hello and welcome to bbc news. president biden has told world leaders the transatlantic alliance is back following years of strained relations between the us and europe under donald trump. addressing the annual munich security conference, mr biden said the world was at a pivotal moment, pitting those who thought autocracy was the way forward against those who understood that democracy was essential. in a moment, we'll hear from the us secretary of state in an exclusive international tv interview. but first, that pledge from president biden. i'm sending a clear message to the world america is back. the

transatlantic alliance is back. and we're not looking backward. are looking forward together. it comes down to this— the transatlantic alliance is a strong foundation. the strong foundation on which as a collective security and our shared prosperity are built. the united states is fully committed to our nato alliance. and i welcome europe's growing investment in the military capabilities that enable our shared defences. you know, for me and for the united states, for us, we will keep article, we will keep faith in article five. it is a guarantee. an attack on one is an attack on all. that is our unshakeable vow. ,, ~ vow. staying with american forei . n vow. staying with american foreign policy- _ in his first international interview, the us secretary of state antony blinken has told the bbc that the country is also fully engaged in helping resolve global issues such as the coronavirus

pandemic, climate change and iran's nuclear ambitions. mr blinken was confirmed as america's top diplomat two weeks ago. he's been speaking exclusively to yalda hakim. he is america's new top diplomat. secretary blinken started his career in the white house advising president clinton and then president obama in senior positions on the national security council. as national security adviser to then vice president biden, he was in the situation room during the raid which killed osama bin laden. he has been biden�*s top foreign currently adviserfor nearly biden�*s top foreign currently adviser for nearly two decades and now the president has tasked him with refraining america's relationship with the world —— reframing. in his first major interview with an international broadcaster i have been speaking to secretary blinken. what role can washington play in resolving conflicts and helping the international community navigate a path out of the navigate arpath out of the pandemic. navigate a'path _ pandemic. navigate apath” . u andemic. ., coronavirus pandemic. we are determined. _ coronavirus pandemic. we are determined, once _ coronavirus pandemic. we are determined, once again, -

coronavirus pandemic. we are determined, once again, to i determined, once again, to engage in the world, to show up again, because in the absence of american engagement and the absence of american leadership, then one or two things happens. either some other country tries to take our place and probably does so in a way that does not advance the common interests and values of the democratic world. , �* ., world. president biden and secretary _ world. president biden and secretary blinken - world. president biden and secretary blinken have - world. president biden and| secretary blinken have used world. president biden and - secretary blinken have used the virtual g7 meeting to draw a line under trump's american first policy. blinken told me he is eager to engage with america's allies and adversaries. i america's allies and adversaries.- america's allies and adversaries. ~ , ., ., adversaries. i think you heard the president _ adversaries. i think you heard the president say _ adversaries. i think you heard the president say it, - adversaries. i think you heard the president say it, america| the president say it, america is back. �* ~ ,,, the president say it, america is back. �* ~ , ,, ,, is back. blinken says the uss willin: is back. blinken says the uss willing to _ is back. blinken says the uss willing to meet _ is back. blinken says the uss willing to meet iran - is back. blinken says the uss willing to meet iran for- willing to meet iran for face—to—face talks on returning to the nuclear deal abandoned by trump. ——us is. indie to the nuclear deal abandoned by trump. --us is.— to the nuclear deal abandoned by trump. --us is. we have had a oli by trump. --us is. we have had a policy in _ by trump. --us is. we have had a policy in recent— by trump. --us is. we have had a policy in recent years - by trump. --us is. we have had a policy in recent years of - a policy in recent years of so—called maximum pressure on iran that does not produced results and in fact the problem has gotten worse. no upfront concessions.

