Neil carberry is the Chief Executive of the recruitment and employment confederation. We have definitely seen a cooling in Labour Market demand for newjobs over the last year, year and a half. And lots of change going on inside companies as they adapt to a slower economy. So, definitely signs of a cooling, that of course is what the bank is looking for to justify dropping Interest Rates in the next few months. But i think what is important to say is that there is nothing precipitous here, unemployment overall is still low, demand is still relatively high next to historic standards. So this is a gentle cooling, more of a soft landing rather than anything more challenging. And there is some hope in the business surveys for a turnaround later in the year. The rec speaks for 3,000 Recruitment Agencies all over the country and what we are getting is not employers shutting up shop and not hiring, but those Decision Making timescales take a bit longer, maybe we will recruit that rule next month or the month after, maybe we will take a few fewer temps next month, just as we wait out this period of economic uncertainty. I think theres a real sense amongst Recruitment Agencies that their clients are ready to go but they are just waiting for more of a following wind. We will keep a close eye on that, i do give it as an indication of how the economy is faring. Danish Toy Company Lego increased sales of its colourful plastic bricks last year despite a decline in china and grabbed market share in what it called the most downbeat toy market in 15 years. In a global toy market that declined 7 , lego says its sales grew 4 last year, driven by strong growth in the United States and central and eastern europe. Niels christiansen is the Chief Executive of lego. It is good to have you. That is the question, what is the secret . Your sales were up by 4 as the overall market shrank by 7 . You are doing something right. We market shrank by 7 . You are doing something right. Something right. We are satisfied, and that comes something right. We are satisfied, and that comes from something right. We are satisfied, and that comes from taking something right. We are satisfied, | and that comes from taking market share. And that comes from taking market share. And and that comes from taking market share, and we have taken it broadly in all share, and we have taken it broadly in all different markets. We have a strong in all different markets. We have a strong brand stands, we had a well resonating strong brand stands, we had a well resonating portfolio. We increase it to 780 resonating portfolio. We increase it to 780 products in which 50 when you and to 780 products in which 50 when you and that has done well. We have invested you and that has done well. We have invested behind digitisation and opened invested behind digitisation and opened new stores. | invested behind digitisation and opened new stores. I am satisfied. Talk to me opened new stores. I am satisfied. Talk to me about opened new stores. I am satisfied. Talk to me about opening opened new stores. I am satisfied. Talk to me about opening new opened new stores. I am satisfied. I talk to me about opening new stores, because you have more than 500 in china, half of your new openings were in china. You open 147 new ones last year. Why do you need your own stores . We last year. Why do you need your own stores . ~. , last year. Why do you need your own stores . ~. ,. , stores . We are primarily something throu~h stores . We are primarily something through other stores . We are primarily something through other people, stores . We are primarily something through other people, that stores . We are primarily something through other people, that is stores . We are primarily something through other people, that is the i through other people, that is the main through other people, that is the main way through other people, that is the main way of business. We need our own stores main way of business. We need our own stores to build the brand. If we take china own stores to build the brand. If we take china as an example, there are cities take china as an example, there are cities where take china as an example, there are cities where two marine people didnt cities where two marine people didnt play with lego bricks as chitdren didnt play with lego bricks as children didnt play with lego bricks as children 2 million people. We need children 2 million people. We need to children 2 million people. We need to build the brand from scratch and putting a branded lego store in the city and putting a branded lego store in the city while we work with partners and market the city while we work with partners and market the brand is working. It is for and market the brand is working. It is for us and market the brand is working. It is for us to and market the brand is working. It is for us to be on brand, less than for the is for us to be on brand, less than for the transactions. We have many partners for the transactions. We have many partners for for the transactions. We have many partners for that, but it is important to feel what is in the lego important to feel what is in the lego brand universe. You important to feel what is in the lego brand universe. Important