the visit comes as the uk takes part in the biggest airdrop of aid into gaza since the israel—hamas war began. lord cameron confirmed that uk arms sales to israel will not be suspended. while mr blinken said the us has not been given a date by israel for its threatened ground offensive into the city of rafah. the bbc asked the diplomats about last week's air strike that killed seven aid workers and whether there'd be meaningful accountability over how israeli forces have conducted the war. we are looking very carefully at the conclusions of the investigation that israel conduct did. we are asking questions about it stop we are engaged with the israelis, we are engaged with managerial organisations, and we want to

make sure that, again, the investigation produces real change. investigation produces real chan . e. , investigation produces real chance. , . ., change. let me be clear, though. _ change. let me be clear, though. we _ change. let me be clear, though, we continue - change. let me be clear, though, we continue to l change. let me be clear, . though, we continue to have grave — though, we continue to have grave concerns around the umana and access — grave concerns around the umana and access issue in gaza, both in the — and access issue in gaza, both in the period that was assessed and subsequently. we have seen and subsequently. we have seen a welcome increase in trucks with, — a welcome increase in trucks with. as _ a welcome increase in trucks with, as tony said, perhaps as many— with, as tony said, perhaps as many as— with, as tony said, perhaps as many as 400 going in yesterday, the highest since october the seventh. _ the highest since october the seventh, and public commitments from _ seventh, and public commitments from israel to flood gaza with aid~ _ the united nations says famine is imminent and aid agencies say israel is not ensuring enough access for food, medicine, and other needed humanitarian supplies. a deadly mass famine in gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long—term conflict, us defence secretary lloyd austin told a senate hearing on tuesday. our diplomatic correspondent james landale joined the royal air force flight delivering aid to gaza on tuesday and sent this report. at an airbase injordan,

piles of humanitarian aid — stacked into individual pallets adorned with their own parachute, all of it bound for gaza. on the tarmac, 14 military aircraft getting ready for the largest coalition air drop since they began last month, a special delivery to mark the end of ramadan. inside, pilots and crews from different nations being briefed on the operation, safety a key concern in the small airspace over gaza. outside, the raf plane is loaded, each palette containing flour, rice, sugar, beans, baby food, oil and water — the basics for a meal — this, the raf�*s sixth airdrop so far. it is not that much, but i tell you what — it's the effort that counts. as in, every little helps. i'm quite proud and privileged to be involved in this sort of mission. but is it enough? will it meet the needs of the people in gaza? the aircraft's carrying

12 of these pallets. now, each of them are about a tonne, so that means this entire payload is worth about one truck crossing a border on the ground. the aircrews here insist that, cumulatively, the air drops are beginning to have an impact. this is a sustained effort. we've been here for three weeks now, and we're continually delivering the aid. the people of gaza are very grateful for the efforts that we're going to and we'll keep delivering and keep delivering until we can't give them any more. in the air, we fly the short distance to gaza, then we're over the drop zone. the pilots are satisfied no—one's below and the back ramp lowers. these airdrops are expensive and inadequate, a symbol of the failure to get aid in by other means. but, we're told, they're better than nothing and they are making a difference. 12 boxes out, all on target on the northern shore.

these airdrops can be dangerous — people have been crushed in the stampede to get to the pallets — but there's little that can be done from the air. so, today, the skies over gaza were filled with parachutes. israel says more aid trucks are getting through, but how many is not clear. this aid from the air will not fill the gap, but the aircrews involved hope — believe — that it is making a difference to so many facing famine on the ground. james landale, bbc news over gaza. talks between the uk and us also covered the war in ukraine. the two governments are providing kyiv with billions of dollars in military aid. but the pentagon has spent almost all the money budgeted for the war effort, and further funding is stalled in the us congress. us central command says it's sending guns and ammunition it seized from an iranian ship. the weaponry — includes ak—47s, ammunition, and rocket—propelled grenades —

