Attempt to cut costs and deter migrants attempting to come to the uk illegally by boat. Also on the programme, the standoff in niger continues. The countrys coup leaders have closed nigers airspace until further notice, citing the threat of Military Invervention from neighbouring powers. Arizonas blistering heat wave continues as us President Biden heads to the state to promote his clean energy plans. And the american millionaire allegedly working with the Chinese Government to influence politics in the west. Ill speak to the New York Times reporter behind the investigation. First lets focus on the barge for Asylum Seekers here in the uk. The government hopes that around 500 men can be housed on board the vessel called the bibby stockholm. But so far, just 15 are on board. Ministers say the barge will be better value for taxpayers than hotel rooms, which are costing more than six Million Pounds a day. There have been concerns about conditions on board, but the government insists the barge is safe. Theres also been some local opposition over the impact on services in the area. A number of Asylum Seekers have had their transfers to the barge cancelled because of legal challenges. From portland in dorset, danjohnson sent this report. What does this say about the welcome we extend to those seeking asylum . Are these the first steps towards a tougher stance long overdue to reduce costs and deter bogus claims, or are these potentially traumatised refugees being dehumanised and now denied even the stability of dry land . These men carry the added weight of the governments resolve. We successfully on board did the first cohort today. We successfully on boarded the first cohort today. There are 15 people on board. Weve had a few challenges but this is part of an ongoing structured process to bring a cohort of up to 500 people on board. There have been some challenges, some minor legal challenges. I cant go into the detail of those. Accommodation is offered to all individuals on a no choice basis. They chant some in this community are pleased to see them, even if they oppose their accommodation. We wanted, really, just a show we cared. We wanted to show that actually there is support from the local community, and we partly wanted to help them be given some of the things they might need. Waymouth, portland itself hasnt got the infrastructure. I can see that point of view. But we have to welcome them. They are here, we have to welcome them. But it is impossible to ignore ian, a local guy who wants portland put first. This isnt being racist this is us saying we need to look after ourselves. They are getting ensuite showers, they are getting free meals, they are living like kings. We need this to go away from portland. This is the welcome for the Asylum Seekers as they arrive on the buses here. Even if they are not quite clear who is on board or where they are heading, but i think this shows the division in this community and the strength of feeling on both sides. It has been beset by delays and weighed down with argument. When journalists were shown around, we were told operational by the end ofjuly, but there were health and safety issues. The fire service raised concerns. Then the Fire Brigade Union labelled it a death trap. Ministers highlight a Safety Record of Asylum Seekers in other countries. But bunk bed and double rooms have helped doubled capacity but also added worry. We need to remember they are human beings. They are people and they have dreams and aspirations just like every body else. The small boats crossings are dangerous. Absolutely. The hotel bills are enormous. Is it not right to try tackle this . The way to tackle Something Like that is to prevent it and the way to prevent that is to invest properly into the system. 20 men have refused to move here. But this vessel and the new policy it is the flagship four are no longer empty. Danjohnson, bbc news, portland. Today we learnt that the number of Asylum Seekers in hotels in the uk, is at record levels, up 3,000 since march. Our home editor, mark easton, has been looking in more detail, at how the government is trying to tackle the problem. Well, why do we need a barge for Asylum Seekers . You might think its down to all those Illegal Migrants crossing the channel, but the real problem lies elsewhere. Yes, the number of Asylum Applications has increased recently. Now up 46,500 on the 2018 figure. But in the same period, the backlog of people waiting for the home office to make a decision on their claim has risen by 137,000. Three times the number. The backlog was rising before the increase in applications. And is still at near record levels. Every Asylum Seeker stuck in the system needs somewhere to live, and that frankly has proved a nightmare. The home office had to requisition rooms in hotels. Currently there are around 50,500 Asylum Seekers in hotel rooms. And that is up 3000 in three months at a cost of around £6 million every day. And ministers agree that is unacceptable. So where to put all these people instead . The government increased payments to local authorities, who accommodate Asylum Seekers, but Many Councils are still reluctant to take them. Ministers looked at former military and prison sites. Mdp wethersfield in essex, raf scampton in lincolnshire, northeye, a former prison in sussex. And even catterick in the prime ministers constituency in north yorkshire. All talked about. But local opposition and legal challenges mean that, as i speak, only wethersfield has seen any Asylum Seekers arrive, and only 46 of them. Which leads us to the bibby stockholm, moored in a private port with capacity for 500 people. The home office wants to move out of hotels. But