live from london, this is bbc news. handshakes handsha kes and history, handshakes and history, president biden continues his visit to ireland where he is expected to address the parliament shortly. ongoing anger in france over plans to raise the pension age. thousands are taking to the streets here in paris, one of hundreds of protests taking place across the country. and mary quant, the revolutionary fashion designer, has died.

let's turn to ireland now — where us presidentjoe biden has already had a busy day and where in the next hour he's expected to address a joint sitting of the irish parliament. in the past hour we've seen him arrive at farmleigh house in dublin for a meeting with the irish prime minister leo varadkar. mr biden praised irish values and set out plans for a closer relationship between the us and ireland. . , relationship between the us and ireland. ., , , relationship between the us and ireland. . , , ., ireland. there really is an opportunity _ ireland. there really is an opportunity to _ ireland. there really is an opportunity to make - ireland. there really is an i opportunity to make serious progress, notjust because of the accords that we signed 25 years ago, but just accords that we signed 25 years ago, butjust in terms of the way ireland

is moving, and the way that it is taking its place in the world, and i just think that it feels so good to be able to have this emerging and a stronger relationship between the united states and ireland.- united states and ireland. earlier toda , mr united states and ireland. earlier today, mr biden _ united states and ireland. earlier today, mr biden spent _ united states and ireland. earlier today, mr biden spent time - united states and ireland. earlier today, mr biden spent time at. united states and ireland. earlier| today, mr biden spent time at the official residence of the irish president, telling him ireland is an incredible place and joking that he isn't going home. he planted an oak tree and rang the bell of peace, which has huge significance, it was erected in 2000 and eight to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the good friday agreement. mr biden also inspected a military guard of honour and signed the visitors book, he told reporters what he wrote. is the visitors book, he told reporters what he wrote.— what he wrote. is the irish saying toes, what he wrote. is the irish saying goes. your— what he wrote. is the irish saying goes. your feet _ what he wrote. is the irish saying goes, your feet will _ what he wrote. is the irish saying goes, your feet will bring - what he wrote. is the irish saying goes, your feet will bring you - what he wrote. is the irish saying. goes, your feet will bring you wear your heart is. and then i say, it is an honour to return, and

your heart is. and then i say, it is an honourto return, and i your heart is. and then i say, it is an honour to return, and 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, equity, and i think the most irish of words used in my family was dignity. so, anyway, thank you all very much. and i'm not going home, i'm staying here in this incredible place! orview i'm staying here in this incredible place! or view american reporters, it looksjust place! or view american reporters, it looks just like place! or view american reporters, it looksjust like the place! or view american reporters, it looks just like the white house, right? thank you. i it looksjust like the white house, right? thank you.— it looksjust like the white house, right? thank you. i am “oined now by our ireland right? thank you. i amjoined now by our ireland correspondent _ right? thank you. i amjoined now by our ireland correspondent chris - our ireland correspondent chris page. please set the scene for us where you are. page. please set the scene for us where you are-— where you are. yes, this is the irish parliament _ where you are. yes, this is the irish parliament in _ where you are. yes, this is the irish parliament in dublin - where you are. yes, this is the irish parliament in dublin city i irish parliament in dublin city centre — irish parliament in dublin city centre and in the streets around here, _ centre and in the streets around here, people have come out to try to catch _ here, people have come out to try to catch a _ here, people have come out to try to catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade as it makes its way to this location, there is no sign of

