where they are, let's keep them high to show financial markets that we are serious about fighting inflation and wait until it comes down before we loosen. of course the criticism here is that, and the bank's own analysis shows that, that it takes 1.5 years for the full effect of interest rate increases to ripple through the economy, so we might well be in a situation where we have kept rates very high for quite a while and that is really pummelling the economy, we are getting low or even negative growth and inflation is even below target. so it's understandable why the bank of england is risk averse and wants to make sure inflation is squeezed out for sure, make sure inflation is squeezed out forsure, but make sure inflation is squeezed out for sure, but there is a real risk of them are leaving rates too high for too long. of them are leaving rates too high fortoo long-— of them are leaving rates too high fortoo lonu. . ~' ,, . ., for too long. thank you so much for our for too long. thank you so much for your reaction. _ for too long. thank you so much for your reaction, we _ for too long. thank you so much for your reaction, we appreciate - for too long. thank you so much for your reaction, we appreciate you i your reaction, we appreciate you taking the time to discuss this with us. for more on this let's cross to the newsroom because we have our business reporter there. david, could you put this into context for us? i could you put this into context for us? ., , , , ~ could you put this into context for us? ., , , , . ., us? i will do my best. we are lookin: us? i will do my best. we are looking here _ us? i will do my best. we are looking here at _ us? i will do my best. we are looking here at the _ us? i will do my best. we are looking here at the third - us? i will do my best. we are l looking here at the third month us? i will do my best. we are - looking here at the third month in a row of interest rates staying on hold where they are. let me bring up this graph, which shows where interest rates have been in recent years. fora interest rates have been in recent years. for a long time here, for many years, back since 2009, they have been hovering beneath i%. in recent times, 0.1%, incredibly low, a historic low. then almost to the day, two years ago they started to rise, tracking this path, from 0.1% of the way up to 5.25%, which is where they are now. they have been at that rate for the past three months. the expectation now, as you've been hearing, is that at some point in the year ahead they will fall, perhaps fall three times or 75, may be 100 basis points between now and the end of 202a. {guild 75, may be 100 basis points between now and the end of 2024.— now and the end of 2024. could you also exolain — now and the end of 2024. could you also exolain to _ now and the end of 2024. could you also explain to us _ now and the end of 2024. could you also explain to us what _ now and the end of 2024. could you also explain to us what this - also explain to us what this actually means for day to day life, depending on people's personal situations? 50. depending on people's personal situations?— depending on people's personal situations? ., situations? so, the impact for most consumers. — situations? so, the impact for most consumers. for— situations? so, the impact for most consumers, for householders, - situations? so, the impact for most| consumers, for householders, those who own homes, is that if they have a mortgage, not everyone does, then it will have an impact on what they pay for their mortgage rates. most people in this country certainly, when they have a mortgage, they have it on a fixed rate, perhaps for two years or five years. so many of the people who are on fixed rate mortgages for five years, i for example came off my own five year mortgage in april and had to remortgage them, not affected by this for five years, because i remortgage them, not affected by this forfive years, because i need to wait until then before i have a chance to remortgage. but many people will be, my understanding is that 1.6 million mortgage holders will have their mortgage is up for review in the next 12 months, so those people will be affected by any further changes to the interest rate in the months ahead. find further changes to the interest rate in the months ahead.— further changes to the interest rate in the months ahead. and this come off the back — in the months ahead. and this come off the back of _ in the months ahead. and this come off the back of the _ in the months ahead. and this come off the back of the us _ in the months ahead. and this come off the back of the us federal - off the back of the us federal reserve decision yesterday, could you give us a bit of a global comparison?