in which the mirror acted for so many years and then sought to conceal the truth." us presidentjoe biden hits out at suggestions, he has a poor memory and is unfit for office. my memory is fine. my memory... take a look at what i've done since i have become president. none of you thought i could pass any of the things i got passed. president putin insists invading poland, latvia or another nato country is absolutely out of the question. the parties of two former pakistan prime ministers claim to have won the general election, but more than 100 seats are still to be declared. and first there was var, now football's authorities consider introducing a blue card, alongside yellow and red, with a ten—minute sin bin. we have reaction.

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, prince harry has agreed further damages in his case against mirror group newspapers. he settled his remaining claims of phone hacking and invasion of privacy. in a statement, the duke of sussex said the mirror had acted in a shockingly dishonest way for many years, then had sought to conceal the truth. prince harry's victory follows a judge's ruling in december that mirror group journalists had made extensive use of hacking. the mirror said it was pleased to have reached a deal over events for which it had apologised. outside court, harry's lawyer, david sherbourne, delivered this statement on his behalf. "after our victory in december, mirror group have finally conceded the rest of my claim, which would have consisted of another two trials, additional evidence, and 115 more articles." outside court, harry's lawyer,

david sherbourne, "everything we said was happening at mirror group was in fact happening." "and indeed far worse, as the court ruled in its extremely damaging judgment." "as the judge has said only this morning, we have uncovered and proved the shockingly dishonest way in which the mirror acted for so many years and then sought to conceal the truth." "in light of this, we call again for the authorities to uphold the rule of law, and to prove that no—one is above it." "that includes mr morgan, who, as editor, knew perfectly well what was going on, as thejudge held." "even his own employer realised it simply could not call him as a witness of truth at the trial." "his contempt for the court's ruling, and his continued attacks ever since, demonstrate why it was so important to obtain a clear and detailed judgment."

"as i said back in december, our mission continues. i believe in the positive change it will bring for all of us." let's speak to our correspondent charlie rose, who's outside the city court house in london. i will come back to what we were just listening to in a moment, but tell our viewers more about what happened inside the court under the settlement. , a, ., ., settlement. yes, hi, matthew, good afternoon. this _ settlement. yes, hi, matthew, good afternoon. this all _ settlement. yes, hi, matthew, good afternoon. this all relates _ settlement. yes, hi, matthew, good afternoon. this all relates to - settlement. yes, hi, matthew, good afternoon. this all relates to the - afternoon. this all relates to the events which took place at the end of last year, when prince harry and his legal team were successful in 15 of 33 sample claims against mirror group newspapers, basically accusing them of unlawful information gathering, including hacking prince harry's phone, hacking into his voice mail to gather details for newspaper articles. many of the newspaper articles. many of the newspaper articles. many of the newspaper articles they were talking about related to prince harry's

relationship with his girlfriend many years ago, chelsy davy, articles about relationships, their relationship, dates they went on, arguments they might have had, and tattoos. prince harry said there were many more claims, it was just the beginning, and he was bringing 115 further claims, further examples of other articles that he said were examples of phone hacking, information in those articles that would not have been got by journalists without them hacking into his phone. we were going to find out today whether we are going to have a trial, whether these claims would go to trial, but in actualfact, or whether claims would go to trial, but in actual fact, or whether there was going to be a settlement, now we know there has been a settlement, and thejudge, at the end of last

year, ruled that... basically, the judge said that there were phone hacking and unlawful information gathering was widespread among mirror group newspapers, we are talking about the daily mirror, the sunday mirror, and a people newspaper, and senior news editors and executives knew full well about what was going on. the mirror group newspapers said it was pleased to have reached the agreement and move on from events that took place many years ago. prince harry's lawyer said mirror group newspapers had agreed to make cost payments of £400,000, with additional cost to be assessed. . , , ., , assessed. charlie, briefly, he has other outstanding _ assessed. charlie, briefly, he has other outstanding legal— assessed. charlie, briefly, he has other outstanding legal actions i other outstanding legal actions against newspapers, and hundreds will be watching this test case, and to return to what his lawyer was saying, they have repeated that they want the police to get involved. yes, they want the authorities to uphold the rule of law, and prince

harry now has his sights set on the publishers of the daily mail and the publishers of the daily mail and the publishers of the sun newspaper, and there are another 100 claimants to have their claims processed, making claims against mirror group newspapers, waiting to have their claims process, which means a huge financial burden for mirror group newspapers. they are now feeling pressure to settle these claims, so this goes on, and today's events, today's result is good news for those other hundred or so people waiting to have their claims processed. waiting to have their claims processed-— waiting to have their claims rocessed. . ., , processed. charlie rose, outside the court, processed. charlie rose, outside the court. thank — processed. charlie rose, outside the court, thank you. _ with more than half of the seats called from yesterday's general election in pakistan, independent candidates backed by the jailed former prime minister imran khan have taken a clear lead. but in the last half hour, another former prime minister, nawaz sharif, widely seen as enjoying the support of the country's powerful military, claimed victory.

