of failings in the years leading up to the grenfell tower disaster, and says it's deeply sorry. your employment here is terminated, effective immediately. and if you've joined this zoom call, you're fired. the boss of an american firm sacks 900 of his staff in one go — online. good evening and welcome to bbc news. �*dysfunctional and chaotic�* — that's the damning verdict of a foreign office whistleblower on the way it handled the evacuation of people from afghanistan after the taliban took over in august. raphael marshall, who resigned from hisjob in september, has told a committee of mps it's clear some of those left behind have since been murdered by the taliban. he says thousands of emails pleading for british help went unread, and that the foreign secretary at the time — dominic raab — was slow to make decisions. mr raab has denied the claims. this afternoon, the committee also heard evidence from the most senior civil servant at the foreign office, who said he regrets being on holiday during the crisis. here's our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. kabul airport last summer, as thousands sought to flee the advancing taliban. amid chaotic scenes, britain and other western powers tried to evacuate those it could, but according to a whistle—blower, there was chaos in london, too. the foreign office crisis centre was handling requests from afghans at risk from the taliban because of their links to the uk. one official working there, raphael marshall, said the process of choosing who could be evacuated was arbitrary and dysfunctional. he said up to 150,000 people applied for evacuation under this scheme, but he estimated fewer than 5% of these people have received any assistance. mr marshall, who has since left the diplomatic service, said there were not enough staff and one saturday afternoon he was the only person monitoring and processing e—mails in the afghan special cases inbox. thousands of which, he said, remained unread. he also said staff last after spee �*s he also said staff last after spee is __ he also said staff last after spee �*s —— lacked expertise and soldiers could not access computers. mps have raised many of their cases. what this evidence does is tell us what was going on inside, and it's a story of a system thatjust was going on inside, and it's a story of a system that just wasn't working. story of a system that 'ust wasn't workinu. �* , , story of a system that 'ust wasn't workinu. �* _ . _ working. i'm deeply concerned by many things _ working. i'm deeply concerned by many things the _ working. i'm deeply concerned by many things the whistle-blower l working. i'm deeply concerned by i many things the whistle-blower has many things the whistle—blower has raised. including about all those at the very top of the department, the whistle—blower mr marshall was dealing with a very, very difficult situation in which many of us were trying to get out people who had served us with enormous courage and integrity mr marshall singled out dominic rob, who he said delayed taking decision until he had facts set out. we're not talking about days, but several _ we're not talking about days, but several hours to make sure we have the facts _ several hours to make sure we have the facts. that is a reasonably swift — the facts. that is a reasonably swift turnaround, and in terms of presentation, of course. with the volume _ presentation, of course. with the volume of— presentation, of course. with the volume of claims coming in, i make no apology— volume of claims coming in, i make no apology for saying i need the clear_ no apology for saying i need the clear fact — no apology for saying i need the clear fact that each case presented, precisely— clear fact that each case presented, precisely so that we can make swift decisions — precisely so that we can make swift decisions. ., ' . decisions. the foreign office spokesman _ decisions. the foreign office spokesman said _ decisions. the foreign office spokesman said soldiers - decisions. the foreign office spokesman said soldiers hadj decisions. the foreign office - spokesman said soldiers had worked tirelessly to evacuate more than 16,000 people — 15,000 tirelessly to evacuate more than 16,000 people —15,000 people. some of the officials involved will have of the officials involved will have of tough questions this afternoon. james landale, bbc news. this afternoon, the prime minister has acknowledged there were some delays in the rescue effort. of course, sometimes, decisions took hours longer than we wanted to, but you have to be careful about how you do it. it was still an astonishing thing to get 15,000 people airlifted out of kabul in pretty harrowing circumstances, and as you know, we continue to have the afghan resettlement scheme to help people to whom we owe obligations and who may be leaving afghanistan in fear of their lives. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also reacted to the news this afternoon, and was scathing of the government. this is devastating testimony that lays bare the shambolic incompetence of the government, and thousands of afghans to whom we owed a duty, they stood with us. we owed them a duty of protection, and they've been let down and left to their fate. and i think it's shocking that we're all now learning that emails and letters that we sent in to the foreign office — including from my office — were open but haven't been actioned, and it's a total failure of political leadership, with an ex—foreign secretary who was busy on the beach instead of doing hisjob. well, meanwhile, the head of the diplomatic service, who's also the top civil servant at the foreign office, has said he regrets not returning from annual leave sooner during the afghan crisis. live to westminster and our political correspondent, chris mason. so, chris, what a day for the government because a whole series of allegations from this whistle—blower, and then we've been hearing from the top civil servant about him not regretting coming back from holiday sooner. dominic raab was also on holiday. 50. from holiday sooner. dominic raab was also on holiday.— was also on holiday. so, a huge amount of— was also on holiday. so, a huge amount of focus _ was also on holiday. so, a huge amount of focus in _ was also on holiday. so, a huge amount of focus in this - was also on holiday. so, a huge . amount of focus in this communion hearing, about bluntly, their holiday arrangements in august. just the point that firstly, the taliban was advancing on kabul, and at the time after the fall of kabul, with the most senior civil servant was still on his holiday. we've been hearing from the committee from three officials. nigel casey, the prime minister's special representative on afghanistan. the uk ambassador from afghanistan until the fall of the country. and in the weeks afterwards when those airless were arranged. crucially, from sir philip barton, the secretary at the foreign office. the most senior civil servant, and he was on holiday in august, as was the foreign secretary at the time. just as all of this was playing out. dominic raab returned from his holiday on the 16th of august, and sir phyllis did not return until the 16th — max or philip. the taliban had seized the... lots of questions over and over again relating to his time on holiday. he wouldn't confirm where he was, although he said some of it was outside the uk and some of it was outside the uk and some of it was within. here's a little flavour of the opening exchanges around the whole question. the conservative mp whole question. the conservative mp who chairs the committee is putting the question, and then you'll hear from sir philip. kabul was the top of the list. it was clear that— the top of the list. it was clear that the — the top of the list. it was clear that the military could no longer hold the — that the military could no longer hold the president... —— the president— hold the president... —— the president fed the country —— fled the country. what they did you return — the country. what they did you return from holiday? i�*m the country. what they did you return from holiday? i'm happy to go into dates in — return from holiday? i'm happy to go into dates in a _ return from holiday? i'm happy to go into dates in a minute. _ return from holiday? i'm happy to go into dates in a minute. before i - return from holiday? i'm happy to go into dates in a minute. before i do i into dates in a minute. before i do that, _ into dates in a minute. before i do that, i_ into