engulfed nearby buildings. more than 100 people are now known to have died in the disaster, which happened in the state of minas gerais last month. russia has called america's decision to suspend its participation in a key cold war—era disarmament agreement an "abrogation of its international commitments." a russian official said washington had provided no evidence of its claim that russia had for years failed to comply with the intermediate—range nuclear forces treaty. venezuela's opposition leader juan guaido is calling for the biggest mass protests in the nation's history this weekend as he tries to force president nicolas maduro from power. the opposition are demanding new elections to end the political and economic chaos that's been engulfing the country. tributes have been paid to the comedianjeremy hardy, who's died at the age of 57. he'd been receving treatment for cancer. he won the comedy award at the edinburgh festival in 1988, but will be best remembered for his appearances on radio 4's

‘sorry, i haven't a clue.‘ lizo mzimba looks back at his life. actually, i was the youngest of five children, and for that reason i felt a bit weird. i thought i wasn't wanted, i thought i was a mistake. and i think that, having had four children, what my mother really wanted was a holiday. jeremy hardy's self—effacing style of humour was what made him a star. the finest comedy minds in britain — john oliver, rory bremner and jeremy hardy. his career began as a stand—up in the 19805 and continued for decades on shows like mock the week. in the second world war, it was just a piece of cardboard that said, "this is mr wilkins. he's not a german spy". he inspired us all. he was very unfussy, very self—deprecating. he always said he wasn't very good at that. he was principled, always principled, compassionate, kind, but just so wonderfully funny. i think it's fair to say, though, that the bbc has never practised discrimination. they've always taken on any 0xbridge graduate, regardless of talent.

despite jokes at its expense, he became a regular on bbc radio 4 panel shows like the news quiz and i'm sorry, i haven't a clue. was your dad a king for a day? he must have been, to make a princess like you. was your dad a pancake chef? he must have been, to make a tosser like you. you talk about lambeth, a cooperative council... a lifelong socialist, his beliefs informed much of his comedy, and he frequently campaigned too on numerous issues. i remember him as a great friend — the otherjeremy. we did lots of events together. he was always giving his time to raise money so other people could speak for them — human rights causes, justice causes. what a loss. more committed to socialism than to singing... # let me alone... ..he will be remembered for his sharp comic brain, and, as radio listeners knew, a unique way with a tune. cheering and applause coming up next is david eades.

now on bbc news, the travel show. coming up on this week's travel show: pay know i said i would not feel the cold but i am really nervous about going into shock once i hit the water. it is an icy plunge the me in the french alps. we have some chairlift speed dating in the us. fancy learning how to cook tentacles and suckers? we have a specialfamily tentacles and suckers? we have a special family recipe because cause. —— recipe for couscous. and we meet a lady making waves in the canary islands. the ski season is now in full swing

in the northern hemisphere. and so far, the snowfall has been somewhat unpredictable. i am far, the snowfall has been somewhat unpredictable. iam in far, the snowfall has been somewhat unpredictable. i am in tignes, far, the snowfall has been somewhat unpredictable. iam in tignes, a far, the snowfall has been somewhat unpredictable. i am in tignes, a ski resort in the french alps. it is home to the grand mosque lassie which arises to a whopping 3450 metres. —— lacey. despite the resort‘s high altitude, like many others it had to delay the start of it season by a couple of weeks due to lack of snow. across the world, global warming is shortening the ski season, and starting to seriously affect the economy for lower resorts. it may be hard to believe given recent heavy snowfall in europe, at the bigger picture is looking bleak. the charity "protect oui’ looking bleak. the charity "protect our winters" has been collecting data from climate scientists around

