to you, what do you going to say to you, what do you know about his plight? i do going to say to you, what do you know about his plight? i do know that he was _ know about his plight? i do know that he was moved _ know about his plight? i do know that he was moved into - know about his plight? i do know that he was moved into a - know about his plight? i do know that he was moved into a prisonl that he was moved into a prison which was in siberia. his mother and wife are very anxious that he would not survive. he was subject to the most inhumane and appalling treatment in prison, particularly after navalny�*s death he was seen to be probably the next one. i think there will be hugely from his family that he has now got his freedom. did it come as a shock to either of you, a surprise that this was happening? it came out of the blue in a sense, or did it not?— or did it not? the people that were closely watching, not _ or did it not? the people that were closely watching, not me, but - closely watching, not me, but the experts, — closely watching, not me, but the experts, they could see some of the tell-tale _ experts, they could see some of the tell-tale i_ experts, they could see some of the tell—tale i think the fact that evan and anotherjournalist had and another journalist had convictions, and anotherjournalist had convictions, trials that were fast tracked — convictions, trials that were fast tracked and convictions on the same day that_ tracked and convictions on the same day that were very lengthy gave some people _ day that were very lengthy gave some people hope that there was some movement. because once they had been convicted. _ movement. because once they had been convicted, that was the kind of

trigger— convicted, that was the kind of trigger that then would allow this prisoner— trigger that then would allow this prisoner swap to happen. clearly everything was done very much under wraps— everything was done very much under wraps and _ everything was done very much under wraps and behind closed doors because — wraps and behind closed doors because we did not know until the prisoner— because we did not know until the prisoner started to be moved that something was in the offing. thank ou all. let's take a quick look at a few of the stories on the front pages. police are urged to step up action amid plans fora police are urged to step up action amid plans for a 19 more far right protests on the guardian. matt was suggesting. details on the i of the interest—rate cut that is too late to stop the budget squeeze, according to the i. the daily express talks about the naming of the 17—year—old who carried out those horrific attacks in southport. the daily telegraph picks up that story, starmer blaming the riots on far right plotters. the bbc accused of setting an internal report about huw edwards, two things we were discussing in the programme earlier. and the daily mail, say goodbye to your doctor's appointment, that is

about patients being punished as gps start months of work to rule. then the daily mirror again references the far right, keir starmer, i will take on the far right thugs. that is tomorrow's news today here on newsnight. but that is it for tonight. thank you to everyone for coming on the programme, thank you forjoining us. i will be back tomorrow. untilthen, good night. this is bbc news. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri, it's good to have you. the 17—year—old boy, charged with murdering three girls

and attempting to murder ten others in southport, has appeared in court in liverpool. he can now be named as axel muganwa rudakubana — after the judge lifted reporting restrictions. it's understood that the teenager from lancashire has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford was in court. sirens blare three days after the horrifying mass stabbing in southport, the police's only suspect, axel rudakubana, was brought to court in a white custody van. accompanied by two police cars, three riot vans and several other vehicles, he was driven to the main court complex in liverpool, where the road was briefly closed. dozens of other officers were providing extra security because of tuesday night's riot in southport. the first hearing in the youth court lasted about five minutes. 17—year—old axel rudakubana, who at that stage still could not be named, was wearing a police issued grey tracksuit made

of a sweatshirt material. apart from a brief glance at the press benches, he kept his face covered at all times. throughout the hearing, because of the defendant's young age, the districtjudge spoke to him using only his first name, axel. as well as being charged with murder and attempted murder, he is also charged with possessing a kitchen knife with a curved blade. at a second hearing in the crown court an hour later, judge andrew menary kc lifted the legal restrictions, saying that "in the public interest, axel rudakubana should be publicly named". the young girls he's accused of murdering at monday's taylor swift—themed dance class are six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe, and nine—year—old alice dasilva aguiar. he's accused of attempting to murder the class organiser, leanne lucas, john hayes, who had rushed to help, and eight other young girls who can't be named because of court

reporting restrictions. whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation, and we continue to work with our partners from lancashire police and counter terrorism policing north west. axel rudakubana, seen here in old photos, was born in cardiff but grew up in southport and went to local schools. it's understood he has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and has at times refused to leave the house. for the last seven years, he'd been living in this close in the village of banks, just outside southport, with his parents, who were originally from rwanda. as he was driven from court, angry bystanders shouted at the van. he'll be held in youth detention accommodation at least until his 18th birthday next week. his next court appearance will be a plea hearing on october 25th.

