this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. confirmed — perserverance is safely on the surface of mars. nasa's most ambitious mission to mars has just landed succesfully on the red planet. this was the moment when the rover called perseverence finally made it. to work through all the adversity that goes, and all the challenges that go with landing a rover on mars, plus the challenges of covid — and just an amazing accomplishment. and this — the first image beamed back by the rover — its shadow clearly seen, as it tweets "i'm safe on mars. perseverance will get you anywhere." also facebook unfriends australia —

the social networking giant blocks access to news media on its site in a row over paying for content. millions of texans are without power for a fourth day straight, after gas pipelines and wind turbines freeze over in a winter storm. and as texas froze, ted cruz flew to mexico. has the republican senator left his reputation out in the cold? hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. i'm kasia madera. and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. but we start on another planet — mars, where the nasa perseverance rover has safely touched down.

it has already started sending back messages from its new home and will now set about the business of trying to find signs that mars was once — and could even still be — a planet where life took hold. here's our science correspondent rebecca morelle. and a warning, her report contains some flashing images. perseverance is going about one km per second. a nerve—racking wait at mission control. perseveranc ehas landed safely, on the surface of mars! cheering. and then celebrations as a signal is received from mars. it's touchdown for nasa's perseverance rover. and these are its first images — a view of its landing site before it starts to explore. the rover has even started tweeting, too... what an amazing team. to work through all the adversity that goes with landing a rover on mars, plus the challenges

of covid, it'sjust an amazing accomplishment. it survived a fiendishly difficult landing, burning through the atmosphere at 12,000 mph before a complex landing system brought it down, in an area with some of the oldest rocks on mars. it's amongst the most ancient crust on the surface of mars, capturing that period of time between 3.5—4 billion years old which isn't a period of time that is particularly well preserved in rocks on earth, so we have a chance to find out about a period of the solar system that we have never studied before. this mission is all about finding signs of life, and the best place to do that is here, the jezero crater. today, it's dry and dusty, but billions of years ago it was a huge lake, and you can clearly see a river running into it. this gives you an idea of what it would have looked like. if we zoom in a bit more, these green areas on the edge

of the crater were once beaches on the lake shore, and the hope is any microscopic creatures that once lived there are still preserved. perseverance is the most advanced rover that nasa has ever built, and it's jam—packed with instruments. its robotic arm is equipped with a drill to collect rock samples. so what forms of life could they contain? i am not talking about martian little green men, probably not even fish. we're looking for microbial life, or maybe microbes that have made a little mat or a slime of sorts that you might find on the bottom of a pond. those are the types of things that are likely to... well, they did exist on earth 3.5 billion years ago. the question is, did they exist on mars at the bottom of lakes? for the first time, nasa will also be testing a mini mars helicopter to provide a new bird's—eye view of the planet. and back on the ground, the rover will store some of the rocks — a future mission will bring them back to earth, and some will be heading to the uk.

these will be the most precious samples that we have on earth, the most exciting, and scientists around the world will be absolutely fighting and clamouring to study them. getting to the red planet is just the start. now the hard work begins. this is nasa's most ambitious mission and our best ever chance to know where life ever existed on mars. rebecca morelle, bbc news. what an extraordinary achievement. dr briony horgan is a associate professor of planetary sciences at purdue university in the us, and one of the scientists working on the mission. we heard steve say that this was an amazing team, congratulations on being part of this amazing team. thanks to your work with the cameras on perseverance, we are seeing images now. we on perseverance, we are seeing images nova—

