a bit by surprise and quite a bit of— taking a bit by surprise and quite a bit of a _ taking a bit by surprise and quite a bit of a distraction from her was a

real priority — bit of a distraction from her was a real priority for voters and every time _ real priority for voters and every time for— real priority for voters and every time for parts of the country and emigration was a priority in an issue — emigration was a priority in an issue in— emigration was a priority in an issue in this and regularly comes forward — issue in this and regularly comes forward behind the nhs and there's been some progress and migrants are down and _ been some progress and migrants are down and some of that is possibly the weather is much more of it is about— the weather is much more of it is about the — the weather is much more of it is about the terms of agreements or countries — about the terms of agreements or countries like albania and bilateral agreements and coordination with france _ agreements and coordination with france and there's been some progress — france and there's been some progress but the problem is the gap between _ progress but the problem is the gap between the rhetoric and reality, stop the — between the rhetoric and reality, stop the boats meant something quite specific— stop the boats meant something quite specific which means those illegal crossings— specific which means those illegal crossings in 45,000 down down 30,000 in a much _ crossings in 45,000 down down 30,000 in a much bigger number than the zero that— in a much bigger number than the zero that the public really wanted there _ zero that the public really wanted there is— zero that the public really wanted there is a — zero that the public really wanted there is a risk here that the far right— there is a risk here that the far right of— there is a risk here that the far right of british politics takes advantage of that and use it for

their— advantage of that and use it for their own — advantage of that and use it for their own electoral gain. and advantage of that and use it for their own electoral gain.- advantage of that and use it for their own electoral gain. and in an election year _ their own electoral gain. and in an election year we _ their own electoral gain. and in an election year we will— their own electoral gain. and in an election year we will hear - their own electoral gain. and in an election year we will hear so - election year we will hear so much about it on both sides in terms of how important it is in improving the impact and the measures that they will have given that across policies are working. will have given that across policies are working-— will have given that across policies are working. that is the messaging and it's really _ are working. that is the messaging and it's really not _ are working. that is the messaging and it's really notjust _ are working. that is the messaging and it's really notjust the - are working. that is the messaging and it's really notjust the crime, i and it's really notjust the crime, but the cover up an addict the messaging really has to be clear about what they're doing and what they are seeing it in the united states in terms of i don't think the biden administration is very clear about the efforts it is taking and clearly it is a crisis and clearly they need more measures but i do not think they really explained to the american people the scope of the crisis of why this is happening and they also use excuses as to why more migrants are coming now as opposed to then or less are coming now. it is pretty easy to take a look at the

weather and see whether it did help her did not help. the reporter is showing the number of migrants making the journey is up 13% compared to last time this year in fewer than the same time in 2022 shows that it really is not whether factor and people are more forgiving we make the explanation as opposed to something that can be proven not true. , ., _, , true. plenty more coming up in the next half hour— true. plenty more coming up in the next half hour will— true. plenty more coming up in the next half hour will be _ true. plenty more coming up in the next half hour will be talking about| next half hour will be talking about dentist, the skus outside into the uk the other day and the issues there, we'll get your thoughts on that but thank you very much and to stay with us here on the context. hello. well, is there snow on the way?

the answer is yes — for some of us. but for most of us, it's going to be a case of sleet and probably heavy rain, and this is going to be happening really for the rest of the week. now, on the one hand, we have a weather front with mild weather spreading in from the southwest. on the other, there's cold air streaming in from the arctic, and that cold air is in place across more northern parts of the uk. and with this weather frontapproaching, riding into this colder air, we will see that awkward mix of rain, sleet and snow across more central parts of the uk. but that's still to come. in fact, the early hours across scotland and the north of england are clear and chilly. temperatures really will be tumbling away, whereas in the south—west of the country, that weather front approaching, mild southwesterlies. so temperatures here of around 11 degrees in plymouth.

colder by the time we get to birmingham, it's three. and then from northern england northwards, it's a frost and we're expecting snow from morning onwards across parts of northern wales and into the pennines, but really anywhere across this central swathe of the country could see some wet snow on the cars, on the grass. but we're going to focus on the amber warnings across northern wales and the pennines. so here widely could be ten to 15 centimetres, but across the higher routes, higher hills, as much as 20 to 25, so tricky conditions there across the transpennine roads through the course of thursday afternoon and into thursday evening. in the south, it's mild and it's wet. in fact, a spell of heavy rain is expected across southern england, could be as much as 40 millimetres here. and then this area of wintry weather moves northwards. and i think by the time we get to friday, strong winds developing across northern britain, a strong easterly here, quite cold, but the focal point for snow will be around more eastern

parts of scotland. across the mountains, no doubt there'll be some blizzards, but for the vast majority of us, it's way too mild for snow. it's ten degrees in hull, ten degrees in birmingham, 13 expected in london. so is it going to turn cold or mild? at the moment, if we look at the outlook for the rest of the week and into next week, it is going to stay generally on the mild side and often unsettled. bye— bye.

hello, i'm lucy grey. you're watching the context on bbc news. there is a crisis in dentistry in england as people queue for nhs appointments and the government sets out a new plan. a trip to the dentist often arises at a time when the need is greatest, but in parts of england, simply trying to find an appointment can be a near—impossible task. campaigners warn dental care in the country is in crisis with scenes like this — larges queues of people waiting to get an appointment at an nhs practice. dentists say it's not surprising. in greater manchester alone, there is only enough money to cover 60% of the population. the budget only goes as far as 6% access, so that's 40% who will not get access to nhs dentistry. but the government says a new recovery plan will tackle the issue with millions more appointments in the areas its needed most. the scheme's measures include

a £20,000 payment for 240 dentists to moved to underserved areas, "top—up payments" for dentists