live from london, this is bbc news. the uk's deputy prime minister resigns following an inquiry into bullying allegations. over 400 now killed in fighting between rival military factions in sudan — as the international community pushes again for a ceasefire.

western allies meet in germany to discuss further backing for ukraine. drug smugglers are using submarines to bring millions of dollars worth of cocaine from south america into europe. we from south america into europe. have a special re; welcome back. representatives from 50 nations are meeting to discuss further support for ukraine in germany at the moment and we are expecting a news conference from the defence ministers in the next little while and we are expecting to hear from lloyd austin and of course about the additional support for ukraine, the critical thing. the

final preparations are being made so i do not think we are that far away. we were talking to the deputy director of the centre for strategic and international studies, director of the centre for strategic and internationalstudies, emily, and international studies, emily, and internationalstudies, emily, and internationalstudies, emily, and i was going to bring her back but we can see that the news conference is about to begin so we will now hear from the military leaders. this will be important. time to take a few questions. please note that _ time to take a few questions. please note that i _ time to take a few questions. please note that i will — time to take a few questions. please note that i will moderate _ time to take a few questions. please note that i will moderate the - note that i will moderate the questions _ note that i will moderate the questions and _ note that i will moderate the questions and we _ note that i will moderate the questions and we also - note that i will moderate the questions and we also have i note that i will moderate the - questions and we also have time restraints — questions and we also have time restraints if_ thank you. good afternoon everyone and nearly one year ago we first convened what became the ukraine

defence contact group right here in germany. our goalwas defence contact group right here in germany. our goal was to improve the coordination of support for ukraine as they fought back against russia's reckless and lawless invasion. over the past year at this contact group has become an extraordinary community of action. together we have rallied to defend the principles of democracy and freedom and sovereignty. we are all here at ramstein a year later to build on the impressive progress and in the past year the members of this contact group have provided tremendous capability to ukraine. right up till russia invaded, this contact group have provided tremendous capability to ukraine, right after russia invaded we surged

in stingers and provided the defenders of ukraine with howitzers and high and other artillery and we continue to provide ground—based munitions so that ukraine can control their southern skies and to help ukraine defend their citizens from russian cruise missiles and iranian drones. our collective efforts have made a huge difference on the battlefield. in a few short months the contact group has delivered more than 230 tanks, more than 1500 armoured vehicles and other equipment and munitions, to support more than nine new armoured brigades. we have also expedited our

rams to supply ukraine with more armour capability —— abrahams. the m1 roll that they will use the training arrived here in germany in the next few weeks. —— m1s. this is all huge progress and i'm confident that this equipment and the training that this equipment and the training that accompanied it will put ukraine's forces in a position to continue to succeed on the battlefield. the ukrainian forces have mutable capability and courage —— have formidable capability. as we have seen throughout. this progress will rest on the coordinated work of some 50 nations of goodwill that have gathered again today. let me sayjust have gathered again today. let me say just a few words about the

reports of unauthorised disclosure of sensitive and classified us material. i take this matter extremely seriously. we will continue to work closely with our deeply valued allies and partners in a spirit of abiding respect and friendship. as i have discussed this issue with our allies and partners, i have been struck by their solidarity and their commitment to reject efforts to divide us. so nothing will fracture our unity or reduce our determination. i am grateful to my good friend for joining us at ramstein and he once again gave everyone a first—hand account of the battlefield dynamics, highlighting ukraine's most urgent needs in the critical months ahead. we also heard from my colleagues in

the us european command about the progress on building ukraine's combat power as they prepare to push back the lines of russian invaders. and we talked about key enablers that will help ukraine repel russian forces. such as heavy equipment, and transport vehicles and refuelling vehicles. i like to think those here who announced donations of these important systems, including germany and the netherlands —— i would like to thank. we also discussed ways to continue our sustainment of industrial —based initiatives. russia has continued its assault on civilian targets in ukraine including schools and theatres and apartment buildings. those targets have absolutely no military value whatsoever. so we are hoping ukraine

