american troops injordan on sunday may have been an iranian—made shahed attack drone. tehran has denied involvement but the us has vowed to retaliate. for analysis on the attack and accusations by the us of iranian involvement, my colleague catriona perry talked to michael singh with the washington institute. he's a former senior director for middle east affairs at the white house national security council. i think the key thing for the president is that there has to be a very clear line when it comes to the killing of american personnel. and so whatever responses he may have had in the past two attacks on us facilities, attacks on us interests, any response to the killing of american servicemen needs to be much more significant so that iran in particular but also iran's proxies receive the message that this simply won't be tolerated. in the past we

have been engaged in this sort of tit—for—tat with iranian proxies and i anticipate whatever the us now doesin i anticipate whatever the us now does in retaliation will go well beyond those previous responses. who beyond those previous responses. who do they target, though, michael? you talk about iranian backed proxies here, but yet the secretary and president have said they believe iran trains these individuals, resources them, they have a role in the planning as well. who does the us target at that point, is it iran or someone else?— us target at that point, is it iran or someone else? that's always the crux of this — or someone else? that's always the crux of this debate _ or someone else? that's always the crux of this debate inside _ or someone else? that's always the crux of this debate inside the - or someone else? that's always the crux of this debate inside the us - crux of this debate inside the us government. i have sat through many of these debates myself. of course there is a temptation to say, look, iran is of course willing to fight to the last iraqi, syrian or yemeni militiamen, that's why they put a gun in their hands and say go and fight. but is perhaps much more reluctant to take a risk that iran itself might be targeted. but weighing against that is of course the worry that the us response could fuel the very regional escalation we

are seeking to avoid. that will be the tension inside the white house debate. i anticipate, the tension inside the white house debate. ianticipate, though, that this will create a lot of pressure inside and outside to strike back against iranian targets, maybe not inside iran, but personnel, iranian facilities or vessels in the region, which was already under consideration before this. those considerations _ consideration before this. those considerations are _ consideration before this. those considerations are all— consideration before this. those considerations are all military i considerations are all military level considerations. there are plenty of sanctions against iran at this point which clearly haven't worked as a deterrent from the us perspective. worked as a deterrent from the us perspective-_ perspective. that's right. i think sanctions will _ perspective. that's right. i think sanctions will not _ perspective. that's right. i think sanctions will not be _ perspective. that's right. i think sanctions will not be deemed i sanctions will not be deemed inadequate response. sanctions might be part of an american response but responding only with non—military measures, whether they be economic, or diplomatic, will be taken inside the us as woefully insufficient, so president biden will come under significant pressure. that's not to say there won't be a combination of tools utilised here and there won't be messages, frankly, to iran as

part of whatever the us response that comes. part of whatever the us response that come— part of whatever the us response that coma-— part of whatever the us response that comes. ~ ., , ., ., that comes. what will this mean for the rest of the _ that comes. what will this mean for the rest of the world? _ that comes. what will this mean for the rest of the world? we _ that comes. what will this mean for the rest of the world? we have - that comes. what will this mean for the rest of the world? we have the | the rest of the world? we have the situation in ukraine as well and emphasis and focus is now shifting to the middle east. it emphasis and focus is now shifting to the middle east.— to the middle east. it will be quite comlex to the middle east. it will be quite complex because _ to the middle east. it will be quite complex because those _ to the middle east. it will be quite complex because those states - to the middle east. it will be quite l complex because those states which are contributing to the us led military engagement in the region say those who are participating in operation prosperity guardian, themselves may worry they could be seen as easier targets for retaliation by iran, so a number of states will need to be acting now to safeguard their interests, their citizens and so forth. in the broader picture, yes, we have seen a shift in global attention no doubt from ukraine and even from the indo—pacific, as we call it, back to the middle east, which is exactly the middle east, which is exactly the opposite of the dynamic and the flow of attention that american and western officials had been hoping for. i think hopefully what we will see is we are able to pay attention