has gotten worse. no upfront concessions-_ has gotten worse. no upfront concessions. blinken addressed america's complex _ concessions. blinken addressed america's complex relationship | america's complex relationship with china. now under pressure from claims of human rights abuses of the uighur people. and condemned a lack of transparency. it and condemned a lack of transparency.— and condemned a lack of transparency. it is a striking thin to transparency. it is a striking thing to see _ transparency. it is a striking thing to see china _ transparency. it is a striking thing to see china have - transparency. it is a striking thing to see china have one| transparency. it is a striking l thing to see china have one of the least open information spacesin the least open information spaces in the world and yet, of course, it takes advantage of the fact that many of our countries have fully free and open information spaces and china uses that to spread misinformation.- china uses that to spread misinformation. there is also the issue _ misinformation. there is also the issue of— misinformation. there is also the issue of troop _ misinformation. there is also the issue of troop withdrawal| the issue of troop withdrawal from afghanistan, which the biden administration has put on pause. life biden administration has put on ause. ~ ., biden administration has put on ause. ~ . , ., ., pause. we are in the midst of a very rigorous — pause. we are in the midst of a very rigorous review _ pause. we are in the midst of a very rigorous review of - pause. we are in the midst of a very rigorous review of the - very rigorous review of the policy toward afghanistan but what we do know already, in the initial conclusion we have come to, is that it is vitally important for us and others to press the parties to make good on the commitments they have already made.— already made. antony blinken has had a _ already made. antony blinken has had a front _ already made. antony blinken has had a front row— already made. antony blinken has had a front row seat - already made. antony blinken has had a front row seat to . has had a front row seat to history over the past 30 years. now, he is leading the foreign

interest of a deeply polarised country during a global pandemic. it is a diplomatic intrigue that is not for the fainthearted. yalda hakim, bbc news. and viewers on bbc world news can see yalda's full interview with secretary of state antony blinken this weekend. severe winter weather is continuing to bring chaos and disruption to millions of people in the us state of texas. power failures and burst pipes are affecting water treatment facilities, with reservoirs nearly empty and half the state's residents suffering shortages. the bbc�*s lebo diseko reports from dallas. after days battling to find power, texans are now struggling to get clean water. 13 million people, around half the state, have been told to boil what comes out of their tap. some are even resorting to hitting snow to drink. awesome! but in hitting snow to drink. awesome! itut in many _ hitting snow to drink. awesome! but in many crisis _ hitting snow to drink. awesome! but in many crisis there - hitting snow to drink. awesome! but in many crisis there are - but in many crisis there are many helpers like alan who has brought hundreds of bottles of

water for his local community. super important, it really is. this takes the burden of me having to get out and drive around, so i appreciate this, i really, really do. it around, so i appreciate this, i really, really do.— really, really do. it has been a gruelling _ really, really do. it has been a gruelling few— really, really do. it has been a gruelling few days - really, really do. it has been a gruelling few days for - really, really do. it has been a gruelling few days for alan who has dealt with power outages and now has no food at home. i outages and now has no food at home. ., , , outages and now has no food at home. ., , _, outages and now has no food at home. ., , ~ home. i was very cold. and every time _ home. i was very cold. and every time that _ home. i was very cold. and every time that i _ home. i was very cold. and every time that i would - home. i was very cold. and every time that i would getj home. i was very cold. and - every time that i would get out of my car to go back injust to have somewhere to lay down i had to decide do i want to stay in an uncomfortable position in my car in the warmth or do i want to go to a cold home and lay in a comfortable bed? today i'm going to do this water and then after the water i'm going to check and see what type of food people lost. and see what i can do to replace their food. honey, this is more than enough _ honey, this is more than enough. it honey, this is more than enough-— honey, this is more than enou:h. ,. ., �* , enough. it is clear allen is makin: enough. it is clear allen is making a _ enough. it is clear allen is making a huge _ enough. it is clear allen is making a huge differencel enough. it is clear allen is i making a huge difference to enough. it is clear allen is - making a huge difference to his community, bringing supplies like water and even electricity generators, but images here are expected to triple in coming