defends its citizens and its skies against russian missiles and iranian drones and many contact group members have stepped up with new air defence systems and critically needed ammunition for those systems. we are going to stay focused on the key capabilities that ukraine needs right now. as well as in the medium term. we also heard today from the eu on its proposal to speed up the production and delivery of ammunition for ukraine. we are thinking about how they can increase industrial production notjust for the near term but for the medium term and the long term. that is a powerful reminder that we stand with ukraine's defenders for the long haul. vladimir putin made a series

of great miscalculations when he ordered the invasion of ukraine more than a year ago. he thought that ukraine would not dare fight back. but ukraine is standing strong with the help of its partners. vladimir putin thought our unity would fracture. but russia'sjoyce has only brought us closer together. —— choice. i note that finland which has long taken part in this contact group is here today as a new nato ally. i expect that sweden will soon follow and that makes something crystal—clear. .. follow and that makes something crystal—clear... vladimir putin's war of choice is not the result of nato enlargement, his war is the cause of nato's enlargement. when i first convened this contact group, i

saw nations of goodwill that were eager to help ukraine resist russia's imperial aggression and i saw a coalition that stood united and firm and i saw countries determined to stand up for an open and secure world of rights and rules. and all of that was just as true at ramstein today as it was a year ago. the ukrainians are still standing strong in their fight for theirfreedom. they standing strong in their fight for their freedom. they have the courage and the capability for the road ahead. we will have their backs for as long as it takes. so with that i will turn it over to the chairman. thank you. i will turn it over to the chairman. thank vom— will turn it over to the chairman. thank yon-— will turn it over to the chairman. thank ou. ., ., ., ~ , thank you. i want to thank the sick terry austin _ thank you. i want to thank the sick terry austin for _ thank you. i want to thank the sick terry austin for his _ thank you. i want to thank the sick terry austin for his leadership - thank you. i want to thank the sick terry austin for his leadership in i terry austin for his leadership in the last—

terry austin for his leadership in the last year and his ukrainian contact — the last year and his ukrainian contact group —— i want to thank senator— contact group —— i want to thank senator terry austin for his leadership. none of this would have happened _ leadership. none of this would have happened without his leadership, so thank— happened without his leadership, so thank you _ happened without his leadership, so thank you sir and also thanks to the ministers _ thank you sir and also thanks to the ministers and the chiefs of defence from over— ministers and the chiefs of defence from over 50 countries that attended today— from over 50 countries that attended today and _ from over 50 countries that attended today and have consistently attended now for _ today and have consistently attended now for over a year and their participation and support is criticai— participation and support is critical to the capability of the ukrainian military to defend itself. it ukrainian military to defend itself. it has _ ukrainian military to defend itself. it has been nearly a year since sake terry— it has been nearly a year since sake terry austin— it has been nearly a year since sake terry austin began this contact group — terry austin began this contact group at — terry austin began this contact group at ramstein —— since secretary austin _ group at ramstein —— since secretary austin we _ group at ramstein —— since secretary austin. we have continued international support and i also want _ international support and i also want to— international support and i also want to thank the ukrainian minister of defence _ want to thank the ukrainian minister of defence and my colleague and partner— of defence and my colleague and partner who have i —— who i have had a chance _ partner who have i —— who i have had a chance to _ partner who have i —— who i have had a chance to contact in the last year or so— a chance to contact in the last year or so and _ a chance to contact in the last year or so and his — a chance to contact in the last year or so and his representative here, for their— or so and his representative here, for their continued leadership. or so and his representative here,

