this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm ben boulos and these are the latest headlines. iranian state media says british—iranian dual national alireza akbari has been executed on charges of spying for the uk — which he had denied. britain's prime minister calls it a �*callous and cowardly act�* the prime minister rishi sunak has confirmed the uk will provide challenger 2 tanks to ukraine during a call with president volodymyr zelensky. climate activist greta thunberg joins protesters in the german village of lutzerath as police try to clear the area to make way for coal—mining. come here, protect life, and fight for survival.

as long as people are here, lutzerath stays. takeaways, restaurants, and cafes in england will have to stop using plastic cutlery, plates, and bowls from october as part of a new government plan to tackle plastic pollution. iran's state media has reported that a british iranian national, alireza akbari, has been executed. mr akbari, who was a former deputy defence minister for iran, was detained three years ago and charged with spying for the united kingdom. the british government says the execution was politically motivated and will not go "unchallenged." in the last few hours the uk's prime minister rishi sunak says... "i am appalled by the execution of british—iranian citizen "alireza akbari in iran. "this was a callous and cowardly act,

"carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights "of their own people. "my thoughts are with alireza's friends and family." a little earlier, we heard from bbc monitoring journalist khosro isfahani who has been watching iran for us. this morning, theirjudiciary's official outlet released a statement saying that alireza akbari has been executed. two days earlier, a state—affiliated newspaper had hinted that he might have been executed or his execution might be imminent, so this news has been around and his family expected him to be executed. they were actually called to the prison to have the last meeting with mr akbari. the iranian state media has released videos of alleged confessions by mr akbari, which he has denied, and in a voice message shared

with bbc�*s persian service, he has said they were, these confessions were obtained under torture and when he was drugged with psychedelic medication by interrogators. there has been condemnation, certainly from britain, especially, given the fact that he was a dual national with british nationality as well as his iranian nationality. how will that be going down in iran? will it make any difference at all? so far, iran's state media, especially outlets linked to the islamic revolutionary guard corps, irgc, has labelled the british government's response as the "employer", quote—unquote, reacting to the execution of the "chief spy" — again, quoting them. this is the classic islamic republic response to western reactions to any

form of human rights violations in the country. the islamic republic has responded the same way to international condemnation of violence against protesters over the past months. this is not new. khosro isfahani there from bbc monitoring. hossein ahmadi—niaz is a human rights lawyer specialising in iranian affairs and he talked to the lack of anyjudicial process involved in this case... this judicial process completely is not accurate, is not complete and is not credible because, firstly, mr akbari, he was prohibited

completely to access an independent lawyer because, based on article 48 of iran's criminal procedures, he denied completely to access the independent lawyer. this judicial process completely is not accurate, is not complete and is not credible because, firstly, mr akbari, he was prohibited completely to access an independent lawyer because, based on article 48 of iran's criminal procedures, he denied completely to access the independent lawyer. only regime's authorities let him to have a judiciary, head ofjudiciary lawyers, approved lawyers, so these kind of lawyers are not completely independent lawyers. they try to help the authorities and the regimes. because this case was in revolution�*s court

and the revolution�*s islamic courts in iran was not trial lawyers and completely all of them, thejudge, in this kind of court are not independent. the are aligned to the intelligence services in iran. they are aligned to the authorities, not an independentjudiciary. 0k. in which case, given the defects in the legal process that you've pointed out, what sort of accountability is there? what kind of action can be taken to hold iranian authorities to account for that? of course, as you know, in iran's... in this case, there is not any disparities between a crime and punishment because based on the law in iran in this case, execution is not a part of punishment in this case. unfortunately, iranian authorities use this case based on the political claims and this case is completely directly

with the recent protestations and demonstrations in iran and otherwise the iranian regime use dual nationalities or citizens as prey in this case. and all the ways the iranian regime use dual nationalities or citizens as prey in this case. i think and i believe that there is not any rule of the law in this case. hossein ahmadi—niaz is a human rights lawyer specialising in iranian affairs and he talked to the lack of anyjudicial process involved in this case... hossein ahmadi—niaz, a human rights lawyer there. the ukrainian capital, kyiv, has been hit by a missile attack, with critical infrastructure apparently the target. journalists reported a series of explosions overnight — saying warning systems had failled to sound the alarm. the mayor of kyiv, vitali klitschko, urged residents to take shelter, and said that missile debris had fallen in the west of the city. this comes as uk prime minister rishi sunak outlined britain's

