we'll unpack why fracking matters politically. hello, i'm ros atkins. welcome to bbc news. across the half hour — we're going to look in detail at another extraordinary week in this us election campaign. we've had the debate, rallies, a trump press conference, albeit one where there were no questions for the first half an hour. and there have been all sorts of clashes and claims — on fracking, on crime, on abortion, and on cats and dogs being eaten in ohio — there's no evidence on that, by the way. it's been a lot. and we'll start with the issue of abortion. in 2022 the us supreme court overturned roe v wade — which guaranteed a woman's right to obtain an abortion. and the political and legal consequences of that have continued to play out.

it was a major part of the trump—harris debate. and on thursday, there was a further development in north dakota. a judge struck down the state's near total ban on abortion, saying north dakota's constitution gives women a "fundamental right to choose abortion" before foetal viability. elisabeth smith is with the centre for reproductive rights, the organisation that argued on behalf of the plantiffs in north dakota. what is your reaction to the ruling? an incredible ruling and the first time that a state that totally banned abortion in the united states, one of those 14 the united states, one of those 1a states, has seen abortion be reaffirmed as a right under the state constitution. this was not a decision based on voters based on a state constitutional amendment, this was a judge

saying no, the north dakota constitution protects the fundamental right to make a decision about bodily autonomy, free from government interference. this is a wonderful day for people of north dakota and across the country. north dakota and across the count . ., , ., ., ., country. you will be aware that already there _ country. you will be aware that already there has _ country. you will be aware that already there has been - already there has been notification that there will be an appeal. notification that there will be an appeal-— notification that there will be an appeal. absolutely and we fully expect _ an appeal. absolutely and we fully expect appeals - an appeal. absolutely and we fully expect appeals to - an appeal. absolutely and we fully expect appeals to go - an appeal. absolutely and we fully expect appeals to go up| fully expect appeals to go up to the north dakota supreme court of the opinion that the trial courtjudge wrote, as you quoted from, is strong and clearly lays out the case that the north dakota constitution protects the right to choose abortion. d0 protects the right to choose abortion-— abortion. do you recognise there is tension _ abortion. do you recognise there is tension here - abortion. do you recognise i there is tension here between there is tension here between the law as it is seen by this judge and buy some of the state politicians who had voted this law through last year. absolutely. and we have seen that in north dakota and states across the country. the vast majority of americans support abortion rights and want abortion rights and want abortion had to be legal and accessible. what we have seen in m states where abortion is

criminally banned is that politicians are completely out of step with their constituents and, in fact, of step with their constituents and, infact, in many of step with their constituents and, in fact, in many instances it is gerrymandered state legislature that makes this decision, again, out of the step of people living in those states. ~ . , states. what practical difference _ states. what practical difference do - states. what practical difference do you - states. what practicall difference do you think states. what practical - difference do you think this will make immediately for women in north dakota? we will make immediately for women in north dakota?— in north dakota? we have to recognise — in north dakota? we have to recognise that _ in north dakota? we have to recognise that there - in north dakota? we have to recognise that there was - in north dakota? we have toj recognise that there was one abortion clinic in north dakota prior to the dobbs decision which overruled roe the wade. it is no longer in north dakota. what this means is that abortion will be available in hospitals and by certain providers but to restart a clinic and reopen a clinic is a major undertaking. so one of the goals of laws like north dakota is to shut down access by shutting down clinics and sending providers outside the state. access in the state will be a major undertaking. you

state. access in the state will be a major undertaking. be a ma'or undertaking. you are aware be a major undertaking. you are aware of how— be a major undertaking. you are aware of how political— be a major undertaking. you are aware of how political this - aware of how political this issue has become, not least during an election campaign. you would have watched the debate on tuesday night. how do you assess the candidates as they work on this issue? i you assess the candidates as they work on this issue? i want to start by _ they work on this issue? i want to start by saying _ they work on this issue? i want to start by saying the _ they work on this issue? i want to start by saying the centre i to start by saying the centre for reproductive rights is an organisation so we do know electioneering. but i think you see two different pictures, very stark pictures of america and voters have a real choice about whether they want to ensure that abortion rights are legal across every state in this country or not. and as we have seen in every poll since dobbs, the vast majority of americans support abortion rights and want abortion care to be legal and accessible across the country.- to be legal and accessible across the country. and what do ou sa across the country. and what do you say to _ across the country. and what do you say to the — across the country. and what do you say to the argument - across the country. and what do you say to the argument made i across the country. and what do | you say to the argument made by donald trump that some of his supporters that this should be a matter decided at the state level? ~ u,

