why is donald trump so hard to beat? a month from the first debate, a new poll of republican voters reveals the former president has an iron—like grip over the base, despite — or perhaps because of — his criminal indictments. we will discuss that tonight with our panel, democrat strategist mary anne marsh and from scotland, the political analyst and columnist for the herald, brian taylor. why x could be the most powerful letter in the english language. it's certainly the biggest flashing symbol in downtown san francisco, much to the annoyance closest neighbours and for the first much to the annoyance of twitter�*s closest neighbours. and for the first time in nine months, the americans have travelled to qatar to meet the taliban. two days after the group started burning musical instruments in herat. what basis is there for a mutual understanding? welcome back.

we are still some six months from the first republican primaries and the candidates have not yet appeared on a debate stage, but in every poll, donald trump is the consistent, runaway favourite. the latest poll from the new york times sienna college, their first of the 2024 campaign, puts donald trump's lead over ron desantis at 37 points. he has a decisive advantage across almost every demographic group and region and in every ideological wing of the party. no candidate who has led their rival by at least 20 points at this stage in the cycle has ever lost a party nomination. but then no candidate with so much support has faced so many criminal indictments and investigations. with more to come in fulton county, the crowd barriers are in place outside the court. the district attorney fani willis signalled this weekend she will charge donald trump over his attempts to derail the georgia result in 2020. also pending, the investigation into the events surrounding jan 6th. a target letter from the special

prosecutorjack smith, suggests that indictment is also ready to go. a little earlier, ron desantis spoke to small group of supporters in new hampshire, where he introduced his economic plan aimed at blue—collared workers. in it, he railed against china — promising to revoke it's favoured trading status, ban imports made from stolen us intellectual property, and ban companies from sharing critical technology with china. take a listen. its ——. —— its. -- its. they said if you gritted china, they — -- its. they said if you gritted china, they would _ -- its. they said if you gritted china, they would become - -- its. they said if you gritted i china, they would become more democratic, _ china, they would become more democratic, the _ china, they would become more democratic, the cardigans- china, they would become more| democratic, the cardigans forced transfers— democratic, the cardigans forced transfers of— democratic, the cardigans forced transfers of technology, - democratic, the cardigans forced transfers of technology, that - democratic, the cardigans forcedi transfers of technology, that you wouldn't — transfers of technology, that you wouldn't have _ transfers of technology, that you wouldn't have a _ transfers of technology, that you wouldn't have a mass _ transfers of technology, that you wouldn't have a mass relocationl transfers of technology, that you i wouldn't have a mass relocation of american — wouldn't have a mass relocation of american manufacturing _ wouldn't have a mass relocation of american manufacturing in- wouldn't have a mass relocation of american manufacturing in china l wouldn't have a mass relocation of . american manufacturing in china and that we _ american manufacturing in china and that we would — american manufacturing in china and that we would be _ american manufacturing in china and that we would be safeguarded - american manufacturing in china and i that we would be safeguarded against surges— that we would be safeguarded against surges of— that we would be safeguarded against surges of chinese _ that we would be safeguarded against surges of chinese imports. _ that we would be safeguarded against surges of chinese imports. what - surges of chinese imports. what actually— surges of chinese imports. what actually happened _ surges of chinese imports. what actually happened over- surges of chinese imports. what actually happened over these . surges of chinese imports. what i actually happened over these past surges of chinese imports. what - actually happened over these past 25

years? _ china has become more authoritarian, more powerful and more ambitious. . we've seen our relationship marred by the theft of our intellectual - property, trade dumping, _ currency manipulation and espionage. 0ur industrial base here in - the united states is hollowed out, we've developed a dangerous - dependence on chinese supply chains, and our companies have been exposed to a hostile security apparatus. - a little earlier, i spoke to political pollster and strategist ben tulchin — and asked him whether ron desantis is differenciating himself from donald trump. he's got a big hole to dig himself out of. the recent poll showed he was trailing by 37 points and it presidential campaign has come back from more than 20 points at this stage in this scene has got a big hole to climb out of. that in mind, then, why is he reticent to criticise donald trump's legal problems? —— so

