it to deal with the sort of crises it had dealt — to deal with the sort of crises it had dealt with _ to deal with the sort of crises it had dealt with previously, - to deal with the sort of crises it had dealt with previously, i'm i to deal with the sort of crises it - had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign— had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office _ had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office so _ had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office so if— had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office so if you - had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office so if you look- had dealt with previously, i'm from the foreign office so if you look at| the foreign office so if you look at and evacuation _ the foreign office so if you look at and evacuation from _ the foreign office so if you look at and evacuation from afghanistan i the foreign office so if you look atl and evacuation from afghanistan or lebanon. _ and evacuation from afghanistan or lebanon. those _ and evacuation from afghanistan or lebanon, those were _ and evacuation from afghanistan or lebanon, those were segmented . and evacuation from afghanistan or- lebanon, those were segmented crises which involve _ lebanon, those were segmented crises which involve a — lebanon, those were segmented crises which involve a relatively— lebanon, those were segmented crises which involve a relatively small - which involve a relatively small number — which involve a relatively small number of _ which involve a relatively small number of government- which involve a relatively small - number of government departments. the machine — number of government departments. the machine is — number of government departments. the machine is equipped _ number of government departments. the machine is equipped to— number of government departments. the machine is equipped to deal- number of government departments. the machine is equipped to deal with| the machine is equipped to deal with that and _ the machine is equipped to deal with that and i_ the machine is equipped to deal with that and i think— the machine is equipped to deal with that and i think it— the machine is equipped to deal with that and i think it deals _ the machine is equipped to deal with that and i think it deals with - the machine is equipped to deal with that and i think it deals with it - that and i think it deals with it relatively— that and i think it deals with it relatively efficiently, - that and i think it deals with it relatively efficiently, even - that and i think it deals with it relatively efficiently, even if. relatively efficiently, even if there — relatively efficiently, even if there are _ relatively efficiently, even if there are always _ relatively efficiently, even if there are always bound - relatively efficiently, even if there are always bound to l relatively efficiently, even ifl there are always bound to be relatively efficiently, even if- there are always bound to be ways to improve _ there are always bound to be ways to improve the — there are always bound to be ways to improve. the difference _ there are always bound to be ways to improve. the difference in _ there are always bound to be ways to improve. the difference in this- there are always bound to be ways to improve. the difference in this case i improve. the difference in this case is rather— improve. the difference in this case is rather than — improve. the difference in this case is rather than a _ improve. the difference in this case is rather than a segmented - improve. the difference in this case is rather than a segmented crisis. is rather than a segmented crisis covering — is rather than a segmented crisis covering four— is rather than a segmented crisis covering four or _ is rather than a segmented crisis covering four or five _ is rather than a segmented crisis covering four or five different - covering four or five different government _ covering four or five different government departments, i covering four or five different - government departments, you've got a whole _ government departments, you've got a whole of— government departments, you've got a whole of government _ government departments, you've got a whole of government crisis _ government departments, you've got a whole of government crisis which - whole of government crisis which meahs_ whole of government crisis which means every— whole of government crisis which means every government - whole of government crisis which - means every government department is dealing _ means every government department is dealing with — means every government department is dealing with a _ means every government department is dealing with a major _ means every government department is dealing with a major departmental- dealing with a major departmental set of— dealing with a major departmental set of issues — dealing with a major departmental set of issues for _ dealing with a major departmental set of issues for which _ dealing with a major departmental set of issues for which many - dealing with a major departmental set of issues for which many of - dealing with a major departmental. set of issues for which many of them were not— set of issues for which many of them were not properly— set of issues for which many of them were not properly prepared. - set of issues for which many of them were not properly prepared. that- were not properly prepared. that then feeds — were not properly prepared. that then feeds into _ were not properly prepared. that then feeds into a _ were not properly prepared. that then feeds into a cabinet - were not properly prepared. that then feeds into a cabinet office i were not properly prepared. thatj then feeds into a cabinet office a set of— then feeds into a cabinet office a set of structures _ then feeds into a cabinet office a set of structures which _ then feeds into a cabinet office a set of structures which were - then feeds into a cabinet office a set of structures which were not i set of structures which were not designed — set of structures which were not designed to— set of structures which were not designed to manage _ set of structures which were not designed to manage a _ set of structures which were not designed to manage a whole - set of structures which were not designed to manage a whole ofi designed to manage a whole of government— designed to manage a whole of government crisis— designed to manage a whole of government crisis in— designed to manage a whole of government crisis in that - designed to manage a whole ofi government crisis in that nature designed to manage a whole of- government crisis in that nature and