days and that could bring new problems. melted ice coming through already damaged pipes cause flooding. that could see precious supply dwindle even further, with official saying some areas in the state completely running out in the coming days. residents are being asked to rush the little utilities they already have. it has been a long, cold week in the us. several states in this country have been brought to their knees by the severe winter storms. their knees by the severe winterstorms. it their knees by the severe winter storms. it is too early to definitively link this weather to global warming but what is clear is that the us needs to be better prepared for a changing climate. lebo diseko, bbc news, dallas, texas. let's get some of the day's other news. a young woman has become the first protester to die in the anti—coup demonstrations in myanmar after she was shot in the head. 20—year old mya thwate thwate khaing was critically injured last week when police tried to disperse protesters using water cannon, rubber bullets and live rounds.

the united arab emirates says that princess latifa, the daughter of the ruler of dubai, is being cared for at home, supported by herfamily and medical professionals. the statement by the uae embassy in london came after the united nations asked for proof that the princess was still alive. it follows a bbc report in which the princess said she was being held against her will. you are watching bbc news. the reality tv star kim kardashian has filed for divorce from the rapper ka nye west after seven years of marriage. there has been speculation surrounding a breakdown of their marriage for months. papers have now been filed, formalising their separation. the bbc�*s david willis joins us from la. david, they are one of the biggest couples in show business so how is this news being received in la? i business so how is this news being received in la?- business so how is this news being received in la? i have to sa , being received in la? i have to say. james. — being received in la? i have to say. james. this _ being received in la? i have to say, james, this is _ being received in la? i have to say, james, this is something | say, james, this is something that a lot of people have seen

coming here for quite some time. it has been a tumultuous yearfor this star— time. it has been a tumultuous year for this star— studied couple, they have been living separately for the last few months. she with the four children here in los angeles and he on a ranch in wyoming. 0f and he on a ranch in wyoming. of course, last year, kanye west announced he was running for president of the united states. he displayed some rather bizarre behaviour at a campaign event injuly last campaign event in july last year and campaign event injuly last year and equally bizarre behaviour on twitter just after that. she took to instagram in the middle of last year to tell her, what, 206 million followers that he was a billiard but complicated person who has been dealing with bipolar disorder. since the beginning of the year, kim kardashian has been on her instagram page with no sign of her wedding ring, james. what her wedding ring, james. what kind of impact _

her wedding ring, james. what kind of impact have _ her wedding ring, james. what kind of impact have they - her wedding ring, james. what kind of impact have they had in america since they got married in 2014, david?— in 20111, david? they have had enormous _ in 20111, david? they have had enormous impact _ in 20111, david? they have had enormous impact as _ in 20111, david? they have had enormous impact as style - in 20111, david? they have had enormous impact as style and | enormous impact as style and fashion and as trendsetters here and by all accounts, this is a divorce that is as amicable as it possibly could be, bearing in mind they are stars in theirown be, bearing in mind they are stars in their own right —— fashionistas. she is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their four children north, saint, sarm and chicago and he is not said to be contesting that and they are both worth over $1 billion. there is a prenup in place so it will not get scrappy in that regard but the main asset apparently, the $60 million ranch home that they occupy, sometimes together, sometimes apart, to the north—west of where i am speaking to you from in los angeles. no statement, james, so farfrom either of

the parties involved in this but kim kardashian is expected to discuss the details of her divorce, where else, than on her own reality tv show sometime in the next few months. sometime in the next few months-— sometime in the next few months. . , ., ~ sometime in the next few months. . , ., ,, months. david willis, thank you so much- _ the duke of edinburgh is expected to remain in hospital into next week for observation and rest. the duke, who's 99, walked into hospital on tuesday. he's said to be in good spirits. meanwhile, buckingham palace has confirmed that the duke and duchess of sussex will not return as working members of the royal family. the confirmation means prince harry and meghan will return their honorary military appointments and royal patronages. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. the bond which was once so close has, in every formal royal sense, been shattered. the breach, in terms of the business of royalty, is complete, and bar a complete about—face by the sussexes, it is final.

