good to see you. the question is, what has gone wrong here? this is a similar situation to the midland bank and its situation some 30 years ago. bank and its situation some 30 years a . o. . bank and its situation some 30 years ao, ., ., , ., bank and its situation some 30 years 80. ., ., [iii bank and its situation some 30 years ao. ., [iii , ., , bank and its situation some 30 years ao, ., xii, ., ., ago. yeah, about 30 years ago midland bank— ago. yeah, about 30 years ago midland bank was _ ago. yeah, about 30 years ago midland bank was a _ ago. yeah, about 30 years ago midland bank was a bank- ago. yeah, about 30 years ago midland bank was a bank that l ago. yeah, about 30 years ago i midland bank was a bank that had very little capital, was barely making any money and because it didn't have much in the way of capital or money it was finding it difficult to make any money. i was involved in a project at the time to try to help it to make as good use as a good of the little capital letter got in order to grow itself and get out of the mess it was in, but in the end the solution turned out to be a takeover. it was taken over by hsbc. i out to be a takeover. it was taken over by hsbc-_ out to be a takeover. it was taken over by hsbc. i believe metro bank ist in: to over by hsbc. i believe metro bank is trying to sell— over by hsbc. i believe metro bank is trying to sell a — over by hsbc. i believe metro bank is trying to sell a third _ over by hsbc. i believe metro bank is trying to sell a third of _ over by hsbc. i believe metro bank is trying to sell a third of its - is trying to sell a third of its loan book. i am wondering, who is out there, he would buy up those assets? it out there, he would buy up those assets? , ., ~ ., , assets? it is talking to the big lenders at _ assets? it is talking to the big lenders at the _ assets? it is talking to the big lenders at the moment, - assets? it is talking to the big lenders at the moment, to . assets? it is talking to the big - lenders at the moment, to natwest and barclays. they potentially might take those on. it'll be a question of price. they are selling good quality mortgages, but nonetheless this is a fire sale and the lenders will be looking to acquire the at a good price and that might not work too well for metro bank, but it does look like a desperate last measure to sell a third of its mortgage book. ., ., ., , book. how safe are the retailers, how safe is _ book. how safe are the retailers, how safe is their _ book. how safe are the retailers, how safe is their money? - book. how safe are the retailers, | how safe is their money? anybody book. how safe are the retailers, - how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits — how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits in — how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits in metro _ how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits in metro bank _ how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits in metro bank that - how safe is their money? anybody who has deposits in metro bank that are . has deposits in metro bank that are below the financial services scheme limit of 85,000 don't need to worry at all, their deposits are completely safe. anybody who has deposits over that limit might want to think about whether to move some of their money out. anybody below that limit, there is no need to worry at all. that limit, there is no need to worry at all-— that limit, there is no need to wor atall. . ., ., , ~ worry at all. have a lovely weekend, talk to you — worry at all. have a lovely weekend, talk to you soon. _ the british pub chainjd wetherspoon has seen its operating profit rocket over the past year as it continues to adjust to post—covid trading. like—for—like sales are up nearly i3% on 2022, with food sales especially strong at nearly 18%. it added up to an operating profit of £107 million, or $130 million, over the past year, more than four times its profit for the previous year. jocelyn paulley is a partner at gowling wlg and she's co—head of its retail and leisure sector. good to see you. wetherspoons, for our international audience, this is a pub chain renowned for its cheaper drinks and its food. the cost of living crisis, is that making wetherspoons a bit more attractive than pricier rivals? i wetherspoons a bit more attractive than pricier rivals?— than pricier rivals? i well suspect that could be _ than pricier rivals? i well suspect that could be the _ than pricier rivals? i well suspect that could be the case, _ than pricier rivals? i well suspect that could be the case, yes. - that could be the case, yes. wetherspoons aren't alone in publishing really positive growth reports this year. some of their rightful chain, the likes of greene king or citigroup tab suffered pretty good results. wetherspoons keep innovating, moving with the market. they have diversified a bit well into gift cards and hotels. all of that is helping give them a strong position the markets. wetherspoons has off—loaded some of its pubs to keep in check with its costs and reduce debts. is that a snapshot that highlights the picture of how tough it is to be in the pub industry? of how tough it is