to feel what is in the lego brand universe. You talk there about people lego brand universe. You talk there about people who lego brand universe. You talk there about people who didnt lego brand universe. You talk there about people who didnt grow lego brand universe. You talk there about people who didnt grow up. About people who didnt grow up playing with lego. Your Customer Base has changed. Who is your typical customer . Mr; base has changed. Who is your typical customer . Base has changed. Who is your typical customer . My Core Customer is the kids. Typical customer . My Core Customer is the kids, around typical customer . My Core Customer is the kids, around the typical customer . My Core Customer is the kids, Around The World, is the kids, Around The World, excited is the kids, Around The World, excited about it. It is broad, we have excited about it. It is broad, we have fans excited about it. It is broad, we have fans of all ages today. It is critical have fans of all ages today. It is critical to have fans of all ages today. It is critical to get it to as many kids as possible because we fundamentally heiieve as possible because we fundamentally believe that playing will give you access believe that playing will give you access to believe that playing will give you access to acquiring the skills you need access to acquiring the skills you need through your education and into aduu need through your education and into adult life need through your education and into adult life. Kids are at the centre, but we adult life. Kids are at the centre, but we witt adult life. Kids are at the centre, but we will serve any fan who likes the lego but we will serve any fan who likes the lego universe, and that gets broader the lego universe, and that gets broader. We the lego universe, and that gets broader. ~ ,. ,. , the lego universe, and that gets broader. ,. ,. ,. , broader. We know many economies around the broader. We know many economies Around The World broader. We know many economies Around The World are broader. We know many economies Around The World are facing Around The World are facing recession. People have less money, and that is a problem because your stop isnt cheap. Some of your sets are £400. Some of it is really expensive behind you. It is expensive behind you. It is expensive. Expensive behind you. It is expensive, but expensive behind you. It is expensive, but it expensive behind you. It is expensive, but it is expensive behind you. It is expensive, but it is great value. There expensive, but it is great value. There is expensive, but it is great value. There is something for everybody, we have 780 there is something for everybody, we have 780 products at different price points have 780 products at different price points for have 780 products at different price points for different passions. That is one points for different passions. That is one of points for different passions. That is one of the strengths, that we can serve is one of the strengths, that we can serve whatever you like, whatever your passion is and what your building your passion is and what your building skill is, there is something which can inspire and challenge something which can inspire and challenge you. It works really well. The Market Challenge you. It works really well. The market has changed a lot. I am looking at your rivals, because there is barbie, hasbro. It is all about digital tie ups, movies, there is barbie, hasbro. It is all about digitaltie ups, movies, and immersive product. Can you play that game as well . I know there is a lego movie, but how do incorporate movies and Computer Games into a plastic Brick Company . I and Computer Games into a plastic Brick Company . And Computer Games into a plastic Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a lastic Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a plastic brick Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a plastic Brick Company, Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a plastic Brick Company, but Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a plastic Brick Company, but you Brick Company . I wouldnt call me a plastic Brick Company, but you are l plastic Brick Company, but you are right plastic Brick Company, but you are right in plastic Brick Company, but you are right in saying. We are competing for childrens time, be present and relevant for childrens time, be present and relevant with cool experiences. 0ne relevant with cool experiences. One of the relevant with cool experiences. One of the big relevant with cool experiences. One of the Big Things Last Year was in decentber of the Big Things Last Year was in december we launched lego fortnight where december we launched lego fortnight where we december we launched lego fortnight where we had this digital play experience. That allows kids to get into the experience. That allows kids to get into the lego universe, and when they are into the lego universe, and when they are playing digitally. We can provide they are playing digitally. We can provide them with good experiences that ties provide them with good experiences that ties back into the physical world, that ties back into the physical world, and also excites them about what they