hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. moments ago, the families and i were able to speak to them on the telephone from the oval office. they are out of russia, earlier today they were flown to turkey. and soon they'll be wheels up on their way home to see their families. for the families and friends of evan gershkovich, paul whelan and dissidents like vladimir kara—murza, this is a moment to celebrate. but keep in mind — for the kremlin, it is mission accomplished. it got what it wanted. i think it was very difficult - for germany to agree to accept the idea that they would have to return a convicted assassin to russia in any circumstances. joining me tonight are nathalie tocci, director of the istituto affari internazionali in rome and american journalist brian stelter.

i think it is the institute of national affairs. i think it is the institute of nationalaffairs. give i think it is the institute of national affairs. give her her proper title. first — the latest headlines. the largest prisoner swap between russia and the us since the cold war has taken place in ankara. 16 people were freed from russian and belarusianjails, including the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich. in exchange, eight people were freed by the west. two children were also sent back to russia, both belonged to couple jailed in slovenia. the bbc has defended its decision not to sack newsreader huw edwards despite knowing that he had been arrested for being in possession so of the most serious category of indecent images of children. in an interview the director general

tim davie also revealed that the bbc is exploring whether it can recover some of huw edwards�* salary. the 17—year—old boy charged with murdering three girls and attempting to murder ten others in southport in northwest england has appeared in court in liverpool. he can now be named as axel muganwa rudakubana — after the judge lifted reporting restrictions. the teenager is understood to have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. good evening, in what looked like a throwback to the cold war, east met west this afternoon on the tarmac of a turkish airbase, to swap prisoners in an extroardinarily complex arrangement, that involved seven different countries. 2a prisoners were exchanged — among them the american marine paul whelan, jailed in 2018, and evan gershkovitz the wall streetjournal reporter, who last month was sentenced to 16 years in prison. the assistant editor of the paper paul beckett told the bbc it was an enormous relief

to have him home. tears ofjoy, tears of relief, ithink, exhausted butjubilant, and that is just us. i can only imagine how evan feels and how his family is feeling as they wait to be reunited when his plane lands. this was an unprecedented agreement. besides whelan and gerchkowitz were some of the most prominent political dissidents. ilya yashin, one of the few well—known kremlin critics who opted to stay in russia at the start of the war. so sure he would be jailed for his criticisms of the kremlin he went to the dentist beforehand to get his teeth checked one last time. also free, the german medic, rico krieger, who was framed on terrorism charges in belarus and sentenced to death the russian british journalist vladimir kara—murza, who twice has been poisoned, and more recently was sentenced to 18 years for high treason. and the russian american alsu kurmasheva, a mother of two, who worked for radio free europe, jailed for reporting on the shortcomings

of the russian forces. going the other way were not only russian spies, but hackers and state sponsored assassins. the planes brought russians from america, germany, poland, slovenia, and norway. the highest value prisoner among them, vadim krasikov, a high ranking colonel in the fsb, who had been convicted of executing a chechan dissident in a berlin park. dr nigel gould—davies — a former uk ambassador to belarus — told us he was struck by the russian president's resolve to bring his spies home. what really stands out to me is how much, how committed putin was to bringing the assassin back. this seems, this single individual seems to be a matter of exceptional importance. there is this sort of emphasis putin has, "we don't leave our own behind" bringing back members of the russian intelligence services. we can speak to sir bill browder, head of the global magnitskyjustice

campaign, and author of red notice & freezing order. he was knighted in the king's birthday honours injune. congratulations on your award. thank you for coming on the programme. good to be here. fix, you for coming on the programme. good to be here.— good to be here. a mixed blessing toda . good to be here. a mixed blessing today- clearly _ good to be here. a mixed blessing today. clearly many _ good to be here. a mixed blessing today. clearly many dissidents - good to be here. a mixed blessing| today. clearly many dissidents who are relieved to be out. their families believe that they are home. at the same time this is the third major prisoner exchange in just over two years. it is an incentive to vladimir putin to continue this kind of behaviour because it works. damned if you do, damned if you don't come of the situation. we were looking at one of the people you mentioned, a close friend of mine, political ally and someone i've worked with on a lot of different anti—putin work. and he was effectively dying in a siberian prison in solitary confinement, and if he had been left there, he would