that motor— this location, there is no sign of that motor code on its way yet but here at _ that motor code on its way yet but here at the — that motor code on its way yet but here at the parliament building there _ here at the parliament building there is— here at the parliament building there is a — here at the parliament building there is a sense of anticipation, as you would — there is a sense of anticipation, as you would expect. we have seen various _ you would expect. we have seen various senior politicians here going — various senior politicians here going into _ various senior politicians here going into that entrance behind me including _ going into that entrance behind me including the former taoiseach bertie — including the former taoiseach bertie ahern, who was the leader of the irish— bertie ahern, who was the leader of the irish government when the good friday_ the irish government when the good friday agreement was signed in 1998, the peace _ friday agreement was signed in 1998, the peace deal that largely brought an end _ the peace deal that largely brought an end to— the peace deal that largely brought an end to the conflict in northern ireiand _ an end to the conflict in northern ireland and which was seen as a high point _ ireland and which was seen as a high point in _ ireland and which was seen as a high point in british, irish and american diplomacy — point in british, irish and american diplomacy. so, there is that anniversary thatjoe biden is commemorating on his trip to northern— commemorating on his trip to northern ireland, and now the repuhiic— northern ireland, and now the republic of ireland, he is sure to mention— republic of ireland, he is sure to mention the legacy of the peace deal in his— mention the legacy of the peace deal in his speech but also other matters, _ in his speech but also other matters, for example economic development, the fact that america is so heavily invested here in ireiand, _ is so heavily invested here in ireland, the irish economy over the years— ireland, the irish economy over the years has— ireland, the irish economy over the years has been based on investment of businesses in tech and pharmaceuticals, and also he is

likely, — pharmaceuticals, and also he is likely, based on what we heard when he met— likely, based on what we heard when he met leo _ likely, based on what we heard when he met leo varadkar, the current leader— he met leo varadkar, the current leader of— he met leo varadkar, the current leader of the irish government earlier— leader of the irish government earlier this afternoon, to mention the war— earlier this afternoon, to mention the war in— earlier this afternoon, to mention the war in ukraine, that most pressing _ the war in ukraine, that most pressing of international matters and pay— pressing of international matters and pay tribute to ireland of's role in refugees and it currently has more _ in refugees and it currently has more than _ in refugees and it currently has more than 80,000 ukrainian refugees livin- more than 80,000 ukrainian refugees living here _ more than 80,000 ukrainian refugees living here. so, many matters to be discussed. — living here. so, many matters to be discussed. i— living here. so, many matters to be discussed, i think it will be a discussed, ! think it will be a personal— discussed, i think it will be a personal as well as a political address. _ personal as well as a political address, president biden will talk about— address, president biden will talk about his — address, president biden will talk about his irish roots, his ancestry on this— about his irish roots, his ancestry on this island, he loves to do that, he often _ on this island, he loves to do that, he often does it in the us so it will he — he often does it in the us so it will he a — he often does it in the us so it will be a reflection of the long—standing ties between these two countries, _ long—standing ties between these two countries, forged through the centuries, forged through emigration and immigration and on the basis of that i_ and immigration and on the basis of that i think— and immigration and on the basis of that i think it is likely that the president will say the future of this particular special relationship between — this particular special relationship between the us and ireland is likely to be prosperous indeed. and between the us and ireland is likely to be prosperous indeed.— between the us and ireland is likely to be prosperous indeed. and how has his visit been —

to be prosperous indeed. and how has his visit been received _ to be prosperous indeed. and how has his visit been received on _ to be prosperous indeed. and how has his visit been received on the - his visit been received on the streets, is there much excitement, are people coming out to watch the cavalcade go past?— cavalcade go past? yes, they certainly are, _ cavalcade go past? yes, they certainly are, as _ cavalcade go past? yes, they certainly are, as you - cavalcade go past? yes, they certainly are, as you would i cavalcade go past? yes, they - certainly are, as you would expect there _ certainly are, as you would expect there is— certainly are, as you would expect there is a — certainly are, as you would expect there is a great deal of excitement, people _ there is a great deal of excitement, people are — there is a great deal of excitement, people are wanting to catch a glimpse — people are wanting to catch a glimpse of a moment in history, it is seldom — glimpse of a moment in history, it is seldom that a country the size of ireland _ is seldom that a country the size of ireland receives a us presidential visit, _ ireland receives a us presidential visit, for— ireland receives a us presidential visit, for the president to address both houses of parliament, that is perhaps— both houses of parliament, that is perhaps even more rare. joe biden is the fourth _ perhaps even more rare. joe biden is the fourth president to do that after— the fourth president to do that afterjohn s kennedy, ronald reagan and bill— afterjohn s kennedy, ronald reagan and bill clinton. so, the visit of any us— and bill clinton. so, the visit of any us president of course is never going _ any us president of course is never going to _ any us president of course is never going to he — any us president of course is never going to be universally welcomed, for example, five out of the 16 members _ for example, five out of the 16 members of the lower house of the parliament — members of the lower house of the parliament are boycotting the presidential speech, they are from the left—wing alliance party and they have strong objections to us foreign _ they have strong objections to us foreign policy but the other parties are gathering, they are very positive, _ are gathering, they are very positive, they think that to have the leader— positive, they think that to have the leader of a superpower in the