remember, there are 50,000 Asylum Seekers in hotels so we would need 100 barges to empty all those rooms. The government is pinning its hopes on stopping the flow of Asylum Seekers, criminalising those who come here by irregular routes, detaining them and removing them, possibly to rwanda. But the Rwanda Policy also stuck in the courts and ministers are getting increasingly concerned the problem will get worse before it gets any better. The uk is not the only country that has to deal with a border in the sea. For decades australia has had a similar type of policy on Asylum Seekers, focused on stopping the boats by placing migrants in offshore detention centres. Alexander downer, former Australian Foreign minister and High Commissioner to the uk was one of those who developed australias policy. He also was a consultant that helped form the uk governments Rwanda Policy. This is what he said on why he believes the uk must be tough. If you understand what is going on, if one understands what is going on, one understands how this will work. Because basically young man are paying organised Crime Groups Thousands of euros to undertake a very dangerous journey across the channel. And they throw their documents into the sea so they cant be checked when they arrive very easily. And they think that is a way into the uk. If they spend thousands of euros and they know they are going to end up in rwanda or Ascension Island or wherever it is, not in the uk, they will stay in france. Unless they particularly want to go to rwanda. That is our experience from australia. That is our experience. Doctor sheldon is head of immigration and public life. Irit katz, assistant professor of architecture and urban studies, University Of Cambridge one. Great to see you. Legally, where does the government stand on Housing Migrants on barges . Well, what we know already on day one that out of the 50 the home office are expecting to put on this prison ship, only 15 were successfully relocated and about 20 have successfully challenged. The issue here is that when an individual is vulnerable because theyve got a past history of torture or other Bone Abilities such as disability, that is not suitable accommodation. So what the government has done is in effect spent Taxpayer Money on setting up litigation in the courts. Just spent Taxpayer Money on setting up litigation in the courts. Litigation in the courts. Just to followup on litigation in the courts. Just to followup on that, litigation in the courts. Just to followup on that, the litigation in the courts. Just to followup on that, the government follow up on that, the government says its saving a good deal of money with this policy. Says its saving a good deal of money with this policy. Now, but the government needs money with this policy. Now, but the government needs to money with this policy. Now, but the government needs to do, money with this policy. Now, but the government needs to do, so money with this policy. Now, but the | government needs to do, so currently there are over outstanding Asylum Applications needing to be determined. 0ut applications needing to be determined. Out of the legacy applications from approximately 92,000 come originally, now 62,000 medicament will have to make 2800 decisions a week to be able to reach its target to clear the legacy by the end of this year. That is not going to happen when the government is trying to float taxpayers money in relation to these prison ships. What needs to happen is they needs to be a concentration on making asylum decisions, so those who need protection get Refugee Status and going to the community and out of the hotel. , u, going to the community and out of the hotel. ,. ,. , the hotel. You call them prison shi s, the hotel. You call them prison ships. And the hotel. You call them prison ships. And i the hotel. You call them prison ships, and i want the hotel. You call them prison ships, and i want to the hotel. You call them prison ships, and i want to bring the hotel. You call them prison ships, and i want to bring in i the hotel. You call them prison| ships, and i want to bring in our other guests. We have been talking about hostile architecture, so first of all, for our viewers, what is hostile architecture . So hostile architecture hostile architecture . So hostile architecture could hostile architecture . So hostile architecture could be hostile architecture . So hostile architecture could be describedj hostile architecture . So hostile i architecture could be described as unfriendly architecture could be described as unfriendly inhospitable alienating and very unfriendly inhospitable alienating and very much intimidating architecture, which is not on the scene architecture, which is not on the scene but architecture, which is not on the scene but also experienced as uninviting, threatening and even cruel uninviting, threatening and even cruel such uninviting, threatening and even cruel. Such architecture could generate cruel. Such architecture could generate very difficult feelings. People generate very difficult feelings. People would probably prefer not to approach people would probably prefer not to approach such as space, a building or vessel, approach such as space, a building or vessel, and fish were not to live in it or vessel, and fish were not to live in it it or vessel, and fish were not to live in it it would or vessel, and fish were not to live in it. It would be experienced as a threat in it. It would be experienced as a threat to in it. It would be experienced as a threat to them into their well being. So threat to them into their wellbeing. Threat to them into their wellbeina. ,~ , threat to them into their wellbein. ,. ,~ , wellbeing. So what makes this barge come in your wellbeing. So what makes this barge come in your perspective, wellbeing. So what makes this barge come in your perspective, hostile . I come in your perspective, hostile . The architecture of the bridge could be considered hostile by any person, but especially by Asylum Seekers who are sent but especially by Asylum Seekers who are sent to but especially by Asylum Seekers who are sent to live there. The space is light are sent to live there. The space is light with are sent to live there. The space is tight with three stories densely organised around two very small courtyards. The barge also originally was designed to accommodate around 200 people and most rooms were supposed to house on the one most rooms were supposed to house on the one person. Now the number of people the one person. Now the number of people has the one person. Now the number of people has more than doubled, 500, and there people has more than doubled, 500, and there will be two or more people sleeping and there will be two or more people sleeping in and there will be two or more people sleeping in one room on bunk beds. The space sleeping in one room on bunk beds. The space will be very small, very tight. The space will be very small, very tight. So the space will be very small, very tight, so the barge will create an overcrowded and claustrophobic space where overcrowded and claustrophobic space where people will lack the basic privacy where people will lack the basic privacy and just enough living space privacy and just enough living space i privacy and just enough living space. I have to say that when we think space. I have to say that when we think about space. I have to say that when we think about the few narrow Fire Exit Stair on the think about the few narrow Fire Exit Stair on the barge, people in such density, stair on the barge, people in such density, it stair on the barge, people in such density, it was mentioned earlier, it will density, it was mentioned earlier, it will he density, it was mentioned earlier, it will be much more exposed to fire and nrany it will be much more exposed to fire and many have already warned, including and many have already warned, including firefighters, about the fact that including firefighters, about the fact that this could create a potential grenfell on water. I think that question has been raised today. Iwent that question has been raised today. I went to that question has been raised today. I went to. , r that question has been raised today. Iwent to. ,. ,. , i went to asking about with the Home Office Minister i went to asking about with the Home Office Minister said i went to asking about with the Home Office Minister said today i went to asking about with the Home Office Minister said today about i went to asking about with the Home Office Minister said today about the l 0ffice minister said today about the small boat arrivals having overwhelmed at the uk and that this is one part of the strategy to deal with that. What do you make of that . Is it indeed overwhelmed . I with that. What do you make of that . Is it indeed overwhelmed . Is it indeed overwhelmed . I think the political is it indeed overwhelmed . I think the political rhetoric is it indeed overwhelmed . I think the political rhetoric isnt the political rhetoric isnt being. Because there is an election and there is a conservative government looking at a woke agenda to win votes. A small boat arrival is what we are having commit illegal Migration Act which came into force on the a couple of weeks ago, it is not just about the small boats. On the a couple of weeks ago, it is notjust about the small boats. It is to ensure that the uk becomes a hostile environment that we dont comply with our International Treaty obligations to ensure that those who come to the uk to claim asylum have their asylum claims determined. Whilst we were a weekend in the International Community in relation to protecting International Human rights, we are now coming into the status, they predicted that the illegal imMigration Act will prove contravention of international law. Asylum, contrary to what the Immigration Minister said earlier is it is not a privilege commits a fundamental human right, its enshrined in article 1a of the i948 enshrined in article 1a of the 1948 universal declaration of human rights. So we need to actually concentrate on the actual facts. And about 70 to 80 of those who come to the uk to a claim asylum are genuine refugees or afforded protection. I just want tojump refugees or afforded protection. I just want to jump in and ask about the perspective here in the uk, because you just shared some of the perspectives internationally. We did hear from a Portland Perspectives internationally. We did Hearfrom A Portland resident and theyre partly paid a little earlier saying, listen, this is not about racism, this is about making sure that we have enough resources for ourselves. The country is struggling, the economy is struggling. What is your answer to that . ,. , that . The government needs to concentrate that . The government needs to concentrate on that . The government needs to concentrate on the that . The government needs to concentrate on the economy that . The government needs to | concentrate on the economy and making sure that we deal the shortages caused by brexit and the covid experience to ensure that weve concentrate on improving peoples level. Migrants, for example, the government has also announced today the employers going up announced today the employers going up to some, sorry, £60,000 in accommodation going up to £45,000 in relation to fines and those are legally working. We know that