are not ourselves at war with russia. our common aim is and remains to ensure that ukraine can effectively defend itself against russia's aggression. they are really trying to send this. message of unity where there have been some really mixed messages, particularly coming out of paris and | berlin, and even some - barbed exchanges as well. so i think they were looking - to repair some of that damage. on our panel tonight is anna mikhailova — deputy political editor at the mail on sunday and joel rubin — the former us department of state's chief liaison to the us house of representatives during the obama administration. more on those stories coming up but let me bring you up—to—date with our

latest bbc news headlines. russia heads to the polls with vladimir putin certain to secure his fifth term as president and another six years in power. as voting begins, so do the protests. some voters expressing their anger by pouring dye into ballot boxes and some setting fire to photo booths —— micro polling booths. photos of food and medical aid arriving to gaza have been released. meanwhile israel has sent a delegation back to qatar for ceasefire talks. on the ground benjamin netanyahu has approved plans for a military operation to go ahead in rafah. ajudge has rejected donald trump as meg attempted to have the lead prosecution lawyer disqualified from the georgia election interference case, the judge ruled that fani willis could continue but said the special prosecutor she had appointed and had a romantic relationship with would have to go. he has tonight resigned. the proposed transitional council in haiti that is meant to bring stability to the caribbean nation in

crisis is yet to be set up. the us secretary of state antony blinken says most of the parties have named their representative but a couple still have yet to do so. welcome to the context. the leaders of france and germany have been meeting in berlin in an an attempt to heal a rift between the two european powers over the response to russia's war in ukraine. today's talks come after a meeting last month where french president emmanuel macron refused to rule out deploying western troops to ukraine. that triggered a dressing down from the german chancellor olaf scholz and it's been left to poland to act as peace—maker between the two allies. today in a sign of unity all three leaders agreed to step up the purchase and production of weapons for ukraine amid warnings it is facing a critical arms shortage. translation: we stand closely by

ukraine's side, _ translation: we stand closely by ukraine's side, we _ translation: we stand closely by ukraine's side, we have _ translation: we stand closely by ukraine's side, we have made - translation: we stand closely by ukraine's side, we have made thisl ukraine's side, we have made this clearfrom the beginning ukraine's side, we have made this clear from the beginning and ukraine's side, we have made this clearfrom the beginning and it is true for as long as it takes. it is clear we support ukraine and it is also clear that we are not ourselves at war with russia. our common aim is and remains to ensure ukraine can effectively defend itself against russia's aggression. the crystal clear signal goes to moscow, the russian president must know that our support for ukraine will not end. we stand united by ukraine's site. thank you. stand united by ukraine's site. thank vom— stand united by ukraine's site. thank yom— it i stand united by ukraine's site. | thank you._ it is stand united by ukraine's site. - thank you._ it is our thank you. translation: it is our future, thank you. translation: it is our future. our — thank you. translation: it is our future, our security _ thank you. translation: it is our future, our security which - thank you. translation: it is our future, our security which is - thank you. translation: it is our future, our security which is at - future, our security which is at stake — future, our security which is at stake in — future, our security which is at stake in ukraine. we are doing this out of— stake in ukraine. we are doing this out of solidarity for the people of ukraine _ out of solidarity for the people of ukraine whose territorial integrity is being _ ukraine whose territorial integrity is being threatened. we are doing this to _ is being threatened. we are doing this to defend international law, we are doing _ this to defend international law, we are doing it— this to defend international law, we are doing it because the security of europeans— are doing it because the security of europeans and of us is at stake in ukraine — europeans and of us is at stake in ukraine it— europeans and of us is at stake in ukraine it is— europeans and of us is at stake in ukraine. it is with this determination that we want to oppose the war_ determination that we want to oppose the war of— determination that we want to oppose the war of aggression launched by russia _ the war of aggression launched by russia. ., , , , the war of aggression launched by russia. . , , , ., ., russia. that is president macron of france. russia. that is president macron of france- that _ russia. that is president macron of france. that meeting _ russia. that is president macron of france. that meeting came - russia. that is president macron of france. that meeting came as - russia. that is president macron of france. that meeting came as a .

