plus the special prosecutor in donald trump's election meddling case resigns following a judge's orders. the state district attorney will stay on the job. hello, i'm caitriona perry. another six years in power is almost all but certain for russia's vladimir putin, as the country is in the midst of voting to choose its president. mr putin faces no serious opposition — with his rivals dead, in prison, or in exile. acts of protest have taken place across russia, including incidents involving dye being poured into ballot boxes and fireworks being set off at the polls. yulia navalnaya — the widow of putin's most vocal, late critic alexei navalny — has called on kremlin opponents to go en masse to the polls at noon on sunday to protest the election.

she's urged the west not to recognise what will be putin's fifth term as president. our russia editor, steve rosenberg, is in moscow with more. russia's democracy is the best in the world, the kremlin says. and at polling station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates and plenty of voters. democracy in action, right? not quite. realistically, only one man can win this. vladimir putin! the man who's been on russia's political stage for the last quarter of a century. vladimir putin faces no serious challenger. his fiercest rivals are in exile or in prison. not that this woman, whose son is fighting in ukraine, wants any change at the top. "of course i voted for putin," she says. "i trust him." but not everyone who came out today was actually voting.

this, one of a string of attacks on polling stations across russia. they are unprecedented. after chaotic scenes here... ..an arsonist is detained. and green ink poured into a ballot box. the authorities called the attackers scum. some voters were greeted with a show. well, it's one way to bang the drum for russian elections. there is voting, too, in parts of ukraine, which are under russian occupation — what russia calls its new territories. the ukrainian government called the election here illegal. polls close on sunday night. expect a putin landslide. unpredictability is very much a feature of life now in russia, but that does not apply to elections.

the political system here is built around one man — vladimir putin — and the kremlin tightly controls that system, including elections. so mr putin's re—election is not in doubt. and neither is the message the kremlin will be sending after this. that vladimir putin has the full support of his people. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. leaders of germany, france and poland met in berlin to ease tensions over support for ukraine. the french president, emmanuel macron, called on kyiv�*s allies not be cowards, and said he would not rule out deploying western troops on the ground in ukraine. that suggestion was rejected by the german chancellor, olaf scholz. now, european allies have agreed a mechanism to supply kyiv with long—range artillery. a shortage of weapons including ammunition, has been blamed for russian advances in the war. mr macron detailed why the eu's support of ukraine is so important.

translation: it is our future, our security which is at stake in ukraine. we are doing this out of solidarity for the people of ukraine, whose territorial integrity is being threatened. meanwhile, russia and ukraine continue to exchange fire in the battlefield. officials in the ukrainian city of odesa say, at least 20 people were killed in a double missile attack on a residential area. more than 70 people were wounded. earlier, the kremlin said, ukraine carried out attacks in the region of belgorod in southern russia, and accused kyiv of attempting to disrupt russia's presidential election. our correspondent, sarah rainsford is in kyiv with the latest. this is the deadliest attack in some time on odesa. and it is the details that are particularly grim, because ukrainian officials are saying two missiles were fired by russia from crimea — the first one landed on the city, and it was when emergency teams rushed to the spot that a second missile was fired from crimea and hit exactly the same place. now we know that a medic was killed, a young firefighter

was also amongst those killed and injured. many dozens of people are in hospital. now we are being told that those missiles were fired from crimea — we are saying we don't know exactly what russia was targeting, but we do know there were some interior ministry personnel amongst the casualties. now president zelensky has called this a vile attack, saying ukraine's military will respond, but i do think it is a stark reminder of what that vote in russia means for here in ukraine. because of course, more vladimir putin in the kremlin means more war here in ukraine, more missile attacks, and more days like today in odesa, with dozens dead and injured. but turning now to the middle east. the white house says they are "cautiously optimistic" after a new truce proposalfrom hamas. the us says that it is within the bounds of a deal they have been working on for the last few months. israel's prime minister has downplayed any chances of a truce in gaza, however — saying that hamas is

making unrealistic demands. despite that, an israeli team is heading to qatar for new talks about a possible ceasefire and hostage deal. meanwhile, mr netanyahu's office has approved a plan for an offensive against hamas in gaza's crowded rafah city — where almost 1.5 million palestinians are currently sheltering. israel says they are preparing to evacuate people to other parts of gaza. it comes amid emerging signs of discontent within the biden administration about a lack of progress towards a resolution between the two sides. us secretary of state antony blinken said the united states needs to see a clear plan for israel's proposed assault on rafah, including how civilians will be moved out of harm's way. and on friday, president biden praised a speech made by us senate leader chuck schumer — in which he said the israeli prime minister was a threat to peace and called for new elections. do you have any comments around senator schumer�*s speech on israel yesterday?

