Have won the bundesliga and reached the final of the german cup and are in a healthy position to do the same in this competition. Leverkusen, who knocked out west ham in the last round, have a 2 0 lead in their semifinal, heading into the second leg against roma after a victory in italy last week. Finishing the job with a draw or better later will not only deliver a trip to dublin, but also extend their unbeaten run from the beginning of the season in all competitions to 49 games, breaking a european football record. Theres only a handful of games left then for leverkusen to go the whole season without defeat. But roma have made a european final in each of the last two seasons while in the other semi final, atalanta and marseille are level at 1 1. Atalanta and marseille their second match is in bergamo, atalanta beating liverpool in the previous round. Englands women are preparing for their opening matches of the international summer. England take on pakistan on saturday in the first of six white ball matches, with the T20 World Cup less than six months away. England spinner sarah glenn says its going to be a good test for the team. Obviously weve not played pakistan for a while, so we will come across different different batters who have played different ways. So will be really crucial for us as batsmen but also attackers is keeping up those communication in the precious moments, because there will be those moments, because there will be those moments where we do feel under the pump how we want to get out the other side of that. So i think for us, after the series will be reflecting on what worked and what didnt. Jack draper is due on court at the italian open, in rome. Hes going to play borna coric. He has won the opening game. Drapers match was delay because of rain in the city but earlier in the italian capital, rafael nadal, in what is expected to be his final year on the tour, is through to the second round of the tournament after a three set victory over zizou bergs. Nadal came from a set down to win the spaniard is a ten time champion at the italian open and will face Hubert Hurkacz next. Always happy and emotional to play here at this kind of event, they are the most important in my tennis career. And honestly, the crowd has always been amazing with me, supporting me since the beginning of my tennis career. So super excited to be able to play One More Time here. Pelayo sanchez beat Julian Alaphilippe and luke plapp to the line on stage six of the giro ditali, as the race wound its way through the white roads of tuscany. After trying for many kilometres, the break finally went away as a group of six and managed to get a lead over the chasing peleton. But it came down to three men for the sprint into rapolano terme. And the 24 year old sanchez had the legs to keep the others at bay and cross the line in the lead. Tadej pogacar finished safely in the peleton to retain the race leaders pinkjersey. And thats all the sport for now. Well be back with more later on, see you then. The Bank Of England has announced that its base Interest Rate is being kept on hold for the sixth consecutive time. The Banks Monetary Policy Committee decided to leave it at 5. 25 , with a hint though that cuts may be on the way soon as our chief economics correspondent Dharshini David reports. While some of these households are seeing the cost of living crunch ease as incomes rise, its still getting harder for the 1. 6 million across the country who are remortgaging this year. Its been a scary three months. Paul day is in felixstowe. His rate will more than double, a £200 rise in monthly repayments. Im still going to have to make cutbacks. We are going to have to stop going out, we are going to have to stop spending money. We do, we like to travel around and go to different cities, and go shopping. That is part of our life. But we are going to have to cut that back. It gives you an idea of the rates. This Mortgage Broker says those higher Borrowing Costs mean some First Time Buyers arent even reaching for the housing ladder. There seems to be this expectation that they are going to the rates are going to drop stop so, they feel no urgency to make a purchase and commit to a Mortgage Rate for five years. There seems to be this kind of feeling that, because things will drop, they could get a better deal if theyjust live with mum and dad for another couple of years. You might wonder why rates arent falling yet, given that prices are rising more slowly. Actually, we expect inflation, this blue line, to have dropped back to the banks 2 target soon. Which is partly the result of those 14 earlier Interest Rate hikes, the red line from the bank. But itsjob is notjust to get inflation down, but to keep it there. And some prices for services, such as hospitality, Car Insurance and mobile phone tariffs, have still been rising fast, wages have also been increasing at a pace that some rate setters were recurred risk reigniting prices. Now, ultimately, the decisions about your borrowing and Savings Rates depend on these, the nine people on the banks Interest Rate panel. This is how they voted a couple of months ago, only one voted for a rate cut. Now she has beenjoined by one of the banks deputy governors, dave ramsden. That is a sign that we are honoured at a path towards lower rates. Others, though, still