live from london. this is bbc news. the bbc understands tata steel is to push ahead with plans to close both blast furnaces at its port talbot works in south wales. the move is expected to lead to the loss of up to 3,000 jobs. pakistan carries out strikes on what it calls �*terrorist hideouts' in iran's border province — two days after iranian attacks on pakistan. nurses teachers and civil servants are among tens of thousands walking out over pay in northern ireland's largest ever strike. rishi sunak urges the house of lords to �*do the right thing' and back his rwanda migrant legislation, after it passed its third reading in the commons.

the prince of wales has visited his wife in hospital where she is recuperating after abdominal surgery. and queen camilla has given this update on king charles. haw surgery. and queen camilla has given this update on king charles.— this update on king charles. how is his majesty? _ this update on king charles. how is his majesty? he — this update on king charles. how is his majesty? he his _ this update on king charles. how is his majesty? he his fine, _ this update on king charles. how is his majesty? he his fine, thank- this update on king charles. how is| his majesty? he his fine, thank you his ma'esty? he his fine, thank you ve his majesty? he his fine, thank you very much. — his majesty? he his fine, thank you very much, looking _ his majesty? he his fine, thank you very much, looking forward - his majesty? he his fine, thank you very much, looking forward to - very much, looking forward to getting — very much, looking forward to getting back to work. —— he is fine. hello _ getting back to work. —— he is fine. hello and _ getting back to work. —— he is fine. hello and welcome to the programme. we understand that steel giant tata is to press ahead with plans to close steel furnaces at its largest plant in port talbot, and the move threatens 3000 jobs, most of which are to go this year. union leaders met with them today and proposed

alternative proposals which would save jobs, alternative proposals which would savejobs, but alternative proposals which would save jobs, but the alternative proposals which would savejobs, but the indian alternative proposals which would save jobs, but the indian owned alternative proposals which would savejobs, but the indian owned both my company decided to instead press ahead with plans for a greenerform of steel—making. stephen can look, the labour mp, said it would mean britain would become more dependent on imported steel. —— stephen kinnock. earlier i spoke to theo leggett, our business correspondent who gave us an update. well, the meetings been taking place in the hoteljust behind me over the past couple of hours between tata steel group's senior management and members of the three unions that are concerned with this, which is community, unite and the gmb. now, my understanding is that tata came to that meeting determined to push ahead with its existing plan, which is to shut down both blast furnaces at port talbot. there are two of them, in order to start construction on an electric arc furnace, a new generation

of furnace, which is cleaner to run, which is cheaper to run, but which can only be used to make steel out of recycled steel. so you can't make new steel out of it. now, the unions were very much opposed to this plan because it will mean substantialjob losses. and my understanding is that those jobs will start to go around april next year with more to follow in september. now, all of this, it's a quite elaborate plan, and it does mean that port talbot in future would not be making what they call virgin steel. that's fresh steel out of iron ore. it would only be able to make steel out of recycled materials. so this has all been fairly controversial. the unions have pushed hard for an alternative plan to delay the closure of one of those blast furnaces for several more years. it seems that their efforts on that have failed and that tata will go ahead, the blast furnaces in port talbot will close. so you say there the unions' plan was rejected. do we know more details as to why? no, we don't. we don't know the details of that meeting.

and we will not be told, because the unions are very clear on this. they want to speak to their own members before they communicate in too much detail with the media. tata will make its own announcement tomorrow morning. the detail will be in that. and there have been last minute changes of tack by tata in the past. it was expected to come out with this information last november and instead decided to sit down and look at the unions' proposals more closely. but what we do know is that tata has been very focused on cost here. its uk operations are loss making, losing about £1 million a day. and it wants those losses to stop, to make steel production in this country economical going forward. the unions' proposals would have kept morejobs in place for longer, but they would also have come at a cost. i believe that cost is somewhere

