this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. more than 25,000 people are now known to have died after monday's earthquakes in turkey and syria. visiting the region, the un's aid chief has described the massive earthquakes as the worst natural disaster to hit the middle east in a century. 15 people have been arrested following clashes with police, outside a hotel providing refuge for asylum seekers on merseyside in northwest england. hundreds of thousands of people hold protests across france over pension reform plans which include raising the retirement age to 62 from 64.

hello and welcome to bbc news. the world health organization says that almost 26 million people have been affected by the earthquakes that struck turkey and syria. the number confirmed dead has passed 25,000. on a visit to southern turkey, the un aid chief, martin griffiths, said there was an urgent need for medical assistance, as well as food and shelter for survivors. we'll hearfrom mr griffiths in a moment, but first, our correspondent quentin sommerville is in harem in the northwest idlib province of syria, which is rebel—controlled. he found no sign of a relief effort, with local people,

including children, left scouring through rubble for survivors. this is the town of haram in north—west syria. there is a bit of activity here, but nothing like you see in terms of activity on the other side, on the turkish side of the border. the border is literally just across that hill. the people here have lost about 700 buildings. another 4,000 or so are unsafe. so they are living in tents. if i swing around here, you can perhaps see the internally displaced people's camp that has been set up over there. they're also telling us that, in terms of foreign aid, they've received next to nothing. some spanish doctors made it to some of their hospitals, but nothing else. the contrast here with what is going on in turkey is astonishing. over on that side of the border, there's a constant sound of sirens, of heavy machinery,

of people working. there's none of that here. down there, there are small children removing the rubble. while the international community isn't here. it's been left to small boys to remove the rubble from these broken buildings and to try and find bodies. and it is bodies they are trying to find now, because they say that the time for looking for survivors has passed here — that passed 2a hours ago. this is mainly a recovery mission. they're no longer rescuing people, and the reason they're no longer rescuing people is because the aid just didn't come quick enough. 0ur chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, has been speaking to the un humanitarian chief — martin griffiths — on a visit to the turkish city of kahra—man marash. martin griffiths, you have seen so many disasters in so many parts of the world. how does this compare? i think it's the worst natural disaster that i've ever seen.

and it's also the most extraordinary international response, as you know. we have more than 100 countries who have sent people here, so there's been incredible response. but there's a need for it, as we see behind us. and what is so amazing is that people are still, as you know, lyse, coming out of the rubble alive six days in. so, it's shocking. it's also, in a perverse sense, quite heartening. heartening in what way? well, the response. the response. the fact that the people with great expertise who got here very quickly, committed, working day and night to do what is needed. that's remarkable and i hope that when we launch our appeals for both turkey and syria in the next day or so that we'll get the generous donor response, as well. what do they need the most now? what they need the most now is to come to a conclusion as to when they call off the rescue efforts, which is a really difficult question because of who is left behind.

then, i think, as tedros of who has said, really worried about medical next, particularly in north—west syria, where we have cholera already. but medical facilities here are obviously overwhelmed, as you know, so there's a huge need for urgent medical care, mobile clinics, field hospitals. i think the united kingdom is sending in a field hospital, for example. and then the period of humanitarian aid, the next three months, for which we are appealing, which will cover shelter, livelihoods, food, nutrition, and health care. and so, to give people a sense, those people who've had to leave their homes, that there is a stable future, awaiting them, even in this awful time. do you think there is a stable future awaiting them? you know how hard it is to raise money in a world where

there's one disaster after another. i think it's going to be very difficult. it's going to be very difficult because there's a lot of needs on both sides. and i think as president erdogan said, it will take a year to rebuild. that's optimistic. i think that's optimistic. it's going to be optimistic. syria is going to be much more difficult. the trouble with syria, it is bad enough in the north—west, as you know. asked rebel held area. the last rebel—held area. before all this and this came. i think we can raise consciousness and moneyjust as we have seen the response here. we will see, we will see how those appeals go but at least the agencies we are working with, the international agencies, we all know each other well, we've been working together a lot, for many years in this region, that's an advantage. there's been a lot of criticism of the united nations across the border in syria, particularly in idlib, they are saying you are letting politics get in the way of humanitarian relief. because you are not

