even if benjamin netanyahu brings home the hostages l or dismantles hamas, i there are new posters — "you're in charge," _ "you're responsible," they say. but they wanted him out for the war. now, they're back and they want him gone even more. _ on our panel tonight we have former political advisor leon emirali in bedfordshire and mary anne marsh, a democratic strategist speaking from cape cod, massachusetts. first let's bring you the latest headlines... iranian state media says a senior

commander in the powerful revolutionary guard was among at least five people killed in a suspected israeli air strike on an iranian consulate building in the syrian capital. iran's foreign minister has called the strike "a breach "of all international conventions." the kremlin has dismissed a report by western media outlets that links russian agents to the mystery illness havana syndrome. the illness has affected us diplomats since 2016. the report alleges that the americans were targeted by russian operatives using "directed energy" weapons. a new hate crime law has come into effect in scotland, three years after it was passed by the scottish parliament. it creates a new offence of stirring up hatred in relation to age, disability, religion and sexual orientation. germany has partially legalised cannabis. it means those over the age of 18 can now carry 25 grams for personal use, and grow three marijuana plants at home. the government is trying to tackle black market trade of the drug.

as we were saying just then... iranian state media says a senior commander in the powerful revolutionary guard was among at least five people killed in a suspected israeli air strike on an iranian consulate building in the syrian capital. iran's foreign minister has called the strike "a breach "of all international conventions." let's show you the latest pictures we have on that story. iran says mohammad reza zahedi was killed in what it described as an israeli air strike that targeted the country's consulate in damascus. the attack is seen as a significant escalation, as this senior commander is one of the most high—profile iranian figures believed to have been killed by israel in the country's long campaign of targeted assassinations. israel says it does not comment on foreign media reports. iran has vowed to give a decisive response.

our international editor, jeremy bowen, is injerusalem and explains the wider regional significance. there's been an increasingly serious war going on over the israel—lebanon border, between israeli forces and hezbollah — which is the political militia movement, the dominant one, in lebanon, which is very close to iran, also very close to the syrian regime. now, if it was not for the fact that so much has been happening in gaza, in the war since october the 7th, i think there would have been a lot more international attention on what has been happening here, and of course there are connections, that is why it is going on. so what we have been hearing here this evening, there is quite a lot of air activity going up towards lebanon, the border is not too farfrom here, and what i think has been going on, as you have been hearing, this is an escalation by israel. i think they are testing the resolve of both iran and its clients, its allies, hezbollah particularly, in iran, to see how they will respond.

because while they have been engaged, hezbollah particularly, in a tit—for—tat series of increasingly fierce exchanges with israel, they have always kept it within what in this part of the world is sometimes referred to as the rules of the game. hezbollah going after military targets, but israel seems to be pushing it to move to the next level quite repeatedly. and this is a big upward step. so now the big question is, given that the iranians particularly are keen to keep...to restore the deterrence they feel they have been building up against their enemies, in other words their enemies feeling that they can not hit iran, its people or their targets, well, the israelis have said, "oh, yes, we can, we are going to do this." so now the question is does iran respond? how does it respond? it may not be the way that you would expect, it may not be... you know, i would not expect them to start sending missiles into israel, farfrom it. it might be a cyber attack.

i mean, this is all speculation on my part, but the point is that this really increasingly dangerous war between iran and its allies and proxies and the israelis has tonight taken quite a big step up. that is our international editor, jeremy bowen, dare. meanwhile, hundreds of israeli protesters have spent the night in tents outside parliament injerusalem to press their demand for prime minister benjamin netanyahu to step down — and seeking a deal to have the hostages held in gaza released. thousands of people rallied in jerusalem for what they're calling the largest anti—government protest since the war in the gaza strip began, nearly six months ago. the protests took place on sunday as mr netanyahu had surgery for a hernia. his office later reporting that the procedure had been successful. earlier i spoke to arieh kovler — a writer and political analyst — who told me about the history of protests against netanyahu. we have seen sort of the return

