arrest you, all bee! arrest you, all m arrest you, all riht, on sus-icion of murder. a man is found guilty of murdering a married couple he worked for by drugging them with the opioid painkiller fentanyl. vladimir vladimirovich putin. in the glittering surrounds of the kremlin, vladimir putin celebrates his re—election. the bbc was a guest, but not always a welcome one. "why don't you guys do the way we do it?" because we are not you, and we don't like it much, really. and the new artwork by the elusive banksy is defaced — but does that mean it's ruined? on newsnight at 10.30, we'll go deeper behind the headlines and speak live to key players on today's big stories, plus a look tomorrow's front pages.

good evening. there has been some welcome news for the economy, with a sharper than expected fall in inflation — that's the rate at which prices rise — from li% injanuary to 3.1i% in february. that is its lowest level in more than two years. it means prices are still rising but at a slower rate. in a moment, we'll be speaking to our political editor chris mason, but first to our economics editor faisal islam with his assessment. thanks, reeta. today's fall means inflation has come a long way down from the peak of 11% back in october 2022 — as you can see here. but inflation is still a bit higher than the bank of england's target rate of 2% in the dotted red line. earlier i spoke to the prime minister, who told me that the uk economy is notjust turning a corner but bouncing back, and that many people were seeing green shoots of recovery — but i've also been out and about near crewe, meeting people who are yet

to see that. the first day of spring is often a turning point of renewal. but at this farm shop near crewe, the rebirth of the economy as inflation falls to more normal levels isn't yet hitting home. the energy bills should be coming down by now. not from what i've seen. they keep putting the standard charge for electricity up, and gas. but it doesn't feel like... the cost to go out for the day and eating and drinking seems to be going up as well. sometimes ijust don't even, like, pay for my wi—fi because i can't, so we have to go without. everything isjustl going up, isn't it? everything. and you don't think that that's starting to calm down or stabilise? anything you can see in your own bills? maybe our gas and electric. is slightly better than it was, or not as bad as it was getting, - but apart from that, no, not really. the latest figures showed food costs and prices in cafes and restaurants helping drive inflation down to 3.1i% last month — the lowest level for two and a half years,

well down on its 11% peak. from here, the headline rate of inflation is likely to fall below 2%, that's the government's target, driven by those falls in energy prices next month. but what we're learning is just what a long tail inflationary pressures that we've seen can have. and we're also going to see cost—of—living pressures from increases in broadband, in water bills and car insurance too. hello, a—star. and that can be seen very clearly here at a local taxi firm that may have to halt expansion plans after a crippling insurance bill. i could not believe it. it really... yeah, itjust knocked me back so much, and it's kind of scary as well. when's it going to stop? soon, says the prime minister, who chose to use today's fall in inflation to tell the public things were definitively looking up. i do believe that at the start of this year we have turned a corner after the shocks of the past few

years, and we are in a new economic moment, and 2024 will prove to be the year the economy bounces back. so green shoots of recovery? that's notjust me saying that. if you talk to businesses, as i do, across the country, they are starting to see that and feel that in what is happening in their shops, or their restaurants or their companies, and you can see it when... wherever you are, in fact, people are seeing that things have turned. weekly grocery shop is still going up by 5%, private rents up 9% to a record high. can you really credibly say that people can feel that sort of turnaround when prices are still going up in so many other areas? all the things you mentioned, of course, pressures on family budgets. you know, myjob is to make sure we are helping, and that's what our tax cuts too. all of those things will be helped by a typical person and work receiving a £900 tax cut this year. the state pension going up by £900. the opposition said the cost

of living crisis continues. well, i welcome any fall in inflation, but i do think we have to recognise that people, after 14 years of this government, are not better off. they are seeing the prices in the shops still rising, still significant. the tax burden is still high. if you are renewing your fixed rate mortgage, you are almost certainly going to be paying more. a turning point on mortgage costs is what many households are waiting for. the bank of england may focus on the still high inflation in the service sector, holding off from a cut at its meeting tomorrow. well, faisal — so when are we likely we see rates coming down? there is very little expectation of its coming tomorrow. most expectations are that it could come around june orjuly, maybe. it is interesting to hear quite bold words from the prime minister, notjust a charter member to bounce back,

