the european commission president, jean—claude juncker has flatly rejected any renegotiation of the withdrawal agreement that was struck with ms may last november. in the times business section, pharmacy giant boots could close more than 200 shops over the next two years in a fresh setback for the troubled uk retail sector. the company, which is owned by us pharmacy giant walgreens, said it was "reviewing its store portfolio amid falling sales and profits." 0n front of the ft, malaysia will return 3,000 tons of plastic waste to countries including the us, canada and saudi arabia, amid a broadening clampdown on imports of improperly labelled rubbish across south east asia. and finally after being awarded the largest divorce payment in history, mackenzie bezos, who recently became the world's fourth richest woman after her separation from jeff bezos, the founder and chief executive of amazon, has promised to give away at least half her $36.6 billion fortune.

with me is 0liver cornock who's editor—in—chief at oxford business group. he has been delving into these articles in a little more depth for us. articles in a little more depth for us. 0liver, this is quite a big development, isn't it? the front of the daily mirror. labour was accused of not having a clear message from among its own lawmakers, mps, after the european results. they said, on the european results. they said, on the key issue, europe, they went into the election without having a clear message. this seems to put that right, to an extent. absolutely, and i think it is an important change, a gear change, of course a reflection of the trouncing the labour party took in that recent european election. jeremy corbyn was accused of not having a clear position on the second referendum, in this incredibly fraught debate

here in the uk. this comes back to the point that it has never been a party political issue. whether you we re party political issue. whether you were in or out was party political issue. whether you were in oi’ out was never party political issue. whether you were in or out was never part of that debate. it is very important, this change. whether it will help remains to be seen, because a lot of jeremy corbyn‘s labour heartland voted significantly for brexit, and that was reflected in monday's results in the european elections. the important thing is the detail of what a second referendum will be on. it isa what a second referendum will be on. it is a very different matter to have a rerun of the vote on do people want to remain in the eu or do they still want to leave as per the last referendum result. it will be another matter entirely to put to people a deal that has been reached and say, do you like this deal or do you want something else? the permutations of that as well, if they reject the deal, what do they

wa nt to they reject the deal, what do they want to stay or leave? there is no clear a nswer to want to stay or leave? there is no clear answer to that, and also, what would happen with democracy if you go back with the same thing? the language is very complicated to me — they talk about a people ‘s vote, but what was the last one if not a people ‘s vote? it comes down to the basic concept of democracy and our constitution, which we will get to ina constitution, which we will get to in a moment. staying on the european theme, the independent has this development — well, i say development, it is sort of a restatement, jean—claude juncker is saying that any replacement for theresa may would not be able to get a better deal. and he would say that, on the back of the threat of europe splintering. several people

who are eurosceptic if not downright anti—eu, have taken seats. what else is he going to say? he made it clear to theresa may that her withdrawal agreement was finite, it was not up to renegotiation. the speaker of the house, john bercow, saying that he would stay on in the position, he has said that he will make sure mps get the opportunity to vote down no deal. i happen to believe, and i think some others do, that while i would love an agreement, actually to ta ke would love an agreement, actually to take away the ultimate sanction of no deal makes it much more difficult to bargain. if you are buying a house, you have to be able to say no, i don't want to buy it. of course with europe, they are still

grappling with who replaces donald tusk and jean—claude juncker. grappling with who replaces donald tusk and jean-claude juncker. and you wonder how long brexit will be at the top of the agenda for them. i'm sure we will be talking about it in the coming weeks and months. let's look at the issue of the troubled retail sector, the times business section, another well—established high st name looking to stay viable. a business set up in 1849 in nottingham, which had a swiss take—out, taken over by the huge american conglomerate, walgreens, is now in dire straits. 32.3% down on pre—tax profits the year to end last year. you have to say this is a reflection of the broader state of the uk high st, businesses that have failed to keep up businesses that have failed to keep up with the increasing digitalisation of the way people shop, you can go to amazon for your

toiletries. boots say they will be shutting shops. there is also an accusation that high st councils are charging huge amounts in terms of tax and rates for businesses, but it does seem that it is an unstoppable pendulum that the british high st is haemorrhaging classic businesses. i do wonder whether it is a pendulum and people will want to come back to the high st. i think there are implications for people clicking online at home and not getting out. the high st needs to do something to cause that pendulum to swim backwards, they need to offer them something that is better value than what they get for the convenience of shopping online. 0r cheaper. if people have to pay for parking, and then pay a premium in the shops. i think a lot of rural towns in england will have to start

