this is bbc news, the headlines: a setback for two of the world's biggest economies — the uk and japan fall into recession. pictures from inside gaza's nasser hospital: the israeli military says it's been conducting an operation inside the facility. president biden makes a new appeal for gun control — after a mass shooting at a super bowl victory parade in kansas city.

three, two, one. ignition. and left. and a rocket blasts off from florida — carrying a commercial robotic lander to the moon. more now on one of our top stories — and the uk has gone into recession. the uk is the world's sixth largest economy. the office for national statistics reports that in the three months to december, gross domestic product — or gdp — fell by 0.3%. that follows a contraction of 0.1% from july to august, meaning the uk ended the year in recesssion. gdp is a way of measuring all the economic activity of companies, governments and individuals in a country. it's a blow for prime minister rishi sunak, given his pledge last year to have the economy growing by the end of 2023.

our political correspondent nick eardley has been getting the reaction to the news at shrewsbury market. this new here at shrewsbury market has been pretty good over the past few months. a lot of the traders have been telling us that it is as busy as ever, clearly the broader economic picture is a lot more tricky. the fact that the uk officially entered recession at the end of 2023 is a sign of some of those economic challenges that a lot of us have been noticing in our pockets. you know, higher prices, mortgage costs going up, interest rates being high and rent as well. i am going to speak to some of the people who work in this market to get a sense of how it is been for them. lady, you have the cookware store. have you noticed a difference in people's spending habits. == in people's spending habits. --

libb . in people's spending habits. » libby. people are batch cooking, they come in buy their veg and meat and come to me and by a griddle pan. they want to save a bit of cash? yes and it works — they want to save a bit of cash? 13:3 and it works really well. they want to save a bit of cash? yes and it works really well. one - they want to save a bit of cash? yes and it works really well. one of - they want to save a bit of cash? yes and it works really well. one of the l and it works really well. one of the thins and it works really well. one of the things economists _ and it works really well. one of the things economists are _ and it works really well. one of the things economists are pointing - and it works really well. one of the things economists are pointing to l things economists are pointing to today's the cost of living having an impact on how much people have to spend. are you saying here you haven't noticed people spending a bit less? i haven't noticed people spending a bit less? ., �* ~' haven't noticed people spending a bit less? ., �* ~ ~ bit less? i don't think so, i think this place _ bit less? i don't think so, i think this place is _ bit less? i don't think so, i think this place is like _ bit less? i don't think so, i think this place is like an _ bit less? i don't think so, i think this place is like an experience, | this place is like an experience, you come in, everything is under one roof, they come in and buy their meat and veg and go to the chin bar upstairs and have a lovely gin and tonic and have a lovely lunch and they spend hours here.— they spend hours here. crystal is art of they spend hours here. crystal is part of your _ they spend hours here. crystal is part of your trade, _ they spend hours here. crystal is part of your trade, and _ they spend hours here. crystal is part of your trade, and candles. l they spend hours here. crystal isi part of your trade, and candles. i would guess crystal is a luxury product for a lot of people. have folk been cutting back on that at all? i folk been cutting back on that at all? ., �* ~' folk been cutting back on that at all? ., �* ~ ,., folk been cutting back on that at all? ., �* ~ �* ., all? i don't think so. i've had the best year— all? i don't think so. i've had the best year in _ all? i don't think so. i've had the best year in the _ all? i don't think so. i've had the best year in the business - all? i don't think so. i've had the best year in the business this - all? i don't think so. i've had the | best year in the business this year so i best year in the business this year so i think— best year in the business this year so i think people are more willing to surmort — so i think people are more willing to support local businesses, especially the independents and so if they— especially the independents and so if they have a bit of extra cash they— if they have a bit of extra cash they wiii— if they have a bit of extra cash they will treat themselves more than what they—