a matter decided at the state level? ~ ., , ., level? we can only look at the limitations _ level? we can only look at the limitations on _ level? we can only look at the limitations on voting - level? we can only look at the limitations on voting rights, i limitations on voting rights, the limitations on democracy and the gerrymandering of state legislature in states like my home state of texas to really demonstrate that that is not possible. the vast majority of texans, for example, support abortion rights but texas currently has one of the most draconian abortion bands that if you violate you could potentially face 99 years in prison, criminalfines, et cetera. so texans have no avenue to affect what the law is on abortion in their state. so it is only a new federal right only through a statute or a constitutional amendment that will ensure everyone across the country can access abortion care where they live. the next issue we're going to turn to is the level of crime in the us. this came up in the debate and in the fall—out from the debate. here's merlyn thomas from bbc verify. trump has been going hard on

crime, particularly, kamala harris �*s record on it and this came to head on the presidential debate when he said that crime was going through the roof and the news moderator picked up on this and challenged him.— challenged him. crime here is u . challenged him. crime here is u- and challenged him. crime here is up and through _ challenged him. crime here is up and through the _ challenged him. crime here is up and through the roof - challenged him. crime here is up and through the roof to - up and through the roof to sport— up and through the roof to sport their fraudulent statements they made, crime in this country through the roof and we — this country through the roof and we have a new form of crime called _ and we have a new form of crime called migrant crime and it is happening at levels that nobody thought — happening at levels that nobody thought possible. the happening at levels that nobody thought possible.— thought possible. the fbi has said overall _ thought possible. the fbi has said overall violent _ thought possible. the fbi has said overall violent crime - thought possible. the fbi has said overall violent crime is i said overall violent crime is coming _ said overall violent crime is coming down _ said overall violent crime is coming down in _ said overall violent crime is coming down in this - said overall violent crime is. coming down in this country. the — coming down in this country. the thing _ coming down in this country. the thing is _ coming down in this country. the thing is they— coming down in this country. the thing is they are - coming down in this country. the thing is they are both . the thing is they are both referring to different datasets. from's figures are correct, they are correct according to the national crime stats that were published today on thursday after the debate on tuesday. and the figures that the abc news moderator was referring to are those published by fbi. they only include crimes reported to law enforcement.— include crimes reported to law enforcement. you and i are both art of enforcement. you and i are both part of bbc— enforcement. you and i are both part of bbc verify _ enforcement. you and i are both part of bbc verify am _ enforcement. you and i are both part of bbc verify am one - enforcement. you and i are both part of bbc verify am one of- part of bbc verify am one of the challenges when we take on an issue like this is that

there are many different sources of data and information on any given policy issue. exactly and we have been looking through the differences in the datasets and the nuances they come with. the figures are donald trump quoted are based on numbers that are on a nationwide survey of victims of crime, including people who may not have reported through the police and it is important to say, as well, it includes 2020 which was a covid year so, remember, we do not know what that would have done to the opportunities for crime in that year as well. and it must be said that 2023 rate of violent crime was higher than those of 2020 and 2021 stop and they also say it was not statistically different to that of five years ago in 2019. crime and abortion were two of many issus that came up during tuesday's debate. but let's try and understand which issues matter the most to voters. anthony salvanto is polling director at our us news partners, cbs.