around the £600 million mark over a number of years. so tata wants to get the business onto a more even economic footing. it believes that keeping the blast furnaces open is fundamentally unsustainable. to keep them open, they require maintenance. that costs money, and therefore it's decided to cut its losses, close the furnaces down and move on to the next generation of steel making sooner rather than later. if you do want more on that developing story, we have plenty more details including a live page we are running on the bbc news website. iran has strongly condemned pakistani missile strikes on its territory in a region close to the two countries' border. the iranian foreign ministry summoned pakistan's envoy to protest about the attacks in sistan in the balochistan province, which it said killed nine people, including four children. these pictures have emerged from iran, showing what appears to be a crater caused by an explosion, and damage to several buildings and homes. the strikes are on what islamabad has called "terrorist hideouts" —

they come two days after similar action by iran inside pakistan. both countries have similar concerns about the lawless border region, where drug smugglers and ethnic baloch separatist groups are active. here is what the spokeperson for pakistan's foreign affairs ministry said. this morning, pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in sistan—balochistan province of iran. a number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence—based operation codenamed marg bar sarmachar. this morning's action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large—scale terrorist activities against pakistan by these terrorists. this action is a manifestation of pakistan's unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.

0ur news correspondent parham ghobadi updated me earlier. iranian authorities have said that the strikes were carried out by three drones and they targeted three residential areas inside iran in saravan town. now, what's fascinating is that iran has been carrying out a military drill today and the military drill is designed for an anti—air defense system. an anti—air defence system. now, the question that many iranians have is that how come this anti—air defense system that you're having a drill for it today in the southern part of iran did not work yesterday when pakistani drones entered iranian territory and carried out the attack? but on the other side, the pakistanis were frustrated about the attacks and you could see it in their statements because pakistani prime minister, a few hours before iran, the day

before, carrying out the attacks inside pakistani territory, iranian foreign minister in davos met with pakistan's acting prime minister. so this is the highest official meeting between the officials of the two countries. and yet the attack was not communicated. hence, you understand why pakistanis are frustrated. but from the attack, from the military perspective, you see that this is a retaliatory attack, but restrained and proportionate, because they have carried out a similar kind of attack. and even in their statement, they've used similar language. they've said that "we did not kill any iranians, "we killed pakistani nationals." and the iranians confirmed that. "who we believe are terrorists", iranians said the same thing. "we killed iranians who we consider terrorists "inside pakistani territories." here's bilawal bhutto zardari, pakistan's former foreign minister, with his reaction to these attacks.

i unequivocally condemn in the most serious terms the violation of pakistan's territory, territory and the carrying out of these attacks. i'm all the more surprised as the former foreign minister of pakistan, because i'm aware of the multiple levels, multiple channels of communications that we have from the lowest level of government all the way to the highest. as your correspondent mentioned, the foreign minister of iran was meeting with our acting prime minister the day that they violated our sovereignty and attacked our country. this is something that no country can tolerate, and pakistan has quite rightfully responded proportionately. do you see this as a retaliation then, rather than targeting a group of separatists? this is pakistan retaliating for what iran did?

i think that if pakistan has attacked the terrorist groups that we have been raising our concerns about at various levels with iran. but of course, it is in that sense retaliatory that if one country thinks that pakistan can't respond or won't respond to violations of its sovereignty, so they would be mistaken. and it is a clear message to anyone who may have this intent that pakistan has both the will and the ability to respond. having said that, terrorism is a joint threat not only for pakistan and iran, but for our entire region. and the only way for us to combat these threats are by working together. i, as foreign minister, had set up extra mechanisms specifically to address the security concerns of both iran and pakistan and ensure that that space existed for dialogue and a sharing of concerns, sharing of intelligence, which is why i'm

all the more surprised that such an attack took place. one of the impressions is that as a result of the increasing domestic pressure within iran, the iranian regime felt it necessary to conduct such an attack. i think that is also a concerning thought that in response to domestic pressure, one should not have violated the sovereignty of another country. iran claim to say that terrorist groups are sponsored by israel. what would a terrorist group sponsored by israel be doing in baluchistan? we now know pakistan has recalled its ambassador to iran. the statement from pakistan does describe the relationship between

