welcome to the programme. days after putin's hold on power was put into question, russia has hit ukraine hard with deadly strikes on civilians in kramatorsk. joining me on our panel for the next hour is the political sketch writer tom peck and stephanie rawlings—blake, the former mayor of baltimore. also on the programme tonight: i have been speaking to the president of iraq in his first english—speaking tv interview. he tells me that after years of fighting and corruption, iraq is now a stable country that is open for new investment and partnerships. a new term for you to get used to — bidenomics. the us president has been wheeling out his economic agenda in chicago. we will take a closer look at his plans.

and if you are south korean, you are now officially a year younger than you were yesterday. we'll tell you how a new law has changed the way koreans think about age. but we start with the situation in ukraine and the horrifying details of a russian missile attack on a restaurant in kramatorsk. 11 people were killed and rescue workers have spent most of the day going through the rubble, looking for any survivors. kramatorsk is in ukraine's eastern donetsk region. it's under ukrainian control but close to parts of the country occupied by russia. this was the scene after the attack. it was a popular, busy restaurant, with many families eating out before the nightly curfew. dozens of people were injured, the missile also damaged nearby apartment buildings and shops. among the dead were two 14—year—old twins, yulia and anna aksenchenko. president zelensky said the attack showed russia deserved defeat. our correspondent andrew harding has the latest

from the scene in kramatorsk. i'm in the centre of kramatorsk, where the missiles hit. and the blast area around it is huge, there are buildings all around me, hundreds of metres away, that were damaged. right behind me is the place that took what seems to be the hardest hit, a restaurant popular with locals, with soldiers, with journalists and aid workers. i went there a lot myself. and we understand that rescue workers are still looking for many survivors who may still be trapped underneath the concrete. we have heard saws and other lifting equipment as those workers try to dig through the rubble. why this particular spot was targeted? we don't know if it was deliberately targeted by two russian missiles, but it is clearly a popular area in the centre of town, and whatever the russians may or may not have been trying to target, it was clear that this was a big city and a busy time

of the evening with many, many civilians around. and as we've seen so often in this conflict, many civilian casualties. the strikes come just days after a weekend of instability in russia, where the wagner mercenary group staged a rebellion against the country's military leadership. in the end, that mutiny proved short—lived, coming to a halt when wagner leader yevgeny prigozhin told his troops to stand down, just hundreds of kilometres away from russia's capital moscow. on tuesday, belarus�*s leader aleksandr lukashenko revealed that the wagner chief flew to the belarus capital, minsk, but there's uncertainty now over the wagner leader's exact current location. his plane was seen flying back to st petersburg. there are concerns implement about what prigozhin�*s arrival in minsk means for their security —— concerns in poland. the polish government says they will be strengthened the border with belarus to protect against any wagner chip

that might now move to the country. joining me now is tom peck and stephanie rawlings—blake, who is the former mayor of baltimore. thank you once again for joining us here on the context on bbc news, and, tom, what do you think about what is happening here? ultimately, the authority of president putin, which ever way you look at it, surely has been weakened?— look at it, surely has been weakened? , ., , , no doubt his 30 has been weakened. last month, my friend was in prison for deserting putin and now the person who was overthrowing him has been sent to elders and that, as we understand, the charges have been dropped, we'll see how long that lasts —— sense to belarus. usually, it is hard to answer what it means to say putin's authority has been weakened. it does not seem very

weakened, and have andrew harding was doing outside that restaurant where those two teens were murdered. what is not clear is the pathway from this incident took putin effectively being overthrown or losing his grip on power. if he had been overthrown, that would been one thing, if there was a chaotic civil war, that would've been good news for ukraine, some sort of democracy would have been good done at her habit leads to his downfall? nobody knows. —— but how it leads to his downfall? knows. -- but how it leads to his downfall?— knows. -- but how it leads to his downfall? ~ . . , , ., downfall? watching these figures of president putin _ downfall? watching these figures of president putin today _ downfall? watching these figures of president putin today on _ downfall? watching these figures of president putin today on a - president putin today on a walkabout, and also the attack on kramatorsk, on the shopping centre, but some people are predicting his demise? are they right? i but some people are predicting his demise? are they right?— demise? are they right? i think it is wa too demise? are they right? i think it is way too early — demise? are they right? i think it is way too early to _ demise? are they right? i think it is way too early to count - demise? are they right? i think it is way too early to count putin - demise? are they right? i think it. is way too early to count putin out. i think_ is way too early to count putin out. i think what— is way too early to count putin out. i think what we saw over the weekend was a weakening, i think everyone