dates in a minute. before i do that, i have — into dates in a minute. before i do that, i have reflected _ into dates in a minute. before i do that, i have reflected a _ into dates in a minute. before i do that, i have reflected a lot - into dates in a minute. before i do that, i have reflected a lot since i that, i have reflected a lot since august— that, i have reflected a lot since august on— that, i have reflected a lot since august on my— that, i have reflected a lot since august on my leave, _ that, i have reflected a lot since august on my leave, and - that, i have reflected a lot since august on my leave, and if- that, i have reflected a lot since august on my leave, and if i- that, i have reflected a lot since| august on my leave, and if i had that, i have reflected a lot since i august on my leave, and if i had by time again. — august on my leave, and if i had by time again. i— august on my leave, and if i had by time again, i would've _ august on my leave, and if i had by time again, i would've come - time again, i would've come back from _ time again, iwould've come back from my— time again, i would've come back from my leave _ time again, iwould've come back from my leave earlier— time again, iwould've come back from my leave earlier than- time again, i would've come back from my leave earlier than i- time again, i would've come back from my leave earlier than i did. i time again, i would've come back| from my leave earlier than i did. i did put in— from my leave earlier than i did. i did put in place _ from my leave earlier than i did. i did put in place arrangements, i from my leave earlier than i did. ll did put in place arrangements, but also, _ did put in place arrangements, but also, the _ did put in place arrangements, but also, the director— did put in place arrangements, but also, the director general... - did put in place arrangements, but also, the director general... i- also, the director general... i stayed — also, the director general... i stayed in _ also, the director general... i stayed in touch _ also, the director general... i stayed in touch with - also, the director general... i stayed in touch with the - also, the director general... i- stayed in touch with the department all the _ stayed in touch with the department all the way— stayed in touch with the department all the way through. _ stayed in touch with the department all the way through. but _ stayed in touch with the department all the way through. but as - stayed in touch with the department all the way through. but as i- stayed in touch with the department all the way through. but as i say, i all the way through. but as i say, if i all the way through. but as i say, if i time — all the way through. but as i say, if i time -- — all the way through. but as i say, if i time -- i_ all the way through. but as i say, if i time —— i would've _ all the way through. but as i say, if i time —— i would've come - if i time —— i would've come back earlier _ if i time -- i would've come back earlier. ~ .., ., earlier. we welcome the candour. it does still remain _ earlier. we welcome the candour. it does still remain a _ earlier. we welcome the candour. it does still remain a concern - earlier. we welcome the candour. it does still remain a concern that - earlier. we welcome the candour. it does still remain a concern that the | does still remain a concern that the foreign— does still remain a concern that the foreign secretary was on leave. it does _ foreign secretary was on leave. it does strike — foreign secretary was on leave. it does strike this committee certainly as strange _ does strike this committee certainly as strange that while the foreign secretary— as strange that while the foreign secretary did come back eventually, he decided — secretary did come back eventually, he decided not to —— you decided not to. | he decided not to -- you decided not to. ., ., ., ., , to. i were on that, and ifi had my time again. i— to. i were on that, and ifi had my time again, i would _ to. i were on that, and ifi had my time again, i would have - to. i were on that, and ifi had my time again, i would have my- time again, iwould have my leave earlier _ time again, iwould have my leave earlier he— time again, i would have my leave earlier. , . ., time again, i would have my leave earlier. , ., ., ., ., earlier. he repeated that over and over again. _ earlier. he repeated that over and over again. at _ earlier. he repeated that over and over again, at any _ earlier. he repeated that over and over again, at any time _ earlier. he repeated that over and over again, at any time there has| over again, at any time there has been_ over again, at any time there has heena— over again, at any time there has been a question over again, at any time there has been a questio— been a question remotely connected to his holiday _ been a question remotely connected to his holiday plans. _ been a question remotely connected to his holiday plans. the _ been a question remotely connected to his holiday plans. the clear - to his holiday plans. the clear irritation of some of the mps who described it as a platitude and scripted. he went on to say, sir philip, that when he went on leave given what was perhaps likely or reasonably likely to happen whilst he was away, he said he went on leave, and there was no in a limited ability that kabul would fall —— no inevitability. perhaps not as quickly as it did. one other detail worth bringing you, you might remember a times report where one of their reporters had gone to the british embassy. what was the british embassy. what was the british embassy. what was the british embassy. they came across documentation which detailed afghans who had worked for the uk who therefore might be a threat from the taliban. pressed on those details to the foreign office. the former you ambassador said he was absolutely mortified that had happened. there had been a plan to destroy sensitive documents, but he said his staff were working under immense pressure. chris, thank you very much indeed. i'm joined by rehana popal, a human rights lawyer who worked with charities, as well as pro bono to help evacuate people from afghanistan. thanks very much for being with us, rehana. what do you make from all these claims of the whistle—blower? the foreign office was dysfunctional in its whole rescue effort. i office was dysfunctional in its whole rescue effort.— office was dysfunctional in its whole rescue effort. i think what the whistle-blower _ whole rescue effort. i think what the whistle-blower statement i whole rescue effort. i think what the whistle-blower statement is | the whistle—blower statement is powerful because it comes from inside the ministry itself, and it confirms exactly what those of us who are working within the civil service who are in close contact to follow the process strongly suspected this is exactly what we thought was happening at the time. and this statement itselfjust really confirms much of what we thought was going on. it was always very apparent to that something was very apparent to that something was very dysfunctional and disjointed between the home office, the foreign office and the ministry of defense. you had three separate departments kind of almost operating separately and passing the buck between them. that's really what come to like and exactly what many of us have suspected what was happening. none of this unfortunately is surprising or shocking or at all, this is what we thought was going on. we 'ust heard about fl we thought was going on. we 'ust heard about the i we thought was going on. we 'ust heard about the head i we thought was going on. we 'ust heard about the head of�* we thought was going on. we 'ust heard about the head of the h we thought was going on. we just l heard about the head of the foreign office being away on holiday, the foreign secretary being away. do you think that made a material difference to the way this was handled? {th difference to the way this was handled? .., , ,., handled? of course it did. going back to the _ handled? of course it did. going back to the whistle-blower's - back to the whistle—blower�*s account, and if you go back and read it, there's a �*s passage that i think is about these names that are going back and forth between these departments. when you read it, it's very clear that there was a lack of leadership, and that lack of leadership, and that lack of leadership fell squarely and solely with sir philip. but he wasn't there. he was on leave, and it's almost