we'll start with the champions league draw, which is now done and dusted. defending champions manchester city were handed a pretty favourable draw as they were paired with rb leipzig for the third time in a row, as well as red star belgrade and swiss club young boys. manchester united have been drawn with harry kane's bayern munich in group a, along with fc copenhagen from denmark and turkish side galatasaray. mikel arteta's arsenal, who are playing in their first champions league group stage campaign in seven years, are with europa league—winners sevilla, dutch club psv eindhoven and rc lens of france. atetico madrid have got celtic, lazio and dutch champions feyenoord. but by far the trickiest group is group f, which contains newcastle, paris saint—germain, borussia dortmund and ac milan. well, there's ten games going on tonight in the europa league qualifying play—offs and a further 22 in the europa conference league qualifying play—offs.

to keep up to date with all of them, head to the bbc sport website. uefa president aleksander ceferin has described the behaviour of spanish football federation president luis rubiales as "inappropriate", but he's called for fifa's investigation to be allowed to run its course. rubiales has said he won't resign after he kissed spanish player jenni hermoso on the lips after their world cup win over england. a video has since emerged of hermoso and her team—mates laughing and discussing the kiss on the team bus following the game, but chelsea women's manager, emma hayes, says such a reaction isn't unnatural. we all do lots of different things in shock, one. and, two, i don't look at it like that. i look at a group of women where it's almost been normalised for them.

i think finding a smile is something that is quite shocking reveals an awful lot about the situation rather than the person. i think for someone likejenni hermoso, in her interview directly after the game she was completely uncomfortable, but no one has been listening to them for such a long period of time. at the us open tennis in new york, men's ninth—seed taylor fritz is through to the third round. the american put in a dominant performance as he beat peru'sjuan pablo virallas in straight sets, 6—1, 6—2, 6—2. 2012 champion, britain's andy murray is out. he was beaten by bulgaria's number—19 seed gregor dimitrov in three sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. meanwhile, women's number two seed aryna sabalenka is through to the third round. she beat britain'sjodie burridge in straight sets, 6—3, 6—2.

lewis hamilton and george russell will continue as mercedes�* driver line—up for at least the next two years. it means hamilton will remain on the grid until the end of the 2025 season and well past his 40th birthday, allowing him to continue that quest for that record eighth world drivers�* title. i could not be happier to be extending with this team. we have had such an incredible journey together. i think, had such an incredible journey together. ithink, mercedes had such an incredible journey together. i think, mercedes have supported me since i was 13, so that such a long trip. and we still have unfinished business, so we are in this together. we've got a lot of work to do to get ourselves back to the front, but there is no place i would rather be. cricket, and england's women are taking on sri lanka in the first of a t20 international series at hove.

the game has been shortened to 17 overs each due to weather delays. sri lanka won the toss and decided to bowl. england made 186—4. alice capsey made 51 from just 27 bals, while danni wyatt made 48 from 30. sri lanka are about to begin their innings and that is all the sport for now. the eu's seven—year budget was agreed in 2021, but two years into that seven—year plan, the world looks very different. the eu is spending colossal amounts of money on ukraine, they are paying higher interest rates on the 800 billion euros they borrowed for the covid recovery program, and on top of all that, they are funding a never—ending migrant crisis. and according to some reports, they are now short by 66 billion euros, which is why a budget review is about to begin. but the commission is bound to face some stiff resistance from the more frugal european capitals, who right now are managing their own tight finances. as part of this overhaul of the budget, the european commission

wants further commitments from members on ukraine and some sort of mechanism to handle the debt payments they are facing. professor iain begg is a research fellow at the european institute, london school of economics and political science. good to have you with us tonight. it's been a long—running issue this. france and germany say they want to get the ball rolling. how much agreement are they going to find among the other members? certainly to beain among the other members? certainly to begin with. — among the other members? certainly to begin with. very — among the other members? certainly to begin with, very little. _ among the other members? certainly to begin with, very little. the - among the other members? certainly to begin with, very little. the eu - to begin with, very little. the eu budget has been acrimonious since britainjoined the budget has been acrimonious since britain joined the european budget has been acrimonious since britainjoined the european union in 1973. in other countries have continued to adopt a rather negative position towards the budget that the uk gives to have, hence the expression you just use of the frugal four coming expression you just use of the frugalfour coming on the expression you just use of the frugal four coming on the scene, four northern european countries were very resistant to a higher