because there are delays in the Asylum System in the uk, that those who have not had a decision for over 12 months are entitled to work. But they are not getting permission to work. The system is broken. Yes, i completely empathise with the individual who said, look, we need to concentrate on addressing the failings within our economy, but they are not caused by migrants, and they are not caused by migrants, and they are not caused by migrants, and they are definitely not caused by refugees. Si they are definitely not caused by refu~ees. ,. ,. ,. , refugees. Si you nodding there and i want to let you refugees. Si you nodding there and i want to let you respond refugees. Si you nodding there and i want to let you respond as refugees. Si you nodding there and i want to let you respond as well. Refugees. Si you nodding there and i want to let you respond as well. I i want to let you respond as well. I have to add that as part of not allowing have to add that as part of not allowing them to work, the whole horage allowing them to work, the whole borage system, because of this might be considered, is really to detach Asylum Seekers from the communities. The communities themselves object, the barge the communities themselves object, the barge is disconnected from portland the barge is disconnected from portland through the industrial and very secured area of the port. It makes very secured area of the port. It makes it very secured area of the port. It makes it hostile and intimidating, because makes it hostile and intimidating, because it makes it hostile and intimidating, because it is so isolated and isolating because it is so isolated and isolating. I think it really there should isolating. I think it really there should he isolating. I think it really there should be a very different political approach should be a very different political approach and Community Approach to hosting approach and Community Approach to hosting these people, especially the idea of hosting these people, especially the idea of being back people who really experienced the horrors of the sea and putting them back at sea away from communities could be a really traumatising experience. 30 from communities could be a really traumatising experience. Traumatising experience. So what would your traumatising experience. So what would your approach traumatising experience. So what would your approach be traumatising experience. So what would your approach be that i traumatising experience. So what. Would your approach be that would traumatising experience. So what i would your approach be that would be humane and address some of the issues that people have raised . I think that the approach as a whole should think that the approach as a whole should he think that the approach as a whole should be very different. We can see a very should be very different. We can see a very different approach to people coming a very different approach to people coming from the ukraine, for example with refugee visas, may be avoiding people with refugee visas, may be avoiding people all with refugee visas, may be avoiding people all going on sea and processing them elsewhere. And earlier processing them elsewhere. And earlier so processing them elsewhere. And earlier so they dont feel, they wont earlier so they dont feel, they wont have to come in small boats at all. Wont have to come in small boats at all there wont have to come in small boats at all there are wont have to come in small boats at all. There are vacant houses in the uk that all. There are vacant houses in the uk that could be taken care of and housed within the community, especially in these kind of troubling times where there is a time troubling times where there is a time of troubling times where there is a time of uncertainty when they are waiting time of uncertainty when they are waiting for time of uncertainty when they are waiting for the results of their Asylum Waiting for the results of their asylum application. Waiting for the results of their asylum application. Very interesting perspective asylum application. Very interesting perspective. Great asylum application. Very interesting perspective. Great to asylum application. Very interesting perspective. Great to talk asylum application. Very interesting perspective. Great to talk to asylum application. Very interesting perspective. Great to talk to both. L thank you forjoining us. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. New figures from the mortgage lender, halifax, says uk house prices have dropped for the fourth month in a row. They were down nought point three per cent between june and july. The cost of a typical home is now just over 285,000 pounds. A law charity has called for any deductions for living costs taken from compensation paid to wrongly convicted people to be returned retrospectively. Appeal, which last month helped quash the rape conviction of andrew malkinson, said all people whove been forced to pay should get the money back. The nhs system for seriously ill people requiring care at home is struggling to provide sufficient support. Thats according to families of people with complex medical needs and it comes despite a significant increase in spending on so called continuing healthcare. The government says its putting billions of pounds into extra funding. Youre live with bbc news. Lets turn to the crisis in west africa over the Military Coup in niger. The Military Leaders there have closed the countrys airspace and put their Border Forces on high alert, saying they are ready to defend themselves against any foreign aggression. The announcement came a day after the generals defied an ultimatum to reinstate the elected president or face armed intervention from other west african states. In response, the west African Regional bloc ecowas said it will hold an emergency summit in nigerias capital on thursday. Meanwhile, the military governments of mali and burkina faso are sending a delegation to niger to express solidarity with the junta. Nigers military says the threat of outside intervention in ongoing. Translation the planning of this war has been carried out. Free deployment of forces to take part in this war has begun in two Central African countries. Nigers armed forces and all our defence and security forces, backed by the unfailing support our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory and the honour of our homeland. 