all live from london, this is bbc news. joe biden has boarded air force one as he sets off to northern ireland to mark 25 years of the good friday agreement. we will be live in belfast throughout the day, looking ahead to the president's visit. andl and i will be joined by bertie ahern. — and i will be joined by bertie ahern. who— and i will be joined by bertie ahern, who was _ and i will be joined by bertie ahern, who was prime - and i will be joined by bertie i ahern, who was prime minister and i will be joined by bertie - ahern, who was prime minister at the time of— ahern, who was prime minister at the time of the _ ahern, who was prime minister at the time of the signing _ ahern, who was prime minister at the time of the signing of— ahern, who was prime minister at the time of the signing of the _ time of the signing of the agreement, _ time of the signing of the agreement, asking - time of the signing of the agreement, asking him. time of the signing of the i agreement, asking him what time of the signing of the - agreement, asking him what he expects — agreement, asking him what he expects from _ agreement, asking him what he expects from president - agreement, asking him what he expects from president biden. i the uk is set to be one of the worst—performing economies this year, alongside germany, according to new data. junior doctors in england are on strike until the weekend in an ongoing row over pay that set to cause major

junior doctors in england are on strike until the weekend in an ongoing row over pay that set to cause major disruption to services. welcome back to bbc news we will be back with lucy in belfast. sport first. here's will perry. hello from the bbc sport centre. huge night in the champions league at the etihad. pep guardiola has defended his record in the competition with manchester city, as his side take on bayern munich in the quarter—final first leg. guardiola comes up against the man who denied him in chelsea's 2021 final victory in porto, thomas tuchel, and the spaniard has failed to win the trophy since his 2011 triumph with barcelona 12 years ago. the champions league has long been city's goal since the takeover of the club in 2008, yet guardiola says success is far from guaranteed. how many masters have played in his career? in 30 or a0 years as a golfer?

30 years, four majors, like it is a champions league in comparison, how many? 130. 18 out of 130. he loses more than he wins. in football, golf, basketball, michaeljordan. the best advert for me, he won six nba titles, he played 16 years, he loses more than he wins. these games, all games are difficult, the important thing is to be here. listen, tuesday and wednesday, footballers, it's the competition where you want to be. if you are there as a player or you have the possibility to be there as a coach, it's a gift from life. and i appreciate it a lot. and it's an obligation to give my very, very best. some fascinating games in the champions league this week. later, portuguese league leaders benfica take on inter milan, who are 22 points off the top of serie a. frank lampard takes his chelsea

side to the holders, real madrid, on wednesday night. and it's an all—italian affair, as napoli — who are on the cusp of the league title — go to ac milan. tuesday, april 11th marks 100 days to go until the 2023 fifa women's world cup gets under way in australia and new zealand, with organisers saying they're on course to sell a record 1.5 million tickets. around 650,000 have been sold for the event, which begins in both countries on the 20th ofjuly, with the final taking place one month later. 0rganisers predict the tournament will attract a global television audience of two billion viewers and have a significant impact on women's sport in the host nations. this woman's world cup is going to leave, i think, a lasting legacy for women's sport here in australia. cricket australia did it really well a couple of years ago and i feel that every single match is going to be really well—attended and shifting the perception and conversation around woman's sport in australia. the river seine which runs through paris is undergoing a costly and complex clean—up operation ahead

of the olympics held in the french capital next year. preparing the seine for swimming was a major part of the parisian bid to host the games, with the river due to play a central role in the opening ceremony, as well as marathan swimming and triathlon. it has been a project for decades and for me, a fantastic demonstration of the power of the games. thanks to the games, we have the possibility to make sure that all the stakeholders will accelerate the work, to make sure that by 2024, it will be possible and visible to swim in the river centre. —— the river seine. alexander zverev made a winning start to his clay—court season by beating kazakhstan�*s alexander bublik in the first round of the monte carlo masters the german was playing on the surface for the first time since he retired from last year's french open semifinal against rafa nadal with a nasty right ankle injury.