contemplating the idea people feel there are green of recovery. in the market to get this concept that people want to get ahead of the move, and the best expectation from downing street, number ten and number 11, downing street, number ten and number", is downing street, number ten and number 11, is they think the tax cuts and the fact that wages are rising faster than prices come together with consumer confidence rising and maybe a feel—good factor emerging, capped by the bank of england cutting interest rates until the summer. that is their best hope. they wanted for the economy but they need it politically.— need it politically. chris, welcome news for the _ need it politically. chris, welcome news for the government - need it politically. chris, welcome news for the government but - need it politically. chris, welcome - news for the government but whether to pacify the prime minister because my critics? to pacify the prime minister because m critics? , my critics? they need it politically. _ my critics? they need it politically. i _ my critics? they need it politically, i underline l my critics? they need it i politically, i underline that my critics? they need it - politically, i underline that again. straight _ politically, i underline that again. straight after the prime minister's appointment with faisal he was down the road _ appointment with faisal he was down the road to— appointment with faisal he was down the road to parliament for another appointment with his backbenchers in private _ appointment with his backbenchers in private i_ appointment with his backbenchers in private. i say in private, people like me — private. i say in private, people like me were loitering in the

corridor— like me were loitering in the corridor and speaking to people on the way— corridor and speaking to people on the way in — corridor and speaking to people on the way in and the way out. we have had bauhies— the way in and the way out. we have had baubles from some conservative mps who _ had baubles from some conservative mps who would rather be rid of rishi sunak— mps who would rather be rid of rishi sunak than— mps who would rather be rid of rishi sunakthan him mps who would rather be rid of rishi sunak than him be the leader into an election _ sunak than him be the leader into an election i_ sunak than him be the leader into an election. i think we got a backlash on that— election. i think we got a backlash on that today from some of their colleagues. the prime minister's argument — colleagues. the prime minister's argument to conservative colleagues is those _ argument to conservative colleagues is those trying to do him political damage — is those trying to do him political damage are notjust hurting him but hurtirrg _ damage are notjust hurting him but hurtirrg att— damage are notjust hurting him but hurting all of them, and i think broadly— hurting all of them, and i think broadly among mps that was welcome for that, _ broadly among mps that was welcome forthat, but broadly among mps that was welcome for that, but as they head on the easter— for that, but as they head on the easter recess soon back to the constituencies, local elections round — constituencies, local elections round the _ constituencies, local elections round the corner in may, the challenge _ round the corner in may, the challenge is what they hear on the tour and _ challenge is what they hear on the tour and whether that is positive. we heard — tour and whether that is positive. we heard the voices in crewe but why does that— we heard the voices in crewe but why does that turn out? the expectation among _ does that turn out? the expectation among conservatives as the local elections — among conservatives as the local elections will be very difficult. also— elections will be very difficult. also tonight, the rwanda deportation plan has been hit by more delays because the house of lords has

inflicted further defeats on the policy. what will happen to it? if this feels familiar it is because it is deia _ this feels familiar it is because it is deia vu — this feels familiar it is because it is deja vu all over again. not long a-o is deja vu all over again. not long ago the _ is deja vu all over again. not long ago the house of lords was inflicting a whole load of defeats on this— inflicting a whole load of defeats on this true answer plan, the idea of sending — on this true answer plan, the idea of sending asylum seekers to rwanda. —— a of sending asylum seekers to rwanda. -- a whole _ of sending asylum seekers to rwanda. —— a whole load of defeats on this press _ —— a whole load of defeats on this press plan — —— a whole load of defeats on this press plan. it went back to the house — press plan. it went back to the house of— press plan. it went back to the house of lords and they have pinned a toad _ house of lords and they have pinned a load more — house of lords and they have pinned a load more amendments to it. so it goes _ a load more amendments to it. so it goes back— a load more amendments to it. so it goes back to — a load more amendments to it. so it goes back to the house of commons. that will— goes back to the house of commons. that will not — goes back to the house of commons. that will not now happen until after the easter— that will not now happen until after the easter break so there will be a pause _ the easter break so there will be a pause for— the easter break so there will be a pause for a — the easter break so there will be a pause for a couple of weeks, the government hopes that in late april they can _ government hopes that in late april they can do the remainder of what is known _ they can do the remainder of what is known as— they can do the remainder of what is known as ping—pong between the two chambers _ known as ping—pong between the two chambers in the space of the first four or— chambers in the space of the first four or five — chambers in the space of the first four or five days so they hope it will become law soon and they hope that shortly after that they can finally, — that shortly after that they can finally, after talking about it for two years, get some planes to rwanda with asvlum _ two years, get some planes to rwanda with asylum seekers on board, but they are _

