for the 2025 season. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. police say a woman and her young child have suffered potentially life—changing injuries after an alkaline substance was thrown at them. another child was also injured when they were attacked by a man they knew in clapham in south london. several people who tried to help them were also hurt, including five police officers. police are still searching for the attacker, as helena wilkinson reports. it was a horrific attack on a mother and her two young daughters, aged just eight and three. having a

corrosive substance, now known to be alkaline, thrown at them on a london street. the emergency response last night was huge. forensic experts spent hours examining the scene. witnesses to the attack said one of the young girls was dragged out of a car by the attacker before he threw the substance. a couple who live on the substance. a couple who live on the road, who didn't want to be on camera, told the bbc what they saw. my camera, told the bbc what they saw. my mum was saying, i can't see. that's when she got acid thrown in herface. i told that's when she got acid thrown in herface. itold my that's when she got acid thrown in her face. i told my partner to get water. . . . ~ her face. i told my partner to get water. . ., . ~ ., , , water. the attack happened in (la - ham water. the attack happened in clapham in — water. the attack happened in clapham in south _ water. the attack happened in clapham in south london. - water. the attack happened in i clapham in south london. police water. the attack happened in - clapham in south london. police were called at around 7.25 yesterday evening to lessar avenue. this lunchtime, a manhunt is under way to find the suspect, who went on foot towards clapham common. the woman and her two daughters are in the hospital with serious injuries. four members of the public who helped

earn five police officers were also injured. police say the woman in the suspect are known to each other. this is a ghastly attack. london police and communities will come together to try to rescue the situation. i wish the woman and her daughters well and we will hunt down this offender. daughters well and we will hunt down this offender-— this offender. earlier a car, the focus of forensic _ this offender. earlier a car, the focus of forensic examination, | this offender. earlier a car, the - focus of forensic examination, was taken away. police say that while the attack appears targeted, the suspect is dangerous and they are urgently appealing for help to find him. helena wilkinson, bbc news. our correspondent charlie rose is at the scene in clapham in south london. what a terrible event. what more do we know? the what a terrible event. what more do we know? , ., , what a terrible event. what more do we know? , . , , we know? the very latest this lunchtime _ we know? the very latest this lunchtime is _ we know? the very latest this lunchtime is that _ we know? the very latest this lunchtime is that the - we know? the very latest this i lunchtime is that the 31-year-old lunchtime is that the 31—year—old woman and the two young daughters are still in hospital being treated after the attack yesterday evening. the youngest, a three—year—old, her mother, have sustained police say

what could be life changing injuries. the police will really want to speak to the family as they carry out their investigation because they haven't yet released a description of the attacker. what we do know is that one or two neighbours have told us that they saw a figure dressed in dark clothing heading towards clapham common yesterday evening. but of course, clapham common is one of london's busiest parks in the attack took place at what is a very busy time of day so the police are very hopeful that someone will have seen something and they can provide some information as police carry out this urgent manhunt. in about half an hour the metropolitan police will give a press conference right here where i'm standing, where we hope to get some more information.— get some more information. charlie rose, get some more information. charlie rose. thank — get some more information. charlie rose, thank you. _ interest rates have been left unchanged by the bank of england, for the fourth time in a row. they remain at 5.25%, as economists had expected.

the bank had previously raised rates ia times in a row to curb inflation, leading to increased mortgage costs. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. at this distillery in chatham in kent, every cost has to be carefully managed, from workers wages which across the uk have risen faster than they have for decades, to the precise ingredients of the drinks. the cost of raw materials has dropped and energy prices have plummeted, but they are yet to see the benefit. we plummeted, but they are yet to see the benefit. ~ ., plummeted, but they are yet to see the benefit-— the benefit. we are running at 120 miles an hour— the benefit. we are running at 120 miles an hour here _ the benefit. we are running at 120 miles an hour here in _ the benefit. we are running at 120 miles an hour here in order- the benefit. we are running at 120 miles an hour here in order to - the benefit. we are running at 120 i miles an hour here in order to make a little bit of progress. and that's the nature of the environment we are in. i think that really relates to consumer demand. and the availability of people that have discretionary income to spend. 50. discretionary income to spend. so, is the economy still overheating? at

