sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's will perry. hello. there are four games under way in the last 16 of the fa cup. fresh from their league cup defeat, chelsea have come from behind to lead leeds 2—1. mikailo mudryk has put them infont. it's still goalless betwen nottingham forest and manchester united. wolves are 1—0 up against brighton at molinieux through mario lemina and it's still scoreless between liverpool and southampton at anfield. these ties will be decided on the night even if we need extra time or penalties. the draw for the quarter fianas has been made, there's the possibility of manchester united takng on liverpol should they get through. just four days ahead of fi's opening grand prix of the season in bahrain, red bull's team principal christian horner has been cleared of inappropriate

and controlling behaviour towards a female collegaue. red bull say the investigation has been "fair, rigorous and impartial". our sports news correspondent laura scott reports. christian horner has been at the head of red bull racing for nearly two tickets building the team into a dominant force and become one of the most recognisable faces in the paddock often alongside his former spice girl way. but his future in the sport was put in jeopardy when allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him by a female colleague. at the recent season launch he emphatically maintained his innocence. can you guarantee you have never behaved inappropriately towards a colleague? i did any accusations that have been made against me. imilli i did any accusations that have been made against me.— made against me. with the season loomin: , made against me. with the season looming. key _ made against me. with the season looming, key figures _ made against me. with the season looming, key figures in _ made against me. with the season looming, key figures in the - made against me. with the season looming, key figures in the sport l looming, key figures in the sport had called for a swift resolution. it is very concerning, the allegations are extremely serious and it_ allegations are extremely serious and it is_ allegations are extremely serious and it is certainly seems like things— and it is certainly seems like things should be coming to an end

here quickly because we really need to be _ here quickly because we really need to be talking about formula 1 as we io to be talking about formula 1 as we go to— to be talking about formula 1 as we go to the _ to be talking about formula 1 as we go to the start of the year. just to be talking about formula 1 as we go to the start of the year.- go to the start of the year. just a 72 hours till _ go to the start of the year. just a 72 hours till the _ go to the start of the year. just a 72 hours till the first race - go to the start of the year. just a 72 hours till the first race came l 72 hours till the first race came the news that he had been cleared of misconduct following an independent investigation with a statement from the parent companies saying that red bull can't confirm grievances had been dismissed and the complainant has a right to appeal. while everyone here at the team based in milton keynes has been trying to operate as close to business as usual as possible, christian horner has acknowledged this matter has been a distraction as the start of the season looms. only time will tell as the result on the truck will reflect that. this was horner in for testing now knowing he will stay on as chief. he and sport organised will be relieved

that the investigation was completed before the lights go out for the first grand prix of the year but given the chance of an appeal, this might not be the end of the road. andy murray say�*s he's unlikely to play beyond the summer, but hopes to be given another chance to compete at what would be a fifth olympic games. the three—time grand slam winner took olympic gold at both london 2012 and rio 2016. but he's struggling this season — he's been knocked out in the second round of the dubai championships by ugo umbert. he say�*s he's getting bored of questions about his future and won't talk about it again until he decides to quit. he's currently ranked 67th in the world but could get into the draw for the paris olympics as a former champion. and, england s mel reid has been named as one of suzann pettersen�*s for vice captain's for tis year's solheim cup in the usa. the six—time ladies european tour winner, joins dame laura davies, anna nordqvist and caroline martens as vice—captains for the prestigious bi—ennial competition. europe will be bidding to keep the trophy for a historic fourth time when it takes place in virginia, in september.