was allegedly on its way to the iran—backed houthis in yemen. diverting seized weapons like these is one way the us can help ukraine without funding from congress. but ukraine says it needs more. so, what are the chances of a deal on capitol hill? my colleague sumi somaskanda spoke to two strong ukraine supporters in congress: democrat mike quigley from illinois and chuck edwards, a north carolina republican, whom she began by asking how he plans to convince his fellow republicans to back aid for ukraine. i believe that most americans believe that america has a security interest in europe, which is essentially centred around ukraine and i believe that if most americans were fully aware of the atrocities of the human rights, the torture, the abuse that's taken place over there now they would

be willing to step in and help their neighbours. and the reason that we went over there with this delegation was to get a first—hand accounting of actually what's taking place. so, congressman edwards, i understand you want most americans to get this picture, what about fellow members of your party, at the end of the day they are the ones that are going to have to vote on the bill. , ., , ., ., ., bill. everyone is going to vote their conscience, _ bill. everyone is going to vote their conscience, they - bill. everyone is going to vote their conscience, they are - their conscience, they are going to vote for their district, but i believe that the vast majority of the members of congress are going to stand up and support not only ukraine, this is not as much about ukraine as it is about stopping a ruthless, murderous stick data is going to put the world's security risk. ., , , ., ., , risk. 0k, congressman quigley, cominu risk. ok, congressman quigley, coming back— risk. 0k, congressman quigley, coming back to _ risk. 0k, congressman quigley, coming back to you, _ risk. 0k, congressman quigley, coming back to you, uk - risk. 0k, congressman quigley, coming back to you, uk foreign | coming back to you, uk foreign secretary, lord cameron, is here, he made this plea also to the congress and to lawmakers to get aid past. do you think that has an impact on the conversation here?-

that has an impact on the conversation here? look, i think it helps, _ conversation here? look, i think it helps, recognise i conversation here? look, i. think it helps, recognise and spell— think it helps, recognise and spell at_ think it helps, recognise and spell at the fact that putin's games— spell at the fact that putin's games are well beyond ukraine, i think_ games are well beyond ukraine, i think nxt i will be dover, georgia. _ i think nxt i will be dover, georgia, the baltics, and when we met— georgia, the baltics, and when we met our polish friends they said if— we met our polish friends they said if you _ we met our polish friends they said if you want to do it for ukraine. _ said if you want to do it for ukraine, do it for poland. we recognise _ ukraine, do it for poland. we recognise that putin is after his ultimate goal, restoring the soviet union and that puts all our— the soviet union and that puts all our allies and us at risk. and — all our allies and us at risk. and i— all our allies and us at risk. and i think the foreign minister recognises and part of what _ minister recognises and part of what he — minister recognises and part of what he is preaching, it is not just— what he is preaching, it is not just moscow watching what we do, just moscow watching what we do. it — just moscow watching what we do. it is— just moscow watching what we do, it is beijing, right, it's tehran. _ do, it is beijing, right, it's tehran, its autocrats across the — tehran, its autocrats across the world _ tehran, its autocrats across the world who would do the same thing _ the world who would do the same thing our— the world who would do the same thing. our security doesn't stop— thing. our security doesn't stopiust _ thing. our security doesn't stopjust at our thing. our security doesn't stop just at our borders. a security— stop just at our borders. a security risk with our allies, we are _ security risk with our allies, we are att— security risk with our allies, we are all in this together and we are all in this together and we need — we are all in this together and we need each other to have a safe — we need each other to have a safe world. a

we need each other to have a safe world-— we need each other to have a safe world. a last question to ou, safe world. a last question to you, congressman _ safe world. a last question to you, congressman edwards, | safe world. a last question to i you, congressman edwards, you convinced that if a builder to come to the floor to support ukraine would have enough funds? i ukraine would have enough funds? . ., funds? i believe it would get enou:h funds? i believe it would get enough votes. _ funds? i believe it would get enough votes. there - funds? i believe it would get enough votes. there are - funds? i believe it would get enough votes. there are a i enough votes. there are a number of ideas out there and how we can make bill that came from the senate a better bill, i certainly intend to work to make it a more fiscally responsible, accountable bill that would bring more republicans on board. so once we get to that point, yes, i believe will have the votes we need. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at another story making news. the man who led the campaign against the post office in the wake of the horizon it scandal, alan bates, said the company was run by "thugs in suits" in 2010. he's been giving evidence to the public inquiry into the scandal in london. hundreds of sub—postmasters were wrongly prosecuted of fraud due to the faulty software. the post office has previously apologised. zoe conway has more.