of the mass protests against mr netanyahu, which really began in 2020—21, the year israel had four elections in close succession, and then returned with a vengeance in 2023 over the judicial reform plans of the new netanyahu government. they took a step back over the course of the war and now there is a sense among many of those protesters that their core demand from before the war, that mr netanyahu should step down and the government should go back to the country for elections, has become more urgent after the events of october 7th. well, let's join well, let'sjoin our well, let's join our panel now. a reminder i am joined by leon emirali and mary anne marsh. welcome to this evening's context. let's start with you, mary anne. we have seen those

protests really intensify against prime minister netanyahu. i wanted to see you watch the view is from your side of the pond on that, because for a long time we have really seen a strong alliance from the white house with mr netanyahu, although of course there has been more pressure now from the president and the state department on israel. well, there has been pressure from the united — well, there has been pressure from the united states on benjamin netanyahu since the beginning of the war and _ netanyahu since the beginning of the war and it _ netanyahu since the beginning of the war and it has been escalating ever since _ war and it has been escalating ever since i_ war and it has been escalating ever since i do— war and it has been escalating ever since. i do now we have seen netanyahu under the greatest pressure, both internally and externally, since october to seven. you hear— externally, since october to seven. you hear people internally talking for elections sooner, they want elections — for elections sooner, they want elections now, they want hostages home _ elections now, they want hostages home now. — elections now, they want hostages home now, they want a ceasefire now and they— home now, they want a ceasefire now and they want ultraorthodox dues to be conscripted into the military because — be conscripted into the military because they need more soldiers. netanyahu is doing none of that. at the same _ netanyahu is doing none of that. at the same time, the united states and its atties— the same time, the united states and

its allies for— the same time, the united states and its allies for israel are basically asking — its allies for israel are basically asking for— its allies for israel are basically asking for the same thing. ultimately you see netanyahu not conforming to any of the israelis who elected him, who no doubt if there _ who elected him, who no doubt if there was— who elected him, who no doubt if there was an election today he would not win, _ there was an election today he would not win, he _ there was an election today he would not win, he would lose, you have to question— not win, he would lose, you have to question the — not win, he would lose, you have to question the topic that was discussed previously, the air attack on damascus. why would you escalate that war _ on damascus. why would you escalate that war how _ on damascus. why would you escalate that war now when you have all of this going — that war now when you have all of this going on? which leads to all kinds _ this going on? which leads to all kinds of— this going on? which leads to all kinds of questions for not only israetis — kinds of questions for not only israelis but also the united states and its _ israelis but also the united states and its allies who have tried to be sopportive — and its allies who have tried to be supportive of israel but they have made _ supportive of israel but they have made it— supportive of israel but they have made it incredibly difficult every day this— made it incredibly difficult every day this has gone. gk, made it incredibly difficult every day this has gone.— day this has gone. 0k, back to, let's bring _ day this has gone. 0k, back to, let's bring leon _ day this has gone. 0k, back to, let's bring leon emirali - day this has gone. 0k, back to, let's bring leon emirali in. - day this has gone. 0k, back to, | let's bring leon emirali in. mary anne mentioned of the attack that we are reporting on, the developing story this evening on damascus there. it complicates what is already a very complicated situation, and of course there are fears that this could be even more broader escalation. what is your take on the event this evening,

leon? ~ ~ , leon? well, i think it is quite concerning. _ leon? well, i think it is quite concerning, to _ leon? well, i think it is quite concerning, to echo - leon? well, i think it is quite concerning, to echo what - leon? well, i think it is quite . concerning, to echo what jeremy concerning, to echo whatjeremy bowen was seen in the package before we came on air. this is an escalation in the war and i think that initially the international community, downing street, the white house and other allies, we are hoping that this war would be contained relatively speaking within gaza, within israel. but clearly it is now expanding beyond those borders. and i do think that given netanyahu is under political pressure at home, i think that only complicates things even further. i think what you do not want to have is a domestic political situation that ultimately then drives the international conflict that we are seeing unfold in front of us. so i think you are quite right, this is a particularly complicated conflict and it seems as though the complications are not quite over yet. complications are not quite over et. �* ., . ., . ., complications are not quite over et.�* ., . ., ., yet. and a conflict that has always been in many _ yet. and a conflict that has always been in many ways _ yet. and a conflict that has always been in many ways a _ yet. and a conflict that has always been in many ways a complicated | yet. and a conflict that has always - been in many ways a complicated one, even for decades in terms of the