senator schumer contacted my staff, my senior staff, he was going to make that speech. and he... i'm not going to elaborate on the speech, he made a good speech and i think he expressed a serious concern shared notjust by him but by many americans. mr netanyahu's government has sharply dismissed the comments made by senator schumer. meanwhile, aid agencies are continuing to sound the alarm over the humanitarian situation in gaza. a ship carrying food supplies for gaza has arrived and is now waiting off the coast. it's a test run for what is hoped will become a new route to get aid into the territory. live now to michael singh, managing director at the washington institute and former senior director for middle east affairs at the national security council. thank you forjoining us on bbc news — thank you forjoining us on bbc news we — thank you forjoining us on bbc

news we saw_ thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we saw a _ thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we saw a gradual- thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we saw a gradual and i thank you forjoining us on bbc. news. we saw a gradual and they were _ news. we saw a gradual and they were more — news. we saw a gradual and they were more marked _ news. we saw a gradual and they were more marked shift- news. we saw a gradual and they were more marked shift in- news. we saw a gradual and they were more marked shift in the . were more marked shift in the language _ were more marked shift in the language coming _ were more marked shift in the language coming from - were more marked shift in the language coming from the - were more marked shift in the . language coming from the biden administration _ language coming from the biden administration about— language coming from the biden administration about israel- language coming from the biden administration about israel '5 - administration about israel '5 offensive _ administration about israel '5 offensive in— administration about israel '5 offensive in gaza _ administration about israel '5 offensive in gaza and - administration about israel '5 offensive in gaza and those l offensive in gaza and those comments _ offensive in gaza and those comments from _ offensive in gaza and those comments from senator. offensive in gaza and those - comments from senator schumer today _ comments from senator schumer today which — comments from senator schumer today which president _ comments from senator schumer today which president biden - comments from senator schumer today which president biden pay. today which president biden pay praised — today which president biden pay praised is— today which president biden pay praised. is this _ today which president biden pay praised. is this a _ today which president biden pay praised. is this a deliberate - praised. is this a deliberate and — praised. is this a deliberate and co—ordinated _ praised. is this a deliberate and co—ordinated strategy, | praised. is this a deliberate . and co—ordinated strategy, do you think? _ and co—ordinated strategy, do you think? it _ and co—ordinated strategy, do you think? it certainly- and co—ordinated strategy, do you think? it certainly seemsl you think? it certainly seems like it — you think? it certainly seems like it. president— you think? it certainly seems like it. president biden- you think? it certainly seems like it. president biden was. like it. president biden was ready— like it. president biden was ready to _ like it. president biden was ready to volunteer- like it. president biden was ready to volunteer that - like it. president biden was ready to volunteer that he i ready to volunteer that he approved _ ready to volunteer that he approved of _ ready to volunteer that he approved of senator - ready to volunteer that he . approved of senator schumer ready to volunteer that he - approved of senator schumer 's approved of senator schumer '5 speed _ approved of senator schumer '5 speed without _ approved of senator schumer '5 speed without getting _ approved of senator schumer '5 speed without getting into - approved of senator schumer '5 speed without getting into the i speed without getting into the details — speed without getting into the details was _ speed without getting into the details was ready— speed without getting into the details was ready to _ speed without getting into the details was ready to volunteerj details was ready to volunteer that the — details was ready to volunteer that the speech _ details was ready to volunteer that the speech had _ details was ready to volunteer that the speech had been - that the speech had been reviewed _ that the speech had been reviewed by— that the speech had been reviewed by senior- that the speech had been reviewed by senior staff. | that the speech had been i reviewed by senior staff. 50 that the speech had been - reviewed by senior staff. 50 i think it reviewed by senior staff. so i think it is _ reviewed by senior staff. so i think it is clear _ reviewed by senior staff. so i think it is clear a _ reviewed by senior staff. so i think it is clear a signal- reviewed by senior staff. think it is clear a signal of approval and it does seem to be part of a strategy to, on one hand, show that while president biden is close to israel and supporting israel he does not necessarily agree with the prime minister of israel and the decisions he is making. there is also perhaps effort by senator schumer and by the president to use this criticism to also help diffuse some of the calls within the democratic