on perseverance, we are seeing images now. on perseverance, we are seeing imaaes now. ~ ., . ., images now. we are so excited to get those first images _ images now. we are so excited to get those first images back. _ images now. we are so excited to get those first images back. the - images now. we are so excited to get those first images back. the landing i those first images back. the landing is one thing, but we get to see those rocks there is those images and it's so exciting. so those rocks there is those images and it's so exciting.— and it's so exciting. so talk us throu . h and it's so exciting. so talk us through - _ and it's so exciting. so talk us through - we _ and it's so exciting. so talk us through - we hear— and it's so exciting. so talk us through - we hear about - and it's so exciting. so talk us through - we hear about the l and it's so exciting. so talk us - through - we hear about the seven through — we hear about the seven minutes of terror. let's talk us through what on earth must�*ve been going through your mind emotionally before we got those images? 50 going through your mind emotionally before we got those images? so many emotions! it — before we got those images? so many emotions! it is — before we got those images? so many emotions! it is so _ before we got those images? so many emotions! it is so hard _ before we got those images? so many emotions! it is so hard to _ before we got those images? so many emotions! it is so hard to land - before we got those images? so many emotions! it is so hard to land on - emotions! it is so hard to land on mars, that's what needs to be understood. we learned so much but it is still so risky and dangerous. 0f it is still so risky and dangerous. of the engineers completely pulled it off. it was such a huge relief to hear we touched down on the ground safely when we got those incredible images back. safely when we got those incredible images back-— images back. when it comes to the secific images back. when it comes to the specific work _ images back. when it comes to the specific work you _ images back. when it comes to the specific work you are _ images back. when it comes to the specific work you are doing, - images back. when it comes to the specific work you are doing, given l specific work you are doing, given that we are in a pandemic, it must�*ve been so hard getting that level of expertise together and that fine detail. talk us through how would you worked. it’s fine detail. talk us through how would you worked.— would you worked. it's been incredibly — would you worked. it's been incredibly difficult _ would you worked. it's been incredibly difficult to - would you worked. it's been incredibly difficult to do - would you worked. it's been incredibly difficult to do this| incredibly difficult to do this remotely. normally we would all be with each other in pasadena ready to

dive in. but it's been hard to get working through the pandemic. but nasa has been doing a fantasticjob making it happen. as a science team we learned how —— learned how to work together remotely, which is important when we start moving the rover remotely from our houses at 4am. that'll be useful.— loam. that'll be useful. when it comes 4am. that'll be useful. when it comes to _ 4am. that'll be useful. when it comes to the _ 4am. that'll be useful. when it comes to the pictures - 4am. that'll be useful. when it comes to the pictures in - 4am. that'll be useful. when it - comes to the pictures in themselves, we've seen memes already — have you seen the one with bernie sanders and it? it's incredible. talk us through what you can —— we can expect to see from the images perseverance has fed through? the from the images perseverance has fed throu~h? ., , from the images perseverance has fed throu~h? . , ., through? the images were from the hazard cameras, _ through? the images were from the hazard cameras, and _ through? the images were from the hazard cameras, and they _ through? the images were from the hazard cameras, and they were - hazard cameras, and they were through the caps that are on there to protect it during landings. they are fuzzy so we will get much more

beautiful, high—res colour images hopefully by the end of the day or at worst case tomorrow. so hopefully we'll be able to start doing geology right away with some of these incredible images. just extraordinary, - incredible images. just extraordinary, isn't - incredible images. just extraordinary, isn't it? | incredible images. just extraordinary, isn't it? and how long is the life span of this rover? how many more messages can we expect to see from it?— to see from it? hopefully thousands and thousands! _ to see from it? hopefully thousands and thousands! our _ to see from it? hopefully thousands and thousands! our nominal - to see from it? hopefully thousands| and thousands! our nominal mission and thousands! 0ur nominal mission is one and a half mars years, which is one and a half mars years, which is three earth years. but the curiosity have long outlasted their warranty by curiosity have long outlasted their warranty bijb l. and i want perseverance to be out in the plains for years to come.— for years to come. perseverance is -a in: for years to come. perseverance is paying off- — for years to come. perseverance is paying off- and — for years to come. perseverance is paying off. and when _ for years to come. perseverance is paying off. and when it _ for years to come. perseverance is paying off. and when it comes - for years to come. perseverance is paying off. and when it comes to l for years to come. perseverance is l paying off. and when it comes to the search for what possibly could have been ultimately life on mars, what is your absolute hope to find? i would love to find clear signs of microbes. for example, something like a stromatolites, one of the

best piece of evidence for life on earth. shallow water and have minerals precipitating. something like that would be the best thing we could find. but any sign of life would be incredible and a complete game changer for science. would be incredible and a complete game changerfor science. [30 would be incredible and a complete game changer for science. do promise ou will game changer for science. do promise you will come — game changer for science. do promise you will come join _ game changer for science. do promise you will come join us _ game changer for science. do promise you will come join us when _ game changer for science. do promise you will come join us when you - game changer for science. do promise you will come join us when you find i you will come join us when you find them. doctor, an incredible achievement to get those images from perseverance so quickly. thank you for talking us through that.- for talking us through that. thanks so much. facebook is facing criticism from around the world after blocking people in australia from viewing news content on its site in protest at a proposed new law. the prime minister of australia, scott morrison says he will not be intimidated by the social media company, amid a row over plans to force internet firms to pay for news shared on their platforms. 0ur media editor amol rajan reports. this is the internet, but not as we've known it.

