sheharbano welcome to bbc news. let's turn to our main headlines this afternoon... 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 palestinians in gaza. chaotic scenes in brussels. police fired water cannon as protesting farmers bring parts of the belgian capital to a standstill. relief for everton as their points reduction for breaching premier league financial rules is reduced from ten points to six after an appeal. and how is this for a trojan horse? undercover police officers in the north—east of england come up with an unusual way of tackling anti—social behaviour. more on all of those stories, first at head to the bbc sport centre, battery is here and i'm sure you are looking at the evident sports story as well. i am indeed, yes, that is where we are going to start. everton have had their ten point deduction 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 financial rules from the 2021—22 season and were deducted ten points in november, which the club appealed. well, the club say... our football reporter jo currie says it's good news for the club in the short term. as you say, in the short—term good news and everton fans will be celebrating a bit tonight, but there 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 into 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 today has set a precedent for a six—point deduction and they 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. the women's super league, women's championship and the well hq have announced three new projects to support clubs across various areas of female athlete health. the well hq aims to challenge the status quo for women in health, fitness and sport. they say it will pave the way for what best practise looks like in the future across all sports for women. here are the thoughts of england manager sarina wiegman. this is exactly another step in the right direction, in that case, so i think it isjust right direction, in that case, so i think it is just really good and we have to keep going and keep doing

research, which will take time with the outcome is, of course. we will keep supporting as well to make it the best for women in sport and... yes, to keep growing the game also and do what is best for them. england's cricketers put in a brave effort on the fourth day of the fourth test, to almost pull off a famous victory, only for india to seal the series with a five—wicket win. that means india still haven't lost a home test series since 2012, while it's england's first series defeat under captain ben stokes. his team had briefly threatened to pull it off — showib bashir took two wickets in two balls just after lunch to leave india five down and 72 runs short of their target of 192. but shubman gill and dhrquur el batted it out for the home side, gill finishing unbeaten on 52. in the end it was very straightforward for india, and a first series defeat for england under their captain ben stokes. you can say everything is a missed

chance when it doesn't go well, but i think you have to give so much credit to the way that india's spinners bowled yesterday in that very crucial period of the game. i think it was very obvious that they sensed that there was an opportunity to really put us under pressure and when you have three world—class spinners operating in conditions like that, you know you're going to be up against it. you like that, you know you're going to be up against it— be up against it. you can take a lot of ride be up against it. you can take a lot of pride from _ be up against it. you can take a lot of pride from performances - be up against it. you can take a lot of pride from performances like . of pride from performances like this _ of pride from performances like this with— of pride from performances like this. with inexperienced players, you know? — this. with inexperienced players, you know? whenever whatever you say, quit test_ you know? whenever whatever you say, quit test cricket pose different challenges, different kinds of pressures, but some of these guys, the way— pressures, but some of these guys, the way they have dealt with the pressures— the way they have dealt with the pressures throughout the series has been superb. and that's all the sport for now. will be back later. thanks very much. when alabama's been court defined frozen embryos as children last week, the shock and confusion

was immediate. many fertility clinics have forced treatment over fears they could be prosecuted. while the ruling doesn't ban ivf, it has created confusion and also division among christian groups in a case conservative state that has already banned abortion. he was our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal. for margaret, the politics has become personal. this for margaret, the politics has become personal. for margaret, the politics has become ersonal. , , ., ., ., become personal. this should not add anxiety onto — become personal. this should not add anxiety onto something _ become personal. this should not add anxiety onto something that _ become personal. this should not add anxiety onto something that is - anxiety onto something that is alreadyjust anxiety onto something that is already just so anxiety onto something that is alreadyjust so hard and anxiety inducing and just so taxing. she alreadyjust so hard and anxiety inducing and just so taxing. inducing and 'ust so taxing. she and her husband — inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have _ inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have a _ inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have a young _ inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have a young son - inducing and just so taxing. she and her husband have a young son and l her husband have a young son and want to build their family. her husband have a young son and want to build theirfamily. they have turned to ivf and were just days away from her first appointment. margaret describes herself as pro—life, but find the ruling difficult to come brand. the chiefjustice used the bible to justify his reasoning on why frozen embryos are children. some anti—abortion group celebrated describing it as a pro—life win. i don't think there's anything more pro—life than couples who are doing