fortheir continued leadership. i congratulate finland on their accession to nato which marks a deepening of the nato alliance and reaffirms _ deepening of the nato alliance and reaffirms to the world the strength of this— reaffirms to the world the strength of this relationship. but this is notjust— of this relationship. but this is notjust about the of this relationship. but this is not just about the us and european security~ _ not just about the us and european security. nato in this contact group upheld _ security. nato in this contact group upheld something bigger than that, they uphold the global international order where all nations can live in peace _ order where all nations can live in peace and — order where all nations can live in peace and prosper and a world that respects— peace and prosper and a world that respects sovereignty and the rule of law and _ respects sovereignty and the rule of law and a _ respects sovereignty and the rule of law and a world that counters unbridled military aggression. more than hundred and 21 days ago vladimir— than hundred and 21 days ago vladimir putin thought he could overthrow the ukrainian government and fracture nato as he launched an unprovoked — and fracture nato as he launched an unprovoked war of aggression with hundreds— unprovoked war of aggression with hundreds of thousands of russian forces _ hundreds of thousands of russian forces crossing the border add nfuttipie — forces crossing the border add multiple avenues of approach but he was wrong, — multiple avenues of approach but he was wrong, the spirit of ukraine remains — was wrong, the spirit of ukraine remains unbroken —— at multiple avenues — remains unbroken —— at multiple avenues. they are now 31 members of nato and _ avenues. they are now 31 members of nato and nato is even stronger and united _ nato and nato is even stronger and united in— nato and nato is even stronger and united in the face of the russian

aggression and its attack on the rules— aggression and its attack on the rules —based order. the us and the members _ rules —based order. the us and the members of— rules —based order. the us and the members of this contact group remain committed _ members of this contact group remain committed to supporting ukraine as it fights _ committed to supporting ukraine as it fights for freedom against the illegal— it fights for freedom against the illegal and unprovoked invasion from russia _ illegal and unprovoked invasion from russia and _ illegal and unprovoked invasion from russia and to date the us has committed more than $35 billion of military— committed more than $35 billion of military assistance including over 2 million _ military assistance including over 2 million tank and artillery rounds and tens— million tank and artillery rounds and tens of thousands of anti—armour weapons _ and tens of thousands of anti—armour weapons systems, air defence systems and other— weapons systems, air defence systems and other forms of munitions, hundreds— and other forms of munitions, hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles, — hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles, precision aerial munitions. in addition there is about— munitions. in addition there is about 2500 ukrainian soldiers conducting training right now in germany— conducting training right now in germany and another 8000, almost 9000 _ germany and another 8000, almost 9000 completing training and have returned _ 9000 completing training and have returned to ukraine. there are 65 ukrainians— returned to ukraine. there are 65 ukrainians that completed training on patriot — ukrainians that completed training on patriot missile systemsjust recentiy~ — on patriot missile systemsjust recently. since the early phases of the war— recently. since the early phases of the war and for every month since, the war and for every month since, the us— the war and for every month since, the us has— the war and for every month since, the us has provided ukraine with the

capabilities to defend itself and in conjunction with our allies and partners — conjunction with our allies and partners we have delivered. this coalition— partners we have delivered. this coalition will continue to provide vital training and additional capabilities for air defence and manoeuvre to enable ukraine's ongoing — manoeuvre to enable ukraine's ongoing fight. air defence munitions and air— ongoing fight. air defence munitions and air defence capabilities, tank munitions, — and air defence capabilities, tank munitions, armoured vehicle capabilities, artillery ammunition, rockets, _ capabilities, artillery ammunition, rockets, and spare parts, remain critical— rockets, and spare parts, remain critical as— rockets, and spare parts, remain critical as ukraine protects its cities — critical as ukraine protects its cities and _ critical as ukraine protects its cities and expose the russian menace from its _ cities and expose the russian menace from its territory. our countries and the — from its territory. our countries and the country of europe have pledged — and the country of europe have pledged that ukraine will have the capabilities it needs to execute their— capabilities it needs to execute their missions on their own timeline and we _ their missions on their own timeline and we have — their missions on their own timeline and we have pledged that support for as long _ and we have pledged that support for as long as— and we have pledged that support for as long as it takes. this week the us announced our latest security assistance — us announced our latest security assistance package as part of our ongoing — assistance package as part of our ongoing commitment to ukraine. as we stand here _ ongoing commitment to ukraine. as we stand here today the ukrainian military— stand here today the ukrainian military continues to perform very well, _ military continues to perform very well, intense fighting around