they will treat themselves more than what they usually would.— what they usually would. that's interesting- _ what they usually would. that's interesting. have _ what they usually would. that's interesting. have you _ what they usually would. that's interesting. have you noticed i what they usually would. that's l interesting. have you noticed any changes in spending habits at all? any quiet over christmas or anything like that? hot any quiet over christmas or anything like that? ., ., ., , ., , like that? not for me, to be honest. i think like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this — like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this year _ like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this year has _ like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this year has been _ like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this year has been one - like that? not for me, to be honest. i think this year has been one of- i think this year has been one of the biggest years for me. so yeah. interesting. darren, you have the gin bar upstairs. it is early so it's not open yet, i don't think. not quite. but we are always open to it! ~ ~ ., ., ., , it! we know that gin has been quite a boomin: it! we know that gin has been quite a booming industry _ it! we know that gin has been quite a booming industry over— it! we know that gin has been quite a booming industry over the - it! we know that gin has been quite a booming industry over the past i it! we know that gin has been quite i a booming industry over the past few years. but when it came to the end of last year, were you noticing in shrewsbury in general anybody struggling? was there any sense that things were changing? it’s struggling? was there any sense that things were changing?— things were changing? it's an interesting — things were changing? it's an interesting one. _ things were changing? it's an interesting one. we - things were changing? it's an interesting one. we have - things were changing? it's an i interesting one. we have grown substantially and _ interesting one. we have grown substantially and had _ interesting one. we have grown substantially and had a - interesting one. we have grown substantially and had a good . interesting one. we have grown- substantially and had a good period but my— substantially and had a good period but my demographic _ substantially and had a good period but my demographic has _ substantially and had a good period but my demographic has changed . but my demographic has changed slightly, — but my demographic has changed slightly, we — but my demographic has changed slightly, we are _ but my demographic has changed slightly, we are seeing _ but my demographic has changed slightly, we are seeing my- but my demographic has changedl slightly, we are seeing my regular customers— slightly, we are seeing my regular customers less _ slightly, we are seeing my regular customers less often _ slightly, we are seeing my regular customers less often but - slightly, we are seeing my regular customers less often but they- slightly, we are seeing my regular customers less often but they are | customers less often but they are still spending _ customers less often but they are still spending money when - customers less often but they are still spending money when they. customers less often but they are - still spending money when they come in but _ still spending money when they come in but we _ still spending money when they come in but we have — still spending money when they come in but we have seen— still spending money when they come in but we have seen a _ still spending money when they come in but we have seen a lot _ still spending money when they come in but we have seen a lot more - in but we have seen a lot more visitors — in but we have seen a lot more visitors come _ in but we have seen a lot more visitors come through - in but we have seen a lot more visitors come through the - in but we have seen a lot more i visitors come through the building itsetf— visitors come through the building itself which — visitors come through the building itself which attracts _ visitors come through the building itself which attracts between -