everything in their power, everything in their power, everything in their control and the doctors are doing everything in their power and control to try to create that new life. it is like, nobody understands more that an embryo is not a child more than the person who is yelling for matched embryo to be a child. the alabama sureme embryo to be a child. the alabama sunreme court _ embryo to be a child. the alabama supreme court rules _ embryo to be a child. the alabama supreme court rules that - supreme court rules that resisting... in the state, non—lawful... covers notjust foetuses in the room, but embryos as well. this doctor is co—founder of alabama fertility. like many clinics, they pause to new treatments while they get legal clarity. treatments while they get legal clari . ~ ., ., ., treatments while they get legal clari .~ ., ., ., ., ., clarity. we are doing all of our usual routine _ clarity. we are doing all of our usual routine things. - clarity. we are doing all of our usual routine things. we - clarity. we are doing all of our usual routine things. we have| clarity. we are doing all of our. usual routine things. we have a clarity. we are doing all of our- usual routine things. we have a hold on a couple of things that we are holding in the laboratory for patient and embryo safety, but we are here to stay and we are going to fight this. are here to stay and we are going to fiuht this. , .,_ are here to stay and we are going to fiuht this. , ._ ., fight this. only days after alabama's _ fight this. only days after alabama's supreme - fight this. only days afterj alabama's supreme court fight this. only days after - alabama's supreme court ruling, there was huge reaction from politicians across the country. but

it is local lawmakers here who are under pressure to come up with a solution. republicans in alabama plan to introduce a bill to protect ivf, but it is tricky. they cannot alienate those who support the ruling and those who are disturbed by it. we ruling and those who are disturbed b it. . ., ., ., ., by it. we are going to find a fix. you know? _ by it. we are going to find a fix. you know? just _ by it. we are going to find a fix. you know? just don't _ by it. we are going to find a fix. you know? just don't about - by it. we are going to find a fix. you know? just don't about it i by it. we are going to find a fix. i you know? just don't about it and by it. we are going to find a fix. - you know? just don't about it and or worry— you know? just don't about it and or worry about — you know? just don't about it and or worry about it as little as you can because — worry about it as little as you can because we — worry about it as little as you can because we are going to find an answer. — because we are going to find an answer, hopefully clinics will be open _ answer, hopefully clinics will be open soon and you can get back to your normai— open soon and you can get back to your normal fertility issues instead of worrying about access. its your normal fertility issues instead of worrying about access.— of worrying about access. as the intervention _ of worrying about access. as the intervention by _ of worrying about access. as the intervention by former _ of worrying about access. as the j intervention by former president donald trump put pressure on you? know, or anybody else. donald trump put pressure on you? know, oranybody else. i mean, hayiey— know, oranybody else. i mean, hayley has— know, oranybody else. i mean, hayley has come out, others as well, let's hayley has come out, others as well, iet'sjust _ hayley has come out, others as well, let's just get — hayley has come out, others as well, let'sjust get it right.— let's 'ust get it right. democrats in let'sjust get it right. democrats in the minority _ let'sjust get it right. democrats in the minority here _ let'sjust get it right. democrats in the minority here sensed - let'sjust get it right. democrats in the minority here sensed an l in the minority here sensed an opportunity, but also danger. there are other countries _ opportunity, but also danger. there are other countries and _ opportunity, but also danger. there are other countries and other- opportunity, but also danger. in- are other countries and other places that consider themselves to be extremely low case conservative and they could follow suit. we want to make sure we are getting heard of that and righting the wrong here in alabama, ground zero. this is ground

zero right now. first alabama, ground zero. this is ground zero right now— zero right now. first it was abortion — zero right now. first it was abortion and _ zero right now. first it was abortion and now - zero right now. first it was abortion and now this - zero right now. first it wasl abortion and now this ruling zero right now. first it was - abortion and now this ruling has opened a new battle about reproductive rights. republicans want to minimise the controversy, democrats want to tie them to it. nomia iqbal, bbc news, alabama. now to an extraordinary story in pakistan. police in the pakistani city of lahore have had to rescue a woman when an angry crowd mistakenly accused her of blasphemy. the woman was wearing a shirt emblazoned with arabic calligraphy which the crowd thought bore verses from the quran. the authorities say a crowd of between 200—300 people gathered within minutes. blasphemy is a crime in pakistan and is punishable by death — although some people have been lynched before trial. she was saved by a female police officer, syeda shehrbano, who defied the crowd and escorted her to safety. translation: i have served you as a police officer in this| area for a year now,

