i'm ros atkins with you here on bbc news. we're going to turn to washington now. the uk foreign secretaryjames cleverly is visiting washington, hoping to bolster support for ukraine ahead of the first anniversary of the invasion by russia. any moment now, there's going to be a press conference to the foreign secretary. waiting to listen to what they say is the bbc�*s barbara plett usher. tell us what's on the agenda, please. tell us what's on the agenda, lease. , , ~ , please. this is mr cleverly's first visit to a united _ please. this is mr cleverly's first visit to a united states - please. this is mr cleverly's first visit to a united states as - visit to a united states as foreign secretary, sojust visit to a united states as foreign secretary, so just keeping an eye out there. he will be talking about

the things they usually talk about. trade and security and iran and the indo—pacific. even more than that, he will focus on ukraine. he said he's going to stress that now that is the time... just turning this down. now is the time to move further and faster and getting ukraine the tools that it needs to win the war. his emphasis has been on weapons. the brits announced they would give 1a tanks to ukraine, and thatis would give 1a tanks to ukraine, and that is something that britain is hoping will inspire others, especially in europe, especially germany, to follow through. the germans have those leopard tanks that would be very effective. not the kind of the messages come with

off the back of that announcement. —— that's the kind of. as soon as james cleverly and anthony lee can come out, we will listen. i imagine northern ireland may come up as well. �* ., , �* ~' �* northern ireland may come up as well. �* ., ,�* ~ �* ., , well. -- antony blinken. but does come u- well. -- antony blinken. but does come up every _ well. -- antony blinken. but does come up every time _ well. -- antony blinken. but does come up every time britain - well. -- antony blinken. but does come up every time britain meets| come up every time britain meets with the us counterparts. the biden administration made its position very clear, any solution to the northern ireland protocol must not interfere with the good friday peace agreement. it never misses a chance to repeat that, and there has been speculation that president biden may visit ireland this year. that hasn't been confirmed in any way and that is certainly something that's been rumoured in washington, so maybe even more of an interest. the americans have also just filled the position of northern ireland's

representative. you'll remember that was a political position very focused on in the first instance of achieving the peace dale and maintaining it. filling it was somebody... that was a move that was made just for christmas, so there is a little bit to talk about there. figs a little bit to talk about there. as everyone watching nose, there's been turmoil within uk politics. we went from orestjohnson to liz truss to rishi sunak and not long at all. to what degree does that impact the broader relationship between the two countries? i broader relationship between the two countries? ., �* ~' broader relationship between the two countries? ., �* ~ . , countries? i don't think it impacts the broader _ countries? i don't think it impacts the broader relationship - the broader relationship significantly because the policies have not been significantly altered. they're still on the same page on ukraine and a lot of other areas were britain and the united states

cooperate. i know... the most significant rupture was brexit itself because britain was a useful ally for the us to have as somebody who was in the european union and could be a sort of friend who might be supportive of the us positions when it came to issues that europe was discussing. now that britain is no longer in the eu, that no longer exists. you may remember that president obama very clearly stated that the united states was opposed to this move. i think that's the biggest rupture that happened over the past years, and the changes in british politics since then i don't think of significantly altered. if we talk about their consistency in foreign policy, with reference to ukraine, that's certainly true. there's not been a big shift between the prime ministers if any at all.

is there much different in the american and british approaches to this war? are they largely insync? very much so. britain has very much participated with the united states and supporting ukraine, in saying that russia's invasion was notjust a matter of a war in ukraine, but it was a threat to the whole global order. it was something to which the western world needed to remain committed. also, now you seen with the weapons being sent, the united states has sent far more in terms of aid and weapons than britain has, but they have the same sort of message when they send them. britain now has made the decision to move forward even before the us when it came to tanks because the americans

