the news everton have had their ten point reduction reduced to six, moving them up from 17th to 15th in the premier league table. the club were referred to an independent commission in march for alleged breaches of the premier league's financial rules from 2021—22 season and were deducted ten points in november, which the club have appealed. everton have released a statement saying... are a football reporterjo currie joins us now. in the short term this is good news for everton, but they have got a second charge facing them? figs have got a second charge facing them? �* , , ., have got a second charge facing them? a have got a second charge facing them? as you say, the short-term aood them? as you say, the short-term good news — them? as you say, the short-term good news and _ them? as you say, the short-term good news and everton _ them? as you say, the short-term good news and everton fans - them? as you say, the short-term good news and everton fans will i them? as you say, the short-term| good news and everton fans will be celebrating a bit tonight, but they could be trouble on the horizon and

thatis could be trouble on the horizon and that is because they are still facing a second charge and potentially facing a second penalty in terms of point reduction. that is after they were charged for breaching rules a second time only last month. that second case couldn't be heard until their appeal in this initial ten point deduction was heard, that has now been dealt with, so you would presume that second charge would now move forward. but if they set a precedent —— like a precedent, a six—point deduction and are found guilty, they could be in line for a second six—point deduction, so in the short—term good news for everton fans, but they maybe don't want to get too carried away at the moment, just a reminder, when that initial ten point deduction was made it was the biggest in premier league history. the everton fans already feel like they have been through quite a lot at this point. it is feel like they have been through quite a lot at this point.- quite a lot at this point. it is big news and _ quite a lot at this point. it is big news and we — quite a lot at this point. it is big news and we just _ quite a lot at this point. it is big news and we just saw— quite a lot at this point. it is big news and we just saw the - quite a lot at this point. it is big l news and we just saw the premier league table on the screen, be duplications for the bottom of the table? ~ , ,., , duplications for the bottom of the table? ~ ,,., , ., table? absolutely, when the initial ten oints table? absolutely, when the initial ten points were _ table? absolutely, when the initial ten points were deducted - table? absolutely, when the initial ten points were deducted back- table? absolutely, when the initial ten points were deducted back in l ten points were deducted back in november it dropped everton all the way down to 19th place, in the relegation zone, second from bottom

in the premier league. before today's news under this manager, he had led them to 17th place, one point outside the relegation zone. today's news has taken them from 17th to 15th and put them on 25 points, they have leapfrogged nottingham forest and brentford and they are now five points clear of they are now five points clear of the relegation zone. so you would think there is a little bit more breathing space, but it is interesting because everton haven't won the league since the middle of december. it was only last week sean dyche, the manager, was saying he thought the wait for this appeal verdict had psychological implications on his everton players and now they know where they stand on the first charge it will be interesting to see how those players react. they next play at home in the premier league west ham on the 7th of march. ., ., ., ~ , ., premier league west ham on the 7th of march. ., ., ., ~ i. ., of march. tough one. thank you for “oininu of march. tough one. thank you for joining us- — of march. tough one. thank you for joining us. elsewhere, _ of march. tough one. thank you for joining us. elsewhere, england's i joining us. elsewhere, england's cricketers is putting a brave effort on the fourth day of the fourth test to almost pull off a famous victory only for india to still be sick true blue series with a five wicket win.

that means india still haven't lost a home test series since 2012 and it is england's first series defeat under captain ben stokes. top he briefly threatened to pull it off, the indian batter taking death bowler taking two wickets before lunch,... target of 182, but to batters battled it out for the home side... the final is on ten days' time. that is all the sport for now, back to you, lewis. thanks for that, betty. you're watching bbc news, i am lewis vaughanjones. here in the uk prime minister rishi sunak has repeatedly refused to describe comments by one of his mps as islamophobic. soon i also refused to say if lee anderson could have the tory whip restored if he apologised for saying the mayor of london, sadiq khan, was controlled by its mists. this morning in a statement to gb news

