returning to our top story — and the uk has gone into recession. it's the world's sixth largest economy. the office for national statistics reports that in the three months to december, the economy shrank 0.3%. that follows a shrink of 0.1% from july to august, meaning the uk ended the year in recesssion. now a reminder that gdp is a way of measuring all the economic activity of companies, governments and individuals in a country. it's a blow for prime minister rishi sunak, given one of his so—called five pledges announced last year was to have the economy growing by the end of 2023. he has admitted he's likely to fail to meet that one. speaking to our economic editor faisal islam, chancellorjeremy hunt insists the government's plan to revive the economy is working despite the latest indications.

well, the numbers speak for themselves but the underlying picture here is that our plan has been to tackle inflation first and foremost. that does mean higher interest rates. it's the right thing to do for families because when they see the cost of their weekly shop go up, their energy bills go up, real pressure and until on families, we are not going to see healthy growth. and when it comes to that battle against inflation, we are making much faster progress than many people predicted. so much so that independent forecasters say that if we speak to our guns, by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling again. so that's why it's a very important period now, despite this challenging data, that we stick to our plan that is starting to see inflation really fall. so this recession, albeit for now a relatively modest recession, it is, has been, a price worth paying to get inflation down which will help interest rates come down eventually? if you look around the world, countries like germany,

japan, the netherlands, denmark, they're all seeing weaker growth as they use high interest rates to bring down inflation. and that is the right thing for all of us to do. and you can see it working in other countries which have brought inflation down to lower levels than we have in the uk, so it's the right thing to do. but i think if you listen to the governor of the bank of england, for example, what he says is he doesn't put too much weight on this data because he can see that the underlying picture is an economy that is more resilient and is starting to grow. but, forgive me, it was the prime minister himself who said that the economy would be growing a year ago. it's clearly not growing. it hasn't grown now since the beginning of 2022. is it not complacent to play down the data that shows, a small contraction, yes, but the economy simply going nowhere for nearly two years now?

well, far from that, we recognise that life has been very, very tough for families up—and—down the country. families up and down the country. since the invasion of ukraine which saw this big spike in inflation. but when the prime minister made his commitment, he was very clear that tackling inflation had to come first. in fact, all the independent forecasters said at that point that we were going to enter into a much deeper recession. the big picture is that actually, since then, the economy has been more resilient, unemployment has stayed low, real wages have been rising now for six months. and if we stick to our guns now we can actually see light at the end of the tunnel. it's a very tough message to say stick to your guns because you didn't anticipate or tell the country that we would face a contraction that is now pretty clear. well, that's not true. when i did the autumn statement, just after i became chancellor,

the forecasts were that the economy would contract by 1.5% in the next year. and we stood behind those forecasts. and this is a prime minister who sticks to his plan when the data is encouraging or even when it's challenging, like today. and by the way, that is a very big contrast to a labour party that doesn't have a plan after abandoning their central plan last week. but right now, if you look at what every independent forecaster says, we are succeeding in bringing down inflation much faster than predicted, and that is the key to unlocking growth going forward. but your whole plan is to grow the economy. and the economy is not growing right now. in fact, it's going into reverse. well, our plan is to grow the economy by bringing down inflation... just not now? well, of course, you know this as an economist, faisal, that it's not possible to have healthy, sustainable growth when you have inflation at over ii%. we brought it down from 11% to ii%. many people think that by the early

summer it will go down to 2%. that lays the foundations for long—term growth and increases in living standards, which are so important to families who've been really feeling the pressure over the last few years. but you have again called this a turning point. how can it be a turning point when growth is going in the wrong direction? the turning point will come when inflation falls to its target level of 2%, and the bank of england feels it can bring down interest rates. whilst interest rates are over 5%, the highest for 15 years, of course, growth is going to be weaker here like it is in many other countries, but that is the way that you get real long term growth. and can you really be planning at this stage in order to fund pre—election tax giveaways to squeeze hard—pressed public services? people can see that some of them aren't working as well as they should be, to squeeze them again in order to fund your pre—election tax giveaways? well, i was health secretary for six years. i know how important the nhs is. i negotiate a lot of extra funding for the nhs when i was in...