— you give us a bit of a global comparison? you give us a bit of a global com arison? ~ ,,., , ., comparison? absolutely. one of the factors coming _ comparison? absolutely. one of the factors coming out _ comparison? absolutely. one of the factors coming out of— comparison? absolutely. one of the factors coming out of the _ comparison? absolutely. one of the factors coming out of the federal i factors coming out of the federal reserve's announcement is the suggestion that they have made for the first time that they would be cutting or would expect to cut rates in the year ahead. while that was widely expected, it had not been formally acknowledged until now so that's how you thing a wider reverberation and expectations about the ecb decision expected in just over an hour, and also the bank of england rate decision we just heard and the expectations england rate decision we just heard and the expectations for england rate decision we just heard and the expectations for —— england rate decision we just heard and the expectations for —— for england rate decision we just heard and the expectations for —— for what will happen in the coming months. let'sjust move onto will happen in the coming months. let's just move onto the next graph. we have seen interest rates around the world particularly in the developed western economies. the euro area interest rate is essentially a 4%, the us isjust here, just below the uk at 5.25%. so they've all been rising, and the expectation is not that they will fall to these terribly low levels, but in due course over the next 12 months they will fall somewhat. david, thank you for that. let's go back to our guest. thank you for holding there as this result has come up. i want to quickly recap what that result is again, the interest rates have been held at 5.25% again and that was expected, it's the third time in a row that's happened now. they have opted to essentially keep rates where they are. prices, though, is still rising, and they are still high. that's going to worry people, so what do you think should be done to address this?— address this? yes, so even though inflation is — address this? yes, so even though inflation is coming _ address this? yes, so even though inflation is coming down _ address this? yes, so even though inflation is coming down and - address this? yes, so even though inflation is coming down and it's i inflation is coming down and it's expected to be back at targets perhaps by the end of next year, this just means price perhaps by the end of next year, thisjust means price increases perhaps by the end of next year, this just means price increases are becoming lower, but prices themselves are still much higher than they were in the past. so energy costs for example can still be about 50% or 60% higher than they were before the pandemic. and the result of this, and this goes to a question of how this affects people's lives, for households, they are still struggling with the cost—of—living crisis, we have 3.8 million people in this country in destitution, that's about triple the number of children in destitution now than in 2017. and the reason for this, a big reason, is that benefit levels are not keeping up with the cost of living. in fact, benefit levels are on course to be the lowest level in history by 2030. so we really need to look at the impact of inflation and that it has had on people's lives, have really done enough? last year we had a big inflation support package including for those on benefits, but this hasn't been renewed this year, so people are still really struggling. a huge increase in destitution and the government and its autumn budget has done virtually nothing for those people because the tax cuts it has enacted, they mostly benefit the better off with higher incomes so we need to do more to help people with very high a continued high prices. and carsten, more on that decision and what the committee decided. there were three members in the minority, they actually wanted a hike up to 5.5%. that is in a bid to get inflation under control, of course that's how you measure the way prices rise. could you explain your take on what that would have done, what their rationale would have been in terms of hiking it up that way? have been in terms of hiking it up that wa ? , ,., have been in terms of hiking it up thatwa? , ., that way? yes, so, the base rate in the economic— that way? yes, so, the base rate in the economic discussion _ that way? yes, so, the base rate in the economic discussion on - that way? yes, so, the base rate in the economic discussion on what i the economic discussion on what people call the last mile of inflation, we brought it down from its peak of about ii%, to 4.6%, so it's already way down, and there is one cab, including those people who voted for an increase in rates, who say this last mile, getting it actually all the way down, that's the hardest bit and we need to tighten the screws further to achieve that. then there are others who say, actually, if you look at the us, if you look at spain, they are, they have come down nicely to their targets without this extra effort. and so, this is basically the battle of ideas here. is it really that hard, do we need to tighten further to go back down? it's exactly those examples of other countries that show that actually, we have already seen this as possible without inflicting much further pain. so we are now at risk of overdoing it, we should let inflation rip off of the system and come down, support those people at low incomes rather than risking really pummelling the economy more thanis really pummelling the economy more than is necessary.— than is necessary. carsten, if you could please _ than is necessary. carsten, if you could please stay _ than is necessary. carsten, if you could please stay there _ than is necessary. carsten, if you could please stay there for - than is necessary. carsten, if you could please stay there for us, i than is necessary. carsten, if you| could please stay there for us, we really appreciate your take on that battle of ideas, as she said. let's go back to david in the newsroom. you've been monitoring some of the reaction coming in? just you've been monitoring some of the reaction coming in?