and no one has had any complaints. i have dealt with three cases like this, and you should trust me now, let me handle this. iam i am delighted to say that sayeda sheharbano joins i am delighted to say that sayeda sheharbanojoins me i am delighted to say that sayeda sheharbano joins me live i am delighted to say that sayeda sheharbanojoins me live on i am delighted to say that sayeda sheharbano joins me live on the programme. thank you for your time and those were extraordinary actions from yourself. let me take it in stages. tell me, when you arrived at that restaurant, what was the size of the crowd and what was the mood of the crowd and what was the mood of the crowd and what was the mood of the crowd?— of the crowd? thank you for having me and thank _ of the crowd? thank you for having me and thank you _ of the crowd? thank you for having me and thank you for _ of the crowd? thank you for having me and thank you for pronouncing | of the crowd? thank you for having i me and thank you for pronouncing my name right. for starters, me and thank you for pronouncing my name right. forstarters, it me and thank you for pronouncing my name right. for starters, it was not a restaurant, it was basically a commercial hub. it is a very populated commercial hub here in lahore. the area that you are referring to is primarily known as mishra and it is right next to a main road that is called... road, so where this act took place is in walking distance of around 45 minutes from the main road, so the cars cannot directly access the area

in which this incident had taken place. when we reached the shop area where that woman was being held, she came with her husband to do some shopping in that commercial area, however, when the men saw the calligraphy on the shirt that she was wearing, they asked her to remove the shirt and wear a different book. she told him she should not be told what to do when she is with her husband and it is an independent state and she is a citizen of a country where her rights are being protected. so an argument in shoot and then later on argument in shoot and then later on a mob gathered around the shop. they took her to a mini restaurant, where she was held captive for some time and the shutters were pulled down. and outside that restaurant or mini cafe, there were about 100 or 200 people shouting slogans, chanting slogans and religiously charged,

frustrated. when we received a call on the emergency helpline here in punjab, that came from an anonymous caller that such and such an incident had taken place and a woman was in danger. incident had taken place and a woman was in danger-— was in danger. yes, i will come back to our was in danger. yes, i will come back to your role — was in danger. yes, i will come back to your role in _ was in danger. yes, i will come back to your role in a _ was in danger. yes, i will come back to your role in a second or _ was in danger. yes, i will come back to your role in a second or two - to your role in a second or two because we are looking at the pictures as you were doing that description, but when you arrived, briefly, on this point, how terrified was the woman? she was absolutely terrified. _ terrified was the woman? she was absolutely terrified. absolutely . absolutely terrified. absolutely terrified. there is no question about the fact that she was terrified. there is no question about the fact that she could not sense the fear in the air and the emotionally charged environment people had created in the name of religion. there is no denying of this fact. ~ religion. there is no denying of this fact. . , ., ., religion. there is no denying of this fact. . i. ., ,.., religion. there is no denying of this fact. . ., this fact. were you not scared as well, addressing _ this fact. were you not scared as well, addressing a _ this fact. were you not scared as well, addressing a crowd, - this fact. were you not scared as well, addressing a crowd, a - this fact. were you not scared as| well, addressing a crowd, a mob, this fact. were you not scared as - well, addressing a crowd, a mob, an angry mob, as we saw you doing?

unfortunately, we have grown immune to it because such incidents have mushroomed across the precincts of our province quite some, you know, it is very common. so you tend to know how to handle these issues. when you're going to a certain issue which has been charged because of some religious, let'sjust say factor, you already have certain points jotted down in factor, you already have certain pointsjotted down in your factor, you already have certain points jotted down in your head and as a professional police officer, when you are going in, the primary concern for you should be that the person, but they are taking due account of charging the crimewave needs to be safe, needs to be kept safe, so the primary responsibility of any professional police officer in any capacity, at least here, is that the person who has been charged with this crime needs to be kept safe so that the law can take its course. and that's what i was

