hello — i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. tata came to that meeting, determined to push ahead with its existing plan which is to shut down both blast furnaces we are told, but there are two of them, in order to start construction on an electric arc furnace. "disappointment" is probably the biggest word. "disbelief. "it'sjust been handled absolutely appallingly, in my opinion. but the news is out now. dark day for patel, but really no | look into what that strategy is. | for the region, and further afield. a blow to the future of the uk steel industry — the bbc understands tata steel

is to close blast furnaces in port talbot with 3,000 jobs to go. the union plan to savejobs has failed. so what does it say more generally about the green transition? also in the programme... a walk—out in northern ireland. no government, no funding, no pay rises. is the standoff over stormont now a constiutional crisis. a constiutional crisis? and is it the demand for cocaine europe — that has turned ecuador into a war zone with the drug cartels? is there a future for steel—making in the uk? and if there is then what sort of sector does it become. that very issue has been under discussion today between unions representing the steel workers of south wales and the bosses of the tata steel—making company. no official word of what has been agreed but we understand tata steel is to close both blast furnaces at its port talbot works with the loss of up to 3,000 jobs.

instead of blast furnaces, tata have a plan backed by the british government to invest in a new, greener, electric arc furnace. hywel griffith reports. forged by over a century of steel making, port talbot is a place dominated by one industry. the site sprawls over three miles. at its heart, two coal—fired blast furnaces, which produce liquid iron. both will be switched off — replaced eventually by one new electric furnace, which recycles scrap steel. it's a cleaner, greener way to make metal, that needs far fewer workers. sean fears his part of the plant will close. a lot of anger, frustration. disappointment is probably the biggest word. and disbelief. it's just been handled absolutely appallingly, in my opinion. but the news is out now, so we've just got to deal with it.

britain's second biggest steelworks, in scunthorpe, is also going electric. it may mean the uk will no longer produce its own so—called "virgin steel" from scratch. steel's important because it has a place in all our lives. from construction to cars, from coins to tin cans, it all starts here. but it's an industry with a pollution problem. this site in port talbot is one of the uk's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, responsible for 2% of the uk's carbon emissions. tata has known for years it needs to clean up its act. electric arc furnaces are one way of doing that. so, an electric arc furnace should produce less than half the emissions of a blast furnace. there are a lot of things that will depend on, it will depend the material you put in the arc furnace, how much processing that material needs, and also where your electricity is coming from. getting enough renewable energy will be a challenge. trade unions say the plan is decarbonisation on the cheap

and are unhappy that thousands of workers will lose theirjobs. at the local school, they fear what that will mean for the next generation. they already run a food bank from here and expect demand to rise. i think, as a community, it's going to have a huge impact. because not only do a lot of our pupils�* parents and families work within tata, but the knock on with the contractors as well. so demand, i'm presuming isjust going to go up to threefold really. tata's expected to make a formal announcement tomorrow and start closing posts in april. a move towards a greener future, clearly coming at a cost. hywel griffith, bbc news, port talbot. ben thompson has stayed on to guide us through it. thank you, after your programme. but you're the expert on some of this. the question i was asking at the top of the programme, is there a future

for steel—making here in britain? the government would say yes, that's why the uk government put money into tata steel last year, and they want to preserve the future of that site. scunthorpe is the only other side that has a blast furnace, that is also due to close, too. so the announcement today means that the three blast furnaces used to make steel in the uk are now the plan of course is to move to a greener sort of generation by steel that uses electricity rather than traditional coal and gas that's hugely polluting and emits a lot of carbon emissions. it also speaks to a wider decline of steel—making in the uk, looking at the numbers, back in 1971 there was 25 million tonnes of steel made in the uk, that's fallen to about 6 million. it means the uk is increasing the reliance on imports of steel it from elsewhere. use, of course, in industry, particularly in the uk, for things