tensions in the middle east. mary anne, we are in an election year now in the united states, what is the latest thinking that we are hearing from the white house on how this conflict can at least be de—escalated, if not ended? i conflict can at least be de-escalated, if not ended? i think ou are de-escalated, if not ended? i think you are going _ de-escalated, if not ended? i think you are going to — de-escalated, if not ended? i think you are going to continue - de-escalated, if not ended? i think you are going to continue to - de-escalated, if not ended? i think you are going to continue to see i you are going to continue to see more _ you are going to continue to see more and — you are going to continue to see more and more pressure brought upon netanyahu _ more and more pressure brought upon netanyahu and bringing in the uk and others _ netanyahu and bringing in the uk and others to— netanyahu and bringing in the uk and others to do the same, because everybody— others to do the same, because everybody wants this not only the escatated — everybody wants this not only the escalated bit to end, and it should. the one _ escalated bit to end, and it should. the one person who seems to be standing — the one person who seems to be standing in — the one person who seems to be standing in the way it's netanyahu. so standing in the way it's netanyahu. squst_ standing in the way it's netanyahu. squst tike — standing in the way it's netanyahu. sojust like he is walking a fine tine. _ sojust like he is walking a fine tine. also— sojust like he is walking a fine line, also here in the united states with the _ line, also here in the united states with the presidential election, president biden is walking a fine line president biden is walking a fine tine as _ president biden is walking a fine line as well. trying to put pressure on israet— line as well. trying to put pressure on israet to— line as well. trying to put pressure on israel to end this conflict, get a ceasefire, get the hostages home and provide aid to those in gaza. the israeti — and provide aid to those in gaza. the israeli jewish voters in the united — the israeli jewish voters in the united states, very important tojoe biden— united states, very important tojoe biden in— united states, very important tojoe biden in getting re—elected, but also there are plenty of opponents

to israet— also there are plenty of opponents to israel and supporters of the palestinians and looking for aid in gaza, _ palestinians and looking for aid in gaza, stopping the starvation and carnage _ gaza, stopping the starvation and carnage that is going on there at the same — carnage that is going on there at the same time too. you have to try to somehow— the same time too. you have to try to somehow reconcile those two sets of constituencies who could not be more _ of constituencies who could not be more difficult, and once again netanyahu is the reason why. mar}t netanyahu is the reason why. mary anne and leon _ netanyahu is the reason why. mary anne and leon emirali, _ netanyahu is the reason why. mary anne and leon emirali, we - netanyahu is the reason why. i— anne and leon emirali, we will be back with you in a short while. thank you for your thoughts and our main story this evening. turkey's main opposition party has claimed big election victories in the main cities of istanbul and ankara. the results are a significant blow for president erdogan's governing party — who had hoped to regain control of the cities less than a year after he claimed a third terms as president. earlier i spoke to galip dalay, a senior consulting fellow of the turkey initiative at international think tank chatham house — and asked him for his take on the results. well, certainly this is quite a major development of turkish politics because right now the opposition is basically in control of all major cities in turkey. in terms of population size, that amounts to more than 65% of the turkish population,

so this is like a major, let's say, yellow card for the government. this is the warning to the governing coalition of the government and a credit to the opposition. the big question right now is whether the opposition will manage their victory and the government will manage the defeat well. depending on how the opposition manages the victory and how the government manages the defeat, that will be, that will very much shape the next stage of turkish politics, but right now basically turkey has quite a strong competition between the opposition and governing lot. well, let's speak to our panel again. leon and mary anne about that. as we saw in that interview, really clear sense that the kind of power that president erdogan wielded

over turkey is slipping away. leon, what are your thoughts on that? i what are your thoughts on that? i think that is an accurate assessment. it seems to be the beginning of the loosening of erdogan's grip on turkish politics, which we have seen over and above years. i think the domestic situation in turkey is very challenging indeed. we are looking at inflation to 70%, and i think when you have got that level of economic stagnation it is very difficult for the governing party, whoever they are, however powerful they may be, to put a positive spin on it. so on the one hand, it is no surprise that erdogan's party has fared poorly in these local elections, but on the other hand we cannot underestimate the strength of popularity that erdogan has in some sections of turkish society. let's not forget the presidential elections were not too long ago where he was re—elected, and i do think that he has the control of the media, of the military, of all of

