today at one: interest rates rise again — keeping them at their highest level since 2008. the bank of england increases rates from 3.5 to 4% as it tries to tackle soaring prices. it's back to the days of the, you know, panicking every time there's an unexpected bill. the bank says that the uk will enter recession this year, but it will be shorter than it previously thought. the boss of british gas says he's horrified that debt collectors working on the company's behalf are breaking in to the homes of vulnerable customers to fit energy meters. the energy company shell reports its highest annual profits in its 115—year history. a former russian officer, the most senior to speak openly, gives the bbc an exclusive interivew detailing what he saw

while fighting in ukraine. and the blanket bog in scotland that is aiming to become a world heritage site. and coming up on the bbc news channel: the countdown is on for this weekends�*s six nations. scotland have named their tieam to face egland. we'll bring you the latest. good afternoon and welcome to the news at one. the bank of england has raised interest rates from 3.5 to 4% — meaning they remain at their highest level since 2008. the increase could add nearly £50 a month to the average mortgage payment at a time when many people are already struggling with

crippling energy and food bills. it will also have an impact on repayment charges on bank loans and credit cards — but it is better news for savers, who should get a higher return. the bank of england says the increase should help to control rising prices reflected in the high rate of inflation. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports. in leeds like every where else, the cost of keeping up a mortgage is jumping, because of interest rates. stu is used to saving after spending much of his life on a minimum wage. his wages have stagnated. when his mortgage expired his payments 20 from £09 a month to £360. i thought the da 5 of from £09 a month to £360. i thought the days of checking _ from £09 a month to £360. i thought the days of checking the _ from £09 a month to £360. i thought the days of checking the balance - the days of checking the balance were gone. but they're back with a vengeance. it is back to the days of

you know panicking every time there is an unexpected bill.— is an unexpected bill. today the bank of england _ is an unexpected bill. today the bank of england raised - is an unexpected bill. today the bank of england raised interest | bank of england raised interest rates further, by half a percentage point. the aim is to make it more expensive to borrow and spend, so businesses and households spend less. it said inflation isn't yet beaten. it less. it said inflation isn't yet beaten. , ., . ., beaten. it is too soon to declare victo . beaten. it is too soon to declare victory. inflationary _ beaten. it is too soon to declare victory. inflationary pressures . beaten. it is too soon to declare. victory. inflationary pressures are still there — victory. inflationary pressures are still there and we can see that in the data — still there and we can see that in the data and we hear from it our agents — the data and we hear from it our agents we _ the data and we hear from it our agents. we need to be sure that we really— agents. we need to be sure that we really are _ agents. we need to be sure that we really are turning the corner on inflation — really are turning the corner on inflation. that is why we have increased _ inflation. that is why we have increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners _ increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners will _ increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners will see _ increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners will see big _ increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners will see big hikes - increased the bank rate. 1.8 million home owners will see big hikes in l home owners will see big hikes in mortgage costs as they come off fixed rates. alex did have an interest rate fixed at i.6%. now the best deal is nearly 5%, or £300 a month more. forcing her to put plans to become a parent on hold. it

impacts us tremendously, because both financially and mentally, because the money that we were thinking of spending on the child a month, that has been mostly eaten up by the mortgage rates going up. this is what has been happening to interest rates. at the start of pandemic they dropped. 0ver interest rates. at the start of pandemic they dropped. over the past year they have been rising consecutively and this dotted line is what the markets thinks will happen, with rates up to just under 4.5% before dropping back again in the autumn. that's changed the calculation for now borrowers. brokers are saying more are looking at variable rates.— at variable rates. seek advice, if ou're at variable rates. seek advice, if you're using _ at variable rates. seek advice, if you're using mortgage _ at variable rates. seek advice, if. you're using mortgage calculators online, _ you're using mortgage calculators online, it — you're using mortgage calculators online, it is— you're using mortgage calculators online, it is important to speak to an expert — online, it is important to speak to an expert and suss out your options.