france. that meeting came as a russian missile attack on the southern ukrainian port city of odesa killed 16 people and left another 55 wounded. let's talk about some of the politics behind this. let's speak to anna mikhailova — deputy political editor. good evening to you. we have seen world leaders line—up to offer support to ukraine but we are also seeing the rhetoric on all sides change somewhat. we saw those three leaders on the world stage they're reaching some sort of agreement, an agreement that has been echoed, too, by the uk's foreign minister, david cameron, talking about the need to provide more weapons to ukraine. there is still a real issue around getting troops to ukraine. that appears to be the red line in these negotiations. appears to be the red line in these negotiations-_ negotiations. yes. you say the rhetoric has _ negotiations. yes. you say the rhetoric has changed. - negotiations. yes. you say the rhetoric has changed. the - negotiations. yes. you say the - rhetoric has changed. the rhetoric actually i would say has not changed that much. this week alone you had eu leaders saying they would do whatever it takes but then quickly that emerged that the funding they

set aside didn't contain any new money for procurement. so while the rhetoric i think sort of continues to be steadfast, it's not necessarily matched by funds and the amount of actual support in terms of military help that is required. in the uk the debate is slightly different to what is happening in europe. there isn't a certainty, and of course in the us, there isn't really that public pressure to stop military aid and putting money in to help in ukraine. there tends to be quite broad consensus on that. the focus also with the uk has been training, for example, ukrainian troops, and that is something that has been less focused on, focusing on the delivery on the front line. the focus isn't quite the same here but of course broadly we are more than two years in, it is no surprise

that amid serious economic problems across the west, you are getting people quite fatigued and it's going to be a real effort for people who support continuing to provide that aid. amid the brutal attacks that are continuing. it would be an effort to keep doing that and keep it meaningful. it keep doing that and keep it meaningful.— keep doing that and keep it meaninaful. , . . meaningful. it is an important point ou made meaningful. it is an important point you made there. — meaningful. it is an important point you made there, the _ meaningful. it is an important point you made there, the rhetoric - meaningful. it is an important point you made there, the rhetoric not i you made there, the rhetoric not changing, unified in saying what they want to do, the real question is can they deliver it? we have seen this week france stressing that if we leave ukraine alone, let ukraine lose this war then for sure russia will threaten moldova, jens stoltenberg saying that ukraine is not running out of courage, they're running out of ammunition, so ratcheting up the pressure to get those deliveries into ukraine. i wonder, too, world leaders, those who go to the polls this year, they will have a close eye on what the

electric to make of it and that's particularly relevant in the united states but also in the uk. yes. states but also in the uk. yes, althou:h states but also in the uk. yes, although it _ states but also in the uk. yes, although it is _ states but also in the uk. yes, although it is definitely - states but also in the uk. yes, although it is definitely a - states but also in the uk. ye: although it is definitely a more politically important issue going into the election in the united states. it's not so much something that's going to be contentious in the uk just because both that's going to be contentious in the ukjust because both parties that's going to be contentious in the uk just because both parties are on the same page on this. but the debate here hugely is a general lack of funding as it is perceived for defence. so there is a big push right now and certainly my newspaper is campaigning for it to try and increase defence spending to 3% because there has been broad consensus that it is a much more dangerous world and the uk armed forces need to be better equipped for the future, for future dangers and potential conflict. so that's the real dividing line going into the real dividing line going into the uk election. find the real dividing line going into the uk election.— the real dividing line going into the uk election. and oh, good to have ou the uk election. and oh, good to have you with — the uk election. and oh, good to have you with us _ the uk election. and oh, good to have you with us on _ the uk election. and oh, good to have you with us on the - the uk election. and oh, good to have you with us on the panel. have you with us on the panel