—— so he's got a large hole to dig himself out of. it's a tough position to be in. he any republican who is going after donald trump, he has attacked. it's a tough spot to go after a former president because trump is so effective of attacking people, including fellow republicans. if you attack you back. he teens to be very good at attacking. he teens to be very good at attacking-— he teens to be very good at attackina. n, , ~ ., , he teens to be very good at attackina. , ~ ., , ., attacking. mary anne, he has an unshakeable _ attacking. mary anne, he has an unshakeable group _ attacking. mary anne, he has an unshakeable group of— attacking. mary anne, he has an unshakeable group of the - attacking. mary anne, he has an unshakeable group of the loyal. unshakeable group of the loyal supporters in the republican party. there is no need for them to debate the other candidates. he is the presumptive candidate, is that he? no question about it, which is why you saw— no question about it, which is why you saw in— no question about it, which is why you saw in that poll 71% of republicans saying, "we need to support— republicans saying, "we need to support donald trump." he can do no wrong _ support donald trump." he can do no wrong with— support donald trump." he can do no wrong with the republican party and a republican base, none. the more

indictments. — a republican base, none. the more indictments, the stronger he gets, the more _ indictments, the stronger he gets, the more money they get and frankly, if the more money they get and frankly, it he's _ the more money they get and frankly, it he's in _ the more money they get and frankly, it he's in the _ the more money they get and frankly, if he's in the courtroom, the that will help— if he's in the courtroom, the that will help them more than being on the campaign trail. a problem for bronte _ the campaign trail. a problem for bronte santos is nobody likes him. if bronte santos is nobody likes him. if people _ bronte santos is nobody likes him. if people don't like you, they won't believe _ if people don't like you, they won't believe you. if ron desantis stands in front— believe you. if ron desantis stands in front of— believe you. if ron desantis stands in front of the 50 people and said the sky— in front of the 50 people and said the sky is — in front of the 50 people and said the sky is blue today, they would believe _ the sky is blue today, they would believe him. none of these candidates, especially ron desantis, who is— candidates, especially ron desantis, who is a _ candidates, especially ron desantis, who is a standard with voters to make _ who is a standard with voters to make it — who is a standard with voters to make it stick.— who is a standard with voters to make it stick. that's why i asked what he's going _ make it stick. that's why i asked what he's going to _ make it stick. that's why i asked what he's going to do _ make it stick. that's why i asked what he's going to do in - make it stick. that's why i asked what he's going to do in the - make it stick. that's why i asked | what he's going to do in the next six months to seven self apart from donald trump. that species even today, not... he could havejust been one of donald trump's campaign managers trotting out the same line. there's nothing that would watch

that would say i would vote for him so don't throw. he that would say i would vote for him so don't throw.— so don't throw. he thought he was the thing coming _ so don't throw. he thought he was the thing coming out _ so don't throw. he thought he was the thing coming out of _ so don't throw. he thought he was i the thing coming out of the country, which _ the thing coming out of the country, which is _ the thing coming out of the country, which is not — the thing coming out of the country, which is not the case. his numbers are starting — which is not the case. his numbers are starting to crater in florida. there's— are starting to crater in florida. there's no— are starting to crater in florida. there's no way for him to dig out of this, _ there's no way for him to dig out of this, and _ there's no way for him to dig out of this, and that's what you were donald — this, and that's what you were donald trump of the weekend in iowa, saying. _ donald trump of the weekend in iowa, saying. 0k _ donald trump of the weekend in iowa, saying, 0k republicans, time for you to get— saying, 0k republicans, time for you to get out _ saying, 0k republicans, time for you to get out. frankly, democrats shouldn't— to get out. frankly, democrats shouldn't be trying to rack up donald — shouldn't be trying to rack up donald trump in the primary. i would rather— donald trump in the primary. i would rather get _ donald trump in the primary. i would rather get ready for the general election — rather get ready for the general election. �* . , ., , election. brian, this has huge ramifications. _ election. brian, this has huge ramifications. from _ election. brian, this has huge ramifications. from a - election. brian, this has huge ramifications. from a one - election. brian, this has huge | ramifications. from a one inch election. brian, this has huge i ramifications. from a one inch in shock, he becomes a one into shot.