live now to islamabad with our reporter farhat javed. so we have these competing claims, what can you actually tell us? yes, nawaz sharif, _ what can you actually tell us? yes, nawaz sharif, the _ what can you actually tell us? yes, nawaz sharif, the former - what can you actually tell us? 133 nawaz sharif, the former prime minister, hasjust made his first public speech after more than 24 hours since the poll ended yesterday. a large crowd gathered outside the secretariat in lahore, and nawaz sharif congratulated them all, and he said that his party has won maximum seats, although we do not have the final result from the election commission of pakistan, and what we do have so far is more than 50% of the seats have been declared, and we also know that most of these seeds are won by imran khan's

independent candidate. but despite all this, nawaz sharif has made this claim that his party has won most of the seats, and he has also announced that his party will talk to other opposition parties, the parties which were allowed with him during the previous government, he said that his party would speak to them, including the pakistan peoples party, and some religious parties as well. and he also hinted on reaching out to the independent candidates which are actually backed by imran khan's pti, he said his party would reach out to them and try to form a coalition government for the next five years. he also said that he aims to take this country out of the trouble is it is facing now, and he said that he invites all other political leaders from all other parties to sit together and to get this country out of the problems it is facing for many years now. things obviously very _ is facing for many years now. things obviously very fluid, _ is facing for many years now. things obviously very fluid, we _ is facing for many years now. things obviously very fluid, we will - is facing for many years now. things obviously very fluid, we will keep i obviously very fluid, we will keep an eye on that and perhaps return to

you through the course of the programme. thank you for now. senior democrats have defended president biden after his memory was called into question by the official investigating the president's handling of classified documents. the special counsel, a republican former attorney, said the president had struggled during interviews to recall major events in his life, like when he served as vice president, and the year his son died. last night, joe biden furiously rejected the claims, saying his memory was fine. republicans have seized on the report as evidence that mr biden shouldn't be seeking re—election. from washington, here's will vernon. tonight, no criminal charges for president biden... no criminal charges... tonight, no charges... the initial headlines seemed to be good news for the president. the special counsel recommended no charges be brought into his handling of official documents. a legal win for mr biden. but, politically, it was a devastating blow. the report made several claims over

mr biden�*s mental competency. it described him as "a well—meaning elderly man with a poor memory." in any future trial, it said, it would be "difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him of a crime that requires a mental state of willfulness." last night, president biden hit back at those allegations. my memory is fine. my memory... take a look at what i've done since i've become president. none of you thought i could pass any of the things i got passed. how did that happen? you know, i guess ijust forgot what was going on. butjoe biden has made a series of embarrassing slip—ups that have raised questions about his fitness for office. at a recent event, he said the current president of france was mitterrand, who died in 1996. and i sat down and i said, "america's back," and mitterrand from germany... i mean from france. donald trump, who is just three years younger than his rival, has mocked president biden on the campaign trail.

i'll tell you what — i feel sharper now than i did 20 years ago. i really do. and i think anybody running for president should take an aptitude or a cognitive test. mr biden will now be hoping allegations of wrongdoing over official documents will come to an end. but questions about his age and fitness for office are more difficult to avoid. will vernon, bbc news, washington. let's speak to sarada peri, who was senior speech writer for president barack obama. thanks so much forjoining us on the programme, we will come to strategy in a moment, but would you agree that the special counsel's report, in reference to the present�*s memory, is really damaging for him? well, i don't think that the report is much more than a political hit job by a trump appointee, but there is no doubt that it is problematic for the campaign

