this the former adviser to ukraine's this defence minister will speak to us live. fears grow for wladimir carlo muz after he's moved from jail. his wife to be verified life. police are putting this man in connection with a corrosive attack on a mother and two girls in south london. the cost of borrowing of the uk stays the bank of england leaves interest rates unchanged. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start with breaking news that his just coming to us, the dup leader jeffrey donelson has said he is written to the speaker of the stormont assembly to confirm that

the conditions exists for the return of the northern ireland power—sharing executive and indicated he expects the assembly to sit on saturday. we've seen just a number of moves through the last couple of days. we saw legislation late in the house of commons. now the dup leader says he's written to the dup leader says he's written to the speaker of the stormont assembly, saying the conditions now exist for the return power—sharing in northern ireland, expected to start on saturday. we'll have a full live coverage of that. i really significant moment with the return of power—sharing in northern ireland. more on that breaking development here in the next little while. let's head to the us. the defence secretary lloyd austin has called on iran to stop supplying weapons to the houthi rebels in yemen. speaking at the pentagon, he said the us does not want a wider middle east conflict, but it reserves the right to respond

to iranian—backed attacks on american personnel in the region. he said this was a �*dangerous moment�* in the middle east. he was speaking as us officials said plans have been approved for a series of strikes against iranian facilities in iraq and syria. they said the action would be carried out over a number of days. washington has been preparing to hit back at iranian—backed militias, after three us troops were killed in a drone strike injordan. speaking from the pentagon, us defence secretary lloyd austin said that this is a dangerous moment in the middle east. the president will not tolerate attacks on american troops, and neither will i. our team—mates were killed by radical militias backed by iran and operating inside syria and iraq. in the aftermath of the vile hamas terrorist assault on israel on october the 7th, terrorist groups backed by iran and funded by iran have tried to create even more turmoil. even more turmoil, including the houthis attacking commercial shipping in the red sea. so this is a dangerous moment in the middle east. we will continue to work to avoid a wider conflict in the region. but we will take all necessary actions to defend the united states,

our interest and our people. and we will respond when we choose where we choose and how we choose. that was what austin. tom bateman was listening. let's talk about iran first of all let's talk about iran, first of all, because, you know, what is new today is that our colleagues at cbs news reporting that the approval has been given for strikes over a series of days and crucially, on iranian personnel and facilities, but not inside iran itself. now, i think there's two things behind this, the fact that this information is now coming out, because what we heard from lloyd austin, as they all say, they're not going to sort

that's the very sort of public from the podium line. but this information is now coming out obviously, from elsewhere in the administration, because i think what they want to do is to show to the iran hawks here in washington that they are going to respond decisively. it is coming, but they're kind of keeping things in a holding pattern because people will be asking the question, well, why haven't there been any military strikes already since these three soldiers were killed at the weekend? so, i think there's one thing to say about the targeting, and that is it's very notable that this does not mention iran itself. that's what some iran hawks here want to see. but it does talk about iran, iranian personnel and facilities in iraq and syria. now, that is still a considerable would be a very, considerable, would be a very, very considerable action. there are islamic revolutionary guard corps, irgc, iranian personnel in parts of iraq and syria. so the targeting of them by the us

would be significant. that is supposed to meaningfully deter further strikes against us personnel. but you know, the fact is the reported approval but the fact is the reported approval here doesn't appear to be against iran itself. they're trying not to draw in tehran into a wider confrontation, direct action between the us and the iranians. and i think it's important here that, they've also mentioned the weather and i think that's they talk about cloud cover. the weather and i think they talk about cloud cover. i think there is a suggestion this perhaps hasn't happened so far because they haven't got the weather to guarantee the targeting. that's a kind of side bar mention towards those more hawkish members of congress that i mentioned. they're perhaps suggesting this is why it hasn't happened yet. really briefly, tom, i mentioned there a really lengthy apology for that hospital stay, that cancer diagnosis that he'd had, but he'd kept it from his department, the public and the president. he went a great length to go through the detail of all of that.

this, i think, the first news conference he's actually had since all of that controversy blew up. yeah, i mean, it's the first time he's been at the pentagon publicly since all of this. this has put huge pressure onjoe biden during the biggest military conflagration in the middle east in many, many years, this crisis that he's been trying to deal with. he's had his own defence secretary, i mean, literally taking part in calls about operational activity from his hospital bed. and this has put huge pressure on an issue of transparency, of accountability, because, you know, the senior level of the administration didn't know about the fact he was hospitalized at the start. of the administration didn't know about the fact he was hospitalised at the start.