have surely died. so it's one of these things where on the other hand i was just watching the images of the russian criminals coming home, you mentioned the assassin, and as he walked off the russian aeroplane, he walked off the russian aeroplane, he was met by vladimir putin in a hero �*s welcome. you know, it is hard to watch that, but so you are right, it does incentivise people, prudent to take more hostages. i think the way we work around this is to not let people go to russia any more. it's not like there's a lot of britons going to north korea because we know they do that in north korea. well now we know they do it in russia. and we should make it illegal to travel to russia because the probability of someone being falsely arrested in creating these situations is extremely extremely high. so i don't think we should

just leave people to rot there, that would be terrible and crazy and not good, but at the same time, i don't think we should put ourselves in harms way to allow people to go there. �* , , harms way to allow people to go there. �* _ , ,, there. i'm intrigued by the process that unfolded _ there. i'm intrigued by the process that unfolded here. _ there. i'm intrigued by the process that unfolded here. normally - there. i'm intrigued by the process that unfolded here. normally they| there. i'm intrigued by the process i that unfolded here. normally they do these deals one—for—one or maybe two or three come out at the same time, but this is huge. the biggest they have ever pulled off before. what do you make of the timing and the reasoning for going so big? weill. you make of the timing and the reasoning for going so big? well, i was partially _ reasoning for going so big? well, i was partially involved _ reasoning for going so big? well, i was partially involved in _ reasoning for going so big? well, i was partially involved in this - was partially involved in this process trying to get my friend out, so i have been in touch with many foreign ministries and all the countries that have been involved, and it was one of these things where the americans wanted their guys out. they had paul whelen and they wanted those guys out. the president wanted them out. and putin really wanted his friend out. but they couldn't,

the assassin wasn't sitting in the united states, he was sitting in germany. so the germans had to be involved, they have their own set of interests, some of their own they had an individual who was sentenced to death in belarus, so the belarus gets involved, and then there is a whole bunch of other people also from the radio free europe and the americans wanted her out, so they grab somebody from norway. there was a russian spy posing as a brazilian academic spying on norway that they arrested into slovenian spies that were arrested. so it was one of those things that in order to get this deal done, it required to put a lot of people into the mix both on the western side and on the russian side. and in terms of the timing, thatis side. and in terms of the timing, that is very interesting. so putin definitely earlier on didn't want to do biden any favours because putin would prefer trump to be the next

president of the united states. so putin was really hesitating for a while about this whole thing, as much as he wanted his cross a back. and he finally didn't feel so bad about that because biden dropped out of the presidential election. so what ever victory lap biden does come it doesn't really affect us politics right now. just come it doesn't really affect us politics right now.— politics right now. just very cuickl , politics right now. just very quickly, before _ politics right now. just very quickly, before we - politics right now. just very quickly, before we bring i politics right now. just very quickly, before we bring in| politics right now. just very i quickly, before we bring in our panel, are you saying that the german medic who i said was framed, there was never any evidence produced. the fsb said he tried to blow up a railway line in belarus but they never produced or certainly didn't make public any of the evidence. what was he really the keystone in this? he made a direct appeal to the chancellor, was he the one, once he was coming out, they were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's —

were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's going — were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's going on _ were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's going on in _ were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's going on in germany. . were prepared to let him go? hard to know what's going on in germany. i l know what's going on in germany. i visited germany on a number of occasions and i met with the german government and they were very insistent for a very long period of time that they are not going to let him go. and there have been some rumours that they were ready to somehow do something, i'll swap if alexei navalny was involved, the russian anti—corruption activist and political dissident, and i think that there's two things that i picked out the germans to make this decision, one, of course as they have a person who is going to die in belarus, which obviously is not a real criminal, but a trumped up charge. second, ithink real criminal, but a trumped up charge. second, i think the germans wanted to have a higher cause here. they didn't just want to wanted to have a higher cause here. they didn'tjust want to do a grubby hostage swap, they wanted to include a whole bunch of russian opposition activists, people who could potentially lead russia in the