there were two nights of violence and parts of england following the killings in southport. sir keir starmer condemned far—right demonstrators saying the unrest was not a protest that got out of hand — but caused by a group of individuals bent on violence. more than 100 people were arrested in london, manchester, and hartlepool overnight. our home editor mark easton reports from hartlepool. the charred hulk of a police car in a residential street in hartlepool symbolises the challenge to law and order currently posed by far—right extremists. anti—immigration groups were behind disturbances in several english towns and cities last night. shocking levels of violence and intimidation. a muslim family barricaded into their hartlepool home had to be rescued by riot officers. an asylum seeker was punched as he walked along the street. a local butcher stayed in his shop as rioters smashed his windows,

ensuring the mob did not get to his knives and meat cleavers. today, cleveland police were at the community centre, looking to reassure local residents. mobile patrols and that's going to continue today, tomorrow, into the weekend, and then we'll reassess it following that. how did you feel when you heard what had been happening on the streets of the town you've just moved to? i'm afraid. i'm afraid mostly for my kids, because i thought it's going to be a more calmer place to raise my kids. as an asian gentleman living on the street where this violence occurred, does that make you feel uncomfortable? ch, of course. my wife wouldn't even let me come out today to go to the mosque. - we had to close our mosque last night. i police in london also made more than 100 arrests overnight after far—right activists launched flares at the gates of downing street and towards the statue of winston churchill in parliament square.

there were also disturbances in manchester and aldershot. the prime minister this afternoon told police chiefs in downing street he was creating a new national capability across forces to combat the violent disorder. these thugs are mobile. they move from community to community, and we must have a policing response that can do the same. shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology, and preventative action, criminal behaviour orders, to restrict their movements. one of the anti—immigrant protesters in hartlepool last night refused to appear on camera, but told me he had attended after seeing plans for a rally online. he told me the country was full and foreigners were the problem. the far right wants to create the impression that immigration is a threat to law and order. police chiefs would argue that it's the far right who represent the greater danger, and in fact, the evidence is that there is no link

between the level of violence in a community and the numbers of asylum seekers or foreign workers. in fact, despite record immigration in the last few years, violent crime has never been lower. despite the far right�*s false narrative, last night's trouble does not reflect the attitudes of the communities where it happened, nor indeed the country. mark easton, bbc news, hartlepool. two of the children who were injured in the attack in southport on monday have now been discharged from hospital. judith moritz has been speaking to a mother and her daughter whose friend died in the attack — and a warning, her report contains flashing images. poppy is eight, and hers is a world of playing, dancing and fun. but this week, that world changed. she heard that something bad had happened, and she asked her mum what it was. "can you please just tell me what's going on"? and then i was open and honest, wasn't i? you were open and honest and you said at the yoga club, a couple of people were stabbed.

and i was a bit like, "do you know who?" poppy was at school with alice aguiar. they sang in the choir together. i literally knew that alice was definitely in there, so my fingers were crossed that she wasn't injured or anything, because i knew she was in there. but then when i found out that she was in hospital, i was like, "i'm crossing my fingers all week". that's what we've done for all of them, haven't we? you've been crossing your fingers all week? yeah, all week. and then you said she's died from the incident. poppy's mum told her that others had been stabbed too, including her dance teacher. what did she say? how has she processed it? is she processing it? i don't think she's fully processing it. at eight, they're nosy. they listen to everything. and poppy was asking overand overagain. that was when i decided to be upfront and honest, and i explained what had happened. and her first question was why.