want more evidence that inflation will stay down. We are not yet at a point where we can cut bank rates. We will consider the forthcoming data releases as part of our assessments of for how long bank rates should be maintained at its current level, to be sure that inflation will fall all the way back to the 2 target and stay there. Buried in those words from the Bank Of England today, hints that rates are coming closer to being cut, and the prospects at the economy are brightening. But that wont confront those taking out loans right now. More than 30 major criminals have beenjailed after a Million Pounds worth of cocaine was stolen from a violent organised crime group. The gangsters had plotted revenge against a rival gang who had stolen drugs from them, not realising the 3pp drugs from them, not realising the app they were communicating with had been hacked by police. Bronagh munro reports. Three masked men arrive outside a drugs stash house in liverpool. A fourth is pretending to deliver a parcel. Four minutes later, they escape with the huyton firms cocaine. Police. Two men in the house has been attacked with a machete and an axe. What injuries have you got, mate . Sit yourself down. Are you all right there, mate . Yeah. A trail of blood leads to a Manhole Cover where the cocaine was hidden. Are you in dispute with anyone . Have you upset anyone lately, or has anyone got a bit of beef with you . Any information is better than nothing. No one from the huyton firm talks, but this time the police have a secret weapon. The encryption system the criminals use, called encrochat, has been cracked. Detectives can see the messages they are sending each other. The grip they are talking about is the stolen cocaine. 30 kilos are gone. Thats £1 million worth. Its clear from the messages ive seen that this is a very effective criminal business, Industrial Scale Trafficking of drugs, tentacles across the uk and internationally and obviously willing to resort to severe violence. Its a place then for me in the upper tiers of organised crime in the uk. Crime boss Vincent Coggins thinks hes identified some of the Cocaine Robbers and he wants revenge. His enforcer, Paul Woodford, asks how many he wants killed. Coggins replies, four dead men walking. They do business with violence. It is a world where a bullet in the head isjust literally another way of Doing Business and that is the brutality of it. Its a world where there are no laws other than essentially what you could call the laws of the jungle. Vincent coggins and Paul Woodford were arrested before they could carry out their threats. Coggins has been jailed for 28 years for Drug Trafficking and blackmail. Woodford got 2a years and six months. In total, more than 30 serious criminals linked to the Cocaine Heist has been convicted. Theyve been sentenced to over 350 years. I am joined now by Panorama Reporter bronagh munro, whos been investigating the crime group for the past two years. What else do those messages tell us about the huyton firm . About the huyton firm . These messages about the huyton firm . These messages give about the huyton firm . These messages give us about the huyton firm . These messages give us a about the huyton firm . These messages give us a unique about the huyton firm . These messages give us a unique insight into the huyton firm and how they operated. About enter organised crime and how it operates. Its a brutal world where violence is very much a part of everyday life enter organised crime. It shows that the huyton firm were Trafficking Drugs across the uk in large quantities. In one message alone, Vincent Coggin talks about one half tonne deal thats huge. It also shone a light on the sheer brutality and violence that they were prepared to meet out to anyone who got in their way. Vincent coggin is the boss of this firm, and he talks about going to slash a local liverpool businessman, and he talks about taking a knife and cutting him on the face, cutting his ear and taking his talking. Its an incredible insight into how they did business. But it also shows that this is part of their everyday life, and this is going on around us, and we arejust simply and this is going on around us, and we are just simply unaware of it. Think you very much. The Prime Minister, rishi sunak, has met with a group of British University leaders to discuss ways to tackle Anti Semitism on campuses. In 2023, anti semitic incidents tripled, according to the Community Security trust. Some incidents have been linked to protests against the war in gaza. This is what one of thejewish Student Leaders had to say after the meeting at downing street. Were very grateful today to the government and Prime Ministerfor inviting us and Vice Chancellors to discuss the worrying increase in Anti Semitism on campus. The Prime Minister made it very clear that campuses must be places wherejewish students are welcome and included, and able to study in safety, and we are grateful for his reassurances. We totally respect and see the need for the right to protest, becausejewish students love to protest as much as many others at times but fundamentally, when these encampments pose a threat tojewish students on campus because of the language emanating from them, that is whats most disturbing to us. Japan has announced that it will start Hunting Fin Whales as