future. , ., , future. interesting. that is fascinating _ future. interesting. that is fascinating detail. - future. interesting. that is fascinating detail. it - future. interesting. that is fascinating detail. it did i future. interesting. that is i fascinating detail. it did strike future. interesting. that is - fascinating detail. it did strike me that there are implications here for the europeans and for law enforcement generally which i'm sure the doj has been thinking about as well in that, you know, if you are france, you are italy, you are germany, would you ever extradite russian defendants to the united states if they were merely going to be used as pawns to get americans back? it does complicate things enormously, doesn't it, for america's allies?— america's allies? well, it complicates _ america's allies? well, it complicates things - america's allies? well, it l complicates things because ultimately, you know, it has been said, _ ultimately, you know, it has been said. i_ ultimately, you know, it has been said, i mean, this is a bittersweet, it is sweet— said, i mean, this is a bittersweet, it is sweet to — said, i mean, this is a bittersweet, it is sweet to the extent that innocent _ it is sweet to the extent that innocent prisoners, whether they are american _ innocent prisoners, whether they are american or— innocent prisoners, whether they are american or not have been freed and we can— american or not have been freed and we can only— american or not have been freed and we can only rejoice about that whether— we can only rejoice about that whether it is paul whelen, fantastic that they— whether it is paul whelen, fantastic that they have been released and we can also— that they have been released and we can also say— that they have been released and we can also say that it has been for

diplomacy— can also say that it has been for diplomacy in general, which precisely because it has involved other— precisely because it has involved other countries as well. it is also a success— other countries as well. it is also a success of— other countries as well. it is also a success of multilateral diplomacy. but it— a success of multilateral diplomacy. but it is— a success of multilateral diplomacy. but it is very clear, i think, and is present— but it is very clear, i think, and is present in— but it is very clear, i think, and is present in your question, it is a bitter_ is present in your question, it is a bitter deal— is present in your question, it is a bitter deal as well. it is a deal that— bitter deal as well. it is a deal that basically runs contrary to the rule of— that basically runs contrary to the rule of law — that basically runs contrary to the rule of law. the fact that convicted murderers — rule of law. the fact that convicted murderers have been released, that is a very— murderers have been released, that is a very serious problem. it has been _ is a very serious problem. it has been said — is a very serious problem. it has been said it _ is a very serious problem. it has been said it creates an incentive for putin— been said it creates an incentive for putin to _ been said it creates an incentive for putin to do this again. and ultimately what it is, you know, this is— ultimately what it is, you know, this is where these true elements connect, — this is where these true elements connect, it— this is where these true elements connect, it is basically a sort of, there _ connect, it is basically a sort of, there is— connect, it is basically a sort of, there is a — connect, it is basically a sort of, there is a way that putin uses the leverage. — there is a way that putin uses the leverage, liberal democracies whether— leverage, liberal democracies whether it's the us, whether it's european — whether it's the us, whether it's european countries the role of human life, european countries the role of human life. right? _ european countries the role of human life, riuht? , ., , life, right? they will eventually bow. if life, right? they will eventually how if you _ life, right? they will eventually bow- if you apply _ life, right? they will eventually bow. if you apply pressure, - life, right? they will eventually bow. if you apply pressure, we| life, right? they will eventually - bow. if you apply pressure, we will bow. if you apply pressure, we will bow eventually.—

bow eventually. exactly, exactly. obviously the — bow eventually. exactly, exactly. obviously the white _ bow eventually. exactly, exactly. obviously the white house - bow eventually. exactly, exactly. obviously the white house doingj bow eventually. exactly, exactly. i obviously the white house doing a lap of honour tonight. bill has already spoken about the timing and the decision ofjoe biden to stand aside. but nothing happens in a vacuum. we are 97 days now from the election. ijust wonder how democrats might try and use this? they are using this to say, number one, that president biden should be commended that while democrats and the party were anxiously debating his future wondering whether he should run for office again trying to push him out, he was secretly working on this deal, ending of this that's one of the very first details that's one of the very first details that was leaked by us officials in order to put biden out front and centre when this prisoner swap happened. i also think this entire ordeal has raised awareness among americans about state—sponsored hostage taking, especially the case of f djokovic, that case because it

was so widely covered, it has raised the awareness of this problem, a consensus here from this panel, this problem is not going away even though this was a major win for the biden administration. fin though this was a major win for the biden administration.— though this was a major win for the biden administration. on that point, it is really interesting _ biden administration. on that point, it is really interesting because - it is really interesting because when he made the decision to stand aside, the republican said if you can't campaign, maybe you are not fit enough to be the commander—in—chief. so, ok, the timing suits putin, but it really does suitjoe biden and for six months he has left. does suit joe biden and for six months he has left.— does suit joe biden and for six months he has left. there were republican _ months he has left. there were republican house _ months he has left. there were republican house lawmakers . months he has left. there were - republican house lawmakers earlier today saying where is biden? he is missing in action. and then the white house communications director responded in saying he was busy meeting with the families of these prisoners. of course, to have that photo opportunity in that speech where they were all together at the white house. that is every president's dream. and donald trump had promised to achieve the same thing, specifically in the wall streetjournal thing, specifically in the wall street journal case. thing, specifically in the wall streetjournal case. dangling evan's street journal case. dangling evan's freedom streetjournal case. dangling evan's freedom in exchange for his reelection. so for all the arguments