visitors come through the building - itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 — itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 visitors _ itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 visitors per— itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 visitors per year- itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 visitors per year and - itself which attracts between 600000 and 700,000 visitors per year and isl and 700,000 visitors per year and is and 700,000 visitors per year and is a bi- and 700,000 visitors per year and is a big part _ and 700,000 visitors per year and is a big part of— and 700,000 visitors per year and is a big part of the _ and 700,000 visitors per year and is a big part of the shrewsbury- a big part of the shrewsbury landscape _ a big part of the shrewsbury landscape-— a big part of the shrewsbury landscae. ., , , ., , landscape. tourism is a big thing here but are _ landscape. tourism is a big thing here but are you _ landscape. tourism is a big thing here but are you suggesting - landscape. tourism is a big thing here but are you suggesting that| landscape. tourism is a big thing i here but are you suggesting that for some people locally there isn't as much cash to go but as there was? we'll feel the same thing, we all know_ we'll feel the same thing, we all know costs — we'll feel the same thing, we all know costs are _ we'll feel the same thing, we all know costs are going _ we'll feel the same thing, we all know costs are going up, - we'll feel the same thing, we all know costs are going up, our- we'll feel the same thing, we all. know costs are going up, our costs are going — know costs are going up, our costs are going up. _ know costs are going up, our costs are going up. their— know costs are going up, our costs are going up, their costs _ know costs are going up, our costs are going up, their costs are - know costs are going up, our costs are going up, their costs are goingi are going up, their costs are going up, are going up, their costs are going up. cost— are going up, their costs are going up. cost of— are going up, their costs are going op. cost of living _ are going up, their costs are going up, cost of living is— are going up, their costs are going up, cost of living is still— are going up, their costs are going up, cost of living is still high, - up, cost of living is still high, we're — up, cost of living is still high, we're still— up, cost of living is still high, we're still seeing _ up, cost of living is still high, we're still seeing inflation - up, cost of living is still high, i we're still seeing inflation and it is a real— we're still seeing inflation and it is a real challenge _ we're still seeing inflation and it is a real challenge for _ we're still seeing inflation and it is a real challenge for the - we're still seeing inflation and iti is a real challenge for the benefit of this— is a real challenge for the benefit of this piece _ is a real challenge for the benefit of this place is _ is a real challenge for the benefit of this place is there _ is a real challenge for the benefit of this place is there is _ is a real challenge for the benefit of this place is there is loads- is a real challenge for the benefit of this place is there is loads of. of this place is there is loads of amazing — of this place is there is loads of amazing independent— of this place is there is loads of. amazing independent businesses of this place is there is loads of- amazing independent businesses and they are _ amazing independent businesses and they are doing — amazing independent businesses and they are doing fantastic— amazing independent businesses and they are doing fantastic things. - they are doing fantastic things. over_ they are doing fantastic things. over the — they are doing fantastic things. over the next— they are doing fantastic things. over the next year— they are doing fantastic things. over the next year or- they are doing fantastic things. over the next year or so, - they are doing fantastic things. over the next year or so, are l they are doing fantastic things. . over the next year or so, are you optimistic about the economy? i think so. it is a small reduction, not a _ think so. it is a small reduction, not a massive _ think so. it is a small reduction, not a massive recession. - think so. it is a small reduction, not a massive recession. we - think so. it is a small reduction, | not a massive recession. we are think so. it is a small reduction, - not a massive recession. we are seen pretty— not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much_ not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much fiat — not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much flat figures _ not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much flat figures for _ not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much flat figures for us - not a massive recession. we are seen pretty much flat figures for us but - pretty much flat figures for us but it's those — pretty much flat figures for us but it's those costs _ pretty much flat figures for us but it's those costs and _ pretty much flat figures for us but it's those costs and things - pretty much flat figures for us but it's those costs and things coming in from _ it's those costs and things coming in from that— it's those costs and things coming in from that where _ it's those costs and things coming in from that where we _ it's those costs and things coming in from that where we have - it's those costs and things coming in from that where we have seenl in from that where we have seen increases — in from that where we have seen increases already _ in from that where we have seen increases already this _ in from that where we have seen increases already this year - in from that where we have seen increases already this year from i increases already this year from various— increases already this year from various different _ increases already this year from various different providers, - increases already this year from various different providers, notl various different providers, not 'ust various different providers, not just electricity, _ various different providers, not just electricity, and _ various different providers, not just electricity, and brexit- just electricity, and brexit benefits— just electricity, and brexit benefits changing - just electricity, and brexit benefits changing imports just electricity, and brexit- benefits changing imports so it is about _ benefits changing imports so it is about trying _ benefits changing imports so it is about trying to _ benefits changing imports so it is about trying to make _ benefits changing imports so it is about trying to make things - benefits changing imports so it is about trying to make things workj benefits changing imports so it is - about trying to make things work and increase _ about trying to make things work and increase our— about trying to make things work and increase our footfall_ about trying to make things work and increase our footfall and _ about trying to make things work and increase our footfall and making - increase our footfall and making shrewsbury _ increase our footfall and making shrewsbury the _ increase our footfall and making shrewsbury the place _ increase our footfall and making shrewsbury the place to - increase our footfall and making shrewsbury the place to be. - increase our footfall and making shrewsbury the place to be. really interesting- _ shrewsbury the place to be. really interesting. thank _ shrewsbury the place to be. really interesting. thank you _ shrewsbury the place to be. really interesting. thank you all - shrewsbury the place to be. really interesting. thank you all very - interesting. thank you all very much, darren, danny and libby, that