it is easy to look at the headline national polls but there is so much detailed in there is so much detailed in the exam. let's start with what your understanding is of the major factors that decide which toys the voters make.- toys the voters make. good evening- — toys the voters make. good evening. the _ toys the voters make. good evening. the two _ toys the voters make. good evening. the two you - toys the voters make. good evening. the two you have | toys the voters make. good - evening. the two you have been talking to our important but i want to start with and i will show you this, it is inflation and the economy, something that most voters do say is a major factor and, most voters do say is a major factorand, in most voters do say is a major factor and, in fact, most voters do say is a major factorand, infact, one most voters do say is a major factor and, in fact, one of the reasons this race is so close is for those who say not only that inflation is a major factor in their vote but also that they feel their income is not keeping pace with inflation, they tend to be voting for donald trump in large measures. 0ne voting for donald trump in large measures. one of the reasons, if we unpack that, is that when we ask people how do you remember the economy when donald trump was in president, frankly they are looking back past covid to the precovid times and they say they

remember it as good. so that is one of the factors that is underpinning a lot of his standing in the polls. inflation, the economy and the retrospective feeling that the economy was better when he was president. i economy was better when he was resident. ., economy was better when he was resident. . . ., , ., president. i am curious, do these major _ president. i am curious, do these major factors - president. i am curious, do these major factors vary i these major factors vary according to whether a voter is likely to vote republican or democrat?— likely to vote republican or democrat? they do. in fact, republicans _ democrat? they do. in fact, republicans are _ democrat? they do. in fact, republicans are even - democrat? they do. in fact, republicans are even morel republicans are even more likely to say that not only was the economy a fact but that the economy is not good and part of thatis economy is not good and part of that is the partisanship wrapped up and we see that a lot around campaigns but let me point out something that is pushing back against that a little bit and i will show it to you here on the screen. that is what happens when abortion and reproductive rights are set to be a majorfactor in people's vote. you see these numbers, you get very sizeable margins who then say they will vote for harris based on that issue. again, to your larger

point it is a combination of factors and at some point in the campaign you see that back and forth about what people should decide based upon and notjust should decide based upon and not just what their vote is and thatis not just what their vote is and that is one of those factors that is one of those factors that helps out harris right now. i that helps out harris right now. ., that helps out harris right now. . ., ., ,~ that helps out harris right now. . ., ., i. that helps out harris right now. . ., ., ., now. i want to ask you a question _ now. i want to ask you a question that _ now. i want to ask you a question that i - now. i want to ask you a question that i am - now. i want to ask you a question that i am sure | now. i want to ask you a i question that i am sure you asked a lot because there is a focus crucial swing states. how do things look in michigan, pennsylvania and wisconsin? tight, close even. you could unpack, put your words and that it is for all of that. i will show those states in particular and this is what i mean by even. i was point out to people that you see estimates like this and remember that all of these are within the margin of error, all of these are highly dependent on what you classify as a likely voter and preferences are very tight and locked in at this point but there is some variance and who may actually show up to vote and that explains a lot of what you see in the campaign were

oftentimes you see in the campaigns, they talk to some of their base voters because they want to motivate them. in fact, one of the real interesting dynamics that has gotten this race to be so close versus when joe biden was the nominee or going to be the nominee for the democrats, is that there has been a surge in democratic enthusiasm since harris became the nominee. they have increasingly been saying that they are likely to turn out and that has matched the republican enthusiasm and again there is another big factor behind that tight race. another big factor behind that tiuht race. ., another big factor behind that tight race-— tight race. one more thing i want to ask _ tight race. one more thing i want to ask you, _ tight race. one more thing i want to ask you, in - tight race. one more thing i want to ask you, in 2016 i tight race. one more thing i | want to ask you, in 2016 and tight race. one more thing i i want to ask you, in 2016 and in 2020 pollsters had difficulty assessing support for donald trump and frequently underestimated his support. assumedly the polling industry has looked at its approach to try and make sure that does not happen this time? i try and make sure that does not happen this time?— happen this time? i always emphasise _ happen this time? i always emphasise two _ happen this time? i always emphasise two things. i happen this time? i always| emphasise two things. one happen this time? i always i emphasise two things. one is to look at the state—by—state polls and i think one of the things about 2016 is that a lot