tonight. stay with us. i want to talk about our other main story of the day. russians began voting in an election on friday which is all but certain to result in a landslide re—election foeradimir putin, extending his presidency for six more years. there have been several reports of of incidents of protesters being detained. video footage showed one woman being arrested after throwing a molotov cocktail at a polling station in st petersburg. and the russian electoral authorities said several people had been detained after they poured liquid into ballot boxes, in separate incidents across russia. we must stress this is a small number of incidents but they're spread across the country in towns to cities. the polls are open until sunday. president putin has himself cast his vote, online. the result is not in doubt as mr putin has no credible opponent. those opponents that are serious are either in exile, in prison or dead. the election comes just a month after the death

of mr putin's most prominent and most vocal critic, alexei navalny, died in a siberian penal colony. ina in a moment we will speak to bbc monitoring francis scarr. russia's democracy is the best in the world, the kremlin says. and at polling station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates, and plenty of voters. democracy in action, right? not quite. realistically, only one man can win this. vladimir putin! the man who's been on russia's political stage for the last quarter of a century. vladimir putin faces no serious challenger. his fiercest rivals are in exile or in prison.

not that this woman, whose son is fighting in ukraine, wants any change at the top. "of course i voted for putin," she says. "i trust him." across the country, there are polling stations that don't look or sound like polling stations. and there is voting in parts of ukraine which are under russian occupation — what russia calls its new territories. the ukrainian government called the election here illegal. polls close on sunday night. expect a putin landslide. unpredictability is very much a feature of life now in russia, but that does not apply to elections. the political system here is built around one man, vladimir putin, and the kremlin tightly controls that system, including elections. so mr putin's re—election is not in doubt. it's absolutely impossible to say about our presidential election that this election is fair and free. politician boris nadezhdin had tried to get on the ballot but was barred from running, he claims, because his calls to end

the war were becoming popular. we have propaganda and we have a myth that everybody in russia supports putin, and everybody in russia supports the special military operation. it's really not the fact. and my election campaign showed that a lot of people are against putin's politics and a lot of people are against the special military operation. you won't hear the kremlin saying that. this is an election designed to show that vladimir putin has the full support of his people. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. let's speak to francis scarr from bbc�*s monitoring protests some from bbc�*s monitoring. you have been following this process throughout the day, the start of three days of voting. we heard in steve's report, it feels like just a performance, doesn't it, because there is no credible other candidate. as we said, those that

could be potentially credible are either dead or in exile. what's the point in this election? this either dead or in exile. what's the point in this election?— point in this election? this is about vladimir— point in this election? this is about vladimir putin - point in this election? this is about vladimir putin trying l point in this election? this is| about vladimir putin trying to point in this election? this is - about vladimir putin trying to prove to the russian population that he has a legitimate mandate to govern them for another six years. it's a bit of a misnomer this idea that authoritarians don't care about public opinion. he wants people to back him and he wants to pretend to the rest of the world that they will back him. and at a time when he is too nervous to even allow nominally opposition candidates like boris nadezhdin who we just heard on to the ballot, it's really important for him to secure a high turnout, and so across polling stations today in russia we have seen all kinds of things aimed at creating this sort of sense of a national festival, such as concerts or free food and drink, or raffles that you can even win cars or apartments in, really

just aimed at boosting the turnout. and of course when the other three candidates on the ballot are complete political nobodies, also—rans, it's fairly clear who most people are going to vote for. in the past president putin has been competent to enough to allow nominally liberal candidates on the ballot, this time he hasn't. i nominally liberal candidates on the ballot, this time he hasn't.- ballot, this time he hasn't. i want to come onto _ ballot, this time he hasn't. i want to come onto some _ ballot, this time he hasn't. i want to come onto some of— ballot, this time he hasn't. i want to come onto some of those - ballot, this time he hasn't. i want to come onto some of those may| ballot, this time he hasn't. i want i to come onto some of those may be more bizarre scenes in a moment but talk to me about some of those protests. while president putin might want that perceived mandate of the people, some people have been quite vocal, particularly in some polling stations.— quite vocal, particularly in some polling stations. that's true, these incidents have _ polling stations. that's true, these incidents have been _ polling stations. that's true, these incidents have been very _ polling stations. that's true, these incidents have been very sporadic. | incidents have been very sporadic. they have only been a handful of them but as you said earlier they have been across the country and they are pretty unprecedented. we have not seen this kind of thing taking place before russian elections. we have seen arson attacks today, we have seen people pouring this green disinfectant liquid into valid boxes, and we have also seen that molotov cocktail being thrown in st petersburg. i think really what this emphasises,