— reaction coming in? just some more detail from — reaction coming in? just some more detail from the _ reaction coming in? just some more detail from the monetary _ reaction coming in? just some more detail from the monetary policy - detail from the monetary policy committee. we did hear already that some _ committee. we did hear already that some of— committee. we did hear already that some of the committee were voting for a raise. — some of the committee were voting fora raise, some were some of the committee were voting for a raise, some were voting to keep— for a raise, some were voting to keep the — for a raise, some were voting to keep the rates on hold and nobody was starting to cut the rates. sol can say— was starting to cut the rates. sol can say from the statement that monetary — can say from the statement that monetary policy is likely to be restricted for an extended period of time, _ restricted for an extended period of time, the _ restricted for an extended period of time, the bank of england governor said there _ time, the bank of england governor said there are still some way to go on inflation, we will take the decisions _ on inflation, we will take the decisions necessary to get cpi all the way— decisions necessary to get cpi all the way back to 2%. it's well above 4% at— the way back to 2%. it's well above 4% at the _ the way back to 2%. it's well above 4% at the moment. in recent months it was— 4% at the moment. in recent months it was as _ 4% at the moment. in recent months it was as high as 11%. so it has fallen— it was as high as 11%. so it has fallen some way, is followed by more than half. _ fallen some way, is followed by more than half, but it needs to fall by more _ than half, but it needs to fall by more than — than half, but it needs to fall by more than half yet again to get under— more than half yet again to get under the — more than half yet again to get under the bank of england's target of 2%. _ under the bank of england's target of 2%, between zero and 2%. so that's— of 2%, between zero and 2%. so that'sjust — of 2%, between zero and 2%. so that's just a _ of 2%, between zero and 2%. so that'sjust a little of 2%, between zero and 2%. so that's just a little further detail because — that's just a little further detail because there is a lot of talk that rates _ because there is a lot of talk that rates will— because there is a lot of talk that rates will fall in due course and that may— rates will fall in due course and that may still happen, but the bank of england very keen to steer us away— of england very keen to steer us away from — of england very keen to steer us away from suggestions that its keen to cut _ away from suggestions that its keen to cut interest rates soon.— to cut interest rates soon. david, could you — to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give — to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give us _ to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give us a _ to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give us a bit _ to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give us a bit of - to cut interest rates soon. david, could you give us a bit of an - could you give us a bit of an overview again? we have talked recently about how they have been making the decision in terms of three members who disagreed with the decision, could you explain how that committee works?— committee works? yes, well, they have to make _ committee works? yes, well, they have to make a — committee works? yes, well, they have to make a decision _ committee works? yes, well, they have to make a decision where - committee works? yes, well, they. have to make a decision where their focus _ have to make a decision where their focus is _ have to make a decision where their focus is to— have to make a decision where their focus is to keep the target inflation, cpi, consumer price inflation— inflation, cpi, consumer price inflation level, somewhere between zero and _ inflation level, somewhere between zero and 3%. it's above that, so in plastic— zero and 3%. it's above that, so in plastic argument would take us to the place — plastic argument would take us to the place that we would keep interest— the place that we would keep interest rates rise higher and higher— interest rates rise higher and higher until inflation paul ——. 2%. the problem _ higher until inflation paul ——. 2%. the problem with that is that these things— the problem with that is that these things take time. the interest rate needs— things take time. the interest rate needs to _ things take time. the interest rate needs to be managed for the future, notjust_ needs to be managed for the future, notjust for— needs to be managed for the future, notjust for today. needs to be managed for the future, not just for today.