is no doubt that it is problematic forthe campaign and is no doubt that it is problematic for the campaign and for president biden, because it editorialise as all kinds of things about his mental acuity and his memory which may or may not be true, and it does it in a way which was pretty shocking, i think, to the white house and the american people. that is not thejob of the special prosecutor, to actually do any of that it of the special prosecutor, to actually do any of that it may not be his particular _ actually do any of that it may not be his particularjob. .. _ actually do any of that it may not be his particularjob... he - be his particular “ob... he exonerated _ be his particularjob... he: exonerated him of any wrongdoing and decided to editorialise more about him. ~ :, :, ., :, him. whatever the motivation here, the president _ him. whatever the motivation here, the president not _ him. whatever the motivation here, the president not remembering - him. whatever the motivation here, | the president not remembering when he was vice president, not remembering when his son had died, not remembering hamas, not mirroring the french president's name, not remembering the german chancellor's name, who the egyptian president was — that is a basic problem now for the democrats, isn't it? or shouldn't it be? 50 the democrats, isn't it? or shouldn't it be?—

the democrats, isn't it? or shouldn't it be? ~ ., shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's — shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's age — shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's age has _ shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's age has been - shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's age has been an - shouldn't it be? so i think that the president's age has been an issue| president's age has been an issue from the beginning, and it was always going to be an issue in this campaign. and look, it is interesting that the special prosecutor but all of this stuff in the report and issues it as though it is a damning thing, when, you know, nothing in washington is a secret. he has talked to many reporters, books have been written about the biden presidents, where reporters come out and say he is very sharp, absolutely on top of his business and running the country in a decisive way, he has his own strategist, and even kevin mccarthy, who would publicly go on and on about how biden was losing it, he privately admitted he was quite sharp and on top of it. so it is puzzling to me that the special prosecutor is all the statements about his memory. however, i will say, this was always going to be the issue, and the question now is what the white house does about it, and if i were them, i would actually have him out there even more, because in some ways, holding him

back means that any gaffe he makes becomes a headline. i mean, you know, former president trump said viktor orban was the head of turkey, and people were notjumping on it. but there have been so many different examples, let me just get in if i can... 50 different examples, let me 'ust get in in can. . .— in ifi can... so people make these .a .s in ifi can... so people make these aa -s all in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the _ in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the time, _ in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the time, but _ in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the time, but part - in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the time, but part of - in ifi can... so people make these gaps all the time, but part of the l gaps all the time, but part of the problem is that biden has not been out as much as he should be, so i would hope the campaign has out even more and making sure that he is reassuring the american people that he is completely capable of handling this job and he is completely capable of handling thisjob and his record of accomplishments is a good measure of that. :, , ., ., ., that. can i 'ust get in and ask a question? — that. can ijust get in and ask a question? does _ that. can ijust get in and ask a question? does the _ that. can ijust get in and ask a question? does the white - that. can ijust get in and ask a i question? does the white house that. can ijust get in and ask a - question? does the white house have to change strategy? have they been complacent? you say there has always been this issue, but the nbc recent poll said 76% of voters are now concerned about biden�*s age, that is a problem, they cannot keep doing

the same thing strategically without the same thing strategically without the problem getting worse, can they? i don't think the white house has been complacent at all, and i think you have to separate out the white house and the campaign, so the white house and the campaign, so the white house will continue governing. in some ways, the campaign is really getting going now, the republican primaries are still ongoing, have not been resolved, so i think you will see them having him out there more. he is obviously travelling, he has all of a social media, doing all the events that he needs to be doing, and i suspect you will see more of that. i think they need to take this head—on, and the way to do it is not to say it, but to show it, and i think you will see more of that going forward. we and i think you will see more of that going forward.— and i think you will see more of that going forward. we have to leave it there, that going forward. we have to leave it there. thank _ that going forward. we have to leave it there, thank you _ that going forward. we have to leave it there, thank you so _ that going forward. we have to leave it there, thank you so much - that going forward. we have to leave it there, thank you so much for- that going forward. we have to leave it there, thank you so much for your| it there, thank you so much for your time, thank you. let's look at some other stories making news. the future of the red bull formula 1 team is in the spotlight as their boss christian horner faces an internal hearing into a complaint of inappropriate behaviour. it's understood the claim has been

made by another member of staff. horner, who is married to the former spice girl geri horner, has said he completely denies the claims. guatemala's new president, bernardo arevallo, says he has no intention of breaking diplomatic ties with taiwan in favour of china. several other countries in central america and the caribbean have recently severed relations with taiwan in the past few years. china, in exchange, has invested billions of dollars in projects across the region. a new oscar for best casting will be introduced from 2026. it will be the first new competitive category at the ceremony since 2002. casting directors have campaigned in recent years to be recognised in the way other film crafts, such as sound and costume, are. president putin has insisted russia has no interest in invading poland, latvia or other nato countries, calling such a scenario "absolutely out of the question".

