are staying behind. the capsule had developed technical problems, and nasa decided it would be safer to leave the two astronauts on board the iss. three days of national mourning begin in kenya after at least 17 children died in a fire at a school. dozens remain unaccounted for. anxious parents are waiting to find out if they are still alive. asia's most powerful storm of the year makes landfall in vietnam, causing widespread damage after devastating parts of china and killing three people. super typhoon yagi is packing winds of 150 kilometres an hour. sir keir starmer is in dublin for talks for the time in five years. downing street says it marks a "new era of co—operation and friendship" between britain and ireland. hello.

i just want to take you to central london, where a security conference is taking place. among the speakers at the the event are william burns, head of the cia, and sir richard moore, head of mi6. two big names. they have already been talking about two big names. they have already been talking about the war in ukraine and they have also just been talking about the middle east, so what we are going to do is take a listen into what they are saying to the audience that is at an event organised by the ft. a very highly fragile price in the middle east, but all the risk to go with that, and we have navigated, touch wood, touch wood, past a crisis point between israel and iran, but as long as we don't get to a ceasefire, that risk is there, and for all the horror of gaza,

and for all the horror of gaza, a wider conflict in the middle east would be vastly worse. figs east would be vastly worse. as ou east would be vastly worse. as you both know, in negotiations, you both know, in negotiations, you also have to put pressure on both parties or you have to provide incentives for both parties, so in a way sometimes you have to enforce the terms of a ceasefire, for example. is the us, is the uk, willing to put the pressure necessary to get a ceasefire? i put the pressure necessary to get a ceasefire?— get a ceasefire? i mean, i think we _ get a ceasefire? i mean, i think we have _ get a ceasefire? i mean, i think we have to - get a ceasefire? i mean, i think we have to be, - get a ceasefire? i mean, i think we have to be, and. get a ceasefire? i mean, i i think we have to be, andjust think we have to be, and just speaking _ think we have to be, and just speaking for the policymakers in the — speaking for the policymakers in the us administration, i think— in the us administration, i think there has been a very hard — think there has been a very hard push. the president himself_ hard push. the president himself has been very actively involved — himself has been very actively involved in all this. that is a critical— involved in all this. that is a critical role for the united states _ critical role for the united states to play, i agree, and i believe — states to play, i agree, and i believe for the egyptians, for everyone else who has a stake, and the — everyone else who has a stake, and the horrific human conditions that we are all

recognising, anyone with any influence _ recognising, anyone with any influence over hamas has to push — influence over hamas has to push hard in that direction. they— push hard in that direction. they should not be the obstacle in the _ they should not be the obstacle in the path of the humanitarian assistance, the possibility of generally improving water horrific _ generally improving water horrific conditions in gaza. what _ horrific conditions in gaza. what is _ horrific conditions in gaza. what is your assessment of hamas' capabilities? would you say it is decimated? destroyed? well, i mean... ithink over the — well, i mean... ithink over the last? _ well, i mean... ithink over the last? over the last 11 months. _ the last? over the last 11 months, what the israelis have done _ months, what the israelis have done in — months, what the israelis have done in response to, as what richard — done in response to, as what richard said about ukraine, they— richard said about ukraine, they started with a barbaric hamas— they started with a barbaric hamas attack which killed hundreds and hundreds of innocent israelis, i think what the israeii _ innocent israelis, i think what the israeli military has succeeded in doing is severely degrading hamas' military capabilities over the last 11 months _ capabilities over the last 11 months. the problem with the term _ months. the problem with the term that _ months. the problem with the term that is sometimes used about— term that is sometimes used about destroying hamas is that