shocking, and in fact, he returned back on the 26th of august. i believe it was the last week of august that operation pitting was coming to a close. that was a deal negotiated very early on, so it was known by mid august days on which it must end. so why on earth didn't sir philip come back earlier? there is a serious failure at the very top of government. serious failure at the very top of government-— serious failure at the very top of government. serious failure at the very top of covernment. ~ , government. the prime minister said toda in the government. the prime minister said today in the end. _ government. the prime minister said today in the end, the _ government. the prime minister said today in the end, the government. government. the prime minister said| today in the end, the government did astonishingly well. second only to the united states and the number of people they got out. this wasn't very well because the government had a huge operation in afghanistan, and i'lljust explain one thing that the general public might not be aware. throughout this period, there were emails — and that's also in the whistle—blower�*s account — going back and forth of people being told to come forward. people being told to make their way to the barrow hotel. the process itself in which the evacuation was carried out put these people's lives at risk because we know the taliban came in and walked down the city. you had unsolicited emails not coordinated, going out from numerous departments, telling people to risk their lives by coming to the hotel and coming to the airport, and then them not being able to get through. how on earth is anyone calling this competence? this is shocking. we know for a fact that people... i know for a fact that people... i know individuals who have been killed. people who were awaiting decisions. i got severalformer clients who work waiting for decisions. they are still waking and have since been killed by the taliban. and the idea that the government itself prioritised on processed animals over humans, that's a bit that's particularly shocking. i know it was very heavily discussed in the committee itself, and sir philip and nigel cassie went around the issue to say there was no resources put in. the around the issue to say there was no resources put in.— resources put in. the government have denied _ resources put in. the government have denied it _ resources put in. the government have denied it they _ resources put in. the government have denied it they prioritise - have denied it they prioritise animals over people. the have denied it they prioritise animals over people. the reality is resources were — animals over people. the reality is resources were used _ animals over people. the reality is resources were used because - animals over people. the reality is resources were used because that| resources were used because that operation was coordinated by these departments, by those as totals on the ground and by those civil servants and those staff who are working —— soldiers on the ground. so it's not plausible that resources were not used. whilst it might not have been up to chart, certainly it used one runway in kabul, it would have used resources of individuals on the ground. have used resources of individuals on the ground-— have used resources of individuals on the ground. really good to talk to ou. on the ground. really good to talk to you- we're _ on the ground. really good to talk to you. we're out _ on the ground. really good to talk to you. we're out of— on the ground. really good to talk to you. we're out of time, - on the ground. really good to talk to you. we're out of time, but - on the ground. really good to talk l to you. we're out of time, but thank you for your insights, rehana popal, human rights lawyer who did work during the evacuation of afghans from kabul during that very difficult time. thank you so much. first, storm arwen wreaked havoc on large parts of the uk. now, storm barra is sweeping in from the atlantic. there are weather warnings for snow and strong winds in some areas. several hundred homes are still without power, 11 days after arwen hit. in a moment, we'll speak to danny savage, who's near barnard castle in county durham but first, james shaw in south lanarkshire. what's it like there at the moment? do you know when storm barra hit earlier on today, it was around about 11 o'clock here in the south of scotland, alongside the m74. there was horizontal snow because of the strong winds and it appeared to be building up on the motorway and around it as well. really harsh conditions on this particularly high part of the m74, which is a key route connecting england, glasgow and carlisle south of the border. but now, it appears that storm barra has passed. the wind has died down, the snow has stopped falling sometime ago, but they have to assess what damage there has been. threes have fallen on roads —— trees. one has fallen on the west coast mainline between england and scotland. at the moment, no services are running on that section of the west coast. so, there has been impact on schools. but if you compare it to storm arwen a week ago, really, the impact of storm barra seems to be much less. the northeast suffered the worst of storm arwen last week. here in the north of england, the worst— here in the north of england, the worst areas affected by storm arwen have missed it the worst of the weather — have missed it the worst of the weather from storm barra today. it did get— weather from storm barra today. it did get through the middle of the day, just— did get through the middle of the day, just by the a66, and it was pretty— day, just by the a66, and it was pretty snowy at lunch traffic moving and flowers were going up and down. since _ and flowers were going up and down. since then, _ and flowers were going up and down. since then, it's turned to rain and is not _ since then, it's turned to rain and is not causing too many problems. we do still— is not causing too many problems. we do still have _ is not causing too many problems. we do still have several hundred homes off from _ do still have several hundred homes off from the electricity grid after the events with storm arwen all those _ the events with storm arwen all those days ago, but they're slowly coming _ those days ago, but they're slowly coming back online. northern power li’id coming back online. northern power grid said _ coming back online. northern power grid said they hope they get those remaining properties back online by the end _ remaining properties back online by the end of— remaining properties back online by the end of today. when you look at that map _ the end of today. when you look at that map of — the end of today. when you look at that map of the outages across northeast england, there are still lots of— northeast england, there are still lots of pins in the map indicating individual— lots of pins in the map indicating individual power cuts, but most of them _ individual power cuts, but most of them relate to ten or less properties. they are slowly being brought— properties. they are slowly being brought back online, so i think the vast majority of places now have had power _ vast majority of places now have had power restored to them. there are places around here that were still off until yesterday. they are now back— off until yesterday. they are now back on — off until yesterday. they are now back on as — off until yesterday. they are now back on as well. the worst is passed, _ back on as well. the worst is passed, so— back on as well. the worst is passed, so i think it could have been _ passed, so i think it could have been a — passed, so i think it could have been a lot— passed, so i think it could have been a lot worse today. to affect this part — been a lot worse today. to affect this part. but they didn't. i think it hasn't— this part. but they didn't. i think it hasn't hampered the emperor efforts— it hasn't hampered the emperor efforts -- — it hasn't hampered the emperor efforts —— the efforts. it hasn't hampered the emperor efforts -- the efforts.