the comments were made during a television interview in the kremlin with the former fox news host tucker carlson. the interview was broadcast on the tucker carlson network. vladimir putin warned the west must accept moscow's territorial gains in ukraine. on evan gershkovich, the wall street journal reporter detained in russia, mr putin said an agreement could be reached for his release. here's the moment putin was asked by carlson whether he would invade a nato country like poland. can you imagine a scenario where you sent russian troops to poland? translation: only in one case, if poland attacks russia. - why? because we have no interest in poland, latvia or anywhere else. why would we do that? we simply don't have any interest. it was a very long and rambling interview, and listening was our

russian editor, steve rosenberg, who said vladimir putin revealed nothing new in that interview. we have heard most of what vladimir putin had to say before, this was a platform for him to put across his recent narrative about the war in ukraine and his worldview, the world according to vladimir putin to an american audience, to the us political establishment, to the west in general, knowing that he would not be challenged very much on his answers. and the world according to vladimir putin is one in which russia is the victim and the west is the aggressor — nato, america, ukraine. he never accepts any responsibility for what has happened, so that's kind of the picture we got in this interview yesterday. tucker carlson some days ago claimed not a single western journalist had been bothered to request an interview with vladimir putin since the invasion of ukraine. that is not true at all.

the bbc and many other broadcasters, western broadcasters, have requested repeatedly and interview with the kremlin leader, but it's been a no. but it's clear that tucker carlson was chosen as the interviewer because he had made many pro—russia comments in recent times. he did not challenge vladimir putin on many of the things he said. on the alternative reality that was painted by the kremlin leader about what has happened with the war in ukraine and i would imagine the kremlin will be pretty pleased. there's been a media circus in russia over this interview. it's almost been like a pop star has arrived to interview vladimir putin, such has been the level of interest in tucker carlson. steve rosenberg.

israeli forces have carried out fresh air strikes on rafah in southern gaza, hours after the us stressed the importance of protecting civilian lives there. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has ordered his military to plan ways to evacuate civilians from the city, as it prepares to take on hamas fighters near gaza's southern border. the white house has warned israel that staging a military offensive in rafah without planning would be a disaster. president biden says israel's conduct in gaza has been "over the top" and said he was working to secure a sustained pause in fighting. about half of gaza's 2.3 million people have fled to rafah, since the conflict began in october. just before we came on air, i spoke to jan egeland from the norwegian refugee agency, who have about 50 people in rafah, and i asked him how alarmed he was by the prospect of an israeli offensive. we are very alarmed. in gaza, rafah has now become the largest refugee camp on earth. 1 million people fled

here because it was supposed to be safe, theyjoined the population, which is there already, it is the most crowded, it is the largest refugee camp on it, and you cannot have a war in a refugee camp. we were seeing pictures and satellite pictures showing what we were talking about in terms of the concentration of people. what are your colleagues on the ground telling you about the conditions people are currently living in? conditions are horrific in rafah, people are sleeping in the street, they are sleeping under flimsy plastic covers. there is no water, i mean, the few bottled water that there would be is with exorbitant prices. still, the us, the uk, germany and all the allies of israel has not been able to fix the access system of humanitarian aid to gaza,

so we are still having 200 trucks per day, which is a third of what is needed. i per day, which is a third of what is needed. :, , ., :, ., ., needed. i was reading one father of six, needed. i was reading one father of six. sheltering _ needed. i was reading one father of six, sheltering in _ needed. i was reading one father of six, sheltering in rafah, _ needed. i was reading one father of six, sheltering in rafah, telling - six, sheltering in rafah, telling reuters, we have our backs to the border fence and our faces towards the mediterranean — where should we actually go? do you recognise that basic concern of those people not knowing where they can physically go? knowing where they can physically o? : , , ., , ., :, knowing where they can physically go? absolutely, and i would add the israeli go? absolutely, and i would add the israeli tanks — go? absolutely, and i would add the israeli tanks that _ go? absolutely, and i would add the israeli tanks that are _ go? absolutely, and i would add the israeli tanks that are approaching. i israeli tanks that are approaching. in khan younis, in the middle area, it is being destroyed as we speak. gaza city has long been totally destroyed. it is really rafah that is remaining. so what we need is a ceasefire. if the united states, the uk, germany and the others are not even able to provide a ceasefire now come up with all of the arms that is given to israel, you know, the moral high ground is really lost by