it is of— about destroying hamas is that it is of course true that hamas is a despicable terrorist organisation. you can severely degrade — organisation. you can severely degrade their military capabilities. it is also a movement and an idea, and in my experience — movement and an idea, and in my experience the only way you kill an — experience the only way you kill an idea is with a better idea, — kill an idea is with a better idea, and _ kill an idea is with a better idea, and that is why it is so crucial— idea, and that is why it is so crucial to— idea, and that is why it is so crucial to offer some sense of hope — crucial to offer some sense of hope for _ crucial to offer some sense of hope for the day after, not just— hope for the day after, not just in— hope for the day after, not just in gaza but for palestinians and israelis. and that is at the _ palestinians and israelis. and that is at the two _ palestinians and israelis. fific that is at the two state solution?— that is at the two state solution? . , , solution? always has been? i have been — solution? always has been? i have been around _ solution? always has been? i have been around this - solution? always has been? i have been around this issue | solution? always has been? i i have been around this issue for a very— have been around this issue for a very long _ have been around this issue for a very long time, as has richard, _ a very long time, as has richard, it is a very elusive goat — richard, it is a very elusive goat the _ richard, it is a very elusive goal. the only thing i would say is, _ goal. the only thing i would say is, show me what is a better— say is, show me what is a better alternative for palestinians and israelis to live — palestinians and israelis to live together in peace and security— live together in peace and security for both of them and to do— security for both of them and to do it — security for both of them and to do it in _ security for both of them and to do it in a way which is going _ to do it in a way which is going to _ to do it in a way which is going to contribute to at least some — going to contribute to at least some hope for regional stability as well. applause. richard, what _ stability as well. applause. richard, what is _ stability as well. applause. richard, what is your - richard, what is your assessment of iran's

intentions? do you think it will still retaliate for that assassination? it said it would and we have not seen that yet. i suspect they will try, and we won't be able to let our guard down for the type of activity that the iranians might try and prosecute in that direction, and the iranians have a whole playbook, a destabilising playbook, a destabilising playbook, around the region, and we see that in their sponsorship, what they do with militia, and, plus, a track record of going after dissidents, including in this country, to try and kill them,

so we are dealing with a power that continues to try to intimidate its opponents and to take revenge for things that have happened, yet, so it remains a focus for both of us to try and understand this country and to try and understand the threats that might come out of tehran. taste might come out of tehran. we have always — might come out of tehran. we have always talked about the risk of a regional war and this year, i think we came very close to that and the risk is still there. do you think, bill, that from an israeli perspective, there is perhaps an intention, or they are not as worried today about a regional war as they might have beenin regional war as they might have been in the past? i regional war as they might have been in the past?— been in the past? i mean, my sense is— been in the past? i mean, my sense is there _ been in the past? i mean, my sense is there is _ been in the past? i mean, my sense is there is genuine - sense is there is genuine concern, _ sense is there is genuine concern, certainly among the people — concern, certainly among the people we deal with in the israeli _ people we deal with in the israeli intelligence and security services about the potential for a much wider

regional— potential for a much wider regional conflict. and i think that— regional conflict. and i think that is— regional conflict. and i think that is why a ceasefire in gaza becomes— that is why a ceasefire in gaza becomes so important. that is why it — becomes so important. that is why it is — becomes so important. that is why it is also important to see what _ why it is also important to see what is — why it is also important to see what is possible if beyond even a ceasefire, if we are ever able — a ceasefire, if we are ever able to _ a ceasefire, if we are ever able to achieve that, you could take _ able to achieve that, you could take steps which could result in the — take steps which could result in the normalisation of relationships between saudi arabia — relationships between saudi arabia and israel that would in no way— arabia and israel that would in no way be _ arabia and israel that would in no way be the ultimate counter to the — no way be the ultimate counter to the iranians ambitions that richard — to the iranians ambitions that richard described before. it is easy— richard described before. it is easy to — richard described before. it is easy to be a pessimist about the middle east. i have spent a lot of— the middle east. i have spent a lot of years working on this issue _ lot of years working on this issue. the middle east is a place — issue. the middle east is a place where pessimists feel right— place where pessimists feel right at— place where pessimists feel right at home, but i think there _ right at home, but i think there is— right at home, but i think there is a _ right at home, but i think there is a possibility, which strategically would offer not only— strategically would offer not only israel but a lot of our friends _ only israel but a lot of our friends in _ only israel but a lot of our friends in the arab world the ultimate _ friends in the arab world the ultimate counter to the ambitions of this particular iranians _ ambitions of this particular iranians regime.— ambitions of this particular iranians regime. and this is wh the iranians regime. and this is why the focus _ iranians regime. and this is why the focus on _ iranians regime. and this is why the focus on the - iranians regime. and this is i why the focus on the ceasefire is so important. if you could get the ceasefire in gaza, you would have a chance to reverse the momentum, you have a chance to open up the potential of a deal over the blue line between

