hello, you are watching bbc news. we are following events ofjoe biden pass visit to ireland. let's take you to live pictures. the us president isjust due you to live pictures. the us president is just due to arrive there to meet the irish president. they will talk about the continued ties between the republic of ireland and the united states. you will know this is part of a four day official visit from the us president. later today, expected to talk about the shared vision for the future us— ireland relationship. he will then address the irish parliament, just the fourth us president to do so. as you can see, the world's media gathered there, but also that

motorcade that is making its way towards the irish president. let's bring in our correspondence, charlotte gallagher. a lot of pomp and ceremony. today, very much the formal part of this visit. yes. and ceremony. today, very much the formal part of this visit.— formal part of this visit. yes, it is really back— formal part of this visit. yes, it is really back to _ formal part of this visit. yes, it is really back to business - formal part of this visit. yes, it is really back to business for i formal part of this visit. yes, it | is really back to business forjoe is really back to business forjoe biden after spending last night in a pub, he was even behind the bar at one point. it looked like he was going to pull a pint of guinness. today he is meeting the president, michael d higgins, his wife, and also the deputy prime minister. he is at the official residence to meet joe biden. and rows of soldiers as well. it has all the hallmarks of a state visit. so they are going to be going into the house, having discussions. and the two men probably have quite a lot in common. michael d higgins is a poet and we know thatjoe biden likes to

frequently quote irish poets. seamus heaney, for example. they are going to be having discussions. then they are going to be planting a tree together in the grounds of the residents, and that is being done by many us presidents before him like jfk, bill clinton. and then he is going to be bringing the peace bell. the peace bell is significant because it was unveiled in 2008 by the then president mary mcaleese, and it marks ten years of the good friday agreement. and now it is 25 years of the good friday agreement. and that is whyjoe biden has come to the island of ireland, so it is really significant that he is going to be ringing that bill today, marking 25 years of peace here. then it is off to the irish parliament later on today, and he is going to become the fourth us president to address irish politicians in the parliament, afterjfk, ronald reagan and bill clinton. so a huge honour forjoe biden, a man who often talks

about his roots in this country. he says he is a proud irish—american, said last night in dundalk that he feels at home here. he said at one point, "i don't know why my ancestors left, it is absolutely brilliant." so he obviously feels very irish, so a huge honourfor him to address irish politicians. later this evening, he will be having an official banquet at dublin castle, and then that is the end of the dublin part of the visit. and also the end really of the official business. tomorrow is more of a time forjoe biden to relax. he is going to county mayo, where he has ancestral roots. he is going to be going to a catholic shrine, a heritage centre to learn more about his ancestry. and then he is topping off his visit with a speech in ballina, outside of the town pass cathedral, in front of thousands of people. he has cousins in the town that he sees very often. in fact, they sometimes go to the white

house, especially st patrick's day. and when one of them got married, he said a message. so he obviously feels there is ties to ireland and his irish family very deeply. charlotte, you are talking about that address. just the fourth us president to make that address to both houses of parliament. in contrast to what we saw in previous days, of course the stormont assembly suspended. there was some frustration perhaps that he wasn't able to speak with politicians there. this feels very different on this leg of the trip. it there. this feels very different on this leg of the trip.— this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and i _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and i say - this leg of the trip. it does feel. very different. and i say actually he looks a lot more relaxed in this part of the visit. but i think perhaps we don't have the political sensitivities here in the republic of ireland like we do in northern ireland at the moment. stormont isn't functioning. he was invited to speak at stormont but he declined, thatis speak at stormont but he declined, that is because essentially stormont is mothballed at the moment, politicians are not working there. but he has decided to accept the

invitation to speak at the irish parliament. and looking at the pictures last night of him in dundalk and carlingford, he looked incredibly relaxed, almost like he was on his holiday at one point. sharing a drink with the locals, having lots of selfies with people. meeting up with relations. joking and laughing with them. so this stage of the visit does seem a little more relaxed than it did in belfast, when i think there was a lot of pressure because of the political situation there, the political situation there, the political instability. he knew exactly what he was going to say and what influence he was going to have. and what is also quite striking looking at these pictures is the weather. there was a lot of rain for the first part of the trip, wasn't there? particularly when he touched down in belfast but also in dublin. today, the sun is out, the view is glorious, and i will make quite a departure. president biden also joking about that. he said this is ireland, we should be used to it.

