The boss of one of britains biggest banks has apologised to the former Uk Independence Party leader nigel farage after a row over why his Coutts Bank Account was closed. Alison rose, the chief executive at natwest, says comments made about him were deeply inappropriate. Mr farage said his account had been closed because his political views didnt align with the banks values. Tonight ms rose has repeated her offer of Alternative Banking Arrangements for him at natwest which owns coutts. The governement has announced that banks will now face tougher rules over closing customers accounts in a move designed to protect freedom of expression. Heres our analysis editor ros atkins to explain. This is a story about banking and political beliefs, and it starts here. I had a phone call a couple of months ago to say, we are closing your account. I asked why and no reason was given. Mr farage suggested it was politically motivated. That was late june. By earlyjuly, there was a twist. A bbc headline told us Nigel Farage Bank account shut for falling below wealth limit. The bank in questions was coutts a private bank you can only use with a high level of funds. The bbc story came from Business Editor simonjack. On twitter he quoted a source who rejected the notion that the decision to close his Coutts Account was in any way political. But what the source said wasn t accurate. Nor was the bbc headline. We know that because of this. After whats called a subject access request, nigel farage received details of coutts� decision, and released them. We see coutts noting mr farage s mortgage ending. And adding, the relationship has been below commercial criteria for some time. And these commercial factors can trigger the closing of an account. But in the document, there s more. Nigel farage is described as holding xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views. And this is mr farage� s view of that. This bank, behaving now are like a political campaigning organisation. For its part, the bank now says. Maybe not solely, but the bbc� s source said politics had nothing to do with it. We can see that it did. That coutts considered nigel farage s politics a reputational risk. And well as that, throughout its reporting of this, bbc news has highlighted that its heard from coutts customers who are below the financial threshold and who still have their accounts. And now tonight, dame alison rose, ceo of natwest which owns coutts has apologised to nigel farage for the. The letter also promises a. Full review of the Coutts Process also tonight, the government is proposing new rules to make sure that if a customers account is closed, theres more opportunity to appeal and the bank must provide details of the reason why. Live now to our Political Correspondent damian grammaticas. This correspondent damian grammaticas. Is a story tha� twists this is a story that had a few twists and turns. It this is a story that had a few twists and turns. This is a story that had a few twists and turns. It is. One thing i think is worth twists and turns. It is. One thing i think is worth pointing twists and turns. It is. One thing i think is worth pointing out twists and turns. It is. One thing i think is worth pointing out or think is worth pointing out or making clear is that those rule changes are not because of this story. They have been in the pipeline for some time and been considered by the governments been looking into this whole issue for quite a few months. That was actually related to earlier temporary account closures in other cases. By different institutions and theyve been looking at this question because they view this as an important question of principle. Thats a view that is shared across the Political Parties here. The principle being, how do you balance theissue, principle being, how do you balance the issue, the rights of the banks to be able to run their businesses they way they want to protect their own reputations . But also the legitimate freedom of speech of their customers. And the feeling in government is that there needs to be a bit of a rebalance to protecting freedom of speech in customers. This rule change that they are talking about will be things like having to give 90 day notice of any possible account closure and having to give the reasons so that the person whos account being closed will have time to bring a challenge to that to the financial authorities, not the bank itself but the oversight authorities. Thats the sort of thing they are talking about. In the midst of all this of course the issue about nigel faraj his Bank Account Closure has cropped up and added to this mix and the government has brought out this today the clarity of what its doing about the rules. ,. ,. , clarity of what its doing about the rules. H,. ,. , i clarity of what its doing about the rules. ,. ,. ,. ,. , clarity of what its doing about the rules. ,. ,. , rules. Good of you to point out there that rules. Good of you to point out there that this rules. Good of you to point out there that this was rules. Good of you to point out there that this was a rules. Good of you to point out i there that this was a preexisting there that this was a pre existing issue. With nigel faraj releasing the documents from the bank it has prompted a nether discussion about free speech. Prompted a nether discussion about free speech prompted a nether discussion about free