houses— the leader of a superpower in the houses of— the leader of a superpower in the houses of parliament addressing parliamentarians directly is a powerful signal to the world that the links— powerful signal to the world that the links between america and ireland — the links between america and ireland are strong, they are vital and it— ireland are strong, they are vital and it enables ireland to punch above — and it enables ireland to punch above its — and it enables ireland to punch above its weight to diplomatically and economic around the world. just cive us a and economic around the world. give us a quick and economic around the world. jut give us a quick sense of what is happening, the speech to the irish parliament, and then after that how much is left of the visit? yes. much is left of the visit? yes, whenever _ much is left of the visit? yes, wheneverjoe _ much is left of the visit? yes, wheneverjoe biden _ much is left of the visit? yes, wheneverjoe biden arrives i much is left of the visit? yes, i wheneverjoe biden arrives here, much is left of the visit? yes, wheneverjoe biden arrives here, he will give _ wheneverjoe biden arrives here, he will give the address, he will be called _ will give the address, he will be called upon to speak by the speaker, the chair— called upon to speak by the speaker, the chair of— called upon to speak by the speaker, the chair of the parliament, then he will deliver— the chair of the parliament, then he will deliver the address which will then baby responded to, we understand, by members of parliament themselves. when we look back in history. _ themselves. when we look back in history. it — themselves. when we look back in history. it is — themselves. when we look back in history, it is a major national event — history, it is a major national event for— history, it is a major national event for ireland, the previous presidents who have been given this

particular— presidents who have been given this particular honour, president kennedy, reagan and clinton, all, like joe _ kennedy, reagan and clinton, all, like joe biden, trace their roots back— like joe biden, trace their roots back to — like joe biden, trace their roots back to ireland. also ten years ago there _ back to ireland. also ten years ago there was— back to ireland. also ten years ago there was a — back to ireland. also ten years ago there was a successful visit by president _ there was a successful visit by president obama who discovered he had an— president obama who discovered he had an eighth cousin in a village about— had an eighth cousin in a village about an — had an eighth cousin in a village about an hour or so from dublin. so, really. _ about an hour or so from dublin. so, really. all— about an hour or so from dublin. so, really, all through the generations, if you _ really, all through the generations, if you like. — really, all through the generations, if you like, senior people in american _ if you like, senior people in american politics including those who have — american politics including those who have held the highest office, have been— who have held the highest office, have been exploring their links to this island, and that is something that has— this island, and that is something that has been particularly important to president biden, often spoken of as the _ to president biden, often spoken of as the most irish of american presidents. so, this visit i think out of— presidents. so, this visit i think out of all— presidents. so, this visit i think out of all of the visits that ireland _ out of all of the visits that ireland has had over the years from residents— ireland has had over the years from residents of— ireland has had over the years from residents of the white house, is seen _ residents of the white house, is seen as— residents of the white house, is seen as particularly significant. thank— seen as particularly significant. thank you _ seen as particularly significant. thank you and of course we will be backin thank you and of course we will be back in dublin when that address starts, president biden due to address the irish parliament imminently. just waiting for that

convoy to arrive in dublin. another story that we've been talking about this afternoon, in france, hundreds of thousands of protesters are gathering. this is the 12th day of nationwide strikes against pension reforms. you are looking at pictures in paris, on friday, the constitutional council is expected to rule on the legality of the draft pensions law. this is what has proved so controversial, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. security is on high alert across several cities as over 250 protests are happening throughout the country. we have already seen clashes in several french cities with protesters occupying earlier today the headquarters of the luxury goods conglomerate lvmh. we can now goods conglomerate lvmh. we can now go live to our paris correspondent hugh schofield. we spoke to you an hour ago, what is the situation now?