european budget. what you just described is a midterm review of the current seven year framework. that was always going to happen. what nobody knew at the time when announcing a review was what will be the central piece of it, namely having to find the money for ukraine, and that is what he put severe tensions in the negotiations on what happens next. for severe tensions in the negotiations on what happens next.— severe tensions in the negotiations on what happens next. for some this miaht on what happens next. for some this might seem — on what happens next. for some this might seem like _ on what happens next. for some this might seem like a _ on what happens next. for some this might seem like a dry _ on what happens next. for some this might seem like a dry subject, - on what happens next. for some this might seem like a dry subject, but i might seem like a dry subject, but it's really important because the eu has to be seen as a responsible issuer of debt and it has to stand on its own two feet. so what happens if this conversation stalls? in on its own two feet. so what happens if this conversation stalls?— if this conversation stalls? in one way. nothing. — if this conversation stalls? in one way, nothing, because— if this conversation stalls? in one way, nothing, because the - way, nothing, because the arrangements are already in place for both servicing the debt, which means paying the interest, and after 2028, repaying the debt. where difficulty arises is the debt has a priority. it's the first thing that have to be repaid, something that the british government has already found to its cost with the rising interest payments. it only after

that can you consider what happens to all the other things you want to spend money on. when way of putting it is that they have discretion over all the things they want to spend money on but they don't have discretion on paying the debt. 0r servicing the debt. so that's where the real antagonism is going to arise. some countries would say particularly in northern europe simply cut the headline total and therefore squeezed the money that goes to agriculture, to regional development and other things. 0thers development and other things. others would say we have to increase the amount we take from individual countries so that we can simultaneously deal with the new demands, particularly interest payments, and not have to cut existing policies. in payments, and not have to cut existing policies.— payments, and not have to cut existing policies. in short what it really needs _ existing policies. in short what it really needs is _ existing policies. in short what it really needs is this _ existing policies. in short what it really needs is this debate - existing policies. in short what it really needs is this debate been | really needs is this debate been running since the 1980s, what the eu really needs is its own resources, some sort of financial pot that money drips into constantly. i know there is a document that is

circulating about maybe a corporate sector levy, the financial transaction tax is back on the agenda. if that was to be brought in, how might that affect the uk if you had a transaction tax across europe, presumably that would affect how the city of london trades. {lin how the city of london trades. on financial transactions, tax on its own, the effect on the uk would be negligible. i think we would lose sight of the fact that we already have various financial transaction taxes in the uk such as on share purchases or even housing. the levy on housing is quite significant. but to go back to your question underlying this, at present, nearly 90% of the eu's revenue comes from direct payments coming from the individual countries. this is what is known in the jargon as national contributions, and only a small amount comes from erroneous sources, the customs duties imposed by the

eu, which is a revenue source directly up obligated to the eu level. fora directly up obligated to the eu level. for a long time, there has been a demand particularly from the european commission and european parliament that real owed taxes ought to fund the eu. member states resist and that's why you have this standoff going on all the time. now there is no shortage of candidates for what you can use as an eu owned it resource. you mention the ftt or could be what is called the carbon border adjustment mechanism where you tax imports coming in because they've got so much carbon. it could be an extension of vat or any number of things. the trouble is that is a need to get into that kind of detail, one country or another is going to say that makes things worse for me and is good for you. to give one concrete example, france generates a high proportion of its ost generates a high proportion of its 0st through nuclear. some would say far—sighted in the 19705 and some would say a mistake, but the fact is