and no—one has that answer. no—one knows why. the crazy bit is that she was more scared of the rioting than she was of what happened with the stabbing. poppy and her mum went to see the flowers at the scene and lay some of their own. it made me feel like i was giving the flowers directly to alice. for poppy, it's still too much to make sense of. who would do any of that? i don't think anyone has the answer, sweetheart. no, nobody does have the answer. no. southport is the kind of place you want to bring up your kids — sunshine and seaside fun. but now its children are facing things no child ever should, and the impact of that is hard to know. judith moritz, bbc news, southport. the biggest prisoner swap since the end of the cold war has taken place between russia and the west.

those who've been freed include the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich and the former us marine paul whelan, as well as prominent kremlin critics and anti—war campaigners. president biden welcomed their release. there's more to unpack about this story on our bbc website if you'd like more details. the director general of the bbc, tim davie, has defended the decision not to sack the former news presenter huw edwards — despite knowing he'd been arrested last november over the most serious category of images of child abuse. huw edwards pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of making indecent images of children. tim davie said it would be "legally challenging" to recover money paid to him since his arrest, but that they would look at all options. here's david sillito. mind your backs, please! mind your backs! huw edwards' guilty plea relating to the most serious category of images of child sexual abuse

raises questions for the bbc. its director—general tim davie was told of edwards' arrest in november, but continued to pay him for anotherfive months. yesterday, the bbc said it was shocked, but you knew about this in november of last year when huw edwards was arrested, you knew it related to child abuse, and you didn't sack him. why? well, we were very shocked. that's the first thing i want to say, which is, no one knew about the specifics of what we heard over the last few days, which has been deeply disturbing. now, when it comes to the decision that we made in november, when we were obviously faced with, i think, a very difficult decision, actually, and we considered it very carefully. the police came to us and gave us information that they had arrested mr edwards, but they wanted to be assured of total confidence, and the reason they rung us at that

point was to ensure that... and it's a technical process, which is to ensure employees are protected. you were worried about the welfare of huw edwards. what about the welfare of the children? well, we're absolutely... you know, the primary thoughts here are always for victims of these terrible situations. so why notjust sack him? because, quite simply, the police came to us and said, look, we need to do our work in total confidence. it would have been still confidential and you could have sacked him. i think you're then into a different argument, which is, is it fair to sack someone, and is it the right action at that... you had a raft of complaints about him. you had the sun story and you had this. when the police... you know, if you think about this in terms of precedent, people do get arrested, and then we've had situations where no charges, and there's nothing there to be followed up on. in this case, we knew it was serious. we knew no specifics, by the way.

those specifics — images sent to edwards by convicted paedophile, 25—year—old alex williams from merthyr tydfil. several of the worst level of child abuse. huw edwards, meanwhile, has a large bbc pension and earned £200,000 in the months after his arrest. we can't claw back pension. i think when it comes to pay, again, legally challenging, but we'll look at all options. in relation to huw edwards, look, i'm shocked and appalled, i'm sure, as everybody is in relation to this. the prime minister. the government's also been asking questions today. huw edwards — what did people know? what did they do? david sillito, bbc news. meanwhile, two whisteblowers who gave evidence to an internal bbc inquiry into huw edwards have criticised the way it was handled. our special correspondent lucy manning has been speaking to them. last year, the bbc encouraged staff to come forward

to their internal investigation, but the findings of that haven't been published. and i spoke to one former employee today who gave evidence to that inquiry. as first revealed in the sun, but they've spoken to us, as well, they received messages from huw edwards when he was presenting the funeral of prince philip — and the former newsreader sent this colleague suggestive messages, with a picture of his hotel room with the bed, saying there was plenty of room. and this person told the inquiry all about this and about other messages, as well. and they were in tears when they were telling me today, that they felt let down by the bbc. they want the findings of the internal investigation to be published. they said, "it doesn't seem transparent, it seems like things have been swept under the carpet, they've marked their own homework". a second bbc staff member who we reported on last year, when they said they had received suggestive and flirtatious,