we will hear from trump about why this was a bad deal for america, trump was going to try to achieve basically the same thing if he were reelected. i basically the same thing if he were reelected. ., ., ., , reelected. i am out of time, but ruickl , reelected. i am out of time, but quickly. joe _ reelected. i am out of time, but quickly, joe biden, _ reelected. i am out of time, but quickly, joe biden, you - reelected. i am out of time, but quickly, joe biden, you are - reelected. i am out of time, but - quickly, joe biden, you are involved remind me who you were trying to get out, but did you deal directly with joe biden, with the white house in that process? the joe biden, with the white house in that process?— that process? the real hero in this sto is that process? the real hero in this story is investor _ that process? the real hero in this story is investor roger _ that process? the real hero in this story is investor roger carstens, l that process? the real hero in this. story is investor roger carstens, he is the president's special envoy on hostage affairs and he was the one who travelled to all these different countries, involved all these different people and found a way to thread the needle on this whole thing. one of the things i'm trying to encourage the uk government to do right now is to set up their office of special envoy for hostage affairs so that if you are british and you've got a blue passport, you are not left to rot in a foreign prison. a british passport was very lucky

that the us took him under their wing even though he's not a us citizen and they got him out because britain has a policy ofjust not negotiating on hostages. it is a aood negotiating on hostages. it is a good point- _ negotiating on hostages. it is a good point. it's— negotiating on hostages. it is a good point. it's good _ negotiating on hostages. it is a good point. it's good to - negotiating on hostages. it is a good point. it's good to talk i negotiating on hostages. it is a| good point. it's good to talk to. thank you for coming on the programme and my apologies, i've reported on him so much, but a senior moment forgetting his name there. thank you very much, indeed. we will speak about hugh edwards following the break. you are watching bbc news.

the culture secretary lisa nandy was due to hold urgent talks on the phone with the director general of the bbc today to explain the bbc�*s role in the scandal, involving one of its highest paid stars, the newsreader huw edwards. it emerged last night the corporation was told by police eight months ago that he was being investigated for the possession of images involving children, he continued to be paid for 9 months

while suspended, until he resigned of his own volition in april. edwards pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing 41 images, some of them of the most serious sexual abuse, two involving children as young as 7. the bbc is now under renewed pressure to release the findings of a seperate internal inquiry into his inappropriate advances to junior staff. there is a report tonight that he invited one producer to share his bedroom, while covid restrictions were in place, and just hours before he'd led coverage of the duke of edinburgh's funeral. this afternoon tim davie shared his response with our colleage david sillito. now, when it comes to the decision that we made in november, when we were obviously faced with, i think, a very difficult decision, actually, and we considered it very carefully. the police came to us and gave us information that they had arrested, um, mr edwards, but they wanted to be assured of total confidence.

and the reason they rung us at that point was to ensure that — and it's a technical process, which is to ensure employees are protected and there's no risk. they are very clear that at that point it's totally confidential, a restricted number of people know, and as mr edwards was suspended at the time, so was not at the bbc, we could assure ourselves in terms of employees. and at that point we did have a decision. we really thought very long and hard, and considered it extremely carefully. and i think people will understand this, that when someone is arrested, there's no charges... also, anotherfactor at this point was a very significant duty

of care considerations. i think it was right for us to say, "look, we'll let the police do their business. "and then when charges happen, we will act". it is useful you are on with us tonight because i know you wrote so much about matt lauer, the equivalent for nbc to hugh edwards. he was their lead anchor, their lead news anchor. —— huw. through the #metoo movement, there were allegations against him, and they haven't come to any conclusions for those allegations. they got rid of him immediately. why in those allegations. they got rid of him immediately. why— those allegations. they got rid of him immediately. why in that case that there were _ him immediately. why in that case that there were multiple _ that there were multiple investigations under way that were about to land detailing inappropriate relationships in the workplace with adults, consenting adults, but in one case there was an allegation of rape that he denied. i think the through line whether we