the institutions in turkey that can really shore up his power. and this election loss, as it is, it may well just see him make that power even more at his disposal. i think it will be interesting to see what happens in ankara over the coming couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne. — couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne. this _ couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne, this is _ couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne, this is a _ couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne, this is a president - couple of months and weeks. indeed, mary anne, this is a president who i mary anne, this is a president who has been in powerfor more than 20 years, and in many ways he is seen as a really key bridge between the west and countries like russia, ukraine, the conflict there as well, he has been quite key, and also have course with developments in the middle east. course with developments in the middle east-— course with developments in the middle east. . , ., ., middle east. that is right. erdogan is held u- middle east. that is right. erdogan is held no to _ middle east. that is right. erdogan is held no to an — middle east. that is right. erdogan is held up to an autocrat _ middle east. that is right. erdogan is held up to an autocrat to - middle east. that is right. erdogan| is held up to an autocrat to emulate his support — is held up to an autocrat to emulate his support for trump and others around _ his support for trump and others around the — his support for trump and others around the world. this was a stunning _ around the world. this was a stunning blow to him. there are two things— stunning blow to him. there are two things that _ stunning blow to him. there are two things thatjumped out stunning blow to him. there are two things that jumped out at me. stunning blow to him. there are two things thatjumped out at me. one, he automatically said after the election— he automatically said after the election results that erdogan would honour— election results that erdogan would honour the results, election results that erdogan would honourthe results, he election results that erdogan would honour the results, he would not try to overturn — honour the results, he would not try to overturn them or anything else like donald trump try to do in 2020. that is— like donald trump try to do in 2020. that is the _ like donald trump try to do in 2020. that is the first interesting thing

to me _ that is the first interesting thing to me and — that is the first interesting thing to me and we will see whether that holds _ to me and we will see whether that holds the — to me and we will see whether that holds. the other is, could this be a si-n holds. the other is, could this be a sign of— holds. the other is, could this be a sign of an— holds. the other is, could this be a sign of an uprising against autocrats, against autocracy? and is that a _ autocrats, against autocracy? and is that a sign— autocrats, against autocracy? and is that a sign of things to come across the middle — that a sign of things to come across the middle east, across europe? even here in— the middle east, across europe? even here in the _ the middle east, across europe? even here in the united states with the presidential election coming up. that is— presidential election coming up. that is fascinating to me, because, as leon— that is fascinating to me, because, as leon said. — that is fascinating to me, because, as leon said, he has a hold on most of the _ as leon said, he has a hold on most of the mechanisms that you would need _ of the mechanisms that you would need to— of the mechanisms that you would need to be — of the mechanisms that you would need to be successful politically. yet they — need to be successful politically. yet they failed him in this local election — yet they failed him in this local election. and you have to ask yourself— election. and you have to ask yourself is _ election. and you have to ask yourself is this the beginning of an uprising? — yourself is this the beginning of an uprising? perhaps in israel, turkey, may be _ uprising? perhaps in israel, turkey, may be hungary, across europe, again in poland. _ may be hungary, across europe, again in poland. in— may be hungary, across europe, again in poland, in the united states? that— in poland, in the united states? that is— in poland, in the united states? that is something to look out for. it is interesting, isn't it, and i will bring leon in on this, because people talked about some of erdogan's economic policies particularly in the wake of the earthquake in turkey really driving some of the frustration and anti—government sentiment there. he