the rest went inside the distillery consumers cannot spend like there used to after ia interest rate rises in a row. that has removed some of the upward pressure on prices and food inflation slowed from i9%, down to 8%. with retail sales down 3% at the last count, as consumers are spending less. business at pubs and restaurants has dropped by 2.1%. in consumerfacing restaurants has dropped by 2.1%. in consumer facing services overall, activity is nearly 6% below pre—pandemic levels. but so far, only one neighbour of the committee that sets interest rates at the bank of england thinks the economy has slowed down enough to start cutting interest rates. six voted to stay the same and two wanted to raise rates for the 15th time. so the same and two wanted to raise rates for the 15th time.— the same and two wanted to raise rates for the 15th time. so yes, we have had good _ rates for the 15th time. so yes, we have had good news _ rates for the 15th time. so yes, we have had good news but _ rates for the 15th time. so yes, we have had good news but we - rates for the 15th time. so yes, we have had good news but we have l rates for the 15th time. so yes, we | have had good news but we have to rates for the 15th time. so yes, we - have had good news but we have to be more confident inflation will fall all the way back to the 2% target and stay there. and we are not yet at a point where we can lower interest rates. this at a point where we can lower interest rates.— at a point where we can lower interest rates. ~ , ., , ., , ., interest rates. as households who took out cheap —

interest rates. as households who took out cheap fixed-rate - interest rates. as households who i took out cheap fixed-rate mortgages took out cheap fixed—rate mortgages have seen their costs leap, the number of people falling behind in payments has also jumped. number of people falling behind in payments has alsojumped. a number of people falling behind in payments has also jumped. a further 1.5 million face the same trouble this year. many wanted rates to drop and the sooner the better, but in the city, most traders now expect that will have to wait untiljune at the earliest. andy verity, bbc news. our chief economics correspondent dharshini david is with me. inflation has been coming down, why aren't we seeing interest rates following suit yet? some might be wondering whether or not the bank of england lives in the real world, not the bank of england lives in the realworld, hearing not the bank of england lives in the real world, hearing all that, not the bank of england lives in the realworld, hearing all that, but things have changed and a new tone in a new year for the bank of england. there is definitely a mood shift going on. in december we had over warnings from the bank of england we may have to see more rate rises. that has pretty much vanished from the text. instead you are getting some discussion amongst the panel about rate cuts. there is definitely that mood shift, because we have seen a rapid fall in

inflation, more rapid than the bank expected. low energy costs likely to push inflation below the target, perhaps later in the spring. they holding off? there is more going on. inflation in the services sector, eating out, hotels and leisure, that kind of thing, that is still stronger, although falling, it is stronger, although falling, it is stronger than the bank of england is comfortable with. so likewise is wages growth, all that is also easing. there is more money swilling around the economy, that discretionary spending that we were hearing about, it is still stronger than the bank is comfortable with. if it cuts rates there is more money in pockets and does that risk reigniting inflation too far? there is a worry it might bounce back later this year. what is it boiled down to? ultimately they are thinking perhaps a rate cut, as we heard there, in the summer rather than late spring although the evidence will come into play and we will watch that carefully. what it means ultimately, if you are one of

those homeowners remortgaging this year, you will still see a jump in repayments compared to what you have been used to playing in the last couple of years. having said that, because there is the expectations of rate cuts still there, we're already seeing mortgage rates starting to drift down a little bit so the extra pain may not be quite as bad as some people fear, although i know that is not much comfort to many. dharshini thank ou. today's news comes at same time we're hearing from the chancellor that there's little wriggle room for tax cuts. we're joined now by our political correspondent iain watson in westminster. how will this go down with conservative mps? and this is an election year. it certainly sounds like jeremy hunt is certainly sounds likejeremy hunt is trying to manage their expectations and perhaps the expectations of voters ahead of the budget next month. with his party trailing in the polls many conservative mps have been urging him to do more in cutting tax. but he told the bbc�*s political thinking podcast that he didn't think he had quite the same