who experienced, who saw the wagner troops _ who experienced, who saw the wagner troops of— who experienced, who saw the wagner troops of who saw what happened with the wagner leader, knows it is a sign of— the wagner leader, knows it is a sign of weakness on putin, but putin continues— sign of weakness on putin, but putin continues to — sign of weakness on putin, but putin continues to get up. he has been punched — continues to get up. he has been punched many times, but he has never been knocked out, and i think the missile _ been knocked out, and i think the missile strikes today are evidence of that, _ missile strikes today are evidence of that, he — missile strikes today are evidence of that, he is going to strike out. andrew— of that, he is going to strike out. andrew harding said it was a place where people —— the press likes to frequent, that was not _ —— the press likes to frequent, that was not lost — —— the press likes to frequent, that was not lost on me, as he continues to try— was not lost on me, as he continues to try to— was not lost on me, as he continues to try to drown out any oppositional voices _ to try to drown out any oppositional voices. ,, , ., ., ., ., ~ voices. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank ou, both voices. ok, stephanie and tom, thank you. both of— voices. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you. both of you. _ voices. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you, both of you, for— voices. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you, both of you, for talking _ voices. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you, both of you, for talking about - you, both of you, for talking about that, and that is always a story you can get up—to—date with on our website. we have plenty more of the very latest twist and turns on what is happening both in russia and ukraine, buti is happening both in russia and ukraine, but i want to bring you some breaking news that we be

getting here at the bbc and it regards the health of a pop legend. the american pop star madonna has postponed her tour after falling ill and staying in intensive care for several days. that is according to a statement on instagram from her talent manager, and it says... that is intensive care. it goes on to say... there is no confirmation as yet on madonna's official tour website, the celebration for. it lists 84 dates. it starts in vancouver onjuly 15

and takes part in 13 countries across the world. ending in mexico city on the 30th of january. so a grueling five months of touring, 45 concerts, all in all, for madonna and they have all been sold out, and some of the ticket prices have been very, very expensive. 84 in total, 45, excuse me i have been sold out of the 84 in total. what is particular bring about this is madonna very much fun and centre of the world of pop, very much still there, she is still got it, she is still relevant. she is 64 years old, and of course we are hearing is this is a bacterial infection. they can be actually serious, and spending a few days in icu, intensive care, is always going to be very hard on some of the's health. there will be many, many fans who are worried about madonna but also anyone, really, who has any appreciation of the world of

music and pop will be worried about madonna. let's take you to the website. this is what you will read if you go there. if you're stepping away from your television or you want to get the very latest, you can go to our website or the bbc news apple. we have as much information as we have here on the bbc about what is happening with madonna and her health, butjust to reiterate that she spent a number of days in intensive care. she was extremely ill with a bacterial infection and her talent manager has said that they are now postponing the start of they are now postponing the start of the celebration tour, which was due to begin quite shortly, on the 15th ofjuly in vancouver in canada, if i do here anything more on the programme, i will bring it to you. for now, we will move on. we don't like jargon here at the bbc, and yet we are piling on more jargon to our

viewers! joe biden is on the road in chicago, trying to sell his economic policy, which has been dubbed as bidenomics. his economic theory rejects the idea of "trickle down" policies in favour of focusing on the middle class, with trillions of dollars in investment over the past two years. and in part, his plan has seen the us economy fare better than other major economies in dealing with inflation and the fallout from russia's invasion of ukraine. take this inflation graph, for example. the uk — at the top in red — is all the way up at 8.7%, the us at the bottom there is back down at 2.7%. but despite decent economic numbers, the public doesn't believe the president is doing a good job. in fact, only 33% of people think he is handling the economy well. so the president and his team are trying to change that perception in the lead up to the 2024 election. let's take a listen tojoe biden speaking a little earlier.