is a bit of a sense from shrewsbury market and a sense that things are in a good place. but as we know, the economy as a whole is in a tricky situation, people still facing higher prices, still facing inflation and there are still some challenges ahead. that was nick eardley. now, let's speak to vicky pryce who is chief economic adviser at the centre for economics and business research and also the formerjoint head of the united kingdom's government economic service. so she knows a thing or two. thank you forjoining us. vicki, economists are saying that this may not be as bad as it seems. and of course the word recession tends to worry people quite a bit so could you put this into context for us? it is true we have seen some indicators that suggest the start of 2024 hasn't been that bad. we have the data that comes out of a survey that is called the purchasing managers' index which looks at how companies are looking at their prospects and what they are doing actually on the

month, that seems to be picking up, particularly in services. manufacturing still not doing so well that services output seems to be quite strong, it was strong in the last couple of months if we believe that indicator. it didn't quite make it into what the office for national statistics has been calculating so unfortunately we still saw a drop in december which is really what brought the overall quarter down and we had that reduction in gdp. but remember, though, figures get revised quite frequently. 0ne though, figures get revised quite frequently. one of the reasons why we ended up with a negative figure is because the drop in october, which was quite significant, is now bigger and the offsetting increase we saw in november is now smaller so we saw in november is now smaller so we have ended up with that slight fall. so who knows? at some point in the future we might find that in fact we managed to escape recession. but there are some signs that things are improving, consumer confidence seems to be going up. concerns with certain sectors, some businesses, particularly hospitality, seem quite

different to what we have just been hearing, pubs and restaurants not doing very well injanuary, that's what they have been reporting. but overall, people are feeling a little bit happier because inflation is down and unemployment is staying low for the time being and there have been some tax cuts and there may be more. ., , ., been some tax cuts and there may be more. . , . . , been some tax cuts and there may be more. . ,. ., , been some tax cuts and there may be more. . _, ., , more. that is a fairly positive way to look at the _ more. that is a fairly positive way to look at the news. _ more. that is a fairly positive way to look at the news. i _ more. that is a fairly positive way to look at the news. i wonder - more. that is a fairly positive way l to look at the news. i wonder when we compare it around the world how is the uk faring compared to others? not particularly well but we have had the data about japan also falling into recession in germany has done pretty badly sort of flatlining right now, the european union isjust about managing to avoid that as well because obviously there are different trends in different countries. the southern european countries have done recently well over the summer because of quite a lot of tourism coming back and it seems to have kept them going through the last quarter as well. there is a lot of variability but the one where you really are different from is the us which seems to be powering ahead by comparison to the rest of us. so we

are not doing too badly by comparison to europe but we are certainly doing quite badly by comparison to the us. find certainly doing quite badly by comparison to the us. and finally, what could — comparison to the us. and finally, what could this _ comparison to the us. and finally, what could this tell— comparison to the us. and finally, what could this tell us _ comparison to the us. and finally, what could this tell us about - comparison to the us. and finally, what could this tell us about the l what could this tell us about the chancellor does make decisions when it comes to the budget in the uk? the chancellor decision and also interest rates. because we don't seem to have a lot of excess demand right now the bank of england may be prepared to reduce interest rates earlier than they perhaps anticipate at present so that's one bit of good news and also inflation of course isn't as high as they had been anticipating so it is coming down and will be coming down quite significantly over the next few months so the underlying trend is down over —— even though the day to stay the same over the last few months. what it does suggest is if the conservatives want to encourage growth which is the one thing they haven't quite managed to get yet, there will be more tax cuts which will come in the march the 6th budget and there probably will be more to come in september if there is another budget as is now being

suggested before the next election. yes, i think people might feel a little bit richer in terms of how much money they may have available to spend. much money they may have available to send. my much money they may have available to send. . ., ,, i. much money they may have available to send. ., ,, i. . to spend. vicky, thank you so much for our to spend. vicky, thank you so much for yourtime- _ to spend. vicky, thank you so much for your time. we _ to spend. vicky, thank you so much for your time. we do _ to spend. vicky, thank you so much for your time. we do appreciate - to spend. vicky, thank you so much for your time. we do appreciate it. | for your time. we do appreciate it. and of course, there is plenty more news and updates and context and explain us on all of this on our bbc news website and app so please go and check our live pages where we will keep providing some context and information on there. 0ur political correspondent helen catt is following the story from westminster — and has more on the impact of this recession news this is a mild recession, but does that mean that the government can just completely brush it off? well, no, it doesn't. having an economy that is not growing is a challenge for any government and for this one in particular, because one of rishi sunak�*s big promises that he made last year was that he was going to get the economy growing. now, he didn't set a specific

