not put up with that there will be some wind and rain. but right now the temperatures are dropping like a stone, in the highlands, —9, —7 in gloucestershire. most places are below freezing and temperatures will continue to fall. we have some snow falling, some wintry showers in northern ireland, the east coast of england, especially in northern scotland and the snowfall here might become more widespread for a time going through tonight. where we have the showers, and obviously temperatures dropping, ice is likely to be an issue. temperatures widely of —6 or —7 but some places are already colder than that and easily we will get to —10 somewhere tonight. tomorrow for many, a lot of crisp winter sunshine and showers in northern ireland and the west of wales, wintry in nature. we will see some further undulations of snow in places. arguably a bit less cold

thanit places. arguably a bit less cold than it has been, most of us should get above freezing tomorrow. on friday, this area of rain, sleet and snow is likely to affect the central parts of scotland and that because chords disruption and potentially some ice. temperatures are still struggling, three or 4 degrees in most places but the change takes place over the weekend. a few showers on saturday, some wintry, but on sunday, low—pressure throws this rain in our direction, it may be some snow for a time but with that, something milder. thanks, ben. and that's bbc news on wednesday the 14th of december. you can keep up with all the latest developments on bbc website. from the six team, it's goodbye. the news continues here on bbc one as now it's time to join our colleagues across the nations and regions for the news where you are. goodnight. this is bbc news. the headlines at 6.00pm: the killer of london law

graduate zara aleena is sentenced to life in jail with a minimum term of 38 years. jordan mcsweeney refused to go into the courtroom to hear his sentence. the defendant's decision not to come up from the cells to court to hear of the devastating impact of his crimes shows that the man who took zara aleena's life has no spine whatsoever. zara's life was senselessly and brutally— zara's life was senselessly and brutally crushed. today, like every day, we _ brutally crushed. today, like every day, we live — brutally crushed. today, like every day, we live with the horror she was forced _ day, we live with the horror she was forced to— day, we live with the horror she was forced to face. four people have died and 43 others have been rescued after a boat carrying migrants got into difficulties in the channel. china has removed six diplomats, including the consul general, from the uk following an incident at its consular grounds in october. at the world cup, high

hopes for the atlas lions as morocco take on the french in the semifinals. a man who pleaded guilty to murdering law graduate zara aleena after sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to life in jail with a minimum term of 38 years. jordan mcsweeney was due to attend the old bailey for the sentencing. however, the court was told he had refused to come up from the cells because he did not want to watch cctv of what he did. this sentencing was televised.

overall, my conclusion is that the defendant is entitled to less than the maximum discount on the water —— murder count and i will allow 18. given the length of the term that i will impose, the maximum discount allowed can be five years. considering all of these features, after a trial the minimum term would have been 43 years. i allowed five years as i have said for the plea of guilty indicated by council on the 16th of november, a few weeks before trial. a sentence of four years concurrent is imposed for sexual assault. the sentence for the brutal sexually motivated murder of zara aleena is imprisonment for life. the defendant will serve 38 years as the minimum term. zara defendant will serve 38 years as the minimum term.— minimum term. zara aleena's and soke in minimum term. zara aleena's and spoke in the _ minimum term. zara aleena's and

spoke in the immediate _ minimum term. zara aleena's and spoke in the immediate aftermath minimum term. zara aleena's and i spoke in the immediate aftermath of the sentencing, followed by a statement from the mayor of london. zara's life was brutally and senselessly crushed. today, like every other day, we live with the horror she was forced to face. zara was the bird song, the laughter in ourfamily. was the bird song, the laughter in our family. we live with a profound loss each day. and each day we are destroyed a little more. we are deeply touched by the kindness we have felt from so many and this is testament to the power of zara's spirit. thank you.— spirit. thank you. when is this auoin to spirit. thank you. when is this going to end? _ spirit. thank you. when is this going to end? there _