israel and lebanon, you have a chance to address the disruption to international shipping in the red sea. a number of things flow, but we do need desperately, and it is why bill and others devote so much unrelenting effort to try to bring it to pass.— to bring it to pass. there is one thing _ to bring it to pass. there is one thing we _ to bring it to pass. there is one thing we have - to bring it to pass. there is one thing we have yet - to bring it to pass. there is one thing we have yet to i to bring it to pass. there is i one thing we have yet to talk about and that is the biggest issue for both of you, and that issue for both of you, and that is china, which you both considered to be the biggest... the most significant strategic challenge and intelligence challenge and intelligence challenge will stop your agencies dedicate more resources to china than to anywhere else. my first question is, are the us export controls as effective as you would like, bill? or has china been very effective at circumventing them, including getting hold of the most advanced...? i getting hold of the most advanced. . . ?_ getting hold of the most advanced. . . ? getting hold of the most advanced...? ,, ., , advanced. . . ? i think what this administration _ advanced. . . ? i think what this administration has _ advanced. . . ? i think what this administration has done - advanced. . . ? i think what this administration has done in - advanced. . . ? i think what this | administration has done in this area, _ administration has done in this area, recognising that in the

way— area, recognising that in the way the _ area, recognising that in the way the revolution in technology is the main arena for us — technology is the main arena for us at _ technology is the main arena for us at least in competition with— for us at least in competition with china has had some impact as well — with china has had some impact as well. and certainly, at cia, as well. and certainly, at cia, as you — as well. and certainly, at cia, as you were suggesting before, we organise ourselves to reflect _ we organise ourselves to reflect that priority. we have the only— reflect that priority. we have the only single country mission centre, — the only single country mission centre, which is one of the 12 also — centre, which is one of the 12 also building blocks of our agency, _ also building blocks of our agency, the only single country mission— agency, the only single country mission centre devoted to china _ mission centre devoted to china. we have tripled the size of our— china. we have tripled the size of our budget devoted to the china — of our budget devoted to the china challenge. it represents about — china challenge. it represents about 20% of our overall budget now _ about 20% of our overall budget now i_ about 20% of our overall budget now. i learned a long time ago, you don't— now. i learned a long time ago, you don't have priorities, budgets _ you don't have priorities, budgets follow them. i can safely _ budgets follow them. i can safely predict we will continue to do— safely predict we will continue to do that over the next decade and beyond. do to do that over the next decade and beyond-— to do that over the next decade and beyond. do you both see any imact and beyond. do you both see any impact on — and beyond. do you both see any impact on president _ and beyond. do you both see any impact on president from - and beyond. do you both see any impact on president from the - impact on president from the economic problems that china has gone through over the past year? the economic headwinds. i

guess any rural of any —— ruler of any country, how your economy is performing is an issue you need to worry about. in terms of his power inside the system. mr; in terms of his power inside the system-— in terms of his power inside thes stem. y, , �* the system. my sense, bill will have a view. — the system. my sense, bill will have a view, my _ the system. my sense, bill will have a view, my sense - the system. my sense, bill will have a view, my sense is - the system. my sense, bill will have a view, my sense is that i have a view, my sense is that he is probably the most powerful chinese ruler since mao. he has a very tight control over his political system. and he has an ambitious agenda, both at home and also overseas, and that is why we devote so much effort to understanding china, because it is such a hugely important actor on the international stage. it is one that in many cases contests our interests, contests our values, and therefore it is really important that we provide our political leaders with the best possible insights into what is