timescale on that. and what we're hearing this morning from the government is an explanation, or an argument, that actually what is happening is it is going to grow, just not yet, and that it's been a result of the actions that have been taken by the bank of england to put up interest rates, for example, to try and bring down inflation, which was their priority last year. so the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has been downplaying this fall. we always expected growth to be weaker. while we prioritise tackling inflation. that means higher interest rates. and that's the right thing to do because you can't have long—term healthy growth with high inflation. but also for families, when there's a cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their energy bills are much higher, it's the right thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted. inflation is coming down. real wages have been going up now for six months. and if we stick to our guns,

independent forecasters say that by the early summer, we could start to see interest rates falling, and that will be a very important relief for families with mortgages. well, helen, what do you make of reports that the chancellor could be considering tax cuts after this? well, just before we get to that, i want to give you a flavour of some of the reaction that we've had from opposition politicians here in the uk to this news this morning. i mean, labour, the main opposition party, has talked about the chancellor's comments and said that they are insulting and out of touch. they are trying to pin this very clearly, both they and the liberal democrats, who are another opposition party here, are trying to pin this fall very clearly on the prime minister, rishi sunak. they are calling this rishi's recession, partly because of those pledges, partly, i think, as a reminder that rishi sunak in hisjob before this was the chancellor, too. so they are very much going on the offensive about this this morning, labour

saying that it means rishi sunak can no longer credibly claim that his plan is working. the liberal democrats suggesting that the recession has savaged the british economy by decimating growth and leaving families to cope with spiralling prices. so to your question about these reports that the chancellor might be planning to reduce public spending further to fund tax cuts in his budget, which is due next month, that comes against the backdrop of the government having already pencilled in some pretty low spending rises over the next few years, which economists have questioned as being not even fiction. so there is a sort of context background to that. that was helen catt. and coming up at i2:30gmt, we'll be joined live by several experts to answer your questions about the uk entering a recession and what that means. so get in touch using the hashtag: #bbcyourquestions — or email us at

yourquestions@bbc.co.uk. the chief executive of universities uk is worried there'll be a decrease in enrolments from prospective international students — despite new figures showing a rise in applications for undergraduate courses. the university admissions service, ucas, says almost 116,000 foreign students want places from september — an increase of 0.7% on last year. with me is hazel shearing our education correspondent to tell us more. hazel, thank you so much for joining. how to make sense of that, more applications, fewer spots, why is that? ., more applications, fewer spots, why is that? . ., , �* , ., is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add u- is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on — is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on the — is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on the surface _ is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on the surface of - is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on the surface of it - is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to add up on the surface of it but. is that? yeah, it doesn't seem to i add up on the surface of it but what we are looking at here is data that shows there has been an increase in the number of applications to undergraduate courses starting in september. it's the second year running that has been an increase. the increase is only slight and it is still not where it was before the

pandemic. but what this does not tell us, this data that has come out today, is anything about enrolments. so it tells us how many students want to come and study here for undergraduate courses but it doesn't tell us how many are going to end up enrolling in actually doing it and thatis enrolling in actually doing it and that is a concern for universities. the other thing it doesn't show is the number of postgraduate students who want to come and study here. so there are some things that this data doesn't show which we'll get into in a second, i'm sure, why universities are still worried.— are still worried. politically, there has — are still worried. politically, there has been _ are still worried. politically, there has been some - are still worried. politically, i there has been some criticism, are still worried. politically, - there has been some criticism, has in there, in terms of the way universities are recruiting overseas candidates. ., , universities are recruiting overseas candidates. . , ,., candidates. there have been some accusations — candidates. there have been some accusations and _ candidates. there have been some accusations and recent _ candidates. there have been some accusations and recent media - accusations and recent media reports, including in a sunday times investigation, the universities are being more lenient when recruiting international students, the reason for that is they can charge higher fees than they can for uk students. and universities are becoming