of people were looking at the national race which, quite frankly, at least from our point of view, al polling, was spot on but in the states you had donald trump winning the electoral college, that state—by—state contest, even state— by—state contest, even though state—by—state contest, even though hillary clinton won the national popular vote. i think now there is better communication about the fact that this is decided state—by—state and i will keep emphasising that. number two, it goes back again to turn out stop when you look at polls and look at the ones that talk about the likely voters because, quite frankly, it is that smaller percentage of people who may be on the fence about whether or not to turn out, pollsters always wrestle with looking at that behavioural aspect of this stop will they will not show up, frankly? campaigns do too. and thatis frankly? campaigns do too. and that is something that when you see the measures you know that there will be variance in the and when you hear that cliche about it all coming down to turn out, that is what you see in the polling, and that as we see small shifts in polling and

thatis see small shifts in polling and that is what you see this year. looking at another issue, this one is important in many of the swing states. fracking is what talking about. it's a technique where pressure is applied to shale rock in order to release gas and oil. and trump has been very keen to highlight that harris' position on fracking has changed from 2019 when she was callng for a ban based on environmental and climate concerns. for more on this here's ben geman from the news website axios. i think it is fair to say that the biden have illustration has recognised the need for the united states to be a robust

oil and natural gas producer and, by definition, that is something that will include a lot of fracking. 0ne something that will include a lot of fracking. one thing that has influenced this a great deal, the natural gas side, is the fact that during the beginning of the russian invasion of ukraine, you obviously had a european effort to move away from russian oil and gas supplies and us liquefied natural gas exports have helped fill some of that gap- have helped fill some of that gap. similarly with oil prices rising they have been efforts to move away from russian oil, you also saw the biden administration encouraging producers to open the taps even more. so it has candidly been a somewhat mixed message from an administration that is taking unprecedented steps on climate change but also recognising the geopolitical and economic leverage that the fossil fuel production provides and from the royal political standpoint there is very little tolerance for rising gas only prices and rising heating cost and from that same point you've seen the administration try to make sure it does not undercut itself cutting into these elections.

you say there has been a mixed message from the biden administration but nonetheless it is fair, isn't it, that this approach is a long way from what, harris used to advocate towards the end of the last decade. i towards the end of the last decade. ., ., towards the end of the last decade. ~ ., , decade. i think that is right. if we no decade. i think that is right. if we go back _ decade. i think that is right. if we go back to _ decade. i think that is right. if we go back to 2019 i decade. i think that is right. if we go back to 2019 when | decade. i think that is right. i if we go back to 2019 when she was running her own campaign for the democratic nomination for the democratic nomination for president that obviously went to joe for president that obviously went tojoe biden, she was one of fairly large number of candidates who felt they had to run to left, to the political left and in doing so she called for a ban on fracking. candidly they do something that is a little more messaging than would be in reality because outright banning would require an act of congress and there are simply not enough political appetite for that, or even close. a ban on fracking was not the position of the top of the ticket when she became the vice presidential nominee and she said at the time thatjoe biden would not ban fracking. and that is something that has, her 2019 comments to this

effect have certainly come back to be a big thing now that she is running her own campaign for president and republicans at every turn i trying to remind voters, especially in the state of pennsylvania which is absolutely pivotal and a huge natural gas producer, the been looking to remind voters that she once took this position. in recent weeks harris in an interview with cnn and in the debates had with donald trump, she made clear that this is no longer her position. she says the us can grow its clean energy posture and attempt to confront climate change even while encouraging these types of domestic fossil fuel of domestic fossilfuel supplies and, in fact, we have seen her very much pivot to the centre by openly touting and boasting about the rising us oil and natural gas production. both candidates think it is an important issue in both reference it frequently in their different ways. i wonder whether their calculation is that this is about keeping gas prices down for americans or is it to do with generating and keeping jobs within the energy