with asylum seekers on board, but they are not there yet.— they are not there yet. thank you very much. _ they are not there yet. thank you very much, chris _ they are not there yet. thank you very much, chris mason - they are not there yet. thank you very much, chris mason and - they are not there yet. thank you | very much, chris mason and faisal islam. the irish prime minister leo varadkar has announced he is stepping down as taoiseach and leader of fine gael, for reasons which are both "personal and political." speaking in dublin, he said that being taoiseach had been the most fulfilling time of his life, with ireland becoming a more equal and modern place. here's our ireland correspondent sara girvin. just days ago, marking st patrick's day in washington, there was no sign of the shock resignation to come. my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political. i believe this government can be re—elected. but after careful consideration and some soul searching, i believe that a new taoiseach and a new leader will be better placed than me to achieve that. his appointment as taoiseach for the first time in 2017 was history making. at 38, he was the youngest ever irish prime minister, the first from an ethnic background and the first gay leader.

his appointment personified a changing and more modern ireland. he championed referendums legalising same sex marriage and abortion. but it was the brexit negotiations that saw him make his mark on the world stage, with other leaders describing him as a sharp shooter and straight talker. today, the prime minister, rishi sunak, thanked leo varadkar for his dedicated service. but political opponents who want their party to take the top job next called for an early election — today's resignation doesn't immediately trigger one. it's not a time for a rearranging of the deckchairs, and ultimately it's for the people to decide who will be the taoiseach. so i think it's now over to the people. there should be an election. the republic of ireland is grappling with a cost of living crisis, issues around immigration and massive problems around housing. that's led to a lot of frustration with the current government, particularly among young people. i feel like everyone in ireland is struggling at the moment, like, with the housing crisis,

cost of living, like there's not one person we'd speak to who actually like the government that's in now. you think, like, you're going to be living with your parents _ until 40 years of age, like, you know what i mean? . like, you don't want to be living there. . you want to go out i and be independent. the republic of ireland has witnessed much change during leo varadkar�*s political career. even if there's no early general election, one is looming within a year, and with a new taoiseach set to be named within weeks, there will be much more change to come. sara girvin, bbc news in dublin. a display of splendour and opulence, as vladimir putin gathered celebrity supporters for a lavish event in moscow after winning a fifth term as president at the weekend. it was an election that western leaders have called neither free or fair. the bbc�*s russia editor steve rosenberg got a rare invite to the kremlin. vladimir vladimirovich putin! they say that location is everything, if you want

to impress an audience. applause so, vladimir putin invited his celebrity supporters to one of the swankiest parts of the kremlin. he wasn't easy to see, but the messaging was clear. in the hall where russian tsars had been crowned... ..russia's president thanked the vips for backing his re—election. we were there too. a rare invitation inside the kremlin. a sign, perhaps, of president putin's growing confidence. even though the west has dismissed the election as a sham. this is, in effect, vladimir putin's victory lap. having won the race, a race so designed that he couldn't lose it, the kremlin leader wanted to thank his most famous fans for cheering him on, and was clearly happy to receive their congratulations. and his guests loyally defended a widely criticised election. do you believe the election

was free and fair? laughter we created the most open and democratic elections in the bloody world! was there a serious challenger in the election, a serious opponent? is there a need for a serious opponent? why? why is there no need for a serious opponent? why do you always think the way you live is better than the way we live? even the way you ask questions. "why don't you guys do the way we do it?" because we are not you, and we don't like you much, really. in the kremlin, vladimir putin referred to events in russia's belgorod region. it's come under sustained shelling from across the border in ukraine. and civilian casualties have been rising. this never happened before russia invaded ukraine. translation: we can, of course,

