facilities in germany to undermine aid to ukraine. our other main stories... conservative mp mark menzies is suspended after claims he missused campaign funds — which he disputes. the government says an investigation is underway. china hopes to make and sell more electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines to europe as it faces its biggest economic challenge in two decades. an and to fa cups replays, part of the romance of the oldest cup competition, we are the reaction.

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live three hours the german foreign ministry has summoned the russian ambassador — after arresting two men — suspected of spying and planning sabotage attacks on military sites. german prosecutors accused the men of plotting an explosion, and being in contact with the russian intelligence service. one of them had been photographing potential military targets in germany, including us military facilities which assist ukraine. the arrests came as ukraine's prime minister warned the bbc — there will be a �*third world war�* if ukraine loses its conflict with russia. in a moment we'll speak to our correspondent gary o'donoghue in washington, but first, our security correspondent, gordon corera, is in our newsroom. with gordon corera, is in our newsroom. more on those gordon, with more on those german arrests, gordon, tell us what the authorities are saying about this plot.— are saying about this plot. there does seem _ are saying about this plot. there does seem to — are saying about this plot. there does seem to be _ are saying about this plot. there does seem to be a _ are saying about this plot. there l does seem to be a significant plot from what german prosecutors are saying, two men arrested, one of them for a period of some months alleged to have been carrying out

reconnaissance at military sites in southern germany, including us military sites. what's significant is the suggestion this wasn't simply intelligence gathering, the kind of normal spying you'd expect, but actually plans for sabotage for carrying out some kind of explosion or arson at those sites. german media also reporting that one of those sites is where us military to train ukrainians on their tanks, and the suggestion certainly from german authorities is that this was linked to you ukraine, and an attempt to undermine german support for military action in ukraine against russia. at one of those men was, supposedly, in contact with people linked to the russian intelligence services. �* ., ., ., services. and, gordon, what are the authorities saying _ services. and, gordon, what are the authorities saying about _ services. and, gordon, what are the authorities saying about why - services. and, gordon, what are the authorities saying about why now, . authorities saying about why now, why germany? it is authorities saying about why now, why germany?— authorities saying about why now, why germany? it is significant that this issue of _ why germany? it is significant that this issue of military _ why germany? it is significant that this issue of military aid _ why germany? it is significant that this issue of military aid to - this issue of military aid to ukraine is clearly at a very important point in which ukrainians

are worried that they are running low on ammunition and running out of support, waiting, they have, for a us aid package, so whatever support they can get from europe including germany, and may not be enough in their eyes but it is still significant. so any attempts to undermine that flow of aid or the ability to train ukrainians on some of that military equipment could be significant, but it would be certainly a significant escalation to see russia carrying out or people on behalf of russia as is alleged, carry out some kind of actually attack in germany.— carry out some kind of actually attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank ou attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank you so _ attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank you so much _ attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank you so much for— attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank you so much for that - attack in germany. gordon carrere, thank you so much for that update. | i'm joined now by our correspondent gary o'donoghue from washington. separately, gary, of course ukraine's prime minister is there in washington again underlining the call for assistance to get that aid package through congress. tell us a little more about what he's been saying. little more about what he's been sa inc. ~ ., ,