and that's all the sport for now. thank you very much. we will turn to issues in the middle east. hamas officials says there has been no breakthrough in mediated talks with israel, that are aimed at pausing the war and freeing the remaining hostages. a spokesman said the gap in the negotiation is still wide and an official truce proposal is yet been produced. the death toll as reported by the hamas—run health ministry is now at 29,954. these are images from deir al—balah in central gaza — where the overnight air strikes killed at least 58 people, including children. the un said today severe restrictions on fuel shipments and the lack of, barely any, functioning desalination plants means the water supplies are now 7% of where they were before the war started. the palestinian foreign minister has accused the united nations security

council of "failing" his people. we are very much disappointed with the security council of the united nations, who has failed all of us, who had failed the people in gaza after four and a half months. after four and a half months still, the security council is not capable, able to take action in order reallyjust to impose a ceasefire. we do understand that the first step to undertake in any occasions of this nature is for a ceasefire to be achieved. but, you know, now in gaza, you know, it seems that the ceasefire is far—fetched. in other news today a group of top internationaljournalists have signed an open letter demanding israel and egypt provide foreign media with "unfettered access" to gaza. the bbc international editor jeremy bowen, sky's alex crawford, cnn christiane amanpour, are among 55 correspondents who are also appealling for better protection for the palestinians,

already reporting in the territory. it coincides with another letter written by 2 dozen us lawmakers, addressed to the secretary of state antony blinken, that makes similar demands. with me is bbc news presenter anna foster. of course she is just come back from the middle east. over 90 journalists, palestinianjournalists killed in gaza and no way of getting in either through the israeli side or the egyptian site. that is unprecedented. no access to a conflict on the size. it is conflict on the size. it is difficult _ conflict on the size. it is difficult and _ conflict on the size. it is difficult and you - conflict on the size. it is - difficult and you sometimes conflict on the size. it 3 difficult and you sometimes wonder when people are watching the reporting that we are doing, do they think that we have decided it is too dangerous to go in, do they think that there are considerations, decisions being made behind the scenes. the simple fact is, if you are an internationaljournals at the moment you cannot get into gaza. as you see, we have not had the situation before. there have been wars in gaza before poor axis has been, perhaps held back for a short

amount of time, but to be in this position months in and not be able to go in and see what is going on. this letter we talk about, it makes an important point about our palestinian colleagues. certainly when you look at the bbc, the bbc has had teams ofjournalists that live and work in gaza, one of our colleagues who covered so heart rending lead the first days of the war and then managed to get out with his family. but covering for the war into caring for your children at the same time, are enormously difficult. so you need the ability for colleagues to get in and for all of us to be able to see what is going on. g , ., , ., , ., us to be able to see what is going on. , ., , ., ., , on. just to remind people, what axis “ournalists on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have _ on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have had _ on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have had so _ on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have had so far, - on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have had so far, it - on. just to remind people, what axis journalists have had so far, it has i journalists have had so far, it has been on and on board basis with the israeli military what happens with that comes back.— israeli military what happens with that comes back. ~ , ., ., ., that comes back. when you go on, the material that — that comes back. when you go on, the material that you _ that comes back. when you go on, the material that you take, _ that comes back. when you go on, the material that you take, you _ that comes back. when you go on, the material that you take, you are - that comes back. when you go on, the material that you take, you are so - material that you take, you are so closely covered the entire time, you go in with the military, they take you to locations that they wanted to

youtube and use different time of your choosing. that is not new unique. if you go on with one of these with british or american forces there is a degree of control always but the problem is what it means is what you can see, you cannot slip down the road and see something and have a chat with them. it is a very closely controlled way of reporting. and as i and you know, because we didn't always exist in the studio, we have both been correspondents out in the field before and there's absolutely no substitute for somewhere, speaking to people seeing with your own eyes what is going on in optimalfor internationaljournals in gaza that is just impossible. internationaljournals in gaza that isjust impossible.— internationaljournals in gaza that isjust impossible. when i went into thousand eight, _ isjust impossible. when i went into thousand eight, we _ isjust impossible. when i went into thousand eight, we were _ isjust impossible. when i went into thousand eight, we were locked - isjust impossible. when i went into thousand eight, we were locked out on the egyptian side of rafah for quite some time. for about 20 odd days and a similar situation was unfolding while the war was on the other side of the wall. i remember at the time, we had to get dominic