speech. Certainly. His view was that he was free speech. Certainly. His view was that he was being free speech. Certainly. His view was that he was being cancelled, free speech. Certainly. His view was that he was being cancelled, he free speech. Certainly. His view wasi that he was being cancelled, he was being targeted because of his political views. That Bank Document did mention what a been discussed by an internal bank committee, which considered that there might be reasons for the bank to be concerned about its reputation. You heard roz talking about nigel farges links to people like the tattered star Novak Djokovic and his stance on the covid vaccines. Possible connections to statements or tweets nigel farge had put out about russia for that he has said he has very few connections with russia. Those are some of the issues that the bank highlighted. He said this was targeting him for his political views, said this was targeting him for his politicalviews, being said this was targeting him for his political views, being canceled. The bank has said it was looking at both commercial and reputational reasons for the but of course we have now had the letter that come to light today that has been sent from the head of the parent bank, natwest, he was banking with coutts, a bank for very wealthy people. The chairman, the boss of natwest writing this letter to Nigel Farge Apologising for some of those comments. Natwest realising i think that the contents of that document being released the bank felt didnt reflect well on itself. , ~ ,. , in india a video of two women being paraded naked through the streets in the state of manipur has caused outrage across the country. The Prime Minister, narendra modi, has called the incident shameful. According to police the assault happened in manipur a state in Northeast India on the 4th of may. Indiginous leaders say, the women were also gang raped. Here is the Prime Minister speaking earlier. Translation today my heart is full of pain and anger. The incident that has come to light in manipur is a shameful incident for any civilised society. In this country, in any corner of this country, in any state government, rising above politics, there is the importance of Law And Order and respect for women. I want to reassure people that no culprit will be spared. The law with all its might and strictness will take steps one by one and whatever has happened with the daughters of manipur will never be forgiven. Ragvendra rao who until last week worked in manipur. The incident happened on the 4th of may and there has been a complete Internet Shutdown in manipurfor almost 70 days now. They were escaping from their village when it was being attacked by the communities. As they were making their way out of the village along with other Family Members they were intercepted by a rampaging mob. These Women Werejust were intercepted by a rampaging mob. These women were just trying to save themselves and the police was taking themselves and the police was taking them to safety. It was after that that this mob took centre stage and they basically grabbed these women from the police. It was only after that that this assault happened on these women and that video was made. Now it happened on the 4th of may and it is taken so long for this video to emerge. The reason for that is that there has been a complete Internet Shutdown in maribor for over two and a half months. There are a growing apprehensions in india that once the Internet Shutdown is lifted we could be seeing many more such brutalities. The lifted we could be seeing many more such brutalities. Such brutalities. The story of the tensions as such brutalities. The story of the tensions as you such brutalities. The story of the tensions as you mentioned such brutalities. The story of the tensions as you mentioned isnt| such brutalities. The story of the tensions as you mentioned isnt new. Could you remind us whats been happening with the communities in the region . The happening with the communities in the reuion . ,. Happening with the communities in the reuion . U,. , happening with the communities in the reuion . ,. ,. , the region . The conflict is maor between two d the region . The conflict is maor between two communities � the region . The conflict is major between two communities for. The region . The conflict is majorl between two communities for the the region . The conflict is major between two communities for the they are non tribals and they are believed and thought to be a dominant community and the state, they reside mainly in the valley areas while the others, the tribal people, they stay mainly in the village area. The trouble started earlier this year where there was a suggestion from the states high court, which asked the government to consider the demand to provide a tribal status to the community. Now the tribals, they went up in arms against the situation and they said that they are already a dominant community and they should not be included in the tribal category. They fear if they were granted tribal status that would allow them to buy land in the hills. And they fear if that was allowed to happen the Indigenous People or the tribals would get wiped out. This was the genesis of this crisis. The violence that it heard of the 3rd of may when there was a protest, it was happening in a Stronghold Area and they were protesting against this move to consider tribal status for that violence started on the 3rd of may and from there it spread like a wildfire. Forthe may and from there it spread like a wildfire. For the past two and a half months it is only escalated and today we have a situation where we have already seen 142 people dead, close to 60,000 people displaced from their homes and more than 5000 incidents of arson. Incidents of arson. Speaking to our correspondent. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Mortgage rates have fallen for the first time in two months following better than expected inflation figures. Rates on both two and five year fixed deals have dropped on hopes that the Bank Of England may not raise Interest Rates as much as previously thought. A Leading British Climate Scientist has told the bbc that he believes the target to limit Global Warming to an increase of one and a half degrees celsius will be missed. Professor sir bob watson, a former head of the uns climate body, said he was pessimistic and warned that if the target was dropped, then governments would do even less in the future to tackle Global Warming. Voting is taking place in three parliamentary by elections. The constituencies are in somerton and froom, in selby and ainsty, and in the seat vacated by the former Prime Minister boris johnson, uxbridge and south ruislip. Voting closes at 10pm, and well have a special results programme here on the bbc news channel, starting at midnight. To the war in ukraine now. Russias Ministry Of Defence says its targeted production and storage sites for what it called � unmanned boats in its latest Missile Strikes on ukraine. It classified the strikes in and around 0desa as retaliatory. It follows mondays attack on the bridge that connects russia with russian occupied crimea. Ukrainian Officials Say at least two people died and nearly 30 others were wounded in the Missile Attacks overnight in 0desa and mykolaiv. Meanwhile, kyiv has warned ships in the black sea heading towards russian or occupied ukrainian ports that they could be viewed as transporting Military Cargo. A short time ago we spoke to 0leksiy goncharenko, a ukrainian member of parliament from 0desa. I asked him about the message russia is sending from these attacks the message is very clear. Russia wants starvation in the world. Russia wants as much possible course as possible. Russia wants millions of people suffer. Russia wants new waves of migrants and refugees from poor countries because of starvation. Thats what thats what they want. Even during the second world war, the sides were not attacking food infrastructure. And now russia is deliberately and consciously attacking port infrastructure, food infrastructure. They destroyed 60,000 tonnes of grain the previous night in odessa. Three nights in a row theyre taking our city. And all of these three nights like hell, i can tell you. And yes, there are acute people that are wounded people, and the infrastructure of ports of 0desa is heavily damaged. And that is the aim of russia and that is their blackmailing of the world, and that is something which should be stopped. Well, ukrainian authorities have also said that ships heading towards russian or occupied ports on the black sea could be viewed as carrying Military Cargo. In a similarwarning, how bad could this get . Are we seeing possibly a new front for this war open up in the seas . Yeah. I mean, if russia is allowed in reality, russia is allowed to block the black sea. So they they did it from the beginning of invasion. Then it was a grain deal, just only grain, because not all the goods, but even grain deal now is stop. And russia is like threatening that the ships come into ukrainian ports, they consider all of them to be with the Military Cargo so they will attack it like that is their threat. So ukraine is doing absolutely similarstuff, is saying, okay, so we will consider all ships coming to your ports as it carrying Military Cargo. And by the way, that is true because russia is receiving Military Cargoes in their black sea port. And in ukrainian case its not the truth, because in istanbul all this year during the grain deal, there was a special commission, including russians, which were checking all the ships coming to 0desa and they saw that it was just grain and nothing absolutely else. So ukraine is doing absolutely right step. The only way for the world to stop all this is to stop russian blackmailing, to organise Military Convoys for ships coming for ukrainian grain, to protect 0desa and 0desa ports by air defence, Additional Air defense, and to stop this russian blackmailing for humanitarian reasons, in order to save millions of lives, because 400 Million People in the world are dependent from the calories from ukrainian crops. Yes, we all seeing the effects of this already. Wheat prices have risen sharply on the global markets, but Vladimir Putin said he would return to the International Grain agreement if some of his demands were met, including lifting sanctions on sales of russian grain and fertilizer and reconnecting russias Agricultural Bank to a global payment system. Is that something that ukraine is even willing to consider . Its not up to ukraine. Both of these things are not in our hands. And russian export of agricultural goods is not stopped. Russia is one of the biggest exporters of agricultural goods and of grain, and nothing is