well, exactly. and if you have ever been to the island of ireland or you live on the island of ireland you will know that you cannot always guarantee the weather, even in the middle of summer. yes, it has been fairly wet, and as i have been sending out for a lot of this visit i have definitely felt that. so it is really nice today to see the sun is really nice today to see the sun is out and dublin is looking beautiful today. the president pass official residence is really shining sunlight and it is really showing off the irish capital to its best. joe biden obviously really revelling in driving around dublin, seeing the sights here. later on, he will be going to dublin castle, which is of course beautiful, for an official banquet there. he really is being treated to the best that dublin has to offer. and it does look like he is really enjoying himself. he is actually brought some of his family on this trip as well. his sister, valerie, and his son, hunter. because he said he wanted them to

experience the island of ireland as well because they hadn't been before. so it is a family trip as well as being a business trip. there is a lot of politics involved, a lot of diplomacy, but also a chance for him to really enjoy himself and learn about his history and meet some cousins that he hadn't even met before. he met sam yesterday in dundalk that he had never met before, distant cousins who were obviously really thrilled that it turns out one of their distant relations is the us president. a lot of people do their family tree but it is pretty rare you will find out you are connected to a world leader. interesting that the next meeting he is about to have is the irish president, michael d higgins, who is waiting outside the front of the official residence there in dublin. while we are talking, it looks like the president is about to step out of the vehicle, the beast, to make that meeting. and it is so interesting there is so much work on the agenda but this is very much the ceremonial element, and the real work perhaps will be done behind

closed doors. but wejust looking there at that important meeting. you can see the irish president, michael d higgins, meeting with us president joe biden. a lot of work ahead but absolutely this, ceremonial part of the trip. the band waiting to play behind them. just talk about what would be on the agenda in terms of topics. as you touched on, we have talked a lot about the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement, but also ukraine right at the top of the agenda for discussions. and ireland's involvement in ukraine and the ongoing offensive there. ireland playing a key role in the allies effort there in ukraine. it playing a key role in the allies effort there in ukraine.- playing a key role in the allies effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has _ effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has also _ effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has also taken _ effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has also taken a - effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has also taken a lot - effort there in ukraine. it has and ireland has also taken a lot of - ireland has also taken a lot of ukrainian refugees, a lot of ukrainian refugees, a lot of ukrainian refugees, a lot of ukrainian refugees live the irish republic like they do in the uk as well. so they will be talking as

well. so they will be talking as well about ukraine, the military effort, what more can be done. and i think us officials want to support other allies in that and make sure they feel supported. so that is something to talk about. the good friday agreement and the political instability in northern ireland. what do politicians here in the irish republic think about that? do they have any ideas? do they have any views? i'm surejoe biden wants to hear what they have to say about that. and then also there is strong and enduring ties between the united states and the irish republic. there probably isn't a stronger relationship, really. so many irish people left here and travelled to the united states over the past few centuries. and quite a few us presidents we have seen have had irish ancestry, and they love to talk about it, they love to make a big deal about their irish roots. and that is quite clever when it comes to voting, because the number of americans who identify as irish—american as over 30 million, and they generally vote democrat. so