— efforts -- the efforts. danny, thanks for— efforts -- the efforts. danny, thanks for the _ efforts -- the efforts. danny, thanks for the update. - coronavirus cases in the uk have reached their highest since mid—january — let's take a look at the latest figures in detail. a further 180 have died within 28 days of a positive test — and another 45,691 people have a total 336,893 new cases have been reported in the past seven days —— that's the highesy seven—day average since mid—january. it comes as the uk has brought in stricter travel rules. people coming into the united kingdom over the age of 12 now have to show evidence of the negative covid test that's been taken no more than 48 hours before they have started theirjourney. and we'll be getting the latest on the increase in cases from our health correspondent laura foster later in the hour. the government the public inquiry into the tragedy said it was deeply sorry for its past failures and overseeing building safety. jason beer qc addressed the inquiry earlier today. the department is deeply sorry for its past failure is in relation for its past failures in relation to the oversight of the system that regulated safety in the construction and refurbishment of high rise buildings. it also deeply regrets past failures in relation to the superintendents of the building control bodies, which themselves had a key role in ensuring the safe construction and refurbishment of such buildings. it apologises to the bereaved residents and survivors of the fire for such failures. more on that later. that's the government guarantors are —— barrister. joining me now is karim mussilhy. he lost his uncle, hesham rahman, in the grenfell tower fire and karim is now part of the grenfell united group for bereaved family members and survivors of the fire. we are the government barrister saying the government is deeply sorry. it's apologised, do you accept that apology? ida. sorry. it's apologised, do you accept that apology?- sorry. it's apologised, do you accept that apology? no, i find the a olo: accept that apology? no, i find the apology deeply _ accept that apology? no, i find the apology deeply offensive. - accept that apology? no, i find the apology deeply offensive. we - accept that apology? no, i find the apology deeply offensive. we nowl apology deeply offensive. we now know that the government has known for decades the consequences of these dangerous materials, and yet chose to cover it up, and only now, they're saying sorry four and a half year after grenfell. yet, the people who are living in these unsafe homes... now you're saying sorry? it's not good enough. i'd like to see how long it stands once everything else comes out. about their involvement, about what they knew exactly, and why is david cameron not at the public inquiry after seeing his comments about killing the health and safety monster? forthem killing the health and safety monster? for them to apologise now, days before the details come out, it doesn't stand well with us.- doesn't stand well with us. looking ahead to the _ doesn't stand well with us. looking ahead to the future, _ doesn't stand well with us. looking ahead to the future, what - doesn't stand well with us. looking ahead to the future, what do - doesn't stand well with us. looking ahead to the future, what do we i doesn't stand well with us. looking i ahead to the future, what do we need to do now? is enough being done right now to stop another grenfell disaster happening somewhere else? absolutely not enough is being materialised or put on the ground right now. grenfell uncovered a master national crisis and another one is just around the corner. so, what needs to happen is we need to look at how some of these dangerous materials were able to be allowed to flood the market in this country, how is it that so many buildings were able to have these dangerous materials? we also need to look at the lobbying that goes into government. for example, alpha, has annual lunches at the house of lords, and their members... while we're uncovering this national crisis and falling into financial ruin, the government is winding it down and leaving the people who have put everything into getting new homes and starting a new life for themselves have been falling into financial ruin. not enough is being done, we need to look more into this cosy relationship that government has for the last decade, and we need to start regulating.— to start regulating. well, a lot of allegations _ to start regulating. well, a lot of allegations there. _ to start regulating. well, a lot of allegations there. not _ to start regulating. well, a lot of allegations there. not here - to start regulating. well, a lot of allegations there. not here to i allegations there. not here to defend themselves, but one last question — do you have confidence... we understand your anger and pain, but do you have confidence that this inquiry is going to find the answers as to what went wrong?— as to what went wrong? well, first of all, i'd as to what went wrong? well, first of all. m just _ as to what went wrong? well, first of all, i'd just like _ as to what went wrong? well, first of all, i'd just like to _ as to what went wrong? well, first of all, i'd just like to say _ of all, i'd just like to say these are not allegations, these are facts. i'm telling you on the evidence that has come out and what we know so far, i'm notjust making these things up. you know the government has had cosy relationships with these corporations for many years. this is not a conspiracy theory, this is true. i could go into more detail, but i don't have time. this is uncovering the truth, but it all means nothing if the government don't act. the public inquiry is there for the general public to make sure what we went through never go through again. they come up with great recommendations, but it means nothing if the government doesn't act. the government... we need to think outside the box, and may be look at these relationships. karim mussilh , look at these relationships. karim mussilhy, thank _ look at these relationships. karim mussilhy, thank you _ look at these relationships. karim mussilhy, thank you for _ look at these relationships. karim mussilhy, thank you for being - look at these relationships. karim mussilhy, thank you for being with us. many thanks for your time. president biden and his russian counterpart, vladimir putin, are holding a video conference as tensions grow between russia and the west over ukraine. russia has massed tens of thousands of troops on its border with ukraine, leading the us and major european countries to voice their determination that moscow respect kyiv�*s sovereignty. let's speak to barbara plett usher. how worried is washington about russian intentions towards ukraine? very worried. officials have said this is the biggest build—up of troops since 2014, and they're also seeing similar behaviours in terms of cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns. they say they accuse ukraine of hostile intentions. they're concerned there could be an invasion into ukrainian territory as early as january. by that point, us intelligence estimate there will be 175,000 troops deploy, and they've already deployed on three sides of ukraine. they say the americans don't know for sure what mr putin has in mind, but if he did move ahead, he could do it pretty quickly, and that's what the meeting between mr biden and mr putin was about. joe biden trying to impress on mr putin the costs of that move if there is military action that the americans would be prepared to take. sanctions and they have been holding off on. severe economic harm could come to russia, and presenting this united front. mr biden spoke to a european leaders, mrjohnson, and will speak again after the call, emphasising a coordinated reproach. i suppose the fact that they are talking is a good thing, potentially, in terms of reducing tensions of. potentially, in terms of reducing tensions of-_ potentially, in terms of reducing tensions of. , . ., ,., ., , tensions of. yes, and that point has been made — tensions of. yes, and that point has been made on _ tensions of. yes, and that point has been made on the _ tensions of. yes, and that point has been made on the russian - tensions of. yes, and that point has been made on the russian side, - tensions of. yes, and that point has i been made on the russian side, which is also lamented the state of relations and has called this a working discussion in the midst of a crisis situation. but the fact that they are both talking does suggest there is room to move here, and neither side or forecasting any sort of breakthrough. what mr biden was hoping to do was convince mr putin to resume a diplomatic solution between the conflict between ukraine and russia. he could perhaps also try to convince mr putin that the western support of ukraine, especially military support, is not a security threat to