the us is accusing apple of using illegal practices to crush competition in the smartphone market. we'll look at what it all means. also on the programme... us secretary of state antony blinken is in cairo and says gaps are narrowing between the two sides when it comes to ceasefire between israel and hamas. in the uk — women who say they weren't told about the rise in pension age should get compensation, says a new report. and talking to computer games, uber eats coding and james blunt lyrics. all coming up in al decoded. the us is accusing it of monopolising the smartphone market and crushing competition. apple denies the claims. it says it will "vigorously"

fight the lawsuit. apple accused of using it's power to limit competitors, as well as the options available to consumers. here's the us attorney general merrick garland making the announcement. but as our complaint alleges, apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market not simply by staying ahead of the competition on merits. but by violating federal antitrust law. consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies make the law. because companies break the law. we allege that apple has employed a strategy that relies on exclusionary, anti—competitive conduct, that hurts both consumers and developers. for consumers, that has meant fewer choices and higher prices and fees, lower quality smartphones and apps and accessories and less innovation from apple and its competitors. for developers, that has meant

being forced to play by rules that insulate apple from competition, and as outlined in our complaint, we allege that apple has consolidated its monopoly power, not by making its own products better, but by making other products worse. let's speak to taylor lorenz, tech columnist for the washington post and host of the power user podcast via vox media. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ i. ., ., programme. thank you for having me. we will aet programme. thank you for having me. we will get to — programme. thank you for having me. we will get to the _ programme. thank you for having me. we will get to the other _ programme. thank you for having me. we will get to the other issues, - programme. thank you for having me. we will get to the other issues, but i we will get to the other issues, but at its heart, what is apple accused of doing wrong?— at its heart, what is apple accused of doing wrong? apple is accused of ennuain in of doing wrong? apple is accused of engaging in anti-competitive - engaging in anti—competitive behaviour, making it hard for people to leave the ecosystem apple has created. once you buy at mac or an iphoneifs created. once you buy at mac or an iphone it's hard to switch. you use apple products, it pushes its own

products on you, whether it's news app, messaging, things like i am message, it is hard to leave and they shut out a lot of competitors by prioritising their own products over others. we by prioritising their own products over others-_ by prioritising their own products over others. ~ _, . ~ ., over others. we may come back to specifics that _ over others. we may come back to specifics that they _ over others. we may come back to specifics that they may _ over others. we may come back to specifics that they may also - over others. we may come back to specifics that they may also be - specifics that they may also be accused of, but more broadly, what did you make of those words from the attorney general and the strength of that attack on apple? i attorney general and the strength of that attack on apple?— that attack on apple? i think it's a significant attack _ that attack on apple? i think it's a significant attack and _ that attack on apple? i think it's a significant attack and it _ that attack on apple? i think it's a significant attack and it does - significant attack and it does potentially have merit to apple has four years really sought to keep consumers inside the apple ecosystem. consumers inside the apple ecosystem-— consumers inside the apple ecos stem. ~ . ., ., ecosystem. what about the argument a- le would ecosystem. what about the argument apple would make, _ ecosystem. what about the argument apple would make, it's _ ecosystem. what about the argument apple would make, it's a _ ecosystem. what about the argument apple would make, it's a company, i apple would make, it's a company, that's what it's supposed to do? e company would always act in his own interest, of course, but i think it comes out to how aggressively have they shut out competition. one big point of contention is that messaging, turning other peoples