there on the ground. we're not there on the ground, as you know, because the security council has only allowed a cross—border resolution this many years, which provides for un aid to go through a single crossing. and to be delivered to professional organisations there. this is not new, this is eight years old. this is not about... why does that have to be... people asking why do you have to go to the un security council? why should the humanitarian needs be hostage to the gridlock on the security council were russia and china veto the un... well, that's a long story and it's to do with the syrian government's claims for sovereignty. but i want to say this on that issue — i don't think it's right to give up hope that we will get access. we are looking very, very actively and firmly and hard for opening two more crossing points. through turkey into...? yes, through turkey into the north west.

in the coming days. we will put a resolution and it will go through the security council. if anyone wants to veto it, let them do so. the case for those two additional crossing points is a black and white humanitarian case. this is not politics, lyse, and people who say that we are playing with politics, that's not fair. how optimistic are you that you will be able to get aid to all parts of syria? and the government in damascus will be ready to help? the indications damascus will be ready to help? tue: indications as damascus will be ready to help? tte: indications as of today are positive. as you know, yesterday, the syrian government issued a decree allowing aid to go in without hindrance into the north west. crossing lines.— hindrance into the north west. crossing lines. crossing lines each time, crossing lines. crossing lines each time. very. _ crossing lines. crossing lines each time. very. very — crossing lines. crossing lines each time, very, very constructive. - time, very, very constructive. they've also given permission to un staff to deploy into the north west into the rebel held areas, so that's good. what syria faces is a lot of governments who don't want to give

aid to syria, which i think is inappropriate in this context. because of their opposition to president bashir al asad? exactly. and all the terrible _ president bashir al asad? exactly. and all the terrible consequencesl president bashir al asad? exactly. l and all the terrible consequences of this awful wall. it is huge credit to the us government that they have put out a general license, which will protect humanitarian aid from the effect of sanctions just right after this earthquake. that's essential. banking services have got to work. aid is coming in inquired into syria, its being airlifted in, it is being driven in and we want to get some of it into the north west as well as elsewhere. so, that's what we will be looking at in syria in the coming days.— in the coming days. what's your createst in the coming days. what's your greatest fear — in the coming days. what's your greatest fear now? _ in the coming days. what's your greatest fear now? greatest - in the coming days. what's your| greatest fear now? greatest fear now... is when _ greatest fear now? greatest fear now... is when the _ greatest fear now? greatest fear now... is when the awful - greatest fear now? greatest fear now... is when the awful day - greatest fear now? greatest fear i now... is when the awful day comes when we learn how many people really died. tt’s when we learn how many people really died. �* , ., ., , , when we learn how many people really died. �*, ., ., , , ., died. it's going to be very hard. you can smell— died. it's going to be very hard. you can smell the _ died. it's going to be very hard. you can smell the stench - died. it's going to be very hard. you can smell the stench of- died. it's going to be very hard. i you can smell the stench of death here all around us from the rubble. yes. and the speculation as you know is frightening. and just to think that under those mountains of rubble

could be these many, many poor, forgotten people who are now dead, that's the worst thing. find forgotten people who are now dead, that's the worst thing.— that's the worst thing. and your message. _ that's the worst thing. and your message. of — that's the worst thing. and your message, of course, _ that's the worst thing. and your message, of course, to - that's the worst thing. and your - message, of course, to governments everywhere is to prepare for this kind of disaster, it's going to come, especially in areas like this. it's going to come. it's going to come. and what was interesting about this one is that it was so bad, wasn't it, that you couldn't cope with it? but the response, the international response was super—quick. you know, it's a cliche that you need to get teams in within 24 hours. well, you know, not every team was here in 24 hours but a lot were. and that shows that the international system, the disaster response, which is not part of politics, not part of the differences of opinion on the security council has actually done a good job this couple of decades. but still keeping up with this kind of challenge — nature's ahead of us, i think.

