as the pound fell and borrowing costs rose. sir keir starmer says he still backs his chancellor. rachel reeves is doing a fantasticjob. she has my full confidence, and she has the full confidence of the entire party. also on the programme this lunchtime: fears that more high winds in the next few days will again fan the flames of the los angeles wildfires that have so far killed at least 2a people. a warning that weight—loss drugs would the leave the national health service broke if it gave them to everyone who's eligible. the cost of these drugs is still at a level where we cannot afford to treat several million people within the uk with these drugs. it would simply bankrupt and once they were scotland's power couple — now nicola sturgeon says her marriage to former snp chief executive

peter murrell is over. and coming up on bbc news: success for the british players at the australian open. jodie burrage is among the names to make it through to the next round, but a formidable opponent awaits. good afternoon. the prime minister has been setting out how he wants britain to be a world leader in artificial intelligence. he says ai technology can boost growth and improve public services like schools and hospitals. but there was more bad economic news for the government this morning as the markets opened — the pound fell and the cost of government borrowing went up. our political correspondent helen catt reports. at the prime minister seeing

artificial intelligence in action. in this lab in london, it is used to manufacture pharmaceuticals. at the government has big plans for al across the uk and says it is throwing its full weight behind the tech. , , ., throwing its full weight behind the tech. , , throwing its full weight behind the tech. ,, ., ., tech. this is the global race of our lives. tech. this is the global race of our lives- now. _ tech. this is the global race of our lives. now, some _ tech. this is the global race of our lives. now, some countries - tech. this is the global race of our lives. now, some countries are i tech. this is the global race of our i lives. now, some countries are going to make ai breakthroughs and export them. others will end up buying those breakthroughs and importing them. the question is, which of those will britain be? and ai maker oran those will britain be? and ai maker or an ai taker? de those will britain be? and ai maker or an ai taker?— those will britain be? and ai maker or an ai taker? de government says teachers could — or an ai taker? de government says teachers could use _ or an ai taker? de government says teachers could use al to _ or an ai taker? de government says teachers could use al to plant - teachers could use al to plant lessons and could also be used to spot potholes that need fixing through camera feeds and ai gross owns is starting with this one in oxfordshire will be set up and we'll see big building projects like data centres, but they use a lot of energy and some have questioned the feasibility of the plans. we energy and some have questioned the feasibility of the plans.— feasibility of the plans. we need to see how they _ feasibility of the plans. we need to

see how they will _ feasibility of the plans. we need to see how they will fund _ feasibility of the plans. we need to see how they will fund all - feasibility of the plans. we need to see how they will fund all of - feasibility of the plans. we need to see how they will fund all of the i see how they will fund all of the initiatives they are talking so enthusiastically about. it is a big deal to try to get this country's electricity grid fit for purpose, for instance, which it is not. it is a big deal to talk about small modular reactors, we are talking about small nuclear reactors to power people's data centres. who will pay for that? at power people's data centres. who will pay for that?— will pay for that? at the moment, the uk economy _ will pay for that? at the moment, the uk economy is _ will pay for that? at the moment, the uk economy is not _ will pay for that? at the moment, the uk economy is not showing i will pay for that? at the moment, l the uk economy is not showing any signs of picking up and the pound has fallen today and government borrowing rates have gone up. some business leaders have criticised rachel reeves' decision to raise tax on business. the rachel reeves' decision to raise tax on busines— rachel reeves' decision to raise tax on business. the extent of the hits, the tax hit out _ on business. the extent of the hits, the tax hit out of _ on business. the extent of the hits, the tax hit out of business - on business. the extent of the hits, the tax hit out of business came i on business. the extent of the hits, the tax hit out of business came as | the tax hit out of business came as a surprise — the tax hit out of business came as a surprise to— the tax hit out of business came as a surprise to business. the truth is that in_ a surprise to business. the truth is that in filling in one hole, it has created — that in filling in one hole, it has created another, and that hole is the whole — created another, and that hole is the whole of confidence and trust that business has in government. back— that business has in government. back in_

