he started with the big accusations. he is attacking the leadership of both in the civil service and very clearly he did not say it immediately but eventually did, clearly his former protege, the current first minister, nicola sturgeon. what is interesting about the daily telegraph is that they have got a new angle on this. they say that downing street is being urged to intervene in this escalating salmond — sturgeon feud and it is a saying that it is the scottish conservative leader douglas ross who has told the telegraph that the cabinet office should investigate whether scottish civil servants have broken the code of conduct. downing street has carefully whether it is in the domestic lobby or in the foreign lobby really not wanted to step in nor even really comment and what is

personal grief amongst the snp. and of course we have these elections coming up in may. the promise by nicola sturgeon that she will do, that she will carry out this referendum whether approved or not, authorised or not by westminster by the uk government and the prime minister borisjohnson if they win these minister boris johnson if they win these elections. but at the moment, these elections. but at the moment, the snp seems to be in terrible trouble. and what's interesting is that today i think is the closest to really the explosion that we've got to because it has been a very slow burn up until now. it will be interesting to see if downing street decides to step in and anyway but if it were to step in, it would wait until committee has done its work i understand from the telegraph. gilles understand from the telegraph. giles there could be — understand from the telegraph. giles there could be a _ understand from the telegraph. giles there could be a bit _ understand from the telegraph. giles there could be a bit of a sweetener coming up to try to smooth things overin coming up to try to smooth things over in scotland as well on wednesday with rishi sunak, also mentioned in the story. it wednesday with rishi sunak, also mentioned in the story.— wednesday with rishi sunak, also mentioned in the story. it 'ust says that in the budget h

mentioned in the story. it 'ust says that in the budget coming- mentioned in the story. itjust says that in the budget coming up - mentioned in the story. itjust says that in the budget coming up on i that in the budget coming up on wednesday he is going to be talking about— wednesday he is going to be talking about the _ wednesday he is going to be talking about the economic benefits of the union _ about the economic benefits of the union and — about the economic benefits of the union and as he say i don't think it goes _ union and as he say i don't think it goes into— union and as he say i don't think it goes into more detail but it sounds like there's — goes into more detail but it sounds like there's going to be a sweetness in the _ like there's going to be a sweetness in the budget, clearly saving the union— in the budget, clearly saving the union is— in the budget, clearly saving the union is the next big political priority— union is the next big political priority for the government wants to -et priority for the government wants to get out _ priority for the government wants to get out of— priority for the government wants to get out of covid now we have got brexit _ get out of covid now we have got brexit done. this blood—letting and political— brexit done. this blood—letting and political soap opera which is playing _ political soap opera which is playing out has to be incredibly damaging for the cause of scottish independence. huge opportunity cost bein- independence. huge opportunity cost being played out here. and you have to have _ being played out here. and you have to have the — being played out here. and you have to have the most towering figures in scottish— to have the most towering figures in scottish politics, two of the most accomplished and effective politicians in the uk whether you agree _ politicians in the uk whether you agree with their views are not going at it and _ agree with their views are not going at it and tearing each other apart. this has_ at it and tearing each other apart. this has still got, i think this soap— this has still got, i think this soap opera still has some way to go to play— soap opera still has some way to go to play out— soap opera still has some way to go to play out and you can't see it ending — to play out and you can't see it ending well. will nicola sturgeon have to _ ending well. will nicola sturgeon have to resign? today salmond was asked _ have to resign? today salmond was asked that — have to resign? today salmond was asked that. he was being put up a