the 13th seed came though in three sets and will next face spaniard roberto bautista agut. gregor dimitrovjoined zverev in the second round with a hard—fought, three—set victory over american ben shelton. after splitting the opening two sets, the bulgarian edged ahead in the decider, before taking the victory in two hours 12 minutes. dimitrov has won 21 matches at the event, his most at any atp masters 1000 tournament. and that's all the sport for now. we will have more for you later. we will have more for you later. we will have more for you later. we will see you in a bit, thanks. let's go back to belfast, joe biden in the air heading to northern ireland to mark 25 years since the good friday agreement. lucy, there is an credible anticipation, isn't there? there is great expectation as to whatjoe biden might say when he addresses students tomorrow at ulster university. whether he has any words that may break the political stalemate. because words really matter in northern ireland,

we have seen that over the years. president biden did have a few words to say before boarding the plane, he is on his way here for a four day visit. let's have a brief reminder of the things he said to jealous before getting onto air force one. what is your top track —— top priority— what is your top track —— top priority on_ what is your top track —— top priority on this trip? what is your top track -- top priority on this trip?- what is your top track -- top priority on this trip? make sure the irish priority on this trip? make sure the irish records _ priority on this trip? make sure the irish records and _ priority on this trip? make sure the irish records and the _ priority on this trip? make sure the irish records and the windsor- irish records and the windsor agreement— irish records and the windsor agreement stay— irish records and the windsor agreement stay in— irish records and the windsor agreement stay in place, - irish records and the windsor. agreement stay in place, keep irish records and the windsor- agreement stay in place, keep the peace, _ agreement stay in place, keep the peace, that — agreement stay in place, keep the peace, that is _ agreement stay in place, keep the peace, that is the _ agreement stay in place, keep the peace, that is the main _ agreement stay in place, keep the peace, that is the main thing. - agreement stay in place, keep the i peace, that is the main thing. keep the eace peace, that is the main thing. keep the peace and _ peace, that is the main thing. keep the peace and keep _ peace, that is the main thing. the peace and keep fingers peace, that is the main thingm the peace and keep fingers crossed, just a few words from president biden. bertie ahernjoins me, he was the prime minister of ireland at the time of the signing of the good friday agreement and is signatory to that agreement, joining us from dublin. good to see you, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. what advice would you be giving to president biden as we understand he is going to speak to leaders of the political parties here in northern ireland tomorrow?—

political parties here in northern ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message _ ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will _ ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will be _ ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will be to _ ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will be to try - ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will be to try and - ireland tomorrow? well, i suppose his message will be to try and see | his message will be to try and see if the _ his message will be to try and see if the party— his message will be to try and see if the party leaders and particularly the democratic unionist party. _ particularly the democratic unionist party, jeffrey donaldson's party, will be _ party, jeffrey donaldson's party, will be prepared to find a way or a mechanism — will be prepared to find a way or a mechanism or some resolution to their— mechanism or some resolution to their objections to what was the latest _ their objections to what was the latest effort, the winds agreement, that rishi _ latest effort, the winds agreement, that rishi sunak did so much work on with the _ that rishi sunak did so much work on with the european union commissioner -- the _ with the european union commissioner —— the windsor agreement. maros sefcovic — —— the windsor agreement. maros sefcovic. we will have to see what he says _ sefcovic. we will have to see what he says. but i think it is fairly ihevitabte _ he says. but i think it is fairly inevitable we are not going to see the institutions up before the local elections. — the institutions up before the local elections, mid—may. still five weeks — elections, mid—may. still five weeks 50— elections, mid—may. still five weeks. so it will be interesting to see if— weeks. so it will be interesting to see if he — weeks. so it will be interesting to see if he can urge them to take life a bit more — see if he can urge them to take life a bit more serious than maybe they have treeh— a bit more serious than maybe they have been doing for the last few months — have been doing for the last few months and move on. tony blair

sinned months and move on. tony blair signed that _ months and move on. tony blair signed that agreement - months and move on. tony blair signed that agreement as - months and move on. tony blair signed that agreement as well, | months and move on. tony blair. signed that agreement as well, the good friday agreement. and he has been speaking to the bbc today, he thinks president biden can play a real role now, let's listen to what he said this morning. the americans can -la a he said this morning. the americans can play a real _ he said this morning. the americans can play a real role, _ he said this morning. the americans can play a real role, but _ he said this morning. the americans can play a real role, but it— he said this morning. the americans can play a real role, but it is- can play a real role, but it is something that you need to do carefully— something that you need to do carefully because there is a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive _ pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative _ positive and the other can be negative. unionism especially, one thing _ negative. unionism especially, one thing i_ negative. unionism especially, one thing i learned about the unionists is if you _ thing i learned about the unionists is if you try— thing i learned about the unionists is if you try and pressurise them to do something they are fundamentally in disagreement with, it is usually futite _ in disagreement with, it is usually futile pressure, even if it comes from _ futile pressure, even if it comes from the — futile pressure, even if it comes from the us, so you have got to use that influence carefully. he from the us, so you have got to use that influence carefully.— that influence carefully. he says there is a difference _ that influence carefully. he says there is a difference between i there is a difference between influencing and pressuring the unionists, would you agree with that and the approach that tony blair

