hello, i hello, lam hello, i am gareth barlow. we start with a new row over fossils fuels and renewable energy. downing street has confirmed that hundreds of new licenses will be granted to drill for oil and gas in the north sea. the prime minister says the move is vital to bolster energy security. rishi sunak has also announced significant funding for two new carbon capture and storage projects, including the first in scotland. campaigners have sharply criticised the new drilling licenses — saying they demonstrate a "short—sighted and selfish" approach to climate change. this is what mr sunak had to say about today's announcements, when he spoke to bbc radio scotland a little earlier. no, what this is about is strengthening our energy security for the whole of the united kingdom. i think we have seen over the last year, the impact of putin's war, we don't want to be in hock to dictators like that when it comes to our energy. and an important part of guarding against that is investing in our north sea,

and that is what today's announcement is about, making sure that we have future oil and gas licensing rounds, important that we get energy from here at home, that supportsjobs, 200,000 jobs across that industry, particularly in scotland. but we are also announcing today investments in carbon capture and storage and acorn being one of the clusters that has been in reserve, actually, the past period, when you talked about other places, i wouldn't disparage those bids, they were very strong, from the north east of england but also from merseyside. we are adding to those today with two of clusters including one in aberdeenshire. again, that will be great for scottish jobs and help us transition to net—zero. straight to westminster. 0ur political correspondent, peter saull, is there for us. the prime minister saying this is about energy security, referencing russia in ukraine, cynics and critics might say this is about an upcoming general election next year.

where is the balance here? he denied these announcements were for political purposes.— these announcements were for political purposes. there are two elements of _ political purposes. there are two elements of this _ political purposes. there are two elements of this announcement l political purposes. there are two - elements of this announcement today. on the one hand you have got new gas 0n the one hand you have got new gas and oil licenses. yes, environmental activists might argue that that is the wrong priority. 0n the other hand you have investment in carbon capture and storage. the question is whether you think that is contradictory or complementary, one to the other, as the uk moves to add to the other, as the uk moves to add to this drive for net zero in 2050. but there is a political element to this. there is no doubt about it. if you think about the north—east of scotland there is fertile electoral territory for the conservatives up there. although the prime minister denied that that was a consideration when he was asked about it this morning. what we have seen in recent weeks, it feels like we have already spent the entire summer talking about green policies. we had the uxbridge by—election some weeks ago, the conservatives, unexpectedly held onto that seat on the outskirts of london based on a campaign against the expansion of the ultra low emission zone. which extensively actually isn't a policy about

climate change, it is about cutting emissions that make the air dirtier. and of the mayor of london would argue that it is about protecting children's lungs. but it has prompted a debate within the political party and of the country more widely about the drive towards cutting carbon emissions. several voices within the conservative party are urging the government to take theirfoot off the are urging the government to take their foot off the accelerator somewhat. we have had the prime minister committing to some targets like the ban in 2030, for example, on the sale of petrol and diesel cars. but some suggestions from ministers that they might be rowing back on some others here. but certainly, rishi sunak is talking about a balance here. because by 2050, his argument is that we are going to need to generate some of our electricity from fossil fuels. and his argument is a that would be cancelled out by some of the other things they are doing, including carbon capture. but that in and of itself is quite an embryonic technology and some people are suggesting that it is a bit of a

risk to stake so much of that particular idea. i'd like all of that considered, that mosaic of announcement we have seen this morning, where does that position the uk internationally? well, the governorate would argue that we are well ahead of the field actually in terms of this drive towards net zero. we are among the first countries to announce that commitment to hit net zero by 2050. having said that, there has been some criticism of the government in recent months that perhaps under rishi sunak some of those climate commitments are not as strident as they once were. that we have lost our leadership on the world stage. and actually, one conservative mp who wrote a lengthy report into the drive for net zero has said in the past few minutes or so that actually it looks like the uk is now on the wrong side of history in terms of announcing more gas and oil drilling licences. so a huge debate within the conservative party more widely. the labour party are also saying it is not the right idea to drill for gas and oil. although quietly, they might be quite happy about all of