spirit. thank you. when is this going to end? there is - spirit. thank you. when is this going to end? there is an - spirit. thank you. when is this - going to end? there is an epidemic of violence — going to end? there is an epidemic of violence against women and girls. in the _ of violence against women and girls. in the uk, _ of violence against women and girls. in the uk, a — of violence against women and girls. in the uk, a man kills a woman every three _ in the uk, a man kills a woman every three days _ in the uk, a man kills a woman every three days. as mayor, i'm determined to hreek— three days. as mayor, i'm determined to break this _ three days. as mayor, i'm determined to break this sickening cycle of violence. — to break this sickening cycle of violence, condemnation and in action — violence, condemnation and in action. because women don'tjust deserve _ action. because women don'tjust deserve to— action. because women don'tjust deserve to be safe, they have the right _ deserve to be safe, they have the right to _ deserve to be safe, they have the right to he — deserve to be safe, they have the right to be safe. we have made tackling — right to be safe. we have made tackling violence against women and -irls tackling violence against women and girls 6 _ tackling violence against women and girls a priority in london with new initiatives — girls a priority in london with new initiatives and investment, but i know— initiatives and investment, but i know it — initiatives and investment, but i know it isn't enough. our correspondent helena wilkinson has the background to this case. this isjordan mcsweeney in the hours before he murdered zara aleena. he staggers across a busy road after being thrown out of a bar in east london. what follows is disturbing behaviour. this cctv footage captures him following the first of multiple women that night. he followed herfor 20 minutes.

look at how close he gets to her. he follows her into a shop, then loiter is outside, waiting for her to emerge. the woman then makes a run for it down this side street. mcsweeney isn't far behind. soon after, he follows another woman who had a lucky escape. in the end, it was zara aleena who he became fixated on. the law graduate who had dreams of becoming a solicitor. zara aleena had been with friends here in ilford in east london. mcsweeney spotted her as she walked home alone in the early hours. when zara aleena reached this road she was being followed by mcsweeney. he dragged her onto a driveway, forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. he kicked her and stamped on her repeatedly, leaving her struggling to breathe. after he murdered the 35—year—old, mcsweeney returned to this nearby fair ground where

he had been working. jordan mcsweeney, you are under arrest for rape and murder of a female in cranbrook road. police found him asleep in a caravan at the fairground. we are going to search you now. officers recovered a bag that you can see mcsweeney carrying which contained bloodstained clothing and shoes which he had worn the night of the attack. he can only be described as a danger to women. he is somebody who we really cannot allow out on the streets. that said, his level of previous offending didn't lead to us thinking that he was capable of this extreme violence. last month, at the old bailey, mcsweeney pleaded guilty to zara aleena's murder and guilty to sexually assaulting her. mcsweeney has 28 previous convictions. when he murdered zara aleena he was out on licence having been released from prison nine days earlier.

he was going to be recalled. police had gone to an address to arrest him the day before the attack for breaching his licence conditions, but he wasn't there. the ministry ofjustice said a review is now under way. today, zara's family and friends will perhaps find some closure that the man who took them from her will be off the streets for a very long time. helena wilkinson, bbc news, at the old bailey. some breaking news, following the tragic story of the three deaths of children who died after falling in that lake in solihull. we are hearing from west midlands police in a statement saying that it is with heartfelt sadness that we have to report this afternoon the six—year—old who was in hospital has lost his fight for life. our deepest

sympathies are with families and friends of those involved in this tragedy. we cannot comprehend the enormity of the pain they must feel and our hearts go out them. so, the six—year—old has now also died after falling into that icy lake in solihull. he has become the fourth child to die after an eight, ten and an 11—year—old also perished. four people have died after a small book carrying migrants capsized whilst crossing the channel from france in freezing conditions. more than a0 people were rescued in the joint air and than a0 people were rescued in the jointairand sea than a0 people were rescued in the joint air and sea operation by the british and french navies and coastguards. the incident comes a day after the prime minister announced new measures to stop illegal crossings from france. a warning that there are distressing images in this report from the