often a rather opaque, difficult to read country. and difficult to read country. and we are very. _ difficult to read country. and we are very, very _ difficult to read country. and we are very, very interested in your insights. edit we are very, very interested in your insights-— your insights. of course. laughter _ your insights. of course. laughter. _ laughter. it is very important, but is also important to engage. bill and i talk to our chinese counterparts. it is essential that you get a cross of the messaging, and we talked about ukraine earlier on, we both sat in front and talk them through where we think we would like to see greater chinese engagement with preventing the passage of dual use goods, for example. and i have been to china twice over— and i have been to china twice over the — and i have been to china twice over the last year because keeping _ over the last year because keeping those intelligence channels open is really important, and even the most adversarial or competitive of relationships, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, and so _ unnecessary misunderstandings, and so for— unnecessary misunderstandings, and so for the united states, managing responsibly that big,

hugely— managing responsibly that big, hugely significant competitive relationship is our biggest challenge and keeping those intelligence challenge is —— channels— intelligence challenge is —— channels open is an important part— channels open is an important part of— channels open is an important part of dealing with it. the same _ part of dealing with it. the same is _ part of dealing with it. the same is true of what people call intelligence diplomacy. what — call intelligence diplomacy. what we both do with allies and partner— what we both do with allies and partner intelligence services across — partner intelligence services across the indo—pacific too, that— across the indo—pacific too, that is— across the indo—pacific too, that is a _ across the indo—pacific too, that is a huge asset for us in dealing _ that is a huge asset for us in dealing with that challenge of the people pop —— the people's republic— the people pop —— the people's republic of china, so we invest a lot— republic of china, so we invest a lot of— republic of china, so we invest a lot of time and effort in that _ a lot of time and effort in that. ., ., ., ., that. one area of great competition _ that. one area of great competition is - that. one area of great competition is al. - that. one area of great - competition is al. richard, as i understand it, you are using ai i understand it, you are using alto i understand it, you are using al to game out operations and how adversaries may respond, and to also predict human behaviour in certain situations. my question is, what ai are you developing your own models? are you using chat gpt? i own models? are you using chat gpt? 4' own models? are you using chat gpt? ~ , ., ., own models? are you using chat gpt? ~ _, ., _, gpt? i think you would you wor if gpt? i think you would you worry if we _ gpt? i think you would you

worry if we were _ gpt? i think you would you worry if we were just - gpt? i think you would you worry if we were just using | worry if we were just using chat gpt, not least because everyone in the world would be able to see it. ai is totally transformative. it already is in our society, it will become even more so over time. that very well overused word, exponential, you really have to think through the mass of that. it is a graph like that. and if we were on top of that, we would very quickly lose relevance, so we are really committed to being on top of emerging technologies. ai enables us to do some really interesting things around exploitation of data, it also... one example of counterterrorism, you try and find a way of identifying targets who you could approach or disrupt who might be involved in a terrorist group. out on the internet, there is an ocean of extremist bilge, and large language models are brilliant at wading through that and distilling it and giving you, if you like, the

kind of vernacular that operational offices can then use as they frame and approach some of these characters. that is just one example, i know time is short, but it is a hugely important area, and increasingly we are doing it in partnership. one of the differences in the modern era, compared with the 1950s, where a lot of key emerging technologies came out of defence and government, now they are coming out of the private sector, and so pardoning —— partnering with those people, we are now putting some of these problems out into the public, we are putting our problem but out there and saying these are the issues we are struggling with, come and help us, and we are getting a fantastic response. that was richard moore, the head of m16 my talking with william burns, the head of the cia, at an event in central london, discussing a number of issues, artificial

intelligence, kreiner, ukraine, and on the middle east, the cia director has been working on that gaza ceasefire proposal. he said hopefully it will happen in the coming days, but it was a question of political will. sir richard moore also saying the focus on the ceasefire really important because that gives you a chance to open up and address other issues in the middle east, so the pair talking in london. let us take you to dublin now, because we are expecting very shortly the prime minister, sir keir starmer, to meet with his irish counterpart, simon harris. this is the scene just outside dublin, at farmleigh, which is one of the official residences in that area for visitors of the irish government. as soon as we see sir keir starmer arrive, we will cross back therefore that in dublin. first, iwant will cross back therefore that in dublin. first, i want to do some business news that has broken today,... some business news now,