both to events in the middle east as well as keep sustained attention to ukraine. i think secretary of state antony blinken�*s engagements recently, today in fact, are aimed at part in showing that. we recently, today in fact, are aimed at part in showing that.— at part in showing that. we are heafina at part in showing that. we are hearing reports _ at part in showing that. we are hearing reports that _ at part in showing that. we are hearing reports that a - at part in showing that. we are hearing reports that a deal - at part in showing that. we are hearing reports that a deal on | hearing reports that a deal on further release of israeli hostages and a temporary pause in fighting is close to agreement. conflicting reports as to how close and who has signed up to that. what impact will whatever action the us takes in this instance impacts that deal? iran whatever action the us takes in this instance impacts that deal?- instance impacts that deal? iran is not -a instance impacts that deal? iran is not party to _ instance impacts that deal? iran is not party to those _ instance impacts that deal? iran is not party to those talks, _ instance impacts that deal? iran is not party to those talks, nor - instance impacts that deal? iran is not party to those talks, nor are i not party to those talks, nor are its proxies. i think iran would be very happy to see those discussions fail. because i think the longer the fighting goes on in gaza, the better it is for iran. iran feels it is making gains as the fighting goes on in gaza, is the attention is off iran with fighting elsewhere. i don't actually think the us response will detract from our ability to get

a ceasefire deal done. you could argue that being willing to show a bit of toughness and resolve might be something that actually enable us to do a betterjob of getting these types of deals done because it may make iran's proxies realise that perhaps now we have pushed too far. there has been reaction from russia to events in the middle east with the kremlin saying that the situation between the us and iran, they say the level of anxiety is high and steps are needed to de—escalate tensions, that is reported by the reuters news agency quoting a kremlin source. spain's congress will vote later today on a law which would give amnesty to catalan separatists — a proposal which has triggered waves of protests from right—wing opposition parties. the law will apply to those still wanted by the justice system for their part in the catalan independence referendum of 2017. the highest profile person involved is the exiled catalan leader, carles puigdemont, who fled

to belgium to avoid prosecution. live now to our madrid correspondent guy hedgecoe. take us through what this means and the significance of it. this take us through what this means and the significance of it.— the significance of it. this amnesty law is very controversial. _ the significance of it. this amnesty law is very controversial. what - the significance of it. this amnesty law is very controversial. what it . law is very controversial. what it seeks to do is remove all legal challenges against more than 300 catalan nationalists stretching back a decade. and particularly from that round of 2017 that you mentioned. what the government says this will do as it will lower tensions in the catalan region, political tensions caused by the territorial crisis that we have been seeing in catalonia over the last few years. it says tensions will be reduced because the amnesty removes a long—standing grievance of catalan nationalists, which are those legal charges many of them have been facing. the opposition does not agree with that and says this

amnesty is unconstitutional. it also says that mr sanchez is only presenting this amnesty law because he needs the support of catalan nationalists in parliament. however, having said all that, we expect parliament, congress today, to approve this amnesty law, although it will probably be by a very narrow majority. it will probably be by a very narrow ma'ori . ~ ., ., ., majority. what will it mean for the catalan fight _ majority. what will it mean for the catalan fight for _ majority. what will it mean for the catalan fight for independence, i majority. what will it mean for the catalan fight for independence, do you think? the catalan fight for independence, do ou think? ., , , ., you think? the amnesty law will then have to no you think? the amnesty law will then have to go to — you think? the amnesty law will then have to go to the _ you think? the amnesty law will then have to go to the senate _ you think? the amnesty law will then have to go to the senate and - you think? the amnesty law will then have to go to the senate and then . have to go to the senate and then back to congress for a final vote so this will not be the end of it. but the feeling i think in the independence camp is that the amnesty is a major game for catalan nationalists, it's something they have been demanding for a long time. it's something mr sanchez, the prime minister, has said for quite a long time he would never grant. he changed his mind afterjuly�*s general election, he needed the

support of catalan nationalists, so he did a sort of about turn and said this was something that could be done within the bounds of the constitution. there is a feeling that if he has changed his mind on that, many catalan nationalists are wondering whether he might change his mind on other issues, for example the holding of a formal referendum on independence, a bit like the one that scotland held a few years back, and that's something catalan nationalists have been calling for for a long time. catalan nationalists have been calling forfor a long time. i think they feel this amnesty will help their cause. they feel this amnesty will help their cause-— they feel this amnesty will help their cause. , , _, ., ,, their cause. guy hedgecoe, thank ou. hong kong is to introduce national security laws, which will augment the measures introduced by beijing in 2020. the territory's chief executive, john lee, said four new offences would be introduced, including that of insurrection, though he said those who criticised his government without criminal intent would not face punishment. he said the legislation was needed to counter threats, which were both external and internal. earlier bbc news chinese correspondent martin yip.