ambition to send tanks to ukraine along with additional artillery support. he discussed this during a phone call with ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky. for more on that, let's speak to our political correspondent david wallace lockhart. david, what more do we know that the details around all this? so david, what more do we know that the details around all this? 50 i david, what more do we know that the details around all this?— details around all this? so i don't think this comes _ details around all this? so i don't think this comes as _ details around all this? so i don't think this comes as a _ details around all this? so i don't think this comes as a particularly | think this comes as a particularly big surprise. downing street this week were talking about the design and government to send more support to ukraine and specifically talking about how tanks could be a part of that but the two leaders have spoken this morning and we've got a readout from downing street with eight spokesperson saying they spoke about the successive ukrainian victories there had been —— with a spokesperson saying. they said now was the time to seize the moment with an explosion of global military and diplomatic support to ukraine. part of that from downing street will be sending challenger two tanks and additional artillery systems. my understanding is we're talking about around a dozen tanks being sent to ukraine. if we think back to when this conflict was beginning, there

was a big stress on the uk government dealt with defensive weaponry. i think number ten would still say in the context this will still say in the context this will still be used in a still defensive weaponry but we can certainly see the support in terms of weapons that the support in terms of weapons that the uk has been giving ukraine certainly stepped up throughout this conflict. find certainly stepped up throughout this conflict. �* , ., , conflict. and will this latest tranche of— conflict. and will this latest tranche of weaponry - conflict. and will this latest tranche of weaponry make | conflict. and will this latest. tranche of weaponry make any significant or material difference to the course of the war actually on the ground? i to the course of the war actually on the ground?— the ground? i think in a solution the ground? i think in a solution the honest _ the ground? i think in a solution the honest answer— the ground? i think in a solution the honest answer to _ the ground? i think in a solution the honest answer to that - the ground? i think in a solution the honest answer to that would the ground? i think in a solution - the honest answer to that would have to be probably not. these are 12 tanks ukraine are talking about. ukraine are talking about the need for 300 tanks. where this could be significant as the uk is not the first nato country to pledge that it would give thanks to ukraine. european countries like poland would like to but there is a slight complexity around the german—made tanks in germany has to sign off on that. there are going to be a meeting with defence ministers this coming week where they could be important implications there. the us, of course, another country people will be looking at with

interest to see what they do next and i think the significance of this will be all about the message in the sense in the uk and that other countries having to consider whether or not they're willing to make a similar contribution which of course would perhaps start to change things of at least creep towards that 300 number that ukraine says they need. thinking about something you said earlier, the uk will probably feign this in terms of it being provided defensive equipment. if russia doesn't see it that way and russia seesit doesn't see it that way and russia sees it as equipment that is part of an offensive, it almost doesn't matter what the uk portrays it as. if it comes to it and russia sees a nato country arming ukraine in that way, what response could there be to that? ~ �* , way, what response could there be to that? �*, that? well, it's pass of the complexities _ that? well, it's pass of the complexities of _ that? well, it's pass of the complexities of this - that? well, it's pass of the complexities of this whole | that? well, it's pass of the - complexities of this whole conflict and from a russian perspective it can see western nations consistently

trying to aid ukraine with military help in order to fight a conflict against russia, something that obviously the russian state, the russian leadership is not going to be particularly happy about and i think that when we look at what comes out of countries like germany that perhaps are quite sensitive around this area we can certainly see that being consideration and, obviously, action that you uk's taken directly against russia in terms of things like sanctions, certainly the uk's not pulling its punches and who would like to see when this conflict but certainly with this development i think you have to watch with interest about how russia will perceive it. daeid how russia will perceive it. david wallace lockhart, _ how russia will perceive it. david wallace lockhart, our— how russia will perceive it. david wallace lockhart, our political. wallace lockhart, our political correspondent. thank you. china has admitted that there has been 60,000 covid—related deaths injust over a month, following the government's sudden decision to end strict pandemic controls.