stopped. Other things that russia wants to lift sanctions from one of the banks . And its not because this bank is so important in grain trade, but because this bank is controlled by the family of patrushev, one of the closest, likem adjutant and assistants to putin. So thats like a mafia, thats just about money. But i mean, that is not up to us to make decisions about these sanctions. For me, personally, the best option is what i told you, just to stop this blackmailing. Because if putin is allowed to blackmail the world like this, why other tyrants would not do the same . A strike of the doctors is under Way Consultants are providing Emergency Care only with thousands of planned appointments and operations being put up the doctors union, the British Medical Association has rejected a 6 pay offer. Our Health Editor hugh pam has more. Heres our Health Editor, hugh pym. Empty Operating Theatres once again, with another doctors strike in england causing widespread cancellations of planned operations. This time, though, its senior doctors whose action has caused more disruption than the juniorss. Its had a huge impact. Over 90 of our operations have been cancelled. The boss of one leading hospital told me of his concern. Every time this happens, more and more people suffer. More and more of our staff become dejected and upset. And its all a challenge for us to rebuild and start again. Appointments have been cancelled, too, at many hospitals. Sally from surrey was due to meet a consultant to discuss a Hip Replacement and its been pushed back. The wait has doubled and then i dont know how long i have to wait after that. It was almost, i had a target, at least everyday would be a step towards it whereas currently i feel i was going forwards and ive been knocked back. So, whats the strike all about . Den is an a e consultant from merseyside. She says pay has lagged well behind inflation and the 6 award simply isnt enough. Compared to much of the rest of the population, consultants are pretty well paid. Is it right to strike over pay . I accept that consultants are highly paid compared to a lot of people across the uk. Theres no denying that. The truth of the matter is that there is currently an open market for doctors across the world. If we want to be leaders, if we want to have an nhs which, you know, is a world leading health service, we need to keep doctors here. And at the moment, theyre leaving. 0ne consultant said he wasnt striking because of the impact on the patients. Theyre waiting for clinical appointments, waiting for operations, waiting for investigations and thats having a real impact both on their quality of life and sometimes on their health. I didnt feel in good conscience that i could join a strike that would contribute to that. But i recognise the good intentions of those who are striking. As Consultant Members of the British Medical Association formed picket lines, ministers argued they had met demands on Pension Tax Relief and made a fair pay award. Its now time to put the patients first and for consultants to call off this strike and focus on the patients. So, we have listened to the bma in terms of the changes made to Pension Taxation and we also adopted in full the recommendations of the Pay Review Body. The bma has rejected the 6 pay award theres no sign of this dispute being resolved anytime soon. In fact the bma has called another today day consultant start at the end of august. Today day consultant start at the end of august. Solitary to you all and with the end of august. Solitary to you all and with the rail end of august. Solitary to you all and with the rail union end of august. Solitary to you all and with the Rail Union Leader and with the Rail Union Leader Offering Support at the meeting of bma members this afternoon it seemed for some doctors at least a desire to press on with their action. Huwjoins us live now i think its worth you unpacking for us how their current pay system for the senior doctors actually works. First current pay system for the senior doctors actually works. Doctors actually works. First of all, its devolved doctors actually works. First of all, its devolved so doctors actually works. First of all, its devolved so each doctors actually works. First of l all, its devolved so each nations make their own decisions. This dispute is very much england only. But affecting lot of patients and doctors as well. In essence the way its supposed to work is that in independent Pay Review Body recommends what increase they think should be awarded and the government usually goes along with that. The Pay Review Body for consultants and said 6 and the government says 0k, were going to award that but then said no talk no negotiations, that is it. And the bma union has made the case consistently because of the impact of inflation over 15 years these most senior doctors pay packets have been really seriously eroded. And 6 is not even where inflation is this year never mind compensating for previous years. So they are pretty much set on continuing their dispute with further strikes in august. Junior doctors carry on a five day strike in england, which ended recently. They are planning more as well. They are in a separate pay dispute. So no sign of this being resolved certainly at the moment. fiend sign of this being resolved certainly at the moment. And of course the certainly at the moment. And of course the impact certainly at the moment. And of course the impact is certainly at the moment. And of course the impact is being certainly at the moment. And of course the impact is being felt l certainly at the moment. And of| course the impact is being felt by people who might have appointments cancelled, appointments theyve been waiting a long time for. What is the public mood on this . For some people hearing what the doctors earn, its quite a lot to them. The hearing what the doctors earn, its quite a lot to them. Quite a lot to them. A real frustration quite a lot to them. A real frustration for quite a lot to them. A real frustration for patients quite a lot to them. A real| frustration for patients who quite a lot to them. A real frustration for patients who had their operations or appointments postponed because of these drives. That being said, the nhs in england is under real pressure before these disputes got underway. With long delays and people being cancelled, the the unions argue yes its can lead not because a lot of inconvenience but not a good place anyway with some fundamental underlying problems like workforce shortages. Yes, thousands of these different appointments and procedures postponed for that one estimate about 750000 and england as a result of strikes by nurses, paramedics, doctors, physiotherapists and other health style. Most of the other unions have settled or called off strikes. Its just the doctors continuing at the moment although one other group the radiographers in england are mounting a strike next week. The nhs has got a lot of challenges i head for them and this is certainly one of them. ,. ,. ,. , of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank ou of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank you for of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank you forjoining of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank you forjoining us. Of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank you forjoining us. To of them. Hugh pym, our Health Editor thank you forjoining us. To stay thank you forjoining us. To stay with us if you can hear on bbc news. This is the daily global. Hello. Whilst much of Southern Europe is still feeling the effect of that intense ongoing heatwave, here in the uk, no sign of any heat in the forecast because things are staying rather cool and unsettled. The next few days bring a few scattered showers but through the weekend its going to turn increasingly wet and windy for all of us at times. This is the expected rainfall accumulation we are going to see by the time we get to the end of monday, 50 70 millimetres for some areas, so its going to turn quite soggy particularly through the weekend. Back to the here and now and as we head through into the evening, just a few showers around that should mainly fade away, but this zone across parts of central and Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain cloudier with a few splashes of rain. Now, either side of that theres clearer skies so we are likely to see temperatures getting down into single figures in quite a few places. A fairly fresh start to your friday morning, but some sunshine from the word go away from parts of Northern England and Northern Ireland, where we start off with the cloud and a few light showers. Through the day, as things warm up, sunny spells and scattered showers will tend to bubble up. They will be most frequent for eastern scotland, northern and Eastern England as well. Further south and west youre more likely to stay dry. A bit of patchy rain at times for Northern Ireland and temperatures not great, 14 21 degrees, a little below par for this stage injuly. Of course, two big Sporting Fixtures in the north west of england, the ashes and the golf as well. Both of these events could see the chance of a Passing Shower but its certainly not going to be a wash out on friday. 0vernight into saturday, thats when the cloud thickens, the rain starts to move in from the atlantic, so a milder night for many of us. Clearer skies holding on into saturday morning across the north of scotland. But the wind and rain is courtesy of this area of low pressure. It drifts in from the atlantic and spreads its way eastwards through the course of the day. So initially some rain for parts of Northern Ireland, perhaps wales, Northern England too. Gales developing down towards the south west. It will turn windy across all of england and wales in particular. That rain presses its way eastwards gradually through the course of the day. Just north of scotland i think getting away with some drier, sunnier weather, but temperatures only 15 19. Feeling cooler when you add on the wind and the rain as well. Moving through the second half of the weekend into sunday. Low pressure just drifts off towards the east but we still have the tail end of that frontal system, so more showers around for many of us at times on sunday, and it stays unsettled with some sunshine and a scattering of showers into monday too. Bye bye. Youre watching bbc news, the headlines. Moscow announces restrictions on the movement of british diplomats in russia and they said his response to the hostile actions of the uk government. Uruguay is in the midst of a record trout which is fixing to leave its capital without clean drinking water. And new studies is cutting down on me to can help save the planet