start. the mayday call came around 3am — dark and below freezing, an extraordinary rescue effort to save the lives of dozens of migrants in a sinking dinghy in the middle of the english channel. a fishing boat first on the scene, pulling people from the stricken inflatable. men, women and children screaming for help. rnli lifeboats, the royal navy, french navy and coastguard helicopterjoined the operation. with daybreak, the search for survivors intensified, rescue teams trying to spot anyone in the cold waters of the channel. but within a few hours, it became clear the search was for bodies. and later, one of those who didn't make it was brought ashore at dover. lifeboat crews tried to resuscitate some survivors on the quayside. a helicopter took one adult victim to the william harvey hospital, in ashford, where he later died. another adult also received treatment and is thought to have since been discharged. a50,000 people... in the house of commons, the home secretary reflected the mood of shock at what had happened in uk waters,

just off the kent coast. these are the days that we dread. crossing the channel in unseaworthy vessels is a lethally dangerous endeavour. it is for this reason, above all, that we are working so hard to destroy the business model of the people smugglers. evil, organised criminals, who treat human beings as cargo. migrants from other dinghies have been brought ashore in dover during the course of the day. almost a5,000 have now crossed this year, despite the risks and the costs. those rescued today said they'd paid people traffickers £5,000 for a place on a flimsy dinghy and the promise of a better life in britain. the sea, flat, calm, when they set off from the french coast in the early hours, but with a two—metre swell in the middle of the channel. how do we stop people making these perilous journeys? there are opposing strategies. refugee agencies say the answer is to make it easier for asylum

seekers to seek refuge in the uk, so they don't have to make the crossings in the first place. the government is intent on making it much more difficult, criminalising and swiftly deporting anyone who arrives by an irregular route. by adopting an approach which is all about punishment and control, it doesn't stop the crossings. we need an approach which is about compassion above control, and which recognises the reasons people have to flee. the owner of the fishing vessel which first arrived on the scene spoke of his pride at the crew's actions. horrific incident but, you know, our guys there, we're proud that they did a cracking job, you know, rescuing 3i of those guys, yeah. it's just over a year since 27 people lost their lives in the channel, a tragedy that prompted both uk and french governments to say they were stepping up efforts to defeat the people smugglers.

but since then, the criminal gangs have expanded their operations, while the desperation of those who would buy their services appears undiminished. mark easton, bbc news, dover. let's talk now to the ceo of the charity safe passage, which works with refugees and displaced people. thank you forjoining us here this evening. first off, what is your response to the news and also from what suella braverman had to say today? {th what suella braverman had to say toda ? .., , , what suella braverman had to say toda ? _, , , , what suella braverman had to say toda? , , ., today? of course, this is another awful tragedy _ today? of course, this is another awful tragedy in _ today? of course, this is another awful tragedy in the _ today? of course, this is another awful tragedy in the channel. - today? of course, this is another awful tragedy in the channel. we j today? of course, this is another - awful tragedy in the channel. we are thinking of the loved ones, friends and family who are having to grieve the loss of their family members, their loved ones. there is a degree of frustration as well today that this is a tragedy that has occurred

after many tragedies now in the channel. but what hasn't happened is the real step change, to change that we need to see in the government's approach that would start to lead with fewer numbers of people needing to put their lives in these dangerous circumstances and fewer tragedies in the channel. what we need to see from the government now is an end to this idea that by creating an ever more hostile environment in the uk we might somehow deter people from making these journeys because many of them are coming from war—torn countries, they have fled war and persecution, and instead the government needs to get round the table with france, the eu, and work on creating the safe options that will allow people to come here to seek asylum and to reunite with family, which is so important. reunite with family, which is so important-— reunite with family, which is so imortant. ., ., ., , , important. what does a real step chance important. what does a real step change look _ important. what does a real step change look like? _ important. what does a real step