it's the first time beijing has acknowledged the much higher scale of fatalities caused by the covid wave sweeping the country. for weeks, officials have been reporting just a handful of deaths each day, figures that appeared inconsistent with the long queues at crematoriums. the number of deaths relates to people admitted to hospitals in the five weeks leading up to last thursday. most of those who died were over 80. the operation to clear a site in germany that's been earmarked for new coal—mining — is entering its fourth day. police have clashed with protesters near the village of lutzerath in the west of the country. but at least one famous demonstrator has turned up to offer her support — as tim allman explains. chanting for many, she has become the face of the modern climate change movement, so it was perhaps inevitable that greta thunberg would pay a visit to lutzerath. and as police continued clearing the site, she was not impressed. i think it's absolutely absurd that this is happening in the year 2023. it is — the most affected people

are clear, the science is clear. we need to keep the carbon in the ground and this is... germany is really embarrassing itself right now. the german authorities disagree. they've spent the last few days removing demonstrators from this abandoned village. chanting 0nce they're gone, it will be demolished to make way for an expanded coal mine. but some of the protesters are dug in — quite literally. translation: the tunnel is a very effective form . of defence against eviction. it's much harder to clear a tunnel than a tree house. germany had previously said it wanted to abandon coal mining, but russia's invasion of ukraine and the energy crisis it caused has prompted a change of heart, hence this ongoing demonstration and the thorny issue of how to bring it to an end. translation: we tried to convince

i them to leave, but they refused. l now, we have to look at how we can safely recover the two people. chanting the last few protesters are still holding out and a large rally is due to take place later on saturday. no surprises — greta thunberg is expected to take part. tim allman, bbc news. a gas pipeline in the pasvalys region of northern lithuania, near the latvian border has been hit by an explosion. pictures on local media showed flames illuminating the night sky, though there were no injuries. latvia's defence minster artis pabriks tweeted that the cause of the incident would be investigated and said sabotage could not be ruled out. but the pipeline's operator said it did not believe the blast was suspicious. some single—use plastics will be banned in england from october. takeaways, restaurants, and cafes will have to stop using plastic cutlery, plates, and bowls as part of a new plan by the government

to tackle plastic pollution. sean dilley reports. quick, convenient and no washing up — but from october, the government says it plans to ban restaurants and cafes in england from using some single—use plastics and polystyrenes. we've got a whole raft of measures on waste, trying to reduce waste in this country, and this new ban that we're announcing today is just one of a whole raft of measures to really tackle this issue. ministers are planning to ban single—use plastic trays, cutlery, bowls, balloon sticks and some polystyrene cups and food containers as part of england's 25—year environment plan to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042. in 2020, single—use plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers were banned for sale and distribution. it's estimated that england uses 2.7 billion items of single—use cutlery each year

and the majority are plastic. in 2020, plastic cutlery made it to the top—15 most littered items. england, though, is playing catch—up with other uk nations. wales approved similar measures last month — those come into effect later this year — and scotland introduced a similar ban lastjune. takeaway owners are concerned that new rules could add to their costs when bills are already high. campaigners welcome any move that reduces our carbon footprint and reduces harmful greenhouse gases but, for some, the government's plans don't go far enough. we're second only to the us in how much plastic waste is produced per person. that means we're the second—biggest producers of plastic waste in the world, so we really need transformative change to happen. we need the government to be showing real ambition and taking the lead. we're actually looking for a 50% reduction in single—use packaging, which would lead to the kind of change we need to see. the proposed ban in england only applies to cafes and restaurants

and not to single—use plastic packaging for food and drinks sold in supermarkets. the government says it's working on separate plans for these retailers to cover disposal costs from 202a. sean dilley, bbc news. joining me now is alisdair naulls who is the communities and engagement lead — plastics pollution at the river trust. what you make of this? positive move, isn't it, to reduce plastic permission, pollution? anything to move any kind _ permission, pollution? anything to move any kind of _ permission, pollution? anything to move any kind of single-use - permission, pollution? anything to l move any kind of single-use plastics move any kind of single—use plastics as i was a positive move. i don't think it's a move quite enough. i work with a group locally here in cheltenham. i volunteer with them and try to, sort of, move, help those businesses, small businesses, sole traders, move into a less

plasticised way of working and they're broadly very, very supportive and i find they're broadly very, very supportive and ifind it they're broadly very, very supportive and i find it interesting that where we haven't connected this announcement from the government is to the multinationals and so i think we could go further. we've just heard that in your report we do have a real obsession with plastics but it's hard to get away from it. i'm a dad of young children. it's really hard. when you go, i know she knows well, you go in your shop to your local supermarket, whichever one it might be, and it is really, really tough to shop as plastic free as we would like. when might you say it doesn't go as far as you would like it to go. what would you like to see done? talking with a local cafe in the local shop and that is good and they do need to do that. we also need the big supermarkets to come abroad and we also need to look at the plastic producing industry in the plastic producing industry in the petrochemical industry and talk