iran and pakistan as brotherly, but where is a former foreign minister, do you see that relationship now, given that domestic tensions are ratcheting up at the same time as military? ratcheting up at the same time as milita ? ~ ., ., , ., military? what i would say is that over the last _ military? what i would say is that over the last 18 _ military? what i would say is that over the last 18 or _ military? what i would say is that over the last 18 or 17 _ military? what i would say is that over the last 18 or 17 months - military? what i would say is that over the last 18 or 17 months that| military? what i would say is that | over the last 18 or 17 months that i spent as pakistan's foreign minister, probably one of the countries we had not only the engagement with but the most improvement in our bilateral ties i would say it would be with pakistan and iran. forthe would say it would be with pakistan and iran. for the last five to ten years, and i do hope now, the ball is very much in iran's court, but i do hope this does not lead to a further increase or escalation in tensions. �* , . ., tensions. are you expecting a further escalation? _ tensions. are you expecting a further escalation? i - tensions. are you expecting a further escalation? i am - tensions. are you expecting a i further escalation? i am hoping tensions. are you expecting a - further escalation? i am hoping that better sense — further escalation? i am hoping that better sense prevail _ further escalation? i am hoping that better sense prevail and _ further escalation? i am hoping that better sense prevail and both - further escalation? i am hoping that better sense prevail and both sides|

better sense prevail and both sides engage in diplomacy in pursuit of peace. the only way for us to take on terrorist groups of all types is to work together. it is the aim of terrorists to create chaos and if such escalation dig take place i think it would be a victory of terrorist groups, not a defeat of terrorist groups, not a defeat of terrorist groups. —— if such an escalation did take place. the biggest strike in northern ireland's history has begun, with tens of thousands of workers taking part in walk—outs over pay. nurses, teachers and civil servants are among the public sector workers who are taking part in the action, which is co—ordinated between 16 trade unions. from belfast, chris page reports. the first of many thousands on strike, these bus engineers were under picket lines before daybreak and nothing is moving at the depot. the people who normally keep transport is going say their pay has slowed up too much. i’m transport is going say their pay has slowed up too much.— transport is going say their pay has slowed up too much. i'm only young and haven't—

slowed up too much. i'm only young and haven't been _ slowed up too much. i'm only young and haven't been there _ slowed up too much. i'm only young and haven't been there done - slowed up too much. i'm only young and haven't been there done long i slowed up too much. i'm only young. and haven't been there done long but prices are atrocious and i can't get onto the property ladder because of my wage. the onto the property ladder because of m wane. . , ., ., my wage. the current situation has 'ust driven my wage. the current situation has just driven a _ my wage. the current situation has just driven a wedge _ my wage. the current situation has just driven a wedge between - my wage. the current situation has just driven a wedge between goodl just driven a wedge between good times_ just driven a wedge between good times and — just driven a wedge between good times and bad times and it seems bad times— times and bad times and it seems bad times are _ times and bad times and it seems bad times are on _ times and bad times and it seems bad times are on the rise. that times and bad times and it seems bad times are on the rise.— times are on the rise. that is the mood that _ times are on the rise. that is the mood that has _ times are on the rise. that is the mood that has led _ times are on the rise. that is the mood that has led 16 _ times are on the rise. that is the mood that has led 16 trade - times are on the rise. that is the | mood that has led 16 trade unions times are on the rise. that is the - mood that has led 16 trade unions to take coordinated action across education, the civil service and health care. at the biggest hospital in northern ireland, paramedics, radiographers and nurses joined the walk outs. they are paid less than their counterparts in england, scotland and wales and say that has caused an understaffing crisis. this da , 42 caused an understaffing crisis. this day. 42 years _ caused an understaffing crisis. ti 3 day, 42 years ago on the 18th of january, i started day, 42 years ago on the 18th of january, istarted my day, 42 years ago on the 18th of january, i started my nursing career and i never thought 42 years later i would be stood here on the picket line fighting for what is right for our patients, our patients shouldn't be suffering in hospitals and we are