for harry, then, perhaps, a sense of long—sought freedom. for william, one imagines, a deep sense of disappointment. today's news is not unexpected. in the year since harry and meghan made their last appearance at a formal royal engagement at westminster abbey, the gulf between them and the rest of harry's family has grown ever wider. the couple have bought a house in california, negotiated deals with us media companies, and made it clear that they relish their new life. at midday today, buckingham palace confirmed that they would not be returning as working members of the royal family. a statement said that following conversations with harry: the statement finished:

this was the sussexes' response: they finished their statement by saying this: for harry, the loss of his military roles — particularly as captain general of the royal marines — will be particularly hard. i know that he'll be personally gutted, just as i was, that he's not allowed to pull a military uniform on any more. but regardless, that doesn't change his commitment to the individuals that serve in it and those that require care beyond it. supporters of meghan understand why she wants a new life. the press drove her

out of here. if she was going to stay here any longer, i think they would probably have made her ill because it isn't a relationship that most americans are used to. so, one of the royal family's most popular members, a man for whom, over the years, there's been great sympathy and admiration, now faces a very different future. the way back to royal duty has been closed. he can never again wear military uniform. harry's future lies in california with his wife and family. nicholas witchell, bbc news. a reminder of the headlines: presidentjoe biden has used a virtual global security summit to recommit to the transatlantic alliance and pledge to "earn back" europe's trust. the new us secretary of state, antony blinken, has been speaking to the bbc about america's stance on coronavirus, climate change and iran.

let's stay with that story now. jim walsh is a senior research associate at mit's security studies program. he's in cambridge, massachusetts. doctor walsh, thank you for talking to a. let's talk about iran. the president and secretary of state want to get back involved with dialogue on iran. . , ., back involved with dialogue on iran. . ., ., iran. yes, if you go back to when the _ iran. yes, if you go back to when the last _ iran. yes, if you go back to l when the last administration pulled out of that deal, the moment they pulled out, it was thejudgement of the international atomic energy agency us state department, and even the administration's own intelligence community and those of other that iran was complying with the agreement, giving us confidence they will not be able to acquire nuclear weapons. that was the most important metrics, it was working. sure, there are other issues we have with iran but

the nuclear agreement is a nuclear agreement, and for good reason, one of the most important national security threats to the west, and on that support it was a success. you might antony blinken be speaking to in the iranian government? —— who? mr speaking to in the iranian government? -- who? mr is a wreath may — government? -- who? mr is a wreath may be _ government? -- who? mr is a wreath may be his _ government? -- who? mr is a. wreath may be his counterpart, with negotiations with the p5 plus one, but i think this will start at a lower level. the us has a special representative for iran who has deep experience with the first iran nuclear agreement —— mr zarif. so i think it will start any working level and proceed up, but i don't think it proceeds quickly. i welcome the administration's early steps to head towards rejoining the iran nuclear agreement, head towards rejoining the iran nuclearagreement, but head towards rejoining the iran nuclear agreement, but make no mistake about it, this is low—hanging fruit. if this were june and i walked outside and saw a fruit tree on the lower

limbs, there would probably be something like the iran nuclear agreement. of the parties have agreed to it before, the congress had reviewed it, now we have both of the main protagonists saying they want to join, protagonists saying they want tojoin, so i really think they need to act on that and not daily, just get on with the business —— dally. i business -- dally. i covered iranian talks _ business -- dally. i covered iranian talks a _ business -- dally. i covered iranian talks a while - business -- dally. i covered iranian talks a while back, l business -- dally. i covered i iranian talks a while back, we saw the foreign minister very involved but he is not the real decision—maker in iran, nor is the president, the real leader are the supreme leader, the ayatollahs and potentially the leader of the cords was, the successor to general soleimani. if mr blank is not speaking to those people, what is the point of dialogue? i those people, what is the point of dialogue?— of dialogue? i would see the s stem of dialogue? i would see the system somewhat _ of dialogue? i would see the l system somewhat differently. for some issues, the supreme leader gives it to the