that was the un humanitarian chief martin griffiths speaking to our special correspondent lyse doucet. to bring you an update on these terrible figures come as a result of this earthquake, the death toll in turkey alone has risen to 24,617. this was confirmed to us by the vice president via the reuters news agency. remember, those injured, that figure is much higher, as well. earlier, i spoke to ahmed bayram, the regional media and communications adviser for the norwegian refugee council. he explained how the intense cold affecting the region is the main challenge for humanitarian organisations. we're talking about minus three, minus four degrees. you're staying outdoors. a lot of people are starting fires, campfires around sidewalks and bushes, sidewalks.

people are saying that they just don't have a warm blanket to put on themselves. a lot of people, you know, 4am in the morning justjumped out of the bed in their pyjamas and they still have those pyjamas on. for five days, they have nothing else. and this is why one of the first things that we are handing out in these collective shelters and in the cities and towns where people have survived this earthquake is simple blankets and jackets for children. this is a situation like no other. just before the earthquake, actually, we were talking about a massive snowstorm, which happened, unfortunately, at the worst time. the cold is enemy number two after the earthquake, now hunger being probably up there, as well. a lot of people don't have a hot meal. a lot of people don't have water.

44.5 million worth of water reserves in tanks in aleppo. you know, these tanks were damaged. and we are giving simple things that could go a long way towards keeping someone going just for the night or for the day. ahmed, i wonder if i could jump in very quickly. we've seen so many images of the destruction caused to residential buildings, to homes. for those that were in these refugee camps, what sort of damage did they endure? because we're not hearing that story. yeah, you're right. actually, you're correct. and there needs to be some some distinction made here because the people you're talking about, were staying in tented settlements, which, for the irony of it, i mean, it's ironic because it seems that they they've taken

a lesser hit than those staying in actual structures. people saying that... people told us actually on day two that they felt lucky because they had lived in a tent for five or six years. first time they feel lucky that they haven't been to a home. i mean, it's unbelievable that people now have to make preferences out of a list of sad choices. 0k. it's just a situation where we haven't seen in years in syria. defence officials in america, are still trying to identify an object, the us airforce was told to shoot out of the sky, by president biden. an f—22jet fired a short range air—to—air missile, bringing the unmanned object down, in the second such intercept within days. last week, a chinese balloon sparked concern,

when it overflew areas where the us keeps nuclear missiles, and strategic bombers. 15 people, including a 13—year—old boy, have been arrested after clashes with police last night outside a hotel in merseyside, north west england, which houses asylum seekers. police said they were facilitating a peaceful protest and counter—protest at the suites hotel, in knowsley, before the event turned violent. hayley brewer reports. flames light up the dark as a police van is set on fire. initially, peaceful, eventually violent. a protest was called after claims about the behaviour of some people staying at the hotel towards locals. some rooms at the suites hotel have been used to house people seeking asylum. but as fighting broke out between protesters, counter—protesters, and the police, all those inside could do was watch what was happening as officers tried to restore calm. hundreds of protesters were involved.

a number of arrests were made for public order offences and criminal damage. claire moseley, founder of refugee charity care4calais, was part of a counter—protest in solidarity with migrants. we're talking about victims of the worst things in this world, and the answer is never mob violence. the answer is never to blame the actions of one person on the many. this is not the way that britain deals with these things. there'll be a visible police presence in the area tonight to make sure things stay calm. molly brewer, bbc north west tonight. sport and we have full round up, from the bbc sport centre. hello and thanks forjoining us. ireland have won a pulsating six nations encounter with france in dublin 32—19 in what could be the game that decides the title. it was between the top two sides in the world rankings...