and inappropriate messages from huw edwards, they also spoke to the investigation. they said they were disappointed they hadn't heard more about the progress, and that it had been an ordeal to speak to the investigators, and they didn't feel reassured that bbc management had taken the steps to deal with the internal newsroom dynamics or internal complaints. and, although tim davie says that the bbc isn't sitting on anything that needs to go to the police or is of a serious nature, those who took part in this investigation just aren't satisfied. lucy manning speaking to my colleague reeta chakrabarti. gps across england will limit the number of patient appointments and stop work they're not explicitly contracted to do, in a dispute over funding. more than 98% of those who took part in a ballot by the british medical association voted in favour of the action — which could continue indefinitely. the doctors' union says some practices are having to close because government funding has not

kept up with rising costs. the bank of england has cut interest rates for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing them down from their 16—year high. the base rate fell from 5.25% to 5%. it was initially put up to combat high inflation, and has been held since last year. the bank has now concluded that cost of living pressures have "eased enough". here's our economics editor faisal isalm. in cardiff market, restaurant customers talk a lot about the burden of their rising mortgage bills. finally today, that has started to change. 0h, very happy. very happy, just because the mortgage has come down. mortgages, bank rates, i think it will be a bit of a relief. for the first time in four years, interest rates are now coming down. important for custom at this street food restaurant, but for owner rupali and others, it might take some time to pass through.

we have actually remortgaged our own house, and it was the worst time to do it, because we had such a good interest rate, but we had to release the capital for businesses to sustain. we've done that and now we are stuck with a high interest rate, high expenses at the business. it was a close—run 5—4 vote in favour of a cut at the bank of england, with governor andrew bailey being persuaded now is the right time for lower rates. we're on a path where we will remove this persistent element of inflation, as we expect we will, by the way — we're not expecting anything else at the moment. over time, therefore policy will become less restrictive, so rates will come down, but i'm not going to predict when and how much, because that depends on events and how it unfolds. is it mission accomplished in terms of the inflationary dragon being slayed? it's an encouraging step forward. you're right, it is an important moment in time. it's a welcome moment in time as well, but it's not mission accomplished yet. interest rates were cut

back today for the first time since the pandemic, having risen ia times as prices surged. that has helped overall inflation, in blue here, fall sharply back from the energy shock to the official target of 2%, but some on the committee are still worried about inflation in services, like restaurants and hotels, in red here, proving sticky. after a really difficult three—year inflationary shock, a significant turning point today. they raised interest rates here ia times to try to control inflation, and today, they felt confident enough to start to unwind that. but how quickly they go down from here is still up for grabs. the opposition said the new government's decisions to raise public sector pay this week by 5—6% would entrench inflation and jeopardise future rate cuts. well, it's up to the bank of england to make their decisions around interest rates and to forecast inflation. i made the decision on monday to accept the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies

to give a pay rise to our armed forces, our police, teachers, doctors and nurses. i think that is the right thing to do. but we also found efficiencies within government spending to offset some of that pay increase. the governor played down the impact, saying the public sector was catching up with rises in the private sector, so rates are on their way down — a potential boost to consumers and businesses, but with inflation not entirely defeated in the service sector, it could be a slow process. faisal islam, bbc news. after 19 years, andy murray's professional tennis career has come to an end. his final game saw him and his playing partner, dan evans, lose their 0lympic men's doubles quarterfinal on paris to the americans, taylor fritz and tommy paul. but it was a match that saw andy murray's trademark grit and fight.