increasingly reliant on international students. they say it is to make up for a shortfall in funding on uk students. but it's important to note as well that this data today is focused on undergraduates and it is actually postgraduates that have been behind a drive in the overall number of international students in recent years. we don't have that data yet and that is something that, as you said in the introduction to this, universities are worried we might see a fall. the reason that despite this morning's data they are worried they might see a fall is because we could see a fall in the overall number of students because postgraduates, people studying a masters degrees, phd is and things like that, could fall but we won't know that yet.— like that, could fall but we won't know that yet. hazel, thank you so much for that, _ know that yet. hazel, thank you so much for that, that _ know that yet. hazel, thank you so much for that, that was _ know that yet. hazel, thank you so much for that, that was our - much for that, that was our correspondent there. a rocket has blasted off from cape canaveral in florida carrying a robotic lander for a touchdown on the moon in a week.

launch control room: three, two, one, ignition. and lift—off. go space x, go im—i, and odysseus lunar lander. the nova—c lander is privately—owned and carrying nasa instruments to study precision landing, space weather and other phenomena on the lunar surface. if touchdown is successful, it will be the first american moon landing in more than 50 years. science correspondent jonathan amos is following the story from cardiff — he has more on the significance of the landing, just a few weeks ago we had another american company with their peregrine lander trying to do the same, astrobotic, and it ran into difficulties after it left earth. so far so good for this new mission and we will find out next week on the 22nd whether or not they can achieve those two historic firsts. in terms ofthe those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission _ those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, _ those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what - those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what is - those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what is it i of the mission itself, what is it trying to accomplish? principally it

is a technology _ trying to accomplish? principally it is a technology demonstration - is a technology demonstration mission. so it is looking to develop the precise navigation technologies that allow spacecraft to put down not just within a that allow spacecraft to put down notjust within a few kilometres of where you would like to be, but within metres of where you'd like to be. so later this decade nasa, the us space agency, said it wants to put people back the surface of the moon. it wants to repeat apollo but do it in a more sustainable way. but if we are going to do that and we are going to stay on the surface for days at a time, weeks at a time, then we want to be able to put spacecraft down very precisely indeed. you don't want to have to walk or even getting a little buggy and drive some way to go and pick up the supplies that you need. you need them to land very close to you. so those technologies need to be developed in the coming years so that we can do the moon with people again in a better way than we did it 50 years ago. it is

again in a better way than we did it 50 years ago-— 50 years ago. it is no easy task, thou~h, 50 years ago. it is no easy task, though. is _ 50 years ago. it is no easy task, though. is it? — 50 years ago. it is no easy task, though, is it? in— 50 years ago. it is no easy task, though, is it? in this _ 50 years ago. it is no easy task, though, is it? in this mission i 50 years ago. it is no easy task, i though, is it? in this mission here, it wasn't the first attempt to get a successful liftoff. it is it wasn't the first attempt to get a successful liftoff.— successful liftoff. it is hard to land on the — successful liftoff. it is hard to land on the moon, _ successful liftoff. it is hard to land on the moon, about - successful liftoff. it is hard to land on the moon, about halfj successful liftoff. it is hard to i land on the moon, about half of successful liftoff. it is hard to - land on the moon, about half of all attempts that have tried have failed. it'sjust one attempts that have tried have failed. it's just one of those things. there is no gps at the moon, you have to use other technologies to see where you are in space, to reckon where the craters are and to find a very safe place to put down. and then you have to come in with thrusters. there is no air on the moon. you can't use parachutes to slow your descent. it is all pinpoint stuff and your computers have to work very well indeed. otherwise you just smash into the surface. there are hopes for frozen water, right? what would that actually represent? ii water, right? what would that actually represent?— water, right? what would that actually represent? if we are going to no actually represent? if we are going to to back actually represent? if we are going to go back in _ actually represent? if we are going to go back in a _ actually represent? if we are going to go back in a sustainable - actually represent? if we are going to go back in a sustainable way - actually represent? if we are going| to go back in a sustainable way and we want to live there for weeks on end, then we want the resources at hand to be able to do that. in the past at the apollo astronauts took all of their water with them. if