messaging, turning other peoples messaging green when they don't have that messaging system. that might be there right and what is ultimately found to be the case but the attorney general is arguing that they have been excessive. what attorney general is arguing that they have been excessive. what about they have been excessive. what about the decision from _ they have been excessive. what about the decision from the _ they have been excessive. what about the decision from the attorney - the decision from the attorney general in the us to go after apple in this way? it’s general in the us to go after apple in this way?— in this way? it's an election year in this way? it's an election year in the united _ in this way? it's an election year in the united states, _ in this way? it's an election year in the united states, and - in this way? it's an election year in the united states, and i- in this way? it's an election year in the united states, and i thinki in the united states, and i think a lot of consumers are looking for their lawmakers and people in government to be tough on big tech, things like the tiktok brand immersion in the house of representatives and tonnes of lawmakers shouting about facebook and google and control of these big companies. apple has been in the cross hairs for a wide because they are such a behemoth and have such control and because iphones are incredible popular here in the us, so i think there a target that is kind of something that consumers are me to. ~ ., ., kind of something that consumers are me to. ~ g, ., ,, kind of something that consumers are me to. ~ g, ., _, ., ~ kind of something that consumers are me to. ~ g, ., a» ., me to. what do you make of the companies _ me to. what do you make of the companies response _ me to. what do you make of the companies response that - me to. what do you make of the i

companies response that they will fight it, i presume, as you would expect, but talking about things like it is not able to continue to make the products, the premium kind of products that so many of their customers love, unless they have been doing what they been doing? i don't know if i buy that. looking at the price increases we have seen, apple was also in trouble a few years ago for the grading national quality over time with each subsequent update of the phone so i think i am sympathetic in the sense i am i phone number, think i am sympathetic in the sense iam i phone number, but think i am sympathetic in the sense i am i phone number, but prices have gone up, i do not know quality has improved and things are tough out there for sure, but i think apple could do a bit better by their consumers, and evenjust the could do a bit better by their consumers, and even just the threat of being regulated will hopefully result in some more consumer friendly pricing and operations. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you. israel gaza war.

the us secretary of state antony blinken in the region. spoken last couple hours. progress on ceasefire talks and the release of hostages. he says the gap between the two sides is narrowing. let's ta ke let's take a listen. a clear consensus around a number of shared priorities will stop first, the need for an immediate and sustained cease—fire with the release of hostages. that would create space to surge more humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of many people and to build something more enduring. we have been working, as you know, with egypt and qatar and with israel to put a strong proposal on the table. hamas responded to that and negotiators continue to work, the gaps are narrowing, and we are continuing to push for an agreement in doha.

it is still difficult work to get there but i continue to believe it is possible. let's speak to oliver mcternan. he's a former hostage negotiator who's in touch with people close to the talks on all sides. he's also the director of forward thinking, an ngo which works to promote an inclusive peace process in the middle east. thank you for coming in the programme. thank you for coming in the programme-— thank you for coming in the rouramme. ., ~ i. ., programme. thank you for the invite. what do you — programme. thank you for the invite. what do you make _ programme. thank you for the invite. what do you make of that _ programme. thank you for the invite. what do you make of that phrasing, l what do you make of that phrasing, the gaps between the sides are narrowing, what do you make of that? i was surprised to hear that, and i hope he's right. i hope he is right for the sake of the 2.3 million people in gaza and the hostages and their families. people in gaza and the hostages and theirfamilies. but what people in gaza and the hostages and their families. but what i people in gaza and the hostages and theirfamilies. but what i heard most recently is that the unofficial response from the israelis was to reject outright the demands that

hamas had put on the table and as you may recall those were the new modified demands were to have a three stage process. the first six weeks you would have 35 hostages exchanged for 350 palestinian detainees, then five women soldiers for 200 plus young long—term prisoners and then reaching a permanent cease—fire and the exchange of our hostages and that they lead into the exchange of bodies and the lifting of the siege of gaza. what's hamas mama i'm told, said it was all or none, the unofficial response as i said was what i hear, a rejection of that. can ijump in there, the all or none, what do you mean by that? in the sense that it wasn't going to be a stage i, where you have 35 is

really hostages exchanged for 300 and then stopped, and they go back to war. they were saying it was a process that should lead to a permanent cease—fire and the lifting of the siege of gaza. that is what, i say, i understand. of the siege of gaza. that is what, isay, i understand. i hope i say, i understand. i hope antony blinken is right and the information i was given is wrong because the conditions in gaza now are truly deplorable. i am touch with people every single day, people i know and trust, and i think what makes it very difficult for them to bear with the circumstances that confronts them is that fact that this is a human met —— a human made catastrophe and they feel it somewhat forgotten by the outside world will stop the sooner we can bring that situation to a close, and the facts, as they would say, we are not on the verge of famine, they tell me people are dying of malnutrition.—