so we had this very, very lengthy apology, a very, very lengthy explanation, as he put it, as to why he hadn't told the president at the start. and he said he was very sorry for that. it's been a very difficult episode both for the white house and for the pentagon during this very serious crisis in the middle east. tom bateman there at the state department. to brussels now — where european leaders have agreed a 50 billion euro funding dealfor ukraine. the money is locked in for four years and gives kyiv some stability in its war with russia. the deal was announced — as ukraine said, it had destroyed a russian warship in the black sea, just off the crimean peninsula. the bbc is still trying to verify this footage — released by the ukrainian ministry of defence. it's said to show, the moment the russian vessel came under attack. it shows a small vessel approaching the russian ship. a large explosion follows, and at the end of the two minute video — the warhip appears to start rolling over and sinking. let's start with that aid package that's been agreed in brussels. how

much of a difference is the likely to make? good evening, it will make all the decisions because it is costing more than 100 million us dollars per day, and of course we are in need of external funding and support for our partners. considering the support from the united states is being currently delayed, the announcement today that all european countries have agreed to this support package is very welcome. 0ur have agreed to this support package is very welcome. our president greeted it in our minister of foreign affairs that it was great news. this will be a huge help and it sends a message across the international arena that the european union stands with ukraine and will support ukraine until we win this unjust and aggressive war. how close are you to actually running out of weapons or certainly running out of weapons or certainly running low so that you don't have what you need to defend ukraine or

make significant advances? it’s what you need to defend ukraine or make significant advances? il’s a make significant advances? it's a very dynamic _ make significant advances? it's a very dynamic war, _ make significant advances? it's a very dynamic war, matthew, - make significant advances? it's a very dynamic war, matthew, as l make significant advances? it�*s —. very dynamic war, matthew, as you know. there is always a shortage of artillery and ammunition. this is exactly why ukraine is now preoccupied with building up our own defence industry base so the ministry of is making sure on a daily basis that ukraine is becoming self sufficient. we can build our own ammunition and other types of weapons systems. a lot will depend on our ability to create joint ventures with our western partners. this war is going to be two years soon, but it's not looking like it's going to end in the nearest future and we have to be prepared, all of us. i and we have to be prepared, all of us. . , and we have to be prepared, all of us, ., , ., " and we have to be prepared, all of us. ., , ., " ., and we have to be prepared, all of us. ., ., ~ ., ., and we have to be prepared, all of us. i was talking to one of your colleagues _ us. i was talking to one of your colleagues in _ us. i was talking to one of your colleagues in washington - us. i was talking to one of your- colleagues in washington lobbying, making no progress in terms of trying to overcome that roadblock

with the us aid package stuck in congress. but let's leave that for now and talk about the sinking of this russian ship. your assessment. i don't think it's difficult to overestimate the significance of this moment because it shows once again that ukraine is developing our own capabilities which allow us to strike the enemy on the territories. we are sending a signal to russian occupiers that they're not safe in the black sea region, in crimea, anywhere. this isjust another warship that we had sunk and, trust me, this is not the last.— me, this is not the last. let me ask ou me, this is not the last. let me ask you about — me, this is not the last. let me ask you about the _ me, this is not the last. let me ask you about the power _ me, this is not the last. let me ask you about the power struggle - me, this is not the last. let me ask you about the power struggle that i you about the power struggle that has been going on between president zelensky in the head of the armed forces. what is actually going on? because the general refused to step down a couple days ago. what is the tension there and the implications?

matthew, ukraine is headed by the president zelensky, who is chief commander of ukraine's army and all armed forces. it's the second year of this war, and sometimes you need to think about the future vision of this war. at the moment, the situation is not changing. it is been a lot of rumours and speculation. we need to trust official sources. we are unified because we are all driven by the same goal. i because we are all driven by the same goal-— same goal. i wonder if it underlines a sliuht same goal. i wonder if it underlines a slight fraying. _ same goal. i wonder if it underlines a slight fraying, because _ same goal. i wonder if it underlines a slight fraying, because i - same goal. i wonder if it underlines a slight fraying, because i was - a slight fraying, because i was referencing what was going on in washington and perhaps a spray of some of the international support —— a fraying. is the same thing in ukraine? is reported president zelensky is unhappy with the way the summer offensive went. it didn't get the advances they hoped to. is that

