particularly where you see gusts in excess of 60 mph. not only that, we expect the rain to really bring some impact, certainly across scotland, where there is a rain warning, and northern ireland. surface water issues. the trees are in full leaf at the moment, so blocked drains could be a problem as well. lots of houses out there, but it is yellow warnings so be prepared for some pretty awful weather, and his sweeping from the south—west towards the north—east. sweeping from the south-west towards the north-east— the north-east. these storms are very much — the north-east. these storms are very much a _ the north-east. these storms are very much a seasonal _ the north-east. these storms are| very much a seasonal thing, aren't they? very much a seasonal thing, aren't the ? , , , , they? yes. this is the first seasonal _ they? yes. this is the first seasonal storm. _ they? yes. this is the first seasonal storm. the - they? yes. this is the first | seasonal storm. the season they? yes. this is the first - seasonal storm. the season starts they? yes. this is the first _ seasonal storm. the season starts on the 1st of september, and as you said this is the first named storm. interestingly for september what we tend to find, because we are at the peak of the hurricane season across the other side of the atlantic, sometimes these x hurricanes get picked up by ourjet stream, and obviously modified because of the cooler waters of the north atlantic and they can influence the depressions which then tracked

across the uk, bringing may a bit more energy to the system, more moisture and stronger winds. but interestingly, the other thing is thejet stream is positioned currently so we are in the firing line for any depressions that get spawned across the mid—atlantic. things are in a blocked situation because high pressure is sitting across europe, so everything is aligned, which means we are seeing quite a lot of rain and that has been the case over the last few weeks. ~ , , ~ , weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect — weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect rain _ weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect rain first _ weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect rain first and _ weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect rain first and then - weeks. well, yes. within this storm to be expect rain first and then the | to be expect rain first and then the wind, or the other way round? is it possible that it willjust blow off the coast, the northern coast of the uk? �* , ., the coast, the northern coast of the uk? �* , c, a, , the coast, the northern coast of the uk? a c, a, , the coast, the northern coast of the uk? a, , , c, uk? it's a really good question. the rain has been _ uk? it's a really good question. the rain has been moving _ uk? it's a really good question. the rain has been moving in _ uk? it's a really good question. the rain has been moving in first. - uk? it's a really good question. the rain has been moving in first. the i rain has been moving in first. the strongest winds are always associated with the centre or the tightness of the final circle of the low pressure system, so from now onwards, right the way through the

afternoon they are likely. but because of the nature of this low most of it will be over the sea, over the irish sea and the north channel, so we are likely to see the highest wins there. but as the low pressure system and that centre of the low tracks across scotland, that's when we will see the wind really picking up across eastern and northern parts of scotland. that's where the greatest impacts will be. but it's windy wherever you are. there is rain across wales and the west country coming and going and the brightest most blustery weather is central and eastern areas, where you might think what on earth is going on. the other side of the country, there's a lot of impact potentially through the next 12 hours. ., potentially through the next 12 hours. . ., ~ , ., the actor and television host laurence fox has been suspended by gb news over sexist comments he made about a journalist. he'd been speaking about ava evans, the political correspondent for thejoe website. gb news says his remarks were completely unacceptable. in a statement, they said... "we have formally

suspended laurence fox, while we continue our investigation". live now to our media and arts correspondent david sillito. david, what more can you tell us about what was said, and to what extent it was unacceptable to gb news and the wider audience? let’s news and the wider audience? let's set this into — news and the wider audience? let's set this into some _ news and the wider audience? let's set this into some sort _ news and the wider audience? let�*s set this into some sort of context. this all began with a debate on bbc news. ava evans was talking to a comedian and they were discussing theissue, comedian and they were discussing the issue, should there be a ministerfor men? after that, gb news decided to have a discussion between the presenter, dan wootton, and laurence fox about those comments by ava evans, and laurence fox was asked what he thought of it. the comments he made were very personal indeed and i'm not going to repeat all of them, but one of the comments was, what self—respecting

man would climb into bed with her? these were very personal and very offensive remarks. through it all, it went on for a couple of minutes or so, it went on for a couple of minutes orso, dan it went on for a couple of minutes or so, dan wootton looked as though he was smiling and nodding as he went along with it. there has been outrage. gb news, which in the past has made a virtue of saying it is there as a bastion of free speech and opposing counsel culture but said it has immediately suspended laurence fox as a contributor and they say the comments were totally unacceptable and what he said does not reflect our values and we apologise unreservedly. dan wootton has also apologised unreservedly. he said, "i can see now how inappropriate my reaction to laurence fox �*s totally unacceptable remarks were and i was in no way amused by the comments. it was shock and disbelief at what he was saying and disbelief at what he was saying and what he said was offensive and

misogynistic remarks." find and what he said was offensive and misogynistic remarks. "— misogynistic remarks." and what about the lady — misogynistic remarks." and what about the lady herself? - misogynistic remarks." and what about the lady herself? she - misogynistic remarks." and what about the lady herself? she said | misogynistic remarks." and what - about the lady herself? she said she was physically _ about the lady herself? she said she was physically sickened _ about the lady herself? she said she was physically sickened by _ about the lady herself? she said she was physically sickened by what - about the lady herself? she said she was physically sickened by what she | was physically sickened by what she heard on air about her, appalled by the comments. you know, this is blanket condemnation. the one person who stood by it is laurence fox who said gb news knew what he was going to say and he is not going to apologise to what he calls "the mob. is there a question for the regulator here?— is there a question for the reuulator here? . , _, , , regulator here? certainly, completes have one regulator here? certainly, completes have gone into _ regulator here? certainly, completes have gone into ofcom and _ regulator here? certainly, completes have gone into ofcom and they - regulator here? certainly, completes have gone into ofcom and they said i have gone into 0fcom and they said they will look at this exchange. david, thank you. you can buy pretty much anything online these days, but priceless ancient artefacts are usually off the table. that is until last month when valuable items disappeared from the british museum and turned up on ebay. 0ur correspondent joe inwood has more.