part of its commercial whaling operations. Demand for whale meat has collapsed over the past decades, but japans Chief Cabinet Secretary said whaling was part of the countrys traditional food culture. Fin whales are at least twice as large as the three smaller species already targeted. Luke mcmillan, from whales and dolphins conservation uk, says japans decision to add fin wales to their whaling list is driven by commercial interests. Fin whales are the second largest whales after the blue whale. Japan been considering adding fin whales to their hunting list for quite some time, possibly driven by a desire for a larger catch due to their significance size and the amount of meat they provide. They are basically, they have pushed it through and are about to go out, hopefully not, but are about to go out on boats to start catching the second largest whale around. Are they an Endangered Species, or abundant in the wild . They are definitely not considered abundant. They are listed as vulnerable, on the rucn red list, and included on the Endangered Species act way back in 1973. The fact they are so vulnerable highlights the need for the fact that there needs to be greater Conservation Efforts to protect the population from further decline. Ajapanese whaler will only threaten fin whales further as well as all the other efforts forfin whaling in places like iceland, as well. What proportion of this type of whale will be affected by the change in Policy Injapan . I mentioned iceland briefly. Iceland might not be at the point where they are fin whaling any more which we are all very happy about because it being a vulnerable species, thats great news, but now is japan coming into the arena and saying they potentially want to start Hunting Fin Whales as well, not only does this compound the fact iceland may continue, but ifjapan are wailing for fin whales, as well, then the Population Decline will only go more startling rate. What happens to the wider ecosystem when hunting resumes . Whales are phenomenally important for our oceans. Theres a lot about whales that people dont know. They are great for biodiversity. The more whales, the more fish we have, the more fish we have, the greater the biodiversity of the ocean. It affects things like phytoplankton, one of the greatest carbon sinks we have on the planet. Whales are actually our allies in the fight against climate change. They are incredibly important. The Eurovision Song Contest is a festival of music but this year, with israel taking part, it has caused controversy with a wave of protests at the venue in malmo sweden. Israels eden golan was booed when she rehearsed her song hurricane. Outside, there was also a demonstration outside the venue, with Smoke Canisters in the colours of the palestinian flag set off in malmos central square. The climate activist Greta Thunberg was also there. Lets speak now to our culture correspondent charlotte gallagher, who is also in malmo following events. First of all, on the demonstration they are behind you, charlotte, we heard that Great Thornburgh has joined the protesters . Yes. Heard that Great Thornburgh has joined the protesters . Yes, earlier on toda , joined the protesters . Yes, earlier on today. About joined the protesters . Yes, earlier on today, about 6000 joined the protesters . Yes, earlier on today, about 6000 people joined the protesters . Yes, earlier. On today, about 6000 people joined the pro palestinian protest in the centre of malmo. It was very loud but from everything we saw, it was completely peaceful, there were palestinian flags, people shouting free palestine, smoke flares in the colours of the pelton in flag, and making their way to the park and malmo where they are continuing the protest. Here behind me is the arena where the second semifinal will take place tonight, lots of people from right across the world coming here to enjoy the music and obviously lots of people from europe, we have people from australia as well. But lets be joined people from australia as well. But lets bejoined now by people from australia as well. But lets be joined now by some fans. They can we see the shoes . I think they might give it away they might give it away Cheering Amazinu they might give it away cheering amazing and they might give it away cheering amazing and youre they might give it away cheering amazing and youre obviously they might give it away cheering. Amazing and youre obviously from the netherlands, and who is your act tonight . The netherlands, and who is your act toniuht . ,. , the netherlands, and who is your act toniaht . , the netherlands, and who is your act toniaht . , the netherlands, and who is your act tonight . Joost claim sub bill and what is so good tonight . Joost claim sub bill and what is so good about tonight . Joost claim sub bill and what is so good about your tonight . Joost claim sub bill and what is so good about your act . | tonight . Joost claim sub bill and i what is so good about your act . Its an what is so good about your act . An uplifting what is so good about your act . It� s an uplifting song, its about him having a an uplifting song, its about him havin . ,. , an uplifting song, its about him havina. ,. , , an uplifting song, its about him havinua. , , � , having a troublesome life, but hes u. Having a troublesome life, but hes u for it having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now and having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now and to having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now and to do having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now and to do it having a troublesome life, but hes up for it now and to do it together. J up for it now and to do it together. So up for it now and to do it together. 