— not 'ust for today. david, thank you so not just for today. david, thank you so much. not just for today. david, thank you so much- i— not just for today. david, thank you so much. i want— not just for today. david, thank you so much. i want to _ not just for today. david, thank you so much. i want to quickly - not just for today. david, thank you so much. i want to quickly go - not just for today. david, thank you so much. i want to quickly go to - not just for today. david, thank you | so much. i want to quickly go to our economics editor, faisal islam. i know you have been rushing to get the details this announcement. switching gears, because we haven't talked about the political ramifications of this. could you tell us, and about a minute, what the reaction would be in downing street to this announcement? i think it is as exoected _ street to this announcement? i think it is as expected that _ street to this announcement? i think it is as expected that rates _ street to this announcement? i think it is as expected that rates have - it is as expected that rates have been kept on hold. what's interesting is around the world, they are now starting to look at cutting rates, we head out from america last night, we are waiting for a decision from europeans too. and you get a sense of paper the tide is starting to turn, the huge interest rate rises we seem to combat inflation coming out of the energy shocks, that's starting to turn. but we haven't seen that to be clear, the bank of england had experts had lower growth, inflation, lower wages, experts had lower growth, inflation, lowerwages, but experts had lower growth, inflation, lower wages, but it is the same language, rates remain where they are and they remain here for an extended period of time. faisal, thank ou extended period of time. faisal, thank you so _ extended period of time. faisal, thank you so much _ extended period of time. faisal, thank you so much for— extended period of time. faisal, thank you so much for that. - extended period of time. faisal, thank you so much for that. 20 i extended period of time. faisal, - thank you so much for that. 20 work reaction, we have a live page on the website so please do check it for reaction and also explanations of what this means for you. for now, you're watching bbc news, stay tuned. it has been recommended that scott benton should be suspended for the commons for 35 days after being caught in a lobbying scandal. if the house of commons agrees with the recommendation, it will triggera recommendation, it will trigger a recall recommendation, it will triggera recall petition which could lead to a by—election in his constituency. police searching for a mother—of—three who disappeared from norwich almost a week ago have released cctv of her last known movements. 55—year—old gaynor lord did not return home after work. norfolk constabulary also said it was "linking in" with police in lancashire because of similarities with the nicola bulley investigation. patients needing emergency and urgent care are facing long waits for ambulances and in a&e in england according to latest nhs england figures. nearly one third of patients waited longer than the target time of four hours in a&e last month. and response times for category two emergency calls exceeded 38 minutes on average in november. your live with bbc news. european union leaders are meeting in brussels, at a summit dominated ljy in brussels, at a summit dominated by divisions between hungary and the rest of the bloc over ukraine that are high on the agenda are a huge package of financial and military support and the opening of formal entry talks with kyiv. hungary has threatened to veto the bill. the eu's top diplomat said supporting ukraine against russian aggression was an existential issue for the bloc. but the hungarian prime minister viktor 0rban indicated his stance has not changed. this is despite the decision made yesterday by the european commission to release billions of dollars of funds for his country. the eu meeting is crucial to president zelensky after his failure to persuade republicans in washington to approve a $60 billion aid package. live now our reporter sofia bettiza who's in brussels. we are paused for a day of drama with divisions amongst the eu. tell us what's going to happen today. that's right, we definitely expect quite a bit of diplomatic drama in brussels behind—the—scenes. to put that in context, it has been called the pivotal european summit. 27 eu leaders have been urged to make bold decisions on ukraine fourth in the last minutes, an eu diplomat has confirmed that presidents are lenskh confirmed that presidents are lenskii —— presidents of... he has won eu leaders that if they fail to make a positive decision today, that president putin will find a way to use it against them. he ended his speech by saying that, i ask you one thing today, to not betray the people and the faith they have put in europe. we betray the people and the faith they have put in europe.— betray the people and the faith they have put in europe. we apologise for the auali have put in europe. we apologise for the quality of — have put in europe. we apologise for the quality of the _ have put in europe. we apologise for the quality of the sound _ have put in europe. we apologise for the quality of the sound there, - the quality of the sound there, obviously very busy, probably lots of mobile phones on. joining me now is radio free europe's eu editor rikard jozwiak. can we talk about hungary for a moment, do you think they will use their veto? moment, do you think they will use theirveto? i moment, do you think they will use their veto? ., �* ~' moment, do you think they will use their veto? ., �* ,, ,., their veto? i don't think so, actually- — their veto? i don't think so, actually- i _ their veto? i don't think so, actually. i think _ their veto? i don't think so, actually. i think viktor - their veto? i don't think so, l actually. i think viktor orban actually. i think viktor 0rban already going into this eu summit was softening his stance, i think it opened up very much give green light to those 50 billion aid package for ukraine for the next four years so i think there is what you would call in brussels the language landing to agree on the enlargement where he has a defect veto. i think by the end of the night, we away —— but we always need a bit of brussels drama, at the end of it viktor 0rban will waive this through. [30 at the end of it viktor orban will waive this through.