forjoe biden to have them on site, especially if he is going to run in 2024, which we think he probably is going to do, that is obviously a really positive thing for him at the ballot box. for him to be pictured with michael d higgins and all the irish soldiers, the pub and ceremony, and then also to be seen on the streets of places like dundalk and carlingford, all those people waving at him, holding up their flags with people waving at him, holding up theirflags with signs people waving at him, holding up their flags with signs like "welcome home, joe" and "cousinjoe" that can only be positive in terms of his electoral chances in 2024. really interesting _ electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to _ electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to talk _ electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to talk to _ electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to talk to you. - electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to talk to you. as - electoral chances in 2024. really interesting to talk to you. as you j interesting to talk to you. as you can see on screen, they have now entered the official residence. and as charlotte was telling us, it is worth pointing out that a little later he will give a speech to both houses of the irish parliament. an honour only previously given to each three other us presidents. john f

cavity back in, ronald reagan and bill clinton. an historic day already under way, beginning with president biden meeting with the irish president at the official residence ——john f irish president at the official residence —— john f cavity. irish president at the official residence ——john f cavity. we irish president at the official residence —— john f cavity. we will bring you any further developments as we get them here on bbc news. that is the scene live now in dublin. we will stay right across that, but let's take you to france now. to france now, where police are expecting hundreds of thousands of protesters to gather on what will be the 12th day of nationwide strikes against pension reforms. the constitutional court is expected to rule on the legality of the draft pensions law which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. security is on high alert across several cities. let's talk to bruno palier. he's from the centre for european studies and comparative politics at sciences po. thank you for being with us on the programme. so here we are again, a

12th day of nationwide strikes. and i wonder first of all what those protesters will be hoping to achieve? that the previous 11 days did not manage to achieve. timer;r achieve? that the previous 11 days did not manage to achieve. they want to sa that did not manage to achieve. they want to say that they _ did not manage to achieve. they want to say that they continue _ did not manage to achieve. they want to say that they continue to _ did not manage to achieve. they want to say that they continue to be - to say that they continue to be opposed to this pension reform. 0ne opposed to this pension reform. one way to say this is to demonstrate, the other one is to show the polls where the numbers are still extremely high. you have something like 70-75% extremely high. you have something like 70—75% of the french people who are opposed to this reform. you have some strikes. so the goal is to continue to show that the french population is opposed to this reform. it population is opposed to this reform. , , , ., reform. it is interesting when you look at the _ reform. it is interesting when you look at the numbers _ reform. it is interesting when you look at the numbers across - reform. it is interesting when you l look at the numbers across europe. as you said, raising that pension age from 60 to — 64. ireland, we have just been age from 60 to — 64. ireland, we havejust been in dublin. the pension age is 66 rising to 68 by the year 2028. germany, currently 65. italy, 67. the uk, 66. soon to

move to 67. why would france be any different? we know the cost of people living longer is growing, but there are still huge resentment and opposition to his plans. i there are still huge resentment and opposition to his plans.— opposition to his plans. i must say that i disagree _ opposition to his plans. i must say that i disagree with _ opposition to his plans. i must say that i disagree with your— opposition to his plans. i must sayj that i disagree with your numbers. unless you say france is at 67 already, because the numbers you put is the age after which you can retire and have a full pension, even if you didn't contribute enough. but actually, if you are true to the system in germany for instance, he should say that in germany people can leave at the age of 63 if they have contributed at least 35 years. you should say that in the uk of course you can leave before 67. in ireland, you can leave before 68. you will receive less pension if you leave earlier than the age you refer to. the situation is exactly the

same in france. in france, we say that you cannot leave before 62, but if you don't have contributed enough years, which is currently 42 years, you will get a discount. unless you wait until 67. so the comparison should be true and mentioned the two ages that we have in france, as well as mentioning the two ages that you have in germany or in sweden, 63. the real comparison you should have is to say that on average german people retire at 65. on average, french people retire at 63. so what is the difference there? the difference there is employers policies with the age of their workers. in germany, they try to keep them. in france, they are trying to get rid of them. and as you see, this is not by changing the law that he will change the behaviour of employers towards aged

