across the region. they re venting their anger over soaring fuel and fertilizer costs, low prices for their produce, and increasingly restrictive eu regulations. demonstrations by farmers are planned in poland, hungary and italy today. italy s government has promised tax breaks to ease hardship for farmers after hundreds began gathering with their tractors this week, on motorways outside rome and turin. this was the scene on thursday. and in cyprus, farmers blocked the entrance to the european union s offices in nicosia, on thursday. there were also demonstrations in bulgaria. and more tractor protests across spain for the third day in a row, with farmers disrupting traffic in barcelona, and in smaller cities all over the country. they say eu rules to protect the environment make them less competitive. they have also had to compete with imports from ukraine after brussels waived duties and quotas after the russian invasion. this and renewed eu talks on a south america trade d
correspondence sent this report. the december note on the us central banks asked meeting showed policymakers are feeling better about inflation. they agreed with investors that interest rates are at or near the peak of the cycle. they also agree it will come down this year. they offered no clues as to how or when that will happen. to remind viewers come at the federal reserve started raising rates in march 2022 to tame inflation. it is so 11 times, taking the benchmark rate to 5.5%. inflation by the time of the last meeting had dropped to 3.2% from a peak of 9.1%. meanwhile, new data out on wednesday showed the number of job openings in the united states fell to 8.79 million in november. this points to weaker demand for labour but is still well above pre covid levels. that is consistent with the fed s goal. to slow the economy without triggering a nasty recession. the feds first ratesetting meeting this year starting january 30. that disappointment is reflected in how us stoc
hi there. thank you for being with us. we begin with a developing story in the united states. the colorado supreme court has disqualified trump from the ballot in the state s presidential election next year. it its ruling the court says it is because of his role in the capitol attack in january 2020 one foot his campaign immediately denounced the ruling is undemocratic and said they would appeal to the us supreme court. let s bring in north america correspond to peter bowes who joins us life. peter bowes who joins us life. peter connelly ruling applies only to the state s republican primary. so what does this decision mean? primary. so what does this decision mean? well, this, as ou decision mean? well, this, as you say. decision mean? well, this, as you say. applies decision mean? well, this, as you say, applies only - decision mean? well, this, as you say, applies only to - decision mean? well, this, as you say, applies only to the l you say, applies only to the republ
russia is preparing for a major ukrainian offensive, with vast defenses set up in key areas in the south of the country, including crimea. we ll have all the details from our new bbc verify team it s been investigating. also on the programme. we will bring you the latest updates on the search for madeleine mccann, who disappeared in southern portugal in 2007. police are to search around a reservoir near where the british three year old girl went missing. and we ll look at the political headaches that greeted joe biden and rishi sunak on their return from the g7 leaders summit injapan. the prime minister has met with his ethics adviser over what to do about suella braverman. the home secretary was caught speeding in 2022 and asked the civil service for advice on arranging a private speed awareness course. she says she s confident nothing untoward happened . meanwhile, president biden returns to the negotiating table in washington for talks with the republican house speaker
washington, where the us debt ceiling fight is heating up, with both sides showing no room for compromise yet on an issue that impacts the global economy. us treasury secretary janet yellen has issued a letter to congressional leaders, warning the us could run out of cash byjune 1st. that s prompted president biden to call a meeting with the top leaders in congress next week seen here. in the letter, yellen warned: speaker mccarthy responded to yellen in a statement, saying: the republican controlled house passed a debt ceiling bill last week that includes steep spending cuts. senate democratic majority leader chuck schumer announced a process to pass a clean bill with no cuts just hours ago. meanwhile, a little relief in the banking sector. wall street giantjp morgan chase took over the troubled first republic bank in a 10 point 6 billion dollar deal brokered by regulators. hey seized first republic early on monday, after efforts to rescue the bank fell through over the we