like car making. so what tata says is that this new generation of greener furnaces powered is that this new generation of greenerfurnaces powered by electricity will help it generate, fabricate new types of steel that are used in the industry, particularly when it comes to rolled steel that is used in car manufacturing. the big decision is what future for those jobs. 75% of the workforce intel that could be out of work as a result of this decision and it will raise a lot of questions. the opposition labour party here says essentially what the dark government has done is paid a lot of money without securing the future. . �* , ,., lot of money without securing the future. . �*, ,., , �* future. that's the point here, isn't it? the answer— future. that's the point here, isn't it? the answer is, _ future. that's the point here, isn't it? the answer is, there _ future. that's the point here, isn't it? the answer is, there is - future. that's the point here, isn't it? the answer is, there is a - it? the answer is, there is a future, it is smaller, it is greener. but we, the taxpayer of this country have paid quite a lot of money for that future and the question is, did the government pay money to keep the jobs, and question is, did the government pay money to keep thejobs, and how is that supposed to be staggered through the transition, or did they

pay to keep the steel? fir through the transition, or did they pay to keep the steel?— through the transition, or did they pay to keep the steel? or did they -a it to pay to keep the steel? or did they pay it to help _ pay to keep the steel? or did they pay it to help the _ pay to keep the steel? or did they pay it to help the uk _ pay to keep the steel? or did they pay it to help the uk meet - pay to keep the steel? or did they pay it to help the uk meet its - pay it to help the uk meet its climate commitments which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. this is all designed to transition to a greenerfuture. this is what the labour party have said about tonight. to use all of these jobs, these 3000 jobs that are set to go, there will be out in an official announcement tomorrow. it will depend, we will assume, the details of that deal. tata for its part says it's using £1 billion. it's losing a day. with the help of that government money, will help safeguard somejobs but government money, will help safeguard some jobs but not all, we thinkjust about 200 jobs will be left out site after this change to new technology. so lots of questions about moving to a green future that about moving to a green future that a lot of people will back the idea of reducing the uk submissions. but at what cost? will you stay with us,

because i want to talk about the wider implications of this. until now this green transition has been sold as a win—win. not only will the developed world cut emissions by at least 65% by 2030. but in the process of meeting targets, industry will supposedly prosper, by embracing new, cleaner technologies. the trouble is that spells real trouble for the heavy industry on which blue collars workers and entire communities on which blue collar workers and entire communities have long depended. according to 0nward, a centre—right leaning think tank here in the uk, more than half — 52% — of the ten million british jobs set to be disrupted this next 30 years are based in the north of england, the midlands and scotland. in germany the greens campaigned on making germany the "frontrunner" in this transition and yet now there are big questions as to how it will all be financed. i am joined now byjess ralston, the head of energy at energy and climate intelligence unit, and michael bloss mep from the german green party and spokesperson for climate.

thank you both for coming on the programme. just, can i start with you. is it the fact then that the least proper prosperous regions of europe, the old industrial heartland, will face the greatest cost? if heartland, will face the greatest cost? , ., heartland, will face the greatest cost? i., heartland, will face the greatest cost? y., ., , cost? if you look at the uk steel indust , cost? if you look at the uk steel industry. that — cost? if you look at the uk steel industry, that was _ cost? if you look at the uk steel industry, that was in _ cost? if you look at the uk steel industry, that was in decline - cost? if you look at the uk steel| industry, that was in decline long before net zero emissions by 2050 was even a dream. it's been on decline of this industry and of course it's places in the northwest of england as well and where they are facing long—term industrial decline, and that's really meant that lots of people in the sector, industrial sector, that lots of people in the sector, industrialsector, have that lots of people in the sector, industrial sector, have been calling for quite a while for a long—term strategy, throughout industries. it doesn't really seem like we have a at present, like you mentioned before totter, it's at present, like you mentioned before totter, its money for the scunthorpe line as well, but there's

