keir starmer promised to stand by ukraine and stand up to russia. cap rises for the third time running. average yearly bill. syria's caretaker government hosts a national dialogue conference on the country's we'll bring you the latest. and a treat for astronomers as seven planets align in the evening sky. we'll tell you when and how you can see it. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. citing a changing world and the war in ukraine,

let's take a look at the numbers. of gdp by 2027 and three per cent by 2030. £13.4 billion a year on defence. the money for the uplift in 2027 will come from the the international aid budget which will be minister speaking earlier. i can announce this government will begin since the end of the cold war. and let me spell that out, mr speaker, that means spending £13.4 billion more on defence every year from 2027.

are an increasingly vital part of protecting on our defence from 2027.

generational challenges, all european allies must step up and do more for our own defence. so, subject to economic and fiscal conditions and aligned to rise to 3% of gdp in the next parliament. 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale was listening to the announcement — he says the increase will be welcomed by the minstry of defence — but is not enough. and it's notjust the conservatives, it's labour before them, the armed forces were hollowed out. and you just look at some of those big ticket items. i mean, look

at the ukraine war. you need long range artillery. british army at the moment has 1a long range guns. that's it. they need more air defences. they need more. systems, medium range air defence systems. then the nuclear deterrent, it's going to be renewed. they want to build a new fighterjet with japan and italy. the global combat air power programme. but you look at all that and this 2.5% ain't going to get all they want. so there will still be difficult decisions. but they have been asking for this and the fact that it's been accelerated, they're not going to sniff their noses at that.

correspondent iain watson. in westminster. it has been a while since chamber. figure through the chamber. figure through the political reaction across the board. it political reaction across the board. . , political reaction across the board. , . board. it has been quite a widespread _ board. it has been quite a widespread . cool - board. it has been quite a i widespread . cool reaction with;a:lot of . with;a:lot of the . already with. a let ef the , ~ honing in already with e let ef the , ~ honing in on the cuts criticism honing in on the cuts on overseas aid, the snp, some democrats, the greens liberal democrats, the greens have all been criticising that have—allrbeen criticising that also the haverallrbeehcriticisihg that also the chair of the international relevant committee. there are people committee. but there are people welcoming the statement and amongst them the shadow defence ifori ' " ' 7 7f7o7r7th7e77 7 7 7 conservatives. this is something you've been calling for quite some time, you said as a previous government to reach 2.5% and now labour has welcome it. they n; welcome it. they do call much welcome it. they do call for this— much welcome it. they do call for this back injuly at much welcome it. they do call for this back in july at the fer thie bath in july at the "w e a,” f kings speech, the first debate in _ and _ kings speech, the first debate in _ and i_ kings speech, the first debate in and i said it was matter of urgency and of a rhatter ef washes antler w a rhatter ef manner-aim w i wish a matter at arseneeanei'ef - i wish gone course i wish they'd gone sooner_ course i wish they'd gone sooner because we need to cure a lot_ sooner because we need to cure a lot of— to—

sooner because we need to cure a lot of to replace a lot of equipment to replace what — a lot of equipment to replace what we _ a lot of equipment to replace what we to ukraine and do a lot of equipment to replace wt urgently to ukraine and do a lot of equipment to replace wt urgently but ukraine and do a lot of equipment to replace wt urgently but nonetheless do a lot of equipment to replace wt urgently but nonetheless i o is: j -= j it and we can all - it and we can all see - 7-—|7 we will it and we can all see the threats_ will it and we can all see the threats we face and that means higher— threats we face and that means higher spending. you'll like higher spending?“ .. said higher spendingrhu�*ttti�*ka - said 2.5% higher spendingt�*fou'l�*t like said 2.5% but consistently you said 2.5% but consistently prime — you said 2.5% but consistently prime minister has you prime minister has said you were — prime minister has said you were not_ prime minister has said you were not coming up with the - thing _ were not coming up with the - thing out _ were not coming up with the thing out would be talking -eei about welfare cuts and did not take _ about welfare cuts and did not take place. at about welfare cuts and did not take place-— take place. at the weekend, kemi and — take place. at the weekend, kemi and myself _ take place. at the weekend, kemi and myself said - take place. at the weekend, kemi and myself said we - take place. at the weekend, - kemi and myself said we wanted to see go further. we to see it go further. we actually did suggest areas where you could pay for it and that included overseas aid that included the overseas aid budget because i know people that included the overseas aid budget becaus about rw people that included the overseas aid budget becaus about thateople that included the overseas aid budget becaus about that but 3 that included the overseas aid budget becaus about that but my are concerned about that but my view is the aid budget is there view is the aid budget'isthere help with view is the aid bddget'isthere help with our security and to help with our security and if you or aid spending something arguably aid spending helps stabilise and that does not happen but it will not help countries like russia with countries like russia where it is about hard power and is where i had at that area of to look at that area of spending so with the on defence 7 deter 7