anderson repeated that he won't apologise. labour has accused the tories are repeatedly failing to tackle islamophobia. rishi sunak has been speaking the last half hour or so, let's take a listen. i been speaking the last half hour or so, let's take a listen.— so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear — so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear that _ so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear that what _ so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear that what he _ so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear that what he said - so, let's take a listen. i have been very clear that what he said was i very clear that what he said was wrong and unacceptable and that is why we suspended the whip and that is why it is important that everybody, particularly elected politicians, are careful with their words and do not inflame tensions. but there is a difference between wrong and islamophobic. where they islamophobic? the wrong and islamophobic. where they islamophobic?— islamophobic? the most important thin . islamophobic? the most important thin is the islamophobic? the most important thing is the words _ islamophobic? the most important thing is the words were _ islamophobic? the most important thing is the words were wrong, - islamophobic? the most important thing is the words were wrong, ill i thing is the words were wrong, ill judged and in acceptable and that is what i believe and that is why the whip has been suspended. i think everybody can see that tensions are already running high and what i think the country wants to seize the heat taken out of this debate and i think that is the right thing to do. if you were to apologise, would you welcome him back into the party? —— if he were to apologise. we welcome him back into the party? -- if he were to apologise.— if he were to apologise. we have 'ust had if he were to apologise. we have just had these _ if he were to apologise. we have just had these conversations, . if he were to apologise. we have just had these conversations, i l just had these conversations, i don't think his words were acceptable and that is why he is

suspended and that is where we are now. it suspended and that is where we are now. , ., , ., , now. it is not 'ust him, though, is it? now. it is not 'ust him, though, is in sueua — now. it is notjust him, though, is it? suella braverman _ now. it is notjust him, though, is it? suella braverman has - now. it is notjust him, though, is it? suella braverman has talked l it? suella braverman has talked about the islamists and the anti—semites of being in control. this is someone who was your home secretary. what is going on inside your party?— secretary. what is going on inside our - ? , ., your party? those comments were not about an individual _ your party? those comments were not about an individual in _ your party? those comments were not about an individual in particular. - about an individual in particular. there is a broader point, but that some of the scenes we have been witnessing on our streets at times are unacceptable and we are now having a situation, whether it is private mps meetings, council meetings or indeed what happen in parliament last week where the normal democratic processes that we are used to in this country are being impacted, threatened and disrupted aggressively and in an intimidating fashion. i don't think thatis intimidating fashion. i don't think that is right energetic anyone thinks that is right and that is important that we call out that kind of behaviour is wrong and that we do everything we can to stamp it out. well, staying in the uk, the government _ stamp it out. well, staying in the uk, the government has - stamp it out. well, staying in the uk, the government has been i stamp it out. well, staying in the . uk, the government has been giving more details about how it will allocate £4] billion which has been

earmarked for the abandoned northern leg of the hs2 rail project. they want to give the money to smaller towns and cities in the midlands, northern england and parts of wales, with local authorities deciding how the funds will be spent. our northern england correspondent danny savage gave us the perspective from the town of haxbyjust north of york. the prime minister was here this _ north of york. the prime minister was here this morning _ north of york. the prime minister was here this morning looking - north of york. the prime minister was here this morning looking at| north of york. the prime minister. was here this morning looking at the site for a new proposed railway station for this village, which is a few miles outside of york, and that it construction is due to begin next year. the money for this has not come from the council's hs2 project, but it is schemes like this the government wants to see more of going forward and what they have done today is put some meat on the bones of the money that they announced they were going to spend on this part of the country in the coming years. they say that in the north of england they are going to spend £2.5 billion and that is going to go to local authorities or projects here and in the midlands £2.2 billion is going to be put forward. there are a couple of

important caveats. the money is actually going to be given in chunks to local authorities for them to decide what you spend it on with using government guidance. so they could be some more small railway stations like this or more bus services or filling stations like this or more bus services orfilling in potholes. but critics say this is a re—announcement of money that was already said they were going to spend and importantly, the budget period for this is between 2025 and 2032. the money won't come into play until after the expected general election, which creates a bit more uncertainty on what exactly is going to happen. uncertainty on what exactly is going to ha en. ., ., uncertainty on what exactly is going to hauen. ., ., , uncertainty on what exactly is going to hauen. . ., , ., to happen. thanks to danny savage for that. more than 12 years, thousands of men wearing very little in freezing conditions would gather enshrines different parts of ruraljapan to take part in one of the country's oldest traditions. the naked festival is a ritual that is meant to bring in good luck and drive away evil spirits. this year one of those festivals is allowing women to take part for the first time. here is the

bbc�*s shaimaa khalil. what you're looking is one of japan's most ancient traditions. this is the naked festival, essentially hundreds and hundreds of men, if not thousands, wearing next to nothing, they huddled together, they push and shove, all to try and touch the chosen man, a man chosen by the shrine. this is a man chosen to bring in good luck and drive away evil spirits. bring in good luck and drive away evilspirits. it bring in good luck and drive away evil spirits. it is freezing out here, i am wearing so many layers and i am shivering. but these diet d quys and i am shivering. but these diet d guys are doing it, they are barely dressed and to make things interesting they are being sprayed with very cold water. in the more than 1200 year history of this festival, women were never allowed to participate until now. for many years women have been pushing to take part and it has finally happened. and no, they are not naked and no, they are not in the men's big huddles. but they get to make their own offerings to the shrine and that is no small feat. this is