losing nurses and safe staffing is really concerning. it is losing nurses and safe staffing is really concerning.— really concerning. it is not 'ust about to be i really concerning. it is not 'ust about to be a i really concerning. it is not 'ust about to be a pay i really concerning. it is not 'ust about to be a pay award h really concerning. it is notjust about to be a pay award but i really concerning. it is notjust i about to be a pay award but what really concerning. it is notjust - about to be a pay award but what it means _ about to be a pay award but what it means for— about to be a pay award but what it means for nurses in the profession and nurses— means for nurses in the profession and nurses staying within the profession. we were promised pay parity— profession. we were promised pay parity with — profession. we were promised pay parity with england the last time and we _ parity with england the last time and we have fallen out of parity with england. we remain behind. services — with england. we remain behind. services have been with england. we remain behind. services have bee— services have been reduced to a level similar _ services have been reduced to a level similar to _ services have been reduced to a level similar to what _ services have been reduced to a level similar to what happens i services have been reduced to a| level similar to what happens on christmas day. caroline is having treatment for cancer and she has had appointments rescheduled because of the industrial action. i appointments rescheduled because of the industrial action.— the industrial action. i have more tri -s the industrial action. i have more tris ou the industrial action. i have more trips you make — the industrial action. i have more trips you make now _ the industrial action. i have more trips you make now and - the industrial action. i have more trips you make now and with - the industrial action. i have more trips you make now and with this | trips you make now and with this weather, it's not great, too have to be making extra trips when you don't need to. but having said that, i am fully in support of nurses going out on strike because the job they do, they are entitled to equal pay as they are entitled to equal pay as the rest of the uk. this they are entitled to equal pay as the rest of the uk.— they are entitled to equal pay as the rest of the uk. this is a strike on a scale — the rest of the uk. this is a strike on a scale most _ the rest of the uk. this is a strike on a scale most people _ the rest of the uk. this is a strike on a scale most people here - the rest of the uk. this is a strike on a scale most people here havei on a scale most people here have never seen before, but it may not be

a one off. union say they are prepared to take even more serious steps if their members don't get better wages. they hope this day of discontent and disruption will demonstrate the depth of feeling. chris page, bbc news, belfast. let's bring you some breaking news from the united states and that is that the united states and that is that the us justice the united states and that is that the usjustice department has found there were critical failures in the delayed police response to the 2022 school shooting in tata, texas. that tragedy killed 19 children and two teachers. —— uvalde, texas. a long—awaited review from thejustice long—awaited review from the justice department which was released found shortcomings in leadership, decision—making, tactics, policy and training, which it says led to a confused lease response and in the end, a delay when it came to confronting the gunman at rob

elementary school. they say the officers should have immediately breached a classroom to stop the shooting but instead treated the gunman like a barricaded subject and allowed him to remain in the classroom with victims for more than an hour. that report details the results of the department's review, looking at the response by law enforcement there, and of course, we remember that school shooting which happened in 2022, which of course killed 19 children and two teachers and we are expecting to get a statement from the justice department in the next hour or so. we will of course bring you that live. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news here. the consumer group which says its research suggests people can pay significantly more for train tickets at station vending machines in england compared with those bought online.

it checked the prices of 75 differentjourneys. arnold schwarzenegger was detained at a german airport for allegedly failing to declare a luxury watch he was planning to auction for charity. according to eu rules, anyone arriving with "cash or certain valuable items" over 10,000 euros must declare it. an investigation for alleged tax evasion was launched as the watch was intended to be sold within the eu. an amber warning for heavy snow is in place in scotland after most of the uk had the coldest night of winter so far. the met office have warned snow showers will affect the northern isles and northwest scotland and could disrupt travel, power, and communications. yellow warnings for ice and snow are also in place in all four uk nations. you're live with bbc news. now to westminster, where rishi sunak has been outlining