recommends?— and the approach that tony blair recommends? yes, i agree totally. ton blair recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and _ recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and i— recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and i were _ recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and i were at _ recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and i were at this - recommends? yes, i agree totally. tony blair and i were at this for- tony blair and i were at this for years. a decade, directly in talks with them. i think it is the force of the argument and the sense of the argument. the reality is, it is not good for the people of northern ireland that the institutions of the good friday agreement are not meeting, it is not good for their education services, for the health service, for their infrastructure services. and it is not anything any of us say is to pressurise them, it is just the harsh reality that they haven't got a budget, they have difficulties with their budget in terms of there is a black hole that needs to be filled in terms of resources. there is some low—level violence that needs to be dealt with. the economy has an enormous opportunity of advancing. and i think all of us are saying the same

thing. we'rejust trying think all of us are saying the same thing. we're just trying to plead with to do the right thing. there is no point in trying to lecture people or force people. no point in trying to lecture people orforce people. it isjust no point in trying to lecture people or force people. it is just that it makes sense economically, culturally, politically, economically, to move on in these things. i think that is all we are saying, nobody is trying to hold a hammer over anybody�*s head because we know that that is a waste of space. we know that that is a waste of sace. �* , ., , space. and in terms of president biden's involvement, _ space. and in terms of president biden's involvement, what - space. and in terms of president biden's involvement, what you l space. and in terms of president. biden's involvement, what you read into the fact that he has really curtailed his visit here to northern ireland is to mark the pump in the ceremony, much of the attention is going to be when he goes to dublin. —— northern ireland? the going to be when he goes to dublin. -- northern ireland?— -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony- _ -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony. i _ -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony. ithink— -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony. i think that - -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony. i think that is - -- northern ireland? the pump and the ceremony. i think that is a - the ceremony. i think that is a pity, he had no assembly to address. it would be ridiculous going to stormont and talking to an empty room or a room peoplejust turned up

for 15 minutes to listen to him, they have not been there for 15 months so there is no point sending out the posse to round them up to listen to a speech when they are not there in theirjobs. i am afraid you can't blamejoe biden for that. that is because the institutions in northern ireland are not running. i think that is a pity. but anyway, you have to make changes as you go. i am very familiar with the nuance —— with the new ulster university building in belfast, it is a beautiful location, the city centre, the heart of belfast. and it is a good place for president biden to make his address and hopefully to meet some of the party leaders. belfast has a lot of promise and a good future. and i think what the american president can say is that he can put his weight behind further

economic investment. belfast is fast becoming a place for artificial intelligence. more investment will help morejobs. particularly into the areas that are less affluent and areas that have maybe not got as much investment or innovation. you have already — much investment or innovation. you have already touched on some of the things people have said to me about their frustrations with the political process at the moment because what they care about is health, education, the cost of living. they are really frustrated about the fact that progress can't be made in some of those areas. people have also said to me there are still deep divisions here in society. what would you do to try to heal some of those? i had a great conversation with some 14—year—old boys yesterday, one was protestant and one was catholic and they go to and one was catholic and they go to an integrated school with their friends, but others have said, we are still a very divided society. northern ireland is still divided.

there are still peace walls. a lot of the issues are around legacy, around finding a solution as to how to deal with those cases that have not been investigated or where there is not information. there still is segregated education. so there are still many difficulties. but i honestly believe the best way of dealing with those issues, and i would have hoped this down the years, is for the politicians who are elected and who have a mandate to deal with these issues. they should be working and meeting and dealing with them. and they should be doing that with the help of the irish government, when they asked for it, north and south bodies, exchanging information and cooperation come up with the british government where they need that and with the european union where they need that and with the help of america. this is what politicians should be doing. we shouldn't be having this nonstop debate about