and the high street chain body shop has been taken out of administration after being bought up by a consortium. it's reported that means that its remaining 113 stores across the uk will stay open, although the administrators have already closed 85 outlets, and cut more than 750 jobs from the company. our business correspondent marc ashdown is with me. marc, talk us through the background to this. the body shop has been around since the late 1970s, founded in 1976 by anita roddick, i'd very much the embodiment of her passion for environmental or human rights campaigning. it became the high—street staple for ethical products, captured the imagination of consumers. fast forward a couple of decades, and in recent years things have got really tough. competition has achieved and a feeling the brand got a little bit stale. it was bought last year by an active investor group, they thought they could turnit group, they thought they could turn it around, pretty quickly that unravelled and it fell into administration in february. about 770 jobs went.

in the meantime, 113 stores have remained open while they try to thrash out this rescue plan. try to thrash out this rescue lan. ., , , try to thrash out this rescue ian, ., , , ., try to thrash out this rescue lan. ., , , ., ., try to thrash out this rescue - ian. ., , , ., ., ., plan. how is this deal going to work? they — plan. how is this deal going to work? they have _ plan. how is this deal going to work? they have been - work? they have been negotiating _ work? they have been negotiating for - work? they have been l negotiating for months. work? they have been - negotiating for months. this has been on the cards. the firm is a private equity firm that specialises in this kind of thing. we don't know this sums involved but there are no plans to close any of those 113 stores in the uk, so that is 1300 jobs saved. they also get hold of assets in australia and america, and they are courting a pretty big cash injection to help with this turnaround. there are big players involved. a uk tycoon well known in the cosmetics industry. but, interestingly, taking the helm as chief executive will be charles denton, the former ceo of a beauty brand. there is lots of talk of turning the brand around, jointly steering the body shop, reclaiming its

global leadership in the ethical beauty sector. they describe it as an iconic image, in 70 different markets, so it does sound like they are committed and they have some big plans. committed and they have some bi lans. ., committed and they have some bi lans. . ., committed and they have some bi lans. ., . . , big plans. can we read anything into the wider— big plans. can we read anything into the wider high _ big plans. can we read anything into the wider high street, - into the wider high street, because it has been a difficult climate in recent years for shops on the high street. since covid, really. _ shops on the high street. since covid, really, the _ shops on the high street. since covid, really, the high - shops on the high street. since covid, really, the high street . covid, really, the high street has struggled. a raft of well—known names are disappearing from the high street, consumer habits have changed as well, people have been tightening their belts as the cost of living has increased, so this is good news, a bit of a chink of light in a pretty tough time. but it will be interesting to see how this plays out. the brand had got a bit stale, there are some exciting young players in this space, no real word on expanding shops. we certainly know for the time being those stops will remain, but they do say they will invest in product innovation. they plan to

revitalise the business, they feel there is a sustainable plan ahead, a future to restore the unique values driven independent spirit of the body shop, but you sense this will be a pretty long row to turn this around and bring it back to the success it was.- to the success it was. thank ou. you. a reminder that we are waiting for the prime minister, sir keir starmer, to arrive in dublin. he is there to greet and meet his irish counterpart, simon harris. this is the scene just outside dublin, where the journalists have all gathered. we are expecting sir keir starmer to arrive shortly. we will go back there as soon as we see any arrival of the cars and the usual thing that happens when the leaders arrived. they will be a lot more activity going on. we will go back there as soon as that happens. it's the penultimate day of the paralympics and for the paralympics gb team, paris has already been a success. they've won 42 gold medals so far.