not an overall coordinated approach to the industry that means unfortunately we are going to get more and more reliant on imports of things like steel.— things like steel. right, i'll come back to that— things like steel. right, i'll come back to that because _ things like steel. right, i'll come back to that because it's - things like steel. right, i'll come back to that because it's really i back to that because it's really important bob. michael, let me pick it up with you because there is a concern about steel—making and germany. in an e—mail statementjust a few weeks ago, the funding for the green transition of its steel plants, that's about half of the plant, 2.5 billion euros investment is now hanging in the balance and that's because of the pressure on public finances, of people look at you, the green party and blame you for that, you, the green party and blame you forthat, because you, the green party and blame you for that, because you've pushed the transition but the money is in there to deliver on what you promise. we pushed the transition but the transition in itself is also pushed by industry. because it's clear that there _ by industry. because it's clear that there needs to be a differentiation, europe _ there needs to be a differentiation, europe will produce better steel then for— europe will produce better steel then for instance is produced in india. _ then for instance is produced in india. but— then for instance is produced in

india, but for this we need to modernise our industry. so what we're _ modernise our industry. so what we're doing, we are replacing the blast _ we're doing, we are replacing the blast furnaces with green direct reduction — blast furnaces with green direct reduction plants, but it seems to be that the _ reduction plants, but it seems to be that the case that you are discussing that is happening right now in_ discussing that is happening right now in the uk is not quite similar to what— now in the uk is not quite similar to what we're doing in germany because — to what we're doing in germany because it — to what we're doing in germany because it to me that you are decreasing industrial output but the whole _ decreasing industrial output but the whole idea of the green transition in germany is that we keep the industrial— in germany is that we keep the industrial output but reducing the omissions. , ., ., omissions. there is, though, a dangerous _ omissions. there is, though, a dangerous political— omissions. there is, though, a dangerous political element i omissions. there is, though, a dangerous political element to j omissions. there is, though, a - dangerous political element to this, though michael. i was looking at a report from the german economic institute, they say the number of voters for the foreign knight, the asd, alternative for germany is highest in the industrial areas, so it is fuelling resentment in those areas and is partway behind the shift to the hard right.—

areas and is partway behind the shift to the hard right. there is a lot of insecurity _ shift to the hard right. there is a lot of insecurity and _ shift to the hard right. there is a lot of insecurity and therefore i lot of insecurity and therefore people — lot of insecurity and therefore people are turning away from the government party. but i don't think that the _ government party. but i don't think that the solution now is to say ok, no nothing — that the solution now is to say ok, no nothing will change. because the change _ no nothing will change. because the change is _ no nothing will change. because the change is not coming because of green _ change is not coming because of green policies, the changes coming because _ green policies, the changes coming because we are in a globalised world and maybe _ because we are in a globalised world and maybe it's not as efficient to produce — and maybe it's not as efficient to produce steel in germany, then it is to produce — produce steel in germany, then it is to produce it— produce steel in germany, then it is to produce it in india. so therefore, there needs to be a case where _ therefore, there needs to be a case where we _ therefore, there needs to be a case where we would still produce the steet— where we would still produce the steel in_ where we would still produce the steel in germany or in the uk, and the case _ steel in germany or in the uk, and the case is, — steel in germany or in the uk, and the case is, first, we want to have it as _ the case is, first, we want to have it as a _ the case is, first, we want to have it as a strategic industry. it's needed _ it as a strategic industry. it's needed because you never know what happens _ needed because you never know what happens to _ needed because you never know what happens to supply chains. and second, — happens to supply chains. and second, we produce better green steet _ second, we produce better green steet this— second, we produce better green steel. this transition needs to happen— steel. this transition needs to happen right now and we are doing it. , , , ., happen right now and we are doing it. , ., ~ happen right now and we are doing it. just, you talked about an industrial _ it. just, you talked about an industrial strategy, - it. just, you talked about an industrial strategy, and - it. just, you talked about an i industrial strategy, and devils it. just, you talked about an - industrial strategy, and devils this week they have been talking about

return to subsidies. as ben was suggesting, they look across the pond of the united states, $3.5 trillion of subsidies that the biden administration has set out, but what's really interesting about that money is that it is largely targeted at brownfield sites, coalfields, high fossil fuel communities or communities that depend on old industries. so there is a strategy industries. so there is a strategy in the united states, we don't see it here in the uk. i in the united states, we don't see it here in the uk.— it here in the uk. i think it's fair to sa , i it here in the uk. i think it's fair to say. i think _ it here in the uk. i think it's fair to say, i think if— it here in the uk. i think it's fair to say, i think if you _ it here in the uk. i think it's fair to say, i think if you look at - it here in the uk. i think it's fair to say, i think if you look at the | to say, i think if you look at the inflation reduction act, which i think you're talking about in the us, they've got a big chunk of you might call it subsidies, some people might call it subsidies, some people might call it investment actually, what they're doing is putting money into these areas like you say, we need those jobs to make that transition and they are investing in the future for that area. and i think that's something that we haven't really seen in the uk, i think as michael was hinting at, actually, in germany they have transition to using hydrogen and some of the plants to create this green steel and we have now done