come that then ambassador of cairo to write to the egyptian authorities to write to the egyptian authorities to say if anything happens to me, or his cameron man, they are on their own. we don't expect you to go in after them. own. we don't expect you to go in afterthem. eventually own. we don't expect you to go in after them. eventually it worked, the pressure of the egyptians worked. it is my hunch that actually, the only way you are not going to get in independently to the israeli side, but why the egyptians keeping people out? this israeli side, but why the egyptians keeping people out?— keeping people out? this is interesting _ keeping people out? this is interesting because - keeping people out? this is interesting because even i keeping people out? this is interesting because even to keeping people out? this is - interesting because even to get to the area of the sign where we keep seeing reports that things are being built, that there are reception centres being built, potentially for palestinians who may eventually come out of gaza, but all we can do is look at satellite images and try to work it out. you are right to seek him the last time i went into gaza was 18 months ago now and that was through the israeli crossing in the north of the strip which is the one we used to use. but destroyed on the 7th of october and has been completely unusable ever since. it is a good point that you make, it is

in part requires the israeli authorities to say yes, but it also requires the egyptian authorities to cs and at the moment, we are just facing this wall of people saying, no. and this is one of the most important stories in the world at the moment. it is one that we are desperate to one that we are... which is why they want to give everyone out, of course. as a final thought on this. looking at the names in the list, we have talked about this outside the studio, should there have been more palestinian names? i should there have been more palestinian names?— should there have been more palestinian names? i would have liked to seen _ palestinian names? i would have liked to seen palestinian - palestinian names? i would have liked to seen palestinian namesl palestinian names? i would have l liked to seen palestinian names on the list. the letter does mention our palestinian colleagues by feel every time we talk about international journals every time we talk about internationaljournals not being allowed into gaza, i don't ever want anyone to think they're doing a disservice to our palestinian colleagues who have than an incredible job and many have given their lives and risk their lives and unimaginable circumstances to tell the story and i think when we look back at these first five soon—to—be

six months of the war, it will be this palestinian journalists who given us notjust the greatest but only insight of what is going on in gaza. i only insight of what is going on in gaza. ., ., , only insight of what is going on in gaza. ., ., ., ., ., gaza. i read today that more of them had died in such _ gaza. i read today that more of them had died in such a _ gaza. i read today that more of them had died in such a short _ gaza. i read today that more of them had died in such a short period - gaza. i read today that more of them had died in such a short period of- had died in such a short period of term than any other conflict recent history. showing extraordinary bravery. thank you forjoining me. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news bringing you different stories— bbc news bringing you different stories from _ bbc news bringing you different stories from across _ bbc news bringing you different stories from across the - bbc news bringing you different stories from across the uk. - bbc news bringing you different stories from across the uk. things like this are _ stories from across the uk. things like this are becoming _ stories from across the uk. things like this are becoming a _ stories from across the uk. things like this are becoming a daily - like this are becoming a daily occurrence and he says he's often powerless to do anything about it. when the door is closed but sometimes you have to leave the door open someone's they just sometimes you have to leave the door open someone's theyjust open and grab open someone's theyjust open and gmba open someone's theyjust open and grab a drink. he open someone's they 'ust open and grab a drink.— grab a drink. he is not alone. new firures grab a drink. he is not alone. new figures from _ grab a drink. he is not alone. new figures from the _ grab a drink. he is not alone. new figures from the british _ grab a drink. he is not alone. new figures from the british retail - figures from the british retail consortium say nationally there 17 of the incident last year compared to around 3,000,02017. they say it