never before have a democracy and tech giant collided as they have in the past 36 hours — and the after—shocks are likely to spill out across the globe. australians woke up to a new world, unable to access news sources via facebook after the social media giant carried through on its threat to the government there. what's this all about? well, over the past two decades, two deep global trends have occurred simultaneously. first, advertiser—funded facebook and google have become two of the richest companies in history. second, the business model of newspapers has collapsed. what connects these two trends is advertising. a generation ago, high—quality newspapers were largely funded by advertising. today, most advertising is online, and facebook and google account for around about 60% of all global digital advertising. that is a duopoly — and publishers want in on it.

this is about who owes what and to whom, led by rupert murdoch, australia's newsrooms argue their expensive journalism makes these tech platforms more attractive and gives them credibility. australia's government agrees. this is an assault on a sovereign nation. it is an assault on people's freedom and in particular it isn't utter abuse of big technology's market power and control over technology. yet the data giants have strong counterarguments. publishers choose to be on facebook because they derive value from it, both reach and traffic that can be monetised. the tech giants have set up funds to invest heavily in journalism and, moreover, they say forcing anyone to pay someonejust for linking to them reaches a fundamental principle of the web and privileges one category of information, news, over others. they want money so that people can link. now, this kind of breaks down the way that the world wide web has worked up until now and it sets

a dangerous precedent. google has taken a different approach, signing a bespoke global deal with murdoch's company, news corp. that leaves facebook short of friends. amol rajan, bbc news. i'm joined now by dr dana mckay from the university of melbourne. now that we've had some time to digest the impact of facebook cosmic decision, it's interesting to see notjust decision, it's interesting to see not just those traditional decision, it's interesting to see notjust those traditional news outlets that are no longer being offered by it facebook, but other services as well like weather and health and safety.— health and safety. yes, not 'ust those groups i health and safety. yes, not 'ust those groups either, i health and safety. yes, not 'ust those groups either, but i health and safety. yes, notjust those groups either, but lots i health and safety. yes, notjust those groups either, but lots ofj those groups either, but lots of small community groups have been affected as well. i literallyjust had a message ironically on facebook from a friend saying that lots of her writers group have had their pages taken down. so it's notjust

news, it's been widely impactful on a range of different groups. the state health organisations, which i believe have now been rolled back, are the most important at the moment because they are the ones providing information about the pandemic to australians. 50 information about the pandemic to australians-— australians. so when people are reactin: australians. so when people are reacting to _ australians. so when people are reacting to this, _ australians. so when people are reacting to this, what _ australians. so when people are reacting to this, what are - australians. so when people are reacting to this, what are you i reacting to this, what are you finding? i guess, are people helping each other and finding ways around it? ~ , _, , each other and finding ways around it? ~ y y each other and finding ways around it? absolutely. i won't share those with ou, it? absolutely. i won't share those with you, obviously, _ it? absolutely. i won't share those with you, obviously, now- it? absolutely. i won't share those with you, obviously, now on - it? absolutely. i won't share those with you, obviously, now on the i with you, obviously, now on the news, but if you search on twitter there are quite a few ways that have already been detected to work around this block. and i think it's important too because it's notjust preventing australians from accessing news on facebook, but also preventing the rest of the world from accessing news on australia. given that there are 1.2 billion australians in australia, that's news they aren't getting —— 1.2

million. news they aren't getting -- 1.2 million. ., �* , ., news they aren't getting -- 1.2 million. . �*, ., million. that's a good point, actually- _ million. that's a good point, actually. there's _ million. that's a good point, actually. there's an - million. that's a good point, i actually. there's an international movement to delete facebook — what kind of uptake is there within australia, given how many people use this particular social media site? i think that will be an interesting thing to see. so obviously we've seen something like, first with the cambridge analytica scandal a few years ago — but the problem is in the middle of this pandemic, when we are physically separated from our friends and family, facebook is one key piece of social structure. and to delete facebook, you might also be having to find workarounds for those relationships that you are maintaining on facebook, keeping up with yourfriends, your maintaining on facebook, keeping up with your friends, your family and loved ones who are in the next town or overseas. so i don't know that we will see a lot of traction on that immediately. however, ithink will see a lot of traction on that immediately. however, i think it has significantly damaged facebook cosmic brand.— significantly damaged facebook. cosmic brand._ getting