thinking about.— course. and that's what i was thinkin: about. �* , thinking about. and you did exactly that and now _ thinking about. and you did exactly that and now there _ thinking about. and you did exactly that and now there is _ thinking about. and you did exactly that and now there is talk - thinking about. and you did exactly that and now there is talk of - thinking about. and you did exactly that and now there is talk of giving | that and now there is talk of giving you a really prestigious medal and i am sure that will proceed in the next couple of weeks, in terms of that actually happening. i read that you actually said to the crowd or about the crowd, had i not screamed, had i not convinced of the crowd, it would have turned nasty. in your mind, do you think there was a very real potential here of a possible lynching? real potential here of a possible i nchinu? , real potential here of a possible lnchinu? ,., , real potential here of a possible lnchinu? ,., ., lynching? there is always a potential — lynching? there is always a potential of _ lynching? there is always a potential of a _ lynching? there is always a potential of a possible - lynching? there is always a - potential of a possible lynching when you're looking for crowd, a mob thatis when you're looking for crowd, a mob that is charged because it is political or social issues that drive that because you cannot pin that responsibility on a particular person, so when the mob is the one thatis person, so when the mob is the one that is taking the responsibility and uses a collective responsibility, who are you going to charge the crime to after the incident has taken place? so we realised how bad it was getting

when... there was a store nearby the cafe, right? and it was on and i thought that the potential thing the frustrated crowd could do is to put fire and, you know, to set fire to the cafe. so we had to, no matter what, risk we had to take, wejust had to get her out of that particular situation there then. and then we realised the extent of how bad it could have gotten, when we had gotten her in the car, they started hitting her in the car and as we drove off the mob was shouting slogans, they were following us until we reached the main road. well, it is an incredible story and you can see why people describe you as heroic in terms of the actions that you took. thank you so much for coming on and talking to us. it is worthjust adding as coming on and talking to us. it is worth just adding as we leave that religious scholars were eventually brought to the police station to confirm that the text on the address was arabic writing and not verses

from the koran. but an extraordinary story there with that police officer intervening to take that woman to safety. we are grateful that you joined us here on verified alive. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. hair salons had to close during the covid—19 pandemic. those with insurance policies, including this one in beeston in nottinghamshire, fought the insurance companies would pay out to cover their losses, but they kept refusing. fiur out to cover their losses, but they kept refusing-— kept refusing. our bills 'ust didn't stop because i kept refusing. our bills 'ust didn't stop because covid _ kept refusing. our billsjust didn't stop because covid came - kept refusing. our billsjust didn't stop because covid came and - kept refusing. our billsjust didn't - stop because covid came and because the government closed us down. if anything, we still had all of our bills, we still had to pay our insurance premiums every month. more? insurance premiums every month. now hundreds of salons have won their legal case and insurers will have to pat’- legal case and insurers will have to -a . , ., legal case and insurers will have to pay. delighted, do you know what? another word. _ pay. delighted, do you know what? another word, relieved. _ pay. delighted, do you know what? another word, relieved. while - pay. delighted, do you know what? another word, relieved. while it. pay. delighted, do you know what? another word, relieved. while it is | another word, relieved. while it is a le . al another word, relieved. while it is a legalvictory. _ another word, relieved. while it is a legal victory. it _ another word, relieved. while it is a legal victory, it is _ another word, relieved. while it is a legal victory, it is a _ another word, relieved. while it is a legalvictory, it is a problem. - a legal victory, it is a problem. insurance insurers want to deduct

the amount the government paid to staff in no payments what they agreed to pay for salads. the largest insurance company for this sector says it welcomes the clarity this arbitration brings and will abide by the decision and apply all its relevant policies and claims. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you are lies with bbc news. —— you are lies with bbc news. french president emmanuel macron has called for a conference of his european counterparts to show european resolve against russian in its war against ukraine. the german chancellor as well as the uk secretary are among those people who will attend, but it remains unclear what specifically is expected to come out of this meeting. let's go to our correspondent hugh schofield and hugh, tell us more about what we can expect here? you 'oin me about what we can expect here? you join me just — about what we can expect here? you join me just as _ about what we can expect here? m. join me just as the heads of state from governments from around 20

european countries are arriving, the limousin is pulling up behind me and the republican guard over my shoulder, they have been welcomed by president macron and then we are going to have three or four hours of talks and the message that president macron wants to put out here is of course one of unity and solidarity at a time when the context, as they say here, is a bad one. it is not looking good for ukraine, the messaging that is coming out from ukraine is one of anxiety and of concern what we have been told from the president macron team is that they want to change that message, that they are hearing a lot of doom and gloom about ukraine, but we are not do me, we are not gloomy is the quote everyone is saying. they want to show that the europeans are united and i don't think that we can expect any big announcements on armaments or pledges or anything like that, but the clear idea is show to president putin that europe