president, and the president had a nuclearfolio, but during the war in syria it was given to the revolutionary guard. but i do not think the supreme leader wants rouhani's term two and with basically the iranians looking like they were taken advantage of, they made of these commitments, they did what they were supposed to do in the us walked out on them. and i do not think we would be at this point with rouhani and is a wreath saying they want to re—enter if they hadn't already gotten a green light from the supreme leader —— with zarif. there will be a presidential election in the summer and then we will see where we go from there. ., g . ., , ., ,, there. doctorjim walsh, thank ou ve there. doctorjim walsh, thank you very much- _ there. doctorjim walsh, thank you very much. thank- there. doctorjim walsh, thank you very much. thank you. - nasa has released remarkable new high—definition colour images from mars taken by its rover perseverance, which landed on the red

planet on thursday. it shows the robot heading down to the ground to make its landing. perseverance has a large amount of data in its memory banks which it is gradually offloading to earth. 0ur science correspondent, rebecca morelle, reports. nasa's perseverance river being lowered to the surface of mars. that image and the details therein— that image and the details therein really pull us humans here — therein really pull us humans here on— therein really pull us humans here on earth into the results of all— here on earth into the results of all of— here on earth into the results of all of that hard work. you are brought into the surface of mars — are brought into the surface of mars you _ are brought into the surface of mars. you are sitting there. on the upper— mars. you are sitting there. on the upper left and lower right of the — the upper left and lower right of the image you can see the little dust puddles on the surface of mars, kicked up by our engines. surface of mars, kicked up by our engines-— surface of mars, kicked up by our engines. and here is one of the landing _ our engines. and here is one of the landing site. _ our engines. and here is one of the landing site. the _ our engines. and here is one of the landing site. the shadow i our engines. and here is one of the landing site. the shadow of perseverance is clearly visible. and this close—up of its wheels is intriguing the team. ~ �* . its wheels is intriguing the team. �* . its wheels is intriguing the team. �* , ., ., team. we'll be looking forward in the coming weeks and as our instruments get checked out to

look closer at these rocks by the edge of the wheel. one of the edge of the wheel. one of the first things we noticed was that it has a lot of holes or, bugs, unit, so the science team is thinking about what this might mean. it’s is thinking about what this might mean.— is thinking about what this might mean. it's the start of the rover's _ might mean. it's the start of the rover's two _ might mean. it's the start of the rover's two year - might mean. it's the start of. the rover's two year mission, its main objective is to search for signs of life. perseverance is in an area that was once a huge lake. you can see the river flowing huge lake. you can see the riverflowing into huge lake. you can see the river flowing into and huge lake. you can see the riverflowing into and out huge lake. you can see the river flowing into and out of it. and this purple area is a beautifully preserved river area where microorganisms may have lived. area where microorganisms may have lived-— have lived. this is one of these exams _ have lived. this is one of these exams still - have lived. this is one of i these exams still questions have lived. this is one of - these exams still questions -- these exams still questions —— existential questions, are we alone? all of the building blocks and materials are therefore there to be life, so if there was life, it should be in this type of environment. the progress of i have a perilous descent, travelling at the speed of a bullet a supersonic parachute helping it to the ground. —— the rover

