The Business News now with samantha simmonds. We begin in the us and the Strike Action affecting the auto industry. Because us President Joe Biden is today expected to join workers on the picket line in michigan. The industrial unrest has highlighted a clash between the president s support for unions and his push for clean energy. 0ur north America Business reporter, erin delmore, joins me. Good to see you. Joe biden� s visit comes a day before donald trump is due to visit the picket line. Is it more about politics or the issue at hand for the president question both candidates are vying for a crucial block of voters in the 2024 election, and even though it is more than a year away they are focused firmly on it. Michigan is a critical swing state, a must win for biden and donald trump, as you saw when he won in 2016. President biden took the state in 2020. They are peeling to the workers and try to show solidarity. President biden is standing with Union President s and shoulder to shoulder with the Union Workers on strike, and hes putting a face and a picture to the statement hes been making that he is the most pro Union President in history. What is challenging for him as he is driving his prounion stance with his clean energy push, which requires a transition to electric vehicles. They require fewer workers and rely on workers whose jobs arent unionised, and donald trump is sticking to this and pointing it out, and we expect to hear more from him. ~. G. , � � , out, and we expect to hear more from him. , him. What will joe bidens presents mean for those him. What will joe bidens presents mean for those striking him. What will joe bidens presents mean for those striking workers . Mean for those striking workers . Will it give them more added weight in their negotiations . Some will it give them more added weight in their negotiations . In their negotiations . Some workers sa it will in their negotiations . Some workers say it will bring in their negotiations . Some workers say it will bring attention in their negotiations . Some workers say it will bring attention and in their negotiations . Some workers say it will bring attention and heft i say it will bring attention and heft to the arguments. When he says workers should get a fair contract, he harkens back to 2008 when the crisis. They took a lot of concessions. Joe biden says profits are up so workers should get a record deal. They think having the biggest voice is helpful. President biden doesnt have an active role at the negotiating table. Biden doesnt have an active role at the negotiating table. Thank you for the negotiating table. Thank you for the u date. The International Energy agency has warned fossil fuel demand will need to fall by 25 by the end of this decade if governments want to limit the rise in Global Warming to 1. 5 degrees celsius. The iea added coal, oil and natural gas all need to be replaced by clean energy if the world wants to keep on track to cut Greenhouse Gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Speaking to me earlier, the head of the agency put the onus on governments to lead the change. What we do is we look at the numbers. Scientists around the world, they all agree in order to have a livable planet, we can see the temperature and increase maximum 1. 5 celsius. If it is higher than that, the current extreme weather events will be much more severe and more frequent. What is a source of this temperature increase, fossil fuels. Coal, oiland gas. If we this temperature increase, fossil fuels. Coal, oil and gas. If we want to limit the temperature increase, we have to use these fossil fuels much less than today. The Climate Change issue is an issue which cannot be left to the markets only. Governments should be in the driving seat, but of course providing the incentive to the markets. When it comes to their decisions, especially in advanced economies, we would like to see advanced economies in fact increase their emissions. This applies to all advanced economics. Some Breaking News from nigeria, their main Workers Union plan to start an indefinite strike next week to protest against the cost of living crisis, after the government scrapped a popular but costly petrol subsidy. Im sure we will cover its more in further detail. Jp morgan chase has agreed a settlement with the Us Virgin Islands over the Banks Association withjeffrey epstein, and his Human Trafficking operation. It involves a 55 million payout which will go to local charities and assisting victims. The settlement could bring an end to damaging lawsuits that revealed details of the banks ties to the late sex offender. Meanwhile, jp morgan also reached a settlement in its claim Againstjes Staley who previously became acquainted with epstein as a Senior Private banker atjp morgan. Jp morgan has denied any responsibility for epstein� s crimes. In the us, there are fears that millions of americans may not recieve their pay and Welfare Cheques this weekend as right wing republicans block attempts to pass a budget. The next Financial Year begins on sunday and, so far, the party hasnt even managed to advance a short term funding bill. President biden has said funding the government is one of the most basic, fundamental responsibilities of the congress and lawmakers who refuse to should stop being elected. The tech giant meta, which owns facebook, instagram and whatsapp, has paid £149 million, orjust over 180 million, to break a lease on one of its London Office buildings. Thats been revealed by the Property Developer british land. Meta has let the space from 2021, following a refurbishment, but has never actually moved into the space. Meta is in the midst of a jobs cutting programme that is likely to impact on its need for office space. Sick days have soared in british workplaces, according to new reseach by the chartered institute for personnel and development, along with simplyhealth. Workplace absence is now higher than at any point in the past ten yea rs. Before the covid 19 pandemic, we were taking an average of 5. 