this because it does of course protectjobs in the north—east of scotland. and where labour to win the next general election, the poll suggests that they were led to this particular point, they probably wouldn't run or in some of those licenses enabling those industries to thrive in that part of the country. to thrive in that part of the count . ., ~ to thrive in that part of the country-— to thrive in that part of the count . ., ~ ., ., the scottish national party's energy spokesman in the house of commons is stephen flynn. hejoins us now. stephen, thank you so much for joining us. your constituency is aberdeenshire south, just gives your reaction to these announcements today? reaction to these announcements toda ? ~ ., ., today? well, there are two announcements _ today? well, there are two announcements that - today? well, there are two announcements that have l today? well, there are two - announcements that have been today? well, there are two _ announcements that have been made today. the first one is in terms of carbon capture and storage in the north—east of scotland. i think it is important for viewers to understand the wider context here because carbon capture and storage was first mooted in the north—east of scotland in 2005, at which point, the uk government chose not to invest in it. in the run—up to the independence referendum, there'd be an energy secretary told us that we would have carbon capture and storage in the north—east of

scotland after the independence referendum. that £1 billion conveniently disappeared and then of course just a couple of years ago, you had a new licensing bound for carbon capture and storage, at which point the whole of the gas sector in the north—east of scotland missed out to projects in the north of england. perhaps for political reasons. so we have waited in scotland for 18 years for this announcement for carbon capture and storage to go ahead. so it is one that i welcome but it is of course quite frustrating that it has taken this long to get at this point. in terms of the oil and gas licensing to which the previous commentator was referring there, i think we need to look at this. what are the uk conservative party are seeking to do is to build upon the mantle of donald trump to build drill when actualfact donald trump to build drill when actual fact what they should be doing is taking an evidence—based approach. 0n doing is taking an evidence—based approach. on that takes into account our needs for energy but also taking into account the reality of the climate emergency that we all face. i don't believe that they are taking

an energy —based approach and i think that is to the detriment not just of the climate but also of our future in terms of energy security as well. the focus should very much be notjust in terms of fossil fuels but also on a renewables future. because that is where the green gold rushes. the usa, europe, india, china, they are all seeking to invest millions and billions of pounds worth of subsidies into their renewable sector. whilst the uk government is turning in a different direction. ., ., ,, ., government is turning in a different direction. ., ., , , ., ., direction. you have pushed for more in terms of — direction. you have pushed for more in terms of hydroelectricity - direction. you have pushed for more in terms of hydroelectricity as - direction. you have pushed for more in terms of hydroelectricity as well l in terms of hydroelectricity as well have a due? in in terms of hydroelectricity as well have a due?— in terms of hydroelectricity as well have a due? ., ., ., ., .,, have a due? in scotland we are awash with renewable _ have a due? in scotland we are awash with renewable energy _ have a due? in scotland we are awash with renewable energy opportunities. | with renewable energy opportunities. we have a world leading tidal sector which unfortunately has had its funding cut from the uk government. a story which is one which is repeated quite widely across the country. we have the corrie glass development with ssc, both of which have the capacity to power tens of thousands of homes in scotland. what we are waiting for is the uk government to take these forward.

but instead of focusing on the renewables future and working in partnership with the fossil fuels industry to deliver it, because many of the people involved in those sectors are the ones that are going to deliver that renewables future through their skills, knowledge and expertise, we have this one—dimensional outlook from the prime minister. and i don't think that does us any favours in terms of energy security on the climate crisis. ,, ., ., crisis. the snp leader at westminster. _ crisis. the snp leader at westminster. thank - crisis. the snp leader at westminster. thank you | crisis. the snp leader at - westminster. thank you very crisis. the snp leader at _ westminster. thank you very much. let's bring in professor stuart hazeldine, an expert in carbon capture and storage at the university of edinburgh. thank you so much for your time of your expertise. just give us a sense of scale with regards to this. what is the potential for carbon capture and storage?— is the potential for carbon capture and storage? well, in the uk, like many industrial _ and storage? well, in the uk, like many industrial countries, - and storage? well, in the uk, like many industrial countries, carbon | many industrial countries, carbon capture and storage looks as though it has to be essential if we are going to achieve net zero. so at the moment, the uk is emitting about 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, and the plans for a