everybody who has their fingerprints on this horrific situation. ianthem everybody who has their fingerprints on this horrific situation.— on this horrific situation. when you look at the — on this horrific situation. when you look at the map, _ on this horrific situation. when you look at the map, rafah _ on this horrific situation. when you look at the map, rafah is - on this horrific situation. when you look at the map, rafah is very - on this horrific situation. when you | look at the map, rafah is very close to the humanity in which the israelis describe it — is that potentially a place that numbers could go to here?— could go to here? there is no condition _ could go to here? there is no condition to _ could go to here? there is no condition to take _ could go to here? there is no condition to take more - could go to here? there is no condition to take more than l could go to here? there is no condition to take more than 1 | condition to take more than 1 million people there at all. israel could open the border to these people, so could egypt. of course, many of them are afraid also that the grand plan here is to move people out of their ancestral homes, many of them are refugees beforehand,, and the solution is a ceasefire, there is no other

solution to avoid war in the middle of a refugee camp. indie solution to avoid war in the middle of a refugee camp.— solution to avoid war in the middle of a refugee camp. we have talked many times. _ of a refugee camp. we have talked many times. you — of a refugee camp. we have talked many times, you are _ of a refugee camp. we have talked many times, you are always - of a refugee camp. we have talked many times, you are always very i many times, you are always very fluent, you almost seem to be struggling to describe the new word to describe the desperate situation on the ground. to describe the desperate situation on the ground-— on the ground. yeah, we are desperate. _ on the ground. yeah, we are desperate, we _ on the ground. yeah, we are desperate, we are _ on the ground. yeah, we are desperate, we are angry, . on the ground. yeah, we arej desperate, we are angry, we on the ground. yeah, we are - desperate, we are angry, we are sharing the pain of our colleagues here. we know these people, they are scared to death, and this operation must stop. we have no more words. look for yourself, leaders of the world. this madness must stop. jan world. this madness must stop. jan egeland, thank you so much for talking to us, thank you. you are watching bbc news. now to a story that's already generating plenty of comment, because football authorities are considering a major shake—up to the way football is refereed. a blue card may be introduced to go along with the yellow and red we currently have. it would result in a ten—minute

sin—bin punishment for offences like dissent. football's lawmakers say trials will begin soon, although that appears to have been delayed in the last few hours. let's speak to former chelsea and everton player pat nevin. welcome to the programme. so what do you think? welcome to the programme. so what do ou think? ~ , welcome to the programme. so what do ou think? ~ a, , :, you think? well, matthew, first of all, do we need _ you think? well, matthew, first of all, do we need any _ you think? well, matthew, first of all, do we need any more - you think? well, matthew, first of. all, do we need any more confusion in the game? i would argue not at the moment, with the problems we are having with the introduction of var. however, there are two or three problems outstanding at the moment. the abuse of referees, the fact that thatis the abuse of referees, the fact that that is increasing and trickling down to the amateur game, and there is a verbal and physical violence going towards these younger referees because they see it at the top level. so how do you get rid of that? that was the idea of the blue card, to stop people going to the referee or else they would get the blue card and would be sin—binned

for ten minutes. at the moment, it isjust a yellow, for ten minutes. at the moment, it is just a yellow, it means nothing to them. the other thing is the professional foul, players to them. the other thing is the professionalfoul, players do it to them. the other thing is the professional foul, players do it to stop a goal being scored, they are given a yellow card, and i are delighted with it. fans were devastated because there is no real problem for them going forward. if it is a blue card, they are off for ten minutes, and that could be the difference, it could stop them making those challenges. so i understand the concept, but there are downsides, a free! let’s understand the concept, but there are downsides, a free!— are downsides, a free! let's get onto that, _ are downsides, a free! let's get onto that. i _ are downsides, a free! let's get onto that, i reckon _ are downsides, a free! let's get onto that, i reckon i _ are downsides, a free! let's get onto that, i reckon i could - are downsides, a free! let's get onto that, i reckon i could put l are downsides, a free! let's get l onto that, i reckon i could put the microphone up and you could go for more than two minutes, but you mentioned var, what aboutjust changing, again, the flow of the game here? that is what fans are concerned about.— game here? that is what fans are concerned about. great point, one of the thins concerned about. great point, one of the things that _ concerned about. great point, one of the things that worries _ concerned about. great point, one of the things that worries me _ concerned about. great point, one of the things that worries me most - the things that worries me most about it, the flow of the game. if you end up sending players off for ten minutes, will they still be so positive? the games in the premier league are so good, so many girls,