to them about reducing how much plastics are being produced and those very big and very well organised businesses will find ways to sell into market and this is where you need someone like, you know, me taking my little coffee cup on a train when i go to a meeting or wherever i go to or encouraging my kids to take that a school like all of us do, that's was squeezing from the bottom as an individual or perhapsjoining with the the bottom as an individual or perhaps joining with the local community group, whoever that might be. it could be us here is that the rivers trust, local wildlife trust, marine conversation society —— marine conversation society —— marine conservation society, surfers against sewage, which are rejoined. but until it is another group as well can get this push and push on from the legislators at the top and bring on board through legislation the very big multinationals i think it is definitely good news. we don't want to be negative about that, we're really pleased to hear this news but we do need more. we need to

take bigger strides forward in tackling what is the plasticine, the and the same. —— not the anthropocene. and the same. -- not the anthropocene.— and the same. -- not the anthropocene. and the same. -- not the anthroocene. ., , . time there. i'm a i'm a related note of environmental activism we can return to that story in germany where protesters are blocking the clearance of the sign where a new coal mining operation is planned. joining me as a campaigner and co—founder of the new climate institute he was in lutzerath in germany where this is all taking place. how much longer are you prepared to hold out as part of this protest to stop the mine going ahead? ~ �* ., ., ahead? well, i'm not part of the ones that are _ ahead? well, i'm not part of the ones that are really _ ahead? well, i'm not part of the ones that are really in _ ahead? well, i'm not part of the ones that are really in the - ahead? well, i'm not part of the| ones that are really in the village right now today there is a public protest. there are very peaceful process of people that are basically saying they have sympathy more

climate policy but i think the ones that are really in the village, they are prepared to stay as long as possible and they are still in tree houses and things like that and i really hope that it will go well and no—one will be injured. i really hope that it will go well and no-one will be injured.— really hope that it will go well and no-one will be injured. no-one will be in'ured. i mean, this effort to mine _ no-one will be injured. i mean, this effort to mine for _ no-one will be injured. i mean, this effort to mine for coal— no-one will be injured. i mean, this effort to mine for coal there, - no-one will be injured. i mean, this effort to mine for coal there, i - effort to mine for coal there, i suppose supporters, proponents of it would say it means germany will be less reliant on fossil fuels that it currently imports from russia and thereby it means germany would not be in directly, i suppose, funding the conflict in ukraine. one that they are positive move? the decision to exand they are positive move? the decision to exnand the — they are positive move? the decision to expand the coal _ they are positive move? the decision to expand the coal mine _ they are positive move? the decision to expand the coal mine and - to expand the coal mine and basically get rid of this village, lutzerath, was done a few months ago and that was just after the invasion of russia in ukraine and people had a realfear where of russia in ukraine and people had a real fear where the lights will go out of people will freeze because we have no gas. the idea was to save

gas by firing or coal. and that was not why at that time people thought it's absolutely necessary to do this. now we are a few months later and we have seen that we could save and we have seen that we could save a bit more gas and, actually, there's new studies around and the literature of the scientific picture right now is that we don't really necessarily need it and that's why many people are now calling for basically a moratorium on to weight and stop this, sit together again with the government, with civil society, with science, with the electricity company and reset this decision. that's the whole conflict here. �* �* , ., decision. that's the whole conflict here. �* �*, ., , , decision. that's the whole conflict here. �* �*, .,, , ., here. but then if there's a push to -hase here. but then if there's a push to hase out here. but then if there's a push to phase out nuclear— here. but then if there's a push to phase out nuclear energy - here. but then if there's a push to phase out nuclear energy in - here. but then if there's a push to - phase out nuclear energy in germany, which is well established in the direction of travel, what are the alternatives? i mean, renewable energy is an aspiration but in the meantime, given the energy storage, what, you know... what you see as an alternative? what, you know. .. what you see as an alternative?— alternative? there's many alternatives _ alternative? there's many

alternatives to _ alternative? there's many alternatives to this - alternative? there's many alternatives to this very i alternative? there's many - alternatives to this very particular coalmine here. for example, if you want to keep the villager could basically dig the coal a little bit to the left and then the village could still be there. that wouldn't help the climate but it could help this conflict. you could also use different power plants, and not as emission intensive. this is the most emission intensive. this is the most emission intensive. this is the most emission intensive formal electricity. you could also implement renewables but i think the real best thing to do would be to save more energy, save more electricity, same gas and to invest all time and money to do this because that's the long—term solution. and, also, we can't do it by tomorrow but it's the long—term solution. by tomorrow but it's the long-term solution. ., . ., solution. 0k. from the new climate institute, thank _ solution. 0k. from the new climate institute, thank you _ solution. 0k. from the new climate institute, thank you very much. - institute, thank you very much. thank you. brazil's supreme court says it will investigate the role of the former president jair bolsonaro in the storming of congress. the violence was carried out by thousands of radical bolsonaro supporters who continue to claim that october's