haven't sent tanks. that's welcomed although it might not directly influence the department of defence's decisions. it is seen as a move that would be on the same page. pleasure talking. we're seeing the shot of the two podiums. we will see that press conference in full. you and i have spoken about american secretary of state quite a few times in recent years on outside source. tell us about antony blinken. how does he differ in his approach to his predecessors? he’s does he differ in his approach to his predecessors?— his predecessors? he's very different — his predecessors? he's very different from _ his predecessors? he's very different from his _ his predecessors? he's very different from his most - his predecessors? he's very l different from his most recent predecessor, mike pompeo, who was a kind of very much somebody who follows the approach of the president at the time, donald trump, in terms of being quite outspoken and in terms of following mr trump's "america first" policies and being a

presence in a very assertive way. mr blinken comes from a lot of experience working as a bureaucrat and a diplomat. so, he's much more understated in his approach, but very much somebody that is approachable in a one—on—one setting. allies do seem to have welcomed his approach in terms of pushing us foreign policy under mr by didn't. pushing us foreign policy under mr b didn't. �* , pushing us foreign policy under mr b didn't. h ., ., pushing us foreign policy under mr b didn't. �*, ., ., ., . , by didn't. he's one of the voices were outlined _ by didn't. he's one of the voices were outlined america's - by didn't. he's one of the voices i were outlined america's approach, by didn't. he's one of the voices - were outlined america's approach, it would seem like america is unwavering in support of ukrainian efforts. but within washington, is there any discussion about the degree to which americans should

committed to this?— degree to which americans should committed to this? there has been some disquiet _ committed to this? there has been some disquiet voice _ committed to this? there has been some disquiet voice on _ committed to this? there has been some disquiet voice on the - committed to this? there has been some disquiet voice on the right. committed to this? there has been some disquiet voice on the right of| some disquiet voice on the right of the republican party and on the left of the democratic party. about how long the commitment should go on. whether there should be more of a push to get towards the piece talks and in the republicans, there are voices saying the level of aid that the administration has proven so far it might be tempered. they might not want to approve similar levels of names. by and large, there is a bipartisan commitment to helping ukraine because of this view that is about more than ukraine —— levels of aims. it is about the possible war in europe, about the international rules—based order and so on. as they are looking, though, at a lengthy war, it seems there a stalemate on the battlefield, there's a

suggestion that there might be a spring offensive by russia. there has been an attempt to try to get bigger and better weapons to ukraine, so to speak. this idea that you're able to tip the balance now, you're able to tip the balance now, you should give ukraine as much support as you can. thus a large part of this debate about sending in tanks, and we also saw in recent weeks the approval of the americans and the germans, and even today, the dutch announced they would send patriot missile batteries. you have the approval from several allies i'm sending armoured vehicles, and maybe that will be the case with tanks —— allies sending. there is still reluctance on the side of the us to send longer—range missiles and fighterjets because there is always the calculation of not wanting to

get directly involved with russia in a conflict. with the stalemate, the fact the ukrainians are pushing forward in their counteroffensive �*s with the idea that this can't be sustained forever, there is this discussion about giving ukraine the weapons it's asked for.— discussion about giving ukraine the weapons it's asked for. example, the americans are _ weapons it's asked for. example, the americans are reluctant _ weapons it's asked for. example, the americans are reluctant to _ weapons it's asked for. example, the americans are reluctant to put - americans are reluctant to put long—range missiles into the theatre of war. but what's the calculation around tanks? what will be the region not to supply ukraine with more american tanks at this stage? in terms of american tanks, i think part of that is have to do with their top tanks, and they need constant maintenance. i think there

is a reluctance to put them into the battlefield. the americans have no problem with what britain is advocating and poland and other europeans, which is to get europeans to send tank. they are, germany is quite important. there are quite a few of them deployed in europe. poland said if the germans had permission, they would send the tanks to ukraine. the pressure right now is on germany more than the united states to move in that direction. the americans themselves have not publicly said they are pressuring germany. they said it's up pressuring germany. they said it's up to the german government. but there will be a meeting in germany onjanuary the there will be a meeting in germany on january the 20th of the ukraine support group, onjanuary the 20th of the ukraine support group, which on january the 20th of the ukraine support group, which involves dispense ministers, and that will no doubt be one of the topics. find doubt be one of the topics. and