we asked him, what is the reason behind this legislation. john lee's government claims that if they don't bring in this legislation, hong kong would face what he called a real threat to national security to china, which would then threaten hong kong's internal security as well. that's what he kept saying this morning, and he made reference to threats from british intelligence agencies as well as the united states cia for their recent comments that they would step up their activities against china and hong kong in terms of surveillance. he kept emphasising the threat from foreign governments to threaten china's national security, in his words, very real. to india now where on thursday the world's most populous nation will outline its spending plan for the year. currently the number one

source of economic growth on the global stage, investors will have a keen eye on any steps to help the manufacturing sector that makes up 17% of the economy. arunoday mukharji reports. india has big ambitions of becoming the next manufacturing powerhouse. an indian company set up this gleaming factory less than a year ago in the north—western city of dudu after winning a government grant of nearly $70 million. here, nearly 3000 solar panels are made every day as india looks to pivot away from reliance on china, which still supplies 80% of all raw materials in the sector. definitely four to five years down the line from today, when this financial support stops, i believe the industry will be self—sufficient and will be able to grow on its own. the $25 billion incentive was announced in 2021. it's a five—year plan aimed at powering jobs and encouraging local companies to establish production lines at home.

over a dozen sectors were identified and the government says in the last two years the scheme has created over 600,000 jobs. but this comes at a time when unemployment among graduates has hit an all—time high, at over 13% last year. and here in the city ofjaipur, just over 60 kilometres away from that manufacturing unit, young india, fresh out of college, is doing everything they can to try and secure a job. that desperation to find work is visible. thousands of graduates thrumming coaching centres, hoping to find the best advice to land jobs. in this packed classroom, many of them come from rural india, spending their parents�* life savings on expensive tutorials in the hope that they stand a better chance than the person next to them. translation: the competition has increased so much. - there aren't enough jobs for all of us.

translation: peoplel don't have any options. if there were many options, it would not have been a problem. but incentives can only do so much, say experts. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. - every morning i walk down here to record rainfall about nine o'clock. since he was ten years old, tom bown from llwydiarth—esgob on anglesey has made the same journey to the bottom of his garden every day without fail. take the funnel out, which collects the rainfall. you have a bottle underneath which collects the water. it's then put into a calibrated gauge and that's more or less one millimetre. the rainfall measurements tom takes are passed on to natural resources wales. it helps us with forecasting, with modelling, and with water resources. the weather station he uses was built by his grandfather at the end of the 19th century.

tom took over the responsibility of measuring the rainfall in 19118. how long do you think you'll keep going? as long as i can, as long as i can walk! hopefully, yeah. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. - you're live with bbc news. head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. mps have warned that misogyny and discrimination is "endemic" within the music industry. a report by the women and equalities committee found that not only are there barriers to opportunities, but women are also experiencing bullying, sexual harassment and assault, that is often under—reported. here's our culture correspondent noor nanji. parties, gigs and, in everyday life, misogyny and discrimination are said to be endemic in the music industry. now, the women and equalities committee, which led an inquiry into the issue, is calling for urgent action to tackle it. i don't think people really understand me.

i've been robbed, i've been used. the committee heard evidence from people, including the former x factor contestant rebecca ferguson, who said she feels she was penalised for speaking up. i think i definitely got music blocked because i challenged very powerfulfigures. really? yeah, definitely. yeah. and it got lifted. i...i contacted, like, the head of the record labeland i said, "look, my album isn't available anywhere." and he said, "no, that can't be." then he messaged someone and said, "is this true?" and he went, "oh, yeah, but don't worry, we'll lift it now." yeah, ijust felt like it was important. ifelt like my experience in music had been so toxic, and ijust felt like i wanted to protect new people entering the industry. others warned the industry was rigged against women. the music industry is a boys' club. everybody knows everyone in the top levels. all the people at the very top levels have the money,

thus all the power. the report by mps found that despite increases in representation, women encountered limitations in opportunity, a lack of support and persistent unequal pay. it found these issues are intensified for women, are intensified for women who already face racial discrimination. black women are the most disadvantaged in the music industry and we experience over—sexualisation, objectification and we're paid the least. i've had mental health impacted — poor mental health decline since starting the music industry. and this is meant to be a great place to work, right? the mps make a series of recommendations, including...