away with our blast furnaces so we're going to have no ability to make our own urgent steel, new steel. and that means were going to have to import more. and i think michael was hinting at this, but what we've seen over the last 18 months or so with the war in ukraine, various other tensions, tension with china, potentially worsening. if we are relying on other countries for this imports, there's a risk there that we are going to be caught short when the time comes something does happen, god forbid. just time comes something does happen, god forbid. , , . . , time comes something does happen, god forbid. , . ., , ., god forbid. just a really quick one michael because _ god forbid. just a really quick one michael because i'm _ god forbid. just a really quick one michael because i'm running - god forbid. just a really quick one michael because i'm running out. god forbid. just a really quick one | michael because i'm running out of time. 0bviously michael because i'm running out of time. obviously there is big subsidies in the united states, that tends to suck a lot of the investment. are you worried they're investment. are you worried they're in germany were in these areas you need new industry you just can't pay the bucks to encourage them to come? we first need them to stay. but there's— we first need them to stay. but there's a — we first need them to stay. but there's a subsidies race happening gtohattx _ there's a subsidies race happening globally. that china has their own industriat— globally. that china has their own industrial strategy, they want to be leading _ industrial strategy, they want to be leading in_ industrial strategy, they want to be leading in the new technologies that will he _ leading in the new technologies that will be determining the future, the

us is— will be determining the future, the us is doing the same. europe would be us is doing the same. europe would he naive _ us is doing the same. europe would he naive if— us is doing the same. europe would be naive if they would not do the same _ be naive if they would not do the same and — be naive if they would not do the same and just rely on the open market — same and just rely on the open market. so we need to have an industrial— market. so we need to have an industrial strategy, we need to make sure and _ industrial strategy, we need to make sure and identify those industries that we _ sure and identify those industries that we want to have in europe that are strategic, and this is the new world _ are strategic, and this is the new world. . ~ . ., are strategic, and this is the new world. . ~. ., �* are strategic, and this is the new world. . ~. ., ,,_ world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross, world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross. thank — world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross. thank you _ world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross, thank you for _ world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross, thank you for being _ world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross, thank you for being with - world. yeah, michael bloss, jessica ross, thank you for being with me. | ross, thank you for being with me. ben is still here with me. it's really interesting looking at the comparisons of the differences between european countries. i understand though, and when it comes to subsidy i understand that labour party did actually talk to the boss of tata in dallas today, and they quite like labor's green steel plans but they can't wait for an election. it's so expensive. find but they can't wait for an election. it's so expensive.— it's so expensive. and i think the conversation _ it's so expensive. and i think the conversation you _ it's so expensive. and i think the conversation you had _ it's so expensive. and i think the conversation you had there - it's so expensive. and i think the conversation you had there is - it's so expensive. and i think the i conversation you had there is really interesting, it tells us what a country wants to be when it comes to business, what is the strategy. we note the uk's heavy manufacturing is beenin note the uk's heavy manufacturing is been in decline for years, governments of all colours would

tell you this is about retraining, rescaling, high—tech innovation, that's where the uk can add value. it can't do so in heavy manufacturing any more, there's too many global powers that are good at that. just a few years ago, china was making steel, selling at below cost price, flooding the bull markets because it had so much power and ability to do so. other countries including germany has to decide what it wants to be, how will make money in industry, and we are hearing their germany is a very specific pond whether it can make the numbers add up remains to be seen. and i think it speaks volumes about how long these strategies will last. will the government come in and say, this is our plan over a decade, two decades, three decades. because that's how long this transition will take, this is a fundamental reset of what business does and what industry will look like. uk says it wants to compete on r&d and tech, it will take a long time to do that, where heavy manufacturing fits.—