bidenomics is working. when i took office, the pandemic was raging and our economy was reeling, supply chains were broken, millions of people unemployed, hundreds of thousands of small businesses on the verge of closing after so many had already closed. literally hundreds of thousands on the verge of closing. today, the us has the highest economic growth rate, leading the world economies since the pandemic, the highest in the world. applause as dick said, with his help, we've created 13.4 million newjobs, more jobs in two years than any president has ever made in four, in two. and, folks, it's no accident. that's bidenomics in action. bidenomics is about building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. with me now is allison schrager, who is an economist, writer and a senior fellow

at the manhattan institute. good to talk to you on the context on bbc news, thanks forjoining us. why is there so little love for bidenomics among the electorate? bidenomics among the electorate? bidenomics me a lot of different things. but i think to the average person, it is, what are they feeling right now? inflation is coming down, core inflation is still between 4% and 5%, more than twice what it normally is, so everyone is pulver and i think a lot of people blame a lot of the spending and stemless that happened, which biden credits for the labour market, and also feeling poor. energy prices have come down, they are also blooming for trying to move away from fossil fuels and they see that as could you been to energy prices increasing fairly or not. been to energy prices increasing fairly or not-— fairly or not. what is it, do you think, that _ fairly or not. what is it, do you think, that voters _ fairly or not. what is it, do you think, that voters or _ fairly or not. what is it, do you think, that voters or the - fairly or not. what is it, do you i think, that voters or the american people want to see from president biden if it is not continuing on this road? i

biden if it is not continuing on this road?— biden if it is not continuing on this road? ,, ., this road? i think for them, the roof is this road? i think for them, the proof is in _ this road? i think for them, the proof is in the _ this road? i think for them, the proof is in the pudding, - this road? i think for them, the proof is in the pudding, and - this road? i think for them, the proof is in the pudding, and if. this road? i think for them, the i proof is in the pudding, and if they saw inflation largely going down, it is trending down, but it still seems to be a little stubborn and sticky, and at that point the fed could stop increasing rates and they could see mortgage falling. the us economy is not quite as sensitive to mortgage rates as the uk is, because most people have fixed—rate long—term mortgages, but still if you're trying to get in on the housing market is very expensive and difficult, and i think as well, we have been told over and over again that inflation, recession is coming but which also adds to the unease. people who watch this may be thinking, what is wrong with this type of economics, the trigger —— the trickle down economics in the reagan era, a lot of economists think, that is not the way forward, to bolster things. the middle class often in economies is the thing ignored. this must be a good thing, to try and bolster that middle area, to try and bolster that middle area, to lift it up and spread across the

economy? to lift it up and spread across the econom ? ., , , , ., economy? for sure, but there is a lot of different _ economy? for sure, but there is a lot of different ways _ economy? for sure, but there is a lot of different ways you _ economy? for sure, but there is a lot of different ways you can - economy? for sure, but there is a lot of different ways you can do i lot of different ways you can do it, and recently the wall streetjournal explained what the bidenomics means to his staff, which is largely not economists, and rather than... they said you can the thief, grow and innovate and then redistribute, or you can sort of take more of the means of production. a far cry from socialism, don't get me wrong, but this directing where investment goes, picking and choosing who benefits directly, and that is what the biden demonstration is attempted, though they recently said, and i thought that was rather shocking, we are less concerned about growth, we are more concerned where growth goes. fitter; about growth, we are more concerned where growth goes.— where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. _ where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. i _ where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. i want _ where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. i want to _ where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. i want to bring - where growth goes. stay right there for us, allison. i want to bring in - for us, allison. i want to bring in our penaltyjoin the discussion —— panel tojoin the our penaltyjoin the discussion —— panel to join the discussion. stephanie, i wanted to ask you, what about this policy is not connecting with americans?— with americans? think democrats across the board _ with americans? think democrats across the board at _ with americans? think democrats across the board at had _ with americans? think democrats across the board at had a - with americans? think democrats across the board at had a difficult| across the board at had a difficult time _ across the board at had a difficult time connecting economic growth with the democratic party. biden needs to