the world, all with similar predictions. i2050 the alps could see a reduction in snow of more than 40%. -- i2050. ryan see a reduction in snow of more than 40%. —— i2050. ryan smith is a ambassador to the charity. tell me about yours being, what have you done so far. —— your skiing. about yours being, what have you done so far. -- your skiing. he is also an international ski coach based in the alps. here we go. i have noticed a massive difference, especially in the last 20 years that we have been doing it, but lacey is retreating, getting smaller. in the winters, the winter season is getting shorter, it used to start very comfortable in november, sometimes now we are lucky they start in december. the other thing thatis start in december. the other thing that is quite scary and is actually really apparent right now is because of these extreme changes in the temperatures we are seeing, you could have a snowball injanuary, it could have a snowball injanuary, it could be —15 or —16, for all five

days later it could be plus ten. it really weakens the way snow bonds together, and we have seen a big rise in the amount of avalanches. it makes free riding for me as a free ski a lot more risky, and obviously foreign one else trying that. —— obviously for everyone else. here in tignes, the resort has been making plans to ensure its future, and one ambitious project is to open an indoor ski dome veide iglesia. —— by the ugly ceo. these artists impression —— by the glacier. these artists impression show what it would look like in the winter and summer would look like in the winter and summer to guarantee year—round skiing. tignes also recently opened the world first cable car roof terrace, part of a year—long project called the altitude experience, designed to encourage off—season

visitors to the national park. i am giving my ski lakes arrest to try and give something a little bit different. —— my ski legs arrest. yes, that is a mask and regulator. i have been persuaded into our styling. once you are inside, we steal everything, and you are com pletely steal everything, and you are completely protected. this i will be wearing a dry suit. we will put some talcu m wearing a dry suit. we will put some talcum powder inside so the head will go easily into the helmet. it is definitely a cop located process getting ready, which isjust adding to my nerves. —— complicated.

the good news is i cannot feel how cold it is out here. the lake i will be diving into is right in the ski village of tignes, just a stone ‘s throw from the lifts. buy via! the more i stare at this, the morayjust wa nt to more i stare at this, the morayjust want to stick my foot in to get a taste of how cold it is. i know they saidi taste of how cold it is. i know they said i will not feel the cold but i am very nervous about my body going into some kind of shock when i get in the water. i'm sure it will be fined up my mind is in overdrive. i just want to get in now. —— sure it will be fine but my mind is in overdrive. it is not an activity you can do as a group, rather one person ata time can do as a group, rather one person at a time with an instructor, for safety reasons. into the water, now!

my safety reasons. into the water, now! my initial worries of freezing to death quickly went away. but it did not quite go to plan, and i had to surface. my mask started to fill with water. and i started to panic, so i wanted out! after a little reminder about what to do, namely don't panic, i was mentally prepared for another go. i ready to go back in. i was only down there for a minute or go back in. i was only down there fora minute orso, but go back in. i was only down there for a minute or so, but it is so pretty young man, just being able to touch all the bubbles under the ice is really cool. —— so pretty down there. this time my mask stayed put,

but we decided not to go too far away from the ice hole, and my confidence returned. it is an otherworldly experience under the ice, cut off from the noise and distractions of of. and it is surprisingly relaxing. —— above. 0nly towards the end did my toes and fingers start to tingle, but otherwise the dry suit really did keep the cold out. for the really daring it is possible also to free diet. not for me though, i prefer having the oxygen tank. —— dive. if you are eager to experience something a bit different on the mountains this winter, we have rounded up some events we think you should consider. the grand finale of the freeride world tour is taking place in march in verbier. it is considered the hardest freeride competition on the planet and is

quite a spectacle to visitors. this is certainly not for the fainthearted. for something on the other end of the spectrum it seems chairlift speed dating is the latest trend to hit the slopes in north america. on the 10th of february, aston alps in minneapolis and wilmott mountain in wisconsin are giving skiers and snowboarders the chance to meet their snow makes. matchmaking agency ‘s other seekers based on compatibility and if you are not based on compatibility and if you a re not interested based on compatibility and if you are not interested you simply go your separate ways at the top of the mountain. kumble mentri heron make up mountain. kumble mentri heron make up touchups are even on offer to help you deal with your helmet hair on the slopes. —— compo mentri hair and make—up. and if you cannot make it to the us in february, never fear, there is a similar opportunity in austria. it takes place towards the end of the european ski season.