— at the end of it viktor orban will waive this through. do you think it will set an interesting _ waive this through. do you think it will set an interesting or _ waive this through. do you think it | will set an interesting or dangerous precedent, that we have seen viktor 0rban negotiating to have the funding for hungry released in order to get agreement? it’s funding for hungry released in order to get agreement?— to get agreement? it's not the first time and it won't _ to get agreement? it's not the first time and it won't be _ to get agreement? it's not the first time and it won't be the _ to get agreement? it's not the first time and it won't be the last - to get agreement? it's not the first time and it won't be the last time. | time and it won't be the last time. viktor 0rban has done this before. i was in brussels last year and there was in brussels last year and there was also a question about the hungarian veto in order to get some green light on something, but it was sanctions on russia. so this is something that's happening all the time in europe and it will happen all the time as long as you have unanimity required to take really big decisions.— big decisions. we've 'ust been watchinu big decisions. we've 'ust been watching president _ big decisions. we've just been watching president putin - big decisions. we've just been watching president putin and l big decisions. we've just been i watching president putin and he big decisions. we've just been - watching president putin and he is brimming with confidence in moscow as he talks about the russian offensive in ukraine. he says he's winning right now. do you sense in brussels that there is a lack of strategic vision around ukraine, that there is this lethargy that appears to be creeping in? absolutely. i was at the briefing yesterday and high eu officials said that if that he was in the kremlin right now, if he was vladimir putin, he would feel as happy as he probably did at the very early stages of the war but it looked like russia would just run over ukraine. so the problem here right now is that the eu on its own can't really help ukraine unless america is on board as well, and in brussels they are sensing that the sand is shifting. of course it would have helped if the ukraine offensive has —— had scored more success than it had but it hasn't, so it looks like putin is sitting on more than one trump card. putin is sitting on more than one trump card-— putin is sitting on more than one trum card. �* ,, ., , . . ,, trump card. and you do get smacked ou aet trump card. and you do get smacked ou net the trump card. and you do get smacked you get the sense — trump card. and you do get smacked you get the sense when _ trump card. and you do get smacked you get the sense when you - trump card. and you do get smacked you get the sense when you go - trump card. and you do get smacked you get the sense when you go to i you get the sense when you go to these meetings that they see vladimir putin has been the main threat to eu security, that they should asjosep burrell said should as josep burrell said earlier, should asjosep burrell said earlier, be redoubling their efforts around this?— earlier, be redoubling their efforts around this? , . , ., around this? yes. i mean, everyone more or less — around this? yes. i mean, everyone more or less thinks _ around this? yes. i mean, everyone more or less thinks that _ around this? yes. i mean, everyone more or less thinks that russia - around this? yes. i mean, everyone more or less thinks that russia is i more or less thinks that russia is the main threat, but the question is actually, can they agree on something? i can be come back to something? i can be come back to something about unanimity. then there's the question money as well. the economy is not doing too well in the european union, and most eu member countries. we are going towards the european parliamentary elections as well, and russia are certainly looming, but there are other questions, high inflation, high energy prices etc, and you have seenin high energy prices etc, and you have seen in a few european elections recently, talking about the dutch elections or slovak elections, populists making big strides, so there is a recognition that russia is a problem but there are other problems knocking on the door as well, and officials know that full well. ., ., well, and officials know that full well. . ,, , ., well, and officials know that full well. . ,, i. . well, and officials know that full well. ., ,, . ., well, and officials know that full well. . ,, . ., ., well. thank you so much for “oining us and we will i well. thank you so much for “oining us and we will keep * well. thank you so much for “oining us and we will keep across _ well. thank you so much forjoining us and we will keep across events | well. thank you so much forjoining| us and we will keep across events in brussels throughout the day. to the middle east now. a senior white house adviser will visit israel today to repeat us calls for restraint in the war against hamas. it's reported that jake sullivan wants to discuss a timetable for ending the fighting. israel has continued its bombing of the gaza strip — this is the aftermath of a