world, and also excites them about what they can do what they arent piaving what they can do what they arent playing digitally. Kids can do that seamlessly. We are well positioned to be seamlessly. We are well positioned to be the seamlessly. We are well positioned to be the one that bridges the gap and allows also for the Physical Ptav and allows also for the physical piav we and allows also for the physical play we know is so important for the of Children Play we know is so important for the of children. , play we know is so important for the of children of children. Your stuff last quite a lona of children. Your stuff last quite a long time. Of children. Your stuff last quite a longtime. And of children. Your stuff last quite a long time, and youve of children. Your stuff last quite a long time, and youve looked of children. Your stuff last quite a long time, and youve looked at l of children. Your stuff last quite a i long time, and youve looked at how you make your bricks more sustainable, and you have found it is difficult to do it. What are your plans and how will you make your products more sustainable . You are riuht. Products more sustainable . You are right when products more sustainable . You are right when we products more sustainable . You are right. When we research, products more sustainable . You are right. When we research, it products more sustainable . You are right. When we research, it turns i right. When we research, it turns out 96 right. When we research, it turns out 96 of right. When we research, it turns out 96 of all the bricks in circulation are not really being dumped circulation are not really being dumped four ways, they are being given dumped four ways, they are being given onto dumped four ways, they are being given onto the next generation. It is down given onto the next generation. It is down to given onto the next generation. It is down to 4 with the risk of being trashed is down to 4 with the risk of being trashed or is down to 4 with the risk of being trashed or actually becoming waste. What is trashed or actually becoming waste. What is important is that the brick in the what is important is that the brick in the first what is important is that the brick in the first place is made out of sustainable materials. Last year we made sustainable materials. Last year we made good sustainable materials. Last year we made Good Progress in that 18 of the material we have used last year was Certified Mass Balance material, materiai was Certified Mass Balance material, material where part of the components or actually renewable or recvctabie components or actually renewable or recyclable. 0ther components or actually renewable or recyclable. Other parts of then sophos recyclable. Other parts of then sophos oil based. Its a move in the film sophos oil based. Its a move in the right direction and means a lego brick right direction and means a Lego Brick In right direction and means a Lego Brick In 2023 had 12 of renewable or Recvcied Brick in 2023 had 12 of renewable or Recycled Content in it. That is a percentage or Recycled Content in it. That is a percentage were looking to increase with a percentage were looking to increase with a big percentage were looking to increase with a big jump in 2024. That will bring with a big jump in 2024. That will bring on with a big jump in 2024. That will bring on thisjourney with a big jump in 2024. That will bring on this journey into 2032, our ambition bring on this journey into 2032, our ambition we bring on this journey into 2032, our ambition we will make bricks out of 100 ambition we will make bricks out of 100 renewable materials. It is 10096 renewable materials. It is true, ou 10096 renewable materials. It is true. You end 10096 renewable materials. It is true. You end pp 100 renewable materials. It 3 true, you end up playing with it later in life. My parents have sent me all the lego from the loft. Good to have you with us, the Chief Executive of lego. The value of the crypto currency, bitcoin, has risen to a fresh all time high. The new price is above 72,000. Earlier this year, us regulators made it easierfor investors to trade the currency. Thats helped fuel the record breaking run. And now the uks financial watchdog says it will loosen some of the rules. Heres the bbc� s cyber correspondentjoe tidy. For the last two years, lines charting the value of bitcoin have mostly been in one direction. But in the last few weeks its all changed. Almost hourly now, this Virtual Currency is hitting new all time highs. The reason . Well, its mostly down to this place. Injanuary, traders from Us Investment giants were given the green light by us watchdogs to start selling products linked directly to bitcoin. As a result, theyve spent billions buying up coins. Further stoking the fire, uk financial Authorities Say they too are open to allowing some trading based on crypto assets. Some are now wondering just how far this Virtual Currency can go. Some people think that the potential of bitcoin is to replace all other currencies and there are shops and restaurants like this one in london that accept bitcoin. Ijust bought this £7 burger, for example, which was 0. 