live from london, this is bbc news. three million people in wales and the south—west of england are urged to stay at home as storm darragh hits. south korean president yoon suk yeol apologises for declaring martial law, as he faces a potential impeachment vote. rebel forces in syria say they have reached the outskirts of the city of homs. islamist fighters have already captured the cities of aleppo and hama after launching their surprise offensive last week. and five years after it was devastated by fire, notre dame cathedral reopens — with world leaders, celebrities and royalty meeting to celebrate. hello. welcome to the programme.

three million people in coastal areas of wales and southwest england have been urged to stay indoors because of the danger posed by storm darragh. an emergency alert was sent to people's mobile phones in the affected area last night and a red warning issued by the met office has come into force. winds could reach 90 miles per hour, and heavy rain is also predicted for south wales. our correspondent divya talwar has more. this is the text warned of significant disruption, and urged people to stay indoors if you can. for most serious threat is along the west and south coast of wales and the bristol channel were a rare red warning, the most serious type for strong winds has been issued which means dangerous weather is expected.— weather is expected. people should take _ weather is expected. people should take this _ weather is expected. people should take this very - should take this very seriously, this is a red alert for vast parts of the country, we've just been through a very difficult time in terms of

flooding, red means there is a potential danger to life so people need to take this seriously and not to travel unless it is necessary. areas covered by _ unless it is necessary. areas covered by the _ unless it is necessary. areas covered by the red _ unless it is necessary. areas covered by the red warning i unless it is necessary. areas i covered by the red warning are forecast to see wind gusts of up forecast to see wind gusts of up to 90 mph or more. many people are still recovering from storm that a few weeks ago which caused if extreme flooding. which caused if extreme flooding-— which caused if extreme floodinu. �* , ., , flooding. it's the last thing we need. _ flooding. it's the last thing we need, at _ flooding. it's the last thing we need, at any _ flooding. it's the last thing we need, at any time, - flooding. it's the last thing we need, at any time, any| flooding. it's the last thing - we need, at any time, any stage of the year. this is here we go again. of the year. this is here we go aaain. ~ , . again. with 'ust a few weeks before again. with just a few weeks before christmas, _ again. with just a few weeks before christmas, some - again. with just a few weeks l before christmas, some shops again. with just a few weeks - before christmas, some shops of cafe is in wells have a difficult decision to close today. it difficult decision to close toda . ~ , , ., ., today. it keeps the water down but a lot of _ today. it keeps the water down but a lot of debris _ today. it keeps the water down but a lot of debris comes - today. it keeps the water down but a lot of debris comes up i today. it keeps the water down but a lot of debris comes up so j but a lot of debris comes up so it's the wind more than anything. sometimes you can see in the glass, shaken. the weather _ in the glass, shaken. the weather is _ in the glass, shaken. the weather is expected - in the glass, shaken. the weather is expected to i in the glass, shaken. the weather is expected to cause widespread disruption to travel. , ., , ., travel. our strategy for when the red warning _

travel. our strategy for when the red warning passes - travel. our strategy for when l the red warning passes should be about 11 o'clock, instead of running positive traits from the word go, we run empty trams, those trends will have chainsaw gangs for network rail and we will check the lines are clear before we restore the passenger service. the clear before we restore the passenger service.- passenger service. the red warninu passenger service. the red warning comes _ passenger service. the red warning comes to - passenger service. the red warning comes to an - passenger service. the red warning comes to an end l passenger service. the red | warning comes to an end at passenger service. the red - warning comes to an end at 11am warning comes to an end at ”am this morning but there's bad weather sticking around for most of the day. with a wider amber alert for winds and many western parts of the uk. with me is our correspondent divya talwar. soccer is through what's going on right now?— soccer is through what's going on right now? that red weather warnin: on right now? that red weather warning issued _ on right now? that red weather warning issued by _ on right now? that red weather warning issued by the - on right now? that red weather warning issued by the office - on right now? that red weather warning issued by the office is l warning issued by the office is in place right now. —— took us through. it'll be in the last six hours in north england and that'll seek you winds of 90 mph which could cause flying debris, falling trees and huge waves of exposed beaches. the government allowed that was sent around 3 million people's