well, still where we were then, just the rue de rivoli, an hour or so ago, there were problems, tension, lots of bangs, clashes between riot police and groups of revolutionaries who are mixed in with the quotation, but as usual, it lasted about 15 minutes, 20 minutes, and then it is moving off again. i think we can probably predict that there will be more to later on, perhaps at bastille but essentially it has been like all of the marches over the past couple of months, basically peaceful with with occasional outbraked of trouble. what makes thisday different is the fact that tomorrow is the ruling at the constitutional council, which everybody is waiting for, everybody i think on both sides of the debate

feels that the nature of this confrontation will change after tomorrow, tomorrow is the day that the constitutional council of wise men and women will give their ruling on whether the law is in accordance with the constitution. they may say all of it is, they may say all of it isn't, and they may say that bits of it are in a way, that last option is the most likely, which is going to complicate things for the future. in any case, what everyone is saying is that this pattern of weekly demonstrations can't really keep going after tomorrow in the same way. if the law is approved, then it will become law and it becomes difficult for the unions to retain their rationale. they will have other things that they want to do, they are pushing for a referendum, for example, so that campaign will go on, but this kind of weekly ritual of marches through paris and other cities, i am ritual of marches through paris and other cities, iam not ritual of marches through paris and other cities, i am not sure that it

can be sustained much longer. j just can be sustained much longer. i 'ust wonder looking fl can be sustained much longer. i 'ust wonder looking at i can be sustained much longer. i 'ust wonder looking at the i can be sustained much longer. ijust wonder looking at the crowds, lots of people out and about, is this just about pension reform or are there other issues of laptop in this? j there other issues of laptop in this? ., there other issues of laptop in this? . , ., , ., this? i mean, there is lots of la -to- this? i mean, there is lots of laptop in _ this? i mean, there is lots of laptop in it- _ this? i mean, there is lots of laptop in it. when _ this? i mean, there is lots of laptop in it. when you - this? i mean, there is lots of laptop in it. when you talk i this? i mean, there is lots ofj laptop in it. when you talk to people here, you start off with pensions and you quickly get onto other subjects, a lot of people here are saying that it is notjust that they don't want the pension age to go they don't want the pension age to 9° up, they don't want the pension age to go up, but in fact they want to bring it down to 60, a lot of people are on the left and the far left in the political spectrum, who believe that the whole capitalistic structure needs to be changed. a lot of people are also and i think more widely and 21. there is a lot of anti—1feeling in this country. and that extends to people on the left but also people on the far right. ——

anti—macron. these are left—wing demonstrations, not to mention the right—wing people who oppose the pension reform, who are not here. macron retains about a quarter of the population be behind his pension reform but the rest, on the left and on the far right, are against him and they dislike him intensely. so is that constant sense in french politics that the man, and it has always been a man, at the top, is a kind of monarchical figure, always been a man, at the top, is a kind of monarchicalfigure, and we need to fulfil our revolutionary destiny by bringing him down. thank ou ve destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much. _ destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much. we _ destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much, we will _ destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much, we will keep - destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much, we will keep an - destiny by bringing him down. thank you very much, we will keep an eye on those pictures and bring you any updates as we get them. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news, stay with us.