tell me people are dying of malnutrition. . , malnutrition. that underlines the uruen , malnutrition. that underlines the urgency. so _ malnutrition. that underlines the urgency. so what _ malnutrition. that underlines the urgency, so what are _ malnutrition. that underlines the urgency, so what are the - urgency, so what are the alternatives as far as you can see if that process, the stages, you understand it's all or none right now, what are the alternatives and gaps between the sides that can potentially be narrowing and in what kind of issues are logistics? i do not think they _ kind of issues are logistics? i do not think they can _ kind of issues are logistics? i gr not think they can be narrowed in the present mechanisms of negotiations, i don't think so. the two objectives that prime minister netanyahu set himself were the total demise of hamas, the destruction of hamas, and the release of hostages, so anyone with experience of negotiations would say they are incompatible objectives, so unless there is a dramatic change in is really objectives, the priority to release of hostages and then move from a military solution to the

present insecurity that i understand they feel as a consequence of october seven mama but put that military solution site and enter into real negotiations. that military solution site and enter into real negotiations.- military solution site and enter into real negotiations. that is what ou think into real negotiations. that is what you think needs to _ into real negotiations. that is what you think needs to happen - into real negotiations. that is what you think needs to happen now, i into real negotiations. that is whatl you think needs to happen now, can into real negotiations. that is what i you think needs to happen now, can i ask you about one point of the message and. rewind a few weeks and their hopes and whispers and expectations that buy ramadani there would be a page. joe biden said at one point next monday, this was a few weeks ago, what happens from your understanding from going to that messaging to where we are no weeks on and no concrete progress western mark? i weeks on and no concrete progress western mark?— weeks on and no concrete progress western mark? ~ . , western mark? i think that messaging was offered -- — western mark? i think that messaging was offered -- overly _ western mark? i think that messaging was offered -- overly optimistic - western mark? i think that messaging was offered -- overly optimistic and i was offered —— overly optimistic and wishful thinking, was offered —— overly optimistic and wishfulthinking, not was offered —— overly optimistic and wishful thinking, not untouched with things underground or the fact that netanyahu has the for the support of

the knesset in achieving his objective to defeat hamas. so with that political backing and with bite insane one minute let us protect the people in rafah, we cannot see 1.1 million people down there been exposed to military action, he was ignited same time there is no redline between our support of israel want so i think the public rhetoric is so confused and distant from the reality underground, what is needed and what the french are calling for, and a permanent and immediate cease—fire. calling for, and a permanent and immediate cease-fire.— immediate cease-fire. oliver mcternan. — immediate cease-fire. oliver mcternan, thank _ immediate cease-fire. oliver mcternan, thank you - immediate cease-fire. oliver mcternan, thank you for - immediate cease-fire. oliver. mcternan, thank you for coming immediate cease-fire. oliver- mcternan, thank you for coming in the programme. one extra line coming in and just the last 15 minutes or so. the united states has been working in earnest with councilmembers all over the last several weeks on a resolution that would unequivocally support ongoing diplomatic efforts

aimed at securing an immediate cease—fire in gaza as part of a hostage deal. so this is a us— un draught vote. friday morning is the latest time and we are getting on that. that is need of toffee, our correspondent there in the us. a us draught vote for friday. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

eu leaders have been meeting in brussels today, to discuss plans to get more weapons to ukrainian forces, while also re—arming their own countries in the face of an emboldened vladimir putin in russia. before the summit, the eu council president charles michel said that europeans "face a pivotal moment". ukraine's president zelensky told eu leaders via video link that it's crucial to send more ammunition to ukraine, saying the number of artillery shells available to his forces was humiliating