straightforward application of carbon capture and storage over the next ten or 20 years would store about 100 million tonnes from that. and it isjust about 100 million tonnes from that. and it is just as importantly as the amount is how that can be obtained. that is from places like gas fuelled power plants as was mentioned earlier in your piece. places like making methane gas stripping carbon dioxide out from methane gas chemically to make hydrogen where we can send a bat around to make clean fuel. so we can apply carbon capture and storage to get leverage and extra benefits all around the economy. and lastly, just as a nascent emerging industry, we can also start extracting carbon dioxide from air to remove the effects of that having on carbon change. this is the start of a multi—decade road and we are several decades late in starting. so let's not pretend that

we are entering into a garden of roses here, we have got decades of catching up to do. because we can see that climate change is now accelerating much faster than was originally anticipated. so accelerating much faster than was originally anticipated.— originally anticipated. so there is an awful lot _ originally anticipated. so there is an awful lot of— originally anticipated. so there is an awful lot of that _ originally anticipated. so there is an awful lot of that carbon - originally anticipated. so there is | an awful lot of that carbon capture and storage needs to do. and to store in various types for example. 0ut store in various types for example. out in the north sea. it was referred to, the technology earlier, and the industry is fairly embryonic still, how much is being done at this very moment across the uk, how many plants are there, how much carbon dioxide is being pumped under the sea and under the ground for example? the sea and under the ground for examle? ., , , , example? the uk has been very reticent about _ example? the uk has been very reticent about investing - example? the uk has been very reticent about investing proper. reticent about investing proper large money and giving confidence, political confidence, to large companies. so the uk has no carbon capture going into the ground at the moment. the only projects that i know of at the moment at any significant scale is run by drax,

the large what used to be a coal combustion plant in east yorkshire that now imports biomass. that is heading... that is intending to be carbon capture ready in the next year or two. carbon capture ready in the next year ortwo. but carbon capture ready in the next year or two. but unfortunately, that is not going to be connected to a pipeline just yet. so again, a is not going to be connected to a pipelinejust yet. so again, a lack ofjoined up planning, perhaps. but elsewhere, the carbon capture and storage has been operating in the north sea since 1996, run by the norwegian oil company equinox, that has been storing 1 million tonnes a year reliably every year since 1996. it is so reliable in fact add to the norwegian oil company opened a second project up in the north of norway which is also starring, capturing and storing, about .8 million tonnes a year reliably every year. and the norwegians are now creating a carbon dioxide storage business where countries around europe can have their carbon dioxide

collected by norwegian shipping and taken to the offshore destination just west of bergen and injected, eventually the next two years, injected into permanent storage there. so the uk has huge assets like that, but we have been very slow to exploit them. it has taken ten years to get from this latest thought about carbon capture and storage to injection in 2027. it will have taken ten years. we need to halve or quarter that timescale. we need to do this like it really matters. like it does matter in the climate emergency. but of course, carbon capture and storage is just one of the few things we need to do, i am not selling cabannes capture and storage as a single solution. i will have to stop you there. we are running a little short on time here. thank you so much for your insight, we massively appreciated. a british man who killed his seriously ill wife at their home

in cyprus has been released by a court in cyrpus. david hunter was sentenced to two years in prison, but the court took into account time he has already spent in custody. mr hunter, 76, was previously cleared of murder after suffocating 74—year—old janice hunter at the property near paphos in december 2021. in the past hour mr hunter and his lawyer have been speaking outside court. thank you to all of the people who have donated to me, especially my workmates. i don't know where i would be without them. how workmates. i don't know where i would be without them.- workmates. i don't know where i would be without them. how are you feelin: ? would be without them. how are you feeling? well. _ would be without them. how are you feeling? well. i _ would be without them. how are you feeling? well, i hope _ would be without them. how are you feeling? well, i hope i _ would be without them. how are you feeling? well, i hope i am _ would be without them. how are you feeling? well, i hope i am feeling i feeling? well, i hope i am feeling the same as— feeling? well, i hope i am feeling the same as my — feeling? well, i hope i am feeling the same as my family. _ feeling? well, i hope i am feeling the same as my family. when - feeling? well, i hope i am feeling the same as my family. when i i feeling? well, i hope i am feeling | the same as my family. when i am talking about that, i am talking about all of my lads, all of my family. when you work in a colliery, we are a family. i family. when you work in a colliery, we are a family.— we are a family. i am happy to take any questions _ we are a family. i am happy to take any questions if _ we are a family. i am happy to take any questions if you _ we are a family. i am happy to take any questions if you have _ we are a family. i am happy to takej any questions if you have questions about the proceedings. in comparison to the uk, if— about the proceedings. in comparison to the uk, if david — about the proceedings. in comparison to the uk, if david had _ about the proceedings. in comparison to the uk, if david had been - about the proceedings. in comparison to the uk, if david had been trial- to the uk, if david had been trial in the _ to the uk, if david had been trial in the uk, — to the uk, if david had been trial in the uk, this would have been so different. — in the uk, this would have been so different, what are your thoughts on that? _ different, what are your thoughts on that? fif— different, what are your thoughts on that? ., , , that? of the law is different here to the law in _