there's going — doubt be one of the topics. and there's going to _ doubt be one of the topics. and there's going to be a new person there as defence minister because there as defence minister because the germans have switched defence secretaries this week. one resigned over handling of germany's handling of the ukraine conflict. barbara, very good to talk to you at length. i let you continue to keep an eye on those podiums and as soon as the two men stepped out, we will see that here. in the meantime, let's turn to some of the other main stories. starting with what's been the lead story for the uk. the future of electric car manufacturing with the collapse of british vaults, a maker of electric car batteries. staff have been made for a redundant. seen as a vital part of the industry's future in the uk, here's the

analysis of the bbc�*s business editor. it's time to power up the future... a bold and ambitious vision. a plant that would produce batteries to power a new generation of uk—made electric cars, creating 3000 jobs at a state—of—the—art facility in northumberland and thousands more in the supply chain. the current reality is this — a barely touched site, a company gone bust, and nearly 300 workers sacked with immediate effect today. so, what went wrong? britishvolt was a start—up company with no track record. their battery technology was only at the prototype stage. although there are expressions of interest from lotus and aston martin, they had no real customers and therefore no revenue. and yet they were burning through their backers' cash fast, nearly going bust last november, and finally collapsing today.

currently the uk only has one working battery plant, a chinese owned one next to the nissan plant which is its only customer. but look at this. around europe these are the plants that are either already working around europe, these are the plants that are either already working or under construction, with many more planned. and remember, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the uk and other european markets in just seven years' time. the industry estimates the uk will need four of these plants up and running by then. the clock is ticking and the reason the clock is ticking is because it takes five years to get one of these plants from announcement into full production. we only have seven years left till the first milestone of 2030 comes into place. if we do not start these batteries soon, the uk will struggle to maintain a car industry. the plant at blyth ticked a lot of political boxes, an example of post—brexit investment, green technology that helped the levelling up agenda. it offered £100 million in support if construction milestones were hit. they weren't. labour said it remained ripe for development, but would need greater government commitment.

there is a brilliant site in blyth, it hopefully will become a giga factory, but unless the government has a real strategy to attract the investment required to do that to the uk, we risk losing what is three quarters of a million jobs in the automotive sector in the long term in the uk. the government stressed £100 million worth of support was still available to future investors with a credible plan to build a plant that everyone accepts is needed. simonjack, bbc simon jack, bbc news. the uk government has confirmed it plans to block a scottish parliamentary bill, which reforms the process of gender recognition. the scottish secretary alisterjack said trans people deserved respect, but he believed the scottish bill would interfere with equalities law applying to england, scotland and wales. it's the first time westminster has sought to stop a scottish bill from becoming law. our political editor, chris mason, has the latest. outside the uk government's building

in edinburgh, a protest. the sharing of power, devolution, is an illusion, they argue. the first minister is furious. i think it is a profound mistake. it's a direct attack on the institution of the scottish parliament. obviously, the subject matter of this legislation is important. it affects a vulnerable, stigmatised group, but actually, the significance is much wider. so, what will you do next? will this inevitably end up in court? it will inevitably end up in court. i'm probably more concerned today than i've ever been before about the future of the scottish parliament. we've got an increasingly hostile uk government wanting to undermine devolution. the proposed change the scottish government wanted provokes passionate arguments on both sides, but it was strongly endorsed by the scottish parliament. it's intended to make it easier for people to change gender. but the government at westminster says it clashes with an existing british law.