getting rid of paid parking. financial times, plastic waste very much an issue of the moment, but malaysia sending it back. yes, joining a list of other asian countries that are doing that, and i travel in the cities all the time. pollution and congestion and rubbish is such a big deal, they have done a huge amount of shifting the narrative domestically. they are receiving loads of rubbish from developed countries, and it is pretty galling. the philippines are currently having a huge row with canada over exports of rubbish there. as you say, it seems to be capturing a particular zeitgeist of the moment, it is a topical issue, but it does talk broadly about what we do with our domestic waste. why should we be shipping it out? we should we be shipping it out? we should be dealing with it ourselves. let's have a look at the generosity of mackenzie bezos, pledging to give

away at least half her wealth to charity. her fortune estimated at 36.5 $11, a hefty act of philanthropy —— 36.5 lian billion. 36.5 $11, a hefty act of philanthropy —— 36.5 lian billionlj think it is important when huge wealth and business has come under a spotlight, and this is perhaps trying to rebalance things. this has been an ongoing issue. she is quite active in philanthropy. herformer husband is extremely complimentary about this, and it seems to be almost saccharine sweet. they seem

to be very happy in their postd ivorce to be very happy in their postdivorce environment. as you say, it goes down to that thing of people, when they get to a point of having more money than they could ever spend in a lifetime each, what do they do with it? and to give something back, do some good in the world, that probably resets the balance between when we hear reports of people squirrelling away more money than they could ever spend in tax havens. really good to talk to you, thanks for going through those with us. thank you for watching, plenty more still to come. stay with us on plenty more still to come. stay with us on bbc news.

hello. it looks like being a very warm start to the weekend across some parts of the uk, but right now we are in a spell of cooler weather, there has been a bit of rain, there's another chance of rain on the way during wednesday as an atlantic weather system pushes outbreaks of rain eastwards as the day goes on and here it comes. ahead of that, though, with clearing skies, it'll be a fairly chilly start to wednesday with a lot of dry weather around, maybe still a few showers rushing through the northern isles, but single figures for most, and cold enough across parts of northern england, especially in scotland. and the coldest spots could even see a touch of frost. but already that weather system coming in, as outbreaks of rain feeding towards western england, into wales, northern ireland, and then on towards southern scotland. feeding further east during the day, so early sunshine across eastern england, cloud building, there may be a shower, not a huge amount of rain though arriving until either late afternoon or indeed into the evening. so northern scotland will see the lion's share of the sunshine. notice though the winds switching direction. breezy out there but from a northerly more to a southerly. we are going to eventually bring in some warmer air in with that, but at least for wednesday nowhere

is particularly warm. and there's some heavy showers in the northern isles, while just single figures for some of us. but on that south—westerly breeze, we'll start to draw in some warmer air the south—west. certainly more humid on through wednesday night and into thursday morning for some of us. still with plenty of cloud and some outbreaks of rain. still fairly chilly in northern scotland, whereas elsewhere we're going to see those temperatures starting the day on thursday into double figures, and quite mild and muggy start to the day. and we are going to draw in ever warmer air, but particularly in parts of england and wales, on through the rest of the week into the start of the weekend. weather fronts never far away from scotland, and northern ireland, north—west england and north wales at times. and on thursday plenty of cloud around. still quite breezy out there. it feels humid, a bit of patchy rain. that rain looks like pepping up through north wales, north—west england, northern ireland and to parts of scotland, as we go on through the day. some cloud breaking though, through central and eastern areas of england,

and this is where we will get to see some warmer sunny spells coming through. and the temperature heads up further here friday and into the start of the weekend, peaking in the upper 20s in a few areas. but again, those weather fronts close to scotland and northern ireland giving clouds, some outbreaks of rain and a very wet end to the week in western scotland, for example. but of course that's going to hold temperatures down here, though for some into the mid teens. that weather system moves south at some stage over the weekend, some uncertainty about the timing, but right now, it looks like the warmth in england and wales is going to peak on saturday. it will turn a bit cooler and it'll feel less humid by sunday.

good morning. welcome to breakfast, with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. 0ur headlines today: vital support for elderly care under threat across england, as councils run out of cash, leaving families without key services. devastation across eight us states, as dozens of tornados leave towns destroyed. and i am at the top of ben nevis, britain's highest mountain, where climbers are being warned to take ca re climbers are being warned to take care after a spate of deaths on this mountain. more people are buying homes, but fewer are paying the asking price.