whether institutions are up and running, they should be running and they should be dealing with the issues that affect everyday life. and that is my hope. it is just my hope that we get to that position and we get to it soon. if there are outstanding issues, let's try and address them, let the british government and americans if necessary, irish government and politicians in the north try and deal with them. in fairness to the people of northern ireland, they deserve working institutions. the assembly, the executive, north and south bodies, british—irish council. that was what tony blair and i agreed with them all 25 years ago and wejust want agreed with them all 25 years ago and we just want to see them operate. and we just want to see them 0 erate. �* �* , and we just want to see them oerate. �* . , ., operate. bertie ahern, very good to have ou operate. bertie ahern, very good to have you with _ operate. bertie ahern, very good to have you with us, _ operate. bertie ahern, very good to have you with us, thanks _ operate. bertie ahern, very good to have you with us, thanks for - operate. bertie ahern, very good to have you with us, thanks forjoining| have you with us, thanks forjoining us on bbc news. listening to bertie and watching president biden as he departed from the us down to belfast as our ireland correspondent for the bbc mark devenport who is with me now. i said he thinks it is a bit of

a missed opportunity that president biden is here for such a short time, what is being said about that, is that sense may washington is punishing parties here for the vacuum that we see at the moment? i vacuum that we see at the moment? i think there has been a suggestion this is washington sending out a message to unionism and the british government that they need to get their act together in terms of power—sharing here in northern ireland. clearly if we were in a different universe and there had been a deal and unionists had accepted that windsor framework, probably the president would have spent more time in northern ireland greeting notjust university students, but ideally a first minister and deputy first minister and assembly sifting up instalment, we know that is not the case. i agree with both bertie ahern and tony blair when they say it's important the white house now uses its influence in a sophisticated and low—key weight rather than try to pressurise anyone because that probably won't yield results where that unionists are concerned. they

are still considering the windsor framework and seemed not convinced by it, but may be attitudes will change in the longer term. when it comes to power-sharing, - change in the longer term. when it comes to power-sharing, if - change in the longer term. when it comes to power-sharing, if we - comes to power—sharing, if we reflect on the good friday agreement, changes are for already be made, but are more required? taste be made, but are more required? - certainly have a political problem, it has delivered great results in terms of the peace because if you look at the figures, there is no question northern ireland is a much improved place, but we do have a political problem. this system of government is very fragile and has been down for as long as it is up and running at stormont. reforming it could be a real can of worms because if you change it in one way, you will annoy one part and if you change it in another, you will annoy the opposite extreme. whilst it may ultimately have to be reviewed and reformed, actually doing that is going to be a hard task. i reformed, actually doing that is going to be a hard task.- going to be a hard task. i asked bertie ahern — going to be a hard task. i asked bertie ahern about _ going to be a hard task. i asked bertie ahern about the - going to be a hard task. i asked| bertie ahern about the divisions going to be a hard task. i asked i bertie ahern about the divisions in society. quite a few people have talked to me about that. can you reflect for us for a moment what life was like before the good friday

agreement and really what has changed? particularly for young changed ? particularly for young people changed? particularly for young people who never lived through that period of time. people who never lived through that period of time-— period of time. when i was a young re orter period of time. when i was a young reporter here _ period of time. when i was a young reporter here in _ period of time. when i was a young reporter here in the _ period of time. when i was a young reporter here in the 1980s, - period of time. when i was a young reporter here in the 1980s, the i reporter here in the 1980s, the killings were a daily occurrence and that was just something that everybody became to be commenced mightjust be grim fact of life forever and a day. things have changed massively for the better, but we do —— but we still have social division, the majority of children educated in special schools, public housing given out on the basis of different religions and it will be some time before society changes fundamentally in those ways. it is a long, long process. most --eole it is a long, long process. most people are _ it is a long, long process. most people are hopeful, _ it is a long, long process. most people are hopeful, though? ll it is a long, long process. most- people are hopeful, though? i think --eole will people are hopeful, though? i think people will be _ people are hopeful, though? i think people will be hopeful, _ people are hopeful, though? i think people will be hopeful, you - people are hopeful, though? i think people will be hopeful, you have i people are hopeful, though? i think people will be hopeful, you have to| people will be hopeful, you have to be hopeful even if we may be dogged by party—political problem still at stormont for some time to come. thank you very much. that's it for now from belfast, we will continue to be with you throughout the day. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

three, two, one! we have lift—off! the blue plaque honours the filming in brighton & hove of the seminal mod movie quadrophenia. actor phil daniels starred asjimmy in the film. very proud, yeah, to have a plaque, after all those years, you know? quadrophenia charts jimmy's story. like all mods, he's into sharp suits, the most modern soul and pop music, and scooters. totally different to the rockers, who like motorcycles, leatherjackets, and �*50s rock—and—roll music. the film means an awful lot to those who've braved the rain to come here today. i'm from hamburg and i've come all the way here to be here when the plaque is being attached to the wall. it's fantastic, you know, and brighton love it too. when the mods first burst onto the scene in the early �*60s, who'd have thought they'd be still going strong and their cultural significance