com plete the end of the european ski season. complete with igloo rev, in chartered forest and mountain yoga, big—name artist will also be part of the lineup to perform. and did i mention you can also sign up for chairlift speed dating. and finally if getting to canada is possible for you, the whistler world ski and snowboard festival takes place over five days in april. 0ver snowboard festival takes place over five days in april. over 10,000 five days in april. 0ver10,000 people are expected to watch top athletes at the big competitions. at it is the splash pool that is the standout feature of the festival. it is the tattoos skim across the ice cold water. madness. —— participants have two skim across the ice cold water. and if that has made you hungry we are back in france where its capital city has become a melting pot of culinary delights. we are heading to see a restaurant in paris were a recipe that is all a bit fishy. 0r paris were a recipe that is all a bit fishy. or is it? and i decided

to open a restaurant in paris it was obvious that i wanted to make eve ryo ne obvious that i wanted to make everyone know the couscous of my mum, the tunisian couscous, because in tunisia you eat couscous with fish, and it is my father city. it is the 0x was couscous. —— octopus couscous. everyone knows the american and

argentinian couscous, tunisian couscous argentinian couscous, tunisian couscous is quite different, it is more spicy and you have more tomato. it isa more spicy and you have more tomato. it is a very light couscous. still to come on the travel show. the latest tips on travelling in europe. and where in the canary islands to find out why it is the perfect training ground for kite surfing. —— we're. stay with us. hello from aid are easy mediterranean in winter. —— a breezy. i have advice on rail travel

in central europe and where to find greek life as it used to be. first, the year in the sun has begun for europe's two capitals of culture, matera in italy is a joyful berocca town on the surface, but want a more deeply and you discover the ground falls away to reveal a picture book village that has borrowed its way into a hillside. and the other capital of culture, plovdiv in bulgaria, is a great place to visit in winter, to look at its ancient foundations and then combine it with excellent skiing in the nearby mountains. next, a watcher contacted us mountains. next, a watcher contacted us from the southern african nation previously known as swaziland. he wa nts to previously known as swaziland. he wants to know... vienna is an excellent place to

begin theirjourney vienna is an excellent place to begin their journey through vienna is an excellent place to begin theirjourney through the great railways of central europe. take a great railways of central europe. takea train great railways of central europe. take a train to prague through deep valleys a nd take a train to prague through deep valleys and across highmore land for an intense sensation of 19th—century europe. —— high moorland. then on to dresden in germany, a city that has revived splendidly after second world war destruction and decades of soviet domination. go to east towards poland to krakouer, and after a day or two in this fascinating city, one of europe's increasingly rare but wonderful night trains of weights to whisk you through the darkness to vienna. kate tweeted us to ask... this needs some deep greek knowledge, so i have called in some expert advice. you can find old—fashioned greece expert advice. you can find

old —fashioned greece even expert advice. you can find old—fashioned greece even in pop and the places like the island of lesbos. —— popular. in these villages you'll find old men drinking booze are in the cafe talking with her friends and laying back out. another option is the island of... where you can find villages where the time stands still. for example, the villages around the murray area. i hope you can visit them soon. finally, joan smith from ireland is heading for the us in the spring. he is flying into chicago and out from boise, idaho, and he wants to rent a car between the two. but he says he is stumped by... joe, car rental companies in europe impose higher fees if joe, car rental companies in europe impose higherfees if you want joe, car rental companies in europe impose higher fees if you want to dropa caroff impose higher fees if you want to drop a car off in a different country, and the same applies in america if you want to leave it in a different state. for drop office in adjacent states such as florida and