market? i keeping “obs within the energy market? ., , keeping “obs within the energy market? ~ , ., ., market? i think it is a mix of larae market? i think it is a mix of large different _ market? i think it is a mix of large different things. if i market? i think it is a mix of large different things. if you | large different things. if you look at some of the republican criticisms of carmel harris it is an idea that while us production has been rising in recent years, a democratic administration and already the behaviour of the biden distraction shows so is the seeds to deter investment that would allow continued increases in production, whether through offering fewerfederal in production, whether through offering fewer federal areas fully supporting a new environmental regulations across the board. when it comes to republicans, i think this is also part of a message that they want to say, that the demo cladding —— democratic planet change agenda is something that will ultimately cost us jobs in these industries. and that brings us again back to pennsylvania. it is a must win state for harris and polling shows mixed views about fracking in pennsylvania, and the votes that she needs to pick up in that state have led to the conclusion that she needs to sprint away from this prior call for earning this practice.

we've considered abortion, crime, polling, fracking. to step back and consider where this week leaves the race, i spoke two seasoned political strategists: democratjoi chaney, and republican ron bonjean. iam assuming i am assuming you felt the debate went well for, harris. so let's look forward. what should she do now? she so let's look forward. what should she do now? she needs to hit the campaign _ should she do now? she needs to hit the campaign trail, _ should she do now? she needs to hit the campaign trail, she - hit the campaign trail, she needs to get all the battleground states and, you know, be aiming for turning out her base voters and expanding that base and also trying to convert those who are moderate or republicans and letting them know they have a home with the campaign. and so she can shut everyone up, probably do an interview or two. it everyone up, probably do an interview or two.— interview or two. it may be time to sit _ interview or two. it may be time to sit down _ interview or two. it may be time to sit down and i interview or two. it may be time to sit down and let i interview or two. it may be time to sit down and let a l interview or two. it may be i time to sit down and let a few journalists ask some questions. absolutely. and i think that as i was a part of the plan. the

truth is she is doing direct to consumer, if you will, right? she is going straight to the voters on the campaign trail and they hear her, she hears from them and they ask the toughest questions, right? we had a fracking conversation just now in the real question in pennsylvania is where you stand on fracking now? they don't care where she was before, it only matters what happens today. before, it only matters what happens today-— before, it only matters what happens today. and how do you assess her _ happens today. and how do you assess her messaging - happens today. and how do you assess her messaging on i happens today. and how do you j assess her messaging on issues such as fracking and gun—control? 0n such as fracking and gun—control? on both during the debate it sounded like she was trying to offer reassurances to republicans who may be considering coming across to her. i considering coming across to her. ., ., considering coming across to her. ~ . ., , ., , her. i think that what she has learned as — her. i think that what she has learned as vice _ her. i think that what she has learned as vice president i her. i think that what she has learned as vice president is l learned as vice president is that you are a president for everyone. and so while you may have some personal views that may be to the left or the right as the case may be of the electorate, ultimately you are going to do what makes right with the vast majority of americans and what makes right in terms of policy. so i don't think there is any surprise

there. americans shift and change positions all the time. that is natural. it is unnatural to take a position, and never change even in the face of facts and changing circumstances. i think that what she is doing is quite right. talking about wherever values are, those are unwavering, but where she may be on any particular issue and especially ones that, you know, these are not moral issues, right? these are ones of different positions that may change over time that, in the case of fracking, you know, there may have been a shift there. in the case of some other issues they may have been a shift. but it is not like there is a long list. she has been pretty consistent. that is a democrat — been pretty consistent. that is a democrat perspective - been pretty consistent. that is a democrat perspective on i been pretty consistent. that is a democrat perspective on thej a democrat perspective on the political strategy that kamala harris may pursue. let's talk to ron now. talk to me about where you think this week lives donald trump and how he should plot his way forward. first donald trump and how he should plot his way forward.— plot his way forward. first of all i plot his way forward. first of all i was _ plot his way forward. first of all i was listening _ plot his way forward. first of all i was listening to - plot his way forward. first of all i was listening to the i