do what _ the democratic party. biden needs to do what he's doing now, to tell his story, _ do what he's doing now, to tell his story, to _ do what he's doing now, to tell his story, to tell it in a consistent basis, to— story, to tell it in a consistent basis, to make sure he's attaching himself— basis, to make sure he's attaching himself to — basis, to make sure he's attaching himself to the jobs that are being created _ himself to the jobs that are being created that is the only way he is going _ created that is the only way he is going to — created that is the only way he is going to dig his way out of this, as well as— going to dig his way out of this, as well as get— going to dig his way out of this, as well as get very competent surrogates to get out there and sing from the _ surrogates to get out there and sing from the same hymnal. that is intportant. _ from the same hymnal. that is important, and it is working. his economic— important, and it is working. his economic plan is working. you took a pa-e economic plan is working. you took a page out— economic plan is working. you took a page out of— economic plan is working. you took a page out of the 0bama administration's stimulus programme, where _ administration's stimulus programme, where they— administration's stimulus programme, where they send that money directly, a lot of— where they send that money directly, a lot of it. _ where they send that money directly, a lot of it, directly to cities, closer— a lot of it, directly to cities, closer to _ a lot of it, directly to cities, closer to the ground, the people he wanted _ closer to the ground, the people he wanted to— closer to the ground, the people he wanted to serve, and they are doing a lot of— wanted to serve, and they are doing a lot of that — wanted to serve, and they are doing a lot of that with his programmes now, _ a lot of that with his programmes now. and — a lot of that with his programmes now, and that is speeding up the job creation, _ now, and that is speeding up the job creation, so— now, and that is speeding up the job creation, so he just needs to continue _ creation, so he just needs to continue to pop up all over the country. — continue to pop up all over the country, where these major projects are happening and he will at some point _ are happening and he will at some point get — are happening and he will at some point get his message to stick.

allison, — point get his message to stick. allison, do you think that is what it takes? ., , .. , allison, do you think that is what it takes? ., , , ., ., allison, do you think that is what ittakes? ., , ., ., , it takes? no, because all of this cro -|nt it takes? no, because all of this crepping up _ it takes? no, because all of this crepping up and _ it takes? no, because all of this cropping up and send _ it takes? no, because all of this cropping up and send people - it takes? no, because all of this - cropping up and send people checks also conjure bids to inflation, which is still very elevated and causing the fed to pursue contractionary policy, that is the flip side of the labour market. he is creating jobs in a liver market thatis is creating jobs in a liver market that is already very tight, so if he tries to push, stimulant more and treat morejobs, that tries to push, stimulant more and treat more jobs, that only increases inflation and i think that is really hitting... there was a recent paper out showing that people really are feeling like it is a bad economy because they are poor in real terms because of inflation.— because of inflation. tom, you can discuss the — because of inflation. tom, you can discuss the economics _ because of inflation. tom, you can discuss the economics of - because of inflation. tom, you can discuss the economics of this - because of inflation. tom, you can discuss the economics of this of i because of inflation. tom, you can| discuss the economics of this of all this all you like, but you think the politics makes sense? i this all you like, but you think the politics makes sense?— this all you like, but you think the politics makes sense? i would defer to the other — politics makes sense? i would defer to the other desk _ politics makes sense? i would defer to the other desk but _ politics makes sense? i would defer to the other desk but i _ politics makes sense? i would defer to the other desk but i would - politics makes sense? i would defer to the other desk but i would say, i to the other desk but i would say, yes, to the other desk but i would say, yes. he _ to the other desk but i would say, yes. he won — to the other desk but i would say, yes. he won the _ to the other desk but i would say, yes, he won the 2020 _ to the other desk but i would say, yes, he won the 2020 nominationj yes, he won the 2020 nomination and election— yes, he won the 2020 nomination and election writing — yes, he won the 2020 nomination and election writing the _ yes, he won the 2020 nomination and election writing the only— yes, he won the 2020 nomination and election writing the only democratic. election writing the only democratic candidate _ election writing the only democratic candidate who — election writing the only democratic candidate who can _ election writing the only democratic candidate who can win _ election writing the only democratic candidate who can win over- candidate who can win over