have you come across any priceless antiquities — a bronze age earring, a roman bracelet, an egyptian engraving of a goddess fighting a four—headed snake, or this roman carving of a dolphin? priceless items like these could have been unwittingly purchased by the public. their location — unknown. and that's what the british museum is hoping they can find out. they've launched this special website to see if the public can help identify some of the 2,000 pieces from their collection that have gone missing. they've also told us for the first time exactly what has been lost. it's mostly pieces ofjewellery and gems from greece or rome. it all follows the revelation last month that items from the museum's collections had turned up for sale on ebay, being sold for a fraction of their true value. an unnamed member of staff was fired, the director resigned and a police investigation was launched. it was all hugely embarrassing for

this british cultural institution. the museum is trying to recover not only its artefacts, but also its reputation. joe inwood, bbc news. new rules that were supposed to protect the countryside and wildlife from developments have been delayed. the aim of the flagship laws was to make developers improve nature when they take on new building projects — and they were due to come into force in november. but now, they're not expected until the new year. as claire marshall reports. whenever something is built, there's almost always a cost to the natural world. lost green spaces or trees and hedges cut down. with the uk's wildlife in devastating decline, a law was passed to force developers in england to improve habitats either on the building site itself or as close to it as possible

called biodiversity net gain or bmg, it could see more schemes like this one intensively farmed fields brought up to be turned into wildlife rich havens. schemes that bring land back to life like these wetlands. these rules were due to come into force in november. but the bbc understands they now won't be introduced until next year at the earliest. there's been a lot of time and a lot of preparation. a lot of developers have done a lot of work to prepare for bmg and a lot of local authorities have had to do that as well. so it feels unnecessary really for there to be a delay. and we're quite...quite shocked that that's where we've ended up. we need the government to take action and to invest in making sure that we deliver on those targets and those commitments. we've had weeks of political uncertainty from water pollution to net zero, and this is another signal to those who are trying to get a grip on the biodiversity crisis here in the uk, whether it's conservationists or developers, they need some certainty.

plotting out space for wildlife like this in the planning process will come down to local councils. but they say they have not been given they say they have not been given the resources to make it happen. what we have found from our survey is that 61% of public sector planners say they can't yet confirm whether they have got that expertise and resources in place. we would want to see any delay minimise without additional resource brought in. what about the home builders themselves? most seem keen to make it work, but they say the delay and a lack of guidance has left them in limbo. everybody wants to see bmg happen. everybody wants to see it made a success. what we're really talking about and we're all talking about is the government preparing and publishing the guidance to help that transition be as smooth as possible. even in the most urban of developments, green areas can be designed in as a refuge

for living things. the government's advisers on nature say more will be done to make sure building does become greener. so we're working really, really hard to get this scheme up and running as well, working closely with colleagues in government so in defra and the department for levelling up. it is for them, in terms of the actual commencement date as well. we know they're wanting to get this implemented, but we also know that people need guidance and information to get it off the ground as well. so that's what we're waiting for. and as soon as that's out, we're ready to go. the government says it has given more than £15 million to deliver the delayed scheme. the government told the bbc it's still fully committed to biodiversity net gain and details on final implementation would be set out soon. for now, though, frustrated developers and conservationists are left wondering which direction the government will take next. claire marshall, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather.

good afternoon. this was the calm before the storm because agnes is well and truly bearing down across the united kingdom and ireland. the signature swirl of cloud around that deepened area of low pressure, which is not only bringing heavy rain, but gale force, if not severe gale force winds, as it tracks its way north and east. this is where we expect the potentially destructive winds with gusts up to 50 mph inland — enough to bring down some power lines and the odd tree. in extremities, we could see gusts of 70 or 75 mph over coastal areas and the hills. that, combined with the heavy rain, particularly for scotland and northern ireland, giving some disruption and hazardous conditions. away from southern and eastern areas it is a tale of two seasons today. it will feel quite summer—like i should imagine, and warm in the south and east, but wetter weather further north and west, with heavy showers across western parts of england, and wales. 22 or 23 celsius in the sunshine.

staying largely fine and dry in 0rkney and shetland, but then this evening the rain and wind picks up across scotland. so a warm or milder night than last night with so much wind and cloud around. and still quite a bit of cloud tomorrow morning but it should lift and clear, and we will see some sunshine materialising. quite a lot of dry weather for central and eastern parts but another weather front is moving in from the west. giving some sunshine, although not as warm as today, we will still reach the high teens, and possibly 20 across the south—east. still feeling pleasant. but then the weather fronts converge during the evening and overnight with heavy, thundery showers and brisk winds around those showers across southern areas. by friday morning it finally clears away, leaving sunny spells and showers in scotland and northern ireland, but a good deal of dry and bright weather on friday to end

the working week. as we move into the weekend, more wet weather on the way. it is all about storm agnes at the moment. more detail on the website, including the weather warnings, but do take care with those gales and heavy rain.

live from london — this is bbc news.

plans to develop the uk's largest untapped oil and gas field off the coast of scotland are approved by regulators. at least 115 people die in a fire at an iraqi wedding party. state media says arrest warrants have been issued for the venue's owners. a 15—year—old schoolgirl is stabbed to death on a south london bus. a teenage boy has been arrested. north korea will expel an american soldier who crossed the dmz — after saying he claimed �*inhumane' treatment in the us army. hello, i'm rich preston, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the go—ahead has been given to develop the uk's largest untapped oil and gas field in the north sea. rosebank, which is 80 miles west of shetland,

is expected to produce the equivalent of 300 million