alan bates may have recent national treasure status following the itv drama, yet he is still fighting for compensation. he says he has been offered a sixth of what he asked for. been offered a sixth of what he asked for-— asked for. i'm trying to vote for everyone _ asked for. i'm trying to vote for everyone that _ asked for. i'm trying to vote for everyone that needs - for everyone that needs financial redress on this. but i've also got five fight for my own as well and i have no doubt that there is a bit of vindictiveness coming in from the department. the inquiry is now in its final stages. at the end of may, it will hear from former chief executive paula vennells for the first time. you're live with bbc news. on the campaign trail, presidentjoe biden and former president donald trump are neck and neck in most of the seven swing states that could decide the november election. the candidates are continuing to make campaign stops with mr biden in wisconsin this week touting his economic policies. and mr trump in pennsylvania and michigan, that's where our chief presenter

caitriona perry is on the ground speaking to voters. what are you seeing and hearing?— what are you seeing and hearinu? ., ~ . what are you seeing and hearinu? . ~ . i. hearing? thanks, michelle, you are very welcome _ hearing? thanks, michelle, you are very welcome to _ hearing? thanks, michelle, you are very welcome to detroit, i are very welcome to detroit, michigan here. michigan one of the seven battleground states that will most likely decide the election, decide who is the next president of america, the others being wisconsin, north carolina, arizona and nevada. the races really syed kamall of the policy last month have donald trump ahead ofjoe biden by up donald trump ahead ofjoe biden by up to 5%, onepoll has them tied, when you factor in margin of error this makes the battleground state and of course both campaigns no that winning the election, winning the white house will be really difficult if they don't win michigan, so we have been talking to voters here all day to find out what they think. motown music and motor city, for decades detroit was

booming, but then came bankruptcy, blight, decline. detroit is turning itself around with low unemployment and falling inflation, yet only one third of residents make a living wage. michigan is a key swing state was barack obama won comfortably here, donald trump flipped the state in 2016 by a margin ofjust over 10,000 voters. joe biden flipped back to win in 2020. both candidates have been trying to shore up the blue—collar workers here, including those on strike with the united auto workers union last year. the united auto workers union last ear. . last year. help the middle class! joe _ last year. help the middle class! joe biden _ last year. help the middle class! joe biden has - last year. help the middle class! joe biden has an . class! joe biden has an endorsement - class! joe biden has an endorsement from - class! joe biden has an| endorsement from that class! joe biden has an - endorsement from that union, but that doesn't mean an automatic blessing from its members. i automatic blessing from its members-— automatic blessing from its members. . . members. i 'ust feel depleted, i feel eight — members. i just feel depleted, i feel eight there _ members. i just feel depleted, i feel eight there isn't - members. i just feel depleted, i feel eight there isn't a - i feel eight there isn't a solid choice for the working class. i don't feel like anybody represents our best interest and i feel like we are, again, in another situation we have to go into a