russia. i don't think anybody here expects vladimir putin to believe that, because the concern over ukraine is rooted in concerns that russia has expressed since the end of the cold war. in the way, ukraine is the last stand, and mr putin said this was a red line. something that mr biden will not agree to, but he will probably be hoping to at least shape mr putin's calculus in the coming weeks. . ~ putin's calculus in the coming weeks. ., ,, , ., putin's calculus in the coming weeks. . ~' ~ putin's calculus in the coming weeks. ., ,, . , ., putin's calculus in the coming weeks. ., . , ., ., weeks. thank you. we 'ust got an u date on weeks. thank you. we 'ust got an update on that, h weeks. thank you. we just got an update on that, because - weeks. thank you. we just got an update on that, because we're . update on that, because we're hearing from downing street that... just to highlight how much of western concern there is about russia's intention. we hear that the prime minister will hold another call with other leaders, president biden, president macron, angela merkel and prime minister druggie. they will have another call about ukraine about six o'clock uk time. following president biden's talks as you saw there with president putin on russia. clearly a lot of concern and downing street called those leaders the quintiq. the fight five of them. let's pause for the moment and get a look at the latest weather picture. many parts of the uk feeling the effects of storm barra at the moment. latest weather warnings for that are on the app and on the bbc weather website, the strongest of the winds remain around irish sea coasts into the southwest of scotland, but widespread gales the rest of today for many, peaking later in the northeast of scotland as we head into the evening. notjust that, with cold air in place, we see spells of snow across the pennines in the hills of scotland could cause some disruption here, blowing around in those strong winds. but if we step out to show you the rest of the country through the day, there's the centre of barra pushing in across ireland. showers around that. a spell of heavy rain and quite intense for a time before it clears, pushing eastwards across the eastern half of england. and then a spell of drier weather for a time, temperatures lifting towards the south—west. a cold, cold day in the wind across northern and eastern parts. through tonight, storm barra is still there, circulating, pushing very slowly eastwards, becoming less potent, but still see strong to gale force winds the north of scotland through ireland, down towards the south west and potential for a bit of ice in places to start tomorrow. take care. maps, thank you very much. we can now get a fall sports round up for you at the sprint center this evening. how is it looking? it's a busy one, ben. that evening to you. a late night, you have really got to stand for the first ball of the ashes, don't you? against dunn in brisbane. waiting on the australian team for a while now. ——going to be a late night, you really have to stay up for the first ball of the ashes. the series gets under way in brisbane at midnight. england have named a 12—man squad for the first test. the headline is that james anderson isn't in it. their record test wicket taker has been left out. england say that he is fit and they expect him to play a big part in the series but they are managing his workload i thinkjust with the build up everybody's had come i think the guys _ everybody's had come i think the guysiust— everybody's had come i think the guysjust want to everybody's had come i think the guys just want to make sure everybody's had come i think the guysjust want to make sure everyone is perfect _ guysjust want to make sure everyone is perfect to— guysjust want to make sure everyone is perfect to go. i know guysjust want to make sure everyone is perfect to go. i knoinmmy is not going — is perfect to go. i knoinmmy is not going to play, but he is that, it's obviously a very long series, and we — it's obviously a very long series, and we want him to be able to be available — and we want him to be able to be available to play as much as possible, so it's a bit precautionary. we bought yesterday, we will— precautionary. we bought yesterday, we will bowl again today, both of you spells — we will bowl again today, both of you spells in a couple of days we had as— you spells in a couple of days we had as a — you spells in a couple of days we had as a warm—up game. the guys are 'ust had as a warm—up game. the guys are just being— had as a warm—up game. the guys are just being a _ had as a warm—up game. the guys are just being a bit cautious. not too many surprises in the 12. ollie pope gets the nod ahead ofjonny bairstow in the middle of the batting order. ben stokes should play but the all—rounder has played next to no cricket for the past five months. jack leach is the spin option. joe root will name his 11 just before the start of play at the gabba. this is how you can follow the ashes across the bbc, ball—by—ball commentary on test match special. on the bbc sport website there will be in play—highlights clips alongside live text commentary and there's also a highlights show on the bbc iplayer from 5pm on every day of each test we've got the final round of group games in the champions league over the next couple of nights. liverpool are already through to the knockout stage as group winners so expect a lot of changes away in milan against ac, that's an 8 o'clock kick—off. manchester city kick off against leipzig in germany in the next 15 minutes. city have also won their group and have made seven changes, but it's still a fairly strong side. kevin de bruyne has come into the starting eleven as he continues to build up his match fitness after recovering from coronavirus. cafe and at the moment has corona —— cabiii, _ cafe and at the moment has corona —— cabin. he _ cafe and at the moment has corona —— cabin. he was— cafe and at the moment has corona —— cabin, he was growing in his condition— cabin, he was growing in his condition and everything, it's normal— condition and everything, it's normal because the people who suffer from coronavirus, the next days feel so empty. _ from coronavirus, the next days feel so empty, step—by—step, he plays the first 30 _ so empty, step—by—step, he plays the first 30 minutes, tomorrow he will start _ first 30 minutes, tomorrow he will start and _ first 30 minutes, tomorrow he will start and we will see how many minutes— start and we will see how many minutes he can play. tottenham are dealing with a coronavirus outbreak at the club but uefa say that their match at home to rennes in the europa conference league this thursday will go ahead. a number of players and coaching staff have been affected. spurs had a full squad available for their win over norwich on sunday, but have since returned a number of positive tests. comeptition rules stipulate that they have to fulfil the fixture unless they have fewer than 13 players or no registered goalkeeper available. england's simon middleton has become the first women's team coach to win world rugby�*s coach of the year award. he beat the all blacks' ian foster and australia's dave rennie to the honour. under his leadership, the red roses have gone 18 games unbeaten, and this year they completed a clean—sweep in the autumn nations series, as well as lifting the six nations title for the third time in a row. records are there to be beaten and we went to beat them. we want to go down in history, we want to be remembered as a team that was special and really delivered on their potential. so, i think, special and really delivered on their potential. so, ithink, you know, we want to keep winning, absolutely, massively important, we want to keep winning, but then we went to win the world cup. there is no getting away from that. it's the holy grail for us. as no getting away from that. it's the holy grailfor us. as it is no getting away from that. it's the holy grail for us. as it is for new zealand, as it is forfans, so there is a lot of things to chew there. rugby coach of the year. he says he wants his legacy to bring in a female coach to succeed him as well. more on that strand the bbc sport website. all the build—up and latest in those championships league matches and the build—up to the first ball of the ashes series at midnight. john watson will be back with sports at half past 6pm as well. can't wait. i'm not sure i can stay up all night watching that one—stop value got to stay up, it's tradition. is that what you're doing? i stay up, it's tradition. is that what you're doing?