but it also says that a shift in the behaviour of men at the heart of the music industry is what's really needed. a government spokesperson said... "all women should be able to work in a music sector, which is free from misogyny and discrimination." it added... "it would carefully consider the committee's recommendations." noor nanji, bbc news. now we go live to namywa who is a singer and ceo of girl grind uk. tell us about your experiences of misogyny in the music industry. thank you for having me. when you break down what misogyny actually is, it's a prejudice or hatred towards women and sometimes those things come from no good reason at all. it'sjust other things come from no good reason at all. it's just other people's opinions, and i think that has definitely shaped part of my music

career as an artist. because people's opinions, when you are an emerging talent and you are developing and stuff, still finding your voice, those things sway what your voice, those things sway what you sound like a more to look like a moat you wear and the decisions you make. i have personally experienced it in that way. i guess with girl grind, i see it quite a lot, people come to us wanting to have a career in the music industry but don't know how to navigate the space or how to disarm some of the things they are experiencing. you see a lot of women confused, feeling gaslit and not sure what's happening, and not really understanding why things are happening to them. i see it quite a lot. �* , , happening to them. i see it quite a lot. , , , lot. and girl grind supports diverse women in the _ lot. and girl grind supports diverse women in the music— lot. and girl grind supports diverse women in the music sector. - lot. and girl grind supports diverse women in the music sector. tell. lot. and girl grind supports diverse women in the music sector. tell us j women in the music sector. tell us about your attitude and response to the report we have been talking about, its findings and recommendations, in particular the finding that it's the attitudes of

men that need to change. yeah, i arree men that need to change. yeah, i agree with _ men that need to change. yeah, i agree with the — men that need to change. yeah, i agree with the findings, - men that need to change. yeah, i agree with the findings, to - men that need to change. yeah, i agree with the findings, to be - agree with the findings, to be honest with you. i think that's there. but i think what would be great is that these are strongly held recommendations and the people who can enforce that legislative consequence for being misogynistic in the industry, especially when it comes to freelancers and the way they have completely different rights to other people and this whole industry is predominately running on freelancers and self—employed people. i hope that they are heavily monitored and they come into action. that's the main thing i want to see, is the actual legislative change that happens that makes life better for people that look like me and other women that don't look like me also. [30 look like me and other women that don't look like me also.— look like me and other women that don't look like me also. do you find that women. _ don't look like me also. do you find that women, though, _ don't look like me also. do you find that women, though, are _ don't look like me also. do you find that women, though, are able - don't look like me also. do you find that women, though, are able to i that women, though, are able to speak up more, with the likes of people appearing before select committees, the likes of you coming on tv and talking about your

experiences, do you think actually younger women will not put up with this kind of thing any more? absolutely, i hope all of that visibility that is coming through more does inspire people to speak up. i do still think that there is, similar to what rebecca ferguson was saying before, that there is a risk in speaking up. i think that's a historic thing across all industries, where women's voices are demonised for speaking their truth. i would advise people to really consider that with the people that they love and they work with, and whatever it is you want to say, present it in a way that you are happy with and comfortable. thank ou for happy with and comfortable. thank you forjoining _ happy with and comfortable. thank you forjoining us _ happy with and comfortable. thank you forjoining us from _ happy with and comfortable. thank you forjoining us from birmingham to tell us more about your experiences.— to tell us more about your exeriences. ., . this is the scene live near paris.

tractors have been moved by farmers to block roads into paris. it's been dubbed the siege of paris. farmers are demanding more rights, trying to stop cut—price food and have more of a say in how food is distributed in supermarkets. actor adam pearce was in rehearsals at the young vic theatre in london when he had a stroke in december 2022. he was only 38 years old. whilst recovering, his west end co—stars pulled together to raise more than £50,000 to sustain his family while he was off work.

now, nearly 1a months later, adam is back treading the boards, playing the bishop of digne in les miserables. charlotte gallagher has been to meet him. adam pearce returning to the west end, just over a year since he had a stroke, after coming off stage in mandela, the musical. started taking my costume off and hanging it back on the rail. and, as i was going to put my trousers onto the rail, i was telling my arm to do it and it was going in slow motion, which is the most bizarre thing. and then i could feel my leg going from underneath me. so it was terrifying. a cast member's brother, who's a doctor, was in the audience and rushed backstage to give immediate first aid. never said the word stroke, but kind of said, "you're ok, you're talking, you're... everything's fine." i was sat upright and knowing he was there kind of settled me a bit. adam lost his income overnight,

but his friends in the west end rallied around, raising more than £53,000. killian donnelly stars asjean valjean in les mis alongside adam. something like that happens to adam, and everyone wants to be there for one of our own. rt-s... — i was so proud to be a part of that. i was so proud to say, even if you've stepped foot on the west end or even if you work in a theatre in the west end doing anything, you're part of that community, which is very special. after coming out of hospital, adam had months of physio and rehab to learn how to walk again. i think that my first trip that i did was ten metres of walking and then back and then that was it for the day. so... and fatigue—wise, just getting my strength back up together and i think setting goals — smaller goals — in order to get to where you want to go.