to be in the pub indust ? , ., , , industry? yes, absolutely. their ro -e industry? yes, absolutely. their property portfolio _ industry? yes, absolutely. their property portfolio is _ industry? yes, absolutely. their property portfolio is something l property portfolio is something they're property portfolio is something they�* re constantly property portfolio is something they're constantly looking up to assess strategically if they are on the right place, the right markets. consolidating their estates to make sure they don't have too many pubs in a local market competing against each other. it is a really wide strategy from the board to look critically at that estate had to take action where it is not working for them. take action where it is not working forthem. i take action where it is not working for them. ., , take action where it is not working for them. .,, ., ., ~' take action where it is not working for them. .,, ., ., ~ ., ,., take action where it is not working forthem. ., ., for them. i was looking at some of the stats. these _ for them. i was looking at some of the stats. these young _ for them. i was looking at some of the stats. these young ones - the stats. these young ones nowadays, when they go out, a lot of them are drinking alcohol at all. just over a quarter of young adults won't drink alcohol on a night out. some will say that's a good thing, but not a good thing for the industry. i but not a good thing for the indust . ., but not a good thing for the indust . . , h, industry. i agree, it is something the will industry. i agree, it is something they will have — industry. i agree, it is something they will have to _ industry. i agree, it is something they will have to adapt _ industry. i agree, it is something they will have to adapt to - industry. i agree, it is something they will have to adapt to as - industry. i agree, it is something| they will have to adapt to as time moves on. we are seeing that generational shift in those percentages may well grow as other generations coming beneath them and that group moves up and gets older. wetherspoons are well placed to take on that challenge. they do listen to what people need and they want. there are clear in their position in the market. their brand recognition across the uk is as high as you can getjust about. importantly, they eat there as well, so there is no continue why they should not continue why they should not continue to prosper. let's head to the us now and a battle over one of the world's most sought—after resources. lithium is a key component for many electric vehicle batteries and america is trying to scale up domestic production of the metal, but as our tech reporter james clayton reports from nevada, that's pitting miners against environmentalists and native american communities. the us cavalry chased the people into this area right here where the mine is being dug up at the moment, and they were massacred. it is a tragedy. it should be deemed an historical site. that should stop the mining. unfortunately, the corporations didn't hear that. these local tribe members have protested for years, trying to stop a lithium mine that they say is on the site where their ancestors were murdered. in march, they lost, as the diggers moved in. beneath the sagebrush here could be one of the biggest lithium deposits in the world. this is thacker pass, and in march work began on getting it out of the ground. but this mine is different, mainly because many of its supporters claim to be environmentalists and say that the mine could play at least some role in tackling climate change. global leaders across the world have committed to electric vehicles which lithium is essential for. this is tim crowley, a representative of lithium americas, who owns this mine. lithium is essential. it is the key component to getting high energy storage batteries into our market. right now we are completely dependent on fossil fuels for the energy we utilise every day. but there are environmentalists who believe the answer to tackling climate change isn't yet more mines. john heads up a local environmental charity. the mining operation is in fact very damaging to the environment and we have got to be very careful how we permit these things, because this is their ancestral land. it is being taken from them yet again. 0pponents to this mine think that this is just the beginning, that this whole area will become one massive mining district. and when you ask lithium americas, it is pretty clear that is exactly what they want. i know that there are concerns that this whole area, which is stunningly beautiful, might end up becoming a mining district. if the united states is going to be self—sufficient, there has to be more, there has to be more development. the people at this protest are already looking at how they can strategise to protest against other mines planned in the area. basically, this one patch _ in the middle, that's the only place not claimed right now, i and that is really scary. but it looks like mining in the name of saving the planet may only bejust beginning. james clayton, bbc news, nevada. let's stay with the environment because the former boss of global consumer goods giant