cosmic brand. interesting. getting into the market _ cosmic brand. interesting. getting into the market would _ cosmic brand. interesting. getting into the market would be - cosmic brand. interesting. getting into the market would be very i cosmic brand. interesting. getting into the market would be very badj into the market would be very bad for facebook.— into the market would be very bad for facebook. that's an interesting oint. we for facebook. that's an interesting point- we have _ for facebook. that's an interesting point. we have to _ for facebook. that's an interesting point. we have to leave _ for facebook. that's an interesting point. we have to leave it - for facebook. that's an interesting point. we have to leave it there, l point. we have to leave it there, but it's really good to get your perspective. thank you. thank you so much. let's get some of the day's other news. scientists tracking the coronavirus pandemic say there's been a strong decline in covid infection levels in england, since the current lockdown began. imperial college london's react study found that rates have dropped by two thirds — but there are warnings that virus levels are still high, with one in 200 people testing positive. a belarus court has jailed two tv journalists for two years on charges of fomenting protests, forfilming a rally against the country's leader. katerina andreyeva and daria chultsova were arrested in a minsk apartment block in november while live—streaming an unauthorised protest. they are with poland—based belsat tv. the duke of edinburgh is to spend a third night in hospital in london, after being admitted as a precaution after feeling unwell for a few days.

prince philip, who will be 100 injune, is said to be in "good spirits". stay with us on bbc news. still to come: millions of texans suffer a fourth day with no power, after gas pipelines and wind turbines freeze over in a winter storm. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were finally coming home. the withdrawal completed in good order, but the army defeated in the task it had been sent to perform. malcolm has been murdered. that has a terrible effect for the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions in the streets. one wonders who is next?

as the airlift got under way, there was no let up in the erruption itself. lava streams from a vent low in the crater flow down to the sea on the east of the islands, away from the town for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded _ their new generation space station with a spectacular night launch. they've called it mir, i the russian for "peace". this is bbc news, the latest headlines... touchdown confirmed — perserverance is safely on the surface of mars. nasa's most ambitious mission to mars has just landed succesfully on the red planet. facebook unfriends australia — the social networking giant blocks access to news media on its site in a row over paying for content.

a blast of arctic weather has brought with it blizzards and record low temperatures across the united states, including to many southern states unused to such weather. in texas, it has sparked an energy crisis — at one point, more than four million households were without power. our us correspondent lebo diseko reports from houston. this is one of the richest states in one of the richest countries in the world. drinking water and food supplies are running dangerously low, and homes are flooding because pipes, once frozen, have no burst. last night, we got power after two days. and we didn't have water. but finally, we got water. now we have water everywhere. texas would normally be around 15 celsius at this time of year. as temperatures hit —18 in some parts this week, the state wasn't able to cope. many here are dealing with a fourth day without electricity after the power grid failed.

state governor greg abbott has been criticised after blaming frozen wind turbines for the collapse of the electricity grid. today, power was restored for some — but officials are warning that progress will be slow. that said, i also want to be clear with texans, because you need to know. there will be more cold temperatures in various regions across the state of texas tonight. many scientists say this is the impact of a changing climate — warm air moving up to the arctic, forcing cold air down to states like this one. it was colder in texas this week than in alaska. in the midst of this crisis, kindness. these sea turtles would've frozen to death had it not been for volunteers braving the weather to rescue them. it's forecast to be dangerously cold once again tonight, and texans are being told to make a plan to keep their families warm as the threat of power outages looms once more. lebo diseko, bbc news,

houston, texas. i'm joined by alex peric who has been out ice—fishing in the pond in front of his apartment in frisco, texas. talk us through the weather is there. ., �* , talk us through the weather is there. ., h ., talk us through the weather is there. ., �*, ., , �*, there. how's it going? yes, it's been insane. _ there. how's it going? yes, it's been insane. we've _ there. how's it going? yes, it's been insane. we've had - there. how's it going? yes, it's been insane. we've had belowl been insane. we've had below freezing temperatures now for four straight days, and we will have some cold temperatures for the next few days as well. so i'm taking advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! _ advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i— advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i must _ advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i must say _ advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i must say it - advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i must say it is i advantage of it and the i. you most certainly are! i must say it is now i certainly are! i must say it is now colder in texas than alaska. you're the owner of this frostbite dot com, you sell ice fishing equipment. so this is something that you are use to when it comes to your neighbours and friends — talk us through their feelings. it’s and friends - talk us through their feelinas. v , , , ., , feelings. it's been very serious here, a feelings. it's been very serious here. a lot _ feelings. it's been very serious here, a lot of _ feelings. it's been very serious here, a lot of broken _ feelings. it's been very serious here, a lot of broken lights i feelings. it's been very serious| here, a lot of broken lights and heaters have not been able to work