costs retailers are around £i.8 costs retailers are around £1.8 billion. he says he reports to shoplifters to the police, but does not stop thieves coming back. we not stop thieves coming back. i've seen incidents _ not stop thieves coming back. la: seen incidents too much not stop thieves coming back. i�*9 seen incidents too much of not stop thieves coming back. i"9: seen incidents too much of people doing the same thing and they are not scared of anybody like law and order. they have arrested a few people, does not like they are not arrested but nothing changes. nothing changes. for arrested but nothing changes. nothing changes.— arrested but nothing changes. nothing changes. for more stories from across _ nothing changes. for more stories from across the _ nothing changes. for more stories from across the uk, _ nothing changes. for more stories from across the uk, head - nothing changes. for more stories from across the uk, head to - nothing changes. for more stories from across the uk, head to the i nothing changes. for more stories l from across the uk, head to the bbc news _ from across the uk, head to the bbc news website — welcome back. a bbc investigation has revealed the uk's biggest renewable power plant which has received 6 billion pounds in uk green subsidies has been burning wood from some of the world's most precious forests. drax a converted coal plant near selby in north yorkshire now burns over 7 million tonnes of wood pellets each year to produce 5% of the uk's electricity. 80% of those wood pellets come from america. but the company has also taken timber from rare forests in canada that it had claimed were "no go areas". on monday we asked the us climate tzarjohn kerry on this programme

whether subsiding a plant like drax was an effective use of taxpayers money? it burns 27 million trees a year, nearly all of it imported from your country. the cost of capturing 8 million tonnes of the 12 million tonnes of the carbon that it emits will add more than £1 billion a year to taxpayers�*s bills. surely there are cleaner ways to invest than that? there are. but you are an advocate of carbon capture? i am an advocate of carbon capture, because the scientists are telling us we cannot get to net—zero 2050 if we don't have some carbon capture. but it is being used by the fossil fuel companies as a get out. it can be. it is not by everybody. you have occidental — the ceo of occidental�*s

completely committed to direct air carbon capture. they are doing it and they are not putting it back into the atmosphere somewhere. people are now doing research about whether or not there are ways to take that carbon and then created as some staple or part of new fule. i mean, there is a lot of research taking place now. bbc panorama has obtained documents from british columbia's ministry of forests that show the company took more than 40,000 tonnes of wood from so—called "old—growth" forests in 2023. the reporter isjoe crowley. we looked at drax's operation in british columbia. that is somewhere where, in the past, the company's applied for a logging licences. it no longer does so, but it still takes wood from sites that have been cut down by timber companies. now, we have discovered that some of the wood drax is taking there is coming from the oldest and the rarest forests in british columbia, known as old growth. old—growth forests are natural forests that have never been industrially logged and have grown to an advanced age. now, in total, we found that injust nine months from january

to september last year, drax took over 50,000 tonnes of logs from 30 sites that have at least 25% old—growth forest. that is 1100 large truck loads of logs. and what is more, most of those sites included forest that had an even higher classification called priority deferral areas, which have been described as rare, at risk and irreplaceable by an independent panel of experts in british columbia. they recommended that logging in those areas is paused, but it is still legal to cut them down. so essentially campaigners say drax shouldn't be taking this material from old—growth forests — it's unsustainable. drax says it's looking at this report and investigating. let's speak to phil macdonald, managing director of ember, an independent energy think tank. thank you for being with us. right in saying that this is the second time that drax has been called out? that is the incredible thing. they