has been in power for 20 years and that tells— has been in power for 20 years and that tells you everything. you have to believe — that tells you everything. you have to believe his power is starting to slib _ to believe his power is starting to slib does — to believe his power is starting to slip. does he try to work his way out of— slip. does he try to work his way out of it— slip. does he try to work his way out of it politically or does he clamp— out of it politically or does he clamb on— out of it politically or does he clamp on had on everything else? that is— clamp on had on everything else? that is something to watch. lets brina that is something to watch. lets bring leon _ that is something to watch. lets bring leon in _ that is something to watch. lets bring leon in on _ that is something to watch. lets bring leon in on that _ that is something to watch. lats bring leon in on that same point. that is something to watch. lets l bring leon in on that same point. i agree very much with what mary anne has just agree very much with what mary anne hasjust said. i think agree very much with what mary anne has just said. i think this agree very much with what mary anne hasjust said. i think this is now an assessment of erdogan's legacy when it comes to the economy. i think a lot of turkish people are very grateful for how much economic growth we have seen over those two decades of erdogan in charge, but thatis decades of erdogan in charge, but that is now starting to tail off and i think that is something we are seeing people respond to at the ballot box. just seeing people respond to at the ballot boot-— ballot box. just interestingly because it — ballot box. just interestingly because it popped _ ballot box. just interestingly because it popped into - ballot box. just interestingly because it popped into my i ballot box. just interestingly - because it popped into my head, i was in sri lanka covering the uprising after the economic crisis there, and strongman legia, two brothers there, and in many ways there are parallels with what happened there, the small island nation, of course, and the

frustration we are seen in other countries. i think the overarching theme of this is the economic crisis that we are seeing in turkey and other countries. mary anne, one final point before we move on? fiften final point before we move on? often ou see in final point before we move on? often you see in autocracies _ final point before we move on? often you see in autocracies and _ final point before we move on? often you see in autocracies and other economy— you see in autocracies and other economy is— you see in autocracies and other economy is controlled by a single person. _ economy is controlled by a single person. it — economy is controlled by a single person, it is usually the few that benefit _ person, it is usually the few that benefit and the masses do not. once the masses _ benefit and the masses do not. once the masses realise that that is when they rise _ the masses realise that that is when they rise up — the masses realise that that is when they rise up and try to seek power for themselves. gk, they rise up and try to seek power for themselves.— they rise up and try to seek power for themselves. ok, we will be back with ou for themselves. ok, we will be back with you to — for themselves. ok, we will be back with you to discuss _ for themselves. ok, we will be back with you to discuss another- for themselves. ok, we will be back with you to discuss another topic - with you to discuss another topic shortly but we will take a quick breakfor the moment. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

this is the context. the kremlin has dismissed a media report that links a russian intelligence unit to so—called �*havana syndrome' — a mystery illness which has affected us diplomats. an investigation by the insider, der spiegel and cbs alleges

that the americans were targeted with �*directed energy�* weapons. one victim of the syndrome, an fbi agent, told 60 minutes about her experience of being hit by a powerful force at her home in florida 2021. inside my right ear, it was like a dentist drilling on steroids. that feeling when it gets too close to your eardrum, it�*s like that times ten. it was like a high—pitched metallic drilling noise and it knocked me forward a 45 degrees angle this way. the syndrome was first identified in cuba�*s capital city in 2016, when us diplomats complained of dizziness, headaches and a painful sound in their ears. us officials have previously said it�*s unlikely a foreign power is to blame. the kremlin spokesman, dmitry peskov, says the new accusations are unfounded. translation: it is -

absolutely not a new issue. for many years, the issue of so—called "havana syndrome" has been played up in mass media. often it was connected with accusations of russian involvement, but no one has ever published or expressed any convincing evidence of these unfounded accusations anywhere. earlier i spoke to christo grozev, one of the authors behind the insider�*s year—long investigation — who told me about the connection. what we do know now is there is a unit within russia�*s military intelligence — the same unit that actually went after the skripals in 2018 in salisbury — who has developed the technology, has actually, we have written proof that they have been awarded monetary remuneration for developing a technology which they call a wave weapon, an acoustic weapon and more particularly a non—lethal acoustic weapon to be used in urban warfare scenarios. we also know that this same unit, members of

this unit have travelled around the world, partly overlapping with incidents that have been reported of this havana syndrome, in particular in germany, in frankfurt in 2014, two times in china in 2016 and in 2017, and in the republic of georgia and tbilisi in 2019. these are four incidents that we find an overlap between undercover spies from this unit and incidents that happened there. we are looking for more, but at this point we can safely say the capability and the presence of russian intelligence in places where there were such incidents, has been proven. let�*s go back to our panel to discuss this in a bit more detail. leon emirali, a former political adviser and mary ann marsh, a democratic strategist. mary anne i will bring you in first. i remember when i was based in the us first hearing about these reports of these mysterious sounds and the that us diplomats were experiencing, and now

