a younger colleague. we'll bring you his sit down interview with the bbc�*s amol rajan shortly. joining us to discuss it and a number of stories tonight on the panel is brian taylor, former bbc scotland political editor and now commentator and columnist for the scottish herald and the republican analyst and political strategist rina shah. ——strategist rina shah. we will say hello to both in a moment. also on the programme tonight, we will focus in on moscow and see how the war is impacting vladimir putin — after us secretary of state antony blinken called russia's invasion a "strategic failure". and with the debt ceiling crisis averted, who are the real winners and losers in washington, with both sides claiming victory. we'll have all those stories for you throughout the programme, but first some breaking news we are following in india.

really distressing details, unfortunately, coming out about the train crash, potentially three trains involved, at least one of them a passenger train, and we can take a look at some of the pitcher is of the aftermath. this is people on the side thereof and overturned train trying to help people and get people out. it happened in the evening, and right now, it is on midnight, early hours of the morning there. lots of people taken to hospital. in terms of the numbers you've always got to be cautious, of course, but afp news agency saying 50 dead, 400-500 course, but afp news agency saying 50 dead, 400—500 potentially injured. so a huge scale of this. let's show you where it is. we can show you the map. this is the location in india of odisha, just a little earlier we heard from the chief official there, but also we have heard from our south asia

editor, sunak anbarasan ethirajan who gave us a the latest. the officials are now saying that multiple trains were involved in this collision. it happened in the eastern sentience state, passengertrain from the eastern city of calcutta which was travelling to chennai. it was involved in a derailment. about seven to eight carriages. they came off the track and fell on the opposite side according to one official version, and then there was another train, which rammed into these coaches causing this horrific accident and pictures on social media and television channels showing that toppled coaches all around the place and rescue teams, and also local villagers are now desperately trying to rescue those trapped inside these carriages. though the officials have not confirmed any casualty figure, there are fears that it could be

dozens of people who died in this incident and hundreds injured. government has dispatched more than 60 ambulances as well as local buses to ferry those injured people, injured passengers to various hospitals. talk to us through the role of the railway network in the country. of course, it's absolutely huge. what is the state of the infrastructure like? india has one of the largest rail networks in the world. we are talking about 12 million people using the network every day and connecting and crisscrossing the entire country. and it is also one of the most economical modes of transport, especially for long—distance trains. the one we are talking about from calcutta is an overnight train which means hundreds of people travelling and crammed into these superfast trains. but, you know, for years, there was not investment

in terms of infrastructure, in terms of strengthening tracks and signalling system. that is the key, but things have improved over the years. still, these accidents are happening, and the accidents are not uncommon in india, but, again, how this happened, what were the reasons, i think officials will conduct an investigation, but what people are trying to understand is how some of these coaches came off the track and then there was another train coming from the opposite direction. that is for the investigation and for the authorities. at the moment, they are focusing on sending more rescue teams because these carriages would have been toppled and the doors would have jammed. they have to cut through these, and to rescue those injured. some of those are probably badly injured. so time is of the essence here. that is why officials are trying to bring more teams from outside the state as well. we will be keeping across the latest air. coming back to the uk now.

astory that has a huge amount of interest here in the uk. philip schofield is one of the country's best known presenters. he's told the bbc he's lost everything, and does not see a future for his career, after he had an affair with a junior male colleague. schofield hosted the popular daytime show this morning, and he's been in the headlines after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" relationship. in his first interview since the scandal, he said the affair only began several years after he first met the young man, who was 15 at the time. schofield strongly denies grooming him, but says he regrets the relationship and lying about it when itv tried to investigate. he's been talking to the bbc�*s amol rajan. phillip, come on in. good to see you. thank you. you've had quite the week. how are you? last week, if my...

..daughters hadn't been there... ..then...i wouldn't be here. and they've. .. ..guarded me. um... it's like a weird...numbness. are you feeling strong enough to do this interview? yeah, i have to. why? why do you want to do this interview? because there is an innocent person here who didn't do anything wrong. ijust have to say... ..stop with him. ok, with me. but stop with him. leave him alone now. where did you first meet this young man in question? what were the circumstances? i was invited by a friend of mine to go to open a drama school. and that's where the picture was taken.

whether it was immediately or sometime after he said, "will you follow him on twitter? because he's a fan." so i said, "yeah, sure, no problem." and he was, what, 15 at the time? yeah. and this is over a... but i follow... i follow 11,300 people. and in all the time i've been on twitter, there has never been any whiff of impropriety. and how often were you in touch with him? hardly — hardly at all. and that was it for a while. and then... ..he... ..asked if he could... ..visit the studios, work—experience type of thing. i said, well, come down and have a look — for sure. which he did. how old was he when he first said to you "i'm interested in television"? i9, i would think. so to be absolutely clear, how old was this young man when you first had any kind of sexual contact with him? 20. let me ask you directly, did you have any kind of sexual relationship or sex with him when he was underage? no — god, no. that... i think that is, you know...