00009 bitcoin. But the way prices are going now, who knows what itll be worth tomorrow . I dont think were going to see bitcoin becoming a genuine currency, what i think were seeing it become is a recognised and potentially widely used investment asset. People buying it to save for the longer term and to benefit from the price rises. Bitcoin was created by an anonymous Internet User in 2009 to make sending money as easy as sending an email, all without needing any financial institutions. Bitcoin transactions are processed by a huge network of volunteers who use computers to check transactions. As a reward, theyre automatically given new coins. Right now, the demand for those coins seems to be higher than ever, and many bitcoin fans are celebrating their new found riches. 0thers, though, are wondering with caution which way the notoriously unpredictable line will go next. Joe tidy, bbc news. Us President Joe Biden has proposed a 7. 3 trillion dollar budget. He wants new social programmes and higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. The plan offers a stark contrast with Donald TrumpsEconomic Vision ahead of novembers us president ial election. Heres more from the bbc� s north America Business correspondent Michelle Fleury in new york. President biden outlined his Election Year budget pitch. It includes tax breaks for families, Lower Health Care costs and higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, as well as trying to get more money to help ukraine defend itself against russia and for aid for israel. Now, if the biden budget became law, it would save 3 trillion through higher taxes over ten years, but it would also push us debt over 100 of gdp. By contrast, Donald TrumpsEconomic Vision is for more tariffs to pump more oil and to cut taxes. President biden has made kitchen sink issues a central part of his re election message, trying to win over americans unhappy with the post pandemic economy. Although this Budget Proposal has little chance of being approved by congress, it is a blueprint of what the future could hold if the democrats win in november. There is more on all those stories online. We will see you for another addition very soon. Goodbye. Bbc bringing you different stories. Drinking water bubbling up from underground. It is mid morning on a Street In Redhill and teams have already located the problem. Thanks to Ai Technology which triggered an alarm just after eight oclock. You alarm ust after eight oclock. You can alarm just after eight oclock. You can see the alarm just after eight oclock. You can see the floats alarm just after eight oclock. Gm. Can see the floats going up and down. We have a protection that goes here. The protection is saying, based on the history this is the floats we should get. You can see over here it has started to jump, it has changed. As a result, the system has changed. As a result, the system has noticed it, later the control room and generated an alarm. The way the s stem room and generated an alarm. The way the system learns room and generated an alarm. The way the system learns it room and generated an alarm. The way the system learns it is room and generated an alarm. The way the system learns it is by room and generated an alarm. The way the system learns it is by having the system learns it is by having gadgets in the ground. We the system learns it is by having gadgets in the ground. The system learns it is by having gadgets in the ground. We have 1000 senses like theyre gadgets in the ground. We have 1000 senses like theyre scattered gadgets in the ground. We have 1000 senses like theyre scattered across l senses like theyre scattered across the entire area, and they are bringing back data every 15 minutes, and it allows us to find bursts quickly and get onto them before our customers are even aware something has happened. Thea;r customers are even aware something has happened customers are even aware something has happened. They know already this leak is in a joint has happened. They know already this leak is in a joint on has happened. They know already this leak is in a joint on a has happened. They know already this leak is in a joint on a nine leak is in a joint on a Nine Centimetre Plastic Pipe laid in 2007. According to the regulator, about one fifth of all the freshwater running through our pipes in england and wales is not to leakage. There will be much interest in the annual leaked figures out later this year. Hello from the bbc sport centre. We start in the Premier League where cole palmer was the standout player in chelseas 3 2 victory over newcastle. His performance had added to calls for the youngster to be taken to the euros with england this summer. Palmer assisted Nicolas Jackson who got the first for chelsea afterjust six minutes. Newcastle equalised, but in The Second Half Palmer then got one of his own, putting chelsea in front. Mudryk looked like he had wrapped the match up for chelsea when he scored in the 76th minute, but manager mauricio potchettinos nerves were tested when newcastle scored a last minute second goal. Chelsea held on for the win though. And pochettino gave credit to palmer, saying hes growing into his role. Here showing his quality. Its good to have him in the squad, in the team because hes doing things may be before was a