that's— government crisis in that nature and that's what— government crisis in that nature and that's what i— government crisis in that nature and that's what i think _ government crisis in that nature and that's what i think you _ government crisis in that nature and that's what i think you are _ government crisis in that nature and that's what i think you are seeing. that's what i think you are seeing in early— that's what i think you are seeing in early march _ that's what i think you are seeing in early march through _ that's what i think you are seeing in early march through to - that's what i think you are seeing in early march through to the - that's what i think you are seeing i in early march through to the piece of work— in early march through to the piece of work that— in early march through to the piece of work that helen _ in early march through to the piece of work that helen mcnamara - in early march through to the piece of work that helen mcnamara and i in early march through to the piece | of work that helen mcnamara and i produced — of work that helen mcnamara and i produced l— of work that helen mcnamara and i roduced. , ., of work that helen mcnamara and i roduced. , . ., of work that helen mcnamara and i roduced. , . . ._ we are going to step away from the covid inquiry, they have taken a break, adjourned for a short time. we've been following things very closely and if you've been following the proceedings, ijust want closely and if you've been following the proceedings, i just want to point out that there were two incidents when language where used. with the nature of this broadcast, it is not something we can pick up in time so i want to apologise. the first was a court and an apology by one of the witnesses and that was

martin reynolds himself who was speaking, he's the former principal private secretary to the prime minister. and if you cut the language that was used in one of the whatsapp messages that has been submitted as evidence, if you want to keep yourself up—to—date with what has been said and what evidence has been submitted, to take a look at the bbc live page. you can also continue to watch the livestream of the inquiry. it is off at the moment for a break, the inquiry. it is off at the moment fora break, but the inquiry. it is off at the moment for a break, but you can watch that on the bbc iplayer. i'm going to cross to the newsroom and speak to a correspondent who has been following proceedings. that was just over one hour, what have we learned? the key thin at hour, what have we learned? the key thing at the — hour, what have we learned? the key thing at the moment _ hour, what have we learned? the key thing at the moment is _ hour, what have we learned? the key thing at the moment is how _ hour, what have we learned? the key thing at the moment is how martin i thing at the moment is how martin reynolds was questioned about whatsapp messages. that was certainly the focus of the first

part of the question by hugo keith. mr reynolds was asked about the policy that the government had on retaining whatsapp messages and he talked about knowing about that but not the specific detail. while it was important was he made the point that during the early point of the pandemic, whatsapp messages became much more important in communicating, particularly with the prime minister and other senior colleagues. he said that it was what he would call ephemeral messages that were going on in the group, fleeting messages that he said on previous occasions would have been things like conversations in the corridor or on the phone but because of covid and the fact that lots of people were working from home and they weren't meeting as they normally would that these messages were contained in the whatsapp

groups. he was questioned about whether they were recorded properly and his point was they were still —— the decisions themselves were still recorded in a correct way so that they would have always been but they would have been messaging but fleeting messages that would have beenin fleeting messages that would have been in these whatsapp groups but the fact that the important decisions were still recorded as they should be, but he went on to be questioned quite in detail about a group that he set up which was called pm updates and he created that whatsapp group in november 2020 and it was a group of senior colleagues that were talking and that the prime minister was part of. the kc said it was no doubt a hugely important group but mr reynolds said that a lot of what you put in that group was what he described as copy and pasted from official e—mails and

he was pushed on whether there was any information in that pm updates whatsapp group that wouldn't be in e—mails and he said he would be surprised by that, again reinforcing that he was cutting and pasting from e—mails into the group as a way to "distill paperwork for the prime minister". it was the prime minister's desire to get that information on whatsapp so he could look at it at whatever time he wanted and respond to it. but he was pushed by the kc on that and in the end he did say that it could be there were some messages that might be in that whatsapp group that were not recorded elsewhere but he did say there will be those fleeting messages are ephemeral messages that would be the ones that would normally be taking place in a colander or in a phone call. he was