there. if you impo5e would say a mistake, but the fact is there. if you impose a carbon tax at there. if you impose a carbon tax at the european level, france would pay less in poland would pay more so that's the difficulty you would get into. , ., , ,., that's the difficulty you would get into. , ., ,,., ., ., into. interesting. professor, good to talk to you _ into. interesting. professor, good to talk to you this _ into. interesting. professor, good to talk to you this evening, - into. interesting. professor, good to talk to you this evening, thank| to talk to you this evening, thank you. to talk to you this evening, thank ou. ., ~' to talk to you this evening, thank ou. ., ~ , ., it is known as the road of life, the only route that connects 120,000 ethnic armenians living in azerbaijan's nagorno—karabakh region with the republic of armenia. but for nearly nine months, the lachin corridor has been blocked by azerbaijani troop5, resulting in a severe shortages of everthing — food, medicine, fuel, you name it. it is cut off and forgotten at least by the outside world. no independent media have been able to reach the nagorno—kara bakh enclave. photos and videos of empty shops have been circulating on social media, with reports that people are fainting in bread cue5. local authorities say one in three deaths is due to malnutrition. it is ethnic cleansing by starvation. so why is nothing being done?

with us tonight from la, serj tankian. he is the lead singer of the armenian—american heavy metal band system of a down. and artak beglaryan, advisor to to the state minister of the art5akh/karabakh republic. thank you both for being with us this evening. serj tankian, nagorno—karabakh doe5 this evening. serj tankian, nagorno—karabakh does not appear on any maps and it does not seem at this moment in time to be featuring in the public consciousness outside armenia. why? fix, in the public consciousness outside armenia- why?— in the public consciousness outside armenia. why? a lot has to do with the amount — armenia. why? a lot has to do with the amount of— armenia. why? a lot has to do with the amount of caviar— armenia. why? a lot has to do with the amount of caviar diplomacy - armenia. why? a lot has to do with j the amount of caviar diplomacy that azerbaijan i5 the amount of caviar diplomacy that azerbaijan is exercised throughout europe, throughout the uk, throughout germany and france and a lot of members of parliament have been caught with azerbaijani money in their pockets. they have bought a lot of influence. part of it has to

do with azerbaijani oil going through europe. a lot of russian oil has been repackaged to go through azerbaijani pipelines to europe, so a lot has to do with geopolitics unfortunately. there are 120,000 unfortunately. there are 120 , 000 people, unfortunately. there are 120,000 people, 30,000 of which are children, they are literally on the brink of starvation, and for nine months this blockade has been going on. the whole world has been basically telling azerbaijan they have to open this court order. there are two united nations court of justice decrease telling azerbaijan to open the lachin corridor. the european court of human rights, amnesty international, human rights watch, every country in the world has condemned them and they are not budging. so the question is are we going to act or are we going to allow another genocide of armenians, this time in this century, the 21st century, to occur. the only way to... , century, to occur. the only way to," , ., century, to occur. the only way to... , ., , , , to... sorry to interrupt because i wanted to _ to... sorry to interrupt because i wanted to ask _ to... sorry to interrupt because i wanted to ask people _ to... sorry to interrupt because i wanted to ask people might - to... sorry to interrupt because i wanted to ask people might not| to... sorry to interrupt because i - wanted to ask people might not have an idea but of the geography of this

area. can you explain to us why this lachin corridor i5 area. can you explain to us why this lachin corridor is the only way in and the only way out?— lachin corridor is the only way in and the only way out? there was a war in 2020 _ and the only way out? there was a war in 2020 when _ and the only way out? there was a war in 2020 when azerbaijan - and the only way out? there was a j war in 2020 when azerbaijan along with turkey attacked the region and they took a lot of territories. there was a cease—fire in november of 2021. thereafter with armenia. according to the tripartite cease—fire between russia, armenia and azerbaijan, azerbaijan had to leave this court or open as a humanitarian leaking armenia to nagorno—karabakh for food supplies, humanitarian supplies, etc. and of course nine months ago that lachin corridor wa5 course nine months ago that lachin corridor was blocked and closed by azerbaijan. corridor was blocked and closed by azerbai'an. , , ., azerbai'an. then they bring in our other azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest _ azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest he — azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest he was _ azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest he was with - azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest he was with us. - azerbaijan. then they bring in our other guest he was with us. you | azerbaijan. then they bring in our- other guest he was with us. you have obviously been deeply involved in this for some time. in years gone pa5t, moscow would have been the