workers. this is exactly also what the unions are saying, "let us speak about aged workers, how can we keep them on board in firms rather than asking people to be waiting for the time for pension? when they are not in employment any more. half the french people have been sacked before the age of 60.— french people have been sacked before the age of 60. bruno, it is aood to before the age of 60. bruno, it is good to have _ before the age of 60. bruno, it is good to have your— before the age of 60. bruno, it is good to have your thoughts. - before the age of 60. bruno, it is. good to have your thoughts. thank you for being with us. it is really interesting. we are going to keep a close eye on what is happening right across the country. just to give you across the country. just to give you a sense of what is happening, new pictures coming into us here at the bbc. these are pictures of protesters, striking workers who have successfully managed to get inside the headquarters of the luxury goods firms, the parent company of many of the big luxury brands. those protesters inside the headquarters in paris. we took there

about security being on high alert in many cities as the country prepares for that 12th day of nationwide strikes against pension reforms. there is plans to raise the pension age, the retirement age, from 62—64. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. wow, look! it's, like, really weird that loads of people are going to see my art alongside all of these other artworks. it was crazy, like, seeing it in a frame and having the little thing beside it with, like, the name and my description that i wrote. atjust i4, chloe has won the rare chance to have a piece of her artwork displayed at the tate modern in london. she was named britain's best young artist after she beat 26 other talented youngsters in the cbbc series of the same name.

the winning piece is a self—portrait showing chloe wrapping her arms around her home in gateshead. i've lived in this house my whole life so i was like, "oh, well, my house makes me me, i grew up in my house — i learned how to draw in my house." in the painting, it's me hugging my european house. and in the background, it's the african savannah, showing my african heritage. her work is on display at tate modern until the end of the month. you're live with bbc news. the european space agency is due to launch a spacecraft towardsjupiter in just over an hour's time, in search for signs of life on three of the planet's moons. the vessel is called the "jupiter icy moons explorer", and is also referred to as "juice". it'll take eight years to reach the moons which scientists think may have liquid oceans beneath the surface.

0ur science editor rebecca morelle reports. they're some of the largest moons in the solar system. 0rbiting jupiter, they're shrouded in thick layers of ice. but beneath, there are hints of vast liquid oceans, and scientists want to find out if they could support life. now, a european space agency mission could answer that question. the spacecraft is called juice, and it has an epicjourney ahead of more than 4 billion miles. we arejust going we are just going to step away from rebecca's port and take you straight back to dublin as promised. the irish president and the us president, joe biden isjust signing the visitors book at the official residence. as we set a little earlier, he is also due to bring the peace bell. that is in the grounds of the official residence, as well as signing the visitor book there. that peace bill that will be wrong was unveiled in 2008 to mark the tenth anniversary of the good friday agreement. you will know we have been discussing at length this visit by president biden, marking the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement. so the signing just

taking place there. let's listen in to see if we can hear any of the comments from the irish president or the us president. just comments from the irish president or the us president.— the us president. just for a photograph _ the us president. just for a photograph. all _ the us president. just for a photograph. all right. - the us president. just for a photograph. all right. ok. | the us president. just for a - photograph. all right. 0k. thank ou, photograph. all right. 0k. thank you. thank— photograph. all right. 0k. thank you. thank you. _ photograph. all right. 0k. thank you, thank you, thank _ photograph. all right. 0k. thank you, thank you, thank you. - photograph. all right. 0k. thank you, thank you, thank you. mr . you, thank you, thank you. mr president. what _ you, thank you, thank you. mr president. what i _ you, thank you, thank you. mr president. what i wrote - you, thank you, thank you. mr president. what i wrote in - you, thank you, thank you. mr president. what i wrote in the | you, thank you, thank you. mr - president. what i wrote in the book was, as president. what i wrote in the book was. as the — president. what i wrote in the book was, as the irish _ president. what i wrote in the book was, as the irish saying _ president. what i wrote in the book was, as the irish saying goes, - president. what i wrote in the book was, as the irish saying goes, your| was, as the irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is. and then i say, it is an honour to return. i talk about returning to the home of my ancestors, "to celebrate the things that bind ireland and the united states, and recommit ourselves to peace and equity." anyway, thank you all very