strike on rafah in the south of the territory. the hamas—run health ministry says at least nineteen people have been killed in air strikes this morning. us officials say mr sullivan is expected to call for greater precision in future israeli targeting of hamas. it follows mounting international criticism of israel over the number of civilian casualties — including from mr biden himself. live now tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. given all of this, how do you think jake sullivan will be received in israel today when he arrives? weill. israel today when he arrives? well, the us remains _ israel today when he arrives? well, the us remains israel's _ israel today when he arrives? well, the us remains israel's closest - the us remains israel's closest ally, it has been a diplomatic shield in recent days at the un, but we've also had these disagreements, really the sharpest disagreements of the conflict in so far. we had president biden coming out earlier in the week and saying that indiscriminate bombing by israel of the civilians being killed in gaza was basically losing its global support for its war on hamas. publicly, israeli officials have been quite defiant in the face of that, we have had the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu talking to israeli troops saying that the aim is still to annihilate hamas, that they will be victorious, the foreign minister saying that the war will continue with or without international support. we understand from the israeli media that there will be some pushback from israelis, but they will say that what military commanders still need is for this intense phase of the war to continue well into january. we understand the has been pushing for a shorter timeframe. —— matt the us has been pushing. so there will be on the list of things to be discussed, the timeframe for this war. also this us demand for israeli air strikes to be more surgical, and other issues too. there are possibilities, we are told, of another release deal being this —— might be negotiated. looking far into the future, what happens to a post—war gaza, who will govern there? a post-war gaza, who will govern there? ., ., a post-war gaza, who will govern there? . ~' ,, a post-war gaza, who will govern there? . ,, i. a post-war gaza, who will govern there? . ,, . live now to noga tarnopolsky — a journalist based injerusalem. she's been covering the israeli—palestinian conflict for 25 years. if you could focus for a moment on the meeting of mr sullivan today. is there any sense in israel that us influence on this is waning, given that we keep your messages from the white house about their concerns about civilian casualties and the need for more targeted strikes inside gaza? by the calls are not being heeded. inside gaza? by the calls are not being heeded-— inside gaza? by the calls are not being heeded. there is a sense... reau being heeded. there is a sense... reall we being heeded. there is a sense... really we are _ being heeded. there is a sense... really we are dealing _ being heeded. there is a sense... really we are dealing in _ being heeded. there is a sense... really we are dealing in nuancesl really we are dealing in nuances here. there is absolutely a sense, i would say, that the united states is insisting on bringing israel on side specifically, think the major issue regards a post—hamas in gaza, where initially the israeli government refused to engage the united states at all, and in recent weeks, the prime minister netanyahu has simply been defiant, or whatever it is more than defiant, vis—a—vis the united states, basically saying, no, no and no to any us demands. so i think what we're seeing is the united states beginning to be impatient, and i think there is going to be serious push from the united states, try to force netanyahu into a certain path.— try to force netanyahu into a certain ath. ., , ., certain path. how could they do that, how _ certain path. how could they do that, how could _ certain path. how could they do that, how could they _ certain path. how could they do that, how could they force - certain path. how could they do that, how could they force mr i that, how could they force mr netanyahu down that path? well, they have several tools. _ netanyahu down that path? well, they have several tools. the _ netanyahu down that path? well, they have several tools. the united - have several tools. the united states has been arming israel very heavily during this war, they can say that they will not be able to continue at the same pace. they could say that they are not willing to promise a veto at the united nations, at the security council for future condemnations of israel. they can say that they cannot hold the european allies in line. they have several steps they can take in this respect. we several steps they can take in this resect. ~ ., several steps they can take in this resect. ~ . �* ., several steps they can take in this resect. ~ . �* . . respect. we heard ben'amin netanyahu will aet a respect. we heard ben'amin netanyahu will get a ceasefire — respect. we heard benjamin netanyahu will get a ceasefire but _ respect. we heard benjamin netanyahu will get a ceasefire but also _ will get a ceasefire but also similarly rejected the idea of a two state solution, something that many other countries in the world including the us are still saying needs to be in the future. is the feeling in israel at the moment, i don't know what the polls are saying, that it will be mr netanyahu they