these are hard—line republicans thinking the nation is headed in the wrong direction. if you trump's mood matches theirs and you can't write him off, can you? i matches theirs and you can't write him off. can you?— matches theirs and you can't write him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative — him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative that _ him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative that he _ him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative that he is _ him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative that he is standing - him off, can you? i did he's driving a narrative that he is standing for. a narrative that he is standing for authentic, true america, and therefore, when he is for an example charged with offences or faces legal challenges, he simply says that is part of a critical attack upon him, and therefore ipso facto, an attack upon america. he calls jack smith in the documents case the range and says it is a campaign, a witch hunt against him. if you try that narrative and if that is being bought by a substantial section of the population, as wejust bought by a substantial section of the population, as we just heard rightly, every time he appears in court or he is faced with a court challenge, it adds to that narrative of it being a bogus fake attack upon him and thus upon patriotic america.

i think desantis can do nothing against that whatsoever. it's intriguing to see him attacking china. it's a field that mr trump himself was pursued. but more recently, recently by rishi sunak. brian, the interesting thing is that when you look at what strategy ron desantis might employ or go on the attack over the various indictments that mr trump faces, will occur the former texas preventative. —— will he, said donald trump is running to get out of prison, and he was booed. sarah smith noted that no other candidate standing there at the hoots or the guts or the devil meant to go forward. i've been struck by

the number of times i've heard coming from the us during the last year or so and argument there are contrary russians of truth —— contrary russians of truth —— contrary truth. donald trump pursues that agenda and basically says that his opponents are offering not facts, but their version of truth, as he would say, a perverted version of truth. you get to the situation where people believe that their opinions are valid to the same extent as objectively verified facts. that's frankly a danger for all of contemporary politics. brian is absolutely _ all of contemporary politics. brian is absolutely right _ all of contemporary politics. brian is absolutely right because if you look at this pole, mary anne, there are 300 correspondents in the maca category and not one of them thinks he's committed serious federal

crimes —— maga. what happens if, through this campaign, he is imprisoned or he is convicted of the charges that he faces?— charges that he faces? there is nothin: charges that he faces? there is nothing in _ charges that he faces? there is nothing in the _ charges that he faces? there is nothing in the constitution - charges that he faces? there is nothing in the constitution thatj nothing in the constitution that prohibits— nothing in the constitution that prohibits him from serving. nothing. that's_ prohibits him from serving. nothing. that's the _ prohibits him from serving. nothing. that's the problem. james michael curley, _ that's the problem. james michael curley, the — that's the problem. james michael curley, the mayor of austin, was convicted~ — curley, the mayor of austin, was convicted. he served in office from a jail— convicted. he served in office from a jail in _ convicted. he served in office from a jail in boston. that's what happens _ a jail in boston. that's what happens. let's be clear, trump wants to make _ happens. let's be clear, trump wants to make sure — happens. let's be clear, trump wants to make sure he never stepped foot in any— to make sure he never stepped foot in any kind — to make sure he never stepped foot in any kind of prison, jail or anything. _ in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is allabout. but in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. but will in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. but will heard in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. but will heard it in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. but will heard it made in any kind of prison, jail or anything, and that is what this is all about. but will heard it made my point all about. but will heard it made my poinr , , all about. but will heard it made my point , , . ., , , point this is the classified documents _ point this is the classified documents case - point this is the classified documents case and - point this is the classified | documents case and there point this is the classified i documents case and there is point this is the classified - documents case and there is some damning evidence we are told by the prosecutor in this case. it will go