much. i'm not going home. i'm staying here. all you american reporters, it isjust staying here. all you american reporters, it is just like the white house, right? thank you. all right. we are going that way? all right. so their end is one of the official parts of that visit. signing the guestbook. at the official residence of the irish president. the eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that the burmese dogs that often accompany the president of ireland were not there, they have often been known to steal the show when the irish president welcomes people to

the... a number of events that are planned for that visit before addressing both houses of the irish parliament a little later. joe blewitt is a distance relative ofjoe biden and hejoins us now from bal—inna in county mayo where the president will be visiting tomorrow. i'm a i'm a third cousin to president biden. historically, he was a stonemason so he built bricks by hand and he saw the bricks to the cathedral which was being built at the time. they are in the cathedral and that is how he raised money to bring his family to america. find i bring his family to america. and i susect bring his family to america. and i suspect over _ bring his family to america. and i suspect over recent _ bring his family to america. and i suspect over recent days - bring his family to america. and i suspect over recent days you - bring his family to america. and i suspect over recent days you have been very busy, either talking to people, attending events. and i know

you will be attending some of the events later today, too? yes. you will be attending some of the events later today, too?- you will be attending some of the events later today, too? yes, it is treat events later today, too? yes, it is great fun- — events later today, too? yes, it is great fun. there _ events later today, too? yes, it is great fun. there is _ events later today, too? yes, it is great fun. there is a _ events later today, too? yes, it is great fun. there is a great - events later today, too? yes, it is great fun. there is a great buzz i great fun. there is a great buzz around here. the whole place is decorated with american flags and the stage has been built. there is a great buzz around. there is a lot of media attention. you great buzz around. there is a lot of media attention.— great buzz around. there is a lot of media attention. you have met him before, haven't _ media attention. you have met him before, haven't you? _ media attention. you have met him before, haven't you? tell— media attention. you have met him before, haven't you? tell me - media attention. you have met him before, haven't you? tell me a - before, haven't you? tell me a little about who he is.- little about who he is. who is president _ little about who he is. who is president biden? _ little about who he is. who is president biden? i— little about who he is. who is president biden? i was - little about who he is. who is president biden? i was at - little about who he is. who isj president biden? i was at the little about who he is. who is - president biden? i was at the white housein president biden? i was at the white house in 2016. he was here in 2017. i was in the white house there for st patrick's day. he is a really nice guy. it is not about himself, it is all about you. he is a great man. he is very proud of his irish roots and he is very charismatic. that is the sort of fellow he is. have a great day. enjoy it. if you get to meet him again a little later. it is really great to talk to you, joe. and it looks glorious there where you are in beleno.

live now to fergus 0'dowd who is a member of the lower house of the irish parliament for the louth constituency and chair of the committee on the implementation of the good friday agreement. hejoins us now from dublin. talk to us about the importance of today. the address later will be a significant moment, won't it? obviously any president from america 0bviously any president from america is very welcome to come and talk to us and to tell us how we can continue to work together. 40 million americans claim irish heritage and we are very proud of that heritage and we are very proud of our president, because he is from my county and he visited my county yesterday. and unfortunately the weather is not as welcoming as the people are. it is very important that the western world has a leader we can all be proud of and obviously

given the war in ukraine, the uncertainty between china and russia and so on, that we have clear leadership and support in the western world and we are part of obviously welcoming him here. and we are also very conscious of our relationships with the knighted kingdom and the government. they have recently improved have recently im proved significantly. have recently improved significantly. we very much welcome that, we all have to live and work together in peace. some people unfortunately were killed in the south and also the united kingdom, and it was a very difficult period for us. so we have looked to the next 25 years and american investment and support which was offered yesterday. i think 3 billion at least in the united states into the economy. will be very welcome. lots of things to look forward to. briefly for us a few would, fergus,