that? of the law is different here to the law in cyprus. _ that? of the law is different here to the law in cyprus. and - that? of the law is different here to the law in cyprus. and there i that? of the law is different here j to the law in cyprus. and there is that? of the law is different here l to the law in cyprus. and there is a suicide pact to murder, we think the decision the court has come due in terms of not finding him guilty of murder is very important, because he would have spent the rest of his life in prison here in cyprus, we think it was the right decision today which of course allows david today which of course allows david to walk out of court. so we are very pleased with the decisions of the court has made in this case. and that follows everything we have been saying all along about the circumstances behind this case. it is obviously a very tragic case and are not an easy case for anyone involved to deal with, but we think the right decision has been made. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. five weeks to go until her big day. on saturday the 2nd of september, millie and herfiance, mitchell, should have been tying the knot at the club at tuffley park. but now, who knows? after the club confirmed it was going into liquidation. to my family, i think it meant a lot. i am their first grandchild that was meant to be getting married. i am an only child as well.

millie and mitchell had been planning their wedding for 18 months and saving hard too. they had already paid £7,000. the club said that it is with the heaviest heart that we have to announce that we will be closing down and entering into liquidation. please note this hasn't been the easiest of decisions, and we understand people will be angry, upset and worried. they go on to say, we have tried everything we can to remain open, but with bills continuing to rise, it is no longer possible. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. security officials in north—west pakistan say they believe islamic state militants were responsible for sunday's suicide bombing which killed at least 45 people at a political rally. more than 100 people were injured in the explosion in the north—west bajaur district, near the border with afghanistan.

it happened at an event organised by one of the country's largest islamic political groups, jui—f — which is part of the government coalition. no group has yet admitted carrying out the attack — and authorities have warned the death toll may rise further. let's talk to kiran butt, of the khorasan diary, in lahore. just tell us more about what we know with regards to the investigation into this attack.— with regards to the investigation into this attack. yes, right now we are looking _ into this attack. yes, right now we are looking at _ into this attack. yes, right now we are looking at the _ into this attack. yes, right now we are looking at the death _ into this attack. yes, right now we are looking at the death toll - are looking at the death toll increasing. a total of 54 people have lost their lives in a very tragic incident yesterday in bajaur. according to the first information respond to that has been filed against unknown militants, the attack happened exactly at fort npm local time. there was a workers convention going on, who as you said

is in a government coalition. what we know so far is that it was a suicide bomb, according to the file, and the people who are there are still mourning their loss today. funeral prayers were offered for the people who lost their lives this morning. people who lost their lives this morninu. ~ ., , ., ., people who lost their lives this morninu. ., , ., ., , morning. with regards to who is responsible _ morning. with regards to who is responsible for _ morning. with regards to who is responsible for this, _ morning. with regards to who is responsible for this, no - morning. with regards to who is responsible for this, no group . morning. with regards to who is i responsible for this, no group has admitted responsibility, but indications that it might be linked to islamic states to some degree? absolutely. still right now as we are speaking, one militant group has taken the responsibility of this attack —— no militant group has taken response ability. although the evidence is pointing towards islamic state programmes. because they have taken out almost 23 attacks alone against this party. those are in the past couple of months. the islamic