to appeal and if he won the election, he would see is an area through november — december where he would form a team and then he would pardon himself and those around him? 0ran pardon himself and those around him? or an attorney general. he could do that too _ or an attorney general. he could do that too i_ or an attorney general. he could do that too. i will be surprised at all if none _ that too. i will be surprised at all if none of— that too. i will be surprised at all if none of this is resolved before the election or right after the election _ the election or right after the election. so, while you and i are watching — election. so, while you and i are watching - — election. so, while you and i are watching — pennsylvania, arizona, wisconsin, — watching — pennsylvania, arizona, wisconsin, georgia — counting their votes. _ wisconsin, georgia — counting their votes, donald trump do everything to stop that _ votes, donald trump do everything to stop that i_ votes, donald trump do everything to stop that. i would warn everybody, this is— stop that. i would warn everybody, this is going to be like 2016 and 2020 _ this is going to be like 2016 and 2020 and 2022 all packaged up together on steroids. i think democrats prevail in the end, but oh boy, is— democrats prevail in the end, but oh boy, is it _ democrats prevail in the end, but oh boy, is it going to be ugly. is democrats prevail in the end, but oh boy, is it going to be ugly. is the boy, is it going to be ugly. is the interesting thing. _ boy, is it going to be ugly. is the interesting thing. you _ boy, is it going to be ugly. is the interesting thing. you can - boy, is it going to be ugly. is the interesting thing. you can set. boy, is it going to be ugly. i3 true: interesting thing. you can set aside where american law stands if all

this played out. you could even have a impeachment ofjoe biden. then you could have another challenge the vote. you don't have to go a long way to think that 2024 could be the most extraordinary american election recover witness. {lit most extraordinary american election recover witness— recover witness. of course, you have joe biden's — recover witness. of course, you have joe biden's son _ recover witness. of course, you have joe biden's son facing _ recover witness. of course, you have joe biden's son facing accusations i joe biden's son facing accusations with regard to his business dealings and those who defend donald trump say the prosecutor would better turn him with attention in that direction. american politics is always febrile and always challenging, but this is quite hideous, quite dreadful and appalling witness. the nature of the divisions and the fact that those divisions and the fact that those divisions are not about a strategic view of the globe for american politics, but about individual bickering and squabbling between those who are in command in the republican front and in the democrat front. i think it is appalling to

witness. . , , witness. the really interesting thin . , witness. the really interesting thing. mary — witness. the really interesting thing, mary anne, _ witness. the really interesting thing, mary anne, and - witness. the really interesting thing, mary anne, and this i witness. the really interesting thing, mary anne, and this is| witness. the really interesting i thing, mary anne, and this is about the security of the country and the way that people respond to the events of may 24, is that the maga wing of the party is working—class and blue—collar, at least fervently in what donald trump is telling them, that the country is unproven. he saw what happened around january the 6th and the repercussions of what might happen in 2024 could be very serious. what might happen in 2024 could be very serious— very serious. such as working class. he would be — very serious. such as working class. he would be surprised _ very serious. such as working class. he would be surprised at _ very serious. such as working class. he would be surprised at how- very serious. such as working class. he would be surprised at how many| he would be surprised at how many college—educated white colour men, in particular— and women but mostly men: _ in particular— and women but mostly men. who— in particular— and women but mostly men, who support trump. i�*m in particular- and women but mostly men, who support trump.— men, who support trump. i'm not sa in: men, who support trump. i'm not saying it's — men, who support trump. i'm not saying it's only... _ men, who support trump. i'm not saying it's only... let's _ men, who support trump. i'm not saying it's only... let's be - men, who support trump. i'm not saying it's only... let's be very i saying it's only... let's be very clear, i'm not saying it's working colour people ijanuary the 6th. it's right across the board, it is university educated, not educated men, women and professionals. i