to deter russia. gig this has been to deter “mag - this has been done i suggest this has been done on the back... i suggest this has been done on the back- - -_ $522 5255 res - ect the lease; z- -7respect and| the “east respect and recover that, respect and recover colleague and wonderful colleague and overwhelmingly on our bench as we welcome this because the money to come from we welcome this because the money and me from we welcome this because the money and as r from there somewhere and as always there are generally not easy choices and i said the weekend is a choice and support the todgh choice and wesdpport the if we todgh choice and wesopport the if we make them so i government if we make them so i do support this. there are some questions. for example the issue �*chagos with the idea issue of chagos with the idea many billions of pounds of many billions of pounds being rolled and it be being rolled up and will it be any defence budget? interestingly if they chagos it distill any with chagos and it distill any defence budget, it has been funded by overseas aid and some people might want to... we will it there. people might want to... we will - it there. the _ leave it there. the statement was criticised for = -7 not a 77 7 7 7 not a7fu7ll7 not a full statement is not usual, is it? which is not usual is it? very unhappy because we

were very unhappy becaose we all were very unhappy because we all the lines we would have had all the lines we would have expected him to say but not the some knew keydata. some newspapers knew before we go speak so we say before we go to speak so we say parliament has to come first. and we they are looking and we heal they are looking into that issue. we can hear into that ieeue; we sao'heer 7 . w "f” "f into that issue; we car-these * w , a, '" �*voice and into that issue; we can'heat�* * w , a, '" �*voice and the chair of familiar voice and the chair of the all—party defence select here in house of committee here in the house of commons. thank you forjoining us. commons. thank you for “oining us. . , 2.5% commons. thank you for “oining us.—z.s%onh commons. thank you forjoining us._ 2.5% on defence. | us. pleasure. 2.5% on defence. this is something _ us. pleasure. 2.5% on defence. this is something you - us. pleasure. 2.5% on defence. this is something you called . us. pleasure. 2.5% on defence. this is something you called oni are7 pleased to so you surely are pleased to get this through. we so you surely are pleased to get this through.— so you surely are pleased to get this through. we need to realise as — get this through. we need to realise as a _ get this through. we need to realise as a nation _ get this through. we need to realise as a nation that - get this through. we need to i realise as a nation that times are changing and we must 7—7?! e hu-e threats not recognise the huge threats not 'ust recognise the huge threats not just to — recognise the huge threats not just to our nation's defence security but also that of and security but also that of our ukrainian friends who are for our ukrainian friends who are - for their— our ukrainian friends who are for their very fighting for their very survival and they need our _ support- survival and they need our