survived a perilous descent. it was made in this factory in devon. it was a nerve—racking moment. it devon. it was a nerve-racking moment-— moment. it really hit home. there was — moment. it really hit home. there was a _ moment. it really hit home. there was a lot _ moment. it really hit home. there was a lot they - moment. it really hit home. there was a lot they could l moment. it really hit home. | there was a lot they could go wrong, but it all went right. all of us, the whole team and everybody working here was elated with the successful mission. elated with the successful mission-— elated with the successful mission. over the next few da s, mission. over the next few days. the _ mission. over the next few days, the rover's - mission. over the next few i days, the rover's instruments will be switched on and many more images will start to come back including a video of its descent. then perseverance will be ready to start investigating its new home. bachar morrell, bbc news. —— rebecca. we can now speak to nasa's adam steltzner, who is the chief engineer on the perseverance mars rover mission. are you the most relieved man in the world? laughter i don't know if i am the most

relieved, but i am definitely within a percentage of individuals who are breathing a sigh of relief.— sigh of relief. that the hardest _ sigh of relief. that the hardest part, - sigh of relief. that the hardest part, the - sigh of relief. that the - hardest part, the landing? absolutely. the seven minutes it takes to get from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom and touch down safely of the most dangerous moments in the lifespan of a rover or any other mission to the service of mars —— surface. it other mission to the service of mars -- surface.— mars -- surface. it was 11 -- seven minutes, _ mars -- surface. it was 11 -- seven minutes, but - mars -- surface. it was 11 -- seven minutes, but how- mars -- surface. it was 11 --| seven minutes, but how long mars -- surface. it was 11 -- - seven minutes, but how long was it for you?— it for you? some parts go by so ruickl it for you? some parts go by so quickly you _ it for you? some parts go by so quickly you can't _ it for you? some parts go by so quickly you can't imagine. - it for you? some parts go by soj quickly you can't imagine. once we got into the sky train manoeuvre and were on propulsion, both when curiosity and perseverance landed, those moments went by faster than i could imagine. did moments went by faster than i could imagine.— could imagine. did you say, eah, could imagine. did you say, yeah. we — could imagine. did you say, yeah, we always _ could imagine. did you say, yeah, we always knew- could imagine. did you say, yeah, we always knew it. could imagine. did you say, | yeah, we always knew it was going to land. yeah, we always knew it was going to land-— going to land. one of the principal— going to land. one of the principal authors - going to land. one of the principal authors on - going to land. one of the principal authors on the l going to land. one of the - principal authors on the three of us who invented the skytrain, one of the principal

authors, a good friend but did not work on perseverance, said, good luck, adam. i responded to me girl bothjokingly good luck, adam. i responded to me girl both jokingly and seriously —— miguel both jokingly and seriously, perhaps it will work a second time? you have to ask yourself, it wasn't a fluke that it was successful the first time. the second time kind of set the record straight and it seems like it really is and it seems like it really is a thing. and it seems like it really is a thin. . , ., and it seems like it really is a thin _ ., y., ., “ a thing. the harder you work, the luckier — a thing. the harder you work, the luckier you _ a thing. the harder you work, the luckier you get. _ a thing. the harder you work, the luckier you get. now, - a thing. the harder you work, | the luckier you get. now, what does the rover do now? it will undergo commissioning - does the rover do now? it will undergo commissioning for i does the rover do now? it willl undergo commissioning for the first few months. the first order of business will be changing over the flight software that took us to the surface to the flight software that operates, it will take about ten days to make that happen. we have two computers, we switch the software on one computer, make sure it all goes down fine then switch to the

software on the other computer and confirm that is fine. then we will start opening up the spacecraft, we will start looking at the various instruments, checking everything out to see it is functioning on the surface of mars. . ., , ., ., functioning on the surface of mars. there is a photo stopping the first one — mars. there is a photo stopping the first one we _ mars. there is a photo stopping the first one we saw, _ mars. there is a photo stopping the first one we saw, to - mars. there is a photo stopping the first one we saw, to meet i the first one we saw, to meet was incredible because there is one piece of footage that had sound as well. it was astonishing to hear what mars sounds like!— sounds like! yes! we're still waitin: sounds like! yes! we're still waiting to — sounds like! yes! we're still waiting to get _ sounds like! yes! we're still waiting to get the _ sounds like! yes! we're still waiting to get the full - sounds like! yes! we're still| waiting to get the full down, you know, i am waiting to get the full down, you know, iam not waiting to get the full down, you know, i am not totally certain it is all worked out. the audio and the camera systems that have delivered us those amazing images, the image of the rover as seen from the desert, those are commercial, off—the—shelf elements or items that we probably gathered into our system. it isn't custom—built, it's not space created, and it's a big experiment to see if it will