is united and that, even though the context is a bad one with the setbacks on the battlefields and signs that the russians are out producing the ukrainians on arms and ammunition and so on, nonetheless there is no question, is what we are being told by the staff here at the illes a, but we are going to allow putin to think that he can win this war. ., ., ., ., ~ war. hugh schofield, for now, thank ou. war. hugh schofield, for now, thank you- hungary's _ war. hugh schofield, for now, thank you. hungary's parliament - war. hugh schofield, for now, thank you. hungary's parliament is - war. hugh schofield, for now, thank you. hungary's parliament is set - war. hugh schofield, for now, thank you. hungary's parliament is set to | you. hungary's parliament is set to improve sweden's bid tojoin nato, clearing the way for it to join the military alliance. hungary's nationalist government, led by viktor 0rban, had been blocking sweden's membership, claiming its politicians unfairly criticise standards, but now they have called on parliament to ratify a swedenjoining. let's talk have called on parliament to ratify a sweden joining. let's talk to our diplomatic correspondent, caroline hawley, who is in the studio. caroline, assess the significance of this first because it is expected to be rubber—stamped by the hungarians in parliament? this be rubber-stamped by the hungarians in parliament?— in parliament? this is a very big moment for— in parliament? this is a very big moment for sweden, _ in parliament? this is a very big moment for sweden, this - in parliament? this is a very big moment for sweden, this is - in parliament? this is a very big - moment for sweden, this is something it has wanted for nearly two years,

21 months, to be precise. alarmed by russia's invasion of ukraine, it asked for membership of nato, as did finland. finland gained membership last year, but there were two obstacles to sweden joining. 0ne came from turkey. turkey was upset that there had been anti—islamic protests in sweden and that sweden was giving refuge to kurdish militants. but that turkish angle was assuaged when tougher anti—terrorism laws were brought in in sweden, so then the remaining obstacle was hungry, as you said, hungry upset that sweden had criticised the democratic standards, but now viktor 0rban, as you said, has asked parliament to vote in favour of sweden joining nato and it surely will. find favour of sweden “oining nato and it surel will. �* favour of sweden “oining nato and it surel will. . ., surely will. and those are the ictures surely will. and those are the pictures we — surely will. and those are the pictures we are _ surely will. and those are the pictures we are currently - surely will. and those are the i pictures we are currently looking surely will. and those are the - pictures we are currently looking at on screen at the moment, live pictures coming into us from the hungarian parliament in advance of that vote. in terms of the importance to nato, what is your

assessment on that?— importance to nato, what is your assessment on that? well, it is an exansion assessment on that? well, it is an expansion of— assessment on that? well, it is an expansion of nato _ assessment on that? well, it is an expansion of nato to _ assessment on that? well, it is an expansion of nato to 32 _ assessment on that? well, it is an | expansion of nato to 32 members, after finland became the 31st. it is an expansion that president vladimir putin did not want to see. that was one of the stated aims of going into ukraine, to prevent an expansion. sweden says it will bring two or a swedish defence analyst has been talking today, saying that sweden will bring to the party its modern airforce, submarines, especially air force, submarines, especially adapted airforce, submarines, especially adapted to operating in the baltic sea, but i think this is much more significant sweden, which wants the security umbrella of nato and us nuclear deterrence.— security umbrella of nato and us nuclear deterrence. caroline, as you said that final _ nuclear deterrence. caroline, as you said that final sentence, _ nuclear deterrence. caroline, as you said that final sentence, sweden's i said that final sentence, sweden's prime minister saying, we take and are ready to take our responsibilities in nato. so already welcoming what to expect fare from the hungarian parliament, which is just literally in the last ten seconds have ratified that move, so