and ireland, the number ones, scored four tries for a bonus point win that makes it a record 13th home victory for them. france, who are the defending six nations champions, after winning the grand slam have lost for the first time in 15 games. it was heroic from our guys, you know? we certainly left a few tries out there, you know. and i'm not being greedy, you know, because we're unbelievably pleased to get the bonus point but we got down into the bonus point but we got down into the french have quite a number of times onto the french line and didn't come away with the points that we should have, so plenty to work on. but, at the same time, well, heroic performance and it has to be against big, strong, fast men who were always going to be dangerous the break. scotland are the only other side to win their first two games. they thrashed wales 35—7 at murrayfield. the winner of this fixture gets to claim the doddie weir cup,

named in honour of the former scotland international, it's the first time it's been contested since his death in novemberfrom motor neurone disease. premier league leaders arsenal have slipped up again. they were held to a 1—1 draw at home by brentford. the gunners took he lead through leandro trossard 20 minutes into the second half. first goalfor the first goal for the club. but brentford equalised through ivan toney, they are now unbeaten in ten in the league. the aresenal amanger mikel arteta thought that toney�*s goal was offside and remonstarted with the officials at full time. arsenal are now six points clear of their nearest rivals manchester city who are at home to aston villa on sunday. elsewhere bournemouth held newcastle to a 1—1 draw. fulham beat nottingham forest, leicester thrashed spurs 4—1, while ten man wolves came from behind to win at southampton. 1-0 1—0 down, the foxes. crystal palace drew 1—1 with brighton and that was also the score in the days early kick off

between west ham united and chelsea. posse are posse a re really posse are really struggling at the moment. —— chelsea are really struggling. australia's women have started the defence of the t20 world cup thrashing new zealand by 97 runs. the tournament is taking place in south africa and australia were put into bat first in paarl, they made 173—9. 0pener alyssa healy hit 55. new zealand were never in the hunt, spinner ashleigh gardner took five wickets as they bowled out the white ferns for just 76 in 14 overs. england have also made a strong start, beating west indies by seven wickets. that was also in paarl. sophie ecclestone took three wickets as they restricted the windies to 135—7. nat sciver—brunt was unbeaten on 40 as england knocked off the runs with five overs to spare. india's men beat australia by an innings and 132 runs inside three days to win the first test in nagpur. a stunning bowling effort by the home side... who after making 400 in their first innings...

bowled australia out forjust 91 in their second innings. ravi ashwin taking five wickets. these two are the top two teams in the world test rankings. but india clearly well ahead of australia at the moment. that's all the sport for now. q. thousands of protestors have been demonstrating across france today, against pension reforms. the protests have been taking place since mid—january over the government's plans to increase the retirement age by two years. president emmanuel macron says the current system is unsustainable. our correspondent in paris, hugh schofield, has more on this. we talk about 62 and 64 as if that's when everyone stops working. of course it's not when everyone stops working. these ages are the ages at which people can, for the first time, claim a state pension. they can stop work at that age. it doesn't mean that

they'll get a full pension, because they may not have worked enough years, enough annuities, as they call it here. so, what the government is doing is trying to push back that age at which people can stop working from 62 to 64. and the argument from people on the left, and it's people on the left who are out here today, is that this favours the people who are better off, more qualified, because they tend to start work later because they're students until their mid—20s. so, they weren't retiring at 62 anyway, not even retiring at 64. they may be working up to 66, 67 to get their full pension. it's people who start working... start working earlier, in other words, less qualified people, poorer people, who are going to be hit by this compulsory pushing back of the age of retirement. so, that's what is motivating this protest, socialjustice, in a word, and of course, a great anti—macron feeling which unites everyone. in portugal, tens of thousands of teachers have taken to the streets of lisbon, in one of the biggest protests the country has seen

in recent years. they are demanding better pay and working conditions. it's the latest in a series of protests and strikes, as the socialist government of antonio costa faces a wave of discontent over the cost of living. the teachers say schools have been underfunded for years. they also want the government to speed up career progression. poland's president has cast doubt on whether his country can provide ukraine with the fighter jets that kyiv says it needs to win the war with russia. andrzej duda said any decision would have to be taken collectively by nato. in an interview for tomorrow's sunday with laura kuenssberg programme on the bbc, mr duda warned that by giving jets to ukraine, poland would end up weakening its own military defences.