also pushed again about this group that he set up called pm updates because in march 2022, sorry, april 2021, he changed the default setting on that so that new messages which disappear after seven days —— messages would disappear after seven days. he said he could not recall why he did that at the time but he reinforced anything in that group would have been contained and recorded properly in e—mails and other documents. he said he didn't intend by taking that off to disappear after seven days to keep anything from the inquiry. he said it was probably more because he was worried about screenshots and that things may get leaked. again on that whatsapp group he created called pm updates, really questioned quite a lot about that and he said he didn't, at the time, nor the

rationale about why he turned off those disappearing messages stop i think whatsapp messages are very key to the discussions that have been had so far at the inquiry and what martin reynolds has been questioned about. indeed, one of the whatsapp messages that was displayed was from simon case who is the country's top civil servant. they were from the day he was forced to recuse himself from the particulate probe because it had emerged that he was at one of the events in his office —— the partygate probe. simon case was certainly unhappy about that, he said that he was being attacked for something trivial which he wasn't involved in, "i have to carry the can as the boss." and martin reynolds, the prime minister's private secretary is involved because he was in the sue gray report about party —— partygate

because he was in the e—mail that signed off on the bring your own booze party. he responded to simon case saying "i'm sure it will all blow through." another whatsapp message that has been picked out and are certainly being discussed so far this morning at the inquiry. thank ou, this morning at the inquiry. thank you. nikki. _ this morning at the inquiry. thank you. nikki. stay — this morning at the inquiry. thank you, nikki. stay with _ this morning at the inquiry. thank you, nikki. stay with us, - this morning at the inquiry. thank you, nikki. stay with us, we - this morning at the inquiry. thank you, nikki. stay with us, we want| this morning at the inquiry. thank. you, nikki. stay with us, we want to play that moment from court. what you heard was nicky describing how mr reynolds had turned on a disappearing message function within the whatsapp group titled pm updates. this goes back to april 2021. he was asked about that decision so this is what he had to say. decision so this is what he had to sa . ~ , , ., ., say. why did you turn on the disappearing _ say. why did you turn on the disappearing message - say. why did you turn on the i disappearing message function say. why did you turn on the - disappearing message function around the time the prime minister announced a public inquiry into the covid pandemic? i