state party is being the main suspect but we are still waiting for an official confirmation. but if they are going to... there is also a pattern that we saw in some months back that they do not claim the attack as well. but as we gathered information last night, all the militant outfits gave their official statements and condemned to this attack. they said that they do not have any link to this attack. so the only suspect remains. tote have any link to this attack. so the only suspect remains.— only suspect remains. we are exoecting _ only suspect remains. we are expecting elections _ only suspect remains. we are expecting elections take - only suspect remains. we are | expecting elections take place only suspect remains. we are i expecting elections take place in the autumn. do we think they will go as ahead as planned? right the autumn. do we think they will go as ahead as planned?— as ahead as planned? right now, i cuess we as ahead as planned? right now, i guess we can't _ as ahead as planned? right now, i guess we can't say. _ as ahead as planned? right now, i guess we can't say. we _ as ahead as planned? right now, i guess we can't say. we can't - as ahead as planned? right now, i guess we can't say. we can't say l guess we can't say. we can't say with faith or confidence that the elections will take place in this kind of atmosphere. where

politicians are getting targeted by these militant organisations. in the last three months, and of a leader from a different party was targeted and then is another was also targeted. if for these political leaders to go out into the public to ask for votes and to do their campaigns, if they are going to be targeted like this by militant organisations, then in this environment, the elections, i don't think they will take place. but as you know, the chinese deputy prime minister is visiting pakistan right now, the government have their full focus on political stability and economy. because we were already in talks with imf so that we could stabilise our economy.- talks with imf so that we could stabilise our economy. thank you “oininu stabilise our economy. thank you

joining us- _ local authorities across the uk have told the bbc that some vulnerable people are waiting years for the social care they need. new research suggests nearly a quarter of councils had an average wait of over a month for patients — just to be assessed — last year. it's having a knock on effect to the nhs — as those who are medically fit to leave hospital become stuck — and can't be discharged — as wyre davies reports. i can't afford to waste time at my age. i could go at any day. lily is 96 years old. she's frail and needs help with everyday tasks. but in the words of her friends, she's as sharp as a tack and she knows what she wants. i have to get out. i've had enough. i can't... ijust can't stand any more of it. lily's been in hospitalfor 11 months, and is a striking example of a common problem. a patient well enough to go home, but unable to leave hospital because there's no care available. with the help of friends, she has been keeping a video diary. so what is stopping

you now from going home? no carers. no carer. she isjust waiting. they can't find any carers who can care for me. there are a lot of people like me, and we're holding up beds and everything, so they should be pushing us out, really. the reported staffing crisis in the care sector has a direct impact on the availability of beds in hospitals across the uk. so today we've got 58 patients who are what we call medically fit for discharge. that's nearly three wards of patients that do not need to be here. it's not sustainable, and i think something does need to change. the uk government and the devolved administrations do have the powers to raise taxes to pay for social care if they wanted. they say they are spending billions more, but councils say much of that is being soaked up by rising costs. at least lily, after waiting almost a year, is now going home.

oh, my trees. some of the trees are still there. two carers visit four times daily, allowing her to live as she wishes. what is it like to be back home? wonderful. bubbling over inside of me, the fact that i am home. the vale of glamorgan council has apologised unreservedly for the delay, and although a health board said the level of care she needed contributed to her stay in hospital, it understood her concerns. lily isjust glad to be home and finally enjoying the view from her own window. wyre davies, bbc news. 0ur reporter, paul heaney, has been tracking this story. he joins us from cardiff now. paul, i am paul, iam interested paul, i am interested to know, what to what degree is this issue across the uk, we have heard there from wiwa davis who was in wales, is this an issue that is very similar in northern ireland as well? it

certainly appears to be. what is striking about the data that we managed to get hold of, and it was a bit of a dearth of data to begin with until we started asking lots of questions of all of the councils in the uk and northern ireland, is that there are big variations in the time you might expect to wait to be assessed for your needs and then to get to the care you need in order to leave hospital or indeed to remain home i do not need to go into hospital in the first place. which was another really important part of this story. in essence, you can go from waiting a day or two to waiting for months, according to the research that we have done in conjunction with the shared data unit here at the bbc.— conjunction with the shared data unit here at the bbc. what does your data suggest — unit here at the bbc. what does your data suggest is _ unit here at the bbc. what does your data suggest is the _ unit here at the bbc. what does your data suggest is the solution - unit here at the bbc. what does your data suggest is the solution to - data suggest is the solution to this? is it'sjust more money or is it more money in reform?- this? is it'sjust more money or is it more money in reform? money is certainly a — it more money in reform? money is certainly a part _ it more money in reform? money is certainly a part of— it more money in reform? money is certainly a part of the _ it more money in reform? money is certainly a part of the solution, - it more money in reform? money is certainly a part of the solution, we| certainly a part of the solution, we are told. another set of data we managed to get a hold of was the number of care contracts that were handed back to councils from private companies. the council can obviously employ carries themselves to do this job or they can pay companies on