8 sick days every year. Thats now gone up to 7. 8 days. The cipd has described the rise as a worry and blamed stress, covid and the cost of living crisis. I asked her what is behind the figures. It i asked her what is behind the fiaures. ,. ,. , i asked her what is behind the fiaures. ,. ,. , figures. It is a big leap and we havent seen figures. It is a big leap and we havent seen absence figures. It is a big leap and we havent seen Absence Levels. Figures. It is a big leap and we | havent seen Absence Levels as figures. It is a big leap and we havent seen Absence Levels as high as in 15 years. I think it is a complex picture. When we look at the causes of long term absences, and short term, we can see Mental Health and stress figure. Mental health is the leading cause by far. Behind those statistics, also sets a backdrop of very challenging few years for people, Notjust Backdrop of very challenging few years for people, not just a pandemic but the cost of living crisis. We know many worries can contribute to stress, and we also see Musculoskeletal Injuries as well feature quite prominently. Theres a lot going on in terms of health and absence. Pare lot going on in terms of health and absence. � , absence. Are they the same in the office and home . Absence. Are they the same in the office and home . We absence. Are they the same in the office and home . We didnt absence. Are they the same in the | office and home . We didnt collect the data like office and home . We didnt collect the data like that. Office and home . We didnt collect the data like that. We office and home . We didnt collect the data like that. We looked office and home . We didnt collect the data like that. We looked at i the data like that. We looked at when you are working when you arent well. We compared those figures. They are high for people working at home and in the workplace. That is the other end. It is a complex picture. There is a high level of absence but a high level people working when unwell. Employers need to understand what is going on with absence and ill health and their employees in their own organisation. Did you look at the truth behind peoples claims . Are some people putting off going back into the office, used to being at home . Does it come into it . He. Office, used to being at home . Does it come into it . It come into it . No, not really. The fiuures it come into it . No, not really. The figures dont it come into it . No, not really. The figures dont suggest it come into it . No, not really. The figures dont suggest that. It come into it . No, not really. The figures dont suggest that. This it come into it . No, not really. The figures dont suggest that. This is l figures dont suggest that. This is absence Data Collected by organisations, added covers 6. 5 million employees. That is a big chunk of the market. Mental ill health and stress were real concerns before the pandemic. Weve had crisis upon crisis since then as well. I think it is a wake up call. I want to ask you, this will be costing businesses hugely, financially, lost output. What do they need to look at to reduce the number . ~. , they need to look at to reduce the number . ~. , , number . What support they can rovide number . What support they can provide an number . What support they can provide an signpost number . What support they can provide an signpost to number . What support they can provide an signpost to it. Number . What support they can provide an signpost to it. It number . What support they can l provide an signpost to it. It could be occupational health, counselling, and assistance programme. But also, even small organisations can do a lot, who havent got a big budget. They can put in place good people management. Line managers are a gateway for health and well being support. They manage sickness, return to work, they can make changes. Sometimes flexibility can really help people to manage the symptoms of their illness and carry on working. Symptoms of their illness and carry on working on working. Around the world and across the on working. Around the world and across the uk, on working. Around the world and across the uk, this on working. Around the world and across the uk, this is on working. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc on working. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. L pounding the streets of the capital ahead of a poignant anniversary, and this perhaps the most pain. The Croydon Custody Block where this man was fatally wounded. Time to reflect on a piece of art created in his honour. The friends finished a few miles of this emotionaljourney accompanied by a Police Patrol boat, accompanied by a Police Patrol boat, a Silent Sentinel on the embankment as they took the last step on an 85 Mile Trek From East Sussex to scotland yard. I Mile Trek From East Sussex to scotland yard. Mile trek from east sussex to scotland yard. I think one of the thins, scotland yard. I think one of the things, everybody scotland yard. I think one of the things, everybody has scotland yard. I think one of the things, everybody has a scotland yard. I think one of the things, everybody has a story i scotland