natalie pirks has more. andy murray! they say don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened, but after everything he's given us we can forgive the tears. their partnership had been the roller—coaster that kept on thrilling — and fans were here for the ride. unfortunately it all seemed to be going in one direction. this hasn't been a great start for the brits. after losing the first set 6—2, they needed a better start. still some spring in the murray legs. this was more like it, but americans fritz and paul had grown up together and their tennis was in sync. and the brits in real trouble now. it looked a long way back now. 0nly — was there one more twist in the tail? this was a rally for the ages, back and forth it swung before finally... would you believe it?

that old murray magic was still there, twinkling in the city of light, but the time for plucky comebacks was over. it's the end of andy murray's tennis career. you can really feel the love in here for andy murray and everything he's achieved, but it's the end of a dream and the end of his career. i gave as much as i could to the sport. | i love competing in the olympic- games and competing for my country. these weeks are so, so special. the tears from both britons were falling freely now for a career that ended on the clay of roland garros. from tennis fans who were lucky enough to be here, a heartfelt thank you and good night. natalie pirks, bbc news, paris. let's speak to scott barclay, an andy murray fan. he has his own andy murray podcast

that he hosts. thanks for coming on. there were so many hopes about this 0lympics doubles run — but in some ways, it doesn't matter, does it? because it was always going to be such an emotional moment no matter the result. i wonder what your reaction was.— the result. i wonder what your reaction was. ~ , ., reaction was. absolutely, thanks so much for having _ reaction was. absolutely, thanks so much for having me _ reaction was. absolutely, thanks so much for having me on. _ reaction was. absolutely, thanks so much for having me on. yeah, - reaction was. absolutely, thanks so much for having me on. yeah, it. much for having me on. yeah, it almost felt like it had been a long time coming in a way. initially he almost retired back in 2019 — so if you're trying to put a positive spin on it, you could almost argue he's had another five years, which potentially was the he plate he had, he shouldn't have been able to have. but yeah, it was at the olympics where he won gold twice before in the singles — this was a doubles event, as well — and the way he won

the first two rounds was phenomenal, just very andy murray, and saving multiple match points, career ending points. it was just the antithesis of why we all love him. so to come to today, it was just a little bit too much, i think. to today, it wasjust a little bit too much, i think.— to today, it wasjust a little bit too much, i think. he's been playing professionally _ too much, i think. he's been playing professionally since _ too much, i think. he's been playing professionally since 2005 _ too much, i think. he's been playing professionally since 2005 as - too much, i think. he's been playing professionally since 2005 as a - professionally since 2005 as a teenager, it's a really long run, as you said. i called you a fan, you are a big fan — if i'm right, you've got a special something you've shown to andy murray before. can we have a quick look? to andy murray before. can we have a cuick look? ~ ,,., , to andy murray before. can we have a quick look?_ there - to andy murray before. can we have a quick look?_ there he - to andy murray before. can we have a quick look?_ there he is! l quick look? absolutely! there he is! ma be i'll quick look? absolutely! there he is! maybe i'll get _ quick look? absolutely! there he is! maybe i'll get embarrassed - quick look? absolutely! there he is! maybe i'll get embarrassed by - quick look? absolutely! there he is! maybe i'll get embarrassed by this | maybe i'll get embarrassed by this now. , ., ., , , now. there is nothing embarrassing about being — now. there is nothing embarrassing about being a _ now. there is nothing embarrassing about being a big _ now. there is nothing embarrassing about being a big andy _ now. there is nothing embarrassing about being a big andy murray - now. there is nothing embarrassing about being a big andy murray fan, | about being a big andy murray fan, especially not tonight.— especially not tonight. yeah, this is my andy _ especially not tonight. yeah, this is my andy murray _ especially not tonight. yeah, this is my andy murray cardboard - especially not tonight. yeah, this is my andy murray cardboard cut| especially not tonight. yeah, this i is my andy murray cardboard cut out - i is my andy murray cardboard cut out — i say it's a full—size cardboard cutout, used to be, i had this for