— stay up, it's tradition. is that what you're doing? i will become a es. all what you're doing? i will become a yes- all right. _ what you're doing? i will become a yes. all right, nate, _ what you're doing? i will become a yes. all right, nate, we _ what you're doing? i will become a yes. all right, nate, we will- what you're doing? i will become a yes. all right, nate, we will talk i yes. all right, nate, we will talk to ou yes. all right, nate, we will talk to you tomorrow. _ a saudi man suspected of involvement in the murder ofjournalist jamal khashoggi has been arrested in france. khashoggi, a prominent critic of the government in riyadh, was murdered at the saudi consulate in istanbul in october 2018. french media say khaled aedh al—otaibi was arrested at charles—de—gaulle airport on tuesday. he is one of 26 saudis wanted by turkey over the journalist's killing. our security correspondent frank gardner is here. of course, you have been following this case very closely. what is the significance of this development in france, do you think? it’s significance of this development in france, do you think?— france, do you think? it's very surprising. _ france, do you think? it's very surprising. as _ france, do you think? it's very surprising, as far _ france, do you think? it's very surprising, as far as _ france, do you think? it's very surprising, as far as the - france, do you think? it's very| surprising, as far as the saudis france, do you think? it's very - surprising, as far as the saudis are concerned, the whole case is done and dusted committee put a number of suspects on trial, say they have investigated it, they found several of them guilty, they sentenced five of them guilty, they sentenced five of them guilty, they sentenced five of them to death, basically said, move on, nothing to see here. turkey disagrees. remember, turkey bugged the consulate, they went know exactly what went on in the room where jamaal khashoggi got suffocated and murdered and then dismembered. this man, of 33 —year—old member of the royal guard in saudi. it's like smith in the uk. he was in the consul generals building at the time he was part of the 15 man team the so—called hit team of saudi officials who flew from riyadh to extend ball to carry this out. and he has been named by the treasury, and they don't mince words, not that he suspected but that he was part of the team that murdered him. he wasn't in the building where jamaal khashoggi was murdered, but he was in the room where the body was disposed of, so he is accused of being involved in it. the surprising thing is mister macron has done a picture of the golf this is not going to go down well unless it's a cunning pod by the saudis to there'll the sky under the bus, as it were some people are suggesting that. i the bus, as it were some people are suggesting that-— suggesting that. i suppose the ossibili suggesting that. i suppose the possibility is — suggesting that. i suppose the possibility is he _ suggesting that. i suppose the possibility is he could - suggesting that. i suppose the possibility is he could spill- suggesting that. i suppose the possibility is he could spill of. possibility is he could spill of beings, can he about the saudi involvement?— beings, can he about the saudi involvement? ~ , , ., , involvement? absolutely. if he does, his life would — involvement? absolutely. if he does, his life would not _ involvement? absolutely. if he does, his life would not be _ involvement? absolutely. if he does, his life would not be entirely - involvement? absolutely. if he does, his life would not be entirely safe, i his life would not be entirely safe, frankly, given what happened to jamaal khashoggi. turkey has been trying to mend fences with saturday's, the president has never actually accused the crown prince of involvement in this, plenty of others have, it's not going to happen. he's already starting to get rehabilitated globally, saudi arabia is too big of a country for people to grant human rights groups are saying don't go to formula one, don't do this, don't do that, these things will carry on because people just can't ignore saudi arabia stop to big and too rich. thank you very much indeed. china has warned the united states will pay a price for its decision to stage diplomatic bike out of the winter olympic over human rights concerns. american athletes will still take part in the games, but the united states won't send an official us delegation. china has called the boycott pretentious and a political manipulation. our china correspondent robin brant reports. china has been preparing for years. now it is almost ready for the boarders, the skiers, and the skaters. this us decision has been a long time in the making as well. but when it came, china didn't hold back. translation: us politicians keep hyping a diplomatic boycott - without even being invited to the games. this wishful thinking and pure grandstanding is aimed at political manipulation. it is a grave travesty of the spirit of the olympic charter, a blatant political provocation, and a serious affront to the 1.4 billion chinese people. if the us is bent on having its own way, china will take resolute countermeasures. it's not clear what those measures will be. it was only a few weeks ago that presidents biden and xi jinping were talking face—to—face, almost, but in announcing the decision to keep its officials and dignitaries away, the white house said it came down to one thing — genocide. the athletes on team usa have our full support. we will be behind them 100% as we cheer them on from home. we will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games. us diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the prc's egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in xinjiang, and we simply can't do that. the biden administration says china is committing genocide against some of its own people — muslim ethnic uighurs in xinjiang in the west. attention will now turn to other like—minded nations, and will they follow suit? in the months leading up to this decision, one senior british government official intimately involved in forming policy towards china told me the uk ran the risk of being seen as a poodle if it simply followed american's lead on a boycott. china's biggest concern about hosting these games has been covid, but the prospect of like—minded nations rallying around a boycott based on claims of genocide is not part of the story it is trying to tell at these games. robin brant, bbc news. more 110w more now that the prime minister has been telling his cabinet that early indication suggest that the omicron variant is more transmissible than the delta variant. it comes as the rolling seven day average of daily covid cases in the uk reaches its highest since mid—january. let's speak to our health correspondent laura foster. talk us through the latest data and its significance. it talk us through the latest data and its significance.— its significance. it helps if we go back over a _ its significance. it helps if we go back over a seven _ its significance. it helps if we go back over a seven day _ its significance. it helps if we go back over a seven day period - its significance. it helps if we go i back over a seven day period then its significance. it helps if we go - back over a seven day period then we had a huge amount of cases. the latest figures are 336,893. so a similar number. but things are much more different now to what they were in january more different now to what they were injanuary and more different now to what they were in january and they key thing here is vaccines. back then, very few of us had had it, but now at least 89% have had at least one dose of the vaccine and the most vulnerable have had multiple doses. moreover, we have learned a lot about how to treat this disease. even though the case numbers are the same and i know some people will hear them and be alarmed, the numbers that we are seeing go to hospital or having covid—19 and the number of people who are passing away from this disease is a lot lower than it was back then. disease is a lot lower than it was back then-— back then. just talking about, everybody — back then. just talking about, everybody wants _ back then. just talking about, everybody wants to _ back then. just talking about, everybody wants to know - back then. just talking about, i everybody wants to know about