are talking about matt lauer, other famous figures from the television world who are harvey weinstein who has been found guilty of sexual misconduct and is now in a prison cell. the through line of courses the abuse of that celebrity status and stature. the idea that they are able to take advantage of institutions, cause people to look the other way and abuse their power for a number of years. what i found covering the media beat is that powerful people are able to keep secrets, sometimes for a very long time, but not for forever. secrets, sometimes for a very long time, but not forforever. and i think that's the case here with the bbc as well. the secrets will do and have eventually come out. i think it's have eventually come out. i think its number one very important to see the kind of transparency and independent news coverage that you and the rest of the bbc news room are providing through this story. that was rove nbc, it is important for the audience to know that this is being covered impartially as it is. but it does speak to these larger concerns about how people can

abuse their status as talent or a celebrity and how they can go on for quite a long time. i celebrity and how they can go on for quite a long time.— quite a long time. i think the issue is that our northstar_ quite a long time. i think the issue is that our northstar is _ quite a long time. i think the issue is that our northstar is trust. - is that our northstar is trust. that's what we build the whole operation around that people can come to the bbc to get trusted news. and there are a lot of people within the building who put their trust in the building who put their trust in the corporation and have come forward to make allegations. and that inquiry or the refining �*s of that inquiry or the refining �*s of that report is still to come to light. the other issue for a lot of people looking in is, and i understand what tim devi is saying, they were told by the police to keep some confidentiality around this, but this was a second or third incident. there were allegations, there was the reporting in the sign about the inappropriate photos he'd brought from only fans and now this. i wonder if there was a bureaucracy

that got in the way of the reputation of the bbc and whether they would have been better to fire him irrespective of the duty of care to protect the institution and the staff within it.— staff within it. that is a good oint. staff within it. that is a good point- some _ staff within it. that is a good point. some of _ staff within it. that is a good point. some of these - staff within it. that is a good - point. some of these institutions are not always meant to move swiftly. they are not built to act very quickly. and often times that can be to the benefit of a media company to bejudicious, to be cautious, to take care, certainly thatis cautious, to take care, certainly that is true with news coverage also sometimes with management decisions. but, yes, there is absolutely, it is necessary to look back and ask if management moved way too slowly in this case and ultimately harm the reputation of the brand and of the staff. and i also wonder if edwards is invoking his mental health, invoking his hospitalisation, if that caused a posture for management where they might now look back and wonder if they were conned or if they reacted too much to that warning about mental health and not to the concerns of the victims in

this case but that's very much part of the public debate, isn't in terms of the public debate, isn't in terms of mental health, it's a very serious issue and we should not take it lightly. yes, they did have a duty of care to someone who had been hospitalised because of his mental health status at the time of the sun's reporting. but as i say, very often in these cases, speaking more broadly often in these cases, speaking more broadlj . often in these cases, speaking more broadl ., , ., , often in these cases, speaking more broadl ., , ., ., broadly there are people around these celebrities _ broadly there are people around these celebrities and _ broadly there are people around| these celebrities and politicians, media personalities who are also affected by their behaviour and sometimes they are forgotten in the duty of care to the person we are talking about.— duty of care to the person we are talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question _ talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question of— talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question of duty _ talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question of duty of _ talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question of duty of care, - talking about. yeah, exactly. there is a question of duty of care, there | is a question of duty of care, there is a question of duty of care, there is a question of duty of care, there is a question— is a question of duty of care, there is a question of duty of care, there is a question of neutrality, there is a question of neutrality, there is a question of neutrality, there is a question of being innocent until— is a question of being innocent until found guilty. all of this is absolutely true. and yet here we are with the _ absolutely true. and yet here we are with the story which, you know, you can turn— with the story which, you know, you can turn it _ with the story which, you know, you can turn it around however you may want _ can turn it around however you may want to _ can turn it around however you may want to come up but itjust makes the bbc_ want to come up but itjust makes the bbc come out badly, frankly