respond in the same way, - striking civilian infrastructure and all similar sites that are the enemy is targeting. we have our own views on that, our own plans, and we will follow them. and, post—election, vladimir putin will claim he has a popular mandate for whatever plans he makes, and whatever decisions he takes. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the private clinic in london where catherine, the princess of wales had abdominal surgery has said there is no place for those who breach its patients' trust, after claims that staff tried to access her medical records. the daily mirror has reported that at least one member of staff attempted to obtain her medical notes. the data protection watchdog has confirmed that it's assessing the information provided. here's our royal correspondentjonny dymond. privacy and the princess — the mirror makes a splash with a story about an attempt to access private medical

information regarding kate, the princess of wales. she was here two months ago for an abdominal operation. since then, she's been out of sight, but hardly out of mind. from the palace, silence. from the hospital, a statement. all of this, the hospital visit, the long recovery, was supposed to be ordinary — a woman, wife and mother getting better after an operation. the palace has been flabbergasted by the response. the concern often that the princess's right to privacy has been shredded in a world of phone and feed. this is not the first time that the princess's private medical records, some of the most protected personal data there is, have come to others' attention. a decade ago, phone pranksters duped a nurse into revealing

some petty details. this latest controversy comes hard on the heels of the photo issued last week, withdrawn by international publishers as doubts were cast on its authenticity. the couple may have thought they'd be able to step back a little to enable a long recovery, but events and rumours and their own mistake have conspired against them. jonny dymond, bbc news. lawyers for prince harry have told the high court that rupert murdoch must have known about phone hacking and other unlawful activity in his british newspaper group — long before denying it in public. our home and legal correspondent dominic casciani is here. these are serious allegations. and extraordinarily coincidental timing as well. we have just gone from one modern—day story of

intrusion into private affairs to a historical one dating back some 13 years or so. they have been claims of hacking and intrusion in relation to the sun and the news of the world. prince harry's claim is set to go to trial injanuary purely on the claim of whether private investigators gathered information. his lawyers what that case expanded. essentially, they want to know what executives at the parent company of those newspapers knew back then, rather than just what was paid to private investigators. today, his lawyer said there was a paper trail of evidence which effectively led, they say, all the weight of the top, because they say back in 2011, rupert murdoch must have known by then that the news of the world was involved in hacking, and they say this could be shown in various conversations that were disclosed in the evidence. in essence, they want to get this into the trial. it is quite complicated stuff, which is why news group is saying on behalf of the sun and its owner is that

none of this should go into this case, it is effectively historical information, and effectively an attempt by people who don't like tabloid newspapers to close down those papers. they want the trial focused purely on the issue of private investigators, and thejudge will have to decide in the months to come. dominic casciani, thank you. a man has been found guilty of murdering a married couple he worked for by drugging them with the opioid painkiller fentanyl. luke d'wit had rewritten the couple's will so he could seize control of their business after their deaths. here's graham satchell. good friday last year. luke d'wit is captured on cctv leaving the home of stephen and carol baxter. he'd just poisoned them with fentanyl. the couple's bodies were found two days later on easter sunday by their daughter ellie. she'd discovered them sitting lifeless in their conservatory. she called 999 but became distraught. luke d'wit, who worked for the family, spoke to the call handler instead. you can hear ellie's screams in the background.

i need help outside. just in regard to carol's condition, _ i need help outside. just in regard to carol's condition, you - i need help outside. just in regard to carol's condition, you think- i need help outside. just in regard to carol's condition, you think she is beyond — to carol's condition, you think she is beyond any help? yes. _ is beyond any help? yes. i_ is beyond any help? yes, i mean, there is blood from her mouth and she has slumped over. luke d'wit was still at the scene when the police arrived. he'd helped the baxters with some it work and become a friend, but all the while, he'd been planning their murder. chelmsford crown court was shown this document, a will created by luke d'wit the day after the couple's bodies were found. it left him in charge of the company set up by carol baxter. i'm going to have to arrest you, mate, all right? and that's on on suspicion of murder. when police arrested d'wit, they found quantities of the opioid painkiller fentanyl, the drug used to kill the couple. in all my years of policing, luke d'wit is one of the most dangerous men i have ever come across. i have absolutely no doubt in my mind, had he not been caught, he would have gone on to kill further people. stephen and carol's son said their family would forever be punctured by the gravity of d'wit�*s actions. luke d'wit will be