i have not taken this decision lightly and it is our assessment that the bill would have a serious adverse impact, among other things, on the operation of the equality act 2010. those adverse effects include impacts on the operation of single—sex clubs, associations and schools and protections such as equal pay. i have set out to the scottish government that should they choose to do so i hope we can work together to find a constructive way forward. labour won't say whether they'd have done the same thing as the conservatives or let the scottish legislation become law, saying instead they want to see the government's legal advice. trans people who suffered intense discrimination will now not see - this legislation take effect any time soon, if at all. _ and women's rights groups who will likely not see their concerns, - address or their fears alleviated because this simple truth - is that this has turned - into a constitutional bunfight. back in the scottish capital, the architecture of the coming political argument is taking shape.

you've talked about this as an outrage, but is it not simpler than that, that this is an argument between two sides, perhaps both acting in good faith? there's not an iota of good faith on the part of the uk government on this issue. how do you know that? well, trust me, i am certain it is an opinion, i grant you that, but it's an opinion i'm very, very certain of. and this is not the first attack on the scottish parliament we've seen. it's the most serious to date. but it's also, though, if they're using a lever within the existing legal rulebook. because there is no justification for it. on the face of this bill, the argument the uk government appears to be that it interferes with the equality act, but it doesn't have any impact on the equality act. that'll be the crux of the coming political and legal debate as arguments sharpen on both sides. chris mason, bbc news in edinburgh. chris mason, bbc news, in edinburgh.

but take you now to a new documentary. let's take you now to a new bbc documentary. documentary, which examines one of modern—day india's worst ever outbreaks of religious violence. more than 1,000 people, many of them muslims, died in the violence — after a train fire had killed 59 hindu pilgrims. there've been long standing accusations that prime minister narendra modi — who was chief minister of gujarat at the time — did little to stop the violence. a report from the uk's foreign office obtained by the bbc stated that modi was directly responsible. last year, india's supreme court upheld a ruling clearing him of complicity. jon donnison reports. in 2002, gujarat was burning in what was some of the worst religious violence in modern india. at least 1,000 people died, many of them were muslims. imran dawood, who lives in yorkshire, was visiting family there. two of his uncles and his neighbour

mohammed were killed. they got stabbed. i do not know what happened to my uncles. it's fresh in my mind. like it happened yesterday. but sadly, 20 years on, nothing has happened. the violence broke out after muslims were blamed for a train fire that killed 59 people, many of them hindu pilgrims. in the days that followed, hindu mobs targeted muslim homes and businesses, with the police apparently doing little to stop them. but a british foreign office report marked as restricted blamed the right—wing hindu nationalist group the vhp and its allies for orchestrating the violence, but also narendra modi for allowing it to happen. at the time, modi was the chief minister of the state. he's now india's prime minister. the document was obtained by the bbc in 2002. some details were reported at the time, though this is the first time it has been reported in full. "the vhp and its allies could not have inflicted so much damage

without the climate of impunity created by the state government. narendra modi is directly responsible." it also reported claims that mr modi had directed the police not to stop the violence. "reliable contacts have told us... ..narendra modi met senior police officers on 27th february and ordered them not to intervene in the rioting. police contacts deny this meeting happened." this former senior diplomat was one of the investigators. he's speaking publicly for the first time and has asked to remain anonymous. his words are spoken by an actor. there were pretty credible reports he had specifically instructed - the police not to intervene. the police contact who we talked to consistently denied that, - so we did have conflicting reports

| on what his direct role had been. j but we did feel it was clear, - there was a culture of impunity that created the environment - for the violence to take place. that undoubtedly came from modi. narendra modi has always denied he allowed or encouraged muslims to be targeted. an inquiry investigating claims of criminal conspiracy cleared him in 2012, a finding upheld by india's supreme court last year. but back in yorkshire, no—one has ever been convicted for the dawood family murders. still feeling very angry, very frustrated. it feels like there's no justice there. next we turn to brazil. relating to the storming of brazil's stennett building. they haven't been named and works charges to be filed.