phones yesterday evening he is urging those people in those worst affected areas to stay indoors if you can and avoid driving in these conditions. that red alert is in place until 11 o'clock this morning but bad weather is sticking around for most of the day. the met office says that many western part of the country are facing strong winds and heavy rain for much of the days so there is an amber weather alert in place until at least this evening. in place until at least this evening-— in place until at least this evenina. , , ., ., ., evening. presumably a lot of disruption — evening. presumably a lot of disruption expected? - evening. presumably a lot of disruption expected? in - evening. presumably a lot of| disruption expected? in those worst affected _ disruption expected? in those worst affected areas, - disruption expected? in those worst affected areas, peoplel worst affected areas, people have been told to be prepared for power cuts, to be prepared to face problems with mobile phone services and when there is bad weather in this country, we can be sure to expect widespread travel disruption so people can be commuting by air or rail, change your plans if you can if you have to absolutely travel and make sure you check all aspects of your

journey because you may face cancellations in some parts and end up stranded. with christmas only a few weeks away, lots of festive events, christmas markets have been called off including the hugely popular winds of wonderland attraction in central london. lots of businesses... in central london. lots of businesses. . ._ in central london. lots of businesses... , ., ., ., businesses... they are not that bad here at _ businesses. .. they are not that bad here at all— businesses... they are not that bad here at all in _ businesses. .. they are not that bad here at all in central- bad here at all in central london, on the way, it was bizarre to think it was anywhere allison the country. evenif anywhere allison the country. even if you've not been issued with that red weather warning, there's going to be fallout in many, many parts of the uk. many businesses are having to close today so they are going to be facing a significant loss to be facing a significant loss to their earnings so huge disruption, huge chaos will be facing well beyond this weekend.— facing well beyond this weekend. ., ~ , ., , facing well beyond this weekend. ., ~ , . south korea's president has apologised for declaring martial law. a short while ago, yoon suk yeol addressed the nation and said: "the decision was made "from the desperation of me as the president," acknowleding that it "gave the people anxiety and inconveniences". and finishing with "i am very sorry and apologise to you."

on tuesday, he tried to impose martial law, sparking big protests and lawmakers managed to vote down the decree. later today, there'll be a vote in parliament on his impeachment. from seoul our asia correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes told us more about the address. he came out this morning to make his first public appearance since the lifting of martial law on the early hours of wednesday morning. more than 72 hours we heard nothing from president yoon and any came on national television at ten o'clock this morning local time to make what turned out to be a very, very brief address of the nation only a few minutes long, during which she apologised for declaring martial law, try to explain himself a bit by saying that it had been done out of desperation because of the situation he was in but he also said that it clearly caused anxiety and worry for the

people of korea and he was sorry for that and it would not avoid responsibility for what he done. but he also crucially said that what happens now and how things go forward is in the hands of his party, that he would have responsibility for dealing with the aftermath of this to his party, the people's power party and i think what that indicates is that president yoon is looking to this afternoon, to the impeachment vote that is going to take place in the national assembly and by making the speech, his open they can persuade members of his own party not to support the opposition. the opposition democratic party has a large majority in the national assembly but not quite big enough to pass the impeachment motion by the majority, they need some members of president yoon�*s party to come across and i think his speech was an attempt to stop that from happening. the response he has been from the democratic party, the opposition to say the apology is not enough and you need to resign and we are going

ahead with our impeachment this afternoon, it's still very unclear how president yoon�*s own party is going to vote but the mood here is certainly is from both sides from democratic party and the ruling party is whether he could impeach this afternoon, successfully or not, president yoon now only a matter of time before he has to go one way or another other by impeachment or by resignation. and that the clock is essentially ticking on his presidency now. let's speak to seoul—based freelance journalist, nemo kim. what did you make of this very brief speech that was a few hours ago? figs brief speech that was a few hours ago?— brief speech that was a few hoursaao? a , hours ago? as you corresponded 'ust hours ago? as you corresponded just mentioned, _ hours ago? as you corresponded just mentioned, it _ hours ago? as you corresponded just mentioned, it was _ just mentioned, it was strikingly brief, listen to minutes and for many of us here, it came across more as a calculated move to try and manage the fallout rather than sincere apologies so, while he did admit to making a mistake,