all i was listening to the tracking conversation and i fracking conversation and i would _ fracking conversation and i would just say that i noticed that— would just say that i noticed that kamala harris did not really— that kamala harris did not really talk about the tracking issue — really talk about the tracking issue after she was exposed by trump — issue after she was exposed by trump and really did not talk about— trump and really did not talk about energy policy. i have a feeling — about energy policy. i have a feeling in _ about energy policy. i have a feeling in the next few weeks we will— feeling in the next few weeks we will see some type of energy policy _ we will see some type of energy policy come out from the harris campaign — policy come out from the harris campaign to try and mitigate the damage. but what i think is going _ the damage. but what i think is going to — the damage. but what i think is going to happen after this debate is that, first of all, and — debate is that, first of all, and no—one landed a fatal blow during — and no—one landed a fatal blow during that debate. kamala harris, _ during that debate. kamala harris, i_ during that debate. kamala harris, i think, during that debate. kamala harris, ithink, truly during that debate. kamala harris, i think, truly won it on the _ harris, i think, truly won it on the merits. she had arguments down, she had donald trump _ arguments down, she had donald trump on — arguments down, she had donald trump on the fence but there was _ trump on the fence but there was no — trump on the fence but there was no deathblow and i think that— was no deathblow and i think that we — was no deathblow and i think that we just have to see how far she — that we just have to see how far she will move the needle. but you — far she will move the needle. but you are talking a lot harris but i'm interested to know what you think about donald trump and his performance in that debate on what he should do, for example we know there is a lot of search interest in the moment with donald trump and cats and dogs. is that what you do you

want your candidate to be looked up for? surely they look him up for policy. irate looked up for? surely they look him up for policy.— him up for policy. we probably do not want — him up for policy. we probably do not want to _ him up for policy. we probably do not want to have _ him up for policy. we probably do not want to have that i do not want to have that happen, _ do not want to have that happen, no—one would. i think donald — happen, no—one would. i think donald trump needs to be focused. he was very unfocused during _ focused. he was very unfocused during that debate and he kept kamala — during that debate and he kept kamala harris on defence regarding immigration and i thought— regarding immigration and i thought his attack at the end was very— thought his attack at the end was very good about saying, hey, — was very good about saying, hey, if— was very good about saying, hey, if you have all these plans _ hey, if you have all these plans then why did you not do them — plans then why did you not do them during the administration you are — them during the administration you are vice president, why not initiate — you are vice president, why not initiate these things you're talking _ initiate these things you're talking about which mckay should _ talking about which mckay should have done that at the beginning and really hammered home _ beginning and really hammered home time after time after time — home time after time after time. going forward nobody needs— time. going forward nobody needs to _ time. going forward nobody needs to do is to start talking about— needs to do is to start talking about kitchen table issues that people — about kitchen table issues that people really care about. they do not — people really care about. they do not care about cats or dogs. they— do not care about cats or dogs. they do— do not care about cats or dogs. they do not care about what happened in the last election or his — happened in the last election or his list of grievances. they want — or his list of grievances. they want to— or his list of grievances. they want to know if he will help solve — want to know if he will help solve problems that they care about — solve problems that they care about i — solve problems that they care about. i don't think we're going _ about. i don't think we're going to _ about. i don't think we're going to see much of a change. donald — going to see much of a change. donald trump is who he is and we all—

donald trump is who he is and we all know that. so at the same — we all know that. so at the same time, kamala harris has a lot of— same time, kamala harris has a lot of catching up to do. trump is a known _ lot of catching up to do. trump is a known quantity and he is out there _ is a known quantity and he is out there and constantly, kamala _ out there and constantly, kamala harris is trying to educate _ kamala harris is trying to educate undecideds that she is a credible alternative. so there _ a credible alternative. so there is— a credible alternative. so there is a challenge there for her~ — that's the view from both candidates' camps at the end of a big week for the us race. what's next? back to anthony salvanto, polling guru at our us partners, cbs news. i have to ask you a question that i know a lot of people are wondering, which is when will we know what impact that debate had? when will we get polls that really reveal that? ii had? when will we get polls that really reveal that? if any i think it that really reveal that? if any i think it will _ that really reveal that? if any i think it will be _ that really reveal that? if any i think it will be next - that really reveal that? if any i think it will be next week, l i think it will be next week, towards the end of next week and i will tell you why. first is contextually look at post debate immediate post debate polls from 2016, from 2020 past years, you mentioned there have been times when you saw winners or perceived winners of the