whether or not these are aimed against putin or being done on the destruction of ukrainian intelligence as some people in russia have claimed, really it shows that this perfect picture of president putin wants to paint of the whole nation rallying around him and rallying around his war in ukraine, is not necessarily true. some more bizarre scenes, as you said, trying to engender this idea of it being a party or a festival atmosphere, singers and all sorts of things, cartoon characters, people in costume turning up. you have posted some of these on your social media throughout the day. some are frankly bizarre. explain what you saw. ., , frankly bizarre. explain what you saw. . , . ~ , ., saw. there have been all kinds of thins, saw. there have been all kinds of things. we _ saw. there have been all kinds of things, i've been _ saw. there have been all kinds of things, i've been trawling - saw. there have been all kinds of things, i've been trawling social. things, i've been trawling social media from various russian regions. there have been people turning up in costumes of a giant wild boar, a joint polar bear, there was a newlywed couple who came straight from the registry office to cast their vote with the bride still in

her enormous wedding dress. there have been all kinds of things. there has been a pro—war singer performing at a polling station will stop there have been people in traditionalfolk dress handing out pancakes. all kinds of things just about engendering this party atmosphere and getting people to think that they are really rallying around the president and celebrating what it means to be russian frankly. francis, good to have you with us. francis, good to have you with us. francis scarr from bbc monitoring. if you want to see a polar bear vote at a polling station or check out francis's social media. it is quite a sight! let's return to the conflict between israel and hamas. several developments today. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu says he s benjamin netanyahu says he's approved plans for an offensive against hamas in gaza's overcrowded rafah city. he added that the israeli military is preparing for the evacuation of the nearly 1.5 million civilians sheltering there. the announcement comes despite president biden's warning

that such an assault? which aid agencies say could prove disastrous for civilians — would breach a red line. a ship carrying 200 tonnes of food supplies for gaza has begun unloading its desperately needed cargo. the spanish—flagged boat towed the aid in a barge which has been pushed to a floating jetty by small inflatable vessels. the ship contained 130 pallets of humanitarian equipment, 115 tonnes of food and water, which will be distributed to the northern gaza strip. israel says it will send a delegation to qatar for fresh talks on a ceasefire in gaza and the release of hostages. but officials have warned that hamas continues to hold "unrealistic demands". president biden has been very clear that given the large number of civilians in rafah, 1.4 that given the large number of civilians in rafah,1.4 million, civilians in rafah, 1.4 million, many of civilians in rafah,1.4 million, many of whom have been displaced from other parts of gaza, we have to

see a clear and implementable plan, not only to get civilians out of harm's way but also to make sure that once out of harm's way they are properly cared for with shelter, food, medicine, clothing, and we haven't yet seen such a plan. there are now signs _ haven't yet seen such a plan. there are now signs of _ haven't yet seen such a plan. there are now signs of growing _ haven't yet seen such a plan. there are now signs of growing disquiet i haven't yet seen such a plan. there are now signs of growing disquiet in the biden administration over the lack of progress in halting the conflict. president biden has praised the speech made by the us senate leader chuck schumer in which he said the israeli prime minister was a threat to peace and called for new elections. mr biden said the criticisms are shared by many americans. any comment on the senator schumer's speech— any comment on the senator schumer's speech on— any comment on the senator schumer's speech on israel yesterday? senator schumer contacted my staff, my senior staff he was going to make that speech and i'm not going to elaborate on his speech. he made a good speech and i think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many americans.