due to the rolling power outages. the power comes on for 30 minutes then comes off. it's very unpredictable and kind of scary. hour unpredictable and kind of scary. now are ou unpredictable and kind of scary. now are you getting information as to when these blackouts will resolve themselves?— when these blackouts will resolve themselves? , . ., , ., themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust — themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust letting _ themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust letting us _ themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust letting us know- themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust letting us know that i themselves? very unclear, they are kind ofjust letting us know that it i kind ofjust letting us know that it could be days, it could be hours — no real sign from any officials or. talk about how rare it is to see the water in front of your apartment ice over like this? i water in front of your apartment ice over like this?— over like this? i haven't been around for — over like this? i haven't been around for that _ over like this? i haven't been around for that long, - over like this? i haven't been around for that long, but i over like this? i haven't been i around for that long, but talking to locals around here, they say they've never seen ice like this, and it's kind of crazy. not sure if i brought down the cold weather or what happened, but it's cold. it

certainly looks cold! you have shared some images of the wildlife, as well, having difficulties with this kind of extreme weather. and you've caught a fish live on bbc news? i you've caught a fish live on bbc news? . . , you've caught a fish live on bbc news? ., ., , ., �* �* , news? i have a fish on bbc news! yes! i news? i have a fish on bbc news! yes! i promise _ news? i have a fish on bbc news! yes! i promise to _ news? i have a fish on bbc news! yes! i promise to our— news? i have a fish on bbc news! yes! i promise to our viewers, i news? i have a fish on bbc news! | yes! i promise to our viewers, that was not staged- — yes! i promise to our viewers, that was not staged. what _ yes! i promise to our viewers, that was not staged. what will - yes! i promise to our viewers, that was not staged. what will happen l was not staged. what will happen with your catch, alex? i’ll was not staged. what will happen with your catch, alex?— with your catch, alex? i'll let it no riaht with your catch, alex? i'll let it go right now- _ with your catch, alex? i'll let it go right now. letting _ with your catch, alex? i'll let it go right now. letting it - with your catch, alex? i'll let it go right now. letting it go i with your catch, alex? i'll let it go right now. letting it go - i with your catch, alex? i'll let it i go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing _ go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing to _ go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing to do. _ go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing to do. back- go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing to do. back in i go right now. letting it go - that's a decent thing to do. back in the l a decent thing to do. back in the water it goes. we couldn't make it up, there you go. well done! alex, you've got to tell me that's not the usual thing to happen, is it? ida. usualthing to happen, is it? no, that is definitely _ usual thing to happen, is it? iirr, that is definitely not. i've never got a fish through the ice in texas until then, so that's pretty crazy. just one final thought — do you know when this will end? what is your hope? 50 when this will end? what is your hoe? ~ when this will end? what is your hoe? ,, ., ,, hope? so it looks like on sunday, we will start to —

hope? so it looks like on sunday, we will start to get _ hope? so it looks like on sunday, we will start to get some _ hope? so it looks like on sunday, we will start to get some warmer- will start to get some warmer weather to where it will melt the ice and snow that's on the roads. but due to the fact that this is texas, major roads are all shut down, there's ice everywhere and it looks like we'll be put until sunday. looks like we'll be put until sunda . ~ , , , looks like we'll be put until sunda .~ , , , ., sunday. we wish you the best of luck, sunday. we wish you the best of luck. thanks _ sunday. we wish you the best of luck, thanks for _ sunday. we wish you the best of luck, thanks for catching - sunday. we wish you the best of luck, thanks for catching a i sunday. we wish you the best of luck, thanks for catching a fish l sunday. we wish you the best of| luck, thanks for catching a fish on bbc news. an ice fisherman for real, best of luck to you and all your friends. . ~ best of luck to you and all your friends. ., ,, , ., as we heard much of the state of texas continues to struggle with sub—zero temperatures and widespread power cuts. but the high—profile republican senator for the state, ted cruz, has run into some stormy weather of his own — by flying to a mexican holiday resort. 0nce news of his trip became public, it attracted a barrage of criticism on social media. he was then photographed getting on to a plane out of cancun, back to the us. 0ur north america correspondent