recognised all these years on? you're live with bbc news. the imf has downgraded its global growth forecast for 2023. it also said that the uk is set to be one of the worst performing major economies in the world this year. let's cross to ben thompson who is in the newsroom. the global slowdown, just walk us through that. really interesting set of figures from the imf and this is a snapshot of what the economy could look like over the months and years to come. and the global economy going through a real roller—coaster. largely caused by that war in ukraine that has forced energy prices higher, food prices higher, and that has taken its toll on economies around the world. but in this latest snapshot, there is interesting data and this tells you probably all you need to know. and i would say china down the bottom a growth of more than 5%, a bit of an

outlier, you might say, but there are always questions about the validity of data from china. so sort of disregard that, if you will. but the picture starts to open up here, the picture starts to open up here, the us, canada, japan, doing pretty welland the us, canada, japan, doing pretty well and bouncing back from the lows they saw in the wake of all those problems. but the sluggish economies remain once again the uk and germany, the uk set to contract by 0.3%, the worst performing economy of the g7, and that crucially includes russia. russia of course subject to so many sanctions from many western economies as a result of that war in ukraine, and even though it is subject to those sanctions, the uk managing to fare much worse. we have heard from the treasury in the uk, they say these figures paint a picture of an economy in the uk that is on the mend, they say the upgrade in growth forecast for the uk is stronger than many other countries. the strongest in the g7. if you are being unkind committee would say that is because it has fallen so much, there is more

ground to build up. but the uk the outlier in all of this and germany still struggling to make —— to make much headway. why is all this happening? i touched on it, those higher energy prices and higher food prices that have pushed up inflation around the world and it has meant we are spending more unjust basics and essentials. it is money out of our pockets which we cannot go out and spend, that has had a knock—on effect for businesses. coupled with that, interest rates, the cost of borrowing has been going up and that makes us poorer, it makes borrowing more expensive, businesses find it harder to invest. all of that means the economy is struggling to shake off what has been a pretty difficult 12 months. bud off what has been a pretty difficult 12 months. �* . off what has been a pretty difficult 12 months. . . ., ., 12 months. and that final thought because the _ 12 months. and that final thought because the imf _ 12 months. and that final thought because the imf had _ 12 months. and that final thought because the imf had predictions. because the imf had predictions about interest rates, about inflation, but what are they actually saying and critically, what is the timeline for those things coming down?— is the timeline for those things coming down? yes, we know how difficult higher _ coming down? yes, we know how difficult higher interest _ coming down? yes, we know how difficult higher interest rates i coming down? yes, we know how difficult higher interest rates canl difficult higher interest rates can be for many of our own budgets, our

personal finances, be for many of our own budgets, our personalfinances, but for be for many of our own budgets, our personal finances, but for those of businesses as well, mortgages, credit cards, loans, investments cost more when the cost of borrowing goes up. the imf in a separate report earlier today said it expects the cost of borrowing will start to fall. it is pretty confident about that it says because things will get back to some sort of normality. they say they will go back to pre—pandemic levels. but there is a caveat. it is worth remembering those pre—pandemic levels were artificially low. since the global financial crisis of 2008, interest rates have been at record lows for a very long time. the world has got used to cheap money, the sugar rush that comes from cheap money. so we might start to see them fall back to something a little more normal, but in a historical context, it is worth remembering those rates we saw before the pandemic were very low. we might see them creep back closer to 2% or 1.5% rather than 0% or 0.5% we saw in some economies around the

world. �* . ., ., ,, , world. ben, thanks for taking us throu~h world. ben, thanks for taking us through that. — world. ben, thanks for taking us through that, thank _ world. ben, thanks for taking us through that, thank you. - reports from myanmar say at least 50 civilians, including children. have been killed by an air strike on a village. eyewitnesses say that a military aircraft launched the attack, as people gathered for the opening ceremony of a new public authority office. the country has seen intense fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups in the two years following a military coup. soe win than is the editor of bbc burmese service. just tell us more about what you know about this incident. the incident know about this incident. tie incident happened know about this incident. tte incident happened today, know about this incident. ttj: incident happened today, this morning at 7am local time when like you mentioned, troops gathered to open a new local administrative office, when the army sent in a fighterjet and bomb which directly hit the crowd, killing several people. we saw on social media, we spoke to the local residents and the people in the areas. they said it