wriggle room that he had when he cut national insurance last month. interestingly, the shadow chancellor, his opposite number rachel reeves, has also been talking about tax today. she has been addressing a conference of business leaders and promised a future labour government would not increase corporation tax. she also said she could offer business stability. what seems to be decidedly wobbly rather than stable is her party's commitment to spending £28 billion a year on green projects. this is something she herself announced in 2021. she then delayed the timescale in 2023 but when she was asked about the policy at the conference today she didn't even utter the 28 billion figure. she pointed out there would be another budget before the general election and at westminster that has been interpreted as perhaps a hint to the £28 billion figure might be dropped entirely because it has been under persistent conservative attack. ., under persistent conservative attack. . . . . ~

eu leaders have unanimously agreed on a £a3 billion aid package for ukraine, at a summit in brussels. there had been fears hungary's prime minister viktor orban, known for his ties to the russian president vladimir putin, would stand in the way of the deal. ukraine says it's running short of funds and munitions. our correspondent sarah rainsford joins us now in kyiv. how important is this latest eu support package? i think it's really important. it's notjust i think it's really important. it's not just about the money, i think it's really important. it's notjust about the money, it's about that show of support by the eu and the fact all 27 countries eventually did get onside. getting hungary on—board was really important symbolically in terms of the message it sends to moscow, and of course it is about the hard cash. particularly thatis is about the hard cash. particularly that is important because this funding deal has been approved at a time when the american aid package for ukraine is still blocked. ukraine needs the money, it makes no

excuses for that. it says war is expensive and it's notjust about getting missiles and weapons and tanks and ammunition. it is about money to keep life behind the lines going as normally as possible, to pay pensions and wages, and even keep the heating on. it's about keeping the wheels of government rolling so that money is really important. there has been a lot of gratitude here from officials in ukraine and a lot of relief too i think. they have been making the point, though, that this is notjust about this country. this is about europe, not giving aid to ukraine but investing in its own security and stability, in supporting ukraine in a fight for a much bigger cause, which is stopping russia from changing the whole world order by force. that's the message we have been getting here in kyiv today. but i think there is a lot of relief that this aid package goes for several years, this is money secured forfour several years, this is money secured for four years, several years, this is money secured forfour years, which several years, this is money secured for four years, which secures ukraine some of the stability it

needs. .. . ukraine some of the stability it needs. . . , ., , needs. sarah rainsford in kyiv, thank you- _ hundreds of angry farmers have descended on brussels to protest against rising costs and european regulations, while eu leaders meet there. police say around 1,000 tractors have been driven into the city, blocking major roads. yesterday, the european commission promised more help, including measures to shield farmers against cheap grain imports from ukraine. our correspondent bethany bell is in brussels this lunchtime. the farmers protesting across europe have brought their grievances to the doorstep of the european parliament. and here in the square outside the air is heavy with the smoke of burning tyres. farmers here say they are angry that while they have to produce food to very high standards, the markets have been flooded with cheap food from non—eu countries. today we have just been told that

1300 tractors are out here today. hundreds of tractors clogged the streets around the eu's headquarters. this is becoming a common sight in many european cities. now it's the turn of brussels, as eu leaders meet for a key summit on financial aid for ukraine. riot police are out in force. they've been pelted with eggs. there's a real sense of rage here. protesters are burning tyres right in front of the european parliament. these farmers have come from france, from italy and from belgium. they say they're struggling to make ends meet and they've brought their anger right to the heart of brussels. we are demanding to have a lower bureaucracy because we are here indeed to produce — this is our main task. second, we also ask for to lower the imports that are incoming here in europe.

the european commission has suggested plans to limit farm imports from ukraine and to ease some green regulations, but that may not be enough for the farmers, and their anger could translate into support for far right parties. without agriculture, without farmers, there is not life. we cannot eat the phone or the car. we produce food, the food is life. in france, tractors are continuing to block major motorways, especially round paris. many people here say the future of european farming and the direction of its politics could be at stake. bethany bell, bbc news, brussels. the time is 1:15pm. our top story this afternoon... a manhunt is underway after an attack with a corrosive substance injured nine people in south london.