support as well. wholehearted support as well. given — wholehearted support as well. given the and given the aggression and imperious designs of vladimir putirr— imperious designs of vladimir putin it — imperious designs of vladimir putin it is _ imperious designs of vladimir putin it is we stand putin it is important we stand in solidarity with everyone else — in solidarity with everyone else on _ in solidarity with everyone else on �* continent we in solidarity with everyone else rforce continent we in solidarity with everyone else rforce the tinent we in solidarity with everyone else rforce the defence we in solidarity with everyone else rforce the defence and e in solidarity with everyone else rforce the defence and that must force the defence and that is why— must force the defence and that is why i— must force the defence and that is why i ask the prime minister the is why i ask the prime minister - the - today- is why i ask the prime minister the today that before the house today that white — before the house today that whiie i_ before the house today that while i welcome this increase in defence spending to 2.5% a in defence spending to 2.5% _ a - of- in defence spending to 2.5% _ a - of the i in defence spending to 2.5% - _ a - of the new something a request of the new iiaison— something a request of the new liaison committee, we need to we -et 777 7 we -et two messa-es —27 to president 2 to president trump : - to president trump and - - to president trump and our| over to president trump and our american — over to president trump and our american friends. firstly, the fact that _ american friends. firstly, the fact that many of our european allies. — fact that many of our european allies, considerable across the allies. censidenabtee. a... and allies. considerableacmssm - and anxiety _ nation, and anxiety amongst them — nation, and anxiety amongst them about whether long—established and alliances 7 all 7 7 all'7n77e n earned alliances rather than short—term transactional politics. _ short—term transactional politics, that is still petitisse whether that ==t" ”wire” for batitiss; rahether that ==t" ”wire” for today betitiss; whether that is'stitt - for today following and age... time is day and age... time is limited but i day and age... time is limited but i need _ day and age... time is limited but i need to _ day and age... time is limited but i need to ask _ day and age... time is limited but i need to ask about - involved here. the prime money involved here. the prirne said this is now worth

b|[[|(;n7 .. : ., 777bill7i7on7to7d7ef7enc7e7 7 7 7 7 77bill7ion7to7defence budget7 £114 billion to defence budget by the institute for fiscal of 0.2% of gdp is £6 billion worth the extra 7 billion coming from? i'm pretty sure that viruses the — i'm pretty sure that viruses the prime minister the chancellor, they 7 " run chancellor, they would have run through— chancellor, they would have run through the various numbers and that is— through the various numbers and that is the — through the various numbers and that is the job of her majesty's treasury... his majesty's treasury... his majesty's treasury... his majesty's treasury to work all majesty's treasury tow. ,... that majesty's treasury to'wcn'katt i that out majesty's treasury to'work a'd that out and no doubt this of that out and no doubt this will be — of that out and no doubt this will be looked at in detail. _ positivel aesentuating the positions .-.. fl ~ . aesehtuatihg the peeittte .-.. fl ~ . perhaps? the key for us is to do defence — perhaps? the key for us is to do defence spending - perhaps? the key for us is to do defence spending and do defence spending amount. and we need _ do defence spending amount. and we need to build our we will not be able to base. we will not be able to adequately support ourselves or our allies— adequately support ourselves or our allies so it important

our allies so it is important we do _ our allies so it is important we do just get fixated on we do notjust get fixated on numbers— we do notjust get fixated on numbers what we have m talk about this much, we can talk about this for very great of time for a very g�*reat'deat of time statement about 90 the statement lasting about 90 minutes in about really will be spent, 7 will be spent, how 7 will be spent, how it 7 will be spent, how it is7 money will be spent, how it is and how much it is worth spent and how much it is worth will continue, matthew.- will continue, matthew. thank ou ve will continue, matthew. thank you very much. _ will continue, matthew. thank you very much, snapshot - you very much, snapshot political reaction in all of this ahead of sir keir this coming ahead of sir keir visit to washington starmer�*s visit to washington to and talk to donald to meet and talk to donald trump which of is on we'rejoined now by sir bill browder — who is a leading campaigner to expose russian corruption welcome to bbc a quick thought on what we heard today 7sir starmer 7 7777s7ir7 7 starm7er7talk7ing777 frem sir keir starmertathing ~ ~ peace strength but a about peace strength but a commitment to continue to stand commitment to continue'to'stand the people of ukraine. behind the people of ukraine. it is every first it is every government's first and responsibility the country from protect the country from foreign danger and we are in a now where there is a 7 now where there is a lot world now where there is a lot more for endanger than there was two weeks ago. why is that? that is because president trump