let's speak to the panel. joel rubin — the former us department of state's chief liaison to the us house of representatives during the obama administration. president biden said it was a good speech. he knew the speech was coming, didn't he?— speech. he knew the speech was coming, didn't he? well, it's great to be with you- _ coming, didn't he? well, it's great to be with you. he _ coming, didn't he? well, it's great to be with you. he knew _ coming, didn't he? well, it's great to be with you. he knew the - coming, didn't he? well, it's great| to be with you. he knew the speech was coming, he didn't know all the content, but i think for the president and his team, they have to be thrilled with what senator schumer said because senator schumer not only is of course the senate majority leader which is a critical position in our government but he is also the senior most ever elected jewish leader in the us government and has long—standing is a true leader of support for israel. so by making the speech he gave a lot of political space to president biden to be more critical of israeli actions right now, and in particular prime minister netanyahu's actions and preventing any real planning for

the day after this war and frankly, as you heard from the clip, even planning during the war to protect civilian life that has credibility. and so right now i think president biden and his team are very happy with how they have this kind of support from the leader in the senate. ~ ., , support from the leader in the senate. ~ . , ., support from the leader in the senate. ~ . , . . senate. we are seeing a hardening in the language — senate. we are seeing a hardening in the language coming _ senate. we are seeing a hardening in the language coming from _ senate. we are seeing a hardening in the language coming from the - senate. we are seeing a hardening in the language coming from the white | the language coming from the white house come out to be, vis—a—vis what is happening between israel and gaza? but once again it raises that question of, yes, it isjust gaza? but once again it raises that question of, yes, it is just talk. does it change anything on the ground? in does it change anything on the round? . , ., ground? in the near term it is not chanauin ground? in the near term it is not changing anything _ ground? in the near term it is not changing anything today - ground? in the near term it is not changing anything today or - ground? in the near term it is not - changing anything today or tomorrow. but i do believe that if israel does go into rafah and does so without taking the precautions that prime minister netanyahu says he is trying to take and that has been requested of him by this administration, i think there could be real consequences. i think that means a withholding of additional military aid that would go towards that offensive command that would send

shock waves through the israeli security system. up until now the united states, we have been providing israel without question and without any oversight in terms of conditions, that is. certainly some oversight. but i think that's the line we are getting too right now. i think the prime minister needs to pay attention. this is not just talk, there are real strings the president of the united states can pull and senator schumer's support gives him more political space to do that. anna, a significant moment that this aid is finally reaching gaza, we see and hear these reports that it is being unloaded tonight to get to those particularly in the northern parts of gaza. but once again, it is very difficult for politicians with an eye on an election this year to know what their stance will be and how tough the language can be versus israel in this war.— israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk _ israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk so _ israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk so far— israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk so far there _ israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk so far there has - israel in this war. yes, certainly in the uk so far there has been | in the uk so far there has been nowhere — in the uk so far there has been nowhere near that hardening of language. while we don't know what

happens _ language. while we don't know what happens in _ language. while we don't know what happens in those meetings behind closed _ happens in those meetings behind closed doors, publicly the focus has been on _ closed doors, publicly the focus has been on david cameron, the foreign secretary. _ been on david cameron, the foreign secretary, has made his emphasis on urging _ secretary, has made his emphasis on urging israel to help aid, try and open _ urging israel to help aid, try and open a _ urging israel to help aid, try and open a port to help facilitate aid, provide _ open a port to help facilitate aid, provide more visas for aid workers. so that's— provide more visas for aid workers. so that's very much the push. and similarly— so that's very much the push. and similarly in — so that's very much the push. and similarly in the uk the focus usually— similarly in the uk the focus usually is _ similarly in the uk the focus usually is trying to emphasise the uk's usually is trying to emphasise the uk's support for a two—state solution — uk's support for a two—state solution whenever there are suggestions otherwise. but there has been nowhere near what senator schumer — been nowhere near what senator schumer has just been nowhere near what senator schumer hasjust said, and frankly, i do schumer hasjust said, and frankly, i do get _ schumer hasjust said, and frankly, i do getjoel's point that this is probably— i do getjoel's point that this is probably politics, internal politics within _ probably politics, internal politics within the us to allow the president space _ within the us to allow the president space to _ within the us to allow the president space to do something different hinrseif~ — space to do something different himself. but looking at it from the outside. _ himself. but looking at it from the outside. it— himself. but looking at it from the outside, it does look bizarre, frankly, — outside, it does look bizarre, frankly, to _ outside, it does look bizarre, frankly, to see the united states once _ frankly, to see the united states once again telling aid is contingent