prisons, housing... all those areas and the way you get resources to fund our public services in the future is by having an economy that is growing healthily. and that is what our plan is designed to deliver. but the first thing you have to do is to bring down inflation. there aren't any shortcuts. and what we have is a prime minister who sticks to his plan, even when it's challenging, because that is the right thing to do for the country. and of course there is more reaction on the news on our bbc website where there is a live page for you. let's move on to greece. greece could soon become the first country with a christian orthodox—majority, to legalise same—sex marriage. parliament is due to vote on the measure later on thursday. the bill has been introduced by the country's centre—right prime minister. but, around a third of his own mps are expected to rebel. that means he'll need the support of the left—wing opposition for it to pass.

let's speak to professor aristeides chatzes who teaches legal theory at the university of athens. goad the university of athens. good mornin: the university of athens. good morning from _ the university of athens. good morning from athens. - the university of athens. good morning from athens. what i the university of athens. good - morning from athens. what chance does this bill _ morning from athens. what chance does this bill have _ morning from athens. what chance does this bill have to _ morning from athens. what chance does this bill have to actually - morning from athens. what chance does this bill have to actually pass| does this bill have to actually pass in parliament? i does this bill have to actually pass in parliament?— in parliament? i think the bill is auoin to in parliament? i think the bill is going to be _ in parliament? i think the bill is going to be passed _ in parliament? i think the bill is going to be passed in _ in parliament? i think the bill is going to be passed in a - in parliament? i think the bill is i going to be passed in a triumphant way reaching as far as two thirds of b&bs because at least 105 or 110 of conservative mps are going to support it. but also the great majority, almost everyone from the left parties with the exception of the communist party which is against the communist party which is against the bill. ~ . ., ., the communist party which is against the bill. ~ _, ., ., the communist party which is against the bill. ~ ., ., , the bill. write command of course the bill. write command of course the prime minister _ the bill. write command of course the prime minister is _ the bill. write command of course the prime minister is pushing - the bill. write command of course the prime minister is pushing for. the prime minister is pushing for this. but where does society overall stand on this, especially in a country where the church is particularly powerful? actually, i would say that _ particularly powerful? actually, i would say that greek _

particularly powerful? actually, i would say that greek society - particularly powerful? actually, i would say that greek society is l would say that greek society is rather divided on this issue and it is divided because, as you already mentioned, this is, after all, greek orthodox society and the greek 0rthodox society and the greek church is adamant against, especially against gay parenting. however, a law, any law in greece and in a the other country of the world is always an expressive function and has an educative function and has an educative function and has an educative function and greek society is one of these societies that very quickly internalised liberal reforms. in the case of priests, sometimes in a split second. so i'm pretty sure that kyriakos mitsotakis is not going to regret his decision. he has such a strong approval rating now,

there is no opposition, he is totally dominant in the greek political space. totally dominant in the greek politicalspace. his totally dominant in the greek political space. his decision to support such a bill is very important because it creates a strong dividing line from the far right. it's a political investment that will pay off.— that will pay off. sorry to interrunt. _ that will pay off. sorry to interrupt, just _ that will pay off. sorry to interrupt, just want - that will pay off. sorry to interrupt, just want to i that will pay off. sorry to i interrupt, just want to make that will pay off. sorry to - interrupt, just want to make sure that will pay off. sorry to _ interrupt, just want to make sure we get to this last point because we are running out of time. what would this mean for same—sex couples, particularly when it comes to children? , ., , particularly when it comes to children? , , , ., children? the same-sex couples now, eve one children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in — children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in such _ children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in such a _ children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in such a couple, _ children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in such a couple, is - children? the same-sex couples now, everyone in such a couple, is going i everyone in such a couple, is going to be recognised as a legal parent. they already exist and families are going to be recognised automatically. the only exception, there is only a ban on same—sex male couples having children through

surrogacy which for me is incomprehensible but this is another matter. as i said, today is a historic day, a major step for greece. it establishes quality by removing discrimination based on sexual orientation and is very important for us because greece returns to, let's say, the hard core of the european union with the exception of italy, every other country from the hard core of the european union of 15 now recognises same—sex marriage and same—sex parents. this is very important. professor, thank you for your time. a reminder that that vote will be voted on later on thursday. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk.