announced a public inquiry into the covid pandemic?— announced a public inquiry into the covid pandemic? i can guess what i can speculate _ covid pandemic? i can guess what i can speculate but _ covid pandemic? i can guess what i can speculate but i _ covid pandemic? i can guess what i can speculate but i cannot - covid pandemic? i can guess what i can speculate but i cannot recall. can speculate but i cannot recall exactlv — can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why— can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i_ can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i did _ can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i did so. _ can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i did so. as- can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i did so. as i- can speculate but i cannot recall exactly why i did so. as i say, i can speculate but i cannot recalli exactly why i did so. as i say, my explanation — exactly why i did so. as i say, my explanation is _ exactly why i did so. as i say, my explanation is this _ exactly why i did so. as i say, my explanation is this whatsapp - exactly why i did so. as i say, my. explanation is this whatsapp group was very— explanation is this whatsapp group was very different _ explanation is this whatsapp group was very different from _ explanation is this whatsapp group was very different from any - explanation is this whatsapp group was very different from any other. was very different from any other whatsapp — was very different from any other whatsapp group _ was very different from any other whatsapp group on _ was very different from any other whatsapp group on my— was very different from any other whatsapp group on my phone . was very different from any otherl whatsapp group on my phone and was very different from any other- whatsapp group on my phone and that it was— whatsapp group on my phone and that it was essentially _ whatsapp group on my phone and that it was essentially funnelling _ it was essentially funnelling information— it was essentially funnelling information into _ it was essentially funnelling information into the - it was essentially funnelling information into the prime i it was essentially funnelling - information into the prime minister and out, _ information into the prime minister and out, and — information into the prime minister and out, and all— information into the prime minister and out, and all of— information into the prime minister and out, and all of that— information into the prime minister and out, and all of that was - and out, and all of that was recorded _ and out, and all of that was recorded separately- and out, and all of that was recorded separately in - and out, and all of that was recorded separately in hardj and out, and all of that was - recorded separately in hard copy or an e-mail— recorded separately in hard copy or an e-mail fornr. _ recorded separately in hard copy or an e—mail form, including - recorded separately in hard copy or an e—mail form, including the - recorded separately in hard copy orl an e—mail form, including the prime minister's _ an e—mail form, including the prime minister's comments _ an e—mail form, including the prime minister's comments so _ an e—mail form, including the prime minister's comments so that - an e—mail form, including the prime minister's comments so that flow i an e—mail form, including the prime minister's comments so that flow ofj minister's comments so that flow of information, — minister's comments so that flow of information, of— minister's comments so that flow of information, of updating _ minister's comments so that flow of information, of updating him - minister's comments so that flow of information, of updating him on- information, of updating him on developments, _ information, of updating him on developments, was— information, of updating him on developments, was recorded i information, of updating him on- developments, was recorded properly on our— developments, was recorded properly on our systems — developments, was recorded properly on our svstenrs i_ developments, was recorded properly on our systems. i can— developments, was recorded properly on our systems. i can speculate - on our systems. i can speculate as to why— on our systems. i can speculate as to why i — on our systems. i can speculate as to why i ntight— on our systems. i can speculate as to why i might have _ on our systems. i can speculate as to why i might have done - on our systems. i can speculate as to why i might have done it. - on our systems. i can speculate as to why i might have done it. as . on our systems. i can speculate as to why i might have done it. as i l to why i might have done it. as i said _ to why i might have done it. as i said at— to why i might have done it. as i said at the — to why i might have done it. as i said at the start, _ to why i might have done it. as i said at the start, i've _ to why i might have done it. as i said at the start, i've kept- to why i might have done it. as i said at the start, i've kept all- to why i might have done it. as i| said at the start, i've kept all my other— said at the start, i've kept all my other whatsapps _ said at the start, i've kept all my other whatsapps for— said at the start, i've kept all my other whatsapps for the - said at the start, i've kept all my| other whatsapps for the relevant period _ other whatsapps for the relevant period and — other whatsapps for the relevant period and handed _ other whatsapps for the relevant period and handed them - other whatsapps for the relevant period and handed them over- other whatsapps for the relevant period and handed them over sol other whatsapps for the relevant | period and handed them over so i don't _ period and handed them over so i don't believe _ period and handed them over so i don't believe it— period and handed them over so i don't believe it was _ period and handed them over so i don't believe it was intended - period and handed them over so i don't believe it was intended to. don't believe it was intended to prevent— don't believe it was intended to prevent the _ don't believe it was intended to prevent the inquiry— don't believe it was intended to prevent the inquiry from - don't believe it was intended to prevent the inquiry from having sight _ prevent the inquiry from having sight of— prevent the inquiry from having sight of this _ prevent the inquiry from having sight of this. it _ prevent the inquiry from having sight of this. it could, - prevent the inquiry from having sight of this. it could, for- sight of this. it could, for example. _ sight of this. it could, for example, have _ sight of this. it could, for example, have been - sight of this. it could, for- example, have been because i was worried _ example, have been because i was worried of— example, have been because i was worried of someone _ example, have been because i was worried of someone taking - example, have been because i was worried of someone taking a - worried of someone taking a screenshot— worried of someone taking a screenshot or _ worried of someone taking a screenshot or using - worried of someone taking a screenshot or using some i worried of someone taking a screenshot or using some ofj worried of someone taking a - screenshot or using some of the exchanges — screenshot or using some of the exchanges and _ screenshot or using some of the exchanges and leaking - screenshot or using some of the