in my statement, it says, you know, consensual relationship, fully legal. i mean, that was approved by both sides. you know, that's. .. no, no. he'd been working at the show for...a few months. and... and we'd become mates. we were mates. um, you know, around the studios, you hang out together, you know, and then... ..in my dressing room one day... ..something happened. which... ..you know, obviously, iwill... ..regret forever — for him and for me. mostly him. but it... that happened maybe four or five times over the next few months. and... i know it's. .. ..unforgivable. um... but we weren't boyfriends.

we weren't in a relationship. i was really in a mess with my own sexuality at the time. and... ..itjust happened. how old was he at this stage? 20, 21. who knew on the team? nobody. to my knowledge. and did you ever tell holly willoughby? no — god, no. holly did not know. nobody knew. finally, what would you say to the young man? to you i am the most sorry. by getting involved with me i have caused you so much pain, i will never forgive myself that i made a bad judgment call. phillip schofield, thank you so much for your time. and if you've been affected by any of the issues raised in that

interview with phillip schofield, there is a list of organisations which can provide help. it's at the bbc action line website, at bbc.co.uk/actionline now some reaction to that from our panel. ryan, thank you for being on our panel this evening. it is a difficult watch, brian, if we start with you, that interview they with phillip schofield, what do you make of everything that's gone on? well. of everything that's gone on? well, first of all, of everything that's gone on? well, first of all. he _ of everything that's gone on? well, first of all, he looks _ of everything that's gone on? well, first of all, he looks incredibly - first of all, he looks incredibly withdrawn and haggard throughout the entire interview. 0ne withdrawn and haggard throughout the entire interview. one can only feel compassion for those circumstances. he says as well in other parts of the wider interview that he was not implementing any abuse of power, of personal power over this young individual, but he was considerably older than him and considerably senior to him in the organisation for which by then they were both working. i think there has to be there for a relationship of respect from the younger man to the older

man and to respect in the other direction as well. if it's not an abuse of power, then that is what phillip schofield is saying, that he was at least in a position where he was at least in a position where he was to some extent responsible. he was to some extent responsible. he was to some extent responsible for the individual being hired and brought in. and i think that he obviously feels culpable with regard to that. the second point is one that mr schofield made himself. he talks about homophobia. he says that if it had been a female colleague, even a young female colleague with whom he had been dealing with, with whom he had been dealing with, with whom he had sexual relations, then he cannot phillip schofield, believes that it wouldn't have been the extent of outrage and response. it wouldn't have been the extent of scandal, and he draws attention to that in a very understated almost apologetic way, saying that homophobia is plainly still rife. to brian, thank you very much for that. rina, do stand for us. ijust want to go back to our main story that's our time of the speaking development

news out of india. the train crash there, because clearly, the numbers are big, and the details are difficult. 50 dead by when estimation from afp, 400 500 or so injured. you should always be cautious about those numbers, because it is the middle of the knight. details are very chaotic. rescue operation under way, but we —— but have been taken to hospital. it is a cautious note with the actual numbers, but clearly, the scale is huge. at least one passenger involved. and feels like that train, possibly a third train as well. this is all happening in 0disha, a state in india. and i think now we can speak to someone who is there. we having a bit of that difficulty establishing the line, but ijust want that difficulty establishing the

line, but i just want to that difficulty establishing the line, but ijust want to check, it is the list here in the studio here in london. can you hear me? would ou 'ust in london. can you hear me? would you just be — in london. can you hear me? would you just be able _ in london. can you hear me? would you just be able to _ in london. can you hear me? would you just be able to talk— in london. can you hear me? would you just be able to talk as _ in london. can you hear me? would you just be able to talk as to what . you just be able to talk as to what you just be able to talk as to what you know? —— or to yes, it was seven o'clock and it happened on the express that was running from calcutta to chennai. the first train collided with another train, and after that, about... trains and about 600 people are injured, there have been lots of delays. so far, about 60, the authorities are helping with rescue. 0ne about 60, the authorities are helping with rescue. one of the biggest train accidents in sentience

history. it is expected that the number of casualties will increase as well as injuries, because the rescue has not finished yet. about 200 ambulances are trying to rescue the casualties in the rescue operation will continue overnight. about two o'clock here in 0disha, and the chief has told us that the rescue operation will continue overnight. it is expected that the death toll will rise, right now, as it is late night and there is not sufficient light, it is halting the neck telling the rescue. == delaying neck telling the rescue. —— delaying the rescue.