ballot box and vote against somebody instead of voting for somebody. the somebody instead of voting for somebody-— somebody instead of voting for somebod. . . . , somebody. the republican party isn't a republican _ somebody. the republican party isn't a republican party - isn't a republican party anymore, it is a party ofjohn. as far— anymore, it is a party ofjohn. as far as _ anymore, it is a party ofjohn. as far as the democrat party, being — as far as the democrat party, being a — as far as the democrat party, being a mexican—american i have some _ being a mexican—american i have some criticism towards the democratic party because of the lack democratic party because of the tack of— democratic party because of the lack of movement on any immigration policy. by filling my demographic has been taken advantage of, they think we will automatically vote for them _ will automatically vote for them. ., , will automatically vote for them. ., them. people are living pay cheaue them. people are living pay cheque to _ them. people are living pay cheque to pay _ them. people are living pay cheque to pay cheque, - them. people are living payj cheque to pay cheque, they having really hard times, interest rates are astronomical, it's hard to find good jobs, astronomical, it's hard to find goodjobs, is astronomical, it's hard to find good jobs, is almost impossible for my generation to buy a house, let alone buy a brand—new car. we work in the auto industry that we have to be real with the fact that these guys aren't selling because interest rates are so high. because interest rates are so hiuh. . . because interest rates are so hiuh. , , .,, because interest rates are so hiuh. , , ., , high. this is the most heavily peputated — high. this is the most heavily populated arabic _ high. this is the most heavily populated arabic state - high. this is the most heavily populated arabic state in - high. this is the most heavily populated arabic state in the | populated arabic state in the country _ populated arabic state in the country. the administration's policy— country. the administration's policy on _ country. the administration's policy on what's going on in the middle east, i mean, it could — the middle east, i mean, it could cost them michigan, for sure — could cost them michigan, for sure. . . . could cost them michigan, for sure. ., , , ., , sure. that issue has fuelled the uncommitted _ sure. that issue has fuelled|

the uncommitted campaign, sure. that issue has fuelled - the uncommitted campaign, which saw 100,000 refused to vote for biden in the democratic primary here, so what could that mean come polling day? we here, so what could that mean come polling day?— here, so what could that mean come polling day? we cannot let our taxnayer_ come polling day? we cannot let our taxpayer dollars _ come polling day? we cannot let our taxpayer dollars be - come polling day? we cannot let our taxpayer dollars be used - come polling day? we cannot let our taxpayer dollars be used to l our taxpayer dollars be used to commit a genocide and ethnic cleansing of an entire group. we are asked to choose between bands or bonds. so do believe that there are going to be folks, there are going to be, especially with the american and muslim community that won't be able to bring themselves to vote for biden and nor can they vote for biden and nor can they vote for biden and nor can they vote for trump, so i do think there will be a large number of voters that are going to skip the top of the ticket.- the top of the ticket. hello, joe. how — the top of the ticket. hello, joe. how are _ the top of the ticket. hello, joe, how are you? - the top of the ticket. hello, joe, how are you? but - the top of the ticket. hello, joe, how are you? but at i the top of the ticket. hello, i joe, how are you? but at this biden michigan _ joe, how are you? but at this biden michigan campaign - joe, how are you? but at this i biden michigan campaign offers concerns about israel policy, economy, immigration are not deterring the team. the present shares many _ deterring the team. the present shares many of _ deterring the team. the present shares many of the _ deterring the team. the present shares many of the folks - deterring the team. the present shares many of the folks who i shares many of the folks who voted uncommitted in the primary committee says the vision of a just and lasting peace in the middle east and an entity violence. as a campaign we are committed to having a

dialogue with those folks who care about the same things, just like the president does. talk alone won't cut it, says the mayor of dearborn, the largest arab—american majority city in the us. largest arab-american ma'ority city in the mi city in the us. certainly i'm alwa s city in the us. certainly i'm always advocating - city in the us. certainly i'm always advocating for - city in the us. certainly i'm always advocating for a - always advocating for a composition that can lead to medical underground, but you have a conversation for a photo of take a picture or a video advertise some sort of campaign stop is not something any of us are interested in at this time. they think you'll find many in the community who are reluctant to sit with the president himself because for us was unfolding is greater than just an issue of elections, is an issue of morality, an issue of decency and humanity, that is what is on this ballot come november. can he win back the support? i think there are some voters we can wing—back, think there are some what is lost forever. those who have lost family members directly i don't know how you engage them again knowing that you could have set a line in the sand months ago, but it never happened, that you could restrict military aid and prevent american bombs from killing ourfriends and