little more about what he's been sa inc. ~ . , �* , little more about what he's been saina. saying. well really, he's been i think, trying — saying. well really, he's been i think, trying to _ saying. well really, he's been i think, trying to persuade, - saying. well really, he's been i l think, trying to persuade, cajole, up think, trying to persuade, cajole, up the pressure on congressional republicans in particular to get this money approved, we are expecting potentially to have that vote at the weekend. there are all sorts of domestic political concerns that are feeding into that but the ukrainian prime minister has been setting out to members of congress the consequences of not getting that money. the the consequences of not getting that mone . ., h, the consequences of not getting that mone. the consequences of not getting that mone . ., the consequences of not getting that mone. ., ,. , money. the global system of security will be destroyed, _ money. the global system of security will be destroyed, all— money. the global system of security will be destroyed, all the _ money. the global system of security will be destroyed, all the world - money. the global system of security will be destroyed, all the world we i will be destroyed, all the world we need _ will be destroyed, all the world we need to— will be destroyed, all the world we need to find and be looking for a new system of security, or there will he _ new system of security, or there will be many conflicts, many such kind of— will be many conflicts, many such kind of wars and at the end of the day it_ kind of wars and at the end of the day it could — kind of wars and at the end of the day it could lead to a third world wan _ day it could lead to a third world wan our— day it could lead to a third world war. our mutual task is to protect democratic— war. our mutual task is to protect democratic values, protect existing, after the _ democratic values, protect existing, after the second world war, global systems. _ after the second world war, global systems, global security system and brin- systems, global security system and bring a _ systems, global security system and bring a long—term and sustainable

peace _ bring a long—term and sustainable peace on— bring a long—term and sustainable peace on european country. so russia must _ peace on european country. so russia must lose — peace on european country. so russia must lose this war and russia should be punished and putin's regime should — be punished and putin's regime should he — be punished and putin's regime should be destroyed at all, and this is the _ should be destroyed at all, and this is the path — should be destroyed at all, and this is the path to sustainable long—term peace _ is the path to sustainable long—term peace it_ is the path to sustainable long-term eace. �* , . . is the path to sustainable long-term eace. ~ , . ., , ., is the path to sustainable long-term eace. �* , . ., , ., ., peace. a very clear plea there from ukraine's prime _ peace. a very clear plea there from ukraine's prime minister— peace. a very clear plea there from ukraine's prime minister but - peace. a very clear plea there from ukraine's prime minister but when | peace. a very clear plea there from | ukraine's prime minister but when it comes to this vote, it has been separated. there will be separate votes, the israel vote but then this. are there people there still fearful because it has been separated, that those republicans who have blocked this for month after month may still do that? less so now, after month may still do that? less so now. and _ after month may still do that? less so now, and for— after month may still do that? less so now, and for this _ after month may still do that? less so now, and for this reason. it looks as if pretty much clearly now the democrats will vote for this so there are the votes in the house to get these bills through, even separated, and bear in mind original lead joe biden wanted this to go through as a single bill, he's given his endorsement to the splitting up

of these votes. the issue here for republicans in particular the speaker of the house is what happens after this stuff gets approved by the house. you know that the republicans have a habit of getting rid of their speakers, and you can call a vote on this bigger�*s future, just one member doing that now and their majority is down to one seat as of tomorrow so there's a real problem here for the speaker. that's why he's been holding back these votes on ukraine and israel, and indeed on the end of pacific —— indo—pacific. but it does look pretty clear that the money, some of it is being turned into a loan, a concession to the right of the republican party. ukraine's humanitarian money is going in as a loan, pretty small concession i would say. they are more upset about

other things like border security which they believe should be happening before any money goes anywhere else around the world. garzat anywhere else around the world. gary o'donoghue. — anywhere else around the world. gary o'donoghue, thanks so much for that, thank you. some in return for support to ukraine, the british foreign secretary lloyd cameron is among those supporting the proposal. well, the principle is a simple one which is there are frozen russian assets in the uk and europe and elsewhere. we should be finding ways of using those assets to help ukraine in its defence of this appalling illegal russian invasion. it's quite obvious to me that one day, russia will have to pay reparations for this illegal invasion and so we should use those assets in the meantime. but it's important we try and get agreement amongst our allies about the right

way to do that. that is what we are discussing here. i am in no doubt we will find a way but we are going to have to be creative, we'll have to be flexible but i'm in no doubt we'll find a way amongst our allies to get ukraine the resources they need. straight to breaking news, we are hearing that peter merrill the former smp chief executive and the husband of the ex—ist minister nicola sturgeon has been rearrested in connection to police scotland's investigation into the party's finances. no other detail apart from that one line coming from the press association, but he significant line. peter merrill, a former snp chief executive and the husband of nicholas sturgeon is understood to be rearrested in connection with police scotland �*s investigation into the party's finances. that news just coming into us, we'll obviously