the next steps for his plan to send some asylum seekers who come to the uk to rwanda, in central africa. he won a vote in the house of commons on wednesday evening for legislation which declares rwanda to be a safe country. the new legislation was brought in after the uk's supreme court ruled it could not go ahead as previously drafted. the prime minister had to face down a potential rebellion from inside his own conservative party. some of his mps said it didn't go far enough, while others fear the law could violate international law. it could yet face more opposition from the uk house of lords or even once again in the courts. this is an urgent national priority. the treaty with rwanda is signed and the legislation which deems rwanda a safe country has been passed unamended in our elected chamber. there is now only one question — will the opposition and the appointed house of lords try and frustrate the will of the people as expressed by the elected house, or will they get on board and do the right thing?

i earlier spoke to an opposition leader in rwanda who joined i earlier spoke to an opposition leader in rwanda whojoined me from kigali. i asked for her reaction to the steel that rwanda has done with the steel that rwanda has done with the uk government. the problem of refugees is another problem because those people will be sent to rwanda, to stay in rwanda and be integrated in our society but we have refugees from congo who have lived in a refugee camp are more than 20 years and cannot be integrated in our society because our country is a poor country. we have limited resources. is our country is a poor country. we have limited resources.— our country is a poor country. we have limited resources. is that not

b the uk have limited resources. is that not by the uk government _ have limited resources. is that not by the uk government is - have limited resources. is that not by the uk government is giving i have limited resources. is that not| by the uk government is giving the government of rwanda all this money, some £220 million to help out with that? that is what they would say, that? that is what they would say, that they are trying to help a poor country, as you describe, to manage the scheme? you country, as you describe, to manage the scheme?— the scheme? you are right, this is money that _ the scheme? you are right, this is money that the — the scheme? you are right, this is money that the british _ the scheme? you are right, this is| money that the british government gave to rwanda already fought five years, but after five years, when the british government will no more refund this project, what will happen to those refugees? i know that the government of rwanda promises to offerjobs to those refugees but i don't think rwanda has the possibility to do so because if you take a look at the jobless are among the youth in rwanda, it is high. how can you promise to offer jobs to those who immigrate and stay in our country if you cannot find jobs for your own people? let’s

jobs for your own people? let's brina ou jobs for your own people? let's bring you some _ jobs for your own people? let's bring you some breaking - jobs for your own people? let's bring you some breaking news on a story that emerged in the last few days or here in the uk. we arejust getting reports that the police watchdog has said it will investigate whether there were any missed opportunities by officers prior to the deaths of two—year—olds bronson battersby and his father who were found dead in a flat in skegness in lincolnshire. just a reminder that bronson battersby who was two years old, was found alone in the house in skegness with his father, 60—year—olds kenneth battersby on the 9th of january. it is believed that he starved to death after his dad had a heart attack, so it has just been believed now ——

revealed now that the police watchdog has said it would investigate whether there were any missed opportunities by officers prior to the deaths of father and son. some other breaking news here and the uk that has also just come into us and that is that a man has been arrested and part of an investigation by london's metropolitan police into the alleged escape of a prisoner from wandsworth prison in london last september. you may remember that case, the man daniel khalifa, 24 years old, and in relation to that escape, a 24—year—old man has been arrested on the morning of the 17th of january, so yesterday, at an address in east london. he was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and was taken into custody at a london police station. there is a picture

of daniel khalife he was 22 years old and is back in police custody and due to go on trial at the old bailey after pleading not guilty to charges that he escaped from wandsworth prison. the arrested eight was carried out by officers from the met police's counterterror command and just to say it has been confirmed he is not a member of staff at the prison. moving on in a busy day of news, and the uk's royal family has at times in the past been criticised for being overly secretive when it comes to matters of health, with journalists and public alike often left speculating on what might be wrong with senior figures in the house of windsor, but it seems that has changed under the reign of king charles. in the space ofjust 90 minutes, we learned first that princess catherine is recovering in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery and we later learned that king charles will be treated for an enlarged prostate next week. full details have not