prevent american bombs from killing our friends and family and loved ones overseas, but they never happen, sweating for many of them the votes are lost. 3 many of them the votes are lost. �* . ., , many of them the votes are lost. i, ., _ lost. a community previously considered _ lost. a community previously considered to _ lost. a community previously considered to be _ lost. a community previously considered to be part - lost. a community previously considered to be part of - lost. a community previously considered to be part of the l considered to be part of the democratic base can no longer be counted on. both parties wait to see what way they go, to trump, a third—party candidate, orjust stay home come november. well, to discuss the issues a little more i'm joined by chad livengood, the politics editor with the detroit news, thanks forjoining us. very close race in this state, we have just been hearing there about the opposition duejoe biden's opposition due joe biden's israel opposition duejoe biden's israel policy, the uncommitted campaign, what impact you think they will have on his support in the state? it they will have on his support in the state?— in the state? it is a big liability _ in the state? it is a big liability right _ in the state? it is a big liability right now- in the state? it is a big liability right now for i in the state? it is a big i liability right now for the presence of the united states, 101,000 democrats came out in the presidential primary and voted against him and it sends a signal that he has got to figure out a way to bring them back into the coalition stop this is a state that donald trump won by 10,500 votes in

2016 and joe biden one by 154,000 votes. not a huge margin for biden, a very narrow margin for biden, a very narrow margin that trump one by in 2016. the race feels like 2016 right now, a lot of the same issues are at late, as well as domestic issues when it comes to immigration, when it comes to immigration, when it comes to auto workers and also policy and trade and trump is running on those issues and trying to resonate there and so these 100,000 democrats voted uncommitted, president biden has to find a way to get them backin has to find a way to get them back in his care.— back in his care. does it feel like there — back in his care. does it feel like there is _ back in his care. does it feel like there is a _ back in his care. does it feel like there is a groundswelll back in his care. does it feel| like there is a groundswell of support for donald trump? i support for donald trump? i wouldn't say a groundswell of support, there is still a lot of trump apathy out there as well, just people who just, republicans and committed —— in particular, modern republicans who just particular, modern republicans whojust do not like particular, modern republicans who just do not like the man, they do not want to vote for him, but they also have their grievances were joe him, but they also have their grievances werejoe biden, so there are going to be these moderate republicans, mostly in the suburbs of detroit, some

owsian can county around grand rapids, they are really trying to wrestle what to do and then you havejust to wrestle what to do and then you have just sort of independence in general and that's where the polling really is not good forjoe biden, was independence right now is giving towards donald trump. given how close it is in this context, you have already seen some of the ghattas come through here, them michigan is really going to see a lot of love from joe biden and donald trump of the next few months? yeah, we're going to see love, dad was, billboards, all sorts of surrogates coming in trying to make appeals. and they are already starting to go to key strategic places. last month joe biden were to sag michigan, it is a bellwether county where if you do not win it you do not win michigan, that'sjust if you do not win it you do not win michigan, that's just how it works now and donald trump knew that, he once saginaw county, he flipped it from barack obama victories in 2008

and 2012 when he won in 2016, so yet they have to campaign errors like that, notjust in the traditional means it is to try to win over voters. shill try to win over voters. all ritht, try to win over voters. all right, thanks _ try to win over voters. all right, thanks for - try to win over voters. all right, thanks for all those insights, plenty to watch out for. chad livengood, thanks for joining us on bbc news. that is it from detroit, michigan, a noisy motor city as you can tell. but you, michelle. one day after donald trump said abortion should be left for individual states to decide, the arizona supreme court revived a near—total ban on abortion dating back 160 years. it bans abortion in all cases except for when the mother's life is at risk. making performing abortion a felony in the swing state. the ban was first on the books in 1864 — nearly 50 years before arizona was a state and 55 years before women gained the right to vote. arizona nowjoins a growing list of more than a dozen other states that have largely restricted abortion access since the us supreme court overturned roe in 2022. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have publicly condemned the court's ruling.