work. looks like it has. the audio is a big question for us and i am my fingers we will get it all down. and i am my fingers we will get it all down-— it all down. we're getting used to the idea _ it all down. we're getting used to the idea of _ it all down. we're getting used to the idea of the _ it all down. we're getting used to the idea of the rover, - it all down. we're getting used to the idea of the rover, but i to the idea of the rover, but we understand there is also helicopter drone, tell us about that? ., ., , , that? underneath our belly, hidden during _ that? underneath our belly, hidden during the _ that? underneath our belly, hidden during the sky - that? underneath our belly, hidden during the sky crane| hidden during the sky crane manoeuvre, hidden from view, is the helicopter, ingenuity. she is ajulie the helicopter, ingenuity. she is a julie rotor drone as it were that is flying in the vaporous leaf then, or —— a double rotor drone that is flying in the vaporous thin atmosphere of mars, we had to rewrite the software. inverted for vehicles on mars as it would be for a regular helicopter design here on

earth. . ~ helicopter design here on earth. . ,, ,., helicopter design here on earth. . ~' ,. , helicopter design here on earth. . ,, , . pictures from mars stopping to stay with bbc news. —— pictures from mars. do stay with bbc news. good evening. it looks set to be an extremely mild weekend across many parts of the uk. we have the heaviest rain of the high ground, across western areas, we have a number of flood warnings in scotland, one or two for england, we have some as well into wales and across the south of wales, the met office amber weather warning because through the course of saturday, over the hills, of the high ground, 100— 200 metres arenas forecast, older bowling on the high ground will go into these river

catchments and increase the risk of seeing some flooding issues into wales in the rain issues into wales in the rain is pretty heavy at the moment as well, further north and west, something drierfor a time in scotland and eastern england, where it will be a mild start of the day, very mild start of the day, very mild on saturday. most of us will have at least some rain at times, it would be windy and mild, however, across parts of eastern england and perhaps central england as well, it looks like it will be brighter, hazy sunshine and very mild in. suit mixed fortunes from place to place. a nice day in scotland, at least to start with and further eastern england. the rain turning heavierfor a time in north island, turning wet in scotland through the afternoon. temperatures for all of us on the mild side, 12110 temperatures for all of us on the mild side, 1240 degrees pretty widely. however, across eastern england, —— 12 — 111

degrees pretty widely. the activity does start to wane, so the rain turns dry for scotland and northern ireland, much more sunshine in the second half of the regen. across parts of —— of the weekend. across parts of england it doesn't look like it will be quite as extensive or as heavy. again, a windy day across eastern england where we'll see high temperatures, around 15 degrees or so. into next week, we have another of the slow—moving weather front is moving into western portions of the uk, so again, the risk of the uk, so again, the risk of some further localised flooding into the new week.

this is bbc news. the headlines: president biden has told world leaders the transatlantic alliance is back following years of strained relations between the us and europe under donald trump. addressing the annual munich security conference, mr biden said he's wants to see the united states lead the west against what he called a "global assault on democracy". the us secretary of state antony blinken has told the bbc that america is fully engaged in helping resolve global issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and iran's nuclear ambitions. in his first international interview, mr blinken stressed the importance of worldwide vaccination against covid—19. nasa has released new images sent back from mars taken by its perseverance rover. they show the surface in detail and the robot heading down to land on the red planet.

it's hoped it will find microscopic signs of ancient