bakhmut continues and has now for several— bakhmut continues and has now for several months, and russia is expending significant manpower for very little _ expending significant manpower for very little gain. russia is intensifying indiscriminate shelling intensifying indiscriminate shelling in urban— intensifying indiscriminate shelling in urban areas and russia continues to pay— in urban areas and russia continues to pay severely for its war of choice — to pay severely for its war of choice. unlike ukrainian forces who are highly— choice. unlike ukrainian forces who are highly motivated to fight for their— are highly motivated to fight for their country, and fight for their freedom. — their country, and fight for their freedom, their democracy and way of life, freedom, their democracy and way of life. the _ freedom, their democracy and way of life, the russians lack in leadership and they lack will, moraie — leadership and they lack will, moraie is _ leadership and they lack will, morale is poor and their discipline has eroded. russia as tightened conscription laws as they indiscriminately feed their citizens into the _ indiscriminately feed their citizens into the chaos of war and so far they— into the chaos of war and so far they have — into the chaos of war and so far they have been quite ineffective at coordination and direction on the battlefield. over the past year their— battlefield. over the past year their temporary territorial gains have _ their temporary territorial gains have come with enormous losses. hundreds — have come with enormous losses. hundreds of thousands of russians have fled _ hundreds of thousands of russians have fled their country in addition to the _

have fled their country in addition to the casualties and they are trying — to the casualties and they are trying to— to the casualties and they are trying to avoid fighting in war —— this war — trying to avoid fighting in war —— this war. russia had failed to seize kyiv and _ this war. russia had failed to seize kyiv and failed to trouble the ukrainian government and they have failed _ ukrainian government and they have failed to— ukrainian government and they have failed to fracture nato. in fact, they— failed to fracture nato. in fact, they have _ failed to fracture nato. in fact, they have done just the opposite. kyiv stands and the people of ukraine — kyiv stands and the people of ukraine are emboldened and nato has never— ukraine are emboldened and nato has never been _ ukraine are emboldened and nato has never been stronger. as president biden— never been stronger. as president biden and — never been stronger. as president biden and secretary austin has said, the us— biden and secretary austin has said, the us remains committed as long as it takes _ the us remains committed as long as it takes. thank you i look forward to your— it takes. thank you i look forward to your questions. —— and i look forward — to your questions. —— and i look forward to— to your questions. —— and i look forward to your questions. we have the first— forward to your questions. we have the first questionnaire. mr chairman. _ the first questionnaire. mr chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish— chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish on— chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish on the — chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish on the ukrainian _ chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish on the ukrainian chances - chairman, we know the pentagon was bullish on the ukrainian chances of. bullish on the ukrainian chances of retaking _ bullish on the ukrainian chances of retaking territory— bullish on the ukrainian chances of retaking territory in _ bullish on the ukrainian chances of retaking territory in the _ bullish on the ukrainian chances of retaking territory in the spring - retaking territory in the spring offensive. _ retaking territory in the spring offensive. is— retaking territory in the spring offensive, is that _ retaking territory in the spring offensive, is that your- retaking territory in the spring - offensive, is that your assessment now and _ offensive, is that your assessment now and are — offensive, is that your assessment now and are you _ offensive, is that your assessment now and are you concerned - offensive, is that your assessment now and are you concerned that i now and are you concerned that spring _ now and are you concerned that spring conditions— now and are you concerned that spring conditions on _ now and are you concerned that spring conditions on the - now and are you concerned that spring conditions on the groundj