neck telling the rescue. -- delaying the rescue. the _ neck telling the rescue. -- delaying the rescue. the line _ neck telling the rescue. -- delaying the rescue. the line is _ neck telling the rescue. -- delaying the rescue. the line is in _ neck telling the rescue. -- delaying the rescue. the line is in the - the rescue. the line is in the clearest, but _ the rescue. the line is in the clearest, but we _ the rescue. the line is in the clearest, but we can - the rescue. the line is in the clearest, but we can follow l the rescue. the line is in the . clearest, but we can follow you. what do you know about how this train crash happened?— what do you know about how this train crash happened? actually come in the evening. _ train crash happened? actually come in the evening, around _ train crash happened? actually come in the evening, around seven - train crash happened? actually come in the evening, around seven o'clock| in the evening, around seven o'clock in the evening, around seven o'clock in the evening, the express from calcutta began itsjourney, it veered and it crashed with another train, another express train, and 16 bodies were aboard that express training, and it was an accident about 600 people are being hospitalised. . hospitalised. 60 about 600 people are being hospitalised. 60 dead bodies have been rescued, and that number may rise, and the number of injured may

also rise. about 200 ambulances have been deployed to the sentience people who are still here waiting for rescue. people who are still here waiting for rescue-_ people who are still here waiting for rescue. . ~' , ., , . some of those numbers to give you an idea of the scale of what has gone so badly wrong there. we are keeping across the details out of india as they come into us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines today. a teenagerfrom essex has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of six years, after pleading guilty to plotting terror attacks. 19—year—old matthew king admitted carrying out surveillance at police stations, railway stations, and a british army barracks in london. during the sentencing, thejudge praised king's motherfor reporting her suspicions to police. the government has appointed dame elan closs stephens as the bbc�*s acting chair. she replaces richard sharp

who resigned after an independent report found he had breached the rules. dame elan closs stephens has been on the public broadcaster's governing body since 2010. she's described her new role as "a huge honour". a local safety group says, a cheese rolling event puts a strain on emergency services. hundreds of competitors chased a cheese down coopers hill, near gloucester, on monday. some people suffered serious injuries during the annual event. you're live with bbc news. now let's turn to the debt ceiling in the us. we've been talking about it here for months on the context and the consequences of a us debt default. but crisis averted. last night the us senate approved a bill with 63 votes in favour, and 36 opposed. so, the deal is done — but the politics are not, with both sides out trying to claim victory. republican house speaker kevin mccarthy has claimed it as a huge

result for his party, touting it as what he calls the "biggest spending cut in history". president biden is also celebrating — he has described it as a big win for the economy and the american people. and he will deliver a speech to the american people in the next few hours. he will be signing it into law as soon as tomorrow. so, who really comes out on top? let's bring back the panel. let's get theirjudgment, both sides claiming a win. rina, let's start with you. who do you think has one here? i let's start with you. who do you think has one here?— let's start with you. who do you think has one here? i think this was an even split- _ think has one here? i think this was an even split. and _ think has one here? i think this was an even split. and i _ think has one here? i think this was an even split. and i realise there i an even split. and i realise there are a great many americans who don't feel that way, who feel that republicans got their way and many democrats who are progressive. then there are the republicans who are on there are the republicans who are on the far right fringes extreme has freedom pockets. they are feeling like kevin mccarthy, the speaker of the house, gave up too much to the

democrats. but i say this, this is a real win notjust for bipartisanship, but this was really something that had to happen, and we know that because defaulting on our debt would be highly irresponsible of us. it would downgrade our rating with many credit agencies. but one thing i would be more concerned about, if we were to get a downgrade in terms of our credit rating is who would bear the brunt of that hit? it would bear the brunt of that hit? it would bear the brunt of that hit? it would be the us small business owner. it would be notjust the us consumer, but the people who are looking out to buy homes, for example. anybody running a small business are looking to get money loaned to them would suffer if we defaulted on our data. so i think we sit in this moment where we see that the democrats did get a lot of consolation prizes, but republicans got some historic spending cuts. he saw a claw—back of millions of dollars of covid era government funding. that's what democrats give up funding. that's what democrats give up here. so republicans were very upset, look at some of the things that they were real winds on here.