time to do that, where heavy manufacturing fits. public finances are so squeezed. _ manufacturing fits. public finances are so squeezed. ben, _ manufacturing fits. public finances are so squeezed. ben, thank - manufacturing fits. public finances are so squeezed. ben, thank you. | are so squeezed. ben, thank you. we'll take a short break. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. even by the standards of american school shootings it was grim — 19 students and two teachers killed by a gunman. but what was also shocking about events at the robb elementary school in uvalde, texas, was the police's failure to take prompt action. the department ofjustice has released a report into that failure. it says officers didn't accurately assess the situation. and it took more than an hour to confront and kill the gunman — despite the presence of dozens of law enforcement officials. for these officers to sit there and just not do anything, you know, and still be out here on the streets like nothing happened, and my daughter is gone, it's... it was hard.

i think we're going to continue fighting. we are going to continue fighting that some type of change is made in honour of our kids. you're live with bbc news. there's is huge disruption in northern ireland — this was the biggest day of strike action for half a century. more than 100,000 public sector workers have walked out in a dispute over pay. schools are closed. health services and public transport have been badly affected. and why is there no negotiation over pay, because there is no functioning government in northern ireland. there hasn't been for two years. union leaders say workers are being used as pawns while politicians fail to reach any agreement on power sharing at stormont. we can now speak to simon lee — lecturer in philosophy ethics and politics at belfast met — the largest further and higher education college in northern ireland — who has been on strike today.

thank you very much for coming on the programme. it really does speak i think today to the level of political gridlock there is in northern ireland.— political gridlock there is in northern ireland. . ,, �*, northern ireland. yeah, i think it's a erfect northern ireland. yeah, i think it's a perfect storm — northern ireland. yeah, i think it's a perfect storm of _ northern ireland. yeah, i think it's a perfect storm of the _ northern ireland. yeah, i think it's a perfect storm of the ordinary - a perfect storm of the ordinary inflationary pressures that all of us are feeling across the uk, but it's exacerbated of course by the collapse of the executive which basically means that northern ireland isn't really being governed by ministers who can't make decisions and therefore negotiate pay settlements. and, so, yeah, it's a perfect storm of lack of governance and yet workers who very badly need a pay uplift in the conditions we are living in. $5 badly need a pay uplift in the conditions we are living in. fissi conditions we are living in. as i understand _ conditions we are living in. as i understand it, _ conditions we are living in. as i understand it, the _ conditions we are living in. as i understand it, the government is offering, the uk government is offering, the uk government is offering a financial package but of course it's conditional upon devolution being restored. there is £3.5 billion on the table in order to help with a number of things, but 600 million of that is to fund the

salary increases. so why can they not separate the salary increases from, i guess, the carrot which needs to be delivered to restore devolution in stormont? i needs to be delivered to restore devolution in stormont?- needs to be delivered to restore devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian. — devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian, that _ devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian, that is _ devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian, that is the _ devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian, that is the key - devolution in stormont? i think i'm a christian, that is the key issue i a christian, that is the key issue here i think. the secretary of state chris heaton—harris let the cat out of the bag with that because how can we then turn around to public sector workers and health secretary and router and the civil service and say we can't fund your pay uplift which you badly need. and at the same time to say that it's on the table under certain conditions. so i think there's been a lot of resentment and anger built up over that, because it feels like public sector workers are being used as a pawn, or at least some kind of inducement to put pressure on the democratic unionists who are holding up the collapse of the government. 50 who are holding up the collapse of the government.— the government. so who do you effectively _ the government. so who do you effectively going's _ the government. so who do you effectively going's do _ the government. so who do you effectively going's do you - the government. so who do you j effectively going's do you blame the government. so who do you - effectively going's do you blame the du pay or do you switch that criticism to chris heaton—harris,