what he wants a new person in charge? what he wants a new person in charae? , ., ., ., �* what he wants a new person in charae? , ., . ~' ., charge? first of all, we don't know officiall if charge? first of all, we don't know officially if he _ charge? first of all, we don't know officially if he wants _ charge? first of all, we don't know officially if he wants one. - charge? first of all, we don't know officially if he wants one. but - charge? first of all, we don't know officially if he wants one. but i - officially if he wants one. but i will have to repeat that this is a very dynamic war. it is not the war we fought in 2022, it's changing. i don't think we need to over dramatise the possibility of that because we are one country, we are one army and we are determined by the same goal. whatever comes next will be justified in our president is the head of the country, and he has access to reliable information. he is in the best position to assess the situation and i'm sure whatever the decision will be made be justified and good for the country. yuriy sak, good to talk to. thanks forjoining us life.— forjoining us life. thank you, matthew- _ let's get more now on the video from the ukrainian ministry of defense, which claims to show the sinking of a russian warship.

bbc verify�*s merlyn thomas has been examining the footage. the ukrainian military defence have released this video of a warship being attacked by multiple unmanned sea vessels. they say it's a group that has destroyed a russian warship. we looked at the video. we've also looked at other invisible it —— available images. several feature appears to match this video. you can see the masts and the sin desires, and the anti—ship missiles on the side. we're not able to verify that it's the same ship, but we can say is the same type or class. it doesn't appear to be new footage. we've checked and made sure, but there are still a number of things we don't know. we don't

know when the incident happened. we don't know if there's been any casualties, so so far, no official confirmation from the russian side orany confirmation from the russian side or any independent footage either. we'll continue to monitor any footage and bring you the latest updates. marilyn thomas. around the world and across the uk. you're watching bbc news. a man has appeared in court charged with the murders of two teenage boys in bristol on saturday. 16—year—old max dixon, and 15—year—old mason rist died in hospital after being stabbed on the knowle west estate. 44—year—old anthony snook will be held on remand in prison until the next hearing tomorrow. firefighters who were injured in the grenfell tower fire in 2017 — have received a total

of £20 million in compensation. the fire brigades union says more than 100 of its members made claims — some of whom hadn't been able to work again because of severe trauma. alan bates — a former sub postmaster who led the campaign forjustice in the post office horizon scandal — has said he will reject an offer of compensation from the government. mr bates, whose story inspired a recent itv series on the scandal, told the telegraph the government's offer was �*offensive' and �*around a sixth�* of what he�*d requested. those couple of stories making the headlines. you�*re live with bbc news. the uk government has announced that all former afghan special forces who were turned down when they applied to come to the uk will have their cases re—examined. the ministry of defence said the rules had been inconsistently applied. campaigners had criticised the treatment of the afghan servicemen known as the triples. for more on this, i�*m joined by our correspondentjoe inwood. he�*s in the newsroom. tell us more.

these are two units of elite afghan forces. they�*re called 333 and 444. they were set up funded and trained by the british. for about 20 years, they worked with british forces in afghanistan. when the taliban returned, there was not expection action for them. that they would be given the ability to come to the uk to relocate into something called the arab scheme. many of them warrants. hundreds of them had thought they�*d be allowed to come here and found there for claims were denied —— many of them were not. this has been a real source of anger amongst notjust this has been a real source of anger amongst not just the this has been a real source of anger amongst notjust the triples, but the supporters in the uk — politicians, journalists, lawyers, various campaigners. they�*ve been putting pressure on the government to re—examine their cases, to look at them and say clearly, these people worked with british forces.