peace broker here and would have brought the two sides together, but of course they are focusing on the ukraine war. so why is it so difficult for moscow to get involved and to intermediate your? thank you. actuall as and to intermediate your? thank you. actually as serj _ and to intermediate your? thank you. actually as serj tankian _ and to intermediate your? thank you. actually as serj tankian explained, i actually as serj tankian explained, it is mostly— actually as serj tankian explained, it is mostly geopolitics. since there — it is mostly geopolitics. since there is— it is mostly geopolitics. since there is a _ it is mostly geopolitics. since there is a high tension and i would say conflict — there is a high tension and i would say conflict between russia and the west, _ say conflict between russia and the west. we _ say conflict between russia and the west, we are collateral victims of this conflict. and also the attention of the international community is mostly focused on the ukrainian _ community is mostly focused on the ukrainian conflict. but because azerbaijani territory have influential ties and interest both with russia and also the west, that's— with russia and also the west, that's why the west and russia are not quite _

that's why the west and russia are not quite practical in preventing and suspending the genocide here. unfortunately, we are the victims of that situation, and please note that in the _ that situation, and please note that in the world, we are, nagorno—karabakh, the only place to be besieged. and actually under total isolation from the international community. no international community. no international organisation, no humanitarian organisation, even the un, can _ humanitarian organisation, even the un, can enter here because azerbaijan blocks not only our people. — azerbaijan blocks not only our people, not only any cargo, any humanitarian essentials, food, medication, etc to enter, but also international monitoring groups. even _ international monitoring groups. even un — international monitoring groups. even un experts, un human rights hi-h even un experts, un human rights high commissioner is not allowed to access_ high commissioner is not allowed to access here. and high commissioner is not allowed to access here-— access here. and have people do we think are still _ access here. and have people do we

think are still there? _ access here. and have people do we think are still there? we _ access here. and have people do we think are still there? we have - access here. and have people do we think are still there? we have over. think are still there? we have over 120,000 people- _ think are still there? we have over 120,000 people. with _ think are still there? we have over 120,000 people. with no - think are still there? we have over 120,000 people. with no food, . think are still there? we have over 120,000 people. with no food, noj think are still there? we have over- 120,000 people. with no food, no way to net food 120,000 people. with no food, no way to get food into — 120,000 people. with no food, no way to get food into 120,000 people? - 120,000 people. with no food, no way to get food into 120,000 people? so l to get food into 120,000 people? so they have not been able to get any access because i know they have a staged food at the checkpoint but that's not been taken in? actually since june that's not been taken in? actually since june the _ that's not been taken in? actually since june the 15th, _ that's not been taken in? actually since june the 15th, icrc- that's not been taken in? actually since june the 15th, icrc and - since june the 15th, icrc and russian _ since june the 15th, icrc and russian peacekeepers are not allowed to supply _ russian peacekeepers are not allowed to supply any food or medication. icrc to supply any food or medication. icrc it _ to supply any food or medication. icrc it is — to supply any food or medication. icrc it is only allowed to transfer some _ icrc it is only allowed to transfer some emergency patients from nagorno—karabakh to armenia. nothing else. nagorno—karabakh to armenia. nothing else and _ nagorno—karabakh to armenia. nothing else. and just imagine if there is no food, — else. and just imagine if there is no food, just this shop, one of the biggest _ no food, just this shop, one of the biggest shops of nagorno—karabakh is fully empty. and there is nothing. the bread — fully empty. and there is nothing. the bread supply, no. 0n fully empty. and there is nothing. the bread supply, no. on this stage, is already— the bread supply, no. on this stage, is already over 50% of the whole