sentenced on friday. graham satchell, bbc news. last night we reported from the frontline of the civil war in sudan, which has been raging since last april, causing the biggest internal displacement of a country's population in the world. the war is being fought between sudan's military, who run the country, and a mainly arab paramilitary group called the rapid support forces, who they used to share power with. both sides have been accused of abuses, but the un has singled out the rsf for criticism over reports of women and girls being terrorised and rape being used as a weapon of war. the group denies this. but the bbc has uncovered harrowing stories of physical and sexual violence against some members of the country's black community from darfur in the west of sudan. mercyjuma reports from adre on the chad—sudan border. and a warning that some people may find her report distressing.

yesterday, 19—year—old amina found out that she is pregnant. within minutes, she will begin an abortion, desperately hoping that her family never knows. translation: it happened in sudan. i'm not married, and i was a virgin, except for the incident that happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, says she was trying to flee fighting in her hometown when she was captured, held for a day, and repeatedly raped. translation: i didn't tell anyone, and i don't think anyone knows. - i couldn't even tell the doctor, but i told a female psychologist. she approached me and i told her. the un says the sexual violence experienced by women like amina is a defining characteristic of the conflict in sudan. it has been used as a weapon of war. amina is one of more than 600,000 people who have fled sudan for camps like this one in neighbouring chad. she was helped by the international

charity medecins sans frontieres. but other voluntary groups have also sprung up to support the large number of women who have been affected by either physical violence or sexual attacks. it's a side of the conflict that's not often seen, and we have been given privileged access to join this group and film a meeting run by zahra. maryamu is a former university student who has been speaking to zahra. she says she was attacked by armed men in her home in sudan. when she called for help, they fired a bullet inches away from her mother as she tried to stop what was happening. translation: zahra spends time with me at home. - she talks to me. she says what happened to you happened to a lot of people, and you must be strong and positive.

women have been victims of violence across sudan during the civil war. the fighting has also seen a resurgence of a bloody ethnic conflict. 20 years ago, the un says 300,000 members of the black african community were killed in the darfur region amidst accusations of genocide. much of the violence against women in sudan during the current conflict has been blamed on the rapid support forces and its allies. in a chilling online video, one prominent member sets out why he feels fighters have the right to assault women. translation: as for raping or not l raping, if we rape your daughter. or your girl, it's an eye for an eye. this is our country, and this is our right, and we took it. the rapid support forces told us the majority of accusations against it are untrue, that its troops are held accountable when incidents occur. but zahra says black african women are being targeted and are for. are being targeted in darfur. translation: this is -

because rape leaves an impact on society and the family. they use it as a weapon of revenge. with this conflict, cases of sexual violence are widespread. but this is a taboo topic here, and comes with a lot of shame and stigma. this means that those who speak out or seek medical attention are only a fraction of those who are affected. ordinary women are paying the price for the brutality which has been unleashed by the conflict in sudan. with no end in sight, many more people could end up suffering in silence. mercyjuma, bbc news, on the chad—sudan border. uk private rents have risen at the fastest pace since 2015 according to official figures. the office for national statistics said average rents increased by 9% in the year to february, while house prices dipped slightly. in england, london renters saw prices rise the most at 10.6%,

taking average monthly rent in the capital to over £2,000. junior doctors in england have voted by 98% in favour of continuing strike action for another six months. the voting turnout was 62%. there have been ten walk—outs so far byjunior doctors since the first one in march last year. the british medical association has asked for a 35% pay rise, but ministers have described the pay claim as unreasonable. vaughan gething has been confirmed as the new first minister of wales. the 50—year—old, who narrowly won the labour party leadership election on saturday said he wanted to promote a "kinder, more effective politics" over what he called the "forces of division". as first minister, i will bring together a government that constantly makes the positive case for progressive politics,