50 europe, up for it now and to do it together. So europe, lets come together, thats so europe, lets come together, thats what its all about. Can joost take thats what its all about. Can joost take it thats what its all about. Can joost take it back thats what its all about. Can joost take it back to thats what its all about. Ce joost take it back to the netherlands . He joost take it back to the netherlands . ,. , � netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next year netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next year we netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next year we want netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next year we want to netherlands . He could, but we dont want it next year we want to go want it next year we want to go abroad want it next year we want to go abroad to want it next year we want to go abroad to another want it next year we want to go abroad to another country. Want it next year we want to go abroad to another country. Whats our abroad to another country. Whats your dream abroad to another country. Whats your dream destination, abroad to another country. Whats your dream destination, if abroad to another country. Whats your dream destination, if you abroad to another country. Whats l your dream destination, if you could pick any country to go to, where would you go to have eurovision . South africa, but not to compete you basically south africa, but not to compete you basically want south africa, but not to compete you basically want to south africa, but not to compete you basically want to sign . You basically want to sign . Thats at. In the south you basically want to sign . Thats at. In the south of you basically want to sign . Thats at. In the south of spain, you basically want to sign . Thats at. In the south of spain, we you basically want to sign . Thatsj at. In the south of spain, we want to. At. In the south of spain, we want to croatia . At. In the south of spain, we want to. Croatia . That at. In the south of spain, we want to. Croatia . That would at. In the south of spain, we want to. Croatia . That would be at. In the south of spain, we want to. Croatia . That would be a at. In the south of spain, we want to. Croatia . That would be a goodj to. Croatia . That would be a good destination. To. Croatia . That would be a good destination. We to. Croatia . That would be a good destination. We booked to. Croatia . That would be a good destination. We booked our destination. We booked our apartments destination. We booked our apartments in destination. We booked our apartments in zagreb destination. We booked our i apartments in zagreb already. Destination. We booked our apartments in zagreb already. You are that apartments in zagreb already. Are that confident theyll take it to zagreb . To zagreb . Theres a good likelihood, to zagreb . Theres a good likelihood, guess. To zagreb . Theres a good likelihood, guess. Will to zagreb . Theres a good| likelihood, guess. Will you to zagreb . Theres a good likelihood, guess. Will you keep these on when likelihood, guess. Will you keep these on when youre likelihood, guess. Will you keepj these on when youre watching . Likelihood, guess. Will you keep these on when youre watching . What about the people watching . Itll these on when youre watching . What about the people watching . About the people watching . Itll be ve auiet about the people watching . Itll be very quiet behind about the people watching . Itll be very quiet behind us, about the people watching . Itll be very quiet behind us, not about the people watching . Itll be very quiet behind us, not a about the people watching . Itll be i very quiet behind us, not a problem. And who very quiet behind us, not a problem. And who are very quiet behind us, not a problem. And who are you most looking forward to seeing tonight was green france, i love the french song, its fantastic. I love the french song, its fantastic fantastic. Cheering you have fantastic. Cheering you have such fantastic. Cheering you have such a fantastic. Cheering you have such a beautiful fantastic. Cheering you have such a beautiful song. Thank you have such a beautiful song. Thank you you have such a beautiful song. Thank you element you have such a beautiful song. Thank you element can you have such a beautiful song. Thank you element can you you have such a beautiful song. I thank you element can you give you have such a beautiful song. Thank you element can you give us a bit of thank you element can you give us a bit of your thank you element can you give us a bit of your song . Yes. Can thank you element can you give us a bit of your song . Yes. Bit of your song . Yes. Can you sing it for us now . Bit of your song . Yes. Can you sing it for us now . Yes. Singing in french cheering so its notjust the talent inside the arena, we have so much talent out here. France competing