demand — is already over 50% of the whole demand. there is no flower because they are _ demand. there is no flower because they are shooting our farmers, we don't _ they are shooting our farmers, we don't have — they are shooting our farmers, we don't have enough fuel in order to transport — don't have enough fuel in order to transport the flower and the wheat to the _ transport the flower and the wheat to the capital city. and many other problems — to the capital city. and many other problems. we don't have enough vegetables. we have only potatoes, some _ vegetables. we have only potatoes, some potatoes, some meat and some tomato. _ some potatoes, some meat and some tomato. the _ some potatoes, some meat and some tomato. the rest don't exist. and more _ tomato. the rest don't exist. and more than — tomato. the rest don't exist. and more than 90% of the pregnant women have malnutrition. when miscarriages are multiplied, etc, etc. let have malnutrition. when miscarriages are multiplied, etc, etc.— are multiplied, etc, etc. let me cive the are multiplied, etc, etc. let me give the last — are multiplied, etc, etc. let me give the last word _ are multiplied, etc, etc. let me give the last word to _ are multiplied, etc, etc. let me give the last word to you, - are multiplied, etc, etc. let me give the last word to you, serj l give the last word to you, serj tankian. clearly a blockade is easier to deal with than a conflict but i imagine at some point the armenian government will have to make a decision. how close you think we are to conflict here? that clearly cannot let 120,000 people die but it does not seem as if the

azerbaijan government are going to lift the blockade. trio azerbaijan government are going to lift the blockade.— azerbaijan government are going to lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying _ lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying to _ lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying to block _ lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying to block for _ lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying to block for the - lift the blockade. no one wants war. we are trying to block for the war. we are trying to block for the war but we are dealing with the government and azerbaijan that does not care. is a dictatorship, and it just does not care what the international community is saying. they are isolated. they don't allow free journalists to actually come into country. the rights and security of the people of nagorno—karabakh are being trampled upon, and food is being used as weaponisation of starvation, which is what the former icc prosecutor called the weapon of genocide. you know, there is complicity in a lot of countries right now. the uk, for example, is the largest investor in azerbaijan. bp and their oil pipelines have given azerbaijan a huge tremendous advantage to deliver to europe, but the uk has been at, you know, they have not criticised azerbaijan because the business they are doing there. and yesterday, for

example, the mayor of paris was at the lachin corridor with ten trucks of humanitarian aid that azerbaijan would not allow in. i think it's time the uk uses its influence in azerbaijan to bring aid of the people before mass starvation and genocide occur. it’s people before mass starvation and genocide occur.— genocide occur. it's an important issue and people _ genocide occur. it's an important issue and people should - genocide occur. it's an important issue and people should read - genocide occur. it's an important i issue and people should read about nagorno—karabakh. it's good to lift the lid on what is happening at the moment and we are grateful for your time this evening. thank you to you, serj tankian, and also thank you for bothjoining us very serj tankian, and also thank you for both joining us very much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. meet with the litter man of leicestershire, scott gibbins. whether it's car parks, pavements or lay bys, scott's there with his bags and litter—picker. i'm out most times early doors because i beat the traffic and all that. but on that, a couple of hours on a saturday,

i do a group—pick on sunday for two or three hours and a pick before the group—pick. and then i'll work, i'll work at a big airfield and i'll try and pick at least one or two bags every day there. you're quite dedicated. addicted, and dedicated. absolutely love it, absolutely love it. you've got the fresh air, exercise, a sense of achievement when you look back at what you've done and how many bags you've filled. i do it for the wildlife. so far this year, he's filled around 900 bags. that works out very roughly at three tonnes of litter. scott, who's 55 next week, says as long as there's litter around, he can't help but pick it up. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. chief constables in england and wales will be given new powers to sack hundreds of officers who are deemed unfit to serve. under the new system, a finding of gross misconduct will automatically result in a police officer's dismissal unless there