omicron, really, about how transmissible it is, how dangerous is it. is it better or worse than death. the prime minister says it's more transmissible combat seems to be fairly clear, but anthony found she, america's type scientist effectively is saying on the question of severity, it is almost certainly not more severe than delta. , , ., certainly not more severe than delta, , , ., ., �* delta. scientists would say we don't know anything _ delta. scientists would say we don't know anything for _ delta. scientists would say we don't know anything for sure _ delta. scientists would say we don't know anything for sure as _ delta. scientists would say we don't know anything for sure as of- delta. scientists would say we don't know anything for sure as of yet, i delta. scientists would say we don't| know anything for sure as of yet, we are waiting on the scientific data, and i know it's frustrating in an age where you can look up anything you want in a few seconds on the internet, to not have the full answers, but this is new and it takes time to study something thoroughly and make definitive conclusions. now, fauci has been saying it's not more severe than delta but more likely highly transmissible, every variant we have had here in the uk has been more and more transmissible. it is important to look at those things together if something causes less severe disease, that could be good. there still will be lots of people turning up still will be lots of people turning up at hospital, people dying from covid—19. some governments and scientists will be paying particular attention will make it the definitive detail before they make any changes if any need to be made. of any changes if any need to be made. of course, laura, thank you very much indeed for that update. the headlines on bbc news... a foreign office whistleblower says the government's evacuation operation in afghanistan was dysfunctional and chaotic. it comes as the head of the diplomatic service tells a committee of mps he regrets not coming back from holiday sooner when the crisis was unfolding. the uk reports its highest weekly number of new cases of covid—19 since january. 101 of those registered in the past 24 hours are of the omicron variant. nearly all children in england have fallen behind in their education as a result of the covid pandemic. that's according to england's education standards body. in its annual report, ofsted says while the long—term effects of school closures are not yet known — restrictions and repeated lockdowns have meant nearly all children have suffered. amanda spielman is the chief inspector of ofsted and told us more. a great majority of children who have lost a lot, my message last year was that we have a sort of renewed understanding of the incredible importance of children's lives and face—to—face education schools, colleges, nurseries and visio's report somewhat emphasises that. this is all despite the very best efforts and commitments of hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, social workers, carers, everybody who works in education and care despite all that efforts, what it translated into for children was way less than they would normally get in they are entitled to expect. of get in they are entitled to expect. of course, as with the sort of tragic case, we all spend so much time reading and talking about this weekend, for some children, they are most definitely safer in school been out of school. hundreds of staff of an american companyjoined a zoom call with their boss, only to be told he was sacking them. vishal garg, chief executive of a mortgage firm called better.com blamed staff performance, productivity and market changes for the mass online dismassal of some 900 people, just before christmas. leh—boo diseko reports. lebo diseko reports. thank you forjoining. um... i come to you with not great news. an understatement if ever there was one. nearly 900 staff called to a zoom meeting by their boss to be told this. if you're on this call, you are... ..part of the unlucky group being laid off. your employment here is terminated, effective immediately. while his actions are legal in the us, where this took place, here in the uk, things are different. if we are talking about uk law, there is a very clear process that you need to follow, and there are also codes of practice and organisations will have their own policies and procedures as well. whenever you had to make people redundant, or whether you have to dismiss people, there is a right way of doing it, there is a human way of doing it. since the zoom sacking went viral, better.com has told the bbc that... invis. woman: this is not real! oh, my god. i can't believe this! gut—wrenching too for those on the other side of this call. lebo diseko, bbc news. joining me now is christian chapman, who was amongst those fired in the zoom call along with 899 colleagues. he worked at better.com for a year. that was an extraordinary call. it was extraordinary. it was completely out of the blue, in the morning came i wasjust on out of the blue, in the morning came i was just on a meeting with my manager doing a one to one on how performance had been going, had been going well, all of a sudden we see this link, and saying that we are going to have a mortgage meeting i'm in a training meeting at the time committed to rejoin this? we see another link pop up 30 minutes later and so we wondered if they accidentally did two, so we get everybody the car, we jump on and accidentally did two, so we get everybody the car, wejump on and in the air, the room it was sucked out. and as they got on and told us that we were no longer employed before the holiday is, i've got five kids and wife and thinking how do i tell them that he don't have a job before christmas? what does that mean for christmas? what does that mean for christmas for me and my family, so they said that we would get an email later after the call, and right after the call within ten or 30 seconds, everything went black, email shut down, my computer shut down, i didn't have a contact, i didn't have any way to talk to anybody, i didn't have a way to communicate with anybody and there was no email, it was three and half hours later that we can email. during that three and half hours, i was sunken in my room going, "what do i do? how do i tell my wife? i going to get paid in two weeks? i don't know. what does this look like? " it was excruciating. the words i think _ like? " it was excruciating. the words i think he _ like? " it was excruciating. the words i think he used where if you are on this zoom call, you are out of a job, effectively, you are fired. of ajob, effectively, you are fired. . .. �* . of ajob, effectively, you are fired. , . �*, , of ajob, effectively, you are fired. , ., �* , , ., fired. yes, that's exactly what it was, like fired. yes, that's exactly what it was. like i _ fired. yes, that's exactly what it was, like i said, _ fired. yes, that's exactly what it was, like i said, it— fired. yes, that's exactly what it was, like i said, it sucked - fired. yes, that's exactly what it was, like i said, it sucked all. fired. yes, that's exactly what it| was, like i said, it sucked all the air out of the room. it was, i haven't been apart of something like that before, it was very callous and hard. ., ., , ,. that before, it was very callous and hard. ., ., , ,, .,, ., hard. callous, you say. people would sa at hard. callous, you say. people would say at least — hard. callous, you say. people would say at least it — hard. callous, you say. people would say at least it was _ hard. callous, you say. people would say at least it was the _ hard. callous, you say. people would say at least it was the boss _ hard. callous, you say. people would say at least it was the boss talking i say at least it was the boss talking to you, he could have just got his hr department to talk to you, i suppose. he hr department to talk to you, i su ose. . ., hr department to talk to you, i suuose. ., hr department to talk to you, i suuose. . suppose. he could have come he could have he started — suppose. he could have come he could have he started out the _ suppose. he could have come he could have he started out the interview- have he started out the interview by saying this is the second time that he had had to do it, this time he wasn't going to cry and proceeded, there was somebody else in the room typing. there was somebody else in the room typing, you could tell, and itjust all went black, shutdown, and we were left for three to three and half hours without any communication, not knowing, it so surreal. the laptop just shut down in the middle of typing to my friends and co—workers, trying to figure out what was happening. home. figure out what was happening. now, have ou figure out what was happening. now, have you talked _ figure out what was happening. now, have you talked to _ figure out what was happening. now, have you talked to any _ figure out what was happening. now, have you talked to any of— figure out what was happening. now, have you talked to any of your colleagues, your co—workers placement because this was hundreds of you, this wasn'tjust one to one, this was a mass sacking online, about 900 people. it this was a mass sacking online, about 900 people.