the government have resisted this. we ran a couple of stories last month and pointed out a couple hundred people would be deported back to afghanistan. their references had not been looked at. it was part of building a pressure that resulted today in the government essentially admitting that the arab scheme hasn�*t been correctly implement it. they�*ve accepted that they haven�*t been looking at everyone in the same way, so they�*re going to re—examine all of these cases. the numbers here are a bit uncertain. they say there�*s 2000 cases to re—examine. the campaign estimates may be 400 people orso campaign estimates may be 400 people or so will be accepted, but today is a big victory. it is or so will be accepted, but today is a big victory-— a big victory. it is quite a climb down after _ a big victory. it is quite a climb down after that _ a big victory. it is quite a climb down after that campaign. - a big victory. it is quite a climb down after that campaign. just j down after that campaign. just briefly, what is the thinking about where these people are and being able to get to them so that the whole claim can be processed and potentially brought here? the numbers are _ potentially brought here? tue: numbers are always potentially brought here? tte: numbers are always very potentially brought here? t'te: numbers are always very hard potentially brought here? tte: numbers are always very hard to know because these are people — certainly

that ones in afghanistan — who are running from their lives. we do have some sense of the numbers. i was told 200 or so are in pakistan facing deportation. there�*s around maybe 500 in total in afghanistan, but we really don�*t know because unfortunately, some of these have been killed as a consequence of the return of the taliban. joe been killed as a consequence of the return of the taliban.— return of the taliban. joe inwood, very interesting. _ return of the taliban. joe inwood, very interesting. thanks - return of the taliban. joe inwood, very interesting. thanks very - return of the taliban. joe inwood, l very interesting. thanks very much. let�*s turn to russia. in december, we saw the high—profile political activist alexei navalny — suddenly moved to a penal colony — no warning, no contact. this week, there are fears for another russian opposition figure.

i spoke to evgenia kara—murza a little earlier. i asked her how worried she is. i have been worried for the safety of my husband since 2015 when he was poisoned for the first time, attacked by a team of fsb operatives who carry out such attacks on behalf of the russian state. since then, he survived another assassination attack in 2017 and now he is serving his 25—year prison sentence for so—called high treason. on monday, he was indeed moved without any indications of that move being prepared. he was moved from the strict regime prison colony to yet another type of penitentiary institution that is called a special regime prison colony, which is the harshest grade in the russian penitentiary system. so, he is still in the 0msk region, in the so—called special regime prison colony,

and is in solitary confinement where he has been since last september. we�*ve been able to establish contact with him because on monday, he was able to send a note from that new colony to his lawyer saying he had been transferred because, apparently, he had been declared a consistent violator of the rules of serving his sentence. yes. the violations are absolutely ridiculous and are being used to further and further isolate political prisoners. let me ask you about where you ended that answer, because i mentioned in the introduction, alexei navalny was suddenly moved to a really harsh penal colony and now your husband. why do you think that is actually happening? is it to airbrush them out so there is no view out so there�*s no view

of these people or is it to further punish them? both things, of course, because these people are seen as traitors, as foreign agents, spies, all of these things. they�*re being represented like that by russian like that by russian propaganda and, of course, the regime does believe them to be traitors because they completely reject the official narrative and they reject the policies of vladimir putin, and they continue speaking out against the regime and against the war from behind bars. so, of course, there is this need to isolate them completely. before i look at some of the other issues, just briefly, you mentioned solitary confinement. in terms of, so far, how he�*s being held, what have you heard about the conditions? how he�*s holding up? it�*s still solitary confinement as it has been since september of last year,

so nothing much has changed in that regard. he still has his bed fixed to the wall from morning till night, he still has a backless stool as the only piece of furniture in the cell and he gets his pen and paperfor 90 minutes. i don�*t know if that will change in this special regime prison colony because that is the harshest grade in the russian penitentiary system, so i think that it might also affect the visiting hours by the lawyer or his ability to correspond with us. we will find out more in the coming weeks. , ., we will find out more in the coming weeks. , . ., ., ~ ., we will find out more in the coming weeks. ., ., ~ ., ., ~ weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier- _ weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier. we'll— weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier. we'll keep _ weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier. we'll keep an - weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier. we'll keep an eye - weeks. evgeny a kara-murza talking to me earlier. we'll keep an eye on | to me earlier. we�*ll keep an eye on that story.

police are trying to find a man who attacked a woman and her two children with a corrosive substance in south london last night. the mother and the youngest girl, who is three, are said to have life—changing injuries. an eight—year—old girl from the same family is also in hospital. i spoke to our news correspondent, graham satchell, who�*s at the scene in south london — he�*s been talking to those who saw what happened last night. talking to the neighbours, they have been left devastated by what happened last night because not only were two young children involved, an eight—year—old and a three—year—old, the three—year—old left with life—changing injuries, but in total, 12 people became involved with this. neighbours came out and try to stop the attack and i think it was violent as well, very violent. there are some cctv pictures emerging of a man throwing a three—year—old to the floor twice, slamming them to the floor twice before this alkaline substance is used, which left people with serious burns injuries. for everybody in this quiet residential street in south london, a horrifying night last night.