good timing, caroline, thanks forjoining us. one more story to squeeze in. it is a lovely story to squeeze in. it is a lovely story because hundreds of posters, memorabilia and letters from a public art project known as poems on the underground have been donated to cambridge library. the scheme began in 1986, displayed posters across london's tube network, featuring works of literary greats. the archive features works from late poets philip larkin and seamus heaney, amongst many others. let's speak to a poet herself and the founder of this programme, judith, thank you for being on the programme, what an incredible archive this is?— archive this is? well, we are so leased archive this is? well, we are so pleased to _ archive this is? well, we are so pleased to have _ archive this is? well, we are so pleased to have it _ archive this is? well, we are so pleased to have it donated, - archive this is? well, we are so i pleased to have it donated, well, archive this is? well, we are so - pleased to have it donated, well, we do it to cambridge because when i looked through the letters from seamus heaney, among others, some not at all well known, i thought this was a wonderful portrait of poetry at the time and a place of

the poets to be read by masses of people, notjust well—known poets, masses of critics, but ordinary people to whom most of these poets were always speaking, they were speaking of their own ordinary lives and hopes and hoping to reach others for the same sort of concern. realize for the same sort of concern. really cuickl for the same sort of concern. really quickly because _ for the same sort of concern. really quickly because we _ for the same sort of concern. really quickly because we are _ for the same sort of concern. really quickly because we are short - for the same sort of concern. really quickly because we are short of- quickly because we are short of time, but rewind for me. how did it all come about in the first place, where and how did you do it? well. where and how did you do it? well, it was 'ust where and how did you do it? well, it wasjust an _ where and how did you do it? well, it wasjust an idea. _ where and how did you do it? well, it was just an idea. we _ where and how did you do it? well, it wasjust an idea. we went - where and how did you do it? well, it was just an idea. we went to - it was just an idea. we went to london transport, the manager of london transport, the manager of london transport, the manager of london transport, would you like to put poems up in the empty advertising spaces? and to my amazement i got a reply by return mail. they were very happy to set up the programme is all we had to do was to share some of our favourite poems with them, with the masses of new commuters on the london

underground. new commuters on the london underground-— new commuters on the london underground. how did you get to decide? well. _ underground. how did you get to decide? well, that _ underground. how did you get to decide? well, that took - underground. how did you get to decide? well, that took quite - underground. how did you get to decide? well, that took quite a l underground. how did you get to l decide? well, that took quite a bit of research — decide? well, that took quite a bit of research and _ decide? well, that took quite a bit of research and we _ decide? well, that took quite a bit of research and we didn't - decide? well, that took quite a bit of research and we didn't have - decide? well, that took quite a bit of research and we didn't have to i decide? well, that took quite a bit i of research and we didn't have to do the research, actually favour publishers took on the designs for the first two years, they did all of that and then our own designer, tom davidson has been designing the posters ever since. i davidson has been designing the posters ever since.— davidson has been designing the posters ever since. i mean, philip larkin, who _ posters ever since. i mean, philip larkin. who you — posters ever since. i mean, philip larkin, who you mentioned - posters ever since. i mean, philip larkin, who you mentioned and l posters ever since. i mean, philipl larkin, who you mentioned and we mentioned, he never actually lived to see any of this, but within the archive they have the letters that he wrote to you and your replies, so thatis he wrote to you and your replies, so that is fascinating to see all of that. in terms of the poetry itself and adjust the public�*s access to it because it has been copied in america, it has been copied in china. what do you think it actually brings ordinary people who perhaps are not so familiar with poetry? well, we have had a huge response

from members of the public and they seem to find consolation when they need consolation, they find hope, they find fellow spirits talking about the things that concern them. it is a very democratic process, really, something we have taken huge pleasure in as we have seen it develop and expand over the years. well, you're absolutely right. it has developed and expanded and it has developed and expanded and it has gone international. it is absolutely wonderful and of course all of that archive, everything, you have handed over to cambridge university, so the public have access and just go through all of that whenever they want to. judith, it has been a pleasure talking to you, judith chernaik, thanks for being here on the programme and congratulations with handling of that archive. i am back with more than the day's headlines here in just a moment or two. 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 coast 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. he you can probably hear on the back when some of the firecrackers that are going off. this white stuff on the floor has come from the water cannon that the police have been firing this morning. do you accept your comments that you've been called a racist from your party? a tory mp refuses to apologise for claiming "islamists" have "got control" of the mayor of london, even after rishi sunak said the comments were unacceptable. and how is this for a trojan horse? undercover police officers in the north—east of england come up with an unusual way of tackling anti—social behaviour.