still to come, a monkey which spent five days roaming the scottish highlands, is successfully captured. coming up on bbc news, a debut for 20—year—old shoaib bashir for england. the spin bowler replaces jack leach ahead of the second test against india tomorrow, with james anderson also back in the line—up. the former sub—postmaster who led the campaign forjustice in the post office horizon scandal says he'll reject an offer of compensation from the government. alan bates told the daily telegraph the offer was "offensive" and "cruel". it's a month since an itv drama highlighted the scandal, where hundreds of sub—postmasters and post—mistresses were wrongly prosecuted. although the false accusations of theft and fraud have now stopped, as our correspondent colletta smith finds out, running a post office branch — and turning a profit —

remains extremely hard. who's next, please? who's next, please ? right across the uk, those running post offices are facing an uphill battle. in the village of comrie in perthshire, marlene runs the post office and the shop. that's my terminal. my keyboard, which is where i was doing the majority of the work. i've got my postbags here. i've got a coffee machine. we sell mobile phone top—ups. but she's struggling to make any money at all. there is no basic salary. we're paid per transaction. the amount that we get to sell a first class stamp is six pence. so think how many first class stamps you're going to have to sell. after five years of blood, sweat and tears, marlene's put this place up for sale. but she's not hopeful. i'm never going to sell this place. that's the reality of it, you know. would you buy a post office?

no? because i certainly wouldn't. you know, and i have sunk, you know, sunk everything into it. you know, i've borrowed from my mum. i've borrowed from friends to prop it up and it's just... ..i can see no...i can see no end to it. and no one, no one, you know, would want to buy a post office now. i mean, it'sjust, it's toxic. totally toxic. those concerns are being echoed in post offices up and down the country, with sub—postmasters desperate for head office to hear them and help them. we need something within the next couple of weeks. really? you feel like time is... time's running out. yeah _ time's definitely running out. for you to survive as a business? for me to want to. this is sara, 250 miles south in the village of rainhill, on the outskirts of liverpool. she says she's still having problems

with the horizon computer system. from day one, when i first took over the branch and the auditor was in with me, there was quite an excessive loss. the post office told us anyone still experiencing problems with horizon should call the branch support centre and they say they're doing all they can to improve profitability for postmasters. travel another 260 miles further south and we're on the edge of dartmoor, where they're taking a very different approach to make the post office work. this is the ashburton post office van that serves the rural communities of dartmoor. stuart is the postmaster in charge of the van, as well as the main store and lots more too. we're the first post office in the country to have a banking facility, a library facility, and a post office in the same location. he's ploughed in his own money and time to get people through the doors. so, this is the library with the self—service machine. a computer to help people get connected electronically.

we're having to extend our trading hours, extend more services, bring the hub in. although we get no revenue for the hub, it drives footfall. hello, becky. like thousands of others, against the odds, stuart is making it work. we are having to build the trust in ashburton post office and the network greater, because people have lost trust in the post office. while earning very little on struggling high streets, with a computer system they don't trust, postmasters are providing vital community services at a huge personal cost. colletta smith, bbc news. mps are debating legislation which would pave the way for a return of a power—sharing government at stormont after almost two years. under the terms of a deal between the government and the dup, routine checks on goods arriving from england, scotland or wales and remaining in northern ireland, will be removed. our political editor chris mason is in westminster.