their behalf. when companies are handing back thousands of contracts, as they did last year, 70,000 hours per week worth of care that was handed back, they cited staffing as being the biggest and most common reason for doing that. that would suggest that there is a lack of carers. and what do you do to encourage more people into the sector or indeed keep the care is that you have got? especially in a post—pandemic world where people have retired from the sector. pay is part of that, so our terms and conditions. there is also a suggestion that there needs to be a better linkup between health and social care. of course, keeping people out of hospital as important as well. it people out of hospital as important as well. ., , ., ., as well. it does have a huge impact on the nhs, _ as well. it does have a huge impact on the ms, the — as well. it does have a huge impact on the nhs, the situation. - on the nhs, the situation. absolutely. as you sign a package there, there are hospitals up and down the country that will have people in beds that really do not need to be there. that would highlight the need to do something about this. the uk government says it is spending billions more,

council say that will be sucked up tjy council say that will be sucked up by inflation and other measures. but there is a call from economists and lots of reports for decades that we need a long—term plan to solve this. thank you so very much. there is more of paul's reporting on our website. i am gareth barlow, do stay with us. plenty more to come. hello again. for many of us to date is going to be cloudy, breezy, with some sunny and showery outbreaks of rain. we had some heavy rain pushing northwards and eastward through the course of this morning and actually, this week we are looking at spells of wind and rain and it will be rather cool. particularly from thursday when the wind changes to novalis. what is happening today is we have this area of low pressure with its weather fronts wrapped around it. this one is going northwards and eastwards and the other one across the english channel

will pep up through the course of the afternoon, bringing some heavy rain. in between these two areas, there will be some showers around, but equally, there will be some dry weather and we should see some glimpses of sunshine. temperature is will be from 16 to 21 degrees north to south. for the cricket this afternoon, it is looking like we will get a fair bit of play around. there will be variable amounts of cloud with a little bit of sunshine, but we can't totally rule out a shower. as we had real evening and overnight in the rain continues to advance across scotland, there will be showers across northern ireland and england and wales. but a lot of dry weather and some clear skies. and the breezy conditions from earlier in the day will be tending to lighten. temperature is 11 and then after about 14 as we sweep down towards the south. so that leads us into tuesday daytime. we are in between these two areas of low pressure, so it is essentially going to be a day of sunshine and showers.

areas of cloud before this next area of low pressure comes in a bit later in the day. we start with some cloud around, still a few showers, lighter winds, drier conditions than today and some sunshine. you can see through the afternoon the clouds gathering ahead of the rain coming in across the isles of scilly and cornwall. temperatures will be 15 in the north to about 22 celsius in the south, depending on the amount of sunshine that we do see. so then, as we move from wednesday into thursday, that area of low pressure pulls away. the wind changes direction behind it to more of a northerly, which is a cover direction for us, and that will certainly have an impact on the temperatures. so on wednesday, we have the heavy rain, particularly across england and wales. it will be windy and temperatures will be nothing to write turnaround. sunshine and on thursday.

not stopping oil. the uk government confirms hundreds of new licences will be granted to drill for oil and gas in the north sea. and some respite for europe as inflation eases and the economy returns to modest growth. welcome to world business report.

i'm ben thompson. we begin with climate change and the net zero debate — the uk's prime minister rishi sunak has announced plans to expand carbon capture and storage in the north sea. speaking to the bbc in scotland this morning, mr sunak confirmed that his government will invest millions of pounds in a carbon capture project, and confirmed 100 new north sea oil and gas licences. mr sunak said the scottish schemes would help it grow the economy and meet its 2050 net zero commitment. but critics have accused the government of backing fossil fuels. jess ralston is head of energy at the energy and climate intelligence unit. thank you for being with us, what does this tell us about the government's commitment to net zero? when it comes to net zero around three in them people support the aim of net zero and over half the people want to see more action on climate

change. clearly it is a popular