are exceptional circumstances. senior officers will also chair the independent panels considering each case. public trust in the police has fallen in recent years after the failure to expose wayne couzens, who murdered sarah everard, and david carrick, who was convicted of 85 rapes and serious assault. with me now is unmesh desai, london assembly member for labour and the deputy chair of the assembly police committee. thank you for being on the programme. i mean, there has been a crisis in policing and we clearly need to rebuild public trust. is this the way to do it?- need to rebuild public trust. is this the way to do it? indeed. look at my public— this the way to do it? indeed. look at my public trust _ this the way to do it? indeed. look at my public trust in _ this the way to do it? indeed. look at my public trust in policing i this the way to do it? indeed. look at my public trust in policing in i at my public trust in policing in our country is at an all—time low. we have had cases like wayne couzens, michael carrick, the two sisters and in case after case, there have been police officers,

corrupt police officers who have been living down the police force. there is pressure for change. the report actually makes a very strong recommendations, and one of the recommendations, and one of the recommendations was that the to get rid of police officers who are guilty of committing offences amounting to gross misconduct, the police officers should be weeded out as quickly as possible. that is the only way that we will restore public trust in our police forces. here only way that we will restore public trust in our police forces.— trust in our police forces. here is the issue- -- _ trust in our police forces. here is the issue... this _ trust in our police forces. here is the issue... this is _ trust in our police forces. here is the issue... this is been an i the issue... this is been an embarrassment _ the issue... this is been an embarrassment for - the issue... this is been an embarrassment for quite i the issue... this is been an i embarrassment for quite some the issue... this is been an - embarrassment for quite some time. here are the issue as they are so called officers of the crown so they don't have a right to claim unfair dismissal. and with the police federation is a is the best way of ensuring there is a fair outcome is by having this legally qualified chair, the independent adviser on the panel to ensure the procedure is carried out properly. there is a

fear within the federation that if you put the chief constables in charge of that, the chief council becomes a judge and jury. i charge of that, the chief council becomes a judge and jury. becomes a 'udge and “my. i think this is a becomes a judge and “my. i think this is a myth h becomes a judge and “my. i think this is a myth or i becomes a judge and jury. i think this is a myth or presentation i becomes a judge and jury. i think this is a myth or presentation ofl this is a myth or presentation of the reality of the situation as i understand it and is it is going to be. it will depend on three people. yes, it will be chaired by the chief constable or a senior officer. the chief accountable after all is the employer. of the police officer who is being disciplined. there will be a legally qualified person sitting on the panel, so legally they will be represented and also there will be represented and also there will be an independent person as well so it is a panel of three people. the chief council has operational knowledge and the chief constable will be chairing it but there will be a right of appeal to police tribunal in the hearing will be in the public so it is all transparent. the police officer who is facing these charges, allegations will be legally represented. so i think you will be a very fair system and let

us be very clear... let will be a very fair system and let us be very clear. . ._ will be a very fair system and let us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the — us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the point _ us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the point is _ us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the point is here _ us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the point is here is - us be very clear... let me intervene on this, the point is here is a i on this, the point is here is a new system would not have prevented eight wayne couzens, would it? it would not have stop the behaviour of david kerrick. that would not have stop the behaviour of david kerrick.— david kerrick. that is what the chan . es david kerrick. that is what the changes are — david kerrick. that is what the changes are being _ david kerrick. that is what the changes are being made i david kerrick. that is what the changes are being made to i david kerrick. that is what the | changes are being made to the david kerrick. that is what the i changes are being made to the rules governing police officers and processes with vetting and performance processes. so for instance officer is in a probationary officer or somebody already in service and they have a check on their offences and they are not declared or have not come to light. so it is actually a very fundamental sort of changes in police processes. let me repeat, i think that the crisis in policing right now is such a we need to take some strong action to restore public trust and confidence. all political parties are supporting these changes in the public wants these changes and is soon or we have them, the better. and we should look this move that we've been calling for for a