blue-collar— candidate who can win over blue—collar voters - candidate who can win over blue—collar voters in - candidate who can win over- blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan. — blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan. and _ blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan. and it— blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan, and it is— blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan, and it is not— blue—collar voters in pennsylvania, michigan, and it is not suppressing at all— michigan, and it is not suppressing at all his— michigan, and it is not suppressing at all his economic _ michigan, and it is not suppressing at all his economic strategy - michigan, and it is not suppressing at all his economic strategy is - at all his economic strategy is focusing — at all his economic strategy is focusing on— at all his economic strategy is focusing on that _ at all his economic strategy is focusing on that for _ at all his economic strategy is focusing on that for some - at all his economic strategy is focusing on that for some it . at all his economic strategy isj focusing on that for some it is quite — focusing on that for some it is quite interesting _ focusing on that for some it is quite interesting stop- focusing on that for some it is quite interesting stop i- focusing on that for some it is quite interesting stop i think. focusing on that for some it is i quite interesting stop i think the globalisation has _ quite interesting stop i think the globalisation has come - quite interesting stop i think the globalisation has come to - quite interesting stop i think the globalisation has come to a - quite interesting stop i think the i globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt— globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold. — globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold. so _ globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold, so the _ globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold, so the plan - globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold, so the plan is - globalisation has come to a pretty abrupt hold, so the plan is to- globalisation has come to a prettyj abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue _ abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue of— abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue of that. _ abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue of that. he _ abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue of that. he was— abrupt hold, so the plan is to take an issue of that. he was saying. an issue of that. he was saying yesterday— an issue of that. he was saying yesterday in _ an issue of that. he was saying yesterday in syracuse, - an issue of that. he was saying yesterday in syracuse, new - an issue of that. he was saying. yesterday in syracuse, new york, where _ yesterday in syracuse, new york, where they— yesterday in syracuse, new york, where they used _ yesterday in syracuse, new york, where they used to _ yesterday in syracuse, new york, where they used to churn - yesterday in syracuse, new york, where they used to churn out - where they used to churn out air—conditioners, _ where they used to churn out air—conditioners, now- where they used to churn out air—conditioners, now they're where they used to churn out - air—conditioners, now they're going to turn— air—conditioners, now they're going to turn out— air—conditioners, now they're going to turn out semiconductors. - air—conditioners, now they're going to turn out semiconductors. you i to turn out semiconductors. you could _ to turn out semiconductors. you could almost _ to turn out semiconductors. you could almost call— to turn out semiconductors. you could almost call it _ to turn out semiconductors. you could almost call it make - to turn out semiconductors. you. could almost call it make america great _ could almost call it make america great again. _ could almost call it make america great again, although _ could almost call it make america great again, although you - could almost call it make america i great again, although you probably could _ great again, although you probably could not. — great again, although you probably could not. lrut— great again, although you probably could not, but then _ that make sense politically, but normally— that make sense politically, but normally in— that make sense politically, but normally in an _ that make sense politically, but normally in an economic- that make sense politically, but normally in an economic hole, i that make sense politically, but i normally in an economic hole, you cut rates— normally in an economic hole, you cut rates and — normally in an economic hole, you cut rates and inject _ normally in an economic hole, you cut rates and inject money into i normally in an economic hole, you| cut rates and inject money into the economy— cut rates and inject money into the economy for— cut rates and inject money into the economy for you _ cut rates and inject money into the economy for you try— cut rates and inject money into the economy for you try to _ cut rates and inject money into the economy for you try to do - cut rates and inject money into the economy for you try to do that i cut rates and inject money into the economy for you try to do that in a| economy for you try to do that in a hi-h economy for you try to do that in a high rate _ economy for you try to do that in a high rate environment, _ economy for you try to do that in a high rate environment, it - economy for you try to do that in a high rate environment, it may- high rate environment, it may backfire. _ high rate environment, it may backfire, but _ high rate environment, it may backfire, but you _ high rate environment, it may backfire, but you can - high rate environment, it may. backfire, but you can understand high rate environment, it may- backfire, but you can understand the politics _ backfire, but you can understand the politics of— backfire, but you can understand the politics of it. — backfire, but you can understand the politics of it, certainly, _ backfire, but you can understand the politics of it, certainly, yeah. - politics of it, certainly, yeah. allison. — politics of it, certainly, yeah. allison. a _ politics of it, certainly, yeah. allison, a final— politics of it, certainly, yeah. allison, a final thought, i politics of it, certainly, yeah. i allison, a final thought, make america great again? you allison, a finalthought, make america great again? you hope so, but it's early _ america great again? you hope so, but it's early is _ america great again? you hope so, but it's early is a _ america great again? you hope so, but it's early is a challenge, - america great again? you hope so, but it's early is a challenge, and i but it's early is a challenge, and as i said, we use to... building