once again telling aid is contingent on changing the leadership, where that should be up to the people of that should be up to the people of that country to put pressure on its leaders _ that country to put pressure on its leaders i— that country to put pressure on its leaders. i think past recent history where _ leaders. i think past recent history where once — leaders. i think past recent history where once again the united states ptaced _ where once again the united states placed under the obama administration, for example, similar constraints _ administration, for example, similar constraints on domestic politics on pakistan— constraints on domestic politics on pakistan when providing aid, that kind of— pakistan when providing aid, that kind of approach actually is so hard-tine _ kind of approach actually is so hard—line it tends to backfire and it tends— hard—line it tends to backfire and it tends to — hard—line it tends to backfire and it tends to alienate the kind of people — it tends to alienate the kind of people they really should be working diplomatically with. so, nowhere near— diplomatically with. so, nowhere near the — diplomatically with. so, nowhere near the hardline approach in the uk i’ili'it near the hardline approach in the uk right now _ near the hardline approach in the uk riaht now. �* ., near the hardline approach in the uk riaht now. . . , near the hardline approach in the uk riahtnow. �* ., ,, , right now. anna, stay with us, i want to talk _ right now. anna, stay with us, i want to talk about _ right now. anna, stay with us, i want to talk about politics - right now. anna, stay with us, i want to talk about politics a - right now. anna, stay with us, i. want to talk about politics a little closer to home. as you said, it's been a tough week for rishi sunak amid his ties to a conservative donor, embroiled in a race row and today chancellorjeremy hunt said the countries transparent about the money it receives —— of the party is transparent. so far the party has neither confirmed nor denied reports it's been given another £5 million

by the businessman frank hester. all this comes against the backdrop of a general election. mr sunak today quashing speculation that's been circling in westminster and beyond that they could be a poll on the 2nd of may, the same day as local and mayoral elections in england. let's talk to anna once again. this is interesting, isn't it? we know it isn't going to be in the spring, so that means we are dead set for the end of the year, the autumn. do we have a date yet? ihla end of the year, the autumn. do we have a date yet?— have a date yet? no date, no. i think today _ have a date yet? no date, no. i think today the _ have a date yet? no date, no. i think today the prime _ have a date yet? no date, no. i think today the prime ministerl think today the prime minister rolling out may has already been quite a big deal in westminster and the amusing thing is there's been so much speculation about may come almost immediately people said what aboutjune? so no, it is still anyone peshmergas but the most likely is probably around november, may be october because at the end of the day their best bet is to see some green shoots in the economy, to see the bank of england start to lower interest rates and it is to

see if people start to feel a little bit like they have more money in their pocket. most pundits look at that and say it is going to be the end of the year. it is that and say it is going to be the end of the year.— end of the year. it is a big question _ end of the year. it is a big question whether - end of the year. it is a big question whether any - end of the year. it is a big question whether any of l end of the year. it is a bigl question whether any of us end of the year. it is a big - question whether any of us feel any different by the end of the year, whether by buying himself that time. is there the time to turn this around in the polls for the conservatives, briefly? the polls look extremely _ conservatives, briefly? the polls look extremely bad. _ conservatives, briefly? the polls look extremely bad. i _ conservatives, briefly? the polls look extremely bad. i think - conservatives, briefly? the polls look extremely bad. i think the l look extremely bad. i think the consensus is they would have to be something extraordinary happened to help rishi sunak to turn it around at this stage. help rishi sunak to turn it around at this stage-— help rishi sunak to turn it around at this stage. thank you, stay with us, i'll be back— at this stage. thank you, stay with us, i'll be back with _ at this stage. thank you, stay with us, i'll be back with the _ at this stage. thank you, stay with us, i'll be back with the headlinesl us, i'll be back with the headlines for you shortly. you're watching the context on bbc news.