long time. and we have had the absolute scandal of the officers who got away with. .. committed absolute scandal of the officers who got away with... committed offences which take a long time to be heard and can take a long time again to discipline with the process. to be carried out. i’m discipline with the process. to be carried out-— carried out. i'm out of time but i aet our carried out. i'm out of time but i get your point- _ carried out. i'm out of time but i get your point. maybe _ carried out. i'm out of time but i get your point. maybe we'll- carried out. i'm out of time but i get your point. maybe we'll lookj carried out. i'm out of time but i i get your point. maybe we'll look at this will save vetting, it starts with vetting but i was like there is a debate around whether this is the right approach. thank you for your time this evening. we are back after the break. hello there. low pressure and its weather fronts brought a rather cloudy, damp day to many central, southern and western parts of the uk. quite a bit of sunshine, though, across scotland and north—east england. as we head into friday, this area of low pressure will be weakening, fizzling out and conditions will be improving. as we head into the weekend, into next week, high pressure will bring dry, sunny, warm weather for many of us. so these weather fronts, then, continue to bring outbreaks of rain through the evening and overnight. we could see an area of thundery

rain move through the channel. may just graze southern counties of england. certainly wet nights in store for the channel islands. further north, rather cloudy with some patchy light rain and drizzle. quite a mild night in the south, but under clear skies in scotland, it'll be quite chilly. so, for friday, we start off with plenty of sunshine across most of scotland. southern scotland, northern ireland, northern england will see this weakening weather front, some spots of rain on it. it'll also be brightening up across other parts of england and wales through the afternoon. some sunshine, also a few showers on the heavy side in places, and feeling warmer, up to 22 degrees. as we move through friday night, that weather front across central areas will continue to fizzle out. clouds break up, and we'll see increasing clear skies. but that way leads to mist and fog to develop by dawn, certainly across parts of england, wales, into northern ireland. a mild night to come again first thing saturday, but it's not going to be quite as much as what we'll expect tonight. weekend, then, is looking dry, sunny and warm thanks to high pressure building in. there mayjust be the odd shower,

and we will see these weather fronts just flirting with the far north of scotland. 0therwise, most places will be fine and settled. we do start, though, with the mist and fog, some low cloud through saturday morning. and then that will tend to lift and burn away, and we should see plenty of sunshine. could develop into just the odd isolated shower across england and wales, but most places will be dry. it'll feel warmer — up to 23 degrees in the south, 20 degrees through central and eastern scotland. sunday, we do it all again. again, some early mist and fog. that'll clear to plenty of sunshine. this weather front will bring some wetter and breezier weather to the north and west of scotland. 18 degrees there for stornoway, but warmer further south. 21t—25 degrees across some central and southern areas. and that fine, dry, sunny, warm weather continues for the upcoming week, but towards the end of the week, we'll start to see some showers moving in off the atlantic. take care.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. your first priority? first of all i'll get my feet in the door and pay tribute to my predecessor. is grant shappsjust going to be a political appointee whose primary task, if you like, will be to support the prime minister in cabinet,

or is he going to really understand the needs of defence? in terms of what the prime minister is trying to achieve with this, - which is having someone in- the ministry of defence who you can trust on ukraine but also with lots of very tricky spending decisions l coming up and what the pledge will i be going into an election, i think. grant shapps ticks that box. a new secretary of defence. rishi sunak shakes the pack, but is grant shapps the right man to lead the uk's armed forces? we will get the thoughts tonight of general lord dannat former chief of the general staff. also with us on our panel tonight andrew fisher, former director of policy for the labour party under jeremy corbyn, and lanhee chen, formerforeign policy adviser to mitt romney. one important part of grant shapps�* brief — the south china sea. we have a special report tonight

on the united states joint exercises in the region.