headed directly into the crowd, killing several come in the pictures you saw, charred remains of the bodies, motorcycles and charred buildings. and in the evening, they said they have recovered 56 bodies and they were cremated. there could be a lot more because they are still identifying and trying to retrieve because the body parts were everywhere. brute because the body parts were everywhere-— because the body parts were everywhere. because the body parts were eve here. . , ., ., everywhere. we have put onto the screen just — everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now _ everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now a _ everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now a few _ everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now a few of _ everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now a few of the i everywhere. we have put onto the screen just now a few of the still l screen just now a few of the still pictures, there are many more pictures, there are many more pictures, i know you have seen them, for obvious reasons, we are not putting those onto the screen. but i mentioned the military coup, the intense fighting. just how intense has the fighting been since the coup and in recent months? it has the fighting been since the coup and in recent months?— has the fighting been since the coup and in recent months? it has become more intense- _ and in recent months? it has become more intense. because _ and in recent months? it has become more intense. because both - and in recent months? it has become more intense. because both sides i more intense. because both sides have vowed to crush the other. the army chief vowed on an armed forces day parade ceremony he would crush

the opposition. the opposition also vowed that 2023 would be the decisive year for them. so vowed that 2023 would be the decisive yearfor them. so intense battles are going on in many parts of the country. but increasingly, the military has been resorting to their superior air power to defeat. because in the ground battles, they are, the regime suffer quite big losses in many battles. because they are fighting many fronts. notjust the one confined area, on many fronts. they increasingly use the aerial power to attack the opposition troops. brute aerial power to attack the opposition troops. aerial power to attack the o- osition troos. ~ ., opposition troops. we will leave it there. of course, _ opposition troops. we will leave it there. of course, questions i opposition troops. we will leave it there. of course, questions move| opposition troops. we will leave it i there. of course, questions move to there. of course, questions move to holding the regime to account and the international efforts regarding all of that. but thanks for that update on a really important story that has emerged in the last few hours. we are going to take a break. we are back in belfast again with lucy as the countdown continues to

joe biden's visit to northern ireland, as we have already seen, he is in the air heading to belfast. we are back in a moment, don't go away. hello there. we've got some very windy weather on the way tonight and into wednesday. an area of low pressure is developing along the atlantic jet stream. this is causing the pressure to drop explosively. drops of pressure by over 30 millibars in the space of 24 hours, well, these areas of low pressure are sometimes referred to as �*weather bombs'. it will certainly be bringing some strong winds our way over the next 24 hours. now, today, we've already had the best of the sunny weather. through the afternoon, outbreaks of rain will be encroaching from the west, with the winds picking up, as well. that said, we'll hold on to the dry and sunny weather for the north—east of scotland all day. it's overnight tonight that we start to get some strong winds. the first bout of windy weather really affecting wales

and western england. gusts of wind 50 to 70, maybe even over 70mph in the most exposed locations could bring some areas of localised disruption. meanwhile, overnight, we'll see rain blow northwards and eastwards across the country. the winds becoming blustery everywhere and showers will be following to western areas later in the night. temperatures will be similar to those of last night's lows of between two and six degrees celsius. tomorrow, a very unsettled day. blustery winds for all of us. outbreaks of rain and plenty of showers around too, but we'll see some further zones of strong winds. southern wales and southern areas of england could see gusts of wind up to 70mph in places. strong enough to bring some disruption. the winds will get very gusty as well for northern ireland. again, strong enough to bring one or two issues here. aside from the very windy weather, we'll have outbreaks of rain, some thunder mixed in, pushing eastwards across all parts of the country. it will be cold enough even for a bit of snow mixed in, particularly across the high ground in northern scotland, mostly above 400 metres elevation. a cold day.

temperatures seven to 12 degrees, but feeling even colder than that given the strength of the winds. by the time we get to thursday, the area of low pressure will be working out into the north sea. still close enough to bring plenty of showers. some of these heavy and thundery, maybe even a bit wintry still over the highest ground in scotland, and temperatures continue to struggle at eight to 14 degrees. that's below par for the time of year. we have more unsettled weather to come then through friday and the weekend, with rain and showers around, but gradually through sunday and monday, it becomes drier and eventually warmer. the first 20 of the year on the charts in london into monday.

live from london, bbc news, global growth for uk and germany in major economies. and on air force one for his visit to northern ireland to mark 25 years of the good friday agreement. we are live in belfast talking to people about their experience of brexit and biden's visit and reflections on the good friday agreement and what it means to them. junior doctors have started a four—day strike and a quarter of million appointments and operations are said to be cancelled.