but if you are down to ten men, you willjust get back and defend, so it might make the game was. i have mentioned the complications that you have got for the fans, who do not need any more confusion. but the biggest concern for me, matthew, mission creep — that is exactly what happened with the var, they brought it in for one or two reasons, then they thought, oh, we will add this or that, and then suddenly nobody has any idea what the rules are! so if they bring it in, it has to trialled well.— if they bring it in, it has to trialled well. ., :, , trialled well. one final downside that i trialled well. one final downside that i have _ trialled well. one final downside that i have already _ trialled well. one final downside that i have already heard - trialled well. one final downside that i have already heard voiced| trialled well. one final downside i that i have already heard voiced is the worry about increased levels of player injury, because even with the changes we have had, with the offside rule, with the flag going up, we have had incidents where players have been injured before the decision is made, and that has really angered managers. the talk here, if you put a player in the sin bin for ten minutes, he will be cold, more likely to be getting an

injury when he comes back. yeah, 'ust ut a injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite _ injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite in _ injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite in the _ injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite in the sin _ injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite in the sin bin, - injury when he comes back. yeah, just put a bite in the sin bin, a - just put a bite in the sin bin, a static bike, don't worry about that! the world of football can get over that no problem at all. that is the least of the problems. don't worry, football will always make excuses. if they can stop the professional foul and the abuse of referees, and i would add onto that diving and cheating. if} i would add onto that diving and cheatina. :: , _, , i would add onto that diving and cheatina. :: , , ., i would add onto that diving and cheatin.. ii , , ., ., i would add onto that diving and cheatin.. ii , , ., cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be ruick, wh cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be quick. why not _ cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be quick. why not a _ cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be quick, why not a straight _ cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be quick, why not a straight red - cheating. 20 seconds, you have to be quick, why not a straight red for - quick, why not a straight red for those things that are troubling you and players and managers? you those things that are troubling you and players and managers? you and me too, i have and players and managers? you and me too. i have to — and players and managers? you and me too. i have to say. _ and players and managers? you and me too, i have to say, that _ and players and managers? you and me too, i have to say, that is _ and players and managers? you and me too, i have to say, that is a _ and players and managers? you and me too, i have to say, that is a pretty - too, i have to say, that is a pretty good idea, but a lot of people don't agree with it! hit good idea, but a lot of people don't agree with it!— agree with it! pat nevin, thanks for bein: so agree with it! pat nevin, thanks for being so concise! _ agree with it! pat nevin, thanks for being so concise! thank— agree with it! pat nevin, thanks for being so concise! thank you - agree with it! pat nevin, thanks for being so concise! thank you for - being so concise! thank you for joining us on the programme. back with the headlines and just a moment. hello there. as temperatures have continued to rise, so the focus has shifted from snow to rain and flooding. this was the weather watcher picture taken earlier today in leicestershire.

it's a combination of the rain and in some cases the melting snow that's led to a large number of flood warnings. the bulk of those have been across the midlands and southern england, but the weekend looks like it should be drier. this weather front has been moving northwards, taking the wetter weather up towards scotland and that's where we've got the colder air still in place, but elsewhere it is much milder and we are seeing some spells of rain. with that milder air coming in over the cold ground here in staffordshire, it's meant quite misty and murky conditions, as well as the snow gradually thawing. we've got misty, murky conditions across much of northern england and northern ireland. those are the temperatures we've got as we head into the evening. somewhat colder in scotland. there's still a strong easterly wind blowing and it's over highland and grampian above about 300 metres there could be as much as 20 centimetres of snow, so it really is well over high ground. it's rain elsewhere. we've got more rain in southern scotland into the night,

moving away from northern ireland, and some clearer skies will develop further south and it may well be a little bit chillier than last night across southern england, with lows of two or three degrees here. it depends on cloud and mist and fog, and we could see some mist and fog developing through the midlands towards lincolnshire. that will be a little slow to lift. and we've still got more cloud around in scotland on saturday. the rain and snow mainly in the far north of the country. some showers will follow to the south, mainly in south wales and south—west england. but we should see some sunshine and even across northern england, southern scotland and northern ireland. that will certainly give the temperatures a boost. it's continuing to get milder in the next day or so. the colder air is getting pushed to the north of mainland scotland by that weather front by sunday, but we've still got low pressure close by, so there still could be some showers and there may even be a bit of rain running its way close to these north sea coasts. otherwise, it could be quite cloudy with mist and fog patches to lift, particularly in the north. some sunshine coming through, but still a few showers, mainly in the south and west of the uk. blustery winds still

through the english channel, otherwise the winds fairly light and those temperatures in scotland will continue to rise.