to remind people that only through coming together can we achieve for the many. so i choose to make a stand for positivity, to neverfan the flames that are hurtful to people and damage our standing in the world. now, a polish tree nicknamed heart of the garden has won the 2024 european tree of the year contest. the beech tree grows in an old park in the botanical garden of the university of wroclaw. it's the third polish tree in a row to win the competition, which showcases unique trees from across the continent. now, from one tree to another. on monday, we told you about the new mural that had appeared in north london by the elusive street artist banksy. well, two days later, that painting has been defaced with white paint. ellie price has the details. someone has graffitied the graffiti, thrown paint over the paint that was thrown over this wall behind this tree. why do people do things like that, you know? he went to the bother of

coming here and doing that. we're down for a few days and come here to see it. i'm disappointed, whoever's done that. does the white paint ruin the banksy? no, i don't think so. _ no, i think it adds character to it. somebody puts paint on a wall and everyone loves it. somebody else tries to ruin it. i think they've tried to ruin it. and yet that's sort of almost like "shock, horror, it's a crime." well, this fence wasn't here when i came here on monday. that was put up yesterday. but obviously it did very little to stop the white paint being thrown. but so many people have been here to visit. something had to be done to try and protect it. the work appeared on sunday. some people say it looked like the ill—fated sycamore gap tree. the cherry tree here is still standing as well as the stencilled gardener. but banksy has been victim of vandals plenty of times, even as far away as ukraine. and well—meaning cleaners later unwittingly defaced this work by, well, wiping it off entirely.

graffiti and street art, it gets hit by the weather. it gets hit by people with their own paint. and there's a limited supply of walls that you can draw on. but it is a real shame when somebody as talented as banksy gets their work ruined by somebody, or i think it's fair to say, isn't quite as accomplished an artist. additions by others are within the rules of engagement of street art. and look closely — the white paint isn't the only one here. ellie price, bbc news, north london. time for a look at the weather now. here is stav. thank you very much. a very warm day to day across the south—east. temperatures way above where they should be for the time of year. the highest in england this year. towards tomorrow, it should be very mild in the south, the changes taking place across the north because of this area of low

pressure, which will be a game changerfor pressure, which will be a game changer for the pressure, which will be a game changerfor the end the pressure, which will be a game changer for the end the week. turning cooler for changer for the end the week. turning coolerfor all changer for the end the week. turning cooler for all areas. through the night, wetter and more windy across scotland and northern ireland. temperatures rise at the end of the night. for england and way is, mostly dry, clear skies, a bit of cloud here and there, and a bit of cloud here and there, and a bit fresher tonight than the previous night. for thursday, bit fresher tonight than the previous night. forthursday, mostly fine in the south, milder air here, but we will have wet and windy weather across scotland and northern ireland, some colder air moving in behind this rain band, so wet at times followed by blustery showers and some sunshine into the afternoon, very windy in the north and western isles, up to 60 mph. england and wales, lots of cloud round, some sunshine can be and, lighter winds in the south. again very mild, but in some sunshine, we could be up to around 17 celsius in the south—east, cooler in the north. friday, the cold front sinks southwards, during thursday night, and by friday, it will pull away from the south—east, introducing brighter weather with blustery showers. but there will be a hint of winter across the hills of scotland on friday afternoon, temperatures

6-10, but10-12 in on friday afternoon, temperatures 6-10, but 10-12 in the on friday afternoon, temperatures 6—10, but 10—12 in the south, so a little cooler. for the weekend, colder for oral, little cooler. for the weekend, colderfor oral, typical little cooler. for the weekend, colder for oral, typical spring weather. we get these milder and colder spells at times, and some showers will actually be wintry on the hills in the north and west. as you can see, the cold air pretty much across the whole country into saturday. lots of isobars in the chart. it will be windy, plenty of showers around on saturday, wintry on the hills. probably a better day on the hills. probably a better day on sunday, more sunshine around. that's it from me. back to you. thanks, stav. and that's bbc news at ten. newsnight is just getting under way on bbc two with victoria derbyshire. on bbc one, it's time tojoin our colleagues for the news where you are. goodnight.