a target of between 100—140 medals in total was set by uk sport before the games, and with more up for grabs before the closing ceremony tomorrow , they'll be hoping to add to the tally. earlier i have been speaking to one of the gold medallists — paralympic swimmer grace harvey about her success. it is starting to feel a little bit more real now. in the first couple of days, i was in complete and utter disbelief, but watching the race back and having conversations with friends, family, coaches, it made me realise how much work had gone into this realisation of becoming paralympic champion. of becoming paralympic champion-— of becoming paralympic champion. of becoming paralympic chamion. , ,, of becoming paralympic chamion. , ~' champion. did you think it was auoin to champion. did you think it was going to happen _ champion. did you think it was going to happen before - champion. did you think it was going to happen before you . champion. did you think it was i going to happen before you went to paris, or did you surprise yourself? i to paris, or did you surprise yourself?— to paris, or did you surprise yourself? i think in sport you never know— yourself? i think in sport you never know who _ yourself? i think in sport you never know who is _ yourself? i think in sport you never know who is going - yourself? i think in sport you never know who is going to l yourself? i think in sport you i never know who is going to win, and someone has to win and someone has to come last, that is the nature of the game. i went into paris knowing i had worked so hard for so many years and my ultimate goal was

swimming a lifetime best performance, and if that came with a medal or replace high up in the rankings, that would be amazing, and ifi in the rankings, that would be amazing, and if i let myself date to believe that i could be paralympic champion, i always wanted to see what my best was, and i can finally say i am world number one, it is indescribable. ~ , ., indescribable. absolutely. you did not take _ indescribable. absolutely. you did not take up _ indescribable. absolutely. you did not take up breast - indescribable. absolutely. you did not take up breast stroke l did not take up breast stroke until only a few years ago, which i am amazed about. breaststroke is my stroke when i swam as a kid, and it took me ages to get used to it. you have picked it upjust like that. i have picked it up 'ust like that. . , have picked it up 'ust like that. . . that. i always waste a mixture of events. _ that. i always waste a mixture of events, 200 _ that. i always waste a mixture of events, 200 metres - that. i always waste a mixture| of events, 200 metres medley that. i always waste a mixture i of events, 200 metres medley is one of them, but i only ever trained breast stroke for the medley, i never considered it an individual event, but it was only after a classification change that might breaststroke became competitive. i always say breaststroke chose me because it would not be my number one stroke to pick, but the partnership i had in the event and learning how to race, it has been really special, i feel like i am still

fine—tuning my craft, and i am honoured that i was able to represent great britain in the breast stroke.— represent great britain in the breast stroke. and what has the atmosphere _ breast stroke. and what has the atmosphere in _ breast stroke. and what has the atmosphere in like, _ breast stroke. and what has the atmosphere in like, because i breast stroke. and what has the atmosphere in like, because 42| atmosphere in like, because 42 goals already is an amazing achievement for the whole team. it is absolutely fantastic. paralympics gb is so strong across all the sports, it is really exciting. we have got the men's wheelchair basketball final tonight, they are in a gold medal match, powerlifting, swimming, but every single individual has their own unique, personaland powerful unique, personal and powerful story unique, personaland powerful story and it is amazing walking around the village and seeing people in the same kit and wishing them luck and finding about their own individual successes. aha, about their own individual successes.— successes. a lot of your colleagues _ successes. a lot of your colleagues talk - successes. a lot of your colleagues talk about i successes. a lot of your i colleagues talk about how important the national lottery is in terms of being able to fund you to get to the games. do you get money from the lottery and do your team—mates get it? lottery and do your team-mates et it? . ., , ., get it? our funding comes from the amazing — get it? our funding comes from the amazing national— get it? our funding comes from the amazing national lottery. l the amazing national lottery. it finds our national organisation as well. if it was not for the support of the play

are and down the country, we would not be able to be here as paralympics gb, and we would not be challenging for medals on the world stage. i was excess is the people at home's success. 50 excess is the people at home's success. ., , ., success. so are you looking ahead already _ success. so are you looking ahead already to _ success. so are you looking ahead already to the - success. so are you looking ahead already to the next i ahead already to the next games? can we see another gold for you? games? can we see another gold foryou? i games? can we see another gold for ou? ., ., , ., for you? i have found my love for you? i have found my love for the sport _ for you? i have found my love for the sport again. _ for you? i have found my love for the sport again. i - for you? i have found my love for the sport again. i am i for the sport again. i am loving every single minute and everything about swimming. i knew as soon as i base that i did not want to give up this feeling. something so powerful about sport and enjoying yourself, but for the time being ijust want yourself, but for the time being i just want to take some time to let it all sink in and spend some time with my friends and family, but i will definitely be continuing for another four years. definitely be continuing for anotherfour years. bud definitely be continuing for another four years. and where do ou another four years. and where do you keep — another four years. and where do you keep your— another four years. and where do you keep your gold - another four years. and where do you keep your gold medal i another four years. and where l do you keep your gold medal at the moment? it do you keep your gold medal at the moment?— the moment? it is at the foot of my bed — the moment? it is at the foot of my bed in _ the moment? it is at the foot of my bed in the _ the moment? it is at the foot of my bed in the most - the moment? it is at the foot i of my bed in the most beautiful presentation box you have ever seen. it has doors that open that are cushioned on the inside, and i stay about it going, is that really mine? it feels a little bit crazy. summer may be over, but festival season isn't.