hello. we've seen some cloud and some rain across most parts of the uk today, but that cloud has slowly but surely been breaking. and, as the skies continue to clear overnight tonight, it's going to get quite cold — in fact, it'll be a frosty start to the weekend for some. by the end of the weekend, though, we will flip our fortunes, it will feel much milder. along the way, we'll see some spells of rain, but also some spells of sunshine. so, we've had quite a lot of cloud today, showers or longer spells of rain, but all tending to drift away eastwards — and notice this clear gap. so, through tonight, largely clear, starry skies, bit of cloud just plaguing these eastern coasts for a time. one or two showers in northern scotland, cloud, and some rain into the south—west of england by the end of the night. but under those clear skies, there'll be a few mist patches. temperatures will drop away around or below freezing in places. so, yes, a cold and frosty start to saturday morning underneath this slice of clear weather, this ridge of high pressure. however, it won't last long because our next frontal system will already be approaching

from the west. that will bring cloud, it'll bring outbreaks of rain but, as it moves its way northwards and eastwards, it will introduce ever—milder air. that process of mild air wafting northwards continues through saturday and on into saturday night, actually. but for saturday daytime, cloud and some splashes of rain spitting across western parts — northern ireland likely to see the heaviest of the rain, then getting into south—west scotland. further north and east, holding on to some increasingly hazy sunshine. these are the temperatures by the middle of tomorrow afternoon. but for some spots in the north of the uk, those temperatures will rise even further through saturday night — this frontal system bringing some quite heavy rain eastwards, with that feed of south—westerly winds continuing. so let me show you the temperatures for sunday morning — compared with saturday morning, starting on a frosty note, sunday morning, starting in double figures for quite a few places. there will be a band of rain to clear away from eastern parts, then we'll see the cloud breaking to some extent to give some spells of sunshine, scattered showers out towards the west. but temperatures on sunday afternoon — north—east scotland, up to 15—16 celsius, it may be that eastern england gets to 16—17. very mild indeed, even feeling warm in any sunshine. into next week, still some changeable conditions, rain at times, some spells of sunshine.

but broadly speaking, we're expecting it to stay mild.

hello, i'm ben thompson. you're watching the context on bbc news. its future is in doubt in america.

news reports say tiktok made a record $16 billion in revenue in the us. the prosecutor in donald trump's election fraud case in georgia has been told she can spell the trial if lawyer she had an affair with has quit. former president and his co—defendants have tried to get her disqualified, saying the relationship compromised the integrity of case. today, in a 23 page ruling thejudge disagreed, saying the situation did create an appearance of impropriety, there was appearance of impropriety, there was a need to make proportional efforts

to cure it. trumper�*s lawyer responded saying they will use all legal options available as they continue to fight until the end of this case. —— trunk�*s lawyer. jol, deeply embarrassing for the prosecution, playing right into president trump's hands. it is president trump's hands. it is embarrassing _ president trump's hands. it is embarrassing but _ president trump's hands. it is embarrassing but not at all fatal, and not _ embarrassing but not at all fatal, and not the outcome donald trump wanted, _ and not the outcome donald trump wanted, he — and not the outcome donald trump wanted, he wanted the case thrown out and _ wanted, he wanted the case thrown out and he — wanted, he wanted the case thrown out and he did not want to be prosecuted by her because she has been _ prosecuted by her because she has been hugely effective at bringing him closer tojustice. so the big picture — him closer tojustice. so the big picture is that he has won, but he will start— picture is that he has won, but he will start to — picture is that he has won, but he will start to be embarrassed when he loses _ will start to be embarrassed when he loses in _ will start to be embarrassed when he loses in this— will start to be embarrassed when he loses in this case. these cases will catch— loses in this case. these cases will catch up— loses in this case. these cases will catch up with him. he questioned, will the _ catch up with him. he questioned, will the cases get to him first or the electorate in november, as far

as his _ the electorate in november, as far as his near— the electorate in november, as far as his near future? it the electorate in november, as far as his near future?—