Theyre also worried about needing to go to hospital or work how will they get there . Because we are literally expecting a gridlock. Concerns, too, that Lorry Drivers coming in from europe might not have got the message this is a well worn route for those coming in from the Channel Ports. Several closures between now and the end of the year are planned. National highways advised commuters to take the train instead, and to plan in advance. But the advice this weekend . Avoid, avoid. Frances read, bbc news. To our correspondent, mark ashdown. There have been dire warnings. What sense do you get of the predicted Traffic Chaos . This sense do you get of the predicted Traffic Chaos . Traffic chaos . This is an unprecedented Traffic Chaos . This is an l unprecedented moment. Traffic chaos . This is an unprecedented moment. Looking Traffic Chaos . This is an unprecedented moment. Looking behind me, even at this time of day this would normally be absolutely heaving with traffic. Eight lanes of
Europes first black leader, after winning the welsh labour leadership election. The outgoing First Minister, mark drakeford, will step down from the post next week. Mr gething was born in zambia and is a former solicitor. In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the historic nature of his win. Today, we turn a page in the book of our nations history. A history that we write together. Notjust because i have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any european country, but because a generational dial has jumped too. Like ken and jane, devolution is not something that i have had to get used to, or to adapt to, or to apologise for. Devolution, welsh solutions to welsh problems and opportunities, is in my blood. It is what i have always known through my adult political life and that is the same for a growing number of our citizens and i want us to use this moment as a Starting Point for a more confident march into the future. A march into the future on behalf of a generation that,
As his opponents are either dead, in prison or in exile. The authorities have called on Security Officers to be vigilant, after vandalism at some Polling Stations on friday. Our russia editor, steve rosenberg, has more. Russias democracy is the best in the world the kremlin says. And at Polling Station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates and plenty of voters. Democracy in action, right . Not quite. Realistically, only one man can win this. Vladimir putin the man who has been on russias political stage for the last quarter of a century. Vladimir putin faces no serious challenger. His fiercest rivals are in exile or in prison. Not that this woman, whose son is fighting in ukraine, wants any change at the top. Of course i voted for putin, she says, i trust him. But not everyone who came out today was voting. This, one of a string of attacks on Polling Stations across russia. They are unprecedented. After chaotic scenes here. An arsonist is detained. And green ink poured into a b
Live in east jerusalem. The United Nations and the us have expressed concern about israels plans for a military operation in rafah. The city, at the south western edge of gaza, has seen the arrival of hundreds of thousands of palestinians taking refuge from the fighting elsewhere in the strip. The Israeli Military had previously urged civilians to go there but now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has approved plans for an assault on hamas militants believed to be based there. The un issued this warning. I think the consequences of a Ground Operation in rafah under the current circumstances would be catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the palestinians. It would be catastrophic for the humanitarian situation. It would be catastrophic or around. The us is one of israels most important supporters but it seems that the Israeli Government has not shared details of the planned assault on rafah with officials in washington. Heres Us National Security council spokesman, john kirb
it s wednesday, 31st january. our main story. scotland s former first minister, nicola sturgeon is due to give evidence about the decisions she took during the pandemic, when she appears before the covid inquiry today. ms sturgeon, who led the scottish response to the coronavirus outbreak is expected to face questions surrounding lockdowns, and missing whatsapp messages as the inquiry continues sitting in edinburgh. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon reports. 1,044 positive cases were reported yesterday. nicola sturgeon was at the helm throughout scotland s pandemic response. as head of the scottish government, she was the key decision maker and first in the firing line when things went wrong. we will have made mistakes on all aspects of the handling. now about to be questioned on that handling and how decisions the truth, the whole truth. the former first minister s closest political ally amongst those who admitted texts between the pair no longer exist. are those t