keep an eye on that and bring you more on those developments in the next few minutes. dubai international airport is working hard to restore operations after record rains pounded the united arab emirates and neighbouring gulf countries in recent days. one of the world's busiest hubs, has seen some inbound flights, after hundreds of delays and cancellations, but staff have struggled to get food to stranded passengers crowding the facility. across the uae, where one person was killed, the authorities are working to clear swamped streets of submerged vehicles and to restore disrupted services. flash floods also killed 20 people in oman. let's speak to greg tanner, head of multimedia at the national, who is based in dubai. thank you forjoining us live on the programme. just give me a description of what it has been like where you are over the last 72 hours. , . ., ., .

where you are over the last 72 hours. , . .,., . ., , , hours. pretty chaotic, honestly. it was well telegraphed _ hours. pretty chaotic, honestly. it was well telegraphed to _ hours. pretty chaotic, honestly. it was well telegraphed to us - hours. pretty chaotic, honestly. it was well telegraphed to us that i hours. pretty chaotic, honestly. it. was well telegraphed to us that this weather front was going to be coming in, but i woke up on tuesday morning to about 12 inches of rain, jumped on a bike to get some pictures, and honestly there was about 12 inches. the street is completely flooded and chaos on all forms of transport. tote chaos on all forms of transport. we are seeing some of the pictures now, and people waist deep in water. what struck me notjust the amount of rain, but the speed that things changed on the ground. is that how you found it as well?— you found it as well? yeah, i mean the drainage _ you found it as well? yeah, i mean the drainage systems _ you found it as well? yeah, i mean the drainage systems here - you found it as well? yeah, i mean the drainage systems here often i the drainage systems here often get overwhelmed when we have heavy rain like this, we are not used it. it happens on a sort of not regular basis. so if you have about an hour's worth of rain it does accumulate pretty quickly. so on the one hand it wasn't a complete surprise, but on the other hand this was the worst weather that the

country has ever recorded in 75 years. so it was pretty overwhelming.- years. so it was pretty overwhelmina. ~ . , years. so it was pretty overwhelmina. . ., , ., overwhelming. we are seeing some of the ictures overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you _ overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you sent _ overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you sent to _ overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you sent to us, _ overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you sent to us, and - overwhelming. we are seeing some of the pictures you sent to us, and of - the pictures you sent to us, and of course the streets at least in these pictures, the vehicles are moving as opposed to floating. but in terms of the authorities and how they cope with all this, what is your assessment? i with all this, what is your assessment?— with all this, what is your assessment? ~ j ., assessment? i think they've done about a good _ assessment? i think they've done about a good a — assessment? i think they've done about a good a job _ assessment? i think they've done about a good a job as _ assessment? i think they've done about a good a job as you - assessment? i think they've done about a good a job as you can - assessment? i think they've done i about a good a job as you can do, a lot of people have been very critical of dubai and how easily they think it got overwhelmed, but i think of any part of the uk sort of experienced its worst rain and 75 years they would struggle to. but to be fair, we've had two days of dry weather and things are largely back to normal. well, certainly on the main streets, the main street that runs up and down dubai is pretty clear now, and some of the more inland communities it's not quite as good. but i think the authorities have done about a good a job as they can do. the main chaos today was at

the airport where there is still been a knock on effect, but the international airport has said they should be fully operational within the last 2a hours or so —— next 2a hours or so. the last 24 hours or so -- next 24 hours or so-_ hours or so. we have to leave it there but thanks _ hours or so. we have to leave it there but thanks for _ hours or so. we have to leave it there but thanks for your - hours or so. we have to leave it there but thanks for your time, | there but thanks for your time, thinking. here, the conservatives have suspended one of their mps, mark menzies, from the parliamentary party, after claims in the times newspaper that he misused party funds. mr menzies — who represents fylde in lancashire — the allegations. quite a drawjaw—dropping story, matthew. back in december mark menzies running his campaign manager saying he needed £5,000 it was a matter of life and death and he was locked and i thought by some bad