chris, what can we expect today? when could power—sharing be restored byjeu—o when could power—sharing be restored byjell—o i think you and me might have talked about this before over the years. have talked about this before over the ears. ., have talked about this before over the ears. . , ., ., ., the years. that question of northern ireland in brexit _ the years. that question of northern ireland in brexit and _ the years. that question of northern ireland in brexit and borders - the years. that question of northern ireland in brexit and borders and - ireland in brexit and borders and trade, it looks like now we are just a couple of hours away from parliament here passing these tweaks in the law. there's very little opposition to them. the debate has been back under way for the best part of the last hour and will continue for an hour or two more and that will mean from the democratic unionist point of view the conditions have been formally met, signed, sealed and delivered, if you like, in orderfor them to say signed, sealed and delivered, if you like, in order for them to say they will go back into power—sharing devolved government in northern ireland and the expectation once we reach that point is that that will happen this weekend on saturday and quite a moment it will be because northern ireland has been without devolved government for the best part of two years, but also because

of a particular element of the restoration of power this time round, which is the prospect of a sinn fein first minister in michelle o'neill. that is unprecedented. quite a moment at the most senior political figure quite a moment at the most senior politicalfigure in northern ireland will be from a party that aspires one day for northern ireland to be part of another state, to be part of the republic rather than part of the uk, so a little more debating to come but the expectation as we can see now is the direction of travel and then a big moment at the weekend. ., and then a big moment at the weekend-— and then a big moment at the weekend. ., , ., , weekend. indeed a big moment, chris, thank ou weekend. indeed a big moment, chris, thank you so — weekend. indeed a big moment, chris, thank you so much. _ a bbc investigation has heard from dozens of people who claim they were scammed out of thousands of pounds for legal services they didn't receive. it's understood that craig johnson, who claimed to be experienced in family law, is now facing two police investigations. our social affairs editor alison holt has this report. in the world of courts and the law, false promises can ruin people's lives. this is 26—year—old craig johnson receiving his law degree less

than three years ago. he's not a solicitor or a barrister, but he has been offering legal services to people, like joe stevenson. the situation i was in was one of desperation, financially and emotionally. the bbc has spoken to dozens of people who paid mrjohnson thousands of pounds for legal help. his website made big claims, particularly in family law, which deals with divorce and child arrangements. joe asked for help with his divorce. after starting well, mrjohnson failed to go to hearings and paperwork wasn't done. he kept on charging me more and more money, and then blocked me, ignored me, made every excuse not to come to a hearing. "i'm in hospital." "i'm in a car crash." i heard everything. i think he actually forgot what he had told me previously. joe paid nearly £5,000, but eventually got about half of that back. phil and jenny turned to craig johnson after a family court hearing went badly. phil's daughter had

stayed with them longer than an order said she should. we've disguised their identity for legal reasons. what we've ended up with isjust so much worse. not only is it, like, seeing my daughter less, because he didn't put the appeal in, i'm in financial trouble because we had to get a loan to pay for his services. mrjohnson told them about five different court dates and that a judge had agreed they could keep the daughterfor longer. but when phil rang the court, there was no record. they said, "you're not even down as being represented by anyone." i said, "how is that the case? you know, i've signed for him." and they said, "we think you may have been scammed." and as no appeal had been made in the original case, phil could face three months in prison for contempt of court. i get angry, i get sad, i can't focus. i had to go to a gp and they've said, you're having a mental breakdown. and it's because i've got no answers. if craig johnson had been a solicitor, the law society says he would have been trained and regulated. he was not.

welcome to the law society library, alison. karen dovaston chairs the family law committee. we showed her a divorce petition that mrjohnson sent to another of his clients. "this order cannot be disclosed to anyone." that's not the right wording. this is rubbish, this isjust not what you'd get in divorce. he's since admitted the order was not genuine. karen dovaston says cuts to legal aid have left many worried about court costs and they can end up with bad advice. the law society position is that early legal advice should be available for all. legal aid should be reinstated to allow for early legal advice for people to go and see a solicitor for that initial interview. we tried to put his clients' many questions directly to craig johnson. mrjohnson, hi. i'm from the bbc. i'd like to talk to you about the people that you've scammed. they want some answers. no comment here, but through his lawyer, he says he has cooperated