dates including the fact that in 2016 many people thought that hillary clinton was winning some of those debates and ultimately that did not pan out when election day rolled around. so those polls have some value but it is limited, number one. a number two, you have to remember that the audience for those debates is large but it is often disproportionately older. and so as younger people, and we know they get their information from a lot of different sources, that is going to trickle out over days. there will be getting information from the internet, from family and friends et cetera. so that takes a while to process and thatis takes a while to process and that is why i think you want to see that measurement in a few days but, finally, let me say this. there is not a lot of room to move in this electorate. in our polling, the numbers of people who we think a persuader built by even the most generous measure is less than one tenth. it may be smaller than that. so the question is how many of those people are really watching to be moved in one direction or

another and, frankly, that number is fairly small. we will see but that is the context. that was anthony from our us partners cbs news. i should say that across all issues we have been discussing in this 30 minutes, if you would like further background on them or more detail you can get that right now through the bbc news website and the bbc news app. that is it for this 30 minutes on bbc news. thank you for your company and i will see you soon. hello there. it was an unseasonably chilly start to friday morning with a touch of frost for some, but lots of blue sky and sunshine throughout the day and we started to draw in that warmer feeling air. now that trend is just set to continue over the next few days. so warmer by day, milder by night, too. for the weekend — some sunshine, but also some outbreaks of rain here and there, too. you can see all of the sunshine clearly with the lack of cloud on the satellite picture here. we will see this front

just gradually continue to push its way further eastwards through the rest of the night, bringing outbreaks of rain across northern ireland and western scotland. more cloud here, too, and some of the cloud will seep down into northern england. it's windy out towards the northwest, but look at much of england and wales — dry with clear skies again. and while it's not quite as cold as it was last night here, temperatures rurally could still drop, perhaps as low as 3 or 4 c. and then on saturday, well we're set to keep a lot of that sunshine across england and wales through the day. it will stay dry here, more cloud towards the north and probably some more in the way of high cloud through the afternoon turning the sunshine hazy. meanwhile, across northern ireland, western scotland we'll see outbreaks of rain push eastwards. taking their time to reach eastern scotland — dry here for much of the day. windy across the border, fresh south—westerly wind. highs of 16 to 19 c, so already feeling warmer. and then on sunday, our front continues to slip southwards and eastwards across from northern england, down through wales, the midlands and eventually into south east england, but there will be some sunshine ahead of our front.

it will stay dry during the daylight hours, 20 degrees so warm and sunshine developing behind the front, too, with some showers scattered across northern and western scotland. so here's our area of high pressure that's going to keep us largely dry and settled into next week. it's gradually pushing further eastwards over the next few days, but on monday we could start off the day with those lighter winds, with some areas of mist and fog that could take a little time, perhaps to lift and clear through the morning. but they will do so and there'll be some sunshine emerging and temperatures will be higher. so we're looking at 15 to 21 c, perhaps north to south. and those temperatures could rise even further — low to mid 20s potentially, especially in the south as we head through the middle of next week. lots more sunshine to come.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. ignition... it's the job of dreams. with an out of this world view. many would love to be an astronaut — but very few make the cut. there you go! the european space agency is pushing boundaries with its latest candidate, john mcfall. absolutely amazing.

this is what it feels like. woohoo! he's an amputee, and he's taking part in a ground—breaking project to see if someone with a disability can go to space. this project will deliver a very strong message to redefine or define what people's interpretation of what someone with a physical disability can do. meet the world's first para astronaut, who could open up space for everyone. chosen from 22,000 applicants after an incredibly tough selection process, these are the european space agency's new astronauts, the brightest and the best. among them is a candidate who's a first. so, i think it's wise

that we now announce our para astronaut, and that isjohn mcfall.