now and are you concerned that - spring conditions on the ground will slow spring conditions on the ground will stow things — spring conditions on the ground will slow things down? _ spring conditions on the ground will slow things down? secretary - spring conditions on the ground willi slow things down? secretary austin, iooking _ slow things down? secretary austin, looking at— slow things down? secretary austin, looking at the — slow things down? secretary austin, looking at the crisis _ slow things down? secretary austin, looking at the crisis in _ slow things down? secretary austin, looking at the crisis in sudan, - slow things down? secretary austin, looking at the crisis in sudan, what. looking at the crisis in sudan, what iessons _ looking at the crisis in sudan, what lessons learned _ looking at the crisis in sudan, what lessons learned from _ looking at the crisis in sudan, what lessons learned from the _ looking at the crisis in sudan, what. lessons learned from the afghanistan evacuation _ lessons learned from the afghanistan evacuation are — lessons learned from the afghanistan evacuation are shaping _ lessons learned from the afghanistan evacuation are shaping your - lessons learned from the afghanistan evacuation are shaping your efforts i evacuation are shaping your efforts to get— evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the — evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the us — evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the us embassy— evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the us embassy staff - evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the us embassy staff out. evacuation are shaping your efforts to get the us embassy staff out of| to get the us embassy staff out of sudan _ to get the us embassy staff out of sudan and — to get the us embassy staff out of sudan and has _ to get the us embassy staff out of sudan and has the _ to get the us embassy staff out of sudan and has the state _ to get the us embassy staff out of . sudan and has the state department to get the us embassy staff out of. sudan and has the state department i was due _ sudan and has the state department i was due to _ sudan and has the state department i was due to begin— sudan and has the state department i was due to begin the _ sudan and has the state department i was due to begin the process? - sudan and has the state department i was due to begin the process? —— - was due to begin the process? —— asked _ was due to begin the process? —— asked you — was due to begin the process? -- asked yog— was due to begin the process? -- asked ou. �* ., ., ., asked you. i'm not going to comment on operations — asked you. i'm not going to comment on operations specifically _ asked you. i'm not going to comment on operations specifically but - asked you. i'm not going to comment on operations specifically but i - on operations specifically but i will say— on operations specifically but i will say that our task and commitment to ukraine was to provide the training _ commitment to ukraine was to provide the training and equipment for up to nine brigades, armoured brigades, to conduct _ nine brigades, armoured brigades, to conduct offensive and defensive operations and those brigades are trained _ operations and those brigades are trained and manned and equipped and they are _ trained and manned and equipped and they are prepared for combat operations. so whenever and wherever they choose _ operations. so whenever and wherever they choose to use them, we will continue — they choose to use them, we will continue that support and i'm confident— continue that support and i'm confident in the ability of those units _ confident in the ability of those units to— confident in the ability of those units to succeed.—

confident in the ability of those units to succeed. regarding sudan, the department _ units to succeed. regarding sudan, the department through _ units to succeed. regarding sudan, the department through our - the department through our headquarters in africa continues to monitor closely the situation on the ground. we continue to coordinate with the state department to make sure we have a common vision of what the situation is. we always want to make sure we are doing prudent planning which is what we are doing and we have deployed some forces into theatre to make sure that we provide as many options as possible, if we are called on to do something, and we have been called on to do anything yet, no decision on anything yet, no decision on anything has been made. and for operation security purposes, i won't specify where the troops moved to but our focus is to make sure that we continue to do prudent planning

and that we create and maintain as many options for our president as possible. many options for our president as ossible. ., , ., possible. now the next question. studio: we _ possible. now the next question. studio: we are _ possible. now the next question. studio: we are going _ possible. now the next question. studio: we are going to - possible. now the next question. studio: we are going to come i possible. now the next question. i studio: we are going to come away although we will continue to monitor the news conference. there was a question about sudan. and about whether they were preparing for evacuations of americans from khartoum. they have deployed forces into the theatre, although the exact location for operational reasons was not clear, but they are clearly monitoring events on the ground and they will continue to make options available, that was how it was described. in terms of ukraine, there was a repetition of the progress they have made on artillery and tanks and saying that nato has