with professional inquiries and can't comment on individual cases. alison holt, bbc news. a ban on xl bully dogs has come into force in england and wales. it's now illegal to own the animals without a certificate proving they've been neutered and microchipped. owners who fail to follow the strict rules face a criminal record and an unlimited fine. the bbc understands the seven—time formula one world champion sir lewis hamilton could make a shock move to ferrari for the 2025 season. our sports correspondent jane dougall is in salford. is it likely? it's very likely, it's not confirmed, _ is it likely? it's very likely, it's not confirmed, but _ is it likely? it's very likely, it's not confirmed, but this - is it likely? it's very likely, it's not confirmed, but this would | is it likely? it's very likely, it's i not confirmed, but this would be is it likely? it's very likely, it's - not confirmed, but this would be one of the most significant stories in formula one for years. the oldest surviving and most successful formula one team ferrari paired with the most successful current driver on the circuit, lewis hamilton, it's

mouthwatering. there'd been speculation about a move like this for years but this time it's more than speculation. several sources have told the bbc a team meeting has been called by mercedes, hamilton's current team, where it's believed they'll be told he is leaving after this season, and ferrari could have a vacancy because one of their drivers, carlos sainz, only has a year left on his contract so hamilton could replace him in 2025. neither team has commented. hamilton has raced for mercedes since 2013. his won six of his seven world championship titles with them. but his most recent was four years ago. he hasn't won a race since 2021 and he is 39 years old. hamilton wants a record—breaking elusive eighth world title. he may feel he has to change teams to get it.— teams to get it. jane, thanks very much. a monkey which had gone missing and spent five days roaming the highlands has now been successfully captured. the japanese macaque — otherwise known as a snow monkey —

escaped from the highland wildlife park at kincraig, near aviemore. iain macinnes is at the park for us. they got him. it's been quite a few da s here they got him. it's been quite a few days here in _ they got him. it's been quite a few days here in the _ they got him. it's been quite a few days here in the highlands, - they got him. it's been quite a few days here in the highlands, i - they got him. it's been quite a few days here in the highlands, i must| days here in the highlands, i must say. the keepers here at the park, the press and the public looking for this monkey over the past five years and the japanese macaques in their enclosure behind me don't realise what a consternation this monkey has caused here in the highlands and worldwide. it's captured the attention. during the morning this morning, a morning of high drama, we got news that had been a positive sighting and from there things did develop and he was taken back here safe and well. it's been quite the few days for this cheeky monkey. the mysterious macaque spotted stealing snacks in a local garden on sunday. searches have been ongoing for days since he escaped from the highland wildlife park using thermal drones and some simpler methods. whistle blows.

but this morning a breakthrough. we've managed to recover the monkey, he's on his way back to the parkjust now, so great news. relieved, so relieved. it's been a long five days but the keeper team have been absolutely fantastic. the local community have been great, phoning in tips and sightings. i'm just glad it all came together in the end and we managed to bring him back home. he will now be checked over by staff here at the highland wildlife park and the hope is he will be reunited with his troop later today, none the worse for his highland adventure. there is obviously some work to be done. there's a sense of elation here but there are concerns for the monkey who was obviously given a tranquilizer, that will take some time to work off and we've seen the monkeys get quite excited as a land rover pulled up alongside. they might think theirfriend rover pulled up alongside. they might think their friend might be

coming home but obviously there will be a pretty major reunion when they'll get back together. we still don't have a name for this monkey but we are being told by the zoo that they release that in good time and the hope is that this monkey does come through this experience out in the wilds of the highlands over the past few week delay is safe and well and they will also i'm sure be stepping up security around the monkey enclosure. i bet, ian mckinley, thank you very much indeed. —— iain macinnes will now, we all might have got ourselves into a tricky situation at some time or other, but a toddler from brisbane in australia found himself stuck in a really tight spot. three—year—old ethan had to be rescued after crawling into a toy vending machine on the hunt for a hello kitty toy. police were called to the shopping centre in queensland on saturday to rescue him. officers directed the trapped but calm toddler to one corner, before smashing the glass to get him back to mum and dad. time for a look at the weather. here's tomasz schafernaker.

we have ferocious storms in scandinavia, what's in store for us? they're waiting for a statement from the police in clapham. a press conference we are waiting to get under way in clapham from the police about the corrosive substance attacked on a family in south london. we can go live now to the scene and our reporter there, chris rose. london next week, 1a degrees. it really is very mild indeed. goodbye.