for the whole of europe. a new proposal being discussed is to use billions of euros in profits from frozen russian financial assets to buy arms for ukraine. speaking before the summit, belgian prime minister alexander de croo said he welcomed the idea. this is taxation on the misery of the ukrainians that has been inflicted to them by the russians. the decision or the proposals on the proceeds themselves, i think it's a sensible way of doing it. i think the idea to allocate them predominantly to the purchase of weapons makes total sense. joining me now is politico's associate editor, suzanne lynch. thank you forjoining us. so, should we talk about the idea of using the money from frozen russian assets to support ukraine first? what were they talking about and the arguments for and against it? it’s a

for and against it? it's a controversial _ for and against it? it's a controversial topic - for and against it? it's a controversial topic that l for and against it? it's a l controversial topic that is for and against it? it's a - controversial topic that is been around for that while for the last few months, and it's looking at not seizing the assets but the profits that have been made on those assets and using them in some way to help ukraine. there's been a lot of resistance within the eu and around the world that this could set a precedent that taking control of assets in any form of a government or entity could set a precedent that some countries are uncomfortable with the stop however, there have been pulls along this and it is moving forward but it is in the context of a broader approach at g7 never countries like the us but i think the eu discussion on this is in that context, but it is part of a broader discussion happening here will stop which is regarding financing, how to try and finance both the eu defence capabilities in order to replenish and make sure that the eu on defence stocks are at the required level and also to ensure that enough weaponry is going to ukraine. ~ ., v

ensure that enough weaponry is going to ukraine. ~ . �*, ., to ukraine. what's about the lanauuae to ukraine. what's about the language from _ to ukraine. what's about the language from president - to ukraine. what's about the - language from president zelensky talking about the amount of admonition or artillery shells and sent by you at the moment being humiliating? it sent by you at the moment being humiliating?— humiliating? it is all in the context of— humiliating? it is all in the context of the _ humiliating? it is all in the context of the stalled - humiliating? it is all in the context of the stalled aid i humiliating? it is all in the - context of the stalled aid package in the us congress which is not gone through and the ukrainians are in dire need of that military aid, so you have that passionate address from president zelensky to leaders there this evening trying to make his case for that. you also have lots of calls from countries like france, resident emmanuel macron, he has spoken about the idea of euro bonds, it kind of war bond that the eu would issue to finance this, but other countries like everything in the eu, is never quite as straightforward because all these countries have different priorities and in the case of the french idea, germany and the netherlands are lukewarm about it and don't like the idea of a common debt issue, so that is one idea being discussed as

leaders meet, we heard they started a working dinner talking about the middle east as well but these are the technical issues under discussion now. aha, the technical issues under discussion now. �* ., ~ ., discussion now. a working denial, we alwa s discussion now. a working denial, we always have — discussion now. a working denial, we always have to _ discussion now. a working denial, we always have to ask _ discussion now. a working denial, we always have to ask about _ discussion now. a working denial, we always have to ask about the - discussion now. a working denial, we always have to ask about the menu, | always have to ask about the menu, don't worry i won't, i don't know why as reporters we always talk about that. one final thought to leave you with, the comparison between the us, billions of billions of dollars of support being worked up of dollars of support being worked up here in europe, how are the discussions going there with effectively europe's central role given to the delay from the us? the thin on given to the delay from the us? iie: thing on the european given to the delay from the us? "iie: thing on the european side, given to the delay from the us? i“ie: thing on the european side, each individual or most eu countries are giving aid to ukraine but what they're trying to do is work collectively as a whole in the eu, like they did during the coronavirus vaccine, it didn't make sense one hundred and one thing and another doing something and not coordinating, so this is for the eu try to co—ordinate and be more

efficient, a more cost—efficient way of addressing defence needs both for the eu and for ukraine, but it would be a long journey and some of the countries in the eu are military at neutral and don't want to get involved and others have less of a defence industry than others. i have to say, there is suspicion that one of the reasons president micron is so forthright is that france itself has such a huge defence industry and so much of the eu was michael defence industry is in french, so all these different national priorities are on play when it comes to these discussions.— to these discussions. thank you for cominu on to these discussions. thank you for coming on the _ to these discussions. thank you for coming on the programme, - to these discussions. thank you for. coming on the programme, suzanne. meanwhile, the russian attack killed at least three civillians in the east of the country and injured at least 17 in the capital of kyiv. ukraine's army says it shot down all the missiles above kyiv and that russia used the iskander ballistic missiles as the one you can see on this archive picture, along with cruise missiles.