that business has in government. back in east london, the prime minister defended his chancellor and said i i would help. irate minister defended his chancellor and said i i would help.— said i i would help. we have inherited — said i i would help. we have inherited a _ said i i would help. we have inherited a black _ said i i would help. we have inherited a black hole i said i i would help. we have inherited a black hole in i said i i would help. we have i inherited a black hole in funding for public services and ai will help us with that because it will help us to in increase productivity and have a different type of economy that works better. if a different type of economy that works better-— works better. if they don't turn it around, works better. if they don't turn it around. the _ works better. if they don't turn it around, the government - works better. if they don't turn it around, the government will- works better. if they don't turn it | around, the government will face difficult decisions on spending and the prime minister will be hoping that al can help him with that too. our chief economics correspondent dharshini david joins us now. some bolt torque from the prime minister about his vision for the future and ai but there was some gloomy news when the market opened today. —— kumbh mela. irate gloomy news when the market opened today. -- kumbh mela.— gloomy news when the market opened today. -- kumbh mela. we have heard the prime minister _ today. -- kumbh mela. we have heard the prime minister say _ today. -- kumbh mela. we have heard the prime minister say that _

today. -- kumbh mela. we have heard the prime minister say that growth i the prime minister say that growth is his number one mission but we have heard that that is the principal concern of businesses. —— bold talk. we have seen the economy underperforming expectations and a lot of that seems to be about a lack of confidence amongst businesses and consumers and some of that seems to have come through because of concerns about tax measures and about employee rights, and employers are having to look at that carefully and say, is this something that can hold us back in the years to come? growth has many benefits because it makes us better off and helps to alleviate some of the pressure on the public finances and that is another concern. you mentioned the increase in government borrowing costs, and we have seen them rise somewhat in early trading because we have seen concern about inflation notjust here but around the globe

and that will constrain the government when it comes to its plans for public spending but those plans for public spending but those plans are ambitious for al and we will have to see how they pan out. but these aren't nail—biting times. indeed. —— these are nail—biting times. our artificial intelligence correspondent marc cieslakjoins us from central london. marc, what difference can ai make to our lives? earlier this morning, the prime minister. — earlier this morning, the prime minister, sir keir starmer, outlines the government's strategy for al and last summer it commissioned ai entrepreneur mark clifford to come up entrepreneur mark clifford to come up with— entrepreneur mark clifford to come up with an — entrepreneur mark clifford to come up with an action plan and that plan is how— up with an action plan and that plan is now ready— up with an action plan and that plan is now ready and has 50 recommendations and the government is moving _ recommendations and the government is moving forward with all of those recommendations and chief amongst them are _ recommendations and chief amongst them are things like the creation of a new_ them are things like the creation of a new supercomputer to improve the uk's a new supercomputer to improve the uk's rew— a new supercomputer to improve the uk's raw computing capabilities and the creation of so—called ai growth zones, _ the creation of so—called ai growth zones, locations around the country that have _ zones, locations around the country that have enhanced access to the power _ that have enhanced access to the power grid — that have enhanced access to the power grid as well as streamlined

planning — power grid as well as streamlined planning permissions for things like data centres. data centres are absolutely crucial to ai operations. there _ absolutely crucial to ai operations. there will — absolutely crucial to ai operations. there will also be the creation of the new — there will also be the creation of the new energy council led by the science _ the new energy council led by the science and tech secretary sir peter kyle and _ science and tech secretary sir peter kyle and the energy secretary ed milibahd — kyle and the energy secretary ed miliband and this will look into the costs— miliband and this will look into the costs and — miliband and this will look into the costs and solutions to the extreme energy _ costs and solutions to the extreme energy demands made by artificial intelligence. the government is betting — intelligence. the government is betting big, then, and going all in on al _ betting big, then, and going all in on al. . ~ betting big, then, and going all in on al. ., ,, i. betting big, then, and going all in onai. ., ~' , betting big, then, and going all in onai. ., , . on al. thank you very much indeed, marc. there are fears that high winds could soon return to los angeles and again fan the flames of the wild fires there. three are still burning around the city. firefighters say they now have a small window of opportunity to contain them before the arrival of winds of up to 70 miles per hour. planes continue to dump fire retardant on hillsides across la, and firefighters are cutting vegetation to slow the spread of the flames. at least 2a people have been killed