yard. I think one of the i things, everybody has a story about matt. His legacy is enduring. His time as a police officer, whether his coaching through rugby, everyone that came in contact with him has a story to remember. Youre live with bbc news. Straight to reaction on what bp and listening to from the uk Home Secretary, the speech in washington about illegal immigration. Let secretary, the speech in washington about illegal immigration. About illegal immigration. Let me tell ou about illegal immigration. Let me tell you what about illegal immigration. Let me tell you what the about illegal immigration. Let me tell you what the agency about illegal immigration. Let me tell you what the agency has about illegal immigration. Let me tell you what the agency has told | tell you what the agency has told the bbc, the convention on refugees remains the cornerstone of protection and is relevant and critical now as it was when it was drafted. The agency was reacting to suggestions the convention was quotes absurd and unsustainable and needed reforms. The Refugee Agency said the convention had saved millions of lives and pointed to the conflicts in ukraine and sudan. They disputed the claim 880 many people could qualify as refugees, saying there were 35 million refugees in there were 35 million refugees in the world, the majority led to low income countries. All of the talk of the river g crisis, she said there isnt one. Refugee crisis. She went against the distinction of persecution and distinction. She was making those on people who were fleeing because they were gay. She said the Refugee Agency knew there were people fleeing for their lives because they face threats because of their identity, orientation or gender. She denied it needed updating, saying it remains as applicable as ever. But what is needed and international will and commitment to abide by the obligations to the refugees under the International Legal framework. Robust comments from Suella Braverman, but equally robust responses from the Refugee Agency, speaking to the bbc. We will have more on that in the next few moments. Saudi arabias first non resident ambassador to the occupied west bank has pledged that the palestinian cause will be a cornerstone of any Normalisation Deal with his country. Nayef al sudairi was speaking after the arrival of the gulf kingdoms first delegation to the west bank for three decades. He met Palestinian Leader mahmoud abbas. Israels tourism minister haim katz arrives in saudi arabia for the first such high level public visit there. Saudi arabia and israel are looking to forge formal bilateral ties. Those are the pictures from the visits. Those are the pictures from the visits. Live now to our correspondent tom bateman. Your analysis of what weve seen . What weve seen is a day of firsts in the evolving Public Diplomacy of the middle east. You mentioned haim katz, who it has emerged visited rree had and will spend two days at the conference. The point is this is the conference. The point is this is the first public and official visit by an array is israeli to saudi arabia. Weve had the first visit by saudi arabias newly appointed ambassador to the palestinians. Hes beenin ambassador to the palestinians. Hes been in occupied west bank in the seat of government of the palestinian authority. This is the first visit by a saudi official in at least three decades. What is going on in the background is that american driven process to try and forge normalisation of relations between israel. It would be a historic realignment of ties between two old adversaries. It would be a three way deal because the us would underwrite it and it would controversy me in the us giving assurances to saudi arabia. 0ne assurances to saudi arabia. One other things in that Shopping List is they want advanced american weapons. They want the ability for rich uranium for a power programme. All of It Normalising Ties with the israelis. These are a long way off, it will be months, but weve heard signals, not least from the leaders from all countries, this process is continuing. From all countries, this process is continuing from all countries, this process is continuinr. ,. , continuing. Thank you for taking is throu~h all continuing. Thank you for taking is through all of continuing. Thank you for taking is through all of that. Ukraine is seeking to clarify whether a senior Russian Naval commander actually died in an attack last week. On monday, ukraine had said the leader of russias black sea fleet, admiral viktor sokolov, was killed by a Missile Strike on their headquarters in crimea. Russia, though, says the commander is in fact alive. Sokolov appeared via video link in a meeting between russian officials just a day after ukraine claimed he was dead. The video images have not yet been verified. The Russian DefenceMinistry Says the meeting took place today. With more heres our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse. Not confident language coming from the Ukrainian Special forces today. I think it stops short of rowing back. But in a statement they have said they are they are looking for clarification, citing what they now call open sources when they claimed that 34 Senior Officers, including admiral sokolov, were killed in this Missile Strike last friday. Now we have the initial claim from kyiv yesterday, this triumphant claim as to the Senior Officers who have been taken out, they say, but we had no evidence to accompany that. And this is always the issue when were talking about deep into russian occupied territory. And today, this morning, the kremlin spo