david willisjoins me now. so where is ted cruz? ted cruz is on his way back- _ so where is ted cruz? ted cruz is on his way back. this _ so where is ted cruz? ted cruz is on his way back. this really _ so where is ted cruz? ted cruz is on his way back. this really is _ so where is ted cruz? ted cruz is on his way back. this really is a - his way back. this really is a stunning misjudgment, isn't it? if you like, and unforced political error on the part of a man who is known to entertain presidential ambitions four years from now. indeed ted cruz ran for president four years ago, only to lose out to donald trump. and he basically said that he went down, he was planning a family holiday during the senate recess with his family. he said he was going down yesterday and coming back today, and he was doing it because of his children, he did it for his daughters because he wanted to be a good dad. but it has since emerged that he was due to stay there until saturday and only brought his flight forward after this storm that is engulfing him

now, this political storm, not a meteorological one. ted cruz has been called upon to resign by democrats in the state of texas. and as i say, it is a truly extraordinary political error on the part of somebody who has a lot of political ambitions still, to be out of the stay at a time when many of his constituents are in freezing cold and, in some cases, are actually dying because of the temperatures there.- actually dying because of the temperatures there. actually dying because of the temeratures there. ., ,, , ., temperatures there. david, thank you so much for — temperatures there. david, thank you so much for bringing _ temperatures there. david, thank you so much for bringing us _ temperatures there. david, thank you so much for bringing us up _ temperatures there. david, thank you so much for bringing us up to - temperatures there. david, thank you so much for bringing us up to date. i so much for bringing us up to date. any updates, we will come to you, but for the time being, david willis on the whereabouts of ted cruz, thank you so much. we will continue to bring you up—to—date with all the latest developments, lots of memes as you can imagine, i've even seen an image of ted cruz superimposed on the perseverance images. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @bbckasiamadera.

thanks for watching, bye—bye. hello there. the weather is going to be turning increasingly wet across western areas of the uk, thanks to an area of low pressure. this area of low pressure, in fact. and this cloud you can see here associated with the low is a weather front, a particularly slow—moving front. it's going to be bringing rain for some for the next couple of days. rainfall totals building up, then, but the wettest weather will always be over high ground — so the moors of southwest england, the brecon beacons, snowdonia, the cumbrian fells, northern ireland generally, and across southern and western scotland, particularly the highlands and the southern uplands. so we could see some localised flooding building in. the rain is beginning to arrive right now and, along with the wet weather some strong winds, mild air. temperatures about 8—9 celsius as we start the day on friday. further east it is dry, but it's chillier. temperatures around 3 celsius, most places should be frost—free.

now for friday it's a wet and windy starts the day across these areas with gusts of wind potentially running into the low—60s in miles per hour or so in places. outbreaks of rain with many of you for much of the day. there won't be much rain, though, across the northeast of scotland, and not a great deal of rain either across the midlands, east anglia, southeast england. there will be quite large tracts of the day that stay dry and bright, even. as far as further west, the rain pretty relentless. temperatures on the mild side, looking at highs of around 10—12 celsius fairly widely. and then into the weekend — more wet and windy weather to come across western areas. the eastern side of the country brighter and drier and, for some, it could turn very mild indeed for a time. the reason the weather gets a bit milder is the winds are going to start to come from a southerly direction, dragging the air up from north africa, spain, france, and on into central and eastern parts of england in particular, though east scotland not doing badly in places. further west on saturday, well, it's a wet and windy day coming up with the rain again very heavy

and persistent at times. temperatures, well, around about 12—14 celsius across western areas — which is still mild, but across the east of england we could see temperatures go as high as 17 celsius in 1—2 few spots. very mild indeed. 0ur weather front is still with us on sunday, but it is tending to fizzle, just a lump of cloud with a few patches of rain left on it by this stage. so more in the way of bright weather for scotland and northern ireland, a bit more sunshine here, temperatures around 10—11 celsius. eastern england still having the highest temperatures, perhaps up to 15—16.

hello there.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a nasa rover which left earth seven months ago has successfully landed on mars, completing a journey of nearly half a billion kilometres. it's the most ambitious search for life on the planet since the 1970s. australia's prime minister — scott morrison — has said his government will not be �*intimidated' by facebook blocking news feeds to users. facebook is responding to a proposed law, which would make tech giants, pay for news content on their platforms. nearly seven million people in the us state of texas — have been told to boil tap water — before drinking it — after a deadly winter storm caused power blackouts at treatment facilities. life expectancy in the united states fell by a whole year during the first half of 2020 — to 77.8 years, its greatest fall since world war ii. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow.