talks in the pipeline. on business today we will look at what events are ukraine will mean for the future of energy

security in europe. us and russian officials. the us secratary of state has left israel to attend those talks. in paris to discuss the war. of energy security in europe. eu officials are reportedly considering whether to restore

but some countries, such as estonia, are warning fossil fuel imports by 2027. we have seen over the weekend that president donald trump is whether he is also prepared to start unwinding the comprehensive sanctions that america introduced against

the beginning of the year for the restoration to restore these gas flows to europe, either through ukraine or via nord stream or potentially even both. to the uk now and two reports

out this morning paint confidence amongst small businesses has hit its lowest recorded point since the pandemic in the last 3 the fsb's national chair martin mctaguejoins me now. is it as bleak as those numbers suggest? is it - as bleak as those numbers suggest?— is it - as bleak as those numbers suggest? numbers, suggest?" " it seems numbers suggest?" " it seems bleak. we is. it seemsverybleak. we levels at recorded confidence levels at 64.5 on our index. that minus 64.5 on our index. that was down over 40 points from previous quarter. so, fl -tt 7 this is the lowest 152113; [edeliie'v'éi ' ' know, this is the lowest level we have seen this index at llvqjjfive seen this index at the pandemic. it is not since the pandemic. it is not a narrow problem, it seems

just a narrow problem, it seems to affect sectors across the you economy. however, you know there are some stand out bad performers, food services and are really bad. have seen big in we have seen big falls in construction. so this is quite a bleak picture and more than half of said half of small businesses said they their seams to they expected their seams to drop —— sales to drop next year and that investment would be hit. ~ ., and that investment would be hit. ~ . , ., , and that investment would be hit. ~ ., , ., , is front government said growth is front asdw in their government said growth is front asst; in their part government said growth is front asst; in theirpartand and centre in their part and they want business to get growing, but not only is things growing, but not only is business with the business contending with the of living crisis it has a cost of living crisis it has a lot of extra costs? it cost of living crisis it has a lot of extra costs?- lot of extra costs? it has, that i had _ lot of extra costs? it has, that. had an _ lot of extra costs? it has, that. had an effect - lot of extra costs? it has, that. had an effect on | that has had an effect on confidence. in the main it has affected those businesses employing between and 100 employing between 50 and 100 employees. those that are

than that were smaller than that were protected by the government and that were larer have the —= to with it. but resources to cope with it. but we believe the am we believe that the am ambitions that the government laid out the chancellor laid out and the chancellor clear in her laidiout and the chancellor clear in her speech in made clear in her speech in oxford, are the target 0xford, are setting the target for a much better, or more important focus on growth. i "et-iff’t—w : thequestion 7 s the question is 7 s the question is how suppose the question is how this what to this changes what needs to for to look happen for things to look brighter, be a bit more optimistic. it is rowing optimistic; ltisjustrowingr ,, . on the optimistic; ltisjustrowingr ~ . on the additional costs or it about setting a clear is it about setting a clear ~ ~ , ~~ for short—term pain direction for short—term pain and maybe a longer term gain? i there are two things the w’ can there are two things the can do. there are governmentcandoc there are like poor payment =:- =—u:- practices, which could be included in a small business bill. we are encouraging the forward 77 forward as as that forward as soon as make part of their

possible, make it part of their strategy. the small business strategy. the other thing i think they could do that would have a significant effect on confidence is they could show that they are taking 7—7 7 goof of small businesses concerns of small businesses their about their employments rights bill seriously. there is a real effect �*the proposals as they have been described so and we would the government to show like the government to show that they can respond to those concerns. let's see what happens- _ concerns. let's see what happens- we _ concerns. let's see what happens. we will- concerns. let's see what happens. we will talk i concerns. let's see what i happens. we will talk again concerns. let's see what - happens. we will talk again i'm sure. thank you. been delivering his first full—year budget since taking power. he will be seeking to extend the country's recovery from a financial crisis that began three years ago and sent foreign debt default.

than expected recovery. inflation has eased and the central bank has with countries to try and help exports. as well as new customs duty as well to try and promote they're also looking to allocate 4% of the country's gdp as capital investment to promote now, it was always going to be a tough balancing act all efforts to try and boost the economy. for the finance ministry there in sri lanka to ensure that they balance economic growth and stability

because if they do meet those targets, then they can make a better, stronger case for more money as well, as hasten the process of debt reduction. saw inflation soaring, saw the currency weakening as well as foreign exchange reserves plummeting. and never good news for a country which is heavily import dependent. economic recovery in the country, and the economists, as well as the government, hopes by the government by way of this budget, as they outlined their spending plan, will help the country further on the path to fiscal consolidation. another country that is seeing a fairly during the covid pandemic, it was one of the hardest hit countries, but it has bounced back so vigorously that of roman engineering, now a popular tourist destination.

i thought that maybe tourism will never be and ifeel this year is going to be also a good year, like it was in maybe 2023 or 2024. way ahead of france, germany, italy, and the uk. the country accounted for 40% of eurozone growth. spain's status as a prime recipient of eu post—pandemic funds is seen as another cause of economic expansion. besides growth, there are other areas of the economy

a labour reform it introduced is helping to create quality jobs and that targeted subsidies mitigated spain is proving to be more resilient to successive shocks, in ukraine, and i think this is again part of the overall response, the protection, the protective shield we put in place for our consumers, for our firms, and therefore lifting our potential gdp growth.

on green investment. and also looking towards the future as well, particularly with electrification, i think it is an opportunity game—changer of renewable energy that this country has, industry in the future. growth is expected to remain robust this year. an affordable home. but while many of its neighbours are struggling its moment in the sun. guy hedgecoe, bbc news, spain.

that is your business today we will see you soon.

you're bbc news. a stellar year in film. conclave took �*best film'. filmjournalist, helen 0 hara, gave me her thought was the biggest surprise of the night. did think this was demi moore's i think that she moore's year. i think that she will ,, moore's year. i think that she will win she m performance year. as ,e :;:t7’ ear. as we mentioned, this goes. and lama! this year and brutalist the conclave and the brutalist the

big winners. no surprise there? gigwinners, no surorise there? i think conclave was t-w— z___ m :-—— the baftas, it the baftas, it has home at the eeffix it has heme advantages, one of the field advantages, one of the categories it was best categories it won was best british film and the brutalist wasn't eligible for that. those have been 77 ' by; age; 1051655 front runners. i think it the front runners. i think it fall e the front runners. i think it fall as the awards will fall away as the awards get i think it 7 7 the brutalist h thebrutalistand between the brutalist and conclave. between the brutalist and conclave-—