has made it clear to us has made it pretty clear to us that not only him his vice that not only him but his vice president that the defence president that'the defence that the us provided to shield that the us provided to us, to europe, was probally not 777777 77 i777 to be there 7 to be there in 7 to be there in some 7 to be there in some way, going to be there in some way, shape orform and we going to be there in some way, shape or form and we have to take care of ourselves and he has not wrong in suggesting that, and we have got a little over last 7--77 over last few decades lazy over the last few decades we've the peace lazy over the last few decades we've from the peace lazy over the last few decades we've from the end ce lazy over the last few decades we've from the end of the dividend from the end of the cold war and now we have russia ukraine ina we have america withdrawing that whatever happens sure that whatever teases-es ~ protected and so i think you're protected andass i think, is an you're protected andaso i think, is an necessity that is an absolute necessity to have a bigger defence budget have a more efficient and have a more efficient defence so you're not money on money7 on spending7 money7 on spending it in way that)ney7 on spending it in way that will7on spending it in way that will 7genuine7ly ng it in a way that will genuinely protect us he a way that will genuinely protect us _ a way that will genuinely rotect us ~ , , ., ., protect us here. as you are aaivin protect us here. as you are giving us — protect us here. as you are giving us that _ protect us here. as you are giving us that answer - protect us here. as you are giving us that answer we i giving us that answer we were looking at pictures of that meeting between emmanuel macron

and donald trump and of course keir starmer goes to sir keir starmer goes to meet trump later in the week. donald trump later in the week. we saw emmanuel fact we saw emmanuel macron fact check the president to his face, is that an approach you to 7 to see more leaders doing? isa is a really 7 is a really complicated 7 it is a really complicated meeting that sir keir will have on thursday because one hand on thursday becauseononehand have pushed really hard for 77m), 7 77777 777stay engaged stay engaged and america to stay engaged and to support ukraine and continue to support ukraine and to support their role continue to support their role in nato and so is really in nato and so that is really important but at the same time he pushes too hard, he is if he pushes too hard, he is potentially volatile and could snap back at god what, snap back at god knows what, attach 25% tariffs on british goodsin attach 25% tariffs on british goods in retaliation so it is a sensitive,

7 sensi this guy is meetir71g7and meeting and on meetir71g7and on the volatile. meeting and on the �*hand, volatile. meeting and on the �* hand, if a cure other hand, if a cure shows up and acts all smarmy around donald trump, the british people are not going respect people are not going to respect him and so he has a tightrope to walk to be a proper leader be shown as not provoking and i don't 7 and i don't envy 7 and i don't envy him 7 and i don't envy him in7 trump and i don't envy him in that situation. it is almost a thankless job he has that situation. it is almost a thanklessjob he has but good on him for going there and giving it a shot.— giving it a shot. two final questions. _ giving it a shot. two final questions, i— giving it a shot. two final questions, i want - giving it a shot. two final questions, i want to i giving it a shot. two final questions, i want to askl giving it a shot. two final i questions, i want to ask you giving it a shot. two final i quest the, i want to ask you giving it a shot. two final i quest the rare mt to ask you giving it a shot. two final i quest the rare earths sk you about the rare earths mineral. because about the rare earths mineral because the americans are m that is - re close. saying that is pretty close. are you one of people in are you one of those people in terms of the original format of the which was donald trump the deal which was donald trump payback for demanding payment payback for the-.. -.-. given what the americans have given so far? are one of so far? are you one of those that think that in steels that w un'e that in. is extortion of an ally? itself is extortion of an ally? it is ridiculous. the united

states a grant ukraine states gave a grant ukraine around $100 million to support in theirwaragainst them in their war against and have a new russia and to have a new showing up and —: it was not a saying; actually. it was not a and saying; actually, it was not a and you would like five alone and you would like five times the money back we times the money back and we want you to hand over all of your natural resources in w ..,...- ww |s your natural resources in -, a..- 'w , is insanity in 777.7 7for nothing the way exchange for nothing by the way there is nothing being because there is nothing being offered going forward. i was offered going forward; lwase ~ , to see that the pleased to see that the european union has suggested their own fairer rare earth deal to throw some confusion dsal to throw some confusion this extortion attempt but into this extortion attempt but that was what i would call an indecent proposal and ukraine ijnjdecjent proposal and ukraine reject it out of hand. should reject it out of hand. it is to see it is fascinating to see russians now talking about it is fascinating to see russiar dealv talking about it is fascinating to see russiar deal with .ing about it is fascinating to see russiar deal with americans and is of rare minerals in term is of rare minerals in the territories from ukraine they seized which gives you bayegeiaed which gives you—ates: ~— ~ . indication havegerzed which gives you—ates: ~— ~ . indication they have havesgrzed which gives you—ates: ~— ~ . indication they have no another indication they have no in terms of that intention in terms of that intention in terms of that in any way being territory in any way being returned to ukraine and