georgia, usually the 1—way fee is modest. but it can increase sharply for longerjourneys. so i suggest that to cut the cost you use the excellent california zephyr train between chicago and stop lake city. it is an enthralling day and a half journey, and if you like, you can stop off after the first night in denver, and pick up a subsequent strain. from salt lake city and you tied you can rent a car and take its north across the idaho state line to voisey, idaho, and pay a drop fee of only $100, at least according to the test booking i on your behalf. —— boise. that's all for now, but keep sending me your travel problems and i will do my best to find you solutions. finally, we are in for to ventura in the canary finally, we are in for to ventura in the ca nary islands, finally, we are in for to ventura in the canary islands, where one woman is making waves in the international for a surfing scene. ——

fu etreve ntu ra. for a surfing scene. —— fuetreventura. she shows us why her home is the perfect training ground for the sport. well, that is all for this week, but coming up next week... christer ta kes a coming up next week... christer takes a peek at the back of the notre dame cathedral in paris. to discover fallen pinnacles and ga rg oyles. discover fallen pinnacles and gargoyles. and she meets those trying to save it. in ten years we would see the can —— cathedral come com pletely would see the can —— cathedral come completely down if we were to do nothing. and in the meantime, don't forget you can follow us on social media. the links are on our website. for now, from me and lucy hedges and the rest of the travel show team, it's goodbye. fellow, there's more snow to come in

the forecast as we head into friday. the main focus is the zone from south wales to east anglia and anywhere south of here, all driven by this area of low pressure which stays close by as we go into friday. while the earlier amber warning from the met office has expired, we still have yellow warnings in place for both snow and ice, slippery services and travel —— tricky travelling conditions. stay up—to—date with the latest travelling use in your bbc radio station. friday morning, we are likely to see 5—10 centimetres of snow across wales, south—western england, especially the high ground towards the chilterns and cotswolds. a couple of centimetres elsewhere. further sleet and snow showers piling into north—east england,

which may well get further south and west, perhaps towards the midlands. a fine start the day across northern ireland but cold and frosty and a really cold start across northern scotland, but not as cold as the knightsjust gone, scotland, but not as cold as the knights just gone, with frequent snow showers piling into northern scotland, the highlands and also the northern islands. as the day wears on friday we will keep our snow of —— our zone on friday we will keep our snow of —— ourzone of on friday we will keep our snow of —— our zone of snow showers across central and southern england, becoming more fragmented. some of those snow showers might get across the pennines towards parts of the midlands. a breezy day in places, especially the further south you are. that will just especially the further south you are. that willjust exacerbate the cold feeling. for most people the temperatures will not get above three orfour celsius. we temperatures will not get above three or four celsius. we should see them above freezing across parts of northern england and scotland, where we struggled through thursday with the fog. friday night and into saturday, the speed of showers mainly down eastern and southern —— eastern and some western coasts, and

we lose the sleet and snow from south—west england. a cloud in itf. temperatures above freezing. elsewhere, further west, under clear skies, down to —1 or —2. still —4 —5 across the highlands. then we begin the weekend in this area of low pressure m oves the weekend in this area of low pressure moves away into france and germany. and for a brief time through the weekend things look dry and quieter. with a northerly wind we will still pick up wintry showers down some eastern coasts, with a few major sitting coasts. for most, saturday is a dry day with crisp winter sunshine. after a frosty start, temperatures up to 3— five celsius, perhaps six or seven across eastern england. it will stay cold and they will be sunshine and further wintry showers and perhaps we will see rain later on sunday with snow across scotland. goodbye. good morning — welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. 0ur headlines today: more travel chaos, as heavy snow leads to a second night of delays — motorists were left stranded as major routes in the south east of

england became impassable. very picturesque, i'm sure, but being here in the traffic, stationery for nearly five hours now, is not a huge amount of fun. following the recent disruptive snowball, there are still warnings in force, mainly for ice but if you further snow showers but in many of us, it is an improving picture, much drier brighter and