the moment. they are making their way to the shrine is to make their offerings. this is something no woman injapan has ever done before. this has always been off limits for women, but for the first time more than 1000 years, women are now taking part in one ofjapan's most famous naked festivals. 0bviously, they are clothed. after they give thanks and wish for good luck, the immensity of the moment sets in. cheering japan's ageing population is a big issue for these festivals and one of the reasons organisers decided to include women. remember, the year started with an earthquake, a huge

fire in canada airport and it has been announced that japan is now in recession, so frankly, the country needs a whole lot of good luck and all the help it can get from both men and women. thanks to shaimaa khalilfor khalil for that. let's take you to brussels. these live pictures, plenty of tractors just on manoeuvres. we havejust seen plenty of tractors just on manoeuvres. we have just seen them turning around that corner there. farmers there protesting against the conditions they say is making it too hard for them to make a decent living there. lots of protesters there and they are not moving that fast, don't think. there we go. but plenty of process in brussels and we will have all the latest, stay with us, i am lewis vaughanjones, this us, iam lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. hello there. good afternoon. still rather blustery today towards the south of the uk,

but there is a lot of dry weather around, especially in the west. lots of blue skies, sunshine here today in swansea, as recorded by our weather watcher. further east, although there will still be some sunny spells, expect to see some showers blow in from the north sea. there's more of the same as we head through the rest of the afternoon too. some of these showers making their way as far west as eastern areas of wales. but across western scotland, northern ireland, western wales and the south—west of england it is largely dry. a bit of wind chill to factor into those temperatures towards north sea facing coasts with a brisk north—easterly wind. it will feel a little colder than this out towards the east. highs between 7 and 10 degrees celsius. the strong winds across the channel islands eventually easing down as we head through the evening. 0vernight tonight, a couple of weather fronts just approaching the far north—west of scotland, northern ireland, north—west england. high pressure topples further southwards. here the winds will lighten and there will be some fog patches developing into tomorrow morning. for many a touch of frost, but temperatures will rise slightly as we head through the small hours of tomorrow morning.

we'll start the day off with many of our temperatures just slightly above freezing. the fog lingering on across south—east england and then gradually clearing away. this weather front gradually slipping further southwards and eastwards bringing some outbreaks of rain, but gradually petering out as it comes into the area of high pressure. behind it the skies will brighten again towards the north and the west, but expect to see a few showers, possibly a bit wintry over the higher ground. as we head through tuesday and into wednesday another warm front approaches. so, again, a touch of frost for many on tuesday night into wednesday. this weather front is going to drag behind it some milder—feeling air, but it's quite a wet start to the day across western scotland, northern ireland, down through western wales, north—west england. drier and likely to stay dry for much of the day further east, with again some hazy sunshine, but clouding over. we'll see temperatures creep back up again into double figures as that milder air starts to take hold. then, as we head through thursday, colder air follows behind the second weather front that's going to sweep in from the west again. some of the showers on thursday could turn a bit wintry,

particularly over the higher ground, but there'll also be some spells of brightness and sunshine too. the milder air hangs on in the south and the east. bye— bye.

live from london, this is bbc news. benjamin netanyahu says an assault on rafah will go ahead — as the un secretary—general says nothing can justify what — he called — the collective punishment of the palestinian

people in gaza. chaotic scenes in brussels — police fire water cannons — as farmers bring parts of the belgian capital to a standstill. you can probably hear on the back when some of the firecrackers that are going off. this white stuff on the floor is coming from the water cannon that the police have been piling this morning. [30 cannon that the police have been piling this morning.— cannon that the police have been piling this morning. do you accept the comments _ piling this morning. do you accept the comments that _ piling this morning. do you accept the comments that you _ piling this morning. do you accept the comments that you have - piling this morning. do you accept the comments that you have been called _ the comments that you have been called a _ the comments that you have been called a racist _ the comments that you have been called a racist for _ the comments that you have been called a racist for your— the comments that you have been called a racist for your party? - the comments that you have been called a racist for your party? at i tory mp refuses to apologise for claiming islamist is about control of the mayor of london even after rishi sunak said the comments were unacceptable. and — poems of the underground — hundreds of posters displayed across london's tube network, featuring the words of literary greats — have been donated to cambridge university library.