ten years or so, i got gifted this by a friend of mine. and it's been with me ever since, it's kind of fallen to pieces a little bit, he doesn't have his legs any more. but andy does know about it — i've actually shown andy over a zoom call. �* ., actually shown andy over a zoom call. �* . ., , , actually shown andy over a zoom call. �* . , ., actually shown andy over a zoom call, . . , ., he call. and what was his reaction? he miaht've call. and what was his reaction? he might've been _ call. and what was his reaction? he might've been slightly _ call. and what was his reaction? he might've been slightly terrified - might've been slightly terrified potentially — you'd maybe have to ask him — but he seemed to take it well at the moment, but you have to ask him. you'd have to double check with him. abs]!!! ask him. you'd have to double check with him. �* ., , ., with him. all right, and before i let ou with him. all right, and before i let you go. _ with him. all right, and before i let you go. just _ with him. all right, and before i let you go, just quickly, - with him. all right, and before i let you go, just quickly, you - with him. all right, and before i. let you go, just quickly, you have a cardboard cutout of him, he's clearly important — what does he represent to you? clearly important - what does he represent to you?— clearly important - what does he represent to you? yeah, i mean, an a , represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway. i — represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway. ifeel— represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway, i feel like _ represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway, i feel like i've _ represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway, i feel like i've grown - represent to you? yeah, i mean, anyway, i feel like i've grown up| anyway, i feel like i've grown up with him a little bit. when i was in school, not to sound like i was a bit of a loser, i wasn't good at team sports or anything like that, i

found it difficult to deal with the pressure playing in a team sport — so to see a guy at tennis, like i remember so simply switching on the tv when i was 10—11 years old and seeing somebody with big curly hair — which i definitely still had at the time — he looked a little bit moody and grumpy, kind of like he didn't want to be there. but he could suddenly turn it on, and you could suddenly turn it on, and you could see how much she loved it. so i've kind of had them with me all the way through my life. band i've kind of had them with me all the way through my life. and you'll still have them _ the way through my life. and you'll still have them with _ the way through my life. and you'll still have them with you, scott, - still have them with you, scott, because you've got him in cardboard right next to you. scott, thank you so much for marking this moment with us on bbc news, really appreciate it. take a look at the weather with chris. hello there. as well as the hot and humid air,

the other ingredient was this convergence zone. look how most of the showers form along this zone, some nasty storms around the 0xfordshire area, and those downpours capable of bringing a month's worth of rain in the space of a couple hours, so likely to see one or two areas hit by some flash flooding and disruption. other areas to watch out for, the south downs, may be other areas in southeast england to watch out for in the next few hours. one of those showers very nasty indeed. through the remainder of the night, eventually those storms will come down. we will be left with drier weather conditions for most areas with clear spells around. still quite warm and humid across central and eastern england, slightly fresher air with us and parts of scotland and northern ireland as well. heading into friday, an area of low pressure is set to bring some rain and from the northwest, and that band of rain it will slowly push its way eastward through friday night and into saturday. so 36 hours or so to cross

the uk. on friday, many of us will start the day on a dry and sunny note, but not long before we see that heavy rain pushed in to scotland with strengthening wind. a lot of sunny and warm weather, but there could be one or two thunderstorms popping up through the afternoon across parts of east anglia and the far southeast of england, so keep a close eye on development there. saturday, the dregs of that weather front, a few patches of rain pushing into southeast england before clearing. the rest of the uk, sunny spells, a few showers across the northwest, feeling fresher for many of us with temperatures across eastern england falling closer to average down the time of year. sunday is not a bad start to the day, most areas will see dry and sunny weather, but it turns cloudier across the northwest without bricks of rain through the afternoon. temperatures on the whole quite close to average for this time of year. then into the next week, low pressure will often be close to the northwest of the uk, so quite

settled across northwestern areas with dryer, sunny weather towards the southeast. you're watching bbc news. it's hardtalk next. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. how close are we to a multi—front war in the middle east? with or without formal confirmation, it seems israel has assassinated