jobs through semiconductor building is worrying. jobs through semiconductor building iswor in. . ., jobs through semiconductor building iswor int. . ., ~ is worrying. allison schrager, thank ou for is worrying. allison schrager, thank you forjoining _ is worrying. allison schrager, thank you forjoining us. _ is worrying. allison schrager, thank you forjoining us, and _ is worrying. allison schrager, thank you forjoining us, and of _ is worrying. allison schrager, thank you forjoining us, and of course i is worrying. allison schrager, thankj you forjoining us, and of course my panelists. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines today. conservative london mayoral hopeful daniel korski has pulled out of the contest, after being accused of groping novelist and tv producer daisy goodwin during a meeting at 10 downing street in 2013. mr korski said he "categorically" denied the allegation against him. he said he was withdrawing from the race because of the pressure on his family and the difficulty now in having his campaign message heard. the hollywood actor kevin spacey has appeared in court in london, accused of a string of sexual offences. the oscar—winning actor is facing a dozen charges relating to four men over a 12—year period from 2001. he denies the claims and has already pleaded not guilty. the prosecution is due to get under way on friday. 0fcom has launched an investigation into telecomms company bt

following a major disruption to 999 call services on sunday. emergency services across the country reported emergency calls were failing to connect, because of a technical fault. bt, which manages the 999 phone system, has apologised for the problems. you're live with bbc news. in an unusually critical report, the government's climate watchdog says the uk has lost its position as an international leader on action to slow global warming. the climate change committee describes the recent approval of a new coal mine as "nonsense" and says it's "markedly" less confident than a year ago that the uk will reach its targets for cutting carbon emissions. the government says it's committed to its carbon targets. here's our climate editor, justin rowlatt. three, two, one... king charles helped turn on a climate clock at a summit in london this afternoon.

it triggers 150 similar clocks across the major cities of the uk, counting down the seconds to 2030, the estimated deadline for limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels. but the uk's climate watchdog had a stern warning for the government today. the climate change committee said its confidence that the government would meet its own legally binding targets for cutting emissions by the end of the decade had fallen markedly. the anger and the impatience of the world will be uncontainable. at the un climate conference in glasgow two years ago, then prime minister borisjohnson vowed the uk would cut emissions by 68% on 1990 levels by 2030. the climate change committee said it just doesn't see the government showing the pace or urgency that will get us there. take flying. the government says it wants to cut

emissions from aviation but it has no plan of how to persuade us all to fly less. and it's a similar story for emissions cuts elsewhere. it says the roll—out of renewables is too slow, industry needs to do more to decarbonise and many more trees need to be planted. and then there is the question of making our homes more energy—efficient. look how the uk lags the rest of europe on heat pump installations, a low carbon electric heating system. we are that little red bar right at the bottom. where is the plan to speed things up, today's report asks. well, the sad thing is that the government, having really lead the world, has now lost that leadership because it isn't delivering. and that's the issue, it's to deliver what it has committed itself to, nationally and internationally. the committee chairman described approval for a new coal mine in cumbria is total nonsense

and slammed plans to give the go—ahead to a major new oil field off the coast of the shetland islands. the government, however, denies it is off course. we've met all our carbon budgets to date, we are confident of doing so in future, but it is extremely ambitious and the committee is right, it is its job to challenge us on areas where we need to go further and faster. and challenge it has. it says there needs to be a major increase in pace and urgency if the government is to meet its legally binding climate commitments. justin rowlatt, bbc news, london's guildhall. let's bring in our panelists on this. tom, iwant let's bring in our panelists on this. tom, i want to get your take on this because obviously it is alluded saddening to kind of get this feeling that there is not really... the uk is not at the forefront, as one might hope, in terms of climate change. yet. forefront, as one might hope, in terms of climate change.- forefront, as one might hope, in terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing _ terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing for— terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing. for the _ terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing. for the last _ terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing. for the last 20 - terms of climate change. yet, it is depressing. for the last 20 years, | depressing. for the last 20 years, this country has reduced its carbon

emissions by a third. at the same time, global carbon emissions have risen by a third and the global number is what counts. the global number is what counts. the global number is what counts. the global number is a lot bigger, but our efforts or something certainly should be proud of. there are several elements to the report for stub one... is seemed odd to me that dilly—dallying and not building a new runway at heathrow has somehow been a greed dell max green boost to us, because ultimo that has to happen —— a lewis to us. the other is the coal plant. they say the coal will only be used for the power, but notwithstanding that, green people who know what they're talking about say even on those terms, it is still a disgrace. the other aspect being heat pumps, insulation and so on. sadly, we do have a government, and i suspect many conservatives would agree with this, that has lost its nerve, lost its bottle. rishi sunak when he was chancellor announced the green homes grant. i spent months trying to figure how it works, to get a heat pump in my house, and it