0ur correspondent chris ewokor is monitoring developments from neighbouring nigeria. He sent this update a little earlier. The militaryJunta Leaders in the army said they are not taking chances. They have alleged of some form of Military Deployment in preparation to invade a country in two Central African areas, but it didnt mention the name. So because of that, flights are diverted, and of course those who are flying even from within niger, that is a kind of disruption. But beyond that, aside from the closure of the airspace, we also have a situation where borders are closed. Although the Junta Leaders have opened their borders to other, some neighbouring african countries, nigerias border with niger and that of Republic Of Benin remain closed, and majority of their imports come from both nigeria and of course benin republic. This is also hurting businesses and has sparked increase in prices of foodstuffs. Nigeria has also cut electricity, which is also affecting the nigerien households tremendously. Lets talk to cameron hudson, a specialist in African Security issues at the center for strategic and international studies. Thank you so much forjoining us. Weve seen burkina faso and mali expressing they will send a delegate, what kind of support do you think they will offer . fiut. Delegate, what kind of support do you think they will offer . Out, they have clearly you think they will offer . Out, they have clearly already you think they will offer . Out, they have clearly already sad you think they will offer . Out, they have clearly already sad that i you think they will offer . Out, they have clearly already sad that they l have clearly already sad that they intend to come to the mutual defence of niger decide. In office. So they have essentially said in the statements that theyve released that they see the Security Threats from the region and the meeting in years past from the western invasion of libya and spilling over ever since. So they see themselves very much as defending against outside influence in their country both now from the west and also from the ecowas countries. So its really dividing the region along military and democratic lines in a way that we havent seen before. Youve said that the ecowas threat of force has actually galvanized the region against any intervention. Why . Imean i mean that in the early days and hours after the coup attempts when the nigerian president essentially drew a Line In The Sand saying that he would not allow another military takeover to stand in the country. That really galvanised the countries to come to the aid of niger and basically draw their own Line In The Sand to say that they would not allow outside interference inside a fellow country that was experiencing the kind of Security Threats and democratic threats that niger has been facing. 0bviously Democratic threats that niger has been facing. Obviously it is ironic that they would choose to defend a militaryjunta at this time, but Thatis Militaryjunta at this time, but that is certainly the case now. What that is certainly the case now. What are the next that is certainly the case now. What are the next steps that is certainly the case now. What are the next steps for that is certainly the case now. What are the next steps for ecowas to keep up the pressure on coup leaders but without escalating the situation further. ,. , but without escalating the situation further. ,. ,. , but without escalating the situation further. , further. Ecowas has facesaving to do because further. Ecowas has facesaving to do because they further. Ecowas has facesaving to do because they have further. Ecowas has facesaving to do because they have drawn i further. Ecowas has facesaving to do because they have drawn this. Further. Ecowas has facesaving to l do because they have drawn this Line In The Sand and created an ultimatum, but now they havent been able to follow through on that ultimatum. The ultimatum expired last night. The junta ultimatum. The ultimatum expired last night. Thejunta in niger clearly has not backed down itself. Its actually double down on a military solution. So ecowas will have to look for other ways to continue to put pressure while at the same time making acknowledging the same time making acknowledging the obvious which is it simply doesnt have the resources to stage a military intervention, and even if it did, even if the Nigerian Parliament had not denied use of its forces for this intervention, even if it could rally forces, i think it would be disastrous for the region knowing what they anticipate if they were to go into niger. What knowing what they anticipate if they were to go into niger. Were to go into niger. What about the state of were to go into niger. What about the state of the were to go into niger. What about the state of the country were to go into niger. What about the state of the country right i were to go into niger. What about the state of the country right now| the state of the country right