republican us senate candidate kari lake said she "opposes today's ruling." while, arizona governor katie hobbes called the decision a "dark day" for the state. the 1864 law makes providing an abortion or helping woman obtain an abortion punishable by two to five years in prison. however, shortly after the ruling the state's top attorney—general vowed not to enforce it. it is set to go into effect in 14 days' time. for more, i spoke to one of the top attorney's on the case laura conover. she's been working to repeal the law. since december of 2022, abortions have been allowed for women who are pregnant up to 15 weeks based on a lower court ruling, but the state's supreme

court has changed that and reverted to a civil war era law that essentially bans all abortions. what's your reaction?— abortions. what's your reaction? ., ., , reaction? welcome at the outset i'm reaction? welcome at the outset l'm appalled _ reaction? welcome at the outset i'm appalled and _ reaction? welcome at the outset i'm appalled and frustrated, - i'm appalled and frustrated, the decision made clear that they were sending the issue of abortion rights back to the states, and what we argued in the lower courts was that the state of arizona has spoken repeatedly in the last 50 years, including most recently abortion rights up to 15 weeks and we said that if the issue is to be decided by the state then you have to harmonise the laws we have in place. the court of appeal is, in a very sound decision, agreed with us and we have had reproductive healthcare lawfully here in arizona since that time and we are disappointed that arizona supreme court has largely ignored everything that has

been spoken on the issue and reverted back to an 1864 new total ban. reverted back to an 1864 new total ban-— reverted back to an 1864 new total ban. ., ., ., ., total ban. planned parenthood in arizona _ total ban. planned parenthood in arizona have _ total ban. planned parenthood in arizona have said _ total ban. planned parenthood in arizona have said they - total ban. planned parenthood in arizona have said they will. in arizona have said they will continue offering abortions up to 15 weeks for a period of time. and they sighted the maricopa county superior court order, can you explain to our viewers what that is and how it has a bearing on today's decision?— has a bearing on today's decision? . decision? the silver lining from the _ decision? the silver lining from the arizona - decision? the silver lining j from the arizona supreme decision? the silver lining - from the arizona supreme court is that the stay of proceedings is that the stay of proceedings is going to stay in place for some indeterminate length of time while additional issues are sorted back in the trial court, so it does allow myself, as the southern arizona top prosecutor and planned parenthood and the attorney general �*s office to go back to my courthouse and continue legal analysis and legal proceedings and during that

time i will strived to say that i want providers to continue to have trust in their leaders that care is a safe and legal and i want both providers and those in urgent need, victims of sexual assaults, those in crisis, and those in need of care to rely that it is safe and i hope going to be continued to be provided while we continue this legal fight. and if this fight doesn't go your way, doctors face potential imprisonment if they perform an abortion. will you enforce the law? i perform an abortion. will you enforce the law?— perform an abortion. will you enforce the law? i have meekly in southern _ enforce the law? i have meekly in southern arizona, _ enforce the law? i have meekly in southern arizona, along - enforce the law? i have meekly in southern arizona, along with j in southern arizona, along with my chief of police and mayor and my sherrif that we have very precious limited resources that we focus on violent crime and the crime, property and

neighbourhood crime and none of us intends to use those very precious resources to go after those who would provide appropriate credentials care. and, again, i.e. somewhat gratified that services continued here in southern arizona throughout the last two years, throughout the confusion, because they entrusted their local elected leaders to do the right thing with such limited and precious resources. with such limited and precious resources-— resources. many democrats in arizona have _ resources. many democrats in arizona have already - resources. many democrats in arizona have already spoken l resources. many democrats in l arizona have already spoken out against the decision, now we have started to see some republicans changing their tune in the wake of this ruling. i see kari lake, who praised the law two years ago said it was out of step with arizonans. how big an issue do you think this will be in november's presidential election? first, let me say _ presidential election? first,

let me say that _ presidential election? first, let me say that i'm - presidential election? first, let me say that i'm not - let me say that i'm not surprised at all. every poll statewide in arizona shows that anywhere between 80 and 90% do not want reproductive healthcare criminalised. and what's more, when we make these kinds of missteps as a state it undermines public health, it undermines public health, it undermines public health, it undermines public safety and, frankly, the economy. we need to keep talented healthcare providers here and why would they stay if we continue to keep our laws in flight? i think they today's ruling absolutely will have a profound impact on upcoming primary and general elections, but also the people of arizona, and our rights to an initiative, i believe will have a very loud and clear vote in 2 november constitutional as the right to have autonomy over your own body.