we see this investigation. is this plain big in the us at the moment? it is. i happened to watch the 60 minute story last night and it has been going on for years. it is minute story last night and it has been going on for years.- been going on for years. it is a relief to see _ been going on for years. it is a relief to see that _ been going on for years. it is a relief to see that finally - been going on for years. it is a relief to see that finally a - relief to see that finally a connection has been drawn between russia _ connection has been drawn between russia and _ connection has been drawn between russia and of these traumatic brain injuries— russia and of these traumatic brain injuries that they are committing on us citizens — injuries that they are committing on us citizens. the fact is that this happened, the agent you should at the top _ happened, the agent you should at the top of— happened, the agent you should at the top of the story with the blonde wi- the top of the story with the blonde wig on. _ the top of the story with the blonde wig on. her— the top of the story with the blonde wig on, her identity was disguised, so that— wig on, her identity was disguised, so that nothing could happen to her, she was— so that nothing could happen to her, she was investigating a russian spy court _ she was investigating a russian spy court in _ she was investigating a russian spy court in florida. she was in florida when _ court in florida. she was in florida when it— court in florida. she was in florida when it happened to her the first time _ when it happened to her the first time and — when it happened to her the first time and then in california following up on this. they attacked her twice~ — following up on this. they attacked her twice. they are doing that to us agents. _ her twice. they are doing that to us agents. eva — her twice. they are doing that to us agents, eva fbi, cia, around the world _ agents, eva fbi, cia, around the world in— agents, eva fbi, cia, around the world. in 2016 when it started and in 2020, _ world. in 2016 when it started and in 2020, that was the trump administration, they either ignored it all made — administration, they either ignored it all made it impossibly high bar to clear— it all made it impossibly high bar to clear for them to look into it. now— to clear for them to look into it. now we — to clear for them to look into it. now we finally have evidence of this

going _ now we finally have evidence of this going on. _ now we finally have evidence of this going on. it — now we finally have evidence of this going on, it will be impossible for the biden— going on, it will be impossible for the biden administration and anyone else to _ the biden administration and anyone else to ignore this, and these people — else to ignore this, and these people who have been attacked and lost their— people who have been attacked and lost their careers and their health, and the _ lost their careers and their health, and the consequences of these attacks, — and the consequences of these attacks, physically and mentally, it is staggering. russia needs to be called _ is staggering. russia needs to be called on — is staggering. russia needs to be called on it, they need to be held to account — called on it, they need to be held to account and everyone that has been _ to account and everyone that has been subjected to this should be taken _ been subjected to this should be taken care of.— been subjected to this should be taken care of. leon, i am going to brina ou taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in _ taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in on — taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in on this. _ taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in on this. as _ taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in on this. as mary - taken care of. leon, i am going to bring you in on this. as mary annl bring you in on this. as mary ann will know, there is a spy museum in washington, dc, it always fascinates me because it shows you how espionage has kind of developed, i think. you have the old spy glasses and umbrellas, and now you have this stuff, which we can�*t really understand, of course the kremlin says that the accusations are unfounded. but what do you make of the kind of development and advancement, now that we have got to advancement, now that we have got to a point where you have accusations that the kremlin are behind this strange illness? it is astonishing, isn't it? it sounds _ strange illness? it is astonishing,

isn't it? it sounds like _ strange illness? it is astonishing, isn't it? it sounds like it - strange illness? it is astonishing, isn't it? it sounds like it is - isn�*t it? it sounds like it is straight out of the pages of a james bond novel, buti straight out of the pages of a james bond novel, but i think for the kremlin spokesperson who is effectively denying russia�*s involvement in this, it is very convenient for them to do that because i presume it is quite difficult to draw any link between where this directed energy weapon came from, because it does not leave a bullet, it does not leave any remnant, it is simply a directed energy force towards that individual they are targeting, and therefore it is very difficult to trace back to anyone. i can see why this is an incredibly appealing technique that russians and maybe others are using, but i think i agree with maryanne that when we heard about these a few years back it was almost sort of a conspiracy theory, nobody really knew what this was coming from. and i think that now there is a link between these attacks and the russian government i think it does bring some closure, perhaps, to those who have been targeted by the weapon and that they know that they are not going crazy, as it were.