people. the campaign manager sums up six point £5,000 and this was then reimbursed, the process, from money that was to be used for campaigning and had been donated for the purpose of campaigning. in addition to that £14,000 was also taken from campaign funds to pay for private medical bills, initially that's £3000 for that four years ago. those of the allegations, as you say he disputes those allegations but nobody became public and the conservative party took the whip from him, if that goes through he can't stand as a conservative candidate of the general election. he was a trade and vote for various latin american countries, downing street stripped him of that this morning as well. rishi sunak is not commenting on the specific case but more generally he has said that there is no place for irresponsible behaviour in parliament and mps should act as

role models. most of it has come from the labour party, when did rishi sunak�*s first know about it considering it was reported to the conservative party injanuary, they also want to know if the police have been informed. so far all the conservative central office headquarters would say is that this is rightfully a confidential matter, so this extraordinary story i think there is more questions answers, method. . . ., ., method. iain watson there, at westminster. _ method. iain watson there, at westminster. thanks - method. iain watson there, at westminster. thanks very - method. iain watson there, at i westminster. thanks very much. the donald trump hush money trial, a second juror has been dismissed from that trial. they had seventh—seeded they lost another one in the last hour or so and at other one has been dismissed. the first of those jurors talking about feeling intimidated after her details became public. they are down to five jurors they have seated in this, that is just coming in from new york. around the

world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you're alive with bbc news. the united states and britain have announced new sanctions on iran, targeting the country's drone aircraft production, after its attack on israel last weekend. the us treasury department said the sanctions were against 16 individuals and two firms that produce the engines of iran's shahed drones — which were used in the attack, along with missiles. britain also said it was imposing sanctions on several iranian military organisations, individuals and entities. israel has promised to retaliate against iran's attack. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent james landale who is in jerusalem. james, i was mentioning there the sanctions, they are coordinated with the uk, us and others, your assessment of the package laid out? it's relatively modest in size and

in terms of number, simply because iran is subject to huge sanctions already. he cannot for example sell things from the uk to iran, particularly drum parts, missile parts, things like that. you're targeting a specific number of individuals and some defence many fractures and things like that, so it's symbolic, though. essentially this is the united states in the uk saying that yes, we should continue to maintain collective international diplomatic pressure on iran, following its unprecedented attack on israeljust over the last weekend. so essentially it is, the international community is saying we need to stick with israel, we need to keep it as an international coalition against iran, to put more pressure on the iranians, but keep the diplomatic pressure on the side to the israelis, that means you don't have to go hard with any kind of military retaliation against, as a result of their own�*s attack.

james, we continue to watch, to wait to see if there are any pointers about how israel is going to respond with un secretary general talking about the whole middle east being on about the whole middle east being on a process biz. thanks for the latest there from jerusalem. china's economy is facing its biggest economic challenge in two decades. the so—called factory of the world is struggling to recover from years of covid lockdowns and a global economic downturn. president xijinping's plan is to make and sell more electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines to sell to the uk and europe. but that has many western firms worried that low—cost chinese—made goods will force them out of business. our china correspondent, laura bicker, has been to the country's manufacturing hub. this man is a lifelong factory worker who's helped forge china's rise. everything he owns is behind this door. but as china's economy falters,

the last firm he worked for closed without warning, leaving him without his redundancy pay, which will take years to earn back. translation: it's hard to find newjobs. - we are old and we don't have many skills. most companies only hire younger people. he spent 16 years of his life in what is now a concrete shell. even in the wreckage, he can remember the furniture assembly line. this factory was his family's future, a paycheque sent to his village home for children he couldn't afford to travel to see. i feel reluctant to part with this place. i feel heartbroken. i've spent so many years here and now this place has become like this. all the workers feel astonished and are disappointed and we grieve.