ukraine's experts calculated that russia might have spent $390 million just for today's attack on kyiv. joining me now is alina frolova in kyiv, who is the former deputy minister of defence of ukraine and is currently a deputy chair at the centre for defence strategies think—tank. thank you for coming in the programme. thank you for coming in the programme-— thank you for coming in the l programme-_ i thank you for coming in the - programme._ i just thank you for coming in the _ programme._ ijust want programme. good evening. i 'ust want to ask you first — programme. good evening. i 'ust want to ask you first of h programme. good evening. i 'ust want to ask you first of all h programme. good evening. i 'ust want to ask you first of all about _ to ask you first of all about munition, artillery shells, air defence systems, how desperate is the need and requirement from ukraine right now?— the need and requirement from ukraine right now? obviously, it is desperate- — ukraine right now? obviously, it is desperate. you _ ukraine right now? obviously, it is desperate. you sought _ ukraine right now? obviously, it is desperate. you sought this - ukraine right now? obviously, it is desperate. you sought this attack| desperate. you sought this attack and note the kyiv is one of the most protected cities in ukraine because we have all the government here and all the decision—making people are sitting here, but that is white kyiv

is able to stop these missile attacks but if you look at kharkiv, for example, which is suffering so much from the daily missile attacks which they cannot cope with, and we have a lots of losses, or in other regions which are like a border region, which is almost empty now because every day shutting and missiles, peoplejust leaving because every day shutting and missiles, people just leaving the region and we have more and more internal displaced persons and dead civilians. so, we need it, and with shows we are suffering so much on the front nine, we cannot plan our operations, we are paying for all of these with human lives which we cannot restore even when the shows will be delivered. i cannot restore even when the shows will be delivered.— will be delivered. i know this is a site the unfair— will be delivered. i know this is a site the unfair question - will be delivered. i know this is a site the unfair question given - will be delivered. i know this is a i site the unfair question given what you said there, you need pretty much more of everything, but can you try and rank things for us westmark give

a perspective for us on what is the most important thing that you need right now? most important thing that you need riaht now? �* i, , i, i, right now? ammunition is one of the uruent right now? ammunition is one of the urgent needs — right now? ammunition is one of the urgent needs because _ right now? ammunition is one of the urgent needs because we _ right now? ammunition is one of the urgent needs because we are - right now? ammunition is one of the urgent needs because we are losing | right now? ammunition is one of the | urgent needs because we are losing a lot of things at the front nine because of lack of ammunition but stop we cannot compensate it even with multiple drones, but we are still suffering from the admonition russia uses everyday and incredible numbers on the front nine. second would be the air defence systems, not only because they protect our cities and lots of cities are still not protected, and you see how the desperate attacks like in odesa, where we had a crucial loss of infrastructure and lots of losses among civilians, and a third one probably isn't drones. we still expect the f— 16 or any otherjets that can be provided to ukraine

because we put the balance in that priority, so even without having normal aerial power. at the same time, we need more drones not only to keep the balance but also to keep that counter on russian attempts to prevail in the sky. {aide that counter on russian attempts to prevail in the sky.— prevail in the sky. give us a flavour. _ prevail in the sky. give us a flavour. if _ prevail in the sky. give us a flavour, if you _ prevail in the sky. give us a flavour, if you can, - prevail in the sky. give us a flavour, if you can, what. prevail in the sky. give us a flavour, if you can, what is| prevail in the sky. give us a i flavour, if you can, what is the level at the moment of ukraine was michael domestic production? how much of its military needs and capabilities isn't to produce on its own? ~ i, i, capabilities isn't to produce on its own? i, i, i, own? we have quite a good dynamics in local production, _ own? we have quite a good dynamics in local production, we _ own? we have quite a good dynamics in local production, we started - own? we have quite a good dynamics in local production, we started to i in local production, we started to supply the ammunition and drones are massively supplied, different types, simple once a long drink —— long—range drones, we have managed goodin