change look like? it _ important. what does a real step change look like? it needs - important. what does a real step change look like? it needs to - important. what does a real step l change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, _ change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, it _ change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, it needs _ change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, it needs a - change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, it needs a focus - change look like? it needs to focus on safe routes, it needs a focus on| on safe routes, it needs a focus on compassion, on the right to asylum, the right to seek asylum. i will give you an example. we work with children in northern france on a daily basis. two years ago we had a safe option that we were able to offer to those children. it was a family reunion route. we were able to help them make applications and then come here safely on the eurostar to join then come here safely on the eurostar tojoin their then come here safely on the eurostar to join their families. then come here safely on the eurostar tojoin theirfamilies. now eurostar to join their families. now many eurostar tojoin theirfamilies. now many of those children we have to say, we are sorry, but there is no safe option available to you because the safe routes have been closed down, they have not been created by this government. as a result, many of the children are now returning to the smugglers and putting their lives in their hands in these flimsy dinghies with the tragic result that we are seeing today. we have to say a focus not on safe routes and helping people who are in desperate need of protection.

let's return to the breaking news are brought to a short time ago, that a fourth child has reportedly died after falling into an that a fourth child has reportedly died afterfalling into an icy lake in solihull on sunday. our correspondent is in solihull for us. bring us up to date with what you're hearing, please. this bring us up to date with what you're hearing. please-— hearing, please. this is absolutely a tra . ic hearing, please. this is absolutely a tragic development _ hearing, please. this is absolutely a tragic development in _ hearing, please. this is absolutely a tragic development in what - hearing, please. this is absolutely a tragic development in what has l a tragic development in what has been a heartbreaking story since it first started to unfold on sunday. west midlands police issued a statement at exactly six o'clock tonight saying it was with heartfelt sadness that they had to report that the six—year—old who had been rescued from the lake in front of me had finally lost his fight for life. west midlands police have added in a rather emotional sort of way that they are offering their deepest

sympathies to all the friends and families affected by that. they say that they cannot comprehend the enormity of the pain that everyone must feel at this dreadful time. i'm standing atan must feel at this dreadful time. i'm standing at an impromptu shout —— shrine that has been set up to now those four little boys. as the days have progressed from one bunch of flowers to another, tonight a carpet of flowers, balloons, soft toys. it has become a focus for the community to come and pay their respects to what i have been saying all day was three of their own, were part which is now sadly four of their own, four young boys who had gone out to play on a sunday afternoon and sadly did not come home to their families. joan cummins, at babbs mill park, thank you very much indeed.

injust over half in just over half an hour, morocco will become the first african football team and first african nation to play in a world cup semifinal. they take on france. fans have become to gather ahead of the match. the winners willjoin argentina in the final on sunday. hugh schofield is in paris for us. how are things building up there? well, you join me in brady's dar, not that farfrom well, you join me in brady's dar, not that far from the shawn cities they were later on we are expecting big crowds to turn up whatever happens at the end of this match, whether france or morocco wins. we think big roach will turn up there because this is a match which is being followed closely notjust by french fans, but by moroccan fans as

well. there are many moroccan fans in france, people withjoint nationality, moroccan passports. it is done with a great deal of affection and many people who are moroccan and french who feel that whatever happens they will come out the winners. in brady's bar, it is a french crowd, as you can see from the hats. we have been watching the teams move out onto the pitch in qatar and the talkies of how the french team is without two of normal starters and how that might affect the french performance. also the fact that there is a big moroccan cried out in qatar, 55,000 people cheering on the moroccan team, only a few thousand cheering on the french team. will that make a difference? here in this bar everyone feels fairly confident that the game is going to go their way. on paper it should be a french

victory. as everybody has been saying, the course taken by this moroccan team is so extraordinary we can rule anything out. what the french are hoping for is for an early goal which will put the moroccans and difficulties because they are a defensive team, they will not be a team that will find it easy to counterattack when they are down. enjoy your evening! i'm sure we will be speaking to you throughout the evening. thank you. who would you support if you have a vested interest on both sides? let's speak now to lex poulson, a former adviser to emmanuel macron. he is also director of a school in morocco and is on his way back to paris tonight. well, well, lex! how are you feeling? i tonight. well, well, lex! how are you feeling?—