are talking to and negotiating with? is he going stay in power? i’m with? is he going stay in power? i'm not a with? is he going stay in power? i“n not a prophet! the pulse that we have show that —— the polls that we have show that —— the polls that we have a show he is a very weak prime minister with very little support, at around 25% support for his current coalition. but the issue is that israel is a parliamentary system, so even though he has a narrow and a kind of fractious coalition, until his government might topple by parliamentary manoeuvre, he will be in power to stop it is true he looks very weak, he doesn't have much support, but even now, massive rallies in the streets can't actually oust him. some of the rally is of course have been about the hostages and the pressure being put on the government around trying to get the hostages released and making it a priority. has there been confirmation that mossad has been blocked from going to qatar to continue with negotiations on hostages and their release? , ., _, . ., release? there is no confirmation but are there _ release? there is no confirmation but are there also _ release? there is no confirmation but are there also has _ release? there is no confirmation but are there also has not - release? there is no confirmation but are there also has not been i release? there is no confirmation i but are there also has not been any particular denial. this is a report on israeli channel 13 that said, not that there is a deal on the table, let's be clear, but it did say the mossad director offered to return to qatar to try to negotiate with the qataris, possibly with hamas, and that the war cabinet, or mr netanyahu himself, said no. it’s netanyahu himself, said no. it's unclear what's happening there. thank you some much as always for your thoughts. we have some breaking news to bring you from ireland. ajudge has ruled that a former soldier will stand trial for that a former soldier will stand trialfor murder, this is in relation to bloody sunday, which happened in londonderry in 1972. mind you, 13 people were shot dead by the parachute regiment at a civil rights demonstration in the bogside area. this is a better we're talking about, known as soldier f, charged with murder. he also faces five charges of attempted murder. this is a prosecution that began back in 2019, it's been a huge amount of pressure from families as well, a court hearing has taken place in derry as well. you can see families here laying flowers. this was to decide whether or not the case should proceed. the districtjudge said the evidence was strong enough to send soldier f for trial at the crown court in belfast. what we do not know yet is a date for the trial, that hasn't been fixed. but a significant moment for these families. ajudge ruling that a former soldier, soldier f, will stand trialfor murder former soldier, soldier f, will stand trial for murder in relation to bloody sunday which happened in londonderry in 1972. more on this story throughout the day. stay with us on bbc news. after a fairly cloudy stop apache light and drizzle in england and wales, for all of us today it will dry out from the west and brighten up dry out from the west and brighten up bar one ortwo dry out from the west and brighten up bar one or two showers. but the cloud and drizzle will be slow to clear from the south—east. courtesy of these two weather fronts continuing the journey southwards and eastwards, the isobars telling their own story, that we have windy conditions across the north and the west. the wind coming in from a westerly direction, blowing and showers for western scotland and northern ireland. we could see the odd isolated shower and wales in the south—west is because of the afternoon, with the cloud slowest to clear east and kent. these are the temperatures, 7 to about 9 in the east, but into double figures in the west. as we head through the evening and overnight, come under clear skies, some patchy mist and fog forming across some parts of england. it's good to be cold enough for a touch of frost in the south—east and also the north—east of england tonight. but generally it will be a cold night. high pressure still in charge of our weather but around the top of it tomorrow, we have a weather front coming in, and it's still going to be windy across the north west and the north of scotland. here is the weather front coming in, introducing rain on the road, more cloud and western areas with some spots of drizzle. pushed further east under the clear skies, a recent sunny spells, but still cooler, 7 or 8 in eastern england, 12 in belfast. as we head into the weekend, note how we return to the yellows and ambers from the chart, indicating temperature will rise a touch. 0n indicating temperature will rise a touch. on saturday we still have this ridge of high pressure cleaning on, it's got to be a windy day, especially with exposure to the north and west, and here too we have a weather front drifting in, bringing some heavy rain. south of that, some showers, but saturday will be quite a cloudy day anyway. the best breaks will be to the east of the hills, for example the pennines and the east of the hills in wales. but look at the temperatures, widely 10 to 13. into sunday, a bit of uncertainty about how far south rainbow travel, but it looks at the moment like it could get as far south as north wales. to the south of art, southern part of england through the midlands, looking drier and brighter with some sunshine and still mild.