never been stronger and underlining that the americans will have the backs of ukraine as long as it takes. emily is in washington. we spoke to her earlier. she works at the centre for international and strategic studies. thanks for joining us. i know you were listening. what are your headline thoughts? by, listening. what are your headline thou~hts? �* , listening. what are your headline thou~hts? . , ., listening. what are your headline thou~hts? �* , ., listening. what are your headline thouhts? , ., , ,, , thoughts? a couple of good snippets of speeches. — thoughts? a couple of good snippets of speeches, some _ thoughts? a couple of good snippets of speeches, some interesting - thoughts? a couple of good snippets| of speeches, some interesting things for policy nerds like me about the material that ukraine needs and how they are getting that and the industrial based comment was critically important, to boast of the industrial base, but also a lot about the importance of alliances and why we are fighting the fight to begin with and the importance of alliances is critical for the audience in the room, because this is a team sport. all these countries pushing back against russian

aggression, and trying to defend ukraine is a team sport and as austin said there is nothing that is going to break the alliance. fin austin said there is nothing that is going to break the alliance. on that oint he going to break the alliance. on that point he talked _ going to break the alliance. on that point he talked about _ going to break the alliance. on that point he talked about unity - going to break the alliance. on that point he talked about unity and - going to break the alliance. on that point he talked about unity and we| point he talked about unity and we take it for granted that it was never a given and it has withstood multiple efforts from moscow to divide the various allies? that multiple efforts from moscow to divide the various allies?- divide the various allies? that is ri . ht. divide the various allies? that is right- the _ divide the various allies? that is right. the russian _ divide the various allies? that is right. the russian calculation i divide the various allies? that is i right. the russian calculation was that as soon as they invaded ukraine, most of the europeans would fold and they would be a debate about suing for peace and allowing russia to take pieces of territory but when that did not happen, he thought a wince in europe would convince a lot of them to sue for peace but that did not happen. —— a winter in europe. so we have a year into the campaign with a real show of unity and that has got to be given to the macro giving moscow pause. given to the macro giving moscow -ause.

given to the macro giving moscow ause. ., ~' , ., pause. the tanks will arrive in germany _ pause. the tanks will arrive in germany in — pause. the tanks will arrive in germany in the _ pause. the tanks will arrive in germany in the next - pause. the tanks will arrive in germany in the next few - pause. the tanks will arrive in | germany in the next few weeks pause. the tanks will arrive in - germany in the next few weeks and they also spoke about supplementing air defence and the critical ammunition for those air defence systems. how quickly it can significant air defence systems be supplied to ukraine? they have been asking for these for months. more cuickl asking for these for months. more quickly than _ asking for these for months. more quickly than you — asking for these for months. more quickly than you would _ asking for these for months. ire quickly than you would think at the policy folks on the ground say ukrainians have been amazingly quick at picking up the skills needed to run some of these very complex systems and have been very creative in coming up with a comprehensive defence based on all of these disparate pieces which you would not think would work together. the abrams tanks were coming in the next two weeks and they will do training in germany and then hopefully they will arrive in ukraine very soon on the ground. in will arrive in ukraine very soon on the ground-— will arrive in ukraine very soon on the ground. in terms of the spring offensive, some _ the ground. in terms of the spring offensive, some the _ the ground. in terms of the spring offensive, some the questions - the ground. in terms of the spring i offensive, some the questions were about how much territory the