prolonged covid lockdowns and bitter trade wars have chipped away at the pillars of china's economy. so the country has changed course. new technology and a new robotic workforce is taking over. and the made in china brand is at the heart of the world's drive towards renewables. you're about to get a clear view of china's capacity to build. china dominates the world solar panel market. 80% of the world's solar panels are made here. in fact, they've installed more in one year than the us have in a decade. but that has both brussels and washington worried. many in the west say china is making too much of the world's green tech. they accuse beijing of giving firms state hand—outs. that means china's goods are so cheap, it's driving western

brands out of business. and what do you think of the capacity in china to produce this kind of green energy? right now, i think 80% to 90% of the energy storage equipment are designed and manufactured in china, so we are leading the market in the whole world. china is helping the world capture the sun, but at a cost. this feat cannot save its workforce and the west wants its dependence on china to end. so now, once again, trade tensions threaten to cast a shadow over east/west relations. laura bicker, bbc news, dongguan. which is the best goal? news the fa

is going to scrap replays from next season. i've been talking to pat nevin for his opinion. it season. i've been talking to pat nevin for his opinion.— season. i've been talking to pat nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous _ nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous because _ nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous because if _ nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous because if you - nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous because if you get - nevin for his opinion. it could be disastrous because if you get a l nevin for his opinion. it could be - disastrous because if you get a good draw and you managed to get a reply, then you can make enough money to keep yourself going for two, three, four years. keep yourself going for two, three, fouryears. it's keep yourself going for two, three, four years. it's an incredible difference it can make to these clubs. it's the biggest day of their calendar year almost every single year, so for them, even though there is a quid pro quo because the fa are going to give 70 odd million to grassroots football, that's just to keep them quiet. in reality, the bigger clubs, and this is where you have to look from the other point of view, they know that their players have been asked to play far too many games, ufo, fifa, they are all pushing farfarther than games, ufo, fifa, they are all pushing far farther than they did before. from the club's point of view they need to get the players some rest, it depends what you look at it from. it some rest, it depends what you look at it from. . , some rest, it depends what you look at it from. ., , ., , some rest, it depends what you look at it from. . , ., , , some rest, it depends what you look at it from. ., , ., , , at it from. it really does, but some ofthe at it from. it really does, but some of the greatest _ at it from. it really does, but some of the greatest moments, - at it from. it really does, but some of the greatest moments, the - of the greatest moments, the greatest stories in the history of

the fa cups come from replays, don't they? is this a decision made by the head rather than heart?— head rather than heart? absolutely made by the _ head rather than heart? absolutely made by the head. _ head rather than heart? absolutely made by the head. and _ head rather than heart? absolutely made by the head. and you - head rather than heart? absolutely made by the head. and you can - head rather than heart? absolutely i made by the head. and you can make the good arm and, the top players are the ones that are trying to make sure they don't get injured, don't get overtired, etc. their plan, if think about it, the europa league, europa ua for the conference league, championship league, it's going to be extended again. when i played in the euros there were eight teams i got to the finals, there are 24 now. they streamline the games and a lot of players that come over, coming from other countries and other condos, they'll be playing in south america as well and there is a huge amount of games and huge amount of travelling for the very very top players. they must think themselves, what's the most important? the fa cup is not in the top, two, three, most important for them. from their

point of view, they're probably relieved by it. but however, there's always a case that ufo and fifa particularly, they make sure they increase their income from playing more games and bigger tournaments. and blame the clubs if you like, but in actualfact, and blame the clubs if you like, but in actual fact, the and blame the clubs if you like, but in actualfact, the reason and blame the clubs if you like, but in actual fact, the reason why it's been done is the fa cannot stand up to it. , ., ., , ., to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of— to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of the _ to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of the fa _ to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of the fa cups - to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of the fa cups with . to it. yes, and we of course had the downgrading of the fa cups with a i downgrading of the fa cups with a series of decisions over the years, a final point because we were looking at some of the games's the top players, we were looking at slicker pictures, pictures are so great. you would have played on some of those pictures and those replays in the lower leg clubs, they were like mud baths. that in a sense levelled the playing field, did new? and lead to some of those extraordinary results that we remember over the years. yes, and some of the — remember over the years. yes, and some of the games _ remember over the years. yes, and some of the games you _ remember over the years. yes, and some of the games you see - remember over the years. yes, and some of the games you see now- remember over the years. yes, and l some of the games you see now that are cancelled because there's not mud on the ground, you think that was us every single week, and

particularly the non—league ones as well, there are some phenomenal memories, i remember getting up to what you want to play for chelsea, there was a replay in that it was this terrible patch, not muddy, just very bumpy and covered in ice as well, that's what makes it a leveler most of the time and that's what gives them the chance and considering the big clubs have got everything in their favour, just once, now and again, isn't it good, or should i say wasn't it good, that there was a better chance for the smaller teams goes like this cuts their opportunities even more. fiat their opportunities even more. pat nevin. do stay with us because we are going to return to the news that broke a little while ago, that the former smp chief executive, husband of the ex—ist minister nicholas sturgeon, it has been rearrested in connection with police scotland's investigation into the party's finances. lorna gordon, our scotland correspondent will be with us in a moment or two to give us the latest on that

breaking story. first though, let's pause and catch up with weather details, and that's with luisa. good evening. bit of a weather cliche, i know, but a north—south divide with the weather story today. we had some beautiful sunshine, and with lighter winds across central and southern england, it felt a little warmer as well. this was londonjust a few hours ago. different story further north. it was cloudy and wet at times, a rather drizzly, overcast picture, as you can see in argyll and bute. and that's because of this weather front. it's toppling around the high pressure that's pushing in for the weekend, that's bringing some rain. now, the progress of the rain has been quite slow. it's been moving its way out of scotland, pushing into northern england and north wales. for the rest of the day, it will gradually sink its way steadily south. so, we will see some outbreaks of rain through the night tonight across central and southern england. clearer skies further north, a brisk wind and a few scattered showers. and with temperatures to the tops of the mountains, perhaps into low single figures, maybe a little bit of a wintry

flavour here as well, but a milder start to the morning for england and wales. a dreary, drab morning here, slowly brightening up into the afternoon. sunny spells, a few scattered showers, but, again, the winds picking up. that'lljust take the edge off the feel of things, particularly in eastern scotland — we could see gusts in excess of 40 miles an hour. so here, only a high of 8 celsius in aberdeenshire, with a little more shelter further west, we could — with more sunshine — see 14—15 celsius. here's the high that's going to arrive through the weekend. a lot of dry weather around at the weekend. this weather front will just introduce a little bit of patchy drizzle. and as we go into sunday in particular, more of a northeasterly flow, making it feel cool on exposed east coasts and certainly producing a lot more in the way of cloud. so we will be chasing cloud amounts around this weekend. but on the whole, saturday starts off sunny. there will be a brisk east wind, north east wind coming through, making it feel cool here. further west, with a little more sunshine, we could see

highs of 14 celsius. so this west—east divide continues, particularly for the second half of the weekend. in the east, it will be a gray, drab affair and the temperatures struggling, i'm afraid, from time to time. with a little more shelter and more sunshine in the west, it's not out of the question, we may see 17 celsius in parts of northern ireland.

this is bbc news. the headlines... ukraine's prime minister — warns the west — of the threat of a third world war — if they don't help, to arm his country. at a meeting of g7 foreign ministers in capri — assitance for ukraine is high on the agenda. there are frozen russian assets in the uk and europe and elsewhere we should be finding ways of using those assets to help ukraine in its defence of this

appaling, illegal russian invasion. the former chief executive has been arrested into the investigation into the party's finances. an inquest into the deaths of 48 people in a nightclub fire in dublin 43 years ago finds they were unlawfully killed. prince william — is given — get well soon cards for the princess of wales — as he makes his first appearance, since her cancer diagnosis. mann all of those stories in a moment or two. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. hello from the bbc sport centre. after the european exits of manchester city and arsenal in the champions league yesterday... of manchester city and arsenal three more english teams will be hoping to stay in european

competition this evening. liverpool face the toughest task of all — in trying