with its origins in the street football of south america, futsal bounds into play at a salford sports centre. wearing kits to match theirsurroundings, pupils at light 0aksjunior school in the city have been giving it a thumbs up. it's a bit better than football in a way because in football you're mostly just blundering up the pitch. but here you've actually got to use the ball at your feet a bit more to get round players because it's so much smaller. the brand—new futsal court in 0rdsall has been paid for by the fa, premier league, football foundation and salford city council who are putting in £127,000. how much is something like this needed in a place like this? everybody knows it is well documented that sport helps to increase physical and emotional well—being and tojust get people together in the community doing things that are going to benefit them. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

a rocket has blasted off from cape canaveral in florida, carrying a robotic lander for a touchdown on the moon in a week's time. apologies, we are showing the wrong images. let's get to the right ones. we will come to that in a bit. that's the right one. launch control room: three, two, one, ignition. and lift—off. go space x, go im—1, and odysseus lunar lander. vehicle pitching down range. vehicle propulsion is nominal. the privately owned nova—c lander is carrying nasa instruments to study precision landing, space weather and other phenomena on the lunar surface. if touchdown is successful, it will be the first american moon landing in more than 50 years. let's speak to our science correspondentjonathan amos — joining us from cardiff.

thank you forjoining us. could you put this into perspective for us? this is going to potentially historic and different levels. yes. historic and different levels. yes, we ho -e historic and different levels. yes, we hope so- _ historic and different levels. yes, we hope so- if— historic and different levels. yes, we hope so. if it— historic and different levels. yes, we hope so. if it succeeds, i historic and different levels. yes, we hope so. if it succeeds, it's i we hope so. if it succeeds, it's going to be the first american private mission to touch the surface softly ever and it will also be the first american mission to touch down softly since the apollo era in fact since 1972. those are the two marks it is trying to reach. you will recalljust it is trying to reach. you will recall just a few weeks ago it is trying to reach. you will recalljust a few weeks ago we had another american company with their peregrine lender that tried to do the same and it didn't get very far at all, just after it left earth it ran into difficulties. so far so good for this new mission and we will find out next week on the 22nd whether or not they can achieve those two historic firsts. in terms ofthe those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission _ those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, _ those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what i those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what is i

those two historic firsts. in terms of the mission itself, what is it i of the mission itself, what is it trying to accomplish? principally it is a technology _ trying to accomplish? principally it is a technology demonstration i is a technology demonstration mission. so it is looking to develop the precise navigation technologies that allow spacecraft to put down not just within a that allow spacecraft to put down notjust within a few kilometres of where you would like to be but within metres of where you would like to be. later this decade nasa, the us space agency, said it wants to put people back on the surface of the moon and it wants to repeat apollo, but do it in a more sustainable way. but if we are going to do that and we are going to stay on the surface for days at a time, weeks at a time, then we want to be able to put spacecraft down very precisely indeed. you don't want to have to walk or even getting a little buggy and drive some way to go and pick up the supplies you need. you need them to land very close to you. so those technologies need to be developed in the coming years so that we can do the moon with people again in a better way than we did it 50 years ago. it is

no easy task. — than we did it 50 years ago. it is no easy task, is _ than we did it 50 years ago. it is no easy task, is it? _ than we did it 50 years ago. it is no easy task, is it? even though this mission wasn't the first attempt to get a successful liftoff. it is hard to land on the moon. about half of all attempts to have tried have failed. it's one of those things, there is no gps at the moon, you have to use other technologies to see where you are in space, to reckon where the craters are and to find a very safe place to put down. and then you have to come in with thrusters. there is no air on the moon. you can't use parachute to slow your descent and so it is all pinpoint stuff and your computers have to work very well indeed. otherwise you just smash into the surface. otherwise you 'ust smash into the surface. ., ., , , otherwise you 'ust smash into the surface. ., , ., ., surface. there are hopes for frozen water, surface. there are hopes for frozen water. right? _ surface. there are hopes for frozen water, right? what _ surface. there are hopes for frozen water, right? what would - surface. there are hopes for frozen water, right? what would that i water, right? what would that actually represent? if water, right? what would that actually represent?— water, right? what would that actually represent? if we are going to no back actually represent? if we are going to go back in _ actually represent? if we are going to go back in a _ actually represent? if we are going to go back in a sustainable - actually represent? if we are going to go back in a sustainable way i actually represent? if we are going| to go back in a sustainable way and we want to live there for weeks on end, then we want the resources at hand to be able to do that. in the past the apollo astronauts took all of their water with them. if there