savvy— asked that. he was being put up a savvy and — asked that. he was being put up a savvy and said it is not for me but that is— savvy and said it is not for me but that is going to be the question everyone's lips. it seems that that is the _ everyone's lips. it seems that that is the scalp — everyone's lips. it seems that that is the scalp salmond gets and if that does— is the scalp salmond gets and if that does happen connect what can he do quiz— that does happen connect what can he do quiz i_ that does happen connect what can he do quiz i can _ that does happen connect what can he do quiz i can he make the most miracuious— do quiz i can he make the most miraculous comeback and be the leader— miraculous comeback and be the leader of— miraculous comeback and be the leader of the snb and the first minister— leader of the snb and the first minister scotland again? the auestion minister scotland again? the question will _ minister scotland again? the question will be _ minister scotland again? tie: question will be next wednesday minister scotland again? ti2 question will be next wednesday when nicola sturgeon finally appears before this committee. aha, nicola sturgeon finally appears before this committee. fix. liat nicola sturgeon finally appears before this committee.- before this committee. a lot is happening _ next wednesday. very quickly, the times. 95% mortgages. yes. next wednesday. very quickly, the times. 95% mortgages.— next wednesday. very quickly, the times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all auoin times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to — times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to be _ times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to be part _ times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to be part of— times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to be part of this - times. 9596 mortgages. yes, this is all going to be part of this budget. l all going to be part of this budget. there were not only be sweetness for scotland, northern ireland and wales but very much aiming at first—time buyers, to change generation wrench to generation by and that is as you say extraordinary that first—time buyers will only need 5% deposit and that part of that would be back by

the treasury and to encourage banks to lend. —— from generation rent to generation buy. i think it will only be expected to help 3000 individuals. a nice idea but i think of course there is the word river banks about whether flats and homes are going to keep their value and also whether people will still have also whether people will still have a job. so many unknowns. this also whether people will still have ajob. so many unknowns. as benedict said, the ajob. so many unknowns. as benedict said. the two — ajob. so many unknowns. as benedict said, the two concerns _ ajob. so many unknowns. as benedict said, the two concerns with _ ajob. so many unknowns. as benedict said, the two concerns with the - said, the two concerns with the banks— said, the two concerns with the hanks wiii— said, the two concerns with the banks will probably fall into negative equity and will people lose jobs? _ negative equity and will people lose jobs? how do you increase homeownership was make all governments of political persuasions try to _ governments of political persuasions try to tackle this moving from generation rent to allow people to own their— generation rent to allow people to own their first home because they are still— own their first home because they are still talking about 95% mortgages which is not common, not heard _ mortgages which is not common, not heard of— mortgages which is not common, not heard of and — mortgages which is not common, not heard of and we have not got all the detail— heard of and we have not got all the detail here — heard of and we have not got all the detail here but one of the reasons

they are _ detail here but one of the reasons they are doing this is it continuously comes up in focus groups— continuously comes up in focus groups about concerns of young people. — groups about concerns of young people, "how do i get on the housing that are?" _ people, "how do i get on the housing that are?" for many young people it seems _ that are?" for many young people it seems like _ that are?" for many young people it seems like a — that are?" for many young people it seems like a distant dream to can't afford _ seems like a distant dream to can't afford so— seems like a distant dream to can't afford. so this is the government saying _ afford. so this is the government saying this — afford. so this is the government saying this is a big long—time election— saying this is a big long—time election winner to try to tackle it but more — election winner to try to tackle it but more detail and it is not clear how much— but more detail and it is not clear how much the banks will really embrace — how much the banks will really embrace doing this given the precarious economic situation we are in at the _ precarious economic situation we are in at the moment. xbier? precarious economic situation we are in at the moment.— in at the moment. very quickly runnina in at the moment. very quickly running out — in at the moment. very quickly running out of _ in at the moment. very quickly running out of time _ but we have got three papers as an example. we have the mirror, the queen is happy as harry, the daily star, the french prince of hot air and the daily mail fossa french prince of hot air and the daily mailfossa —— french prince of hot air and the daily mail fossa —— the fresh prince. he has the picture, benedict your thoughts on harry's interview with james korten in la.— your thoughts on harry's interview with james korten in la. maybe he won't be very _ with james korten in la. maybe he won't be very happy _ with james korten in la. maybe he won't be very happy at _ with james korten in la. maybe he won't be very happy at being - with james korten in la. maybe he won't be very happy at being on i with james korten in la. maybe he| won't be very happy at being on the front of all these pages. number one because apparently we were told