caucus for things like placing conditions on aid to israel. may be defending those delaying those a bit by using this criticism. is those a bit by using this criticism.— those a bit by using this criticism. is it unusual to . ive criticism. is it unusual to give military _ criticism. is it unusual to give military support - criticism. is it unusual to| give military support with criticism. is it unusual to - give military support with one hand and then arrange ad drops and criticise the approach on the other?— and criticise the approach on the other? �* . , ., , the other? i've heard this many times but _ the other? i've heard this many times but this _ the other? i've heard this many times but this is _ the other? i've heard this many times but this is a _ the other? i've heard this many times but this is a dilemma - times but this is a dilemma that the united states is facing many times. you give military aid or you sell military aid or you sell military armoury to governments like egypt and saudi arabia and have found ourselves in this position. i would say what makes this unique for president biden is that israel has strong support within the united states and yet this war has been more controversial than other past israeli actions. so it makes it much more difficult for him to walk this political tight rope. it for him to walk this political tight rape-— tight rope. it would appear that prime _ tight rope. it would appear that prime minister- tight rope. it would appear - that prime minister netanyahu was not paying much attention to those warnings and the strong language that is coming

from the biden administration. does the president still have a level of influence over the israeli prime minister? the cufious israeli prime minister? the curious thing _ israeli prime minister? the curious thing here - israeli prime minister? the curious thing here is - israeli prime minister? tie: curious thing here is that israeli prime minister? tt;e: curious thing here is that both men are almost making a virtue of opposing the other. president biden is showing distance from israel by criticising prime minister netanyahu and i think he is sensitive to the political feelings especially in places like michigan which are important for the presidential election. president netanyahu on the other hand is trying to shore up his own political support especially the support of the right wing, showing that he is willing to stand up to american demands for things like working with the palestinian authority or acquiescing to a two state solution. and in a strange sense the friction in the combat may help both men, to some extent, politically. president biden has described the offence into rafah as a redline but prime minister netanyahu said he has the plans ready and he will do that. how

do you see that playing up between the two? it do you see that playing up between the two?- between the two? it is a conundrum. _ between the two? it is a conundrum. even - between the two? it is a conundrum. even the i between the two? it is a - conundrum. even the rhetoric decided as a conundrum. israel feels as though it has to go into rafah, it feels that that is where the hostages are in the leadership is and those are two of the big war aims, freeing the hostages and eliminating the leadership. yet there are also 1.5 million civilians densely packed into rafah. it would be a potential disaster on a humanitarian level to go in. so israel has a dilemma that it needs to go in but it cannot go in without moving those civilians and then you see this long delay in implementing any kind of plan to go into rafah. most of the world including the white house would prefer that israel simply not do it, would prefer that israel simply refrain from going into rafah and find another method to achieve its aims. �* , , ,

another method to achieve its aims. . , , , ., aims. and 'ust briefly, one final aims. and just briefly, one final question, _ aims. and just briefly, one final question, an - aims. and just briefly, one final question, an israeli . final question, an israeli delegation is on the way to qatar. do you see that is something positive, the deal may be imminent? it is something positive, the deal may be imminent?— may be imminent? it is a promising _ may be imminent? it is a promising sign. - may be imminent? it is a promising sign. the - may be imminent? it is a promising sign. the factl may be imminent? it is a - promising sign. the fact they feel that this deal is not good enough that it is something thatis enough that it is something that is promising enough to negotiate over. his similar noises from the white house. maybe we are closer now than we were in the last few weeks to getting that hostage deal. leaving on the positive note. thank you very much forjoining us. the war in gaza was one of the topics that came out of a friday meeting here in washington between president biden and the irish prime minister taoiseach leo varadkar. public fury has grown in ireland over presidentjoe biden's handling of the israel—gaza war. although mr varadkar complimented the biden administration's efforts in trying to broker a truce between israel and hamas, he also pressed mr biden for a permanent ceasefire in gaza. joe biden is proud of his irish heritage and today's events marked saint patrick's day this sunday. mr varadkar invoked

the saint in discussing the ongoing conflict. when i reflect on the catastrophe that is unfolding in the middle east, the savage attacks of october seven on israel and the terrible violence and loss of human life in gaza which has followed and continues and we very much want that to end. these are global challenges that demand our courage, our empathy and our action. we pray for the wisdom of saint patrick in facing them. this year's annual visit of the irish taoiseach follows the recent restoration of power—sharing in northern ireland, after two years of political stalemate. last month sinn fein deputy leader michelle o'neill became the first nationalist first minister with emma little—pengelly of the democratic unionist party taking the role of deputy first minister. both have vowed to continue their positive partnership despite their contrasting political backgrounds. they were also here at the capitol at a lunch hosted by speakerjohnson and attended by the president to mark st patrick's day.

us special envoy to northern ireland joe kennedy iii was also in attendence at that gathering, and i spoke to him earlier about the us—ireland relations and the recent return to stormont. us special envoyjoe kennedy to northern ireland thank you for joining us. we might begin by looking at the special relationship between the united states and northern ireland. so many engagements over this weekend between the president, the taoiseach and ministers. what is special about the relationship?— what is special about the relationshi? ,, ., , relationship? the united states has no better— relationship? the united states has no better friend _ relationship? the united states has no better friend in - relationship? the united states has no better friend in the - has no betterfriend in the world than the people of the island of ireland and the united kingdom. this is were so many people from the united states, where our families emigrated from. we have ties to and they go back, the history, theirfamily and cultural their family and cultural business, theirfamily and cultural business, tourism, these places

are as close to us as they can be so the opportunity this week to celebrate saint patrick's week, month as the holiday seems to expand but it is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the connections that we have and to strengthen those relationships and really see how together we continue to prosper afresh. see how together we continue to prosperafresh. is see how together we continue to prosper afresh-— prosper afresh. is there more to it than _ prosper afresh. is there more to it than just _ prosper afresh. is there more to it than just photo - to it than just photo opportunities? we saw the taoiseach, leo varadkar bring up taoiseach, leo varadkar bring up the us position on israel and the war on gaza today. does that sort of political intervention have any influence?— intervention have any influence? ~ ., , ., influence? without question there is more _ influence? without question there is more to _ influence? without question there is more to this - influence? without question there is more to this than i influence? without question i there is more to this than just there is more to this than just the toasts and the celebratory meals and whatnot. there is real engagement taking place and there has been deep engagement with members of business and members of the political system here in the united states at the highest

levels between the taoiseach and the president but also over lunch today we introduce the president to ministers and deputy ministers and he will see them again later this week. building these relationships are talking about areas of cooperation and collaboration is important and that is what this week is for.— is important and that is what this week is for. you mentioned the speakers — this week is for. you mentioned the speakers lunch _ this week is for. you mentioned the speakers lunch and - this week is for. you mentioned the speakers lunch and speaker| the speakers lunch and speaker johnson welcoming a democratic president. the bipartisan relations seemed to proceed around saint patrick days and at all other times of the year... . at all other times of the year- - -_ at all other times of the ear... ., ~ year... . come back next week, lease. year... . come back next week, please- lt _ year... . come back next week, please- it is _ year... . come back next week, please. it is because _ year... . come back next week, please. it is because the - please. it is because the commitment here goes well beyond politics and the history here, the genesis of this tradition was from the republican president ronald reagan and democratic speaker o'neill and recognition of their own irish heritage and attachment to the island and the desire to continue to keep the desire to continue to keep the tradition going and no

party, democrat or republican, no president, no speaker has wanted to break it. so give kudos to speakerjohnson who has a lot on his plate these days but still make sure they set the time aside to recognise that tradition and continue it because of the opportunity it affords for real engagement on so many issues. the affords for real engagement on so many issues.— so many issues. the first minister _ so many issues. the first minister and _ so many issues. the first minister and deputy - so many issues. the first minister and deputy first | minister and deputy first minister and deputy first minister i hearan minister and deputy first minister i hear an institution is a back up and running few weeks ago. michelle o'neill and the other have been speaking in unity with a serious message that northern ireland is open for business. what can the us contribute to that? taste for business. what can the us contribute to that?— contribute to that? we have a lot to contribute. _ contribute to that? we have a lot to contribute. there - contribute to that? we have a lot to contribute. there is - contribute to that? we have a lot to contribute. there is a l lot to contribute. there is a 250 —year—old also us companies operating in northern ireland that employ thousands of people. it goes well beyond when i was able to lead a business delegation to northern ireland back in october some