the bbc is staging its radio 2 in the park over the weekend in preston, in northwest england. it kicked off last night and will see live music performances from some of the world's most loved pop stars. headline acts will feature the likes of sting, the sugababes and the pet shop boys. 0ur reporter lola schroer has more from bbc radio 2 in the park in preston. iam i am life at bbc radio 2 in the park in preston and i am joined by the one and only iconicjo wiley. by the one and only iconicjo wile . ., ., i. by the one and only iconicjo wile. ., ., ., by the one and only iconicjo wile. ., . ., . wiley. how are you doing? i am really good. _ wiley. how are you doing? i am really good, thank _ wiley. how are you doing? i am really good, thank you. - wiley. how are you doing? i am really good, thank you. you i really good, thank you. you have been _ really good, thank you. you have been here _ really good, thank you. you have been here for - really good, thank you. you have been here for a - really good, thank you. gm, have been here for a couple of days now. you did your show from a live music venue in preston. how was that? we had the best time. _ preston. how was that? we had the best time. the _ preston. how was that? we had the best time. the ferret - preston. how was that? we had the best time. the ferret is i preston. how was that? we had the best time. the ferret is a i the best time. the ferret is a very— the best time. the ferret is a very important venue, we had three — very important venue, we had three bands playing live on the show. — three bands playing live on the show, and it wasjust brilliant. to understand why that — brilliant. to understand why that venue is so important to preston, _ that venue is so important to preston, how many people have played _ preston, how many people have played at — preston, how many people have played at that venue, from ed sheeran— played at that venue, from ed sheeran to idols, to royal blood _

sheeran to idols, to royal blood. ., , sheeran to idols, to royal blood. ., . . blood. there was a bbc introducing _ blood. there was a bbc introducing element i blood. there was a bbc introducing element to | blood. there was a bbcl introducing element to it blood. there was a bbc i introducing element to it as well. how important is it to you to showcase not only iconic artists but new artists? ii you to showcase not only iconic artists but new artists?- artists but new artists? if we did not have _ artists but new artists? if we did not have bbc _ artists but new artists? if we | did not have bbc introducing, so many— did not have bbc introducing, so many artists would not be with — so many artists would not be with us— so many artists would not be with us today or they would have — with us today or they would have taken a lot longer to get to us — have taken a lot longer to get to us it — have taken a lot longer to get to us it is _ have taken a lot longer to get to us. it is an awesome way for new_ to us. it is an awesome way for new bands— to us. it is an awesome way for new bands to get themselves known — new bands to get themselves known. this weekend is all about— known. this weekend is all about celebrating music and bringing music to people. i am always— bringing music to people. i am always there at grassroots level. _ always there at grassroots level, really passionate about that — level, really passionate about that. ~ ., level, really passionate about that. ~ . , ., ., that. we are in preston, how important — that. we are in preston, how important is _ that. we are in preston, how important is it _ that. we are in preston, how important is it to _ that. we are in preston, how important is it to go - that. we are in preston, how important is it to go to i important is it to go to different places with the brand? and to be in different communities. it brand? and to be in different communities.— communities. it is all about brin . in: communities. it is all about bringing major— communities. it is all about bringing major acts - communities. it is all about bringing major acts who i communities. it is all about i bringing major acts who would not normally come to somewhere like leicester, like last year, or to — like leicester, like last year, or to come _ like leicester, like last year, or to come to preston. some cities _ or to come to preston. some cities are — or to come to preston. some cities are really blessed and they— cities are really blessed and they get all the big names, but others — they get all the big names, but others are a bit neglected, and that is— others are a bit neglected, and that is where we do to comes in, that is where we do to comes in. we — that is where we do to comes in, we bring the circus to town, _ in, we bring the circus to town, we _ in, we bring the circus to town, we bring varied artists town, we bring varied artists to different town and the