the northern ireland secretary? irate the northern ireland secretary? we can the northern ireland secretary? - can blame both, but as things stand the secretary of state is responsible for the proper governance of northern ireland in the absence of an executive. and leaving civil servants to make the decisions without any control over budgets or anything else it isn't working. so we and the movement, we've been calling on the secretary of state because at the end of the day the buck stops with him right now. he's the man with his hand on the purse strings. he is trying to tell us he can't do it, but we don't buy it. tell us he can't do it, but we don't bu it. �* ., ., . buy it. but we are not convinced. this is interesting, _ buy it. but we are not convinced. this is interesting, because - buy it. but we are not convinced. this is interesting, because he i buy it. but we are not convinced. l this is interesting, because he said himself, his own target, this is the day, the 18th of generate, that heaton—harris said he was obliged to make a decision whether or not to call another election in northern ireland. he said if the du p don't return by tomorrow he will have a decision to make. are you expecting something to come monday or tuesday? what i'm expecting is for the secretary of state to do what he

does and he's going to flip—flop and probably make excuses and do absolutely nothing because that's the only thing he's been consistent on. he's consistently avoided making decisions, consistently messing people around. as you said yourself, over something in the ballpark of 150,000 in northern ireland ground to a halt today. we 150,000 in northern ireland ground to a halt today-— to a halt today. we must be getting to a halt today. we must be getting to a halt today. we must be getting to a constitutional— to a halt today. we must be getting to a constitutional crisis _ to a halt today. we must be getting to a constitutional crisis here - to a constitutional crisis here aren't we? the people of northern aren't we? the people of northern are meant don't have government, they don't have public services, there is little evidence that they can work together, how long can it be until notjust the unions take to the street by the entirety of the public in northern ireland? trio. public in northern ireland? no, absolutely- _ public in northern ireland? no, absolutely- i— public in northern ireland? no, absolutely. i think _ public in northern ireland? iirr, absolutely. i think this crisis is really a crisis of a failure of governance. it really does make the assembly and the executive farcical.

how many years has it actually been in operation since the good friday agreement in 1998? it is ridiculous, and it's getting to the stage where we will just and it's getting to the stage where we willjust have to look for plan b and whatever plan b looks like, we cannot, i think one thing is clear, we cannot continue like this. we cannot continue fail our health service, feel our young people and schools. yeah, it's unsustainable and i think it is fair to summarise it in those terms. i and i think it is fair to summarise it in those terms.— it in those terms. i should have robabl it in those terms. i should have probably asked _ it in those terms. i should have probably asked you _ it in those terms. i should have probably asked you at - it in those terms. i should have probably asked you at the - probably asked you at the outset what this is meant for you personally, because you are on strike. you've been hit with severe inflation, you've not had a pay rise, so what has it meant for you personally?— rise, so what has it meant for you ersonall ? ~ ., , ., , personally? while i mean, it shows how serious — personally? while i mean, it shows how serious we _ personally? while i mean, it shows how serious we are _ personally? while i mean, it shows how serious we are and _ personally? while i mean, it shows how serious we are and how - personally? while i mean, it shows| how serious we are and how serious the situation poses. i was on a picket line today so i will lose money, but ultimately i'm losing money, but ultimately i'm losing money every day anyway, if we

compare what, just in my own area, and the further education sector, we are currently being paid £10,000 a year or less then our counterparts in england, wales, scotland, and the south of ireland. as a longer—term failure but really i think this current crisis has just brought a lot of things to a head and we are standing together and saying enough is enough. we really, really need to see progress on this because we cannot afford to pay our bills as things stand. is cannot afford to pay our bills as things stand-— cannot afford to pay our bills as things stand. is it 'ust a one-day strike or is h things stand. is it 'ust a one-day strike or is this _ things stand. is it 'ust a one-day strike or is this a — things stand. is itjust a one-day strike or is this a continuing - strike or is this a continuing rolling strike that the unions will hold in northern ireland?- rolling strike that the unions will hold in northern ireland? well, i would say _ hold in northern ireland? well, i would say the — hold in northern ireland? well, i would say the ball— hold in northern ireland? well, i would say the ball is _ hold in northern ireland? well, i would say the ball is in _ hold in northern ireland? well, i would say the ball is in the - would say the ball is in the secretary of state �*s court. it's been very clear today from the speeches and the rally in belfast, as things stand this is a one—day strike but if we make no progress, if the secretary of state continues to refuse to engage with union leaders to address pay, i don't think we'll have any alternative