have been caught red—handed once and then caught again and have just carried on which isjust then caught again and have just carried on which is just a carried on which isjust a real surprise. carried on which is 'ust a real urrpse-h carried on which is 'ust a real surpriseh carried on which is 'ust a real sur-rise. :, , ., :, , surprise. can you explain to people what these — surprise. can you explain to people what these wood _ surprise. can you explain to people what these wood pellets _ surprise. can you explain to people what these wood pellets are - surprise. can you explain to people what these wood pellets are used l what these wood pellets are used for? to what these wood pellets are used for? :, :, what these wood pellets are used for? ., :, . ~' what these wood pellets are used for? :, :, . ,, :, what these wood pellets are used for? :, :, :, ., , ., ,, for? to go back to what is happening here, for? to go back to what is happening here. these — for? to go back to what is happening here, these forests _ for? to go back to what is happening here, these forests are _ for? to go back to what is happening here, these forests are being - here, these forests are being chopped down, shift halfway around the world to us and put into an old coal power station to generate electricity and that is what is happening in the uk. 50 electricity and that is what is happening in the uk.- electricity and that is what is happening in the uk. so we are burnini happening in the uk. so we are burning millions _ happening in the uk. so we are burning millions and _ happening in the uk. so we are burning millions and millions i happening in the uk. so we are j burning millions and millions of trees to capture a proportion of carbon, surely there are cleaner ways to do this.— carbon, surely there are cleaner ways to do this. that's what i would an ue and ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i — ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i think _ ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i think you _ ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i think you could - ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i think you could say - ways to do this. that's what i would argue and i think you could say thati argue and i think you could say that they are notjust burning trees, they are notjust burning trees, they are notjust burning trees, they are actually burning binding, our money because all of this is being subsidised by the energy bill payers. so british households paying around 2 million a day for the system to work. which is quite something when there are these

alternatives that we have which are much cheaper, in particular, wind. the uk is blessed with incredible wind resource, much beyond what we need for our energy requirements. so the choice is quite simple in moving towards that cheaper and more efficient technology. john kerry clearly thinks _ efficient technology. john kerry clearly thinks it _ efficient technology. john kerry clearly thinks it is _ efficient technology. john kerry clearly thinks it is not _ efficient technology. john kerry clearly thinks it is not a - clearly thinks it is not a worthwhile investment, the british government does and in fact they put £6 billion of subsidy into it. am i right in saying that there is a budget decision to be made at the next week about whether more subsidies are sent away? why are they wedged into this and not wind technology you have just described? there is a decision imminently to be happening and i think partly the issueis happening and i think partly the issue is that this 2 million a day, thatis issue is that this 2 million a day, that is part of the issue that politicians are hearing a lot from these companies, but the other issue

is the speed of this technology. may be a decade ago we would have needed padlocks like drax but not with the speed of this technology, revolution has had happened around power and it has had happened around power and it has become cheap and efficient and i think a lot of politicians may do to not realise how you can actually power much of the uk's electricity just from wind. let power much of the uk's electricity just from wind.— just from wind. let me put up for our viewers _ just from wind. let me put up for our viewers the _ just from wind. let me put up for our viewers the before _ just from wind. let me put up for our viewers the before and - just from wind. let me put up for our viewers the before and afterl our viewers the before and after of the forest because it reveals just what we are talking about. so this is the old forest that we are looking at and now this is how it looks after it has been felled. the giant scar on the landscape there. is there a way that drax could explain this are they being fed into a wholesale system that may be drax cannot track fully? i a wholesale system that may be drax cannot track fully?— cannot track fully? i think that rets to cannot track fully? i think that gets to the — cannot track fully? i think that gets to the heart _ cannot track fully? i think that gets to the heart of _ cannot track fully? i think that gets to the heart of the - cannot track fully? i think that i gets to the heart of the problem. you cannot really track this. even if drax were trying to do their very

best to track this, they are trying to bring in wood from all over the world, a lot of it from north america but purely from all over, we really are not sure what is happening and it takes these investigations to work out what is. i think scientist, that is the reason why scientists are unanimous in saying that this is not the technology that is helping with climate change and indeed, it is risking increasing the uk's omissions.— risking increasing the uk's omissions. . , ., . , :, omissions. we will see what decision the government _ omissions. we will see what decision the government will _ omissions. we will see what decision the government will make _ omissions. we will see what decision the government will make next i omissions. we will see what decision the government will make next week but clearly they will take an interest in that report on the bbc news website. thank you very much for that. the humpbacks whale is one of our most precious ocean species. each one weighs up to a0 tonnes and can reach 17 metres in length. they are well known for their melodic underwater songs and the distances they travel. but the animals nearly went extinct due to centuries of hunting. and by 1976, there were barely 1600 humpbacks left in the north pacific. after commercial whaling was banned in 1982 the humpbacks made a remarkable recovery.