a truly horrifying night last night. what are police are saying about the perpetrator? a significant development today — they have named a suspect called abdul ezedi from the newcastle area, who may have been known to the police and has a significant injury to the right side of his face. 35—year—old. police here are working closely with british transport police and police in northumbria and have urged the public to get in touch if they see him, but not to contact him because they say that he is extremely dangerous. that�*s the significant update today, an appeal for a 35—year—old man, abdul ezedi, originally from newcastle and made his way down here yesterday to london to carry out, we think, this terrible, terrible attack. just time to show you the pictures from brussels a little earlier. several hundred farmers have converged on the european parliament in tractors, and have started fires

on the eu�*s doorstep. the eu�*s executive arm has suggested plans to limit farm imports from ukraine and to ease some green regulations. meanwhile, the french government has made new concessions to farmers. the unions of welcome that. you�*re watching bbc news. hello. well, we�*re into february, just about traditionally regarded just about — traditionally regarded as a very cold month, but of course, these days it can be far from it. in fact, over the next few days, it�*s going to be exceedingly mild across most of the uk. across most of the uk, and on top of that, very windy, too. storm ingun still wrapping up there across parts of scandinavia, nowhere near as strong as it was, but still producing some gales. to the south of that we have new weather fronts and south of that, this area of high pressure

building this ridge, and it�*s allowing the warmer current of air from the southern climes to stream in our direction. so, all the cold air is pushed towards the east and the north of europe. and this pattern�*s with us here, really, for the next few days. it�*s also going to bring that wind, a lot of atlantic cloud. at times, there�*ll be some rain, such is the case in western parts of scotland — quite damp here, a bit of drizzle around western coast. and these are morning temperatures — 7 degrees in london, 10—11 for some of our northern towns and cities. so, a mild start to friday now, perhaps won�*t feel quite as mild as it could. it�*s because the wind will be pretty strong tomorrow, particularly gusty around some of these north western coast of scotland, also to the east of the pennines — 40—50 mph gusts. but on the thermometer with a bit of brightness, perhaps even 15 expected across aberdeenshire. now, the same pattern continues into friday and indeed the weekend, friday, saturday, sunday, with high pressure to the south and big loads traversing to the north of us. we�*ve got a pressure gradient, so those strong winds blowing across the uk, and they frequently push in a lot of cloud and at times some rain.

i think an incursion of slightly colder weather into northern scotland on saturday, so temperatures 6—7 degrees and maybe some wintry showers to the very far north of the uk. and then, the rest of the weekend and into monday, it�*s the same — high to the south, low to the north, quite strong winds blowing across the uk and the thicker cloud being pushed in by that west south—westerly. i think it�*ll be damp in northern ireland on sunday, certainly around western coasts of scotland, the irish sea, too, but mild —10—14 celsius. and this pattern remains very stable across many parts of the uk, mild and cloudy. you can see 14 in london at times, a little bit cooler, but only at times in the north of the country. that�*s it from me. bye—bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines the cost of borrowing in the uk stays the same — the bank of england leaves intererst rates unchanged. the dup gives the go ahead — for the recall of the stormont assembly — with power—sharing due to be restored in northern ireland on saturday. and seven—times formula one world champion lewis hamilton could be on the verge of a shock move to ferrari. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, let�*s savour that and the rest of

the sports news to the bbc sport centre. hello, from the bbc sport centre we start with the seismic news coming out of formula one — we understand that lewis hamilton�*s shock move from mercedez to ferrari for the 2025 season is going to happen. a number of sources say the deal is done but there is no official confirmation yet from either team. there have been rumours for years linking hamilton to ferrari but nothing�*s come of it. now — despite signing a new two—year deal with mercedes only last summer — hamilton, at the age of 39, is set to leave the team where he�*s won six of his seven world titles after next season ends. he�*s been in the shadow of red bull and max verstappen since losing the drivers championship in 2021, and is expected to take carlos sainz�* seat at ferrari. 0urformula one chief writer andrew benson is following developments: it's it�*s been a fast—moving situation this morning but it seems like the lewis hamilton moved to ferrari will be confirmed some point in the

not—too—distant future and sources of toilets that deal has