there is a resource there that they can mine, and we think there are shadow places on the lunar south pole where it is permanently dark, then there may well be ices they can drill into, melt and use for drinking, sanitation, but also for rocket fuel as well. that's the great goal and we will find out with this stream of robotic missions that are coming up this year and in the following years as to whether that is a good idea or not. we wa nt we want to bring you some breaking news that has just come in from the united kingdom, a 16—year—old boy has died after being stabbed in the saint philips area of bristol on wednesday evening. that news has just come in from the authorities, from police in the area. as soon as we know any more we will bring that to you. a reminder, the news is a 16—year—old boy has died after being stabbed the saint philips area of

bristol. that happened on wednesday evening. participation in sports and other hobbies at secondary school is associated with broadly better outcomes by the time young people reach their 20s. a new report by the education policy institute finds that vulnerable students were less likely to attend both sports clubs, and clubs for hobbies, arts and music, when compared to their peers. let's speak to david robinson. he is director of vulnerable pupils and post 16 pupils at the education policy institute and author of the report. thank you forjoining us. good thank you for “oining us. good morning. — thank you forjoining us. good morning. first, _ thank you forjoining us. good morning. first, what - thank you forjoining us. good morning. first, what is - thank you forjoining us. good morning. first, what is this i thank you forjoining us. good - morning. first, what is this report actually telling — morning. first, what is this report actually telling us _ morning. first, what is this report actually telling us in _ morning. first, what is this report actually telling us in terms - morning. first, what is this report actually telling us in terms of - morning. first, what is this report actually telling us in terms of the | actually telling us in terms of the big difference here in the participation levels? this big difference here in the participation levels? as you mentioned _ participation levels? as you mentioned in _ participation levels? as you mentioned in your - participation levels? as you - mentioned in your introduction, we looked at two key aspects. we looked at which groups of students were most likely to access these activities and then the associated activities and then the associated activities and then the associated

activities and outcomes for students when they have their early 20s. so firstly, we found that vulnerable groups were less likely to access these activities. we found that students eligible for free school meals, those who tend to be from less wealthy families, where10% less wealthy families, where10% less likely to access extracurricular activities. students with lower grades, students with poorer health, and students with special educational needs or disabilities, were all around 20% less likely to access these activities. we also found that students from the state sector were between 20% and 30% less likely than those from the independent sector to access these activities. {guild those from the independent sector to access these activities.— access these activities. could we 'ust talk access these activities. could we just talk about _ access these activities. could we just talk about why _ access these activities. could we just talk about why it _ access these activities. could we just talk about why it is - access these activities. could we just talk about why it is so - just talk about why it is so important for them to have that access? how do more vulnerable communities and young people actually benefit from these sorts of activities? in actually benefit from these sorts of activities? ., , ., . activities? in our research we did not look directly _ activities? in our research we did not look directly at _ activities? in our research we did not look directly at the _ activities? in our research we did not look directly at the sort - activities? in our research we did not look directly at the sort of i not look directly at the sort of mechanisms that cause the improvements that we saw. but other research gives us an insight as to

why these things might be important. research suggests that participation in extracurricular activities can improve self—esteem, motivation, increase young people plasma confidence in dealing with others, build social networks. and of course it can provide them new skills and abilities. there is also some evidence that it improves grades and attendance of students. find evidence that it improves grades and attendance of students.— evidence that it improves grades and attendance of students. and so, what are some of — attendance of students. and so, what are some of the _ attendance of students. and so, what are some of the policy _ are some of the policy recommendations that are coming out of this report? irate recommendations that are coming out of this report?— of this report? we make two key --roosals of this report? we make two key proposals for _ of this report? we make two key proposals for government. i of this report? we make two key proposals for government. the l of this report? we make two key i proposals for government. the first is that the government should introduce benchmarks for extracurricular activities so that schools know what good looks like. this would cover aspects such as quality also the accessibility and variety of activities such that they can appeal to a broad spectrum of students. we also propose that the government should look into extending the school day. the extension of the school day would cover activities such as sports, hobbies, music and art that we discussed here but also academic