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we move to ghana now, which is the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine that has been described as a "world—changer" by scientists. the vaccine is called r21 and appears to be hugely effective. for more, our health and science correspondent james gallagher. here you have it. the game changer. this is the malaria vaccine described by the university of oxford team of scientists as world—changing. it is called r21 and we have the first country in the world to have approved it in ghana and other countries are likely to follow suit. the world health organization is assessing it, too. the way that it works is it tackles the first stage after you are bitten by a mosquito. as i am sure you know, malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. it is right here, at the first moment when the parasite is injected into your bloodstream that the vaccine starts working. it protects your body in order to prevent a full bloodstream infection. that is what causes the deadly symptoms of malaria. despite the huge progress,

and there has genuinely been huge progress in tackling malaria around the world, we still live on a planet where nearly 250 million people are infected with malaria each year and 620,000 die from it. nearly all of those are young children under the age of five living in africa. there is a need for new tools for tackling this deadly disease. that is where the vaccine comes in. early trials have suggested that it gives up to 77% protection against the disease but they are small trials withjust 409 children. so, really, the world has been waiting for the big data. that was due to be published at the end of last year and is now some point this year. that takes these trials up from 409 up to nearly 5,000 children. that will be the definitive piece of information that decides whether other countries follow in ghana's footsteps. but i can give you a big clue as to whether we are anticipating this vaccine to go around the world. the serum institute of india, the world's biggest vaccine manufacturing company has

already put in place plans for 200 million doses a year of this vaccine. clearly, there is the potential here for this to become a significant new tool in the global efforts to tackle malaria. and maybe, a lot more countries will be using a vaccine like this. dozens of leaked classified documents from the pentagon are circulating on the internet. documents contain maps, charts and photographs and a detailed picture of the war in ukraine. the documents also contain information about us allies. the documents first appeared at the beginning of march on the chat forum for the video game minecraft. a short time ago president biden was asked if he could give an update on the leak investigation here's what he said. mr president, could you give an update — mr president, could you give an update on — mr president, could you give an update on that leak investigation? i can't update on that leak investigation? can't write update on that leak investigation? i can't write now but there is a full—blown investigation going on, as you know, including thejustice

department, and getting close, i don't have an answer. haifa department, and getting close, i don't have an answer. how concerned arc ue the don't have an answer. how concerned argue the leaks? _ don't have an answer. how concerned argue the leaks? are _ don't have an answer. how concerned argue the leaks? are you _ don't have an answer. how concerned argue the leaks? are you concerned l argue the leaks? are you concerned about the leaks? _ argue the leaks? are you concerned about the leaks? i _ argue the leaks? are you concerned about the leaks? i am _ argue the leaks? are you concerned about the leaks? i am not _ argue the leaks? are you concerned | about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leakages, _ about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leakages, i _ about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leakages, i am _ about the leaks? i am not concerned about the leakages, i am concerned | about the leakages, i am concerned that the happened, but there is nothing contemporaneous that i am aware of which is of a big consequence.— aware of which is of a big conseuuence. . i. _, . aware of which is of a big conseuuence. �* ,, .., . ., consequence. are you concerned about relationships _ consequence. are you concerned about relationships with _ consequence. are you concerned about relationships with our _ consequence. are you concerned about relationships with our allies? _ consequence. are you concerned about relationships with our allies? paul - relationships with our allies? paul adams— relationships with our allies? paul adams gave us an update. in relationships with our allies? paul adams gave us an update.- relationships with our allies? paul adams gave us an update. in has been a week since — adams gave us an update. in has been a week since we _ adams gave us an update. in has been a week since we were _ adams gave us an update. in has been a week since we were first _ adams gave us an update. in has been a week since we were first aware - a week since we were first aware that these documents existed and in those seven days we have been gradually accumulating those documents, here at the bbc, scraping the intimate to try and find out as much of them as we can and of course a torrent of stories has emerged as a torrent of stories has emerged as a result. stories about the war in ukraine, the extent to which the russian and ukrainian forces are being degraded, preparations for a possible ukrainian counteroffensive

in the coming weeks, the extent to which ukraine's western allies are willing to lend their support to that effort and as you say a host of other issues as well. but today the focus has turned away from the documents themselves to the identity of the person who leaked them. that person we now know, thanks to the reporting in the washington post newspaper, is identified simply as 06, newspaper, is identified simply as 0g, described as a young, charismatic man, who is a gun lover, who is sceptical and in some cases hostile to the us government but is not a whistleblower. but alarmingly, has been sharing classified information with a small circle of his friends since 2020, and some of those friends were in russia and ukraine. , ., those friends were in russia and ukraine. , . , those friends were in russia and ukraine. . . , ., ., ukraine. japan says north korea's latest missile _ ukraine. japan says north korea's latest missile test _ ukraine. japan says north korea's latest missile test is _ ukraine. japan says north korea's latest missile test is outrageous l latest missile test is outrageous and unacceptable after it fired a suspected medium or long—range