to a peak of nearly 33000. but now there is another threat. global warming. around the time the humpbacks were taken of the endgangered species list, there was an extreme marine heatwave in play in the north—east pacific. maximum sea temperatures were 3—6c above average which left fewer nutrients for phytoplankton. a new report out today suggests many died from starvation. let's speak to ted cheeseman, the co founder at happywhale and lead researcher of study into north pacific humpback whales. thank you for being with us. how many died during this period? igrgie many died during this period? we cannot many died during this period? - cannot know exactly, but our model estimates something like 7000. looking at the whole of the north pacific and we saw a 20% decline over the years from 2012—2021. which

was not at all what we expected for these animals. we expected to see them in recovery and instead we found decline. i them in recovery and instead we found decline.— them in recovery and instead we found decline. ,, :, ., , :, found decline. i know there was one articular found decline. i know there was one particular well— found decline. i know there was one particular well that _ found decline. i know there was one particular well that you _ found decline. i know there was one particular well that you had - found decline. i know there was one particular well that you had follow . particular well that you had follow that had washed up in alaska. festus. it is remarkable to see and it had been estimated to be 60—70 years old but had unfortunately succumbed to what happened in really warm waters at this time and worm waters just produce less food. less productivity and so whale which are able to switch to different foods, this whale along with many others, there were a few that were stranded and washed up, but most were lost at sea and we just did not see them. so it was through this modelling that we were able to track and find out how many. 50 we were able to track and find out how many-— we were able to track and find out howman. ,~ ., :, how many. so they are adaptable or are they particularly _

how many. so they are adaptable or are they particularly dependent i how many. so they are adaptable or are they particularly dependent on | are they particularly dependent on phytoplankton? they are particularly dependent on. so when the sea gets warm in there is less than they cannot switch to another fruit? humpbacks do not eat phytoplankton directly. krill, interviews, herrings, salmon, they are adaptable to eat different kinds of fish, but if there is less fish totally, yes. when you say they are less productive you are talking about reproduction so it is as the season gets warmer, they are starving, they do not reproduce?— do not reproduce? there is less productivity _ do not reproduce? there is less productivity at _ do not reproduce? there is less productivity at that _ do not reproduce? there is less productivity at that root - do not reproduce? there is less productivity at that root level. l productivity at that root level. there is less phytoplankton growing, less availability of forged fish so this stress is that there is less fish available for wales. assault birth rates dramatically declined but also the death rate and in the long lives and muscles so suddenly we are not showing up and disappeared since then. your

research is — disappeared since then. your research is somewhat i disappeared since then. your research is somewhat backward —looking, pre—2021, but of course we have been reporting on this programme that the seas are much warmer this year, driven by the el nino effect so what does it tell us about future populations of humpback wales and how well they will be able to survive? ,:, :, wales and how well they will be able to survive? ,., :, , :, . wales and how well they will be able to survive? , :, . ., to survive? good question. we have brou~ht to survive? good question. we have brought together _ to survive? good question. we have brought together this _ to survive? good question. we have brought together this huge - brought together this huge collaboration of researchers, using ai driven image recognition and track them in barely real—time and the reality is, we cannot predict what will happen year by year, but we can expect that there will be more and more severe during a heat wave. this did not start as a climate study, it started as a wheel population study but we found is this big response and looking forward, hopefully we respond by managing omissions and reducing the

