so let s get down to business. and we begin with president biden s trip to the middle east. when he arrives in israel today he will be the first us president to visit the middle east since 9/11 without american troops engaged in a combat mission there. the white house has said the visit s aims include expanding regional economic and security cooperation . israel s finance minister says its hoped the visit will lead to a common middle east market that includes saudi arabia. with businesses on all sides poised to make the most of the opportunities. well, let s go live tojerusalem and discuss this withjon medved chief executive and founder of our crowd a global equity funding platform for investors. orwarm or warm welcome to the programme. what are your hopes for this visit? i programme. what are your hopes for this visit? for this visit? i think it is incredible for this visit? i think it is incredible that for this visit? i think it is incredible that the - for this
this is bbc news the latest headlines. after months of mass protests against his rule, the president of sri lanka flee5 the country. the first round of voting takes place later in the race to be britain s next prime minister. later today we ll find out how the uk economy fared in may. you may remember in april it unexpectedly shrunk by 0.3%, adding to concerns of an economic slowdown. though disappointing, that fall was driven by a reduction in the covid te5t and trace and vaccination programmes without that impact the economy would have expanded by 0.1%, according to the office for national statistics. janet mui i5 investment
travellers to the uk will no longer have to take covid test5 after arrival if they ve been fully vaccinated. the government says the changes will take effect from february 11, in time for school half term holidays. travel firms have welcomed the announcement, but public health experts say testing remains important. 0ur transport correspondent katy austin reports. even a day of less than glorious weather could not dampen the mood of tourism busine55e5 weather could not dampen the mood of tourism businesses in this corner of southern spain today. they hope that a further easing of travel restrictions will mean more british holiday makers coming for half term. it is going to make such a difference to so many people, the travellers, people with businesses over here, and obviously in other countries as well. it is going to be a major boost. countries as well. it is going to be a major boost- a ma or boost. from february 11, full a major boost. from february 11, fully vaccinated a major b