ballistic into the sea of japan. it prompted the japanese government to tell residents on the island of hokkaido to seek shelter but the missile splashed down outside its territorial waters. jean mackenzie has more from seoul. north korea has launched a suspected long—range missile this morning, potentially an intercontinental ballistic, these are the missiles that can in theory reach all the way to the us mainland. it appeared for one moment this morning that it was going to touch down very close to japanese territory, at least that is what the japanese government thought when theyissued japanese government thought when they issued the warning to the residents in holgado but actually north korea has done what it normally does, it has fired it up into space. but what this false alarm shows is that this region is now on high alert when it comes to north korea and that is because north korea and that is because north korea and that is because north korea has now fired almost 30 missiles already this year, and the rhetoric coming out of pyongyang is increasingly aggressive. we have heard it issuing these veiled threats over the last couple of

months that it is planning to fly a missile overjapan and into the pacific ocean to reach closer to the united states, to prove that it can, if it wants to, hit the us mainland. we don't know exactly what missile they have launched yet but this is a big week for north korea, they asked celebrating 11 years of the rule of kimjong—un and celebrating 11 years of the rule of kim jong—un and we know that they like to use these anniversaries to showcase military progress so it is quite possible that we will see in the coming hours or days that they have tested a new model of a more dangerous missile, potentially, because north korea is posing a greater and greater threat not only to japan but to south korea and to the united states, and it is developing weapons that are evermore sophisticated. south korea, japan and the united states today have urged north korea to stop the missile tests and to come back to the negotiating table, but these diplomatic attempts to get north korea to talk, to give up its nuclear weapons, korea to talk, to give up its

nuclearweapons, have korea to talk, to give up its nuclear weapons, have been stalled for many years. thus making the situation more volatile. and there is another thing that the government here in seoul is worried about today and that is for the past week north korea has not been answering the phone to south korea, they have a military hotline that they used to touch in daily to try and prevent any unintended clashes along the border, and don't forget these countries are still technically at war. north korea tends to stop answering these because when the relationship between the countries is particularly bad and this has led south korea to worry that this situation is deteriorating because of course when the two sides are communicating, there are ways to mitigate against misunderstandings and miscommunications and escalations, when the communication stops, things become more volatile. fashion designer dane mary ouant was widely quoted credited with popularising the miniskirt and she has died at the age of 93. the british fashion designer died

peacefully at her home surrey on thursday morning. a statement from herfamily was given thursday morning. a statement from her family was given to the pa news agency. david sillito looks back at her life. bright young girls are interested when mary ouant raises the levels of fashion. it suggested a new way of life. it the levels of fashion. it suggested a new way of life.— a new way of life. it really was the first time it _ a new way of life. it really was the first time it was _ a new way of life. it really was the first time it was impossible. - a new way of life. it really was the first time it was impossible. i - first time it was impossible. i was very full of the elation that was happening then. the very full of the elation that was happening then-— very full of the elation that was happening then. the miniskirt, the hotants, happening then. the miniskirt, the hotpants. the _ happening then. the miniskirt, the hotpants, the coloured _ happening then. the miniskirt, the hotpants, the coloured tights, - happening then. the miniskirt, the hotpants, the coloured tights, the | hotpants, the coloured tights, the uniform for a new age. mary quant�*s parents were teachers from wales who had moved to london and there was disappointment when mary, who had studied illustration at goldsmiths college, decided to get a job making hats. it college, decided to get a 'ob making hats. ., . ~' college, decided to get a 'ob making hats. ., ., ,, , college, decided to get a 'ob making hats. ., ., ,, ._ , ., hats. it would take me five days to make one hat _ hats. it would take me five days to make one hat and _ hats. it would take me five days to make one hat and then _ hats. it would take me five days to make one hat and then it - hats. it would take me five days to make one hat and then it would i hats. it would take me five days to | make one hat and then it would rain at ascot and they would bring it back the next day and so my husband didn't like it.