is a resource there that they can mine and we think there are shadowed places on the lunar south pole where it is permanently dark, then there may well be ice that they can drill into and melt and use for drinking, sanitation, but also for rocket fuel as well. that's the great goal and we will find out with this stream of robotic missions that are coming up this year and robotic missions that are coming up this yearand in robotic missions that are coming up this year and in the following years as to whether that is a good idea or not. ., ~' , ., as to whether that is a good idea or not. ., ,, i. ,., as to whether that is a good idea or not. ., ,, i. . ., as to whether that is a good idea or not. ., ,, . ., ., not. thank you so much for that. that is one _ not. thank you so much for that. that is one that _ not. thank you so much for that. that is one that we _ not. thank you so much for that. that is one that we are _ not. thank you so much for that. that is one that we are going i not. thank you so much for that. that is one that we are going to l that is one that we are going to keep watching closely. let's turn to india now. protesting indian farmers have clashed with the police after resuming their march towards the capital, delhi. there were chaotic scenes at the shambhu border between the northern states of punjab and haryana. you will see these other pictures we

you earlier. this is where the farmers were stopped on tuesday. the farmers are demanding minimum guaranteed prices for a range of crops and debt relief. farmers staged mass protests in 2020, after the indian government proposed loosening the rules on farm prices — but the laws were repealed. the farmers striking now say they want to remind the government of its own promises. our correspondent nitin srivastava who's in delhi for us. the marchers are not very far from the capital delhi. it is about 100 kilometres where about 20,000 odd farmers have been stationed, about four miles of road with their tractors and many trucks and trolleys blocking the road, this is the delhi— haryana border. delhi is a landlocked capital surrounded by three states of uttar pradesh, haryana and pydanna. they have said

they will not budge until they minimum price guarantee for their crops. to answer your question, the government is also adamant to end this crisis because as we saw in 2020-21 the this crisis because as we saw in 2020—21 the situation turned ugly, it was a year—long protest and dozens of lives were lost in normal life was disrupted. there are two things happening today. some of the farmers union are actually stopping trains in the state of punjab and at the second level the government three, just three senior cabinet ministers to start a third round of talks with farmers this evening. dairy farmers say they will not push into delhi. —— today the farmers say they will not push into delhi and they will not push into delhi and they will not push into delhi and they will wait for the talks and see what comes out of them. but if the talks are inconclusive, tomorrow the process might intensify, notjust the capital delhi but in other parts of the country.

before we go, yesterday was valentine's day and in australia prime minister anthony albanese used the occasion to propose to his partnerjody hayden. that makes him the country's very first prime minister to announce his engagement while in office. ——jodie haydon. looking ahead, we have a press conference that will start at some point. it will be with philippe lazzarini, the head of unrwa. now, it is not yet clear what that would be about, but most likely it will be about rafah, because of course, as we have been reporting, there has been inoffensive, an israeli offensive that is being by israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu despite the concerns around the 1.4 million people at least, palestinians, who are in rafah they're sheltering today. he has

promised an evacuation plan. the details are not clear yet which has led to an international outcry from his allies as well. we will bring you the latest from that press conference as soon as it comes up and as soon as philippe lazzarini arrives. stay with us. there is clearly much more on bbc news. now, let's look at some uk in the —— news in the uk. a charity which monitors anti—semitism across the uk says there's been an increase in assaults and abuse targeting jewish people. the community security trust says there were more than 4,000 incidents of antisemitism across the uk in 2023, some involving jewish school children. here's our education correspondent, elaine dunkley. there are guards and high—rise fences. security is tight.

this is a jewish school in manchester. inside the king david high school, pupils tell me they feel safe. outside the school, they're experiencing increasing levels of anti—semitism. a few weeks ago, i was threatened and i reported it. and the police have dealt with that. personally, when i've been walking down the street, i've had stuff shouted to me from cars and it's had quite an impact. i get public transport to school and ijust feel a lot more wary. actually coming to school, there's definitely been, like, an increased police presence around school. thisjewish girls school in london was targeted and vandalised in the aftermath of hamas's attacks on israel in october last year. today's figures, published by the community security trust, are compiled from people calling their helpline to report anti—semitic attacks they have experienced or witnessed and are also taken from police data. the report indicates anti—semitic incidents affecting school children have more than trebled

compared to 2022. it says 87 incidents took place atjewish schools and 127 were recorded at mainstream schools. and there were 111 incidents affecting children travelling to or from school. what about food ? rabbi benjy reichman has been working with different faith schools across manchester for more than a decade and says education is the key to tackling anti—semitism. when you can humanise the other, then you realise how much similarity exists between groups and over the years, before our student population became more diverse, we took ourjewish kids to muslim schools. we did quite a lot of activities with schools in south manchester. some of the most beautiful moments is when you have those — those real nuggets of education. when a young person goes, "oh, we're not so different after all." the government says it's ringfenced £7 million to help schools in england tackle anti—semitism. these school children