think what is really interesting is the tables are flipped here. the democratic party is not a party so much of the blue—collar worker, it is donald trump that is co—opted that part of the electorate. correct, and although that part of the electorate. correct, and althouthoe biden is known. _ correct, and althouthoe biden is known. it's— correct, and althouthoe biden is known, it's the democrats have been the party— known, it's the democrats have been the party of— known, it's the democrats have been the party of law enforcement and the military _ the party of law enforcement and the military. it's completely different from _ military. it's completely different from when i started out in politics and when — from when i started out in politics and when democrats stood for and republicans stood for. i think everyone _ republicans stood for. i think everyone is... we don't want to argue _ everyone is... we don't want to argue about _ everyone is... we don't want to argue about republicans versus democrats, we want to together for a better— democrats, we want to together for a better future, and that is democrats and independent voters largely and we will— and independent voters largely and we will take the republicans who have rejected donald trump. but that is a trig _ have rejected donald trump. but that is a trig lift— have rejected donald trump. but that is a big lift between now and november 2024. the is a big lift between now and november 2024.— is a big lift between now and november 2024. ., ., november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to _

november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but — november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but this _ november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but this is _ november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but this is this _ november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but this is this is _ november 2024. the reason we thought we'd need to but this is this is a - we'd need to but this is this is a real line in the stands. it shows the amount and that the others have to climb and the likelihood that it will be a trump candidacy next year. with that in mind, and it was touched upon inappropriately, navy, that the ukrainians each work out what's going on. —— maybe. the site in the airhead equipment but because of this building need to work out what they're going to do. find what they're going to do. and ukraine has _ what they're going to do. and ukraine has to _ what they're going to do. and ukraine has to be _ what they're going to do. fific ukraine has to be alert to what they're going to do. fific ukraine has to be alert to the possible changes in american politics. when you look at views on ukraine, germany has been the one who has privately convince them of scepticism about ukraine that has really been scepticism in the us. not least direct conflict with

russia. 0n the point about the nature of the voting trends in the us, ithink nature of the voting trends in the us, i think it's interesting that wherein there is a consequential battleground on almost sole and fundamental issues like to make america great again, i can transcend those normal divisions that there are between the parties. it has been true in the uk over brexit where there were areas of supposedly working—class and northern england that were voting conservative to get brexit done, it's certainly true in scotland where the issue of independence seems to transcend those other class barriers. that's why i think the next election coming up why i think the next election coming up is fraught on different terms and fought... that is at fault on any sort of objective truth at all. it

simply shouting more loudly. i5 simply shouting more loudly. is going to be an interesting year. 20 more debate ahead. we are onlyjust warming up. —— plenty more. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. the threat of more strikes by teachers in england has ended — with all four unions involved in a pay dispute with the government accepting a wage rise of 6.5%. the national education union estimates the average salary will now increase by two—and—a—half thousand pounds. the court of appeal has ruled that members of the public have the right to wild camp in dartmoor national park. injanuary, a high courtjudge ruled that people were prevented from pitching tents overnight without the landowners�* permission, but that's now been overturned. banks offering unjustifiably low savings rates to their customers will face "robust action", the uk's financial watchdog has said. the financial conduct authority's has now set out a 14—point plan to make sure that providers are communicating with savers more

effectively and interest rates are passed on "appropriately". you're live with bbc news. elon musk is in trouble, this time with the san francisco department of building inspection, because he has a giant flashing x on top of his twitter headquarters. this new x sign is emitting a blinding white pulsing light, which is annoying his neighbours in a high—rise on the other side of the street. you can imagine. but is the broader change annoying twitter users? how many have been searching the little blue box only to find it has changed to something that looks like a gym app? why can you still log on to twitter.com and be invited to tweet? is this rebrand the x factor that twitter needed or are you about to give it the bird? some say it's the genius