this is something that foreign governments are targeting towards their adversaries and i think we have to find a way to first of all mitigate against this happening again and find a way to ensure that the people who have been subjected to this are cared for. the people who have been sub'ected to this are cared for.�* to this are cared for. terrifying stuff, to this are cared for. terrifying stuff. isn't _ to this are cared for. terrifying stuff, isn't it? _ to this are cared for. terrifying stuff, isn't it? leon _ to this are cared for. terrifying stuff, isn't it? leon and - to this are cared for. terrifying stuff, isn't it? leon and mary i to this are cared for. terrifying - stuff, isn't it? leon and mary anne, stuff, isn�*t it? leon and mary anne, thank you very much for the moment. before we leave you this half hour, a reminder of our top story. iranian state media says a senior commander in the revolutionary guard was amongst five people killed in a suspected israeli air strikes iranian consulate building in the syrian capital. iran says the leader was killed in an israeli air strike which targeted the consulate in damascus. easter monday brought a day of mixed fortunes and it is going to be a similar story throughout the week. across eastern england we had sunshine and where it stayed right

was relatively warm, 16 degrees. cloud and rain are pushing its way steadily northwards, it stayed rather grey and overcast in western scotland with just a high of five celsius. that weather front is going to linger, weakening all of the time but a brisk north—easterly wind will dominate the story across the far north of scotland. clear skies for a time, early morning mist and fog perhaps for england and wales. showers easing away from the south—east but eventually as we go through the day we will start to see outbreaks of rain pushing into the south—west. as this plant gradually moves its way north the winds will strengthen here. ahead of it, with sunny spells and a few isolated showers, one or two spots again could see temperatures into the mid—teens. not a bad afternoon with a few isolated showers in northern ireland, scotland will stay rather grey and overcast with outbreaks of showery rain and that brisk north—easterly wind at times will make it feel rather cool, just a maximum of 6—8 c. we will see that frontal system down to the

south—west bringing some wet and windy weather throughout the night, tuesday into the early hours of wednesday morning. the wind direction coming from the south—west, so it will be a mild statue wednesday with double figures perhaps likely across the far south—east. but we will see outbreaks of rain gradually pushing their way steadily northwards, the wind direction here is a south—westerly circuit driving in some milder air. we still keep that north—easterly feed at times will make it feel rather cool, just a maximum of 6—8 c. we will see that frontal system down to the south—west bringing some wet and windy weather throughout the night, tuesday into the early hours of wednesday morning. the wind direction coming from the south—west, so it will be a mild statue wednesday with double figures perhaps likely across the far south—east. but we will see outbreaks of rain gradually pushing their way steadily northwards, the wind direction here is a south—westerly circuit driving in some who the end of the week, the pressure is going to continue to dominate but still that wing sauce coming all of the way from the south—west so it will be mild but it will still continue to be pretty wet at times. the mild air sitting across the vast majority, still the final feast of scotland staying on the cooler side. so he at those temperatures will struggle a little,

but there will be showers or longer spells of rain when we get brightness. temperatures are going to respond. take care.

hello, i�*m rajini vaidyanathan. you�*re watching the context on bbc news. germany partially legalises cannabis to tackle the black market trade.

germany has legalised cannabis, as the government tries to tackle the black—market trade in the drug. germans over the age of 18 can now grow marijuana plants at home and carry the drug for personal use. the new law remains contentious because of health concerns and questions over whether it will help reduce or increase the illicit trade. earlier, i spoke to andrew hathaway, associate professor of criminaljustice and public policy at the university of guelph in ontario, canada. i spoke to him because in 2018, canada brought in a similar law. i think there�*s some real potential benefits to the social club model that germany is adopting. it�*s got a bit of a spanish flavour, actually, and kind of a nice sense of community associated with it. one of the issues... well, i mean, there�*s many stories to cannabis legalisation in canada —

you�*ll get a different story depending on who you talk to —