unilever has criticized british prime minister rishi sunak for rowing back on green commitments. mr sunak has signed off on a major new oil and gas project and pushed back targets on banning petrol cars. paul polman, who is now an advocate for sustainable business, says this will cost the uk more in the long run. i have to say he is wrong, and many people in his own party have called out that he is wrong. many people in the business community, including the car industry, for example, ford just to name one, have clearly called out is wrong. not surprisingly, the opposition says he is wrong. but i also believe that increasingly the population of citizens at large are wrong. so we cannot run the future of humanity based on short—term election cycles, and yes, we've always been very clear and transparent. but it is the task of a politician to explain why that is the right thing to do, but also to explain that actually if we don't make these investments, the cost will be much higher. i would argue that in the uk already now the cost of food has significantly increased and part of the reason for the increase is exactly climate change that we need to get rid of. you can get more on the net zero debate and hear more from paul polman on talking business weekly with aaron heslehurst here on bbc news. in other news, the feud between elon musk and financial regulators is escalating. wall street's watchdog, the securities and exchange commission, is investigating the world's richest man over his $41; billion takeover of twitter, now known as x. on thursday it revealed it's taking legal action against him for failing to provide them with information. another of mr musk�*s big brands, tesla, is cutting its us prices for its model three and model y cars. they have been cut by about 3% or 4% depending on how you slice the figures. it's only a month since the company slashed prices for its premium model s and model x cars. tesla is trying to contend with a slowing ev market and fend off new players in the market. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on x. i'm @bbcaaron. i suppose getting to the end of my pr in london career, i thought, what you to earn my living? i really enjoyed gardening so i went to college. enjoyed gardening so i went to colleue. ., , ., , . ., college. the garden she has created here hasjust _ college. the garden she has created here hasjust been _ college. the garden she has created here hasjust been accredited - college. the garden she has created here hasjust been accredited by - college. the garden she has created here hasjust been accredited by the here has just been accredited by the organisation which sets the global standard for botanic gardens. it is injust ten in standard for botanic gardens. it is in just ten in the standard for botanic gardens. it is injust ten in the uk. it standard for botanic gardens. it is in just ten in the uk.— in just ten in the uk. it gives you the recognition _ in just ten in the uk. it gives you the recognition that _ in just ten in the uk. it gives you the recognition that you - in just ten in the uk. it gives you the recognition that you have - the recognition that you have achieved a level, it is hard to describe, that you are as best as you can be. botanic gardens, whether you can be. botanic gardens, whether you are a national collection older, you are a national collection older, you are a national collection older, you are merely guardians and you here to preserve what nature has provided for future generations. trees are the focus of a series of events at the garden this month. it is really a celebration of trees and what trees give us and how trees inspire us, how they shelter us, how they feed us. am i a crazy tree person? yes! welcome along, i'm adam wild. hyderabad is where we we're going to start and day two of the cricket world cup. after new zealand's crushing defeat of the reigning champions england on the opening day, pakistan and the netherlands are the next two in action. netherlands won the toss at the rajiv gandhi international stadium — they put pakistan into bat and they had some early success with the ball reducing them at one point to 38—3. but, since then pakistan have rallied. both saud shakeel and muhammad rizwan have pased their half centuries. they are currently 170—4 from 30 overs. let's move on to football, because it was a busy night in the europa and europa conference leagues. west ham united have become the first english side to go 17 consecutive games in european competition without defeat. they broke the record against the german side freiburg. lucas paqueta and nayef aguerd scoring the goals in a 2—1 victory to continue their successful start to life in the europa league. two wins from two for them in group a as they look to build on last year's triumph in the conference league. amongst the other winners on thursday night were liverpool in group e. ryan gravenberch scored his first goal for the club since signing from bayern munich as they beat the belgian side union saint—gilloise 2—0 at anfield. diogojota added the second in injury time. back to back wins for them puts them top of their group. ididn't ididn�*t like i didn't like that we lost the