exchanges and leaking them. i screenshot or using some of the . exchanges and leaking them. that screenshot or using some of the exchanges and leaking them. that was martin reynolds _ exchanges and leaking them. that was martin reynolds are _ exchanges and leaking them. that was martin reynolds are speaking - martin reynolds are speaking earlier. we should remind our viewers why exactly martin reynolds is sitting in that chair today. who was he in all of this?— was he in all of this? martin reynolds — was he in all of this? martin reynolds is _ was he in all of this? martin reynolds is the _ was he in all of this? martin reynolds is the principal - was he in all of this? martin - reynolds is the principal private secretary to boris johnson. reynolds is the principal private secretary to borisjohnson. he is a key person in the running of number 10 downing street and the inquiry did talk to him about how he ran number ten during that time. in the conflict he said between decisions being made with borisjohnson and the ones that were being made in the government machine, the cabinet office and the civil service, and the fact that he was bringing all of those people together. he's certainly the person that is in a lot of the groups and would have been handling e—mails and indeed passing that information on to the prime minister so that he was fully briefed on what he needed to know about covid during that period. that

is why he's in the seat because he is why he's in the seat because he is the man who was basically running boris johnson's is the man who was basically running borisjohnson's diary and providing the information for him so that he was up to date and briefed on all the matters that he needed to be briefed on, so are very, very key person. we are going to hear this afternoon from some other people who are part of that office including lee kane who was the director of communication. it is borisjohnson's top team that are being questioned today at the covid inquiry about what they knew and what is being discussed in whatsapp messages in that early part of the pandemic. for viewers, more commonly known as party marty, the man who sent the bring your own booze e—mail to members of number ten. as nicky was saying, this covid inquiry coverage will continue here on bbc news. we

will continue here on bbc news. we will continue here on bbc news. we will continue to hear from will continue here on bbc news. we will continue to hearfrom martin reynolds, also of the former private secretary to the prime minister for public services, and lee kane from two o'clock this afternoon the former director of communications at number ten, all on bbc iplayer and streaming also if you want to follow it on the bbc live page. we are going to catch up with the weather now. here's matt taylor. hello. we are going to see more impacts from the weather this week. let's start with storm kieran, —— storm ciaran. more widespread rainfall and saturated ground could lead to more flooding. don't treat this as gospel yet, it could move further north or south and that will impact were the strongest of the

winds would be. at the moment, strongest of the winds will be in southern parts of england and wales, 50 to 60 mph in stronger around the coast and even stronger for the channel islands potentially and northwest france. rainfall and saturated ground, you can see the totals totting up and it could lead totals totting up and it could lead to further flooding. where test conditions to the southeast of northern ireland, even before storm ciaran arrives we have a met office amber warning ciaran arrives we have a met office amberwarning in ciaran arrives we have a met office amber warning in force for tonight into tomorrow morning. we've already seen lots of rainfall here, more come through today and more tonight, that's why we're going to see the increasing risk of further flooding. the northern half of scotland should be dry and bright, cloud and southern scotland and north wales, central southern england and wales, it will be a mixture of heavy and thundery showers. some of the shows could have an impact but some will stay dry with highs of 15 celsius. the rain piling in to the southeast of northern ireland, hence that met

office amber warning coming into force tonight through tomorrow. cold to the north, we got a touch of frost across rural parts of scotland, my other further south further outbreaks of rain coming and going. introduce to, parts of northern england and northern ireland with outbreaks of rain, bright and sunny to the northern half of scotland, a slightly drier and brighter day to parts of central southern england and wales but we will see the next batch of heavy rain working its way in which will move northwards with a first area of low pressure set to push on as we go from tuesday night into wednesday. lots of rain fell into scotland, the snow in the mountains, a blustery day with a mixture of sunshine and heavy and thundery showers but as we go into wednesday night and through to thursday morning, storm ciaran will start to have its impact. take care. live from southern israel — this is bbc news.

israel says it has expanded attacks in the gaza strip — hitting a further 600 hamas targets — and claiming to have killed dozens of fighters. staff in a hospital in gaza city say it is impossible to evacuate — despite claims by the palestinian red crescent that they have been told by israel to do so. around 60 people have been arrested in dagestan, russia after a large mob, some shouting anti—semitic slogans, stormed an airport looking for people who'd landed from tel aviv. fifa bans spain's former football boss luis rubiales from all football—related activity for three years — in the wake of a scandal over kissing a female player in spain's world cup—winning team. hello, i'm anna foster — welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction.