been sued by the justice at the third time the company has been sued by thejustice department since 2009. the us attorney general, meret garland, is due to hold a press conference shortly and we will bring you that as and when it happens. first, to another breaking story here in the uk. the government of the bank of england has said, we are on our way to an interest rate cut. the bank has announced that interest rates are to remain unchanged at 5.25%. it is the first time any row that they have been held at what is a 16 year high. andrew bailey says that there is encouraging news on inflation but warned that there would need to be evidence that this would be sustained. he has been speaking to our economics editor, faisal islam. inflation has come down, as we expected, but we have still got some way to go, particularly with the most persistent bits of inflation. that is particularly the services, the total basket of —— at 6%, but we do not need to see it come down to a sustainable level come with this distant target, but we need to see further progress. i want to give this message very strongly that we have had very encouraging and good news and i think we can say we are on the way. but news and i think we can say we are on the way-— not on the way. but not quite yet? not cuite et on the way. but not quite yet? not quite yet because _ on the way. but not quite yet? not quite yet because we _ on the way. but not quite yet? not quite yet because we need - on the way. but not quite yet? not quite yet because we need to - on the way. but not quite yet? not quite yet because we need to see i quite yet because we need to see that it quite yet because we need to see thatitis quite yet because we need to see that it is sustained, particularly across the whole mix of things that form the inflation basket, but it is good news. form the inflation basket, but it is good new-— form the inflation basket, but it is good news. form the inflation basket, but it is aood news. . ., , ., ., good news. that was the governor of the bank of — good news. that was the governor of the bank of england _ good news. that was the governor of the bank of england talking - good news. that was the governor of the bank of england talking to - good news. that was the governor of the bank of england talking to our. the bank of england talking to our economics editor, faisal islam. we will have more on the interest rate being unchanged later on in the programme. but let's go to the middle east. israeli forces say they ve killed 50 palestinian gunmen in continuing fighting around al—shifa hospital in gaza city. combat has raged for days in and around the complex, which is crowded with patients and displaced people. our bbc arabic team have spoken to one of the women trapped inside of the al—shifa hospital complex and she told them doctors and journalists have been taken by the israeli soldiers. i journalists have been taken by the israeli soldiers.— israeli soldiers. i swear by god, the 'ust israeli soldiers. i swear by god, they just take — israeli soldiers. i swear by god, they just take those _ israeli soldiers. i swear by god, they just take those who - israeli soldiers. i swear by god, they just take those who they . they just take those who they believe to be saboteurs of the hamas movement. they search the medical staff and put them outside the courtyard of al—shifa hospital. they left one or male nurses in the hospital so they could look after the injured patients inside. besides that, they took them all. there are no remaining journalists. they arrested all of them. it has been a the rannoch days without any water, food or electricity, and people are on top of each other in complete darkness —— been two days. there are thousands of displaced people. we were serving when we went outside, but when we arrived, some people we know give us something to eat and drink. we are starved and dehydrated and living in fear and terror. there are tanks and soldiers all around us and they were firing above and around us to frighten the elderly and the children. meanwhile, the us secretary of state has flown to the middle east to discuss a post—war plan to govern and secure gaza. anthony blinken is in the egyptian capital, cairo, where he's meeting senior ministers from six arab states and the palestinian authority. mr blinken told reporters washington has submitted a draft resolution to the un security council calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza which is linked to the release of hostages — a shift in policy for the us. the security council is meeting right now that is in large part due to the success of the iphone, apple's signature smartphone product. for over a decade, iphone sales have made up a majority of apple's annual revenue. today, apple's shade of the smartphone market is 70% and the entire us smartphone market exceeds 65%. apple charges as much as nearly $1600 for an iphone. but as our complaint alleges, apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market are not simply by staying ahead of the competition on merits, but by violating federal and i trust more. consumers should not have to play higher prices because companies break the law. we allege that apple has employed a strategy which relies on exclusionary anti—competitive conduct that hurts both consumers and developers. for consumers, that has meant fewer choices, higher prices and fees, lower quality smartphones, apps and accessories, and less innovation from apple and its competitors. for developers, that has meant being forced to play by rules of that insulator apple from competition. and as outlined in our complaint, we allege that apple has consolidated its monopoly power not by making its own products better, but by making other products worse. apple carries out its exclusionary conduct in two ways, first imposing contractual restrictions and fees that limit the features and functionality that a developer can offer iphone users. second, apple public selectively restricts access to the points of connection between third—party apps and the iphone's operating system, degrading the functionality of non—apple apps and accessories. the result, but the past 15 years, apple has collected attacks of a 30% commission on the price of any apple mac downloaded from the app store, as well as in app purchases —— on any app downloaded from the app store. they are able to demand these fees from companies of all sizes. they have also suppressed the emergence of programmes like cloud streaming apps, including gaming apps, as well as super apps which could reduce user dependence on apple's own operating system and expensive hardware. and as any iphone user who has ever seen a green text message received a tiny grainy video can attest, apple's and high competitive conduct includes making it more difficult for iphone users to message with users of non—apple products, by diminishing the functionality of its own messaging app and by diminishing the functionality of third—party messaging apps. by doing so, apple knowingly and deliberately degrades quality, privacy, and security for its users. for example, if an iphone user messages in an iphone user in apple messages, the text appears not only as a green bubble, but incorporates limited functionality. the conversation is not encrypted, videos are pixelated and grainy, and users cannot edit messages or see typing indicators. as a result, iphone users perceive rival smartphones as being lower quality because the experiences of messaging friends and family who do not own iphones is worse. even though apple is the one responsible for breaking cross—platform messaging. and it does so intentionally. for example, in 2013, a senior executive at apple explained that supporting cross—platform messaging in apple messages, "would simply serve to remove an obstacle to iphone families, giving their kids android phones". in 2022, apple ceo was asked whether apple would fix android to iphone messaging and they said, not make it personal, but i can't send my mum asserting videos,. —— send my mum certain videos. apple responded by saying, by your mum and iphone. in selectively controlling and distributing at distribution, we say the word... to the interface which is necessary to make it functional on the apple phone. it must be able to communicate with the iphone's operating system, but apple creates barriers that make it extremely difficult and expensive for both users and developers to venture outside the apple cable system. when it comes to smart watches, apple not only drives users to purchase an apple watch, which is only compatible with an iphone, it also uses its technical and contractual controls to make it harder for contractual controls to make it harderfor someone contractual controls to make it harder for someone with an iphone to use a non—apple smart watch. and when it comes to digital wallets, apple's exclusionary conduct goes a step further. digital wallets allow users to store and use passes and credentials any single app, including credit cards, personal identification, movie tickets, car keys. apple wallet is apple's preparatory digital wallet on the iphone. it encourages participation in apple wallet but exerts its monopoly power to block the same partners from developing alternative payment products services for iphone users. for example, apple has blocked third—party developers from creating competing digital wallets on the iphone and used what is known as tap to pay functionality. that is the function that makes a digital wallet in wallet. instead, apple versus those who want to use the wallet function to share personal information with apple, even if they would prefer to share that information solely with their bank, medical provider, or other trusted third party. when an iphone user puts a credit or debit card in apple wallet, apple inserts itself into the process that would otherwise occur directly between the user and the card issuer. this introduces an additional potential point of failure for the privacy and security of apple users. and that is just one way in which apple is willing to make the iphone less secure and less private in order to maintain its monopoly power. the supreme court defines monopoly power as "the power to control prices or exclude competition and coat. i set out in our complaint, apple has that power in the market. this does not in itself violate the trust laws, but dashing anti—trust laws, but when a firm maintains not because it has a superior product or business acumen but by engaging in exclusionary conduct. as set out in our complaint, apple has maintained its power not because of its superiority, but because of its unlawful exclusionary behaviour. this monopoly is alike apple's threat the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. they stifle innovation, hurt producers and workers and increase costs for consumers —— monopolies are like apple's. if left unchallenged, apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. but there is a law for that. the justice department will vigorously enforce anti—trust law. enforcing the law protects consumers from higher prices and fewer choices. that is a justice department's legal obligation, that is what the american people expect, thatis is what the american people expect, that is what they deserve. i am grateful to the attorneys and staff in the department's anti—trust division for their tireless work on this case on behalf of the american people. i will now turn the podium over to the deputy attorney general. thank you very much, mr attorney generat _ thank you very much, mr attorney general. good morning, everyone. in ourfight— general. good morning, everyone. in our fight against corporate misconduct, the department's approach _ misconduct, the department's approach is straightforward and relentless. we identify the most serious — relentless. we identify the most serious wrongdoers, whether individuals or companies and then we focus _ individuals or companies and then we focus our— individuals or companies and then we focus our energy and all necessary resources — focus our energy and all necessary resources to holding them accountable. accountability promotes fairness. _ accountable. accountability promotes fairness, drives deterrence and advances — fairness, drives deterrence and advances the rule of law. by holding all companies to the same standards, our approach to corporate enforcement benefits all americans. americans— enforcement benefits all americans. americans who deserve and demand a justice _ americans who deserve and demand a justice system which holds accountable those who break the law. for over _ accountable those who break the law. for over a _ accountable those who break the law. for over a century, our federal anti-trust— for over a century, our federal anti—trust laws have been a critical tool for— anti—trust laws have been a critical tool for protecting competition. a bil tool for protecting competition. a big competition that feels and drives— big competition that feels and drives our nation's economy. these laws drives our nation's economy. these iaws protect— drives our nation's economy. these laws protect consumer choice in the market. _ laws protect consumer choice in the market, keep prices in check, promote _ market, keep prices in check, promote quality and open doors to innovation — promote quality and open doors to innovation. today, the department alleges _ innovation. today, the department alleges that apple, one of the worid's— alleges that apple, one of the world's largest tech companies, crossed — world's largest tech companies, crossed the line from a rigorous competition to anti—competitive exclusion — competition to anti—competitive exclusion. unlawfully maintaining a monopoiy— exclusion. unlawfully maintaining a monopoly in violation of the sherman act. monopoly in violation of the sherman act the _ monopoly in violation of the sherman act. the complaint makes clear that for years— act. the complaint makes clear that for years apple has tightened its -rip for years apple has tightened its grip on— for years apple has tightened its grip on the smartphone market. you have been grip on the smartphone market. moi. have been listening to a landmark lawsuit being brought in the us against apple, accusing the tech giant, you heard there, of monopolising the smartphone market and crushing competition. just to let you know, apple have released a statement to bbc news saying "this lawsuit threatens how we are and the principles that are set apple products apart in competitive markets. u it " it is a long statement, but i will sum it down. it would set a dangerous precedent in people designing apple's technology and we believe it is wrong and will defend vigorously against it. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. welcome to bbc news with me, sarah campbell. a busy start to the programme. we will bring any more reaction we get to the us government they are taking out a lawsuit against apple, and at their reaction to it. for the moment, let's stay here in the uk. the government should apologise and pay compensation to women affected by the increase in their retirement age — that's the recommendation from the ombudsman, which has been been looking at the impact of raising women's retirement age to bring it in line with men's. the report says the department for work and pensions hasn't acknowledged its failings or put things right for those affected. campaigners say millions of women born in the 1950s have suffered financially because they weren't properly warned in advance about the changes. sanchia berg has the story. # heigh—ho, heigh—ho, it's off to court we go...# after years of protesting, a victory for women born in the 1950s. the government changed the age they would get their state pension, and didn't let them know in time to plan. 0ur reaction today is we're glad the report is finally out and with parliament. parliament actually decided to take the action to increase the state pension age for women, and they didn't do the job properly. the department for work and pensions should have told us and they didn't. and is time important? campaign eight or nine years ago, so one of us are dying every 30 minutes withoutjustice, without knowing that now parliament have the decision to make good what it actually got wrong. many say they struggle with money, suffering financial hardship. what they did was absolutely wrong. they could have had a pen and a paper and an envelope and a stamp and sent it to all of us in 1995, was it, when they came up with this decision and let us all know, and we would have all been prepared. i want to ask you all to help... it was the post—war labour government, led by clement attlee, that brought in pensions for all, starting at 65 for men and 60 for women. ..so that we can buy what we need. nearly 50 years later, the conservative prime ministerjohn major decided that should change to 65 for all — a change that was accelerated by the coalition government. that led to confusion for some, ignorance, then hardship for many. the ombudsman said the women should be compensated but it also said the department for work and pensions had made it clear it would not comply. the ombudsman said this was unacceptable. in a statement, the department for work and pensions said it would consider the ombudsman's report and respond in due course. it said the government had always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way. let's speak to debbie de spon who is a campaignerfor women against state pension inequality and who has been affected. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. first of all, your reaction to the ombudsman's report today? we reaction to the ombudsman's report toda ? ~ ., ., ., today? we are glad that the ombudsman _ today? we are glad that the ombudsman has _ today? we are glad that the ombudsman has handed - today? we are glad that the ombudsman has handed it | today? we are glad that the i ombudsman has handed it over today? we are glad that the - ombudsman has handed it over to parliament. it was parliament's fault that the waspi women were disadvantaged in the way they were, so it is up to parliament now to put it right. and we are looking to all of the cross—party mps who have supported us over many years that we have been campaigning to bet money, put their money where their mouth is and compel the government to bring this compensation for waspi women are matter to a speedy conclusion, because we have not got any time to waste. , , ., ~ because we have not got any time to waste. , , ., ,, , because we have not got any time to waste, , ., ,, , ., i, waste. just take us through your experience. _ waste. just take us through your experience, how _ waste. just take us through your experience, how it _ waste. just take us through your experience, how it affected - waste. just take us through your experience, how it affected you, what the impact on the change in retirement age had on you financially?— retirement age had on you financially? retirement age had on you financiall ? ~' 5: ~ ., ., financially? like 3.6 million other wasi financially? like 3.6 million other waspi women. — financially? like 3.6 million other waspi women, had _ financially? like 3.6 million other waspi women, had very - financially? like 3.6 million other waspi women, had very short - financially? like 3.6 million other- waspi women, had very short notice, and it came as an enormous shock as someone who had not been able to work consistently outside of the home. i had an irregular national insurance contribution as a result of that and we made voluntary contributions to make sure i would be able to have a state pension when i did come to my retirement age, and whenjust two years i did come to my retirement age, and when just two years of my retirement age i found i was not going to get my state pension, it was devastating. and ifelt that terrible sense of loss and being let down by the government for something that simply wasn't my fault or the fault of all the other women who have been equally impacted. "16536 fault of all the other women who have been equally impacted. have you been able to — have been equally impacted. have you been able to calculate _ have been equally impacted. have you been able to calculate how _ have been equally impacted. have you been able to calculate how much - have been equally impacted. have you been able to calculate how much you | been able to calculate how much you have been left out of pocket, how this has affected your retirement plans and the amount of money you would have had vigour retirement? the amount of my state pension is £26,000, that is what i would have got if i had my state pension when i was expecting it. but the loss is notjust was expecting it. but the loss is not just financial, was expecting it. but the loss is notjust financial, there is an emotional and physical cost that we have all paid as well. we have been campaigning for nine years, and it has been exhausting, relentless. we have had this incredibly long and tortuous process of complaining to the ombudsman and for an investigation that has taken nearly six years to look into six sample cases with toing and froing on the campaign having to raise huge sums of money to keep the campaign going and also finance our legal challenges. and it has been extremely difficult. and for all waspi women it has taken a toll on us. and as we already know, there is a waspi women dying every 30 minutes, and they will never see compensation or feel vindicated. debbie, really good to talk to you. thank you so much for talking to us today. european union leaders are meeting in brussls, where they are discussing the israel—gaza war, as well as the war in ukraine. they're examining this question — could the profits from frozen russian financial assets be used to pay for weapons for ukraine? ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky is also expected to take part. in kyiv, at least thirteen people are reported to have been injured, as the city came under missile attack during the night. mr zelensky is expected to ask the west to show the political will to deliver their defence systems. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake is there in brussels for us take us through this proposal, what level of support is it likely to get, the use of the frozen assets? 1 get, the use of the frozen assets? i can tell you at the moment and in one of the main journalists' rooms, and you might see huddle behind me because that is because different representatives of the 27 eu countries come out and briefed journalists about what is happening, so in terms of this proposal, basically the idea is to take profits from frozen russian assets in europe and to use that money to buy weapons to send to ukraine. lots of leaders here believe this could be a really worthwhile thing. whether or not they get any sort of agreement on that today is a completely different matter because some of the eu countries are not in military alliances are so do not like the idea of money being taken from russian assets and funnelled towards military purposes, but it is something under review today, and certainly the german chancellor says this is something that has to be done because ukraine needs more capability, more weapons. hick. done because ukraine needs more capability, more weapons.- capability, more weapons. nick, i know ou capability, more weapons. nick, i know you will— capability, more weapons. nick, i know you will keep _ capability, more weapons. nick, i know you will keep us _ capability, more weapons. nick, i know you will keep us across - capability, more weapons. nick, i| know you will keep us across what capability, more weapons. nick, i. know you will keep us across what is happening with those discussions. to stay with us, we will be talking about how ai can help with cancer diagnosis. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. well, at this time of year, with light winds and some sunshine, we can get some spring warmth. and that's what we had yesterday. warmest day of the year so far, just shy of 19 degrees in surrey. and it wasn't a bad start today. and surrey is probably one of the areas where we could see the highest values once again. different story further north and west in east renfrewshire. we've already seen some sharp showers here, all tied into this area of low pressure. and along the southern flank, plenty of isobars, so strong to gale—force gusts of winds as well. now, this has been the progress of the rain so far today. it's fairly light and drizzly as it moves its way across wales and north west england. but we've got some heavier bursts across western scotland and northern ireland, accompanied by gusts of winds in excess of 50 to 60 miles an hour. some brightness by the end of the day in the far north. cloudy with some brief glimpses of sunshine from time to time. so that will have an effect on what we get as our highest value. 16 or 17 degrees, though, not out of the question. through the night tonight, our weather front will continue to sink its way steadily southward. so a blanket of cloud holding those temperatures up. clearer skies and a few scattered showers at further north. so here, we're looking at around four or five degrees as a morning minimum. so we're going to start off tomorrow, then, bright and breezy, with gales or severe gales developing across the far north of scotland. and a rash of showers here. early morning rain across the south east of england will gradually ease away, but it'll take its time in doing so. brighter skies behind and temperatures down a little, 9 to 12 celsius. and that's the story as we go into the weekend. the milder air is gradually going to be squeezed over to the near continent, low pressure dominates for the start of the weekend, and the wind direction will play its part. it is going to be a blustery day, gusty winds widely, and that'll drive in a rash of showers from the north and west. and yes, with elevation, there could be some wintry showers in there as well. but if you dodge the showers, get a little bit of shelter and some sunshine, it still won't feel too bad. but you can see the wind gusts generally 30 to 45 miles an hour, and that'll make it feel fresher than we've seen of late, 9 to 10 celsius. a little bit quieter as we go into sunday, and hopefully fewer showers around as well. whatever you're doing, have a great weekend. this is bbc news. the headlines: the us files a landmark lawsuit against apple, accusing the tech giant of monopolising the smartphone market. israeli forces say they've killed 50 palestinian gunmen in continuing fighting around al—shifa hospital in gaza city. a new report finds many british women are owed apologies and thousands of pounds in compensation because of state pension changes. the bank of england has kept interest rates unchanged at 5.25% for the fifth time in a row. an ai tool tested by an nhs hospital trust successfully identified tiny signs of breast cancer in women which had been missed by human doctors. sport, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. it's a big night for wales later, they face finland at the cardiff city stadium in their euro 2024 qualifying play—off semifinal. the winner will face poland or estonia next tuesday to decide who makes it to germany this summer. having failed to qualify for a major tournament between 1958 and 2016, wales are aiming to reach their third successive euros and the pressure of play—off football is nothing new for the welsh, who memorably beat austria and ukraine in 2022 en route to qualifying for their first world cup in 64 years.