was complete impossible. they don't have the courage to invest, they are out of ideas, they're on their way out, and what is needed is a new government that will believe in this stuff, that will give meaningful investment heat pumps, will go around and knock on peoples doors and tell them, this is how you insulate your house and this is how you claim the money back. there is no alternative, but this government has not bleak at the courage to do it, and there's a key reason for that as well for a powerful and of the conservative partyjust does not believe in that stuff, theyjust did not leave it as the government's job to do those sorts of things, and it is the government'sjob, to do those sorts of things, and it is the government's job, it absolutely is —— not believe. stephanie, we have not got long, maybe 30 seconds or so, but i have read you are at the cop conference in paris. it read you are at the cop conference in paris. . . read you are at the cop conference in paris. . , _, ., ., , in paris. it was encouraging to see the sirit in paris. it was encouraging to see the spirit of _ in paris. it was encouraging to see the spirit of the _ in paris. it was encouraging to see the spirit of the leaders _ in paris. it was encouraging to see the spirit of the leaders around i in paris. it was encouraging to see| the spirit of the leaders around the world _ the spirit of the leaders around the world committed to client recovery, and i_ world committed to client recovery, and i know — world committed to client recovery, and i know there's a lot to be upset

about— and i know there's a lot to be upset about and disappointed about with this report, but i hope that it is something that motivates the people in the _ something that motivates the people in the uk _ something that motivates the people in the uk to double down and try to work— in the uk to double down and try to work even — in the uk to double down and try to work even harder instead of being discouraged. gk, work even harder instead of being discouraged-— work even harder instead of being discourated. ,, , . ., ., discouraged. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank ou discouraged. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you very — discouraged. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you very much _ discouraged. 0k, stephanie and tom, thank you very much indeed. - for everyone watching at home, we will have more on the story on madonna, the story that she has been unwell, so don't go anywhere. stay with us on the bbc. hello there. there has been a lot of cloud around today, cloudy skies at lord's for the test match. some parts of england, though, have seen some sunshine coming through. for example, here in hampshire, it's been very muggy and very warm across many parts of england. scotland and northern ireland will be turning cooler and fresher with some sunshine around, mind you.

that sunshine followed the rain that we started the day with. and this band of rain has been quite heavy as it's pushed across scotland, had a few thunderstorms in northern england. the rain is becoming more fragmented. it's going to squeeze down through the midlands, head to the southeast of england and across east anglia later, and still a few heavy bursts of rain in there as well. clearer skies will continue to follow from the west. a few more showers along the west coast of scotland, but a chillier night for scotland and northern ireland. single figure temperatures here, much warmer and still quite humid across east anglia and the southeast because we've still got rain around first thing tomorrow on that weather front there. it does shuffle away, and then we'll introduce this westerly breeze that will bring cooler and fresher air for all of us tomorrow. but that rain will hang around into the morning across east anglia and the southeast, then it will clear away, and then it'll be sunny spells, a few showers for a while in northern ireland, pushing eastwards across scotland and the odd shower likely across england and wales, although many places here will probably be dry in the afternoon. temperature—wise not too impressive, despite the sunshine, it is cooler air.

so 18—19 celsius quite widely, a bit below par, really, for this time of the year. weather�*s coming in from the atlantic, keeping this unsettled theme going. more weatherfronts bringing cloud and rain into friday, wrapped around that area of low pressure, that's going to hang around through the weekend. we'll look at that in a moment, but for the eastern areas of the uk, friday starts dry and bright with some sunshine. it does cloud over, though, from the west. a little bit of light rain or drizzle mainly over western hills and coast. the more persistent rain comes into scotland and northern ireland as the wind picks up, and look at the temperatures, only 16 celsius in glasgow, 21 celsius perhaps in london. that area of low pressure, i mentioned it, it's going to hang around to the north of scotland, and around that we're going to find some stronger winds, particularly for northern parts of the uk, touching gale force maybe in northern scotland. and that's where we're going to see most of the rain saturday and into sunday. some showers and a bit of sunshine for scotland and northern ireland, one or two showers for northern england. but further south, it should be dry.

since us troops invaded iraq, hello, i'm maryam moshiri. you're watching the context on bbc news. 20 years on since the us invasion of iraq, we'll hearfrom its president, talking exclusively to the bbc in his first english—speaking interview since taking office.

let's turn to iraq now and 20 years