speaking, and there is very little that can — speaking, and there is very little that can be done, in a sense, the reputational damage and also if this was a _ reputational damage and also if this was a question which, you know, the person— was a question which, you know, the person had _ was a question which, you know, the person had mental health issues, than the — person had mental health issues, than the wider question about, you know— than the wider question about, you know his _ than the wider question about, you know his ability to actually carry out his— know his ability to actually carry out hisjob — know his ability to actually carry out hisjob as know his ability to actually carry out his job as a journalist, you know. — out his job as a journalist, you know. but _ out his job as a journalist, you know, but... in out his job as a “ournalist, you know, but...— out his job as a “ournalist, you know, but... in retrospect, that wasn't abundantly _ know, but... in retrospect, that wasn't abundantly clear - know, but... in retrospect, that wasn't abundantly clear to - know, but... in retrospect, that wasn't abundantly clear to staff| wasn't abundantly clear to staff until the sun's reporting. yes he was suffering from depression, but not that he was leading a double life. ., ~ ., ., life. you know, the truth of the matter is _ life. you know, the truth of the matter is the _ life. you know, the truth of the matter is the minute _ life. you know, the truth of the matter is the minute in - life. you know, the truth of the matter is the minute in which l matter is the minute in which the bbc became aware that there was an investigation going on, you either fire someone or find an agreement to -et fire someone or find an agreement to get him _ fire someone or find an agreement to get him to— fire someone or find an agreement to get him to step back or you don't. include _ get him to step back or you don't. include speaking, the reputational damage _ include speaking, the reputational damage is a lot greater. that include speaking, the reputational damage is a lot greater.— include speaking, the reputational damage is a lot greater. that is the ruestion, damage is a lot greater. that is the question. isn't _ damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? _ damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? i— damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? i know— damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? i know it- damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? i know it is- damage is a lot greater. that is the question, isn't it? i know it is one | question, isn't it? i know it is one that was said in the interview had been pondered with the news board.

people have their views on that. we will take a short break. at the other side of the break, we are going to talk about the trap wife. stay with us. —— trad wife. hello there. it's been another hot and humid day. the heat and humidity one of the ingredients necessary for some massive thunderstorms to form. first signs of trouble, these towering cumulus clouds racing up through the earth's atmosphere. as well as the hot and humid air, the other ingredient was this convergence zone. look how most of the showers form along this zone. some particularly nasty storms, for example, around the oxfordshire area, and those downpours are capable of bringing a month's worth of rain over the space of a couple of hours. so we're quite likely to see one or two areas hit by some flash flooding and disruption. other areas to watch out for — the south downs, maybe some other areas of east anglia and south—east england to watch out for over the next few hours. one or two of those storms, as i say, very nasty indeed. through the remainder of the night, eventually those storms will calm down. we'll be left with dry weather conditions for most areas, with some clear spells around. still quite warm and humid,

particularly across central and eastern england. we've got this slightly fresher air with us in parts of scotland and northern ireland as well. now, heading into friday, an area of low pressure is set to bring some rain in from the north—west, and that band of rain is going to very slowly push its way eastwards through friday night and on into saturday. so taking about 36 hours or so to cross the uk. now, friday, many of us will start the day on a dry and sunny note, but it won't be long before we see that band of heavy rain push into northern ireland and western scotland, with strengthening gusts of wind. england and wales, a lot of dry, sunny and very warm weather. however, there could be one or two thunderstorms popping up through the afternoon across parts of east anglia and the far south—east of england as well, so we'll need to keep a close eye on developments there. for saturday, the dregs of that weather front — this area of cloud, a few patches of rain — push into east anglia and south—east england before clearing. the rest of the uk, sunny spells, a few showers across the north—west, feeling fresher for many of us and even the temperatures across eastern england will start

to fall back closer to average for the time of year. sunday, not a bad start to the day. most areas will see dry and sunny weather, but it turns cloudier across the north—west with outbreaks of rain for northern ireland and western scotland through the afternoon. temperatures on the whole quite close to average for the time of year. and then into next week, well, low pressure's often going to be close to the north—west of the uk, so it will be quite unsettled across north—western areas. but some drier and sunnier weather towards the south—east.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the pentagon says the alleged mastermind of the september 11th terror attacks and two of his accomplices have agreed a plea deal. the man accused of plotting the sept 11 attacks in 2001, and two of his co—defendants, have reached a plea deal with the us government. khalid sheikh mohammed and the other two men — walid bin attash and mustafa al—hawsawi — will plead guilty to all of the charged offences, including the murder of the 2,976 people who died that day, in return for a life sentence.

they will be spared the death penalty.