and this was some sudden serious welfare reform as well. there will not be huge requirements for people who receive snap benefits, and that's essentially food stamps and other services from our federal government related to lower income families. �* ., government related to lower income families. ., ., ., families. brian, and a wider point, i suppose. — families. brian, and a wider point, i suppose. taking _ families. brian, and a wider point, i suppose, taking a _ families. brian, and a wider point, i suppose, taking a step _ families. brian, and a wider point, i suppose, taking a step back. - families. brian, and a wider point, l i suppose, taking a step back. what do you make watching on of the whole debt ceiling process, the way of doing politics? the debt ceiling process, the way of doing politics?— debt ceiling process, the way of doing politics? debt ceiling process, the way of doinu olitics? ., ., , doing politics? the maggots the way of doinu doing politics? the maggots the way of doing politics _ doing politics? the maggots the way of doing politics that _ doing politics? the maggots the way of doing politics that absolutely - of doing politics that absolutely fascinates me.— of doing politics that absolutely fascinates me. you can have two simultaneously. _ fascinates me. you can have two simultaneously. the _ fascinates me. you can have two | simultaneously. the negotiations between — simultaneously. the negotiations between republicans and the president. it ultimately produced a deal that_ president. it ultimately produced a deal that averts a default, which as rina rightly says would have been catastrophic not just for the president but also for the entire us. president but also for the entire us you — president but also for the entire us. you can also say on the other hand _ us. you can also say on the other hand that — us. you can also say on the other hand that the system that results in these _ hand that the system that results in these sorts — hand that the system that results in these sorts of negotiations contains a ludicrous —

these sorts of negotiations contains a ludicrous degree of last—minute brinkmanship, quite ludicrous, threatening the condition of the economy— threatening the condition of the economy of the united states causing concern _ economy of the united states causing concern to— economy of the united states causing concern to individual members of the united _ concern to individual members of the united states and participants in the economy. but the deal got through — the economy. but the deal got through. when you look at the extent of the _ through. when you look at the extent of the figures, they are simply eye watering — of the figures, they are simply eye watering. $31 trillion of overall debt — watering. $31 trillion of overall debt i'm — watering. $31 trillion of overall debt. i'm quite certain, of course, this is_ debt. i'm quite certain, of course, this is not— debt. i'm quite certain, of course, this is not saying anything particularly novel, this issue of getting — particularly novel, this issue of getting that debt down and containing the extent of public spending or redirecting public spending or redirecting public spending will be a huge issue in the pending _ spending will be a huge issue in the pending presidential elections. brian. — pending presidential elections. brian, rina, we are coming straight back to you, but we are moving to uk politics, the development of the story on borisjohnson and the covid—19 inquiry. he says he's getting unredacted access to his whatsapp messages direct to the inquiry.

here he is wednesday, running. he's basically by—passing the government. the government says some messages aren't relevent, shouldn't be handed over, and are going to court to try and stop it. however, he has only agreed to pass on messages dating back to april 2021, which would miss the first year of lockdown measures in the uk. johnson says he can no longer "safely" access his messages from that time, because of security worries about his old phone. writes, back to brian, we will start with you. this is quite detailed, but it is important. it’s with you. this is quite detailed, but it is important. it's extremely important _ but it is important. it's extremely important the — but it is important. it's extremely important. the uk _ but it is important. it's extremely important. the uk government . but it is important. it's extremely l important. the uk government set but it is important. it's extremely - important. the uk government set up the covid _ important. the uk government set up the covid inquiry to get the full facts _ the covid inquiry to get the full facts about the way that dreadful hideous— facts about the way that dreadful hideous pandemic and a hideous plague, — hideous pandemic and a hideous plague, as i described it at the time, — plague, as i described it at the time, but _ plague, as i described it at the time, but is handled by a buy the uk government, a separate inquiry taking _ government, a separate inquiry taking place in scotland asjust government, a separate inquiry taking place in scotland as just got a ship _ taking place in scotland as just got a ship as— taking place in scotland as just got a ship as most of the uk government setup _ a ship as most of the uk government set up this— a ship as most of the uk government set up this inquiry and then suddenly they appeared to be