are hundreds of miles away from the conflict in the middle east, but say their lives here in manchester have changed significantly. i think it's quite important to represent my identity, but it's the thing that makes me afraid. elaine dunkley, bbc news. i'm back. the duke and duchess of sussex have travelled to a canadian ski resort to attend an invictus games training camp. prince harry and his wife, meghan, joined athletes in whistler for a two—day event promoting next year's winter games in the city. our correspondent, emma vardy, reports. the new website appears to be a moment to refresh their brand as a couple, and it describes their aim as "shaping the future through business and philanthropy". and the invictus games is an event very close to harry's heart. it's a sporting event that he founded to help people who've suffered life—changing injuries.

so the couple are here in the canadian ski resort of whistler, meeting athletes one year out from the games, the event, including winter sports for the first time. and of course, harry and meghan have been working to establish their careers in other areas since stepping back as working royals and becoming financially independent. meghan has recently signed a new podcast deal since ending her relationship, for example, with spotify. but of course, the big question on many people's minds since the king's cancer diagnosis is whether that and his treatment might help harry heal the rift with his family. of course, there's been tensions ever since he and meghan stepped back as royals and moved to california in the us. and we know that harry made a last—minute journey back to see his father last week, but we understand he only spent some 45 minutes with him. didn't see his brother william either. but he is now back out here fulfilling his engagements and supporting athletes at the invictus games, something we know means a lot to him.

emma vardy. now it is time for the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. today is going to be very mild for the time of year. it is notjust across the uk where we are seeing these milder conditions, it is across europe as well where temperatures are a good 10—15 degrees above average. what we have today is this weather front moving from the west towards the east and another one taking rain steadily northwards. this will continue through the afternoon. if anything, the rain pipping up across the south—west, south—west wales, and the midlands. this rain will be heavy and persistent, falling on already saturated ground. towards the east, some brighter skies. and behind the weather front, brighterskies. it is in the brighter skies in the east where we could have temperatures of 17—18. temperatures higher today in scotland than they were yesterday. through this evening and overnight, our weather front continues to push towards the south and east, weakening, so the rain is turning more patchy. more cloud in the west with some scattered showers, but in between some clearer skies.

it is not going to be as mild a night as it was last night, but nonetheless it is still going to be pretty mild for most of us. tomorrow, this weather front clears away from the south—east, we have got a little ridge of high pressure coming in, but you can see, too, it is going to be breezy in the south and pretty windy in the north tomorrow. it is a chilly northerly wind that is coming in here. we start off with all the cloud in the west, some scattered showers coming out of it. it will start to break up through the course of the day. for many of us, it will actually turn out to be quite a bright day. temperature wise, down a touch on today, but nonetheless still above average for the time of year. we're looking at 6 in lerwick to a high of 14 in norwich and london. as we head into saturday, we start off on a dry note, again variable amounts of cloud, some brighter skies, but the cloud thickens up out towards the west, heralding the arrival of our next weatherfront bringing in some rain and strengthening winds. temperatures — 5 in lerwick, 10 in stornoway, to 14 in london. overnight saturday into sunday,

the weather front crosses us, clearing slowly from the south—east during the course of sunday. a lot of dry weather behind, some sunshine, a few showers coming in towards the west. the next weather front never too far away. these are our maximum temperatures. 8 in lerwick to a high of 13—14 in the south.

live from london. this is bbc news a setback for two of the world's biggest economies — the uk and japan fall into recessions. pictures from inside gaza's nassa hospital: the israeli military says it's been conducting an operation. president biden makes a new appeal for gun control — after a mass shooting at a super bowl victory parade in kansas city. three, two, one. ignition and left.

and a rocket blasts off from florida — carrying a commercial robotic lander to the moon. hello i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we wa nt we want to take you straight to a live event. that is a press conference ahead of the offensive in rafah where1.4 million palestinians at least are sheltering. let's take you to the head of the un agency for palestinian refugees. the you to the head of the un agency for palestinian refugees.— palestinian refugees. the mission to factor as quick _ palestinian refugees. the mission to factor as quick as _ palestinian refugees. the mission to factor as quick as possible _ palestinian refugees. the mission to factor as quick as possible and i factor as quick as possible and would be found guilty for having participated. this needs to be followed with criminal prosecution. the second action that the agency has taken supporting a commission to