of the man—child musk, others the biggest marketing bomb since cardiff city started wearing red. the bluebirds! live now to eddie hammerman, brand expert and managing director of the 10 group — a marketing and communications agency. i always think of snicker, marathon bars that turned to snicker as a rebranding fiasco. is this one of them? ~ . ., , rebranding fiasco. is this one of them? ~ .., , �* , rebranding fiasco. is this one of them? , �*, ., them? well, it could be. it's worth notin: them? well, it could be. it's worth rtoting why — them? well, it could be. it's worth rtoting why eton — them? well, it could be. it's worth noting why elon musk _ them? well, it could be. it's worth noting why elon musk has - them? well, it could be. it's worth i noting why elon musk has rebranded in the first place. before twitter was worth $44 billion, is now worth 4 billion. it clearly doesn't have hope for the brand. he wanted to be more like a everything platform, so it's a signal notjust for users, which i haven't gone down too well — but it was to be something

different. it's a real signal to the market want to be something different. more like the app where you can do everything from chapter friends and maybe tweets if we're still falling pleading. you friends and maybe tweets if we're still falling pleading.— still falling pleading. you can't ask or cross _ still falling pleading. you can't ask or cross your _ still falling pleading. you can't ask or cross your friends. i i still falling pleading. you can't i ask or cross your friends. i don't think you can. —— x. it's designed to be and everything up and recognisable brand, but as it fit the other part of it? we all have a certain lexicon in language that we use when we use his services. that's ri . ht, use when we use his services. that's riaht, so use when we use his services. that's right. so he — use when we use his services. that's right. so he is— use when we use his services. that's right, so he is using _ use when we use his services. that's right, so he is using that, _ use when we use his services. that's right, so he is using that, losing i right, so he is using that, losing that, although he probably would want us to tweets i imagine. who knows? i think there's three parts to the brand he's probably interested and happy to lose, which i think is a real shame. 0nly interested and happy to lose, which i think is a real shame. only time will tell. the first is the visual identity. he's losing that little

bluebirds that we're all used to seeing. it was founded in 2006. that goes into this idea of the brand equity, so that's built up over a number of years. in the front the colour. it's notjust the blue, there's a whole colour palette of grays and blacksmith them his his nemesis mark zuckerberg release perez. we finally got this body is similar —— threads. it's something that brands have billed over the he's going lose people along the way. he's going lose people along the wa . ., , he's going lose people along the wa , ., , ., he's going lose people along the wa. ., , ., he's going lose people along the wa. �*, way. could it be a decision he's taken because _ way. could it be a decision he's taken because the _ way. could it be a decision he's taken because the musk - way. could it be a decision he's i taken because the musk ownership way. could it be a decision he's - taken because the musk ownership has

not on very well? people think, "0h, not on very well? people think, "oh, no, elon musk management has been not great," and people are looking at other social media apps. he changes it to x, is a clean sweep? not really because musk is an integral part of the brand and he will have to fight opinion. some people love him, other people don't, and investors and advertisers have moved away from the platform. interestingly, one other brands have decided — and mostly facebook and mehta, when they want to change their name, they still kept facebook and instagram and whatsapp. so they haven't, like musk has done, he's really consigned to the twitter brand to a dustpan around history. 0ther brand to a dustpan around history. other businesses like meta have kept

those and build brands whilst still keeping their vision and purpose for the company for the wider business. meanwhile, the pentagon has approved an agreement to purchase starting... starlink for ukraine, which elon musk will not be able to disconnect. you may recall, starlink terminals supplied to front line troops stopped working in 2022 because musk was limiting its availability on the front lines. so, injune the defence secretary lloyd austin approved a pentagon deal to buy 4 to 500 of these starlink terminals which they now control. mary anne marsh, do you have a problem with elon musk owning this? i do. look at how he wields his power — i do. look at how he wields his power the _ i do. look at how he wields his power. the only one who can make mark zuckerberg looks good is elon musk _ mark zuckerberg looks good is elon musk. he's putting his time on twitter— musk. he's putting his time on twitter for— musk. he's putting his time on twitter for donald trump in 2016, allowing _ twitter for donald trump in 2016, allowing people like kanye west to come _ allowing people like kanye west to come back on the platform after his