long—range drones, we have managed good in production of c drones which actually completely destroyed the russian strategy and one third of russian strategy and one third of russian fleet in the black sea, so we are good on drones. we have some good production in condition but unfortunately because this is why the complicated equipment we cannot reduce in sufficient numbers our air defence systems, so this big production is still not very good here, but the basic equipment missiles, munitions and drones production, is rapidly increasing here. �* i, i, i, i, , i, here. alina frolova, we must leave it there, thank _ here. alina frolova, we must leave it there, thank you _ here. alina frolova, we must leave it there, thank you for _ here. alina frolova, we must leave it there, thank you for coming i here. alina frolova, we must leave it there, thank you for coming in i it there, thank you for coming in the programme. just some breaking news lines coming from the european union, we were talking in the last five minutes or so about that meeting in brussels on the european leaders called for an immediate manager and pause in gaza that would lead to a cease—fire. it

is posted on social media, the president of the council saying quote or the eu) an president of the council saying quote or the eu ) an immediate humanitarian pause needing to a sustainable cease—fire. " humanitarian pause needing to a sustainable cease—fire. i am lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. good evening. there have been mixed fortunes across the country once again today for much of central and southern england. it stayed largely fine and dry with glimpses of sunshine, in fact, in london once again, we had temperatures into the mid—teens so you could get out and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom that we've got at the moment. it was a different story, however, further north and west, the rain not too heavy, but it was a nuisance, as you can see from lancashire just a few hours ago. now, this weather front will continue to sink its way south and east, clearing the south—east during friday and then behind it under this influence of low pressure. a cooler story is set to dominate, so it will be a rather murky

start with some light, drizzly rain pushing its way south—east behind it somewhat brighter with a rash of showers and gale force gusts of winds to the far north. so, we could see that frontjust lingering across the kent coast during the afternoon. but a brighter story across england and wales, few isolated showers, but look at the difference in the temperature. notably cooler feel out there. further showers into northern ireland and scotland accompanied by gales, perhaps severe gales across the northern isle. so that really will make it feel quite chilly here. and some of those showers will start to turn quite wintry to higher ground. low pressure drifts its way steadily east. the winds remain tightly packed with those isobars for the start of saturday. and that weather front will continue to enhance the showers. so a chilly start to the weekend, low single figures in many rural spots and there will be some showers from the word go across scotland and northern ireland. these will, yes, be of snow to higher ground and will then get to see some showers developing

across england and wales. some of these heavy with some hail and maybe some thunder mixed in there as well. and temperatures will remain on the cool side. gusty winds, 35 to 45 miles an hour and temperatures down on where they should be really for this time of year. a brief ridge of high pressure for sunday quiets things down, but not for long. low pressure once again set to return into next week, keeping things again quite cool for this time of year and unsettled. so yes, sunday the better of the two days through the weekend, but there's further showers or longer spells of rain and temperatures a little bit below par as we head towards easter weekend.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. a new report finds a generation of british women are owed apologies and thousands of pounds in compensation because of state pension changes. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. a busy night of international football on thursday — georgia are nowjust one game away from qualification for a first european championship. they beat luxembourg 2—0 in their playoff semifinal earlier.

plenty of other sides also hoping to be in that position too. poland or estonia will face wales or finland. wales 2—0 finland. bosnia and herzegovina are facing ukraine, for the right to take on israel or iceland. goalless in those games. the winner of greece v kazakhstan will take on georgia. 4—0 in that game. bukayo saka has pulled out of the england camp two days before their wembley friendly against brazil. the 22—year—old arsenal forward trained away from the main squad earlier this week, after reporting for duty carrying an injury. he has returned to his club to continue his rehabilitation, and the fa have said no replacement will be called up. england also play another friendly against belgium next tuesday, also at wembley.

scotland have already qualified for the euros —