have autonomy over your own bod . ., ., have autonomy over your own bod. ., ., ., ., ., ,, have autonomy over your own bod. ., ., ., ., ., body. laura conover, thank you so much for— body. laura conover, thank you so much for taking _ body. laura conover, thank you so much for taking the - body. laura conover, thank you so much for taking the time - body. laura conover, thank you so much for taking the time to l so much for taking the time to talk to us today.— talk to us today. thank you very much- _ you can find more on our top stories on the website. stay with us here on bbc news. hope hello there. tuesday, unfortunately brought more stormy weather with it and coastal flooding with the high tides, as well as inland flooding. a brief ridge of high pressure is pushing that low pressure out the way, but the weather fronts are hot off the heels again off the atlantic with more rain to come through the day ahead. this is what we had on tuesday — 60 millimetres and more across beddgelert in north wales. many of the other wettest places seeing 30—40 millimetres of rain. and despite the showers having ease, the rain and the winds through the night and it turns chilly with a touch of frost, potentially a few areas first thing and some mist and fog in the south. already, temperatures are rising in the west ahead of the next band of rain that you may have seen there. so wet through the morning rush across northern ireland, underneath this weather front. and as it comes in, it's introducing milder atlantic air.

so it will turn misty and foggy over the hills as well as the fog first thing further east. once it sets in across scotland on and off through the day, early brightness and sunshine in the east replaced by that rain as it meanders its way eastwards through the day. you can see it does ease off a little bit in southern parts, but it's got a legacy of cloud left in its wake. so a mild day, where we see any breaks — perhaps 16 in northern ireland. but there's a met office warning for the west of scotland. again, another 40 millimetres, possibly more over the hills. further south, there'll be a steady spell of rain and lots of misty, murky weather over the hills. another pulse comes in through the evening overnight, particularly scotland and northern ireland. it tends to weaken as it pushes southwards, but all the cloud and the wind and the winds will be strong again today, perhaps not as strong as yesterday, but they hold the temperatures up through the night. and a fairly brisk wind will continue with us on thursday. maybe some mist murk first thing, particularly in the south under the remnants of this weather front. but actually, once that clears out the way, we might see some

brighter skies and sunshine coming through before the next pulse of rain starts to materialise across western parts again. but look at the temperatures on thursday. it's looking mild, in fact, warm in the strengthening april sunshine. and that milder, warmer atlantic air is with us through thursday and indeed friday to end the week, perhaps even start the weekend, but not for long because we get some colder air starting to dig in behind it. and you can see for the weekend or by the end of the weekend, it's a return to slightly cooler weather for most.

japan's prime minister is in washington for talks with the us presidentjoe biden. on the agenda, defence, security and a contentious business deal. and the idea of speaking to anyone in their native language is now a possibility with al. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. our top story today: japanese prime minister fumio kishida has arrived in the us where he is currently meeting presidentjoe biden. that is ahead of official talks.

defense and security are at the top of the agenda but economic relations have not been forgotten. on tuesday, mr kishida sent a message to american business leaders that japan's economy is open for investment. he told a roundtable that he was keen for more collaboration on critical and emerging technologies like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. this comes as microsoft said it will spend almost $3 billion to expand its cloud and ai infrastructure injapan. translation: japan will look| to investment from the united states to push forward co—ordination in radical and emerging technology. economic growth our country obtained through your investments shall serve as a funding source for further investment in the united states by japanese entities. there is also focus on the fate of a takeover of us steel by japan's nippon steel.

forjapan, the merger represents a major opportunity