members of the delegation had been doing business in northern ireland for a long time and some had not stop some had been coming for the first time and the unified message out of this was that we had no idea that this opportunity existed. nonetheless there are still plenty of challenges in northern ireland that they have to deal with when they get back. ~ , , back. when they finish their the can back. when they finish their they can come _ back. when they finish their they can come overhearingl they can come overhearing cleanup vowels.— they can come overhearing cleanup vowels. are you hopeful for the future _ cleanup vowels. are you hopeful for the future of _ cleanup vowels. are you hopeful for the future of northern - for the future of northern ireland given what we have seen in the political situation there and how hard it is been to get to this point? northern ireland to get to this point? northern lreland is _ to get to this point? northern ireland is not _ to get to this point? northern ireland is not the _ to get to this point? northern ireland is not the only - to get to this point? northern ireland is not the only place l ireland is not the only place around the world that is wrestling with political challenges and some are unique to northern ireland. they are real. �* p, p p, to northern ireland. they are real. ~ . . ., , real. and financial challenges. no question- _ real. and financial challenges. no question. the _ real. and financial challenges. no question. the us - real. and financial challenges. no question. the us is - real. and financial challenges. no question. the us is not. no question. the us is not immune to some of those challenges, we have them in our own way. you have two political leaders from different histories and traditions and different visions for the future of northern ireland.

united in the idea now that people hold those outcomes together and still support each other on a pathway forward. we are about to go through a difficult campaign season here in the united states and there is a lot we can learn from northern ireland and the leaders of northern ireland about that pathway forward. so, yes, i am excited about the prospect of northern ireland going forward. not to say that it is without challenges what place in the world does not have them?— place in the world does not have them? ~ . , ., have them? what lessons do you think ou have them? what lessons do you think you could _ have them? what lessons do you think you could leave _ have them? what lessons do you think you could leave the - think you could leave the campaign season?- think you could leave the campaign season? our politics at the moment _ campaign season? our politics at the moment is _ campaign season? our politics at the moment is polarised - campaign season? our politics| at the moment is polarised and divided. northern ireland has been polarised and divided. one of the great lessons from northern ireland from my perspective is that our future is shared in the future in ireland is shared among the people who call it home. the idea that one side will win and the other side will lose is not the other side will lose is not the case. we can prosper together or struggle together.

we can send a message that needs to be interred a bit more here in the united states have the opportunity that we have to succeed that will be shared and one side and one party is going to win and you define success of someone else's failure. there are struggles ahead. president biden �*s special envoy to northern ireland, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. let's turn to some other news around the world. america's top diplomat has warned a wave of highly—potent synthetic drugs including fentanyl is spreading across the world. antony blinken was speaking at a meeting of the un commission on narcotic drugs in vienna. he said the us was the world's "canary in the coalmine" for opioid addiction. mr blinken said urgent international cooperation was the only way to fight the sharp rise in drug trafficking, and stop the epidemic spreading to other countries. the united nations has warned that there are increasing numbers of children going hungry in haiti's capital. the children's charity unicef says life—threatening malnutrition is widespead

in port—au—prince and concentrated in city's poorest areas. unicef also says the violence has left parents unable to take their children to health centers. the warning comes two weeks after armed gangs took to the streets to force haiti's prime minister to resign. tens of thousands of people took part in a rally in hungary's capital, budapest, to mark the founding of a new polticial party. the �*stand up, hungarians' movement has been set up to challenge the current prime minister, viktor orban, and his right wing nationalist fidesz party. the new party is calling for a constructive dialogue with the european union, in contrast to mr orban who earlier on friday, made a speech attacking brussels. prosecutors in france opened an investigation into racist insults directed at the most listened to french artist in the world, aya nakamura. the abuse was sparked by speculation that the french—malian singer could perform a song by edith piaf at the opening of the paris olympics.

a far right group hung a racist banner on the river seine referring to the popstar. a new yorkjudge has granted a 30—day delay for donald trump's trial involving a hush money payment he made to an adult film star. the judge allowed the delay due to the late disclosure of evidence provided to mr trump's legal team. the first ever criminal trial for a former us president was originally set for march 25, and though the delay has been formally granted, a new trial date has not been set. and in georgia, after months of hearings, a judge ruled that the lead prosecutor in mr trump's election interference proceedings can remain on the case. fani willis' status as lead prosecutor was in question after it was revealed she had a personal relationship with nathan wade, a special counsel she hired for the case. but while ms willis can continue her prosecution of the former president, thejudge also ruled that she or mr wade would have to leave the case. hours after that ruling, mr wade resigned.