he was nowhere to be seen for the past week, but brazil's former president jair bolsonaro finally broke his silence. translation: i regret what happened on the 8th ofjanuary. _ it's unbelievable. unfortunately, people learnt, understood what politics is, got to know the political powers and started to value freedom. he was filmed in florida by some of his supporters. he was defensive, but admitted that mistakes were made by his government. translation: i never stopped following the | constitutional principles. there are some holes, of course. we slip up — who doesn't? "slipping up" is quite the understatement. when his die—hard supporters smashed their way into the supreme court, congress and the presidential palace, they burned furniture, destroyed valuable artwork and caused millions thousands of them have been arrested and now brazil's attorney general�*s

of dollars in damages. thousands of them have been arrested and now brazil's attorney general�*s office has filed an indictment against 39 people. the indictment does not name any individuals, but it says that they were among a core group of conspirators who used violence and threats to try to abolish the democratic order in brazil. that's a serious allegation in a country that still remembers the legacy of military rule, which only ended in 1985. and with many officials being investigated by the supreme court, including bolsonaro himself, more arrests are likely to happen. sofia bettiza, bbc news. if you want want the background of the situation in brazil, you can get that through the bbc news website or the bbc news app. the address online

is bbc .com/ news. if you speak portuguese, you will get coverage would be .com/ brazil with and s. the announcement that british vaults, it had grand plans with significant facility to produce a car batteries, but that at the moment is not going to be happening because it's gone into the administration. thanks for watching and i'll see you soon. bye—bye. hello. well, frosty weather has gripped much of the uk. it is cold outside and snowy for many of us. this was the scene in derry/londonderry earlier today, that snow looking picturesque against the blue sky. over the next few days, it is going to be staying cold,

frosty, icy for much of the country. wintry showers for many of us as well. we are in this arctic airflow at the moment, those cold northerly winds moving down, keeping things very cold across the country for the next few days. and until midnight across parts of northern scotland, we do have this amber weather warning in place for heavy snow, with up to 15 centimetres of snowfall possible within this area. it's going to be windy across north scotland as well — gales, so blizzard—like conditions possible. but overnight for much of the country, snowy, wintry weather continuing for much of northern ireland, wales, into the midlands and south—west as well and possibly across the north sea coast. but there will be some dry, clear skies overnight as well. it's going to be cold, not quite as cold as last night. temperatures dipping down to between —1 and “4 celsius. tomorrow, frosty possible for all of us, then. these snowy showers continuing in scotland, and along the north sea coast, we do see gales with this little weather system moving down, with some wintry showers continuing, and across wales, northern ireland and the south—west as well,

although these snow showers should remain on high ground, with sleet and rain possible to lower levels. again, cold tomorrow, 7 celsius maximum, although with that wind—chill, it will feel a lot colder. closer to freezing or even subzero in some parts of the country. moving into thursday, we do see this ridge of high pressure moving in, turning the weather a little bit more settled, less snowfall, although snow showers continuing for parts of scotland. it'll still be breezy up in this area, although the winds will ease across the rest of the country with some dry and bright skies possible, although in the south—west, a little bit cloudy with some rain possible as well. staying cold, maximum temperature seven celsius. temperature 7 celsius. as we move into the weekend, into friday, then this air mass, into friday, then, this air mass, this milder air mass, is moving across from north down to south, although in the south—east, it will stay colder for longer. into the weekend, then, we do see this split across the country. milder and unsettled

towards the north and west, and across the south—east, it will be colder.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the british government takes an unprecedented step and effectively vetoes a law that was approved in edinburgh. the scottish first minister says westminster is launching a direct attack on the scottish parliament. the scottish government will vigorously defend this legislation. in doing so will be vigorously defending something else, and that is the institution of the scottish parliament. is it a constitutional crisis? the snp say is demonstrates downing street's contempt for devolution, and they will challenge the decision in court. the british government has bowed to pressure, and will introduce changes to the online safety bill that will mean up two—years in prison for tech bosses who fail to protect children online.

house republicans accuse president biden of hypocrisy,