activities such as small group tutoring. as well as spreading opportunities for students in these enrichment activities, it also has the potential to improve attendance levels which have been at a historic low level since after the pandemic. all right, well, thank you so much for that, all right, well, thank you so much forthat, david all right, well, thank you so much for that, david robinson, all right, well, thank you so much forthat, david robinson, really appreciate it. ido want i do want to bring you some more news that came out of bristol, that breaking news that we brought to you that avon and somerset police say a 16—year—old boy has died after being stabbed in the saint philips area of bristol on wednesday evening. police say they were called by the ambulance service at 6pm to a report that a boy had been found injured on the street. they go on to say that despite the best efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene. police have said that the victim was attacked by two people wearing masks who then left the scene on bicycles after being attacked the victim was helped by a

motorist. detectives have now launched a murder investigation to identify those responsible and a critical incident has been declared. a formal identification of the victim has not yet taken place. his family have been informed. as soon as we have any more information on that story, we will bring that to you, so please stay with us on bbc news. hello again. today is going to be very mild for the time of year. it is notjust across the uk where we are seeing these milder conditions, it is across europe as well where temperatures are a good 10—15 degrees above average. what we have is this where the front moving from the west towards the east and another one taking rain steadily northwards. this will continue through the afternoon. if anything, the rain pipping up

across the south—west, south—west wales back and the midlands. it will be heavy and persistent, following on already saturated ground. towards the east, some brighter skies. behind the weather front, brighterskies. it is on the brighter skies in the east where we could have temperatures of 17—18. temperature is higher today in scotland than they were yesterday. through this evening and overnight, our weather front continues to push towards the south and east, weakening, to the rain is turning more patchy. more cloud in the west with some scattered showers, but in between some clearer skies. it is not going to be as mild a night as it was last night, but nonetheless it is still going to be pretty mild for most of us. tomorrow, this weather front clears away from the south—east, we have got a little ridge of high pressure coming in, but you can see too it is going to be breezy in the south and pretty windy in the north tomorrow. it is a chilly northerly wind that is coming in here. we start off with all

the cloud in the west, some scattered showers coming out of it, it will start to break up through the course of the day. for many of us, it will turn out to be quite a bright day. temperature—wise, down a touch on today, but nonetheless still above average for the time of year. 6 in lerwick to a high of 14 in norwich and london. as we head into saturday, we start off on a dry note, again variable amounts of cloud, some brighter skies, but the cloud thickens up out towards the west, heralding the arrival of our next weather front bringing in some rain and strengthening winds. temperatures — 5 in lerwick, 10 in stornoway, to 14 in london. overnight saturday into sunday, the weather front crosses us, clearing slowly from the south—east during the course of sunday. a lot of dry weather behind, some sunshine, a few showers coming in towards the west. the next weather front never too far away. these are our maximum temperatures. 8 in lerwick to a high of 13—14 in the south.

you're watching bbc news. i'm tanya beckett. the uk — which is the world's 6th largest economy — has gone into recession. and japan has unexpectedly fallen into a recession after its own economy shrank for two quarters in a row. the office for national statistics reports that in the three months to december, the economy shrank by 0.3 percent. that follows a shrink of 0.1 percent from july to august, meaning the uk ended the year in recesssion. now a reminder that gdp is a way of measuring all the economic

activity of companies, governments and individuals in a country. it's a blow for prime minister rishi sunak, given one of his so—called five pledges announced last year was to have the economy growing by the end of 2023. he has admitted he's likely to fail to meet that one. the uk chancellor, jeremy hunt, has been speaking about these figures and says you can't have long term healthy growth with high inflation. lets have a listen. let's have a listen. we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioritised tackling inflation, and that means higher interest rates, and that is the right thing to do because you cannot have long—term, healthy growth with high inflation. but also for families, when there is a cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their energy bills are much higher, it is the right thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted, inflation is coming down, real wages have been

going up now for six months.