mr trump had tried to disqualify ms willis, arguing her relationship with her special counsel compromised the trial. thejudge disagreed, but said it did create an "appearance of impropriety." speaking to bbc news earlier, tamar hallerman, a senior reporter from the atlanta journal—constitution, who described where this leaves the former president and his legal team. on the one hand this is not the outcome they wanted. they did not want willis staying in the position but on the same time they wounded her and a lot of damaging personal information has gotten out there into the public domain that the da �*s critics plan to use at every twist and turn in all of this. you have seen the former president use a lot of this information in his campaign rallies. he wasjust information in his campaign rallies. he was just in information in his campaign rallies. he wasjust in north georgia last weekend and as he was talking about the da, thousands in the crowd were laughing and billing so it is a

rallying cry for him and we even saw today him sending out fundraising appeal is based on the ruling today. it is something that no matter what will be used by her republican critics, not only donald trump and also here in georgia and in the statehouse where they have launched a committee with subpoena power to continue digging into her personal life. in another development stemming from mr trump's time in office, his former vice president says he will not be endorsing the presumptive republican nominee in the 2024 election. mike pence said it should come as no surprise he's not endorsing his former boss, whom he has publicly distanced himself from over mr trump's role in the january 6 capitol riots. mr pence said during his own bid for he white house that his life was put in danger during the siege. he suspended his presidential campaign in october. and before we go, the us national park service has confirmed that a wreck found off the coast of florida is indeed

the remains of a british warship that sank nealry three centuries ago. hms tyger went down in 1742 after it ran aground with hundreds of sailors on board during the anglo—spanish war. the survivors were stranded on a remote island for months, before making a daring escape using makeship boats. they travelled 700 miles through enemy waters before reaching jamaica. the journey took 55 days. the shipwreck was initially found in 1993 off key west. archaelogists confirmed its identity this week. that's all for now, i'm caitriona perry. i'll be back in 30 minutes with more. stay with us here on bbc news hello again. friday was a day of sunny spells and passing showers, as those shower clouds started to collapse down late in the day, we had some pretty still conditions there in the highlands. temperatures in scotland,

northern ireland and wales generally quite close to average, but across large parts of england, in contrast, it was very mild, 17 degrees in east anglia, six above average for the time of year. now the showery conditions on friday were caused by this area of low pressure that's working out of the way now. it will be bringing some heavy snow to parts of sweden and norway into saturday. get a quiet ridge of high pressure, a weather window, if you like, ahead of the next system that's working in off the atlantic. what all that means is over the next few hours, increasingly, the skies will tend to clear. and what that means is we'll see temperatures drop like a stone. and heading into the first part of saturday morning, there'll be quite a widespread frost, scotland, northern ireland, parts of northern england as well. a chilly start to the day then, but a lovely sunny morning through most of the uk on saturday. however, rain will quickly spread into northern ireland along with some strengthening winds, and we'll see some splashes of rain getting into wales and southwest england. the rain probably not too heavy here through the course of the morning. across eastern england, eastern areas of scotland after that sunny but chilly start to the day, ok, the weather will tend to turn a bit cloudier, but it should stay dry until after dark, really. temperatures 10—14 celsius.

now for the second half of the weekend, we've got a band of rain that's going to come through saturday night. the dregs of that still around across eastern england as we start the day on sunday. following that, we'll have southwesterly winds bringing mild air across the uk, and we'll be looking at some showery conditions moving back in. so, sunday weather—wise we start off with rain across east anglia, southeast england. that clears away. sunny spells follow widely, but there will be some scattered showers, some of them turning quite heavy through the course of the afternoon. the southwesterly winds drudging up some mild air across all parts of the country. temperatures about 13 celsius in glasgow and belfast, but up to around 15—16 celsius in the warmest parts of england. beyond that, southerly winds are going to kind of dominate into the early part of the new week. however, with low pressure never far away, there will be some showers or longer spells of rain affecting western areas at times. however, it does stay mild, 13 celsius, the top temperature in edinburgh through monday and tuesday, and it stays mild, really, through the week in london with highs of around

16 celsius or so.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. soldiers sing behind the barbed wire

of korea's demilitarised zone sits a tiny village... this village represents the hope of one day reunifying the korean peninsula. ..nestled in the heart of what's otherwise a no—man's land. here, a community of south koreans live in the shadow of their enemy, north korea. as young people shun a life of semi—captivity, its numbers are dwindling, along with the hope korea will ever be reunified. ourjourney into the demilitarised zone begins at dawn. we pass checkpoint after checkpoint accompanied by commander chris mercado.

freedom main, this is freedom 6.