overall stream of climate change. —— whale study. because the help of the oceans depend on it.— oceans depend on it. when you say ou oceans depend on it. when you say you tracked — oceans depend on it. when you say you tracked these _ oceans depend on it. when you say you tracked these wales. _ oceans depend on it. when you say you tracked these wales. i - oceans depend on it. when you say you tracked these wales. i was i you tracked these wales. i was looking at some of the paths that they take and from the north pacific all the way down to hawaii were presumably they meet in warmer waters. are those patterns changing, the oceans warm up? it waters. are those patterns changing, the oceans warm up?— waters. are those patterns changing, the oceans warm up? it does not look like migratory — the oceans warm up? it does not look like migratory patterns _ the oceans warm up? it does not look like migratory patterns are _ like migratory patterns are changing. that has been an interesting question. we have not published about this yet, but i'm pretty sure that migratory patterns are not changing. appellations have been teaching it to be clear, there is a success story here. they have been growing except for this kind of major per turbines or disturbance. so, hawaii, wales, mostly migrate to alaska, california wales feeding in california and us west coast migrating to mexico. those patterns appealed to be stable in similarly around the world, but what is really

changing is the health of the ocean. a concerning and good report worth reading. thank you very much for coming on and explaining. we will take a short break our panel will be a right around the corner. people focus on a break bit of news today from the us congress. mitch mcconnell, the minority senate leader is standing down as the leader is standing down as the leader and continuing to serve, but handing the reins over to the younger generation. we could do with a bit more of that in us politics, could we not? we will discuss with the panel. that is coming up. stayed with us. hello. well, it's certainly been a cloudy day today. the cloud has been extensive across the uk — but we did manage a few breaks in the cloud, particularly across northern and eastern scotland, and to the eastern side of the pennines, as well. and that did allow some limited bright spells through — edinburgh, one of the cheerier places. otherwise, there was some drizzle, particularly across western areas. it was mild — 13 celsius recorded

in exeter earlier on. now overnight tonight, we've got a band of rain that's set to move its way southwards and eastwards across the country. that will clear away from scotland and northern ireland, where we'll see some fairly heavy showers working in during the second half of the night. temperatures about 5—6 celsius in the north, but ten across east anglia, in southeast england, where it'll be a very mild start to thursday. thursday will see cooler air work in from the north and west, but a weather front will bring some persistent outbreaks of rain across east anglia and southeast england, where it'll probably be raining, for some of you, pretty much all day. away from that, brighter weather conditions, but sunshine and showers for scotland and northern ireland where the showers will be heavy with some hail mixed in. temperatures about 7—9 celsius, so a smidge below average for this time of year. on into friday's forecast — where we've got this area of low pressure and this occluded front that's set to bring the risk of some hill snow. now, the risk area's really across the higher areas of northern ireland,

the southern uplands, in scotland, peaks, pennines, cumbrianfells, and northern parts of wales. above 200 metres elevation — that's where the greatest risk of snow is. there could be some places that see a little bit more than five centimetres of snow bringing the threat of some disruption. however, at lower elevations where the vast majority of us live, we're looking atjust cold outbreaks of rain. and underneath this slow—moving band of rain, i think for a good chunk of the day, temperatures really will struggle at around three celsius or so. away from that, we're about 7—9 celsius. on into the weekend's forecast, the same area of low pressure stays overhead. so it's an unsettled start to the weekend, a day on saturday of sunshine and showers. the showers heavy with some hail, thunder, a bit of sleet mixed — and still cold enough for a bit of snow across the highest hills in the north of the uk — and temperatures again just running a little bit below average, particularly so across the northern half of the country. a few more showers into sunday, then next week, rain at times in the west. largely dry across the east.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. one of life's most underappreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter.

mitch mcconnell is a man whose inhabiting in the leadership of a party that is unrecognisable in terms of the party he joined. he has been out of step for a long time. since january 6th, for the most part. he has not talked to president trump since 2020. that kind of amazing. with me tonight, my panelists — susie boniface, a columnist at the mirror, and bryan lanza, former adviser to donald trump. first, the latest headlines... the widow of the russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, has said that president putin is not a politician, but the leader ofa criminal gang. yulia navalnaya urged european politicians to fight him as they would organised crime. the widow of alexei navalny says

vladimir putin is a �*mobster�* whose �*gangsters' killed her husband.