you feeling? i am in the airport. i will be physically _ you feeling? i am in the airport. i will be physically between - you feeling? i am in the airport. i i will be physically between morocco and france as these two nations face off at the beginning of the game. the pilot say they will tell us what is going on. it is a very exciting moment to be in morocco. it will be actually collective joy that we have felt here in the last weeks. even as someone born outside of morocco, to be part of the story is a moving one. ., �* ., , _ be part of the story is a moving one. .,�* ., , _ ., , one. he don't do things by halves, do ou? one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you _ one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you have _ one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you have a _ one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you have a foot _ one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you have a foot in - one. he don't do things by halves, do you? you have a foot in both i do you? you have a foot in both camps and you are travelling, so you have that tension, as well. in terms of morocco and france, everybody is saying it is historic that morocco have got as far as they have, but there is talk about this history that could be settled, possibly? it is history between morocco and france. history will be made. no matter what. morocco is a country

that has always been at the cross—section of cultures, going back 27 centuries to the carthaginians, the romans. there is nothing new about this question of multiple identities and stories that have multiple chapters and good guys and bad guys. there arejokes i have seen about how they are going to be eating roast chicken, the symbol of the french, tonight. there is very little negative feeling about france here in morocco. there is a sense of pride about a country that maybe hasn't got the respective fields it deserves. getting that respect doesn't simply putting another country down, it means being respected for the unique identity of morocco, which is notjust arab, not just african, it is all of those things. this team is very special in

the way a place, the wet involves it's families.— the way a place, the wet involves it's families. you can't say a draw. i need a predicted _ it's families. you can't say a draw. i need a predicted score _ it's families. you can't say a draw. i need a predicted score from - it's families. you can't say a draw. j i need a predicted score from you, please. i need a predicted score from you, lease. �* ., ., ., a, . ., please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and _ please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and l _ please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and i have _ please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and i have a _ please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and i have a half _ please. i'm married to a moroccan woman and i have a half moroccan child. i am woman and i have a half moroccan child. iam rooting woman and i have a half moroccan child. i am rooting for morocco. woman and i have a half moroccan child. iam rooting for morocco. i will be on the streets no matter what happens. i think morocco will win. ., ~' , ., , what happens. i think morocco will win. ., ~ , . what happens. i think morocco will win. ., ,, , . ., .,~ win. thank you very much for taking the time out — win. thank you very much for taking the time out to _ win. thank you very much for taking the time out to join _ win. thank you very much for taking the time out to join us _ win. thank you very much for taking the time out to join us and - win. thank you very much for taking the time out to join us and enjoy - the time out to join us and enjoy the time out to join us and enjoy the match. it will be a fantastic atmosphere, isn't it, with the pilot updating everybody? china has removed six diplomats from britain after an incident in october when they were involved in a violent scuffle with pro—democracy protesters outside the country's consulate in manchester. the officials, including the consul general, refused to waive their diplomatic immunity and be questioned by manchester police.

manchester last october, and pro—democracy campaigners from hong kong gather outside of china's consulate. but then some men come out of the gate. they kick down posters, remove others. a violent scuffle ensues. as a senior diplomat looks on, one of the protesters is dragged inside the gates and is attacked. police have to enter the consulate to drag him clear. the foreign office asked for six of these men to have their diplomatic immunity waived so they could be questioned by detectives. instead, china has called them home, including the consul—general, the most senior diplomat, mr zheng xiyuan. the foreign secretary, james cleverly, said he was disappointed the men would not facejustice but... this demonstrates that our adherence to the rule of law, the seriousness with which we take these incidents has had an effect. the protester who was attacked told the bbc this solved