— this was a mass sacking online, about 900 people. it was. i have talked to them. _ about 900 people. it was. i have talked to them. i've _ about 900 people. it was. i have talked to them. i've got - about 900 people. it was. i have talked to them. i've got some i about 900 people. it was. i have i talked to them. i've got some great friends there, almost like family, and we have been talking about it make lemons out of lemon the —— make lemonade out of lemons, you should say. there is no easy way to do it. before christmas, and we all have families, you know, it's the mortgage industry, we are trying to find something else. it's been difficult to say the least. thank ou so difficult to say the least. thank you so much — difficult to say the least. thank you so much for— difficult to say the least. thank you so much for taking - difficult to say the least. thank you so much for taking the - difficult to say the least. thank| you so much for taking the time difficult to say the least. thank . you so much for taking the time to talk to us. i really do hope you get anotherjob very soon and hopefully maybe even time for christmas. thank ou. rebel wilson made her name in hollywood as a comedy actress. now a producer and director, she's fought her way to the top in an industry still dominated by men. in an interview for the bbc one hundred women series, she's been talking to nomia iqbal about why she went on a 'year of health' during the pandemic and why she decided to speak openly about her struggles with fertility in 2019, i had, like, four pretty successful movies come out. and i'd done all this amazing stuff career—wise. but then in the next year, all i did was just lose 80lbs. and, like, the attention that gets... it was insane. ..is way more than being in an academy award nominated film, and producing my first movie, and doing all this stuff. can i read you one headline? yeah, sure. "rebel wilson has a bond girl moment in an incredible curve—hugging swimsuit." wow. how do you feel about that? i never thought i would be described anywhere near a bond girl. how do you feel about those sorts of headlines about your weight loss? so, is that what a woman has to do in the world, isjust lose weight to, like, get attention? i know what it's like to be a woman who was essentially invisible to most people because of not being seen as traditionally beautiful or whatever. even though i was still very confident being bigger, and loved myself, you know, would rock a red carpet, but i knew deep down inside, some of the emotional eating behaviours i was doing was not healthy. like, i did not need a tub of ice cream every night. that was me, you know, numbing emotions using food, which wasn't the healthiest thing. was that dealing with fame? i think it was. i think it was dealing with not being a natural performer and having to perform almost every day. and just things that i hadn't kind of processed or dealt with in my life. that was manifesting as emotional eating. but what i tried to do is just share just enough that hopefully people can understand some of the struggles i've been through. so i've been sharing things about fertility, or talking about a health transformation, emotional eating, and what i suffered going through that, is ultimately to try to help people. and the fertility issue that you've talked about, that's really personal and intimate. i was diagnosed when i was like 20 with something called polycystic ovarian syndrome, which made sense, like, that i gained a lot of weight rapidly with that. and i'm still trying on the fertility journey, even though, like, it is emotional and you get hopeful and then your hopes are dashed. and so i feel for any woman going through it. it would be great if i had my own children. i am the healthiest i can be, i'm going to try and what will happen will happen. rebel wilson talking to the bbc�*s nomia iqbal there. now it's time for a look at the weather. the storm is heading, how bad is that, darren? it’s the storm is heading, how bad is that, darren?— the storm is heading, how bad is that, darren? it's been pretty wild out there. what _ that, darren? it's been pretty wild out there. what we _ that, darren? it's been pretty wild out there. what we will _ that, darren? it's been pretty wild out there. what we will actually i out there. what we will actually find is that overnight the weather conditions should slowly improve as strom barra starts to begin. these are recent costs that we had to take gusting up to 86mph in western prince of wales. very windy around some north sea coast as well. in land areas typically gusting 40 or 50mph. also some snow particularly in scotland. conditions have improved in southern parts of scotland, here is the centre of the storm as it approached western parts of ireland. you can see that they can massive cloud spinning around it. that brought the spell of wet weather. forsome it. that brought the spell of wet weather. for some it was snow, of course, and still snow across highlands and grampian isjust a short while before that winter weather moves away. around the low pressure, around the storm, lots of showers and longer spells of rain following him behind together but some strong winds in the windiest weather will be around some of these western posts once again. because it is so wet and windy, it will be milder than it was last night. still windy tomorrow, just not as windy. the strongest winds in the nails, much of england as well with wings gusting up to 65mph in parts of wales in the southwest of england. showers are longer spells of rain, some of the wettest weather likely be not a good day here. still in the cool air, temperatures at sixes and sevens. now by the time we get to thursday, strom barra has no more. it's continuing to we can rapidly. this weather front is sliding in from the atlantic, that will bring more cloud to the southwest of england and wales and northern ireland and some outbreaks of rain and drizzle. ahead of fact, much quieter, lighterwinds. and drizzle. ahead of fact, much quieter, lighter winds. a lot of dry weather, a bit of sunshine, mist and fog left across scotland and also northern england, but does temperature is not changing very much at all. a band of weather better slides into western areas and continues these trades during thursday evening and thursday night. again, a bit more snow over the scottish hills, but by the time we get to friday, what's left of that weather friend should be get to friday, what's left of that weatherfriend should be heading out into the north sea. we pick up a slightly stronger northwesterly wind, that will blow in some sunshine particularly for eastern areas, showers particularly out towards the west, and those could be a wintry flavour over the hills of scotland. does temperature still stubbornly stuck at around 6— seven celsius. it is quieting down to the rest of the week, but still some very windy weather for a while tonight and for some areas into tomorrow. goodbye for now. tonight at six — the government defends itself after claims its evacuation of people from afghanistan was chaotic and dysfunctional. a foreign office whistleblower says thousands of people's requests for help went unanswered because of a lack of staff and leadership in london, but the prime minister calls the evacuation an outstanding military achievement. of course, sometimes, decisions took hours longer than we wanted to, but you have to be careful about how you do it. it was still an astonishing thing to get 15,000 people airlifted out of kabul in pretty harrowing circumstances. also on the programme tonight: britain now has more confirmed cases of the covid omicron variant than anywhere else in europe — with another hundred being recorded in the past 24 hours.