many here feel that it lacked real substance and had basically failed to address all the cryo— concerns of both the public and the national assembly and the timing to feels more like a quick attempt to try and contain damage with the vote coming just under three hours. the vote coming 'ust under three hours._ the vote coming 'ust under three hours. we're looking at -ictures three hours. we're looking at pictures from _ three hours. we're looking at pictures from seoul - three hours. we're looking at pictures from seoul and - three hours. we're looking atj pictures from seoul and now, people in the streets waving flags and the like, is it a purpose bizarre that his daughter leave up to his party to decide what happens to him? it is rather bizarre, as you mentioned, saying that he will leave everything to his party's discretion and that means that the pressure on the ruling party at the moment is extremely high and everyone basically is watching this live on tv, the outcome of the vote is very much uncertain as you

correspond and mention, the only need eight additional votes, the motion requires two—thirds of majority, 200 out of 300 on the additional votes from the opposition party to achieve the threshold for the impeachment motion to pass and the timing aspect, this speech, the timing aspect, this speech, the apology came three days after the beginning of this whole situation so, for many here, it's kind of making the situation even more volatile, you would say. if the vote were to go against them, what would happen immediately after that? right, well, it would mean that the prime minister powers, present your powers will be suspended immediately, the prime minister will assume the role of acting president until the whole thing gets to the constitutional court where they make a final decision on

whether to get him impeached or not. , ., not. ok, we will see what happens. _ not. ok, we will see what happens, thank _ not. ok, we will see what happens, thank you - not. ok, we will see what happens, thank you for i not. ok, we will see what - happens, thank you for talking to us, i appreciate your time. we were looking at the life pictures from seoul. tens of thousands of people are fleeing the syrian city of homs, as rebel islamist fighters close in and the speed at which the armed opposition is advancing across the country has astonished everyone, with the syrian army, loyal to president assad, simply falling away. the civil war began in 2011, but the rebels, with links to al qaeda, were forced into retreat five years later. now they're back, and injust ten days have taken the whole of syria's second largest city of aleppo. another major city, hama, fell yesterday, and now their sights are on homs. success there, could see the main road from the capital damascus to the syrian coast, cut, dividing stronghold of president assad. his lightning loss of territory, due to his backers, including russia, iran and hezbollah, currently fighting in other conflicts. with all the latest from the turkey—syrian border, here's hugo bachega.

syrian rebels on their way to homs, their offensive has been swift and astonishing. here, they celebrate as they capture another town without facing any resistance. they also had no opposition in hama, chanting, god is greatest, crowds gathered. to welcome the fighters. they also seized this army base, symbolic as the military struggles to counter their progress. the civil war in syria started in 2011 when president bashar al—assad crushed protests against his regime. homs, a rebel stronghold, was under siege for three years

in opposition fighters only left under a deal brokered by the un in 2015 when government forces reclaimed it. if the rebels take homs, damascus the capital would be an easier target. the syrian army has fallen, the state capacity has been degraded. the writing is on the wall. frozen for years, the front lines in syria are changing fast, this is an insurgency led by islamist rebels from a group known as hts, they have their roots in al-qaeda but have tried to rebrand themselves as a nationalist force. from their base, they launched a surprise campaign last week, they took aleppo, the country's second largest city, continued to push south. this is their leader. in an interview to cnn, he said the goal was to topple the regime and bring back syrian refugees.

people return to their homes, many refugees in turkiye will likely return, as will a significant number of refugees in lebanon and jordan, even refugees in europe may return to rebuild their country. they are vowing to reach damascus and bashar al—assad is struggling to stop them. in the past, he relied heavily on russia in iran to fight the opposition. but both allies are preoccupied with their own affairs. the rebels have the momentum and the regime is increasingly under threat. police in new york believe a backpack found in central park could belong to the gunman who shot dead the boss of a health insurance firm. it's been sent for forensic tests. officers are still trying to identify the suspected killer, who they they say arrived by bus ten days earlier. 0ur correspondent rowan bridge has the details.

the police investigation into brian thompson continues and the most significant development is that our partners who really noted status cbs news reporting at the