a complicated diplomatic problem. what happened on 16th of october 2022 was unacceptable and illegal. and the withdrawal of these chinese diplomats gives me a sense of closure. officials here at the foreign office say that china was aware that if the diplomats did not waive their immunity, then they would be declared persona non grata and expelled. instead, china choose to pre—empt either option in a way that avoids further escalation. a chinese embassy spokesman said its staff had been the victims of the violence and the consul—general had simply completed his term of office. james landale, bbc news. joining me now is the executive director of the intra parliamentary alliance on china that is an

international cross—party group of legislators focused on relations with china. there has been a lot of criticism of the foreign secretary, james cleverly, that he allowed this to rumble on for three months. did he have any other option when you are dealing with diplomatic relations with china? , dealing with diplomatic relations with china?— dealing with diplomatic relations with china? , �* with china? yes, he did. and the foreian with china? yes, he did. and the foreign secretary _ with china? yes, he did. and the foreign secretary could - with china? yes, he did. and the foreign secretary could have - foreign secretary could have labelled these diplomats persona non grata straightaway. it wasn't necessary to wait for a police investigation to conclude, it wasn't necessary to drag their feet for two months. it was clear from the video footage what happened there. the consul general and other diplomats were involved in violence, including dragon one of those protesters entered the contrary grant and assaulting him. a police investigation wouldn't have helped

because of diplomatic immunity. the foreign office is empowered into situations, which are is done before, to expel those diplomats by labelling them persona non grata, which is the diplomatic signal to said bring them home. it is a shame we didn't do that. is said bring them home. it is a shame we didn't do that.— we didn't do that. is there something _ we didn't do that. is there something to _ we didn't do that. is there something to read - we didn't do that. is there something to read into . we didn't do that. is there| something to read into the we didn't do that. is there - something to read into the fact that china was willing to cooperate quietly with the uk by removing the six diplomats? what do you make of the video that was posted by an embassy spokesperson pointing to the british — china relationship, particularly when it came to trade. i think a couple of things to say about this. in many ways the uk— china relationship is at a low ebb. we had the chinese ambassador to the uk barred from parliament after sanctions were imposed on mps and now we are seeing the recall of another of chinese diplomats after

violence was perpetrated by them in manchester. things are not that great. it is clear that under the current government there is an effort towards rapprochement with china, an effort to do what we can to cooperate with china in areas that we can. but they say, to speak up that we can. but they say, to speak up about our values in areas where we differ and diverge. we would like to see a bit more of that, actually. the thing about china is, when they start to put out videos like this, saying you depend on us for trade, don't be so silly as to sabotage your relationship with us because we know that you will rely on us increasingly, what we are saying there is a subtle economic threats, there is a subtle economic threats, the kinds of threats we have seen china threaten over lithuania, taiwan and australia, where in the latter case they imposed a 200% import tax on australian wine when

the australian government had the temerity to say we should be investigating the origins of covid—i9. they have form in doing this kind of thing and the uk cannot allow to be threatened economically when it is standing up for its values, or in this case not allow them to beat up people on the streets of manchester.- them to beat up people on the streets of manchester. what do you make of rishi _ streets of manchester. what do you make of rishi sunak's _ streets of manchester. what do you make of rishi sunak's foreign - streets of manchester. what do you make of rishi sunak's foreign policy in china at the moment? it is make of rishi sunak's foreign policy in china at the moment?— in china at the moment? it is in a very different _ in china at the moment? it is in a very different place _ in china at the moment? it is in a very different place when - in china at the moment? it is in a very different place when it - in china at the moment? it is in a very different place when it was l very different place when it was when he was campaigning for the tory leadership election. close followers may remember that he had a hawkish tone during that leadership election. he published a number of statement saying that he would pursue quite a strong policy towards china, recognising it as a threat, closing the confucius institutes, which are often connected strongly to chinese embassies that are in universities, various other things. he seems to have abandoned that strategy in favour of a strategy of

engagement with china, which seems not to similar