americans think that ukraine can actually snatch back so where do you think we are in terms of having any sort of understanding of ukraine's capacity and moscow's capacity to go the other way? so capacity and moscow's capacity to go the other way?— the other way? so far we have seen the other way? so far we have seen the russians _ the other way? so far we have seen the russians spring _ the other way? so far we have seen the russians spring offensive - the other way? so far we have seen the russians spring offensive peter out and go pretty much nowhere. they have proven themselves not very capable with things like taking big pieces of territory and especially joint arms. the ukrainians are committed to defending every inch of their homeland and the will to fight has led to some very inventive strategies and huge gains. but putting too much pressure on the ukrainians why spring offensive is not fair because this is very difficult fighting and in some cases it is a trench warfare, a combination of high—tech warfare and low—tech warfare, harking back to the first world war, so having realistic expectations about what is doable and is the same time as

giving the ukrainians the hope they need to push forward, that is the strategy. need to push forward, that is the strate: . , ., ., . strategy. emily, thanks for hanging in there and — strategy. emily, thanks for hanging in there and giving _ strategy. emily, thanks for hanging in there and giving your _ strategy. emily, thanks for hanging in there and giving your response i strategy. emily, thanks for hanging | in there and giving your response to the news conference. thanks for joining us. we have a few lines of breaking news. remember the story around the uk's confederation of business industry and the story around the sacking of the director—general only last week, and now natwest have just inform the public that they have withdrawn their membership from the cbi with immediate effect after a series of allegations of sexual misconduct against staff. those investigations

are still ongoing despite the chief executive standing aside. that use coming in that natwest group have withdrawn their membership from the confederation of british industries —— that news coming in. we will bring you more on that later. the main story is the story about dominic raab resigning from government as the deputy prime minister of the uk. in the last little while we have heard from the leader of the liberal democrats ed davey saying that dominic raab should resign as an mp and trigger a by—election. he said he was unfit to be a member of parliament after the government published that report on the allegations of bullying against mr raab. we heard his response, but ed davey that has said he should resign as a member of parliament and trigger a by—election. the very

latest on that story and other headline stories in just a moment or two. do not go away. hello. some big contrasts in the weather today and a tale of two halves, and this is the overall message for the next few days. it will turn quite a bit colder over the uk especially northern and eastern areas. today, we have an easterly wind which has dragged in a fair amount of cloud and this weather front circling over england and wales, this is the radar for the last couple of hours, it has been over the midlands and wales and the south—west. the best of the weather in scotland and northern ireland today and also our warmest weather. in between it is very blustery especially over northern england and especially the pennines

and towards the north—west. gusts of wind 40—50mph, up to gale force. a tale of two halves, then, so in western parts of scotland the high teens maybe pushing 20 degrees. by sunday, maybe a 10 degrees drop, it really will be very cold, with some wintry showers heading towards the scottish hills. 19 in western scotland today. ten and 13 in england and wales. warm enough in northern ireland, as well. scotland and northern ireland with some clear weather tonight but the weather front will continue to affect parts of england and wales. to the south, pretty chilly, maybe a touch of frost, and a touch of frost early on saturday morning. nippy start for many of us. this is the forecast for tomorrow. cloudy and rainy weather in central and northern areas of england and into southern scotland, northern ireland. elsewhere, a mixture of sunshine

and showers and i think especially showery in northern england. also, persistent showers in western and south—western parts of england but the midlands will have predominantly spells of sunshine. on sunday, low pressure vacates and we have colder winds coming in from the north — the blue colour is the cold air. also wintry showers across scotland, significant wind chill, as well. sunshine and showers elsewhere. temperatures struggling below average for the time of year and it is notjust the temperatures but the wind that will make it feel chilly, for the north and also the south.

live from london, this is bbc news. the uk's debris prime minister resigned following an inquiry into bullying allegations. we live in downing street and will have the key details in that report and all the latest political reaction. over 400 people have been killed in fighting between rival military factions in sudan as the international community pushes again for a ceasefire. and representatives from 50 countries have been meeting in germany to discuss speeding up military support for ukraine. welcome to bbc news.