reception has been great. who are ou reception has been great. who are you most _ reception has been great. who are you most excited - reception has been great. tramp are you most excited about seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have _ seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have a _ seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have a new— seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have a new album - seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have a new album out i seeing over the weekend? snow patrol have a new album out and it is so _ patrol have a new album out and it is so good, sol patrol have a new album out and it is so good, so i am excited to see — it is so good, so i am excited to see them on stage again. also— to see them on stage again. also manic street preachers, who — also manic street preachers, who i— also manic street preachers, who i have loved for a really long — who i have loved for a really long time. also, sting, and the pet shop— long time. also, sting, and the pet shop boys, they show is outstanding, so the fact we are bringing — outstanding, so the fact we are bringing pet shop boys to preston isjust bringing pet shop boys to preston is just wonderful. bringing pet shop boys to preston isjust wonderful. pet preston is 'ust wonderful. pet sho - preston isjust wonderful. pet shop itoys — preston isjust wonderful. pet shop itoys to _ preston isjust wonderful. iezt shop boys to preston, it preston isjust wonderful. iezit shop boys to preston, it is a wonderful thing. we will bring you updates throughout the day on the bbc news channel. you can watch all the content on bbc iplayer and listen to it on bbc iplayer and listen to it on bbc sounds. i want to take you straight back to dublin because we think this is a sir keir starmer, the british prime minister, arriving to meet his irish counterpart, simon harris, in dublin. you canjust see, being obscured by the vehicle that

simon harris is there, standing by the british and flags, and we of course... this is sir keir starmer�*s first visit to ireland. indeed, the first by a british leader in five years. it is as london looks to reset the damage relations with eu nations after brexit. indeed, downing street has already described this as an historic moment. and they they are. this is a family, which is just outside dublin, one of the official residency is that the irish government use. you can see the two leaders chatting after sir keir starmer arrived. downing street already saying this is an historic moment for uk, ireland relations. it wants to warm the bilateral ties between the two nations. a little later on, their pay will be doing that at the football,

because they are going to the nations league football match between ireland and england in dublin, but their use will be a handshake between the two leaders as they then go into the building at farmleigh to have their discussions. they will talk about a range of issues. we are talking about trading ties as well. they are going to be meeting a number of the bosses from big companies. prime market started off in ireland, before it expanded into the uk and the rest of the world, so sir keir starmer will be talking to those business leaders to try to encourage further trade and investment between the two countries. mr harris was the first international leader that sir keir starmer hosted in the uk following the uk general election. they they are inside. sir keir starmer signing a book inside that building with the

irish leader, the prime minister simon harris. the first visit of a british prime minister in five years. the last british prime minister to visit dublin was borisjohnson five years ago. as i say, it is probably trying to look at going forward following brexit, which was a massive factor in cooling relations between the two countries. there you can see the two leaders moving into the building to have discussions in dublin. the media following the two leaders inside dublin. live from london, this is bbc news.

the prime minister sir keir starmer is making his first official visit to ireland today. he'll be in dublin for talks with his opposite number, simon harris. we can get an update on what is going to be discussed today. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page reports. at theirfirst meeting, sir keir starmer and simon harris were pictured having a pint. the photo symbolised a better relationship between their two countries after some years of strain. today they'll go to watch england take on ireland in the uefa nations league, but the on—pitch rivalry won't disrupt the diplomacy. sir keir is on something of a tour of eu capitals. in recent weeks, he's had trips to germany and france. the last british prime minister to go to dublin was boris johnson five years ago. relations had cooled significantly. brexit was the major factor. the border with northern ireland was the uk's only frontier with the eu.