than to have a combined large dark again. we than to have a combined large dark aaain. ~ , , , ., than to have a combined large dark auain.~ , , , ., again. we wish her the best of luck, thank you very _ again. we wish her the best of luck, thank you very much _ again. we wish her the best of luck, thank you very much for _ again. we wish her the best of luck, thank you very much for coming - again. we wish her the best of luck, thank you very much for coming on | thank you very much for coming on the programme, we appreciate it. thank you so much. let the programme, we appreciate it. thank you so much.— the programme, we appreciate it. thank you so much. let me show you some live pictures _ thank you so much. let me show you some live pictures from _ thank you so much. let me show you some live pictures from washington. | some live pictures from washington. the deadline that had been set for tomorrow keeping government open, of course the democrats and republicans have been wrangling for some time over the size of the debt and how they are going to address that. we understand a deal has been agreed. it's a short—term fix, as ever. they have agreed a continuing resolution which will maybe kick this can down the road a little. but there is no resolution at the moment on the issues of the board which means there is no money in this agreement for ukraine, the military aid of course around $60 billion of aid of course around $60 billion of aid that is so badly needed in ukraine. we'll get some reaction to that from our american panelists coming up at nine o'clock. the other side of the break, it's our weekly

look in at artificial intelligence, ai decoded is here, and of course we'll look at the situation in the middle east, stay with us. hello there. good evening. staying very cold again today across the uk, but things are about to change weather—wise into the weekend. now, england, wales and northern ireland woke up to the coldest morning so far this winter. lots of weak, wintry sunshine around for most, but blizzard—like conditions across northern scotland, with brisk northerly to north—westerly winds and heavy snow showers. it's the focus for those snow showers tomorrow will change slightly, more towards the west with more of a westerly wind, staying cold and then turning milder, wetter and very windy as we head through the weekend and the start of next week. now, overnight tonight, there'll still be some snow showers across these western hills in particular, perhaps driving further eastwards. icy stretches, brisk westerly winds blowing. a few wintry showers for northern areas of northern ireland, icy stretches certainly here. and there'll be some freezing

fog patches forming, most likely, i think, across the east midlands, perhaps into eastern areas of wales. a sharp widespread frost yet again, but not quite as cold for most as it was last night. and then tomorrow, we start to draw in more of a south—westerly wind. it'll start to feel a little less cold through the day. still plenty of snow showers through the morning across these north—western hills of scotland, but turning increasingly back to rain and sleet to lower levels. still some hill snow, though, as we go through the afternoon. a few wintry showers maybe for northern ireland, but for most, it will stay dry and temperatures more widely will rise to between 4 and 6 degrees celsius, turning windier towards those western coasts later on through the day. and then as we head through friday night, our high pressure starts to spill away towards the east, allowing for these weather fronts to approach from the atlantic. they're going to drive their way eastwards, bringing strong winds — look at the squeeze in the isobars — and some heavy downpours of rain as we head through the weekend, but also some much milder air. so, in a little more detail, i think many of us will wake up to temperatures just slightly above freezing as we head

through the day on saturday, perhaps a little bit below towards the south—east of england. there'll be some heavy rain, particularly out towards western coasts, and some strong, gusty winds at times, too, but temperatures starting to rise. we could even see double figures for western areas as we head through the afternoon on saturday potentially. here's the outlook for our capital cities. already, met office weather warnings in force for heavy rain, for strong, gusty winds through the day on sunday as another front pushes its way eastwards. but much milder conditions, 12 or 13 degrees celsius, later in the weekend.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. another major breakthrough in artificial intelligence. google says it's fast improving its deepmind system which can now use its own logic to solve complex geometry. stay with us for al decoded. that is coming up in 15 minutes�*s time and i'm looking forward to that, but before that, we will focus on the middle east. everything, everywhere all at once. it feels like there's conflict wherever you look at the moment. but a flare up between iran and pakistan is not something

you would have anticipated.