reluctant to allow access to information, which may or may not be key. information, which may or may not be key~ this _ information, which may or may not be key~ this is _ information, which may or may not be key. this is not a good look for the uk government. this is an appalling optic for— uk government. this is an appalling optic for the uk government. restaurants and we see their giving evidence _ restaurants and we see their giving evidence in— restaurants and we see their giving evidence in parliament now saying that he _ evidence in parliament now saying that he is— evidence in parliament now saying that he is willing to hand over his whatsapp messages dating back to a particular— whatsapp messages dating back to a particular period. difficulties for security— particular period. difficulties for security reasons, but before that, this was— security reasons, but before that, this was never going to end well for the uk _ this was never going to end well for the uk government. i can understand to some _ the uk government. i can understand to some extent, they say first of all, to some extent, they say first of all. some — to some extent, they say first of all, some of the messages that are not relevant, well, that is an idiotic— not relevant, well, that is an idiotic argument, because as i said, it is up— idiotic argument, because as i said, it is up to _ idiotic argument, because as i said, it is up to her— idiotic argument, because as i said, it is up to her to determine relevance _ it is up to her to determine relevance or otherwise. the second point _ relevance or otherwise. the second point that _ relevance or otherwise. the second point that uk government makes is that many— point that uk government makes is that many of these messages will be internat— that many of these messages will be internal discussions between ministers and ministers officials. and these — ministers and ministers officials. and these are kept secret for a good reason, _ and these are kept secret for a good reason, which is to allow frank and open _ reason, which is to allow frank and open discussion within government. at that _ open discussion within government. at that ship — open discussion within government. at that ship has sailed. they are holding — at that ship has sailed. they are holding an— at that ship has sailed. they are holding an inquiry into the biggest

medicai— holding an inquiry into the biggest medical and health crisis this country— medical and health crisis this country has faced in generations. they— country has faced in generations. they should publish it.— country has faced in generations. they should publish it. brian, rina, thank ou they should publish it. brian, rina, thank you very _ they should publish it. brian, rina, thank you very much _ they should publish it. brian, rina, thank you very much with _ they should publish it. brian, rina, thank you very much with that. - they should publish it. brian, rina, thank you very much with that. it i they should publish it. brian, rina, | thank you very much with that. it we will be back in a few moments time. i want to quickly recap the events in india just to keep you up—to—date with exactly what we know and what we are trying to establish. that rail crash at least 50 people dead according to a news agency. that's the afp, hundreds injured, could be 400, could be 500. really significant train crash there. we believe three trains involved, passenger trains and freight trains. and it happened around seven o'clock in the evening, and you can see these pictures. you can see the cast. these pictures are from a couple of hours ago, but you can see was already dark as they were trying to rescue people, trying to get

people from the crash site into a hospital. just a dreadful scene there and dreadful, keeping across exactly what we know is coming out of india. at the moment, i am louis donjones. this is bbc news. hello there. we've got lots of warm sunshine to come this weekend, but it will be quite cool at night. now, today we saw the sunshine developing in more of the country, even in eastern parts of england, where it's been cloudy over the past few days, the cloud has been much thinner. we've introduced some drier air actually off the north sea all the way from norway. now, there is more cloud in the centre of our high, and eventually that will push across northern scotland and down the north sea, but notjust yet. there's a bit of thin cloud coming in to some parts of england and we've got some cloud in the far north of scotland overnight. but clear skies, a dry night, and a cool night for the time of year.

temperatures in england and wales could be as low as four or five degrees, maybe a little chillier across some eastern areas of scotland. now, this cloud that comes in overnight should tend to break up and we'll see the sunshine coming through. we'll see a little bit of fairweather cloud developing over the high ground in scotland and then perhaps across some southern parts of england. but it looks like it's going to be a dry day. a lot of sunshine around, a little bit warmer probably than today. temperatures widely reaching 20 to 22 degrees. but with that sunshine, its strong sunshine as well. so we've got high uv levels during saturday and probably into sunday as well where we keep the sunshine. but there is that cloud coming in across northern scotland and then moving back down in the north sea. so we're getting back to square one. more cloud across eastern parts of england in particular. it should tend to retreat back to the coast. some coastal areas could stay cloudy and rather cool, but otherwise a lot of sunshine to come. still breezy in the far south of the uk, and generally still west is best in terms of blue skies and sunshine, and still 16 or 17

along those north sea coasts. any changes as we head into next week? well, not really. the high pressure is still there, and it's still feeding in the cloud from off the north sea. it could be more extensive across england, i think, on monday. but again, it does tend to retreat back to the coast, but with that onshore breeze just feeding that cloud all the while, but a lot of sunshine around again to start next week. and those temperatures again reaching 23 or 24 degrees at best. and that high pressure will linger right the way through next week. there's no sign of any rain at all, sunshine being the order of the day. some cool nights, but if anything, getting a bit warmer by the end of next week.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. america's top diplomat antony blinken describes russia's invasion of ukraine as a "strategic failure". he's been speaking in finland, nato's newest member. right. antony blinken, america's top diplomat, has described president putin's invasion of ukraine as a strategic failure for russia. the us secretary of state has arrived in finland just

months after it became nato's newest member.