election was rigged. mr bolsonaro briefly posted a video questioning the legitimacy of the vote, which was won by his rival, lula da silva. vienna's famed ball season is in full swing after two years after covid cancellations. with hundreds of balls organised this winter, the debutantes, and the revenue, are back. the bbc�*s azaday moshiri has more. ball gowns, white gloves and copious amounts of hairspray — vienna's winter balls are back. the debutantes showed off their practised routines — the elegant nods, the hands above the waist and the excitement of courtship. well, maybe. the legendary ball season dates back to the 19th century. it took various forms as it was open to the general public and not just austria's aristocrats. today, it's big business. vienna is known for the hundreds of balls it throws every winter, but the covid pandemic shut them down for two years. translation:

the ball is not sold out. of course, we hope for more guests. there are about 2,400 people in the house now. there's space for 3,600, but i still think it's good for the ball. a lot goes into an event like this. the flower ball showcases floral arrangements crafted out of thousands of blossoms, and some of the attendees said they've taken dance lessons every week since september. and with moves like this, it clearly paid off. moshiri, bbc news. i feel a little underdressed ifeel a little underdressed now! just time to tell you before we go. more than 500 ufos have reportedly been spotted by us troops. a new declassified us government document shows that the us national intelligence agency is now

aware of 510 reported sightings — nearly half of the new sightings were deemed unremarkable — but more than 100 of them remain unexplained. hello. compared to the grey conditions most woke up to this morning, a bit more sunshine around almost uk—wide. but we'll still feel the effects of last night's rain, and flood warnings continue to go up in some areas. the bbc weather website has all the latest details. and if you're on the move, bbc sounds to find your bbc local radio station, they'll keep you up to daate. it's this area of low pressure responsible. the main rain—bearing weather front moving eastwards, but we still have a hang—back of rain through orkney this afternoon and showers, and some longer spells of rain and hill snow pushing in to western scotland and northern ireland. in east anglia and south—east of the channel islands,

it may take until maybe late afternoon to see any glimpses of sunshine. staying a bit wetter here for longer. but for all, temperatures actually dropping relative to this morning. around 5—ii c through the afternoon. the strong winds in the south will start to ease a little bit, but they will pick up across some parts of northern ireland and south—west scotland, and we could see gusts of a0 to 50 mph here, if not a bit more, to end the day and to go into the night. and it's here where as winds start to go more northerly, it will bring rain into more sleet and snow territory across parts of northern scotland. and this band of rain — across northern ireland, into northern england and, eventually, north wales — will have some sleet and snow in the hills as well. north of it, the risk of frost and certainly some ice. all of us, a colder night than last night. so, as we go into sunday, a change is afoot. colder weather for all. the real coldest air — the darker blue colours here — waiting in the wings to push their way southwards through sunday night and into monday. it's to the north of this zone of cloud and outbreaks of rain, and also, hill, sleet and snow which arrive through parts of wales, the midlands and east anglia through the day. south of it, sunshine, a few showers, more of a westerly

wind to the north of it. a northerly wind making it feel increasingly chilly. lots of sunshine around, but frequent snow showers in the north of scotland and a sub—zero wind chill to go with it. as you go, then, into sunday night, a bank of rain — as it pushes through the english channel — could turn to sleet and snow in the south—east. but northern england, northern ireland most likely to see a covering of snow as we start monday morning. but across the board, very cold start to monday morning. maybe as low as —8 through parts of scotland. and that risk of frost and ice, which will be with us for a time next week, with that colder air in place. and there will be a chance of snow in places. frost and ice the most widespread risk. temperatures, you can see, in the capital cities staying in the mid, if not lower, single figures. rising, with some rain returning later in the week.

this is bbc news. i'm ben boulos and these are the headlines: iranian state media says british—iranian dual national alireza akbari has been executed on charges of spying for the uk, which he had denied. britain's prime minister calls it a "callous and cowardly act". the prime minister, rishi sunak, has confirmed the uk will provide challenger 2 tanks to ukraine during a call with president volodymyr zelensky. climate activist greta thunberg joins protesters in the german village of lutzerath as police try to clear the area to make way for coal mining. it's the fourth day of officers trying to forcibly

remove demonstrators. they say they don't plan to leave.