it got through to me that this was some unrealistic, out of date nonsense. we lived in a mass production age where we must make mass production clothes. the skirts were short, the model is skinny. it was all about youth, the future freedom. britain had become a fashion leader. the business she created with her husband, alexander plunket greene, moved into perfumes and cosmetics. that is just dirty. well, isn't dirtiness provocative? laughs. yes. the mary ouant name became a brand into which mary ouant eventually had little input. but, just as she stuck with that vidal sassoon haircut, she always embodied that look. a look that had defined an era. dame mary ouant who has died at the age of 93. alexandra shulman, former editor—in—chief of british vogue, paid tribute to dame mary ouant following her death, writing

on twitter... two main stories that we are keeping tabs on this afternoon, first of all we go again to paris, ijust want to bring you the latest pictures there, as we can see, there are demonstrations.- as we can see, there are demonstrations. ' ._ ., demonstrations. the 12th day of demonstrations _ demonstrations. the 12th day of demonstrations over _ demonstrations. the 12th day of demonstrations over those - demonstrations. the 12th day of. demonstrations over those pension reforms, we will keep you up—to—date with all of those latest chips from paris, as i say. more pictures and alsojust want to paris, as i say. more pictures and also just want to let you know, moving away from paris, that we will be of course returning to dublin, because presidentjoe biden will be travelling to the irish parliament and he will be giving that talk to irish parliamentarians, only the

fourth us president to do that, so, do stay with us here on bbc news. after the stormy weather that some of us had to endure yesterday, today things are a little calmer. storm noa, you can see here on our earlier satellite picture tending 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. some spells of sunshine in between. still quite breezy for some, particularly through parts of northern ireland, northern england, into the midlands and east anglia. but not as windy as yesterday. still feeling chilly, though. 9—13 degrees. and then as we head through this evening and tonight, we will continue to see some showers, bands of showers, particularly drifting across scotland and northern ireland. and the odd shower into wales ahead of this rain band into the south—west of england, holding temperatures up to around 7

degrees there in plymouth. further north, ones, twos and threes — there will be a touch of frost for some. tomorrow, low pressure still in charge. this frontal system running across the south of the uk will bring some outbreaks of rain, particularly through southern counties of england, clipping into south wales, the south midlands. some rain for a time in the channel islands — and some brisk winds. further north, sunny spells and showers once again. but during the afternoon, we may well see some more persistent rain developing across parts of the midlands and up into parts of yorkshire and lincolnshire as well. temperature wise, ten, 11, 12 degrees. no great shakes for this point in april. now, as we head through the weekend, things begin to change. because high pressure is going to tend to build, and that will give more in the way of dry weather. it will give some spells of sunshine. and temperatures will start to pick up a little bit. so a slightly warmer feel to the weather. so this is saturday. there could be some early mist and fog patches around. some patchy cloud as well, but some spells of sunshine. more cloud generally rolling into northern ireland,

maybe some rain here late in the day. but those temperature starting to lift a little bit. 11—15 degrees. and then as we head into sunday, well, split fortunes. they will be a lot of cloud for northern ireland, parts of scotland, maybe the odd shower. but some sunny spells across england and wales. and also some sunny spells in north—east scotland, which could lift temperatures to 17 degrees. and elsewhere, highs of 14—17. so, a much warmer—feeling day then we have been used to of late, and that theme continues into the start of the new week. temperatures likely to be in the mid to high teens, perhaps the low 20s for some, with some spells of sunshine.

live from london, this is bbc news. president biden meets ireland's prime minister in dublin — he's expected to address the irish parliament shortly. a twelfth day of nationwide strikes in france — with ongoing anger over plans to raise the country's pension age. a potential �*world—changer�* in the fight against malaria — ghana becomes the first country to approve a promising new vaccine. and — premier league football clubs agree to phase out front—of—shirt sponsorship deals with betting companies.