like, a big goalfor me was walking my son to school. to now be back doing eight shows a week and costume changes and wig changes and quickly getting upstairs to go on stage and coming off, it's incredible — i'm having a ball. # i had a dream my life would be...# starring in a west end show is physically and mentally demanding. the producers of les mis adapted the musicalfor adam. they looked at the stage and adam identified areas in which he would find it really difficult. we have a rake in the stage, which is the incline at the front of the stage. and adam said that there's no way i can sort of turn both ways, so i'm going to have to walk backwards on to that rake. so we adapted the role to suit him. even adam's costumes have been specially altered.

this is adam's paris costume, which we made for his new character. and adam, he's quite slow for getting changed, so we split all of his trouser legs at the side with poppers, so he can get them on over his boots, so he doesn't have to change them. and then when they're on, a dresser snaps them up. ijust can't believe that i'm here, if i'm honest. this time last year, i wouldn't have expected it. i'm feeling very proud of myself. cheering. after a sold—out show, it's time for adam's curtain call. a standing ovation, of course. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. great to see that. let's get a check on the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. after yesterday's heavy rain, especially across northern england, things are a bit quieter today. we started off with a lot of cloud, patchy light rain and drizzle left over from this area of low pressure

which brought us the rain yesterday. it's now pulling away, allowing this area of high pressure to build in. what's going to happen through the afternoon is the cloud continuing to push down towards the south—east where it will linger. but for the rest of the uk, it's mostly a dry day with some sunny spells. could catch the odd isolated shower across the north of scotland, but that will be about it. these are our temperatures, 6—11, with the temperatures in the south—east going down as we go through the course of the afternoon, to about eight or nine. tonight, across england and wales, we'll have clear skies, light winds, patchy cloud and some frost. but the cloud building in over northern ireland, also northern england and scotland, with some gales likely, especially in the western isles, as the rain also comes in. milder in the north, colder in the south. so this is what's bringing the wet and windy weather across the north of the country, this area of low pressure, this front sinking south through the course of the day, taking its rain with it. but the wind will be the story, especially across scotland, where we are looking at widespread

gales, gusts of wind, especially with exposure, of 80 miles an hour in the north and west. but very windy also across northern ireland and northern england. some heavy rain pushing southwards. to the south of that, the cloud will build. the far south—east hanging on to the brightness for the longest with highs here of up to about 11 degrees, and some wintry showers in the hills of scotland following on behind the rain. that weather front sinks south as a weak feature overnight wednesday and clears. and then we've got this next ridge of high pressure building in before the next weather front comes our way. so a cold and frosty start for england and wales on thursday but a lot of sunshine. a dry start for northern ireland and scotland, with the cloud building from the west bringing in some rain. later we could see a bit of cloud and drizzle coming into the south—west. temperatures, 6—11. then on into friday, a fairly cloudy affair, the cloud thick enough for some spots of light rain or drizzle. it's going to be breezy as well with the strongest winds being across the far northwest

and temperatures, 9—111, but possibly in the south, 15.

live from london, this is bbc news. devolved government is set to return to northern ireland as the political parties there agree a new power—sharing deal. pakistan's former prime minister, imran khan, is sentenced to ten years in prison for leaking state secrets. the us military names the three soldiers killed in sunday's drone attack near thejordan—syria border. and elon�*s brain claim — could a new microchip help people control electronic devices with the power of their mind?

hello, i'm samatha simmonds. the democratic unionist party says it's agreed a deal to restore the devolved government in northern ireland. the agreement signals the end of the dup�*s boycott of the stormont assembly — which has left northern ireland without a locally elected parliament for almost two years. the party's leader, sirjeffrey donaldson, said the proposals are subject to the westminster government passing laws to address concerns about post—brexit trading arrangements. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. as the democratic unionist party reached a pivot point, protesters tried to increase the pressure. more hard—line unionists have been urging the dup not to agree a new deal to restore the devolved government. 130 party members took part in a meeting, which lasted more than five hours. but, early this morning, the leader,

sirjeffrey donaldson, announced he had won support for a plan to bring back power—sharing.