repeatedly that harry and meghan want privacy. so that's not going well then. and i think, he wanted to escape the british press. well he has not escaped, he is on the front of at least three papers tomorrow. and it seems they are trying to outdo each other in one week's time, the big 0prah interview particularly with meghan. the big oprah interview particularly with meghan-— with meghan. giles very quickly? clearly quick _ with meghan. giles very quickly? clearly quick -- _ with meghan. giles very quickly? clearly quick -- mix _ with meghan. giles very quickly? clearly quick -- mix messaging l clearly quick —— mix messaging saying — clearly quick —— mix messaging saying they want privacy but at the same _ saying they want privacy but at the same time — saying they want privacy but at the same time are caught up in the media — same time are caught up in the media i— same time are caught up in the media. i hope there is a clear expedition for this. the prince and meghan— expedition for this. the prince and meghan have us opposites, they are caught— meghan have us opposites, they are caught in— meghan have us opposites, they are caught in the us media whilst sticking — caught in the us media whilst sticking two fingers up to the uk media, _ sticking two fingers up to the uk media, a — sticking two fingers up to the uk media, a complete discrepancy there and i media, a complete discrepancy there and i don't _ media, a complete discrepancy there and i don't think it chimes well in this market — and i don't think it chimes well in this market and ultimately, i think from _ this market and ultimately, i think from a _ this market and ultimately, i think from a press and pr point of view they need — from a press and pr point of view they need to have a good relationship with the uk press. the danger— relationship with the uk press. the danger of— relationship with the uk press. the danger of overstepping into a point where _ danger of overstepping into a point where it— danger of overstepping into a point where it is— danger of overstepping into a point where it is the point of no return. ithink— where it is the point of no return. i think long—term actually, not a

particularly smart move. we i think long-term actually, not a particularly smart move.- particularly smart move. we will discuss this _ particularly smart move. we will discuss this further _ particularly smart move. we will discuss this further at _ particularly smart move. we will discuss this further at 11:30pm l discuss this further at 11:30pm because we have another addition. but for now thank you very much indeed and thank you for watching. there is plenty more coming up here on bbc news. but for now, goodbye. hello, i'm lizzie greenwood—hughes at the bbc sport centre with a round—up of the latest sports news. manchester united will face former striker zlatan ibrahimovic in the last 16 of the europa league after being drawn against ac milan. ibrahimovic spent two seasons at old trafford, and was part of the squad which won the europa league back in 2017, although he missed the final due to injury. he's now ac milan's top scorer despite being nearly a0. arsenal will be hoping for revenge

against greek side 0lympiacos who knocked them out last season. tottenham will take on croatian side dinamo zagreb and rangers will play slavia prague who knocked leicester city out of the tournament last night. there's more bad news for liverpool after their captainjordan henderson is now out for up to ten weeks after undergoing a groin operation. the club say the surgery was successful and he's expected to play again this season but he'll be ruled out of england's world cup qualifiers next month. he should be fit and available for the euros which are scheduled to start injune. newcastle united manager steve bruce says he had every right to share a laugh with manchester united boss 0le gunnar solskjaer at the end of his side's 3—1 defeat at old trafford last weekend. bruce was questioned on the matter at his press conference earlier. a lot of fans were not happy to see you laughing with boly on tv after the game —

you laughing with boly on tv after the game. -- you laughing with boly on tv after the name. , ., ., ., the game. -- ole gunnar solsk'aer, a lot of fans or— the game. -- ole gunnar solsk'aer, a lot of fans or is — the game. -- ole gunnar solsk'aer, a lot of fans or is that i the game. -- ole gunnar solsk'aer, a lot of fans or is that you? h the game. -- ole gunnar solskjaer, a lot of fans or is that you? know, - the game. -- ole gunnar solskjaer, a lot of fans or is that you? know, a - lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans- _ lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans- i— lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans. i have _ lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans. i have known - lot of fans or is that you? know, a lot of fans. i have known ole - lot of fans or is that you? know, a i lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solsk'aer lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solskjaer for— lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solskjaer for 20 _ lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solskjaer for 20 years. _ lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solskjaer for 20 years. if _ lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar solskjaer for 20 years. if i'm - solskjaer for 20 years. if i'm caught smiley face with him, he was complement to us on how it will be played. if that is a bad thing that i have smiled with 0le gunnar solskjaer than unfortunately 0k. there was one match in the championship tonight where derby county forced a late 1—1 draw with rivals nottingham forest. forest opened the scoring, against the run of play — midway through the first half — james garner with his first goal for the club. and it looked like it would stay i—0 until the 84th minute when colin kazim—richards found the equaliser for wayne rooney's derby who go up a place to 17th in the table, while forest move up to 14th. tiger woods has been moved to a new hospital in los angeles as he recovers from multiple injuries sustained in a serious car accident earlier this week. the is—time major winner underwent surgery to stabilise compound fractures to his right leg.