in the fires so far. from los angeles, helena humphrey reports. oh, my house! for 36 years, fighting fires was rich snyder's profession. now retired, when flames tore through his community in pasadena, it was personal. armed with a hose and with his bare hands, suddenly, he wasn't just saving strangers — he was saving his neighbours and their homes. lord, help us. lord, with your hands... whether it was divine intervention or rich's sheer determination, their lives were saved. among them, a neighbour with additional needs, confused amid the chaos. no, no, greg, your house is on fire! greg! greg, you have to come with me! i've still got to process it. yeah, my neighbour needs assistance, and we told him early on to leave, and he said,

"no, i'llstay." and i grabbed him and i was pulling on him, and he was fighting me because he was going to go back in his burning house and lock the door. you know, we got him out and we looked back and his house was fully engulfed. across la county, some 60 square miles of land — now scorched earth. firefighters have gained ground against the two largest blazes, the palisades and eaton fires. but the devastation left behind is staggering. this is malibu. normally, you wouldn't be able to see the pacific ocean from here. but all of those multi—million dollar mansions are gone. it is destruction as far as the eye can see, and the road to recovery will be long. and with forecasters warning that the fierce santa ana winds could return, the battle is far from over. residents in the fire's path face a cruel waiting game, fearing that the nightmare will strike again.

i am terrified because if it does change. — i actually don't know where i would go, to be honest. like, i don't have family here. i have friends, but they're all affected. so i don't have a set plan in mind, and it's terrifying. amid the terror, a political storm brews. president—elect donald trump has criticised what he calls "incompetent california politicians" for the crisis. injust over a week, it will be one he inherits. is the incoming president expected to come here? i believe so. what awaits donald trump, if he comes, may reveal an even bleaker reality than what is known so far, as the number of missing continues to grow. helena humphrey, bbc news, los angeles. you can watch los angeles on fire — a bbc news special — with clive myrie, on iplayer and on bbc one, tonight at 8:30pm.

a leading obesity expert has warned that weight—loss drugs could bankrupt the nhs if they were prescribed to all the patients who are eligible for them. 3.4 million people in england are understood to qualify, but there are warnings it would cost around £10 billion a year if they were all treated at once. here's our medical editor, fergus walsh. ray is 62 and has battled with his weight for most of his life. ray, what size is that? it might be a six... six or a seven xl. he got a shock a few years ago when about to have surgery. i was actually outside waiting to go into the theatre, and they said, "we can't operate on him. "he's too big for this table." it's july 2024 at london's guy's hospital. ray is about to become one of the first patients to get the weight—loss jab wegovy on the nhs.

he weighs 148 kilos — or 23 stone. in trials, patients on wegovy lost an average of 15% body weight injust over a year. right, so we're ready to go. 0k? 0k. there you go. good luck. the weeklyjab works by mimicking a gut hormone which makes you feel full. it can cause unpleasant side effects in the stomach, which some can't cope with. give it a bit of seasoning. patients know they have to play their part too, eating healthier, smaller portions. if ray can lose weight, it would help him and the nhs. we treat a lot of the complications associated with obesity. if we take ray, for example, you know, he has pre—diabetes. we are hoping to go into remission. hisjoints — he might need joint surgery in the future, you know, but actually achieving weight loss can prevent a lot

of the complications and ultimately save the nhs a lot of money. naveed sattar heads the uk government's obesity healthcare goals programme. the cost of these drugs is still at a level- where we cannot afford to treat i several million people within the uk with these drugs. it would simply bankrupt the nhs. he estimates it costs the nhs around £3,000 to give a patient weight loss jabs for a year. and so if everyone eligible got them now, that would be £10 billion a year. most are simply paying for them. ray is doing well. thank you. after five months on wegovy, he's lost 14 kilos — more than two stone. look, i'm really pleased with you. it's clearly doing what it's supposed to do, which is switching off those food noises. very nice to see you both, yes. and ray, who's recently become a grandad, is delighted. well pleased.