tonight, the netherlands, lots to look forward to. The netherlands, lots to look forward to the netherlands, lots to look forward to. ,. ,. , forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday i forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday i have forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday i have to forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday i have to be forward to. Vote for the netherlands on saturday i have to be impartial, | on saturday i have to be impartial, but vote for on saturday i have to be impartial, but vote for the on saturday i have to be impartial, but vote for the netherlands but vote for the netherlands wonderful, charlotte, well done, good dancing, an outbreak of peace and harmony on bbc news, we will see you soon. Some breaking news, the mp Natalie Elphicke whos defected from the conservatives to the labour party has been speaking to our Political Editor chris mason. Theres been some controversy about the fact that she has been allowed tojoin some controversy about the fact that she has been allowed to join the labour party. Chris mason has caught up labour party. Chris mason has caught up with her. The labour party. Chris mason has caught up with her up with her. The first thing id like to say up with her. The first thing id like to say is up with her. The first thing id like to say is how up with her. The first thing id like to say is how very up with her. The first thing id i like to say is how very delighted up with her. The first thing id like to say is how very delighted i am to be part of the labour party. I think its a fantastic positive vision under keir starmer, and im really pleased to be involved and to be able to work to try to make that happen. About that period of my life, it was an incredibly difficult and stressful period. But i do recognise it was much worse for all of those people, those women who had to give evidence at that time. So i would like to take the opportunity to apologise to them. It was really important that they know, and mps who i know will be working with me so hard on this issue, for them to know that it is something i feel is a Critical Mission for the labour party, and one im very committed to and that is under keir starmer, tackling this issue of violence against women and girls. And ill be doing that, and ill be looking forward to working alongside my fellow women mps in the labour party to make that change. To make that change. Quickly on the olitics, to make that change. Quickly on the politics. This to make that change. Quickly on the politics, this change to make that change. Quickly on the politics, this change that to make that change. Quickly on the politics, this change that youve politics, this change that youve made, yourfirst politics, this change that youve made, your first full day in the labour party, how is it . What do you say to your new colleagues who might think that you come from a very difficult different background, how do you fit in . Do you fit in . Under keir starmer, the labour do you fit in . Under keir starmer, the labour party do you fit in . Under keir starmer, the labour party has do you fit in . Under keir starmer, the labour party has changed, do you fit in . Under keir starmer, i the labour party has changed, which is to occupy the centre ground. And he does have a clear plan and vision for our country, and its that plan and vision thats positive, and all those things that need to be tackled from everything this housing to small boats. Im excited to be in the labour party, ive had fantastic, warm messages from those all over the country whove been very excited about this decision. Im really pleased to be involved and make a difference, i hope. Thank ou. And make a difference, i hope. Thank you natalie and make a difference, i hope. Thank you. Natalie elphicke and make a difference, i hope. Thank you. Natalie elphicke speaking to chris mason to explain she was apologising for comments she made supporting her ex husband after he was convicted of sexual assault. So more on that in the next hour. Next, a campaign is being launched in england to find more people to volunteer at local sports clubs. Research by Sport England suggests the sector has a deficit of 2. 1 million volunteers, compared with five years ago. Gary lineker is fronting the drive. Along with former england netball international, geva mentor. I dont know why, but i think it is really important, this initiative, to encourage more people to volunteer, its a massive reduction in numbers, over two million, fewer volunteers, extraordinary. The big help out can encourage people to volunteer for sports right across the country. Sports communities are so, so important, sporting is important because its great for your health and you fitness, and for your mental state, as well. Its great to encourage young people to play sport, but they need help. Well, i think seeing people perhaps improve, get better at sport under their stewardship, that would be massively satisfying. Imagine the pleasure you would get from nurturing relatively young child in football, for example, make him a better player and who knows, he might get a professional career out of it. And i think there is an extraordinary amount of pleasure from volunteering i had it myself, my dad used to do it, driving people around in his fruit van to games so i know the importance of those kind of people, and i do think theres a lot ofjoy that comes with it. Well, ive just asked these young people behind me what its like here, and they absolutely love it. They come here whenever they possibly can, every half term, sometimes after school, as well. I think its hugely important to them and hugely beneficial and you never know, we might see a future star in the background. A further update on the story of Natalie Elphicke, the conservative mp whos defected from conservative to labour, but a controversial switch because a statement now from the folkestone and Hythe Constituency Labour PartyExecutive Has said they are shocked and appalled to hear that Natalie Elphicke has been accepted as an mp within the labour party. They say, we stand for values of kindness, decency, and empathy, values not displayed by elphicke in her time as mp. We believe shes a toxic and divisive figure who has no place in the labour party. While sent most of been temporarily headline grabbing at the time, we think tremendous damage has been done to the reputation in doing so. They see this as a political coup this week. See you soon. Hello there. Temperatures have been creeping up day by day. High pressure has brought plenty of sunshine around, but a Weather Front launching across Northern Scotland has brought thicker cloud here, some spots of rain and thursday was another grey day here with outbreaks of rain. Now, as we move through tonight, it does look like that Weather Front will eventually move northwards, become confined to the Northern Isles for a while through the night before it clears away. It becomes drier here, but a dry night to come for most areas. Bit of mist and fog here and there, temperatures ranging from 9 12 celsius. Friday, then, our area of High Pressure continues to bring a lot of fine and settled weather. We lose that Weather Front from Northern Scotland, so, apart from a bit of early cloud, some mist and fog, most places should have a fine dry day. Widespread sunshine, particularly for england and wales, into northern ireland, central and Southern Scotland, but some sunshine into the highlands as well. Thatll lift temperatures up to 22 celsius perhaps, in aberdeen. 23 24, perhaps, in the warmest spots in england and wales. Through friday night, it looks like well see mist and fog returning in places. A bit of low cloud, sea fog pushing into eastern england, east anglia and the south east. That could creep a little bit further westwards into the midlands first thing on saturday. But again, those temperatures, 9 12 celsius. Now for the weekend. It does stay warm, there will be some good spells of sunshine around, but the shower risk will start to increase, particularly as we head into sunday. Thats because weve got a Weather Front and low pressure developing, pushing towards our shores, particularly by sunday. And into next week, itll be a lot more unsettled than weve had this week. Saturday, though, another warm day to come, a bit of early mist and fog and some low cloud across eastern england. Otherwise, plenty of sunshine, though we could see a few heavy showers develop across the high ground of northern england, central and Southern Scotland into the afternoon. That could be thundery as well. But a warm day to come, quite humid too, the low to mid 20s quite widely. Sunday probably the warmest day of the week across southern areas. It could be up to 26 celsius, plenty of sunshine. But then the showers and thunderstorms could become a bit more widespread through the afternoon. And the temperatures may be coming down a little bit across Western Areas as the clouds build up in the sky. Then as we head into next week low pressure takes over, it will become a lot more unsettled, showers or longer spells of rain at times. But there will still be a little bit of sunshine too, take care. At six, more than 30 criminals jailed after police on merseyside cracked a crime groups encrypted messages. The messages revealed a violent feud after these men forced their way into a house and stole £1 million worth of drugs. Also tonight, we have an exclusive interview with a man who was badly injured during a sword attack in east london that left a 14 year old dead. I thought i was going to die, to be honest, i thought i was going to die, leaving my wife and my child. Called for more vaccinations against whooping cough as five babies in england die. Pro Palestinian Protesters at the Eurovision Song Contest in sweden, as israels contestant prepares to perform tonight. And making a noise she can now hear The Little Girl Born Deaf whos had her hearing restored in a world first. And coming up on bbc news, calling it the biggest game of the season as aston villa look to shock at the euro up a Conference League final. Good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. More than 30 major criminals have been jailed after £1 million worth of cocaine was stolen from a violent organised crime group. The crime bosses wanted to murder the men they thought were responsible but police had cracked their encrypted phone app and could see what they were planning. Thousands of messages reveal how the so called huyton firm was trafficking huge quantities of drugs around the uk from its merseyside base. Bronagh munro reports