there's a huge match in cardiff tomorrow in rugby union's six nations where wales are going for the triple crown against england. england will be without experienced forward courtney lawes who's ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a chest injury. lawes sustained the problem in training on wednesday, mark wilson takes his place in the starting line up for the match tomorrow. there are a few of domestic rugby union games to tell you about — and yet another red card in the premiership match between sale and exeter. exeter�*s jack yeandle was sent off midway through the first half for dangerous play. it comes after a remarkable five players were sent off in the premiership last weekend. and that ended up costing second placed exeter, curtis langdon got the decisive score for sale in a 25—20 win. in the proili, ulster beat 0spreys 21—7. john andrew driving over here to score for ulster. the victory moves them just a point behind leaders leinster

at the top of conference a. while munster remain top of conference b following a 20 points to 11 victory against cardiff blues. in the other game benetton lost at home to connacht. cricet now and following england's shocking two day test defeat to india, coach chris silverwood says they haven't officially complained to the icc about the pitch. england were beaten on a surface in ahmedabad which some have suggested wasn't fit for test cricket. silverwood accepts they were outplayed but says he'll be discussing the challenging conditions with his captain, joe root ahead of the final test next week. joe andi joe and i will sit down and have a conversation about the rest of it and see where we go with it because certainly we have to accept that we do have to get better on these pitches. we have to accept that there is places we could have improved. you look at the first innings, we had an opportunity to

score. and then the next time we had the opportunity and they pitched when the pitch was a but at this moment in time, that is about all of them the pitches... now, mark selby is a three—time world snooker champion, but he was subjected to one of the heaviest defeats of his career this afternoon at the players�* championship. john higgins beat him by six frames to nil in today's quarter final, and remarkably selby only managed to pot three balls during the entire match — scoring just seven points. higgins said it was as close to perfect as he could ever play — he goes into the semi—finals to play kyren wilson. the netherlands�* nyck de vrees has won the opening race of the formula e season in saudi arabia. the sport's first night—race wasn't a good one for british drivers with sam bird and alex lynn taking each other out. it was de vrees�* first victory in formula e. 0liver rowland was the highest placed briton in sixth. you can watch the second race of

the season tomorrow live on the bbc. ireland's sam bennett took his second win of the uae tour as he claimed the sixth stage in dubai. britain's adam yates remains in second place, 35 seconds behind tour de france champion and race leader tadej pogacar with just one stage to go. there's much more on the bbc sport website including the latest from the wgc golf in florida. and that's all the sport for now. good evening. the start of meteorological spring is only a few days away now. and today certainly felt a springlike sort of day. with some blue sky, some warm sunshine. for the weekend were looking at a mostly dry, settled spell of weather continuing. some sunshine by day but some chilly nights in the forecast too. we have got a weather front bringing in a bit more cloud and a few splashes of rain to northern ireland and scotland through tonight. england and wales clear and dry with some mist and fog patches and temperatures getting down a touch below freezing in a few spots. could be a bit of frosting

is in a few fog patches around. especially in the south first thing. they should gradually clear away. this band of cloud will push out of scotland and northern ireland into northern england, brightening up the north for some sunshine later on to subside and he spells to the south of that too. temperature's about ten to 13 degrees doing quite well at this time in february for up into sunday and we are likely to see a dry date with light winds. maybe a little bit of fog and low cloud through the morning lifting into cloud during the course of the afternoon. top temperatures about nine to 11 degrees on sunday. bye— bye.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. us intelligence officials say saudi arabia's crown prince personally approved an operation that killed the journalist jamal khashoggi. police in nigeria are on the hunt for a group who abducted more than 300 girls from a school in the north west of the country. more good news on the effectiveness of covid vaccines as a british study shows even a single dose of the pfizerjab stops the virus spreading. first time i've been on top of the bus _ first time i've been on top of the bus |s— first time i've been on top of the bus. , . , first time i've been on top of the bus. , . f ., first time i've been on top of the bus. , ., j ., ., , bus. is it really? not really allowed to. _ not really allowed to. prince harry gets on the bus in california — to explain why he didn't want to live

in the uk any more. it was destroying my mental health.