now chris can they withstand them . I think it deends can they withstand them . I think it depends on can they withstand them . I think it depends on how can they withstand them . I think it depends on how long can they withstand them . I think it depends on how long we can they withstand them . I think it depends on how long we are i can they withstand them . I think it i depends on how long we are talking. Clearly as your report pointed out, there is already an immediate economic effect. We have seen electricity shut off in the country, the rising prices in the country, so thatis the rising prices in the country, so that is going to put off a lot of people. It is hard to say exactly how popular this coup is right now. Yes, there has been some public protest rallies in favour of the Junta Leaders, we dont know how much that has been manipulated by the state media or any other social media in the country. I think we will see in a few days to come as the pain of not being able to trade, not being able to have commercial flights coming in and out in the Cut Off Of Development and humanitarian assistance or ratherjust assistance or rather Just Development assistance or ratherJust Development assistance to the country. You are going to see a Squeeze Start to happen and people are going to start asking some hard questions of what the junta is able to deliver if they are not able to bring in the things that have been sustaining the population thus far. About 30 seconds left, are there any scenario where you see the coup leaders restoring him to power . That feels awfully leaders restoring him to power . Tisgt feels awfully likely right now, to be honest with you. They have the upper hand in his. It doesnt look like theres going to be any kind of external military Intervention Committee think that thing we must all of later now is an outbreak of violence, and their threat of violence, and their threat of violence is far more real than ecowass threat of intervention, so i think they will have to look for ways right now in the region to walk this back and look for ways to get them out of the country. Titer . Them out of the country. Very interesting them out of the country. Very interesting to them out of the country. Very interesting to get them out of the country. Very interesting to get your them out of the country. Very interesting to get your perspective. Thank you. Hello there. Temperatures are set to rise over the next few days. Theres a drier and warmer spell of weather on the way, although it may not last all that long, as ill show you injust a moment. This is whats going on right now. Weve got quite a potent area of low Pressure Swirling across northern europe. That is bringing some very heavy rain and some gales, but that is going to get close enough to shetlands to strengthen the winds here. The winds starting to pick up here actually as we go through the night. Elsewhere, the winds will be lighter. Well see some clear spells, the odd shower and this zone of Cloud Rolling in from the west affecting parts of wales and south west england. Some bits and pieces of rain, some mist and murk by morning, turning a little more muggy and humid here as well. But where we keep the clear skies, actually another fairly chilly night. So, for tomorrow, our deep low continues to swirl in northern europe. The isobars squeezing together, you can see there, across shetland, so it is going to turn increasingly windy. Further south, a significantly weaker weather system, but feeding a lot of Cloud Eastwards across wales, into the midlands, eventually east anglia, certainly southern counties of england. Quite murky around some of the coasts, some spots of drizzle. But much of northern england, Northern Ireland and scotland seeing sunny spells. Some showers into North East Scotland and wind gusts of 50 mph or more in shetland, where temperatures will only get to 12 degrees. Elsewhere 17 20, so still a touch below par for the time of year. Now into wednesday, i think well see quite a lot of cloud, a bit of mist and murk for coasts and hills and some spots of drizzle tending to feed north eastwards. But some spells of sunshine, too. Eastern and northern parts seeing the best of that. Turning a little bit warmer for most of us. In fact, maybe up to 24 25 degrees in the south. But thursday is set to be the warmest day of all. The southerly winds bringing temperatures wildly up into the 20s. Many spots likely to get into the middle 20s celsius, but it will stay quite chilly in the north east of scotland. Where we do have the warmth and indeed some humidity, well, it wont last all that long because by friday, we see this cold front pushing its way eastwards. Outbreaks of rain with that, and behind it, we change the wind direction, the winds coming back in off the atlantic. So it will start to feel cooler again as we head into the weekend, and there will be some showers or longer spells of rain. Hello, im sumi somaskanda. Youre watching the context on bbc news. Us President Biden heads to arizona as the state suffers a withering heatwave that continues to break records. Hell be championing his climate agenda along the way. Well have more on that in a few minutes but first, its time for sport. And for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, heres tulson tullet. England are through to the last eight of the womens football world cup after a dramatic Penalty Shoot Out Win over nigeria in brisbane. The european champions were under pressure throughout and saw laurenjames sent off late on, after a stamp on Michelle Alozie was spotted by var. Georgia stanway missed englands first penalty, but after two nigeria misses, chloe kelly was given the chance