territory in any way being returnel because ne and territory in any way being returnel because you nd territory in any way being returnel because you campaigned thought because you campaigned and hard about frozen long and hard about freaenarrrr , , being used long and hard about froaonwr , , being used because this assets being used because this is all about billions of pounds that ukraine needs so what do you think the accesses of this route being down quickly? itruieiiii route being down quickly? well we have hundred _ route being down quickly? -ii we have hundred billion dollars of money frozen that to gm; 51117557 gm; gilliam}? russia and $1 trillion of damage being done to train and that should be going to that money should aberrgoing to and we that money should bergoing to and we hold that and ukraine and we hold that and have custody and the answer is that we so many different people involved in these and at the moment discussions and at the moment when some lawyer raises his hands and says maybe this or that comedy politicians do not know how to respond to that. this is not a legal issue, there is absolutely legal case to take this money and this is issue requiring a political issue requiring political will i think if political will and i think if do have will we do not have political will to a few weeks we it now -i!il have it now based on the emergency situation we are

so much ., ., ,, ., ., ,, emergency situation we are i so much ijoining us emergency situation we are so much to�*joining us here you so much forjoining us here on the cjgna'e—e you for �*time.7 7 more on that story coming up in the programme. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. because there's been a higher than expected increase, up, by 6.4 per cent in april, and last for the three months after that. it means the average household energy bill, it's the third time in a row, there's been an increase. here s our cost of living correspondent colletta smith.

energy prices are going up again, so thousands of homeowners are laying the insulation down. that was seriously quick work. what are you putting it up to then? 270. so it's a good it's a good blanket. it's a big duvet. here in greater manchester this homeowner has qualified for a grant towards the cost of insulation get that good bit of insulation up there. will be £1,849 a year. that's £111 more than the current rate. electricity is going up by £0.02 to £0.27 per unit used, and gas is up

by less than a penny to £0.07 per unit. wholesale gas and electricity prices have been falling internationally, but over the last couple more global instability. and that means that we are all paying more i would urge people who don't want to be exposed happening in the markets. but customers are still frustrated. i think it's quite unfair at the moment because our guests yeah. disappointing. i think the people at the top

don't often get to feel the same pinch. the same pinch we feel. we overpay and that last year was fine. it covered us through winter, but now it's not covered us. so now we're paying extra. a record 18 million households are in energy debt, but the government say more help will be for an extra 2.7 million families to get £150 off bills next winter as part of the warm homes discount. and we're acting to bring down bills for everyone predicted later this year, it's becoming increasingly hard for many to keep up. dialogue conference, aimed at unifying the country following the overthrow of the assad regime.

to rami ruhayem from bbc arabic. tells about the key issues being discussed there. the most heir-o'— fi’eat'eeea— there the w�*a“ ' "' ww ' w w issue being heirs? fi’eat'eeea— there the —-a* . ... ww . w w issue being discussed important issue being discussed is the issue of transitional justice. this is an issue that many, the majority the many, the majority of the syrian people care very deeply about. the committee that was tasked with preparing for this dialogue basically national dialogue basically ' ' ” ' around the country to national dialogue basically ' ' ” ' ar( the the country to national dialogue basically ' ' ” ' ar( the country ntry to national dialogue basically ' ' ” ' ar( the country and to national dialogue basically ' ' ” ' ar( the country and they areas of the country and they dialogue with different held dialogue with different people in preparation for this and transitional justice day and transitional justice was one �* the day and transitional justice was one �*the most important was one of the most important people who spoke to issues for people who spoke to them and then there was the issue of drafting in a new issue of freedoms and

personal freedoms and guaranteeing that the new rule, the new era in syria would not one row there is any room be one row there is any room for tyranny or authoritarian rule and then there was the economy and the role of economy and the roloofcivil ——— —— — . — which is the main six society which is the main six, being discussed at issues being discussed at the in national moment in this national dialogue conference and it be said that the should be said that the conference which should be about to end minute about to end any minute now would issue some that not recommendations that are not finding but the have said they authorities have said that they intend to take seriously. intend to take very seriously. other no kurdish to other things, no kurdish delegation there and also yesterday demanding that israel yesterday demanding that . .. area of damascus 7to to become a 7 to become a demilitarised badto become a demilitarised what are they saying whether 7 7 7 whether those 7 7 whether those th7ing7s? i about whether those things? i did not hear the first thing i assume you're talking and i assume you're talking about the kurdish issue in the north—east. if is the north—east. if that is the question, that is a very deep fault line at the moment