i can't believe it. my daughters, every time they see me, they say i'm shrinking or i'm wasting away. most patients put their lost weight back on if they come off the jabs, so these could be drugs for life for ray and others, bringing both costs and benefits to the nhs. fergus walsh, bbc news. a man has been cleared of killing his partner by driving her to suicide. 30—year—old ryan wellings had been the first defendant to be tried before a jury for manslaughter, after his partner took her own life following domestic violence. in her suicide note, kiena dawes, who was 23, wrote that she'd been murdered slowly by wellings. he was convicted of assault and coercive behaviour. nick garnett has the latest from preston crown court. nick, bring us up to date.

kiana dawes involved in a destructive and corrosive relationship with wellings. the couple had a young daughter together and suffered years of abuse at the hands of wellings. she called police to her house on a number of occasions. one day she left her baby with a friend and went away and took her own life. after a six week long trial here at preston crown court, wellings was convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour, and also of assault. he was found not guilty of assault. he was found not guilty of her manslaughter. ii of assault. he was found not guilty of her manslaughter. 11 days before she died, the court was told that kiena dawes, who had a history of mental illness, had attempted suicide on a number of occasions. she had been involved with wellings for a while, she had been taken to hospital with head wounds, but her boyfriend had been released without charge at that time. it has now

emerged that wellings had a previous conviction for assaulting a former partner. as the verdicts were read out, wellings blew a kiss to his current girlfriend. the case raises a number of issues. lancashire police say that three police officers are now facing disciplinary proceedings with the iopc for their involvement in the case. {lilia proceedings with the iopc for their involvement in the case. 0k, nick, thank ou involvement in the case. 0k, nick, thank you very _ involvement in the case. 0k, nick, thank you very much. _ the time is 1:16. our top story this afternoon: the prime minister sets out plans to make britain a world leader in artificial intelligence, using technology to boost growth and improve public services, but it comes amid a gloomy picture for the markets, as the pound falls and borrowing costs rise. the world's largest gathering of humanity, that is held once every 12 years, has begun in india. millions of hindus will take ritual baths in the river ganges to mark the beginning of the kumbh mela religious festival. coming up on bbc news: england's women will be looking to bounce back in their ashes series against australia. they lost the first one—day match but have the second later on, as they look to keep pace with their opponents early

on. scotland's former first minister nicola sturgeon says she and peter murrell, who was the snp chief executive, have ended their marriage. they were once seen as scotland's power couple, but nicola sturgeon says they have been separated for some time. last year, mr murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of party funds. 18 months ago, ms sturgeon was arrested and released without charge as part of an investigation into party finances. the latest now from david wallace lockart. david, just tell us more about what nicola sturgeon has said about this? as you said, nicola sturgeon and

peter murrell, in many ways, the definition of political power couple. she was first minister of scotland for nine years, he was chief executive of the snp, running the day—to—day operations of the party for over 20 years. she resigned back in 2023. peter murrell went from his chief executive position a year after that, after taking responsibility for misleading the media in a row over membership numbers. they have both been affected by this ongoing police investigation into snp finances. the family home was searched in 2023. in april last year, peter murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the snp. 18 months ago, nicola sturgeon herself was arrested and released without charge as part of that investigation. nicola sturgeon in recent years has become quite an active user of instagram, and it was on that social media site today where she gave this update on her marriage. she said it was coming to an end, revealed that her and peter

murrell had actually been separated for some time, but she went on to say that although the capital were ending their marriage, they still felt deeply for one another —— ending their marriage, they still felt deeply for one