really— come back on the platform after his really anti—semitic rants. i can go down _ really anti—semitic rants. i can go down the — really anti—semitic rants. i can go down the list here. i believe he must _ down the list here. i believe he must have _ down the list here. i believe he must have threatened to kick starlink— must have threatened to kick starlink out of ukraine. all of a sudden, — starlink out of ukraine. all of a sudden, he got a one billion contract _ sudden, he got a one billion contract from the us government for space _ contract from the us government for space tasks. i don't think that was coincidental. someone that chris curiel— coincidental. someone that chris curiel has— —— spacex. that's a problem. -- spacex. that's a problem. brian, i wonder whether _ -- spacex. that's a problem. brian, i wonder whether he says _ -- spacex. that's a problem. brian, i wonder whether he says the - i wonder whether he says the pentagon, you need to take this. you need to take us off to me. it seems the opportunity has been seized by the pentagon to avoid this problem for ukraine. they said they use the starlink system and they were basically stranded without it.

with regard to the twitter thing, i'm probably not the one to ask. i have exactly one suite in my entire aduu have exactly one suite in my entire adult life. but x is trying to be primordial and is trying to be... laughter x marks the spot. eddie, thank you very much indeed. we'll be right back. we started off the new working week with another dollop of rain. spice quite proudly and also quite windy as well. so far, we have seen some areas picking up more than three times as much rainfall. it has been very wet. even as the low pressure that brought the rain on monday starts edge away, out in the

atlantic, underneath this trough, we're developing another potential area of low pressure that is set to bring wet and windy weather our way. now over the next few hours, it is a story of the rain across scotland, northern ireland, northern england, gradually turning lighter and a bit patchier in nature. surgery dry further south for southern wales, the midlands, southern counties. —— should be dry. i think the thickest cloud will be across copies of scotland, northeast england. probably a few showers running northwest england and wales, but should be a brighter kind of day. a little bit of sunshine poking out to northern scotland and across wales and parts of southern england as well. heading into tuesday evening and overnight, that area of low pressure on the satellite picture will develop and we'll start to see it swing its way. this will bring a swathe of strong winds running in to the southern flanks. quite wet

weather for northern ireland, northern england, heavy rain into wales and southwest. it is across the southwest of england where we could get customer on 40—50 mph. 50-60 could get customer on 40—50 mph. 50—60 across parts of northern france and the channel islands. it is likely to lead to some localised disruption, a few rebounds and a few ferries could be affected by the strong winds. —— a few trees down. best of the dry weather across scotland, temperatures not that special. not anywhere to be honest. high of about 17—21. the winds get a little bit stronger in northern ireland, but elsewhere, they will gradually calm down. still quite a blustery kind of day on thursday, day of bright spells passing showers. it stays unsettled.

you're live with bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. qatar hosts rare meeting between us and taliban officials as demands and priorities reveal a potential for negotiation. the us special representative

for afghanistan, thomas west is in doha to meet with the foreign minister muttaqi who brought with him representatives from the ministry of finance and the central bank. which tells you the issues discussed were fairly obvious. the taliban wants sanctions dropped, it wants the us to release the frozen assets of the central bank and it wants some of its key figures people taken off the blacklist. the us wants girls to go back to school, women s rights, it wants the taliban to stay out of the un humanitarian operations. but what else? live now tojonathan schroden — director of the cna's countering threats and challenges program. thank you for being with us. huge bomb in pakistan on sunday 35 people. islamic state claims responsibility. the background of this meeting, the united states is interested in its security. it’s this meeting, the united states is interested in its security.— interested in its security. it's one of the 're interested in its security. it's one of they're interested _

interested in its security. it's one of they're interested in, - interested in its security. it's one of they're interested in, human i of they're interested in, human rights and especially women's rights,