what do you expect the parliamentarians will want to hear most when he addresses them later today? his most when he addresses them later toda ? , , , most when he addresses them later toda ? , ,., ., today? his message is a message of eace and today? his message is a message of peace and economic _ today? his message is a message of peace and economic growth - today? his message is a message of peace and economic growth and - peace and economic growth and support. i think he has already outlined that in belfast, and no doubt the fact that over 200,000 people employed in the south pier directly in american companies is very important. and to sustain that investment and to give us the employment in the high—tech industries that we have here, we hope that will continue. and also the political and the personal relationships. i will never underestimate the power of irish americans in particular, and it has been very helpful to us in our history. it been very helpful to us in our histo . , been very helpfulto us in our histo . , ., , been very helpful to us in our histo . , ., ., history. it is really good to have ou with history. it is really good to have you with us- _ history. it is really good to have you with us. sorry _ history. it is really good to have you with us. sorry to _ history. it is really good to have you with us. sorry to keep - history. it is really good to have you with us. sorry to keep it - history. it is really good to have you with us. sorry to keep it so| you with us. sorry to keep it so short. there is a very busy day ahead, as i'm sure you will appreciate. let's show you that scene there in dublin, the two presidents have signed the visitor

book. we are expecting them to soon make their way outside to ring that peace bell. we will have continued coverage for you here on bbc news. after the stormy weather that some of us had to endure yesterday, today things are a little calmer. storm noah you can see here on our earlier satellite picture attending to break apart, but still some shower clouds left behind. there are some heavy showers out there, some of which will contain some hail and some thunder. spells of sunshine in between. still quite breezy for some through parts of northern ireland, northern england, into the midlands and east anglia. not as many as yesterday. still chilly, though. 9-13 . yesterday. still chilly, though. 9—13. through this evening and tonight, some showers, bands of showers drifting across scotland and northern ireland. the odd shower into wales ahead of this rain band

into wales ahead of this rain band into the south—west of england, holding temperatures up to around 7 degrees in plymouth. further north, a touch of frost for some. low pressure still in charge tomorrow. this front running across the south of the uk will bring some outbreaks of the uk will bring some outbreaks of rain, particularly through southern counties of england, south wales, the south midlands for a time. further north, sunny spells and showers once again. during the afternoon, we may well see more persistent rain developing across parts of the midlands and up into parts of the midlands and up into parts of the midlands and up into parts of yorkshire and lincolnshire as well. temperature wise, ten — 12 degrees. no great shakes for this point in april. through the weekend things begin to change because high pressure is going to tend to build. that will bring more in the way of dry weather, some spells of sunshine, and start to pick up a little bit. a slightly warmer feel to the weather. this is a saturday. there could be some early mist and fog patches around. some patchy cloud as well. some spells of

sunshine, more cloud generally rolling into northern ireland, the recent rain here late in the day. there is temperature starting to lift a little bit. 11—15 . into sunday, split fortunes, a lot of cloud for northern ireland, parts of scotland, may be the odd shower. some sunny spells across england and wales, and in north—east scotland, which could live temperatures to 17 degrees. elsewhere, highs of 14—17. a much warmer feeling degrees. elsewhere, highs of 14—17. a much warmerfeeling day degrees. elsewhere, highs of 14—17. a much warmer feeling day then we have been used to at. temperature is likely to be in the mid to high teens. perhaps the low 20s for some. some spells of sunshine.

we are going to take you straight back to dublin about the american president continues his visit to the republic of ireland. he has been meeting with irish president michael d higgins. he hasjust made his way outside, inspecting members of the irish military. the band they're playing. let'sjust have irish military. the band they're playing. let's just have a little listen. brass band plays