been yet made public but we have been yet made public but we have been told that neither condition is related to cancer. earlier today, prince william was pictured visiting the london clinic where the princess of wales has been recovering from her surgery. we have also seen queen camilla herfirst public her surgery. we have also seen queen camilla her first public appearance since the news. she was visiting an art gallery in aberdeen in scotland is creating safe spaces for women facing domestic violence. —— promoting safe spaces. we developed was asked about her husband, and let's have a listen to what she had to say. you morning. mit frosty journey. to say. you morning. mit frosty “ourne . , . , ., ., journey. yes, a bit late i am afraid. like _ journey. yes, a bit late i am afraid. like was _ journey. yes, a bit late i am afraid. like was his - journey. yes, a bit late i aml afraid. like was his majesty? journey. yes, a bit late i am - afraid. like was his majesty? he is fine, _ afraid. like was his majesty? he is fine, thank— afraid. like was his majesty? he is fine, thank you, looking forward to getting _ fine, thank you, looking forward to getting back to work.— fine, thank you, looking forward to getting back to work. queen camilla there. we will _ getting back to work. queen camilla there. we will have _ getting back to work. queen camilla there. we will have more _ getting back to work. queen camilla there. we will have more on - getting back to work. queen camilla there. we will have more on that. getting back to work. queen camilla | there. we will have more on that and all of the rest of today �*s news

after a short break. there is always plenty more on the website. hello, good afternoon. it was the coldest night of the winter so far for most of us last night, but there is a lot of winter sunshine out there and blue sky today — including here in pontypridd in south wales. a few showers for western wales, showers clearing away from north sea—facing coasts, but still blizzard—like conditions in northern scotland, and we're set to stay in that cold air for the next couple of days before it turns a lot milder over the weekend, but also wet and very windy — already, warnings in force for heavy rain and strong, gusty winds. and there's an amber warning in force across the northern isles and down through caithness and sutherland for heavy snow until six o'clock this evening — as much as 15 to 20 centimetres of falling snow. blizzard—like conditions with brisk northerly—to—north—westerly winds and drifting snow, too. wider warnings in force across northern ireland and much

of scotland away from the south and the east for snow and ice. elsewhere, the winter sunshine continues. still maybe a few showers drifting into northwestern wales, down through parts of south—west wales, and into perhaps the far south—west of england through this evening. again, those snow showers pile into north—western areas of scotland. there will be icy stretches where we've seen the showers today, and maybe some freezing fog patches, too — particularly across the east midlands and down through eastern areas of wales, too. temperatures widely, of course, below freezing. but tomorrow we start to drag in some milder—feeling air, with more of a south—westerly wind starting to develop. the snow levels will gradually rise across north—western scotland, so the snow turning back to rain and to sleet — particularly for lower lying areas, of course. temperatures coming up slightly to between four and seven degrees celsius. it will be largely dry and there will be quite a lot of winter sunshine around again. as we head into the weekend, it's all change — we start to look out to the atlantic again, various weather fronts moving through. look at the squeeze on the isobars —

it's going to turn really very windy. most of us will wake up to temperatures above freezing as we head through saturday morning. there will be outbreaks of rain again — possibly heavy at times — just drifting in from the west, so some wet weather but look at these temperatures — rising back up into double figures for western spots as we head through saturday. warnings in place on sunday for strong winds for much of the uk and for heavy rain, too. it turns even milder into the start of next week. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the bbc understand that india owned tata steel is to push ahead with plans to close both blast furnaces at its port talbot works in south wales. it is expected to lead to the loss of over 3000 jobs. pakistan carries out strikes and what it called terrorist hideouts in iran's border province days after iranian attacks. nurses, teachers and civil servants are among tens of thousands walking out over pay in northern ireland's biggest ever strike. british prime minister rishi sunak urges the house of lords to do the right thing and back his rwandan migrant legislation after it passed its third reading in the house of

commons.