the near authorities between the new authorities and sdf, the syrian democratic the sdf, the syrian democratic forces, which are kurdish led armed faction and so far they armed faction and sofar they not yet been to reach have not yet been able to reach agreement on how to this agreement on how to merge this faction on the new army faction on the new syrian army with the authorities saying they want this to happen on an the ant this to hapeene" an , ~~ ~— ~~ basis with the aat this to hapeeeee aa. , ~~ ~— ~~ basis with people aduduai baee earth eeeeie joining new and justjoining the new army and sdf saying it tojoin thg sdf saying it wants to join as for the but as for israel, the authorities in damascus authorities here in damascus find themselves in a very difficult spot with israel clearly advantage of the clearly taking advantage of the weakness of the new syrian government and its helplessness, inability to confront them militarily or even diplomatically at the confront them militarily or even dip with :ically at the confront them militarily or even dip with it ally at the confront them militarily or even dip with it being the confront them militarily or even dip with it being expanded 7s7yri7an77 7s7yri7an 77 775555377 7s7yri7an 77 77be7y7or71d7e7ve7n77 into syrian areas beyond even the buffer zone that used to be therbuffer zone that used to be before separating syrian there before separating syrian - --,. - ”a, -. ,- from there before separating syrian. - --,. - ---- a. u from the there before separating syrian - --,. - ”a, -. ,- from the forces forces from the israeli forces which were occupying the golan heights and thenjust which were occupying the golan heights and then just a couple

d7ays 777d7ays ago, days ago, the i7sraeli prime of days ago, the israeli prime minister also issuing orders to minister also issuing'orders to new government saying you z: -777 7 south of 7 and casting himself as damascus and cast'rng himself as of minorities the protector of minorities specifically won in the southern syria and the new has indirectly syrian president has indirectly addressed this saying do not7 7 do not need minorities do not need ,, , ~ and this minorities do not need ~ , ~ and this kind of protection and this kind of rhetoric will on deaf ears rhetoric will fall on deaf ears in syria but so far he has yet to come up with a coherent response or kind of response or any kind of indication of how he will respond and stop the israelis respond'andstopthe israelis more syrian from taking more syrian territories or trying to cast themselves as protectors of the syrian majority. traiiii themselves as protectors of the syrian majority- _ syrian ma'ority. we will leave at the syrian majority. we will leave at the other _ syrian majority. we will leave at the other thank _ syrian majority. we will leave at the other thank you - at the other thank you very much for that update.

place in israel. the former journalist and human rights activist will be buried, at a cemetary near to the kibbutz where he lived. parade this week. seven planets will all be briefly planets can be seen simultaneously so clearly until 2040. stay tuned — we'll have more on when you can see that hello. it was a little grey and rainy for some of us this morning, but now the sun's out, a mixture of sunny spells and showers. some of the showers could be heavy, here's the weather front that's in the near continent now and across the north sea. it's pulling away. behind it, the skies are clearing.

clouds and occasional bigger shower clouds. temperatures between 9 and 11 celsius. but in the sunshine, away from any breeze, i think it's a pleasant enough just now. tonight it's going to turn chilly, particularly across eastern areas of the uk ahead of this next weather front, which will bring rain to northern ireland and western parts of the uk into lincolnshire, east anglia and the south east. it will be more like 4 or 5 celsius. through the morning and into the afternoon. some of us with some heavy bursts of rain once the weather it'll still be fairly cloudy with some sunshine, temperatures will be single figures across the board. out towards the southwest.

further showers on the way, with the clearest weather high which is squeezing in from the azores. so actually thursday is looking generally quite sunny across the uk. bar the odd shower in the western isles. into single figures. there'll be more sunshine around. some frost, maybe some fog. and guess what? the weekend is also looking very pleasant indeed. let's focus on cardiff. look at all of that sunshine on the way in the next few days.

enjoy, bye. this is bbc news, the headlines.

the uk announces the country's defence i can announce this government will begin since the end of the cold war.

more pain for british households as the energy price