BBC Anchor

The Prime Minister is not the most powerful job in France, but it's a role that's been causing the President, Emmanuel Macron, plenty of problems. The last one, Michel Barnier, was forced out in a no-confidence vote after a couple of months. Now President Macron has named François Bayrou as the next Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister is not the most powerful job in France, but it's a role that's been causing the President, Emmanuel Macron, plenty of problems. The last one, Michel Barnier, was forced out in a no-confidence vote after a couple of months. Now President Macron has named François Bayrou as the next Prime Minister.

But will he fare any better, given the divisions in Parliament where no party has a majority? I heard more from our correspondent in Paris, Hugh Schofield.

But will he fare any better, given the divisions in Parliament where no party has a majority? I heard more from our correspondent in Paris, Hugh Schofield.

Yeah, he's kind of, as you say, got the job he's always wanted. But can he survive the political headwinds that brought down Michel Barnier?

Yeah, he's kind of, as you say, got the job he's always wanted. But can he survive the political headwinds that brought down Michel Barnier?

Women in Iran who refuse to cover their hair with a hijab face arrest, beatings and prison. And things could be about to get worse. A new law imposing harsher penalties on women who break the strict Islamic dress code is now being sent to the president for his signature. Masoud Bezeshkian, who took office in July, has five days to sign it, though he has expressed some reservations about the law.

Women in Iran who refuse to cover their hair with a hijab face arrest, beatings and prison. And things could be about to get worse. A new law imposing harsher penalties on women who break the strict Islamic dress code is now being sent to the president for his signature. Masoud Bezeshkian, who took office in July, has five days to sign it, though he has expressed some reservations about the law.

I heard more from Mina Joshaghani of the BBC Persian service.

I heard more from Mina Joshaghani of the BBC Persian service.

Now, we know the new president, a relative moderate, doesn't like the morality police. He doesn't want women to be forced to wear the hijab. Will he sign this law? And if not, will it go ahead?

Now, we know the new president, a relative moderate, doesn't like the morality police. He doesn't want women to be forced to wear the hijab. Will he sign this law? And if not, will it go ahead?

But in a word, even if he doesn't sign it, it can still go through? This can go through, yes. The UK royal family have not had the best press in recent years, none more so than the king's brother, Prince Andrew. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after public anger over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

But in a word, even if he doesn't sign it, it can still go through? This can go through, yes. The UK royal family have not had the best press in recent years, none more so than the king's brother, Prince Andrew. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after public anger over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

But now another of his friends, a Chinese businessman he describes as a close confidant, has been banned from the UK on national security grounds. Our reporter Graham Satchell spoke to Bernadette Kehoe.

But now another of his friends, a Chinese businessman he describes as a close confidant, has been banned from the UK on national security grounds. Our reporter Graham Satchell spoke to Bernadette Kehoe.

Here in Britain, as elsewhere, people are struggling with the high cost of living and Christmas can be a difficult time for many. Surveys suggest that people are tightening their belts and spending less on festivities and on presents for their families. But as Richard Hamilton found out, that's not the case when it comes to pets.

Here in Britain, as elsewhere, people are struggling with the high cost of living and Christmas can be a difficult time for many. Surveys suggest that people are tightening their belts and spending less on festivities and on presents for their families. But as Richard Hamilton found out, that's not the case when it comes to pets.

This is Minnie. To be honest, they're only eight months, so we're just trying to get them a bit more socialised and stuff, but it is good because you get to meet other Dachshund owners.

This is Minnie. To be honest, they're only eight months, so we're just trying to get them a bit more socialised and stuff, but it is good because you get to meet other Dachshund owners.