translation: we think i that this requires a decision by the allies anyway, which means that we have to make a joint decision. also due to the fact that there is a very serious need for maintenance of f—16s if they were to be deployed somewhere, it is not only about the jets. only about the jets. you also need maintenance and technical background, technical servicing and so on and so forth. so it is not enough just to send a few planes, a fewjets. and a problem that we're facing, at least in poland, is as follows. we have said jets but they are fewer than 50. so as a matter of fact, this is our only stock ofjets that we have. this poses a serious problem if we donate even a small part of them anywhere, because i don't hesitate to say we have not enough of these jets, we would need many more of them. a decision today to donate any kind ofjets, any f—16s

to donate them outside poland is a very serious decision, and it's not an easy one for us to take it. vapes should be sold in the same way as cigarettes — in plain packaging and from behind a counter. that's the call from councils in england. the local government association is calling for strict new measures to regulate the display and marketing of vaping products in the same way as tobacco to crack down on a rise in stores selling to children. the brit awards have got under way at london's o2 arena. the awards are taking place on a saturday for the first time since they began in 1977. you can see him behind me there... harry styles and the indie band wet leg lead the way with four nominations each. let's take a look at some of the winners so far. mancunian rapper aitch has grabbed the award for best

hip hop, grime or rap. best international artist went to us superstar beyonce, beating lizzo, burna boy, kendrick lamar, and taylor swift. she wasn't at the ceremony but in a video message told her fans "the renaissance begins. " becky hill has walked away with the award for best dance act — for the second year running former 0ne direction star harry styles has been named best pop act. a good yearfor him. following on from his success at the grammys in the united states last week. and in the last few minutes, indie rock duo wet leg have scooped the award for best new artist. the official logo for king charles' coronation has been revealed by buckingham palace. the image shows flowers in the shape of st edward's crown — to reflect the king's love of nature. the logo has been created by sirjony ive, known for his innovative designs of apple gadgets, including the iphone.

those are your top stories. you can get in touch with me on twitter. sunshine for most places in short supply but there were exceptions to that rule, particularly in the north—east of england and east of scotland. a decent amount of blue sky overhead for this weather watcher in aberdeenshire. that's because there was a bit of shelter from the westerly flow that brought all of this cloud in across the uk and we'll keep some large areas of cloud as we head through the night. that cloud in place is thick enough to produce the odd spot of drizzle, perhaps most especially in the north west of scotland. north east scotland, though, should see some clear spells that

could allow for a touch of frost. and if the cloud breaks elsewhere, maybe east wales into the west country again there could be a touch of frost, but for most temperatures will stay several degrees above freezing. so into tomorrow, this area of high pressure still with us, but it tends to slip eastwards and that would allow the winds to strengthen a little around some of these western and northern parts of the uk. and that should help to break up the cloud a little more effectively and give rise to more in the way of sunshine. that said, there could be the odd spot of drizzle in the north west of scotland first thing. central and eastern parts of england, i think, will struggle to break up the cloud because the winds here are set to stay light. but with more of a breeze around some of these western and northern parts, we will see a bit more in the way of sunshine. and it's going to be another mild day with temperatures north to south between nine and 12 degrees. now, as you move out of sunday into monday, we've got the high pressure to the east of us, this frontal system trying to push in from the west, but it is going to take its time to do so. so things are going to change very slowly as we head through the first

couple of days of the week. monday, though, should bring a bit more in the way of sunshine. this southerly breeze should break up a bit more of the clouds. so, a slightly brighter day. although parts of eastern england may stay quite grey throughout, temperatures between nine and 12 degrees. so, still mild for the time of year. now, as we head towards the middle of the week, this weather front should eventually make some progress eastwards. it'll be moving quite erratically. there are waves along this weather front, so a bit of uncertainty aboutjust how quickly that rain will arrive. but the increasing chance of some wet weather through the middle part of the week. further rain at times for the end of the week, but throughout it is set to stay mild.

this is bbc news. the headlines — more than 25,000 people are now known to have died after monday's earthquakes in turkey and syria, with the death toll likely to more than double, says the un. visiting the region, the un's aid chief has described the massive earthquakes as the worst natural disaster to hit the middle east in a century. praising the international relief effort, he says medical assistance is urgently needed. fifteen people have been arrested following clashes with police, outside a hotel providing refuge for asylum seekers on merseyside in northwest england. hundreds of thousands of people hold protests across france over