the bank— an expert and suss out your options. the bank of— an expert and suss out your options. the bank of england forecasts a shorter recession. it is also forecasting inflation will drop to 4% by the end of year. but it warns it could stay higher than that. andyjoins me now. this will be painful for many. any indication of what's going to happen from now on? exactly, it is down to the thing that was causing the problem, energy prices. we have been going through an energy price spike, where it shoots up and comes down again. the bank of england is confident to predict that inflation will fall to about 4% from 10% and next year to below the 2% target. it does say that there are risks to that forecast and those are mostly on the upside. it is worried that inflation isn'tjust imported from energy prices, but become imbedded in higher pay claims. but that is the

prediction. we have two mens of monetary policy committee who think the risk is more recession than inflation and we shouldn't have raised interest rates this time. but there they are, 4% interest rates. that will be difficult for 1.8 million people coming off fixed rates mortgages in the year ahead. british gas is facing an investigation by the energy watchdog after it was found to have used debt collectors to break into the homes of vulnerable people and forcibly fit pre—payment meters. the measure can result in someone's heating being cut off, and the boss of the owner of british gas — centrica — has now called the tactic "inexcusable". it comes after an undercover reporter from the times newspaper found the meters were being fitted in homes which should be protected. here's our business correspondent emma simpson. hello, british gas. we have a court warrant. , . . ., , ., warrant. detective collectors about to break in to _

warrant. detective collectors about to break in to install— warrant. detective collectors about to break in to install a _ warrant. detective collectors about to break in to install a prepayment| to break in to install a prepayment meter. . . to break in to install a prepayment meter. , , . , to break in to install a prepaymentj meter-— the meter. this is the exciting bit. the customer a — meter. this is the exciting bit. the customer a single _ meter. this is the exciting bit. the customer a single father _ meter. this is the exciting bit. the customer a single father with - meter. this is the exciting bit. the | customer a single father with three children, isn't home. the team includes an undercover reporter. it was clear there are vulnerabilities an inhalerfor a child, but we proceeded and we switched the meter over, so that essentially the person living there f they couldn't afford to top up, they would go off supply. energy suppliers can t° t°p up, they would go off supply. energy suppliers can legally to top up, they would go off supply. energy suppliers can legally force to fit dhez prepayment meters. it should be a last resort and vulnerable customers shouldn't be switched. if you can't afford to top up, you're cut off. arvato solutions is used by british gas. the times showjob notes for other is used by british gas. the times show job notes for other vulnerable customers too. it show job notes for other vulnerable customers too.— show job notes for other vulnerable customers too. if they're saying i'm a sinale customers too. if they're saying i'm a single mum _ customers too. if they're saying i'm a single mum with _ customers too. if they're saying i'm a single mum with three _ customers too. if they're saying i'm a single mum with three kids, - customers too. if they're saying i'm a single mum with three kids, thatl a single mum with three kids, that is not _ a single mum with three kids, that is not vulnerability. it is a vulnerability. but i'm a bit old

schooi — vulnerability. but i'm a bit old school. . ., ., ., , school. arvato said any inappropriate - school. arvato said any. inappropriate comments school. arvato said any - inappropriate comments dit school. arvato said any _ inappropriate comments dit reflect its views. it inappropriate comments dit reflect its views. . inappropriate comments dit reflect its views. , ., .. , ., , ., its views. it is unacceptable, that lanauuae its views. it is unacceptable, that language is _ its views. it is unacceptable, that language is unacceptable, - its views. it is unacceptable, that language is unacceptable, the . language is unacceptable, the contractors _ language is unacceptable, the contractors we _ language is unacceptable, the contractors we have _ language is unacceptable, the| contractors we have employed language is unacceptable, the - contractors we have employed has let us down _ contractors we have employed has let us down and — contractors we have employed has let us down and in— contractors we have employed has let us down and i'm accountable - contractors we have employed has let us down and i'm accountable for- us down and i'm accountable for this _ us down and i'm accountable for this as — us down and i'm accountable for this as soon _ us down and i'm accountable for this. as soon as _ us down and i'm accountable for this. as soon as we _ us down and i'm accountable for this. as soon as we heard - us down and i'm accountable for this. as soon as we heard this, i us down and i'm accountable for. this. as soon as we heard this, we suspended — this. as soon as we heard this, we suspended arvato. _ this. as soon as we heard this, we suspended arvato. he _ this. as soon as we heard this, we suspended arvato.— this. as soon as we heard this, we suspended arvato. he has suspended all installation _ suspended arvato. he has suspended all installation of _ suspended arvato. he has suspended all installation of prepayment - all installation of prepayment meters. ., �* ., all installation of prepayment meters. ., , meters. you've to hit the pause button, meters. you've to hit the pause button. given — meters. you've to hit the pause button, given the _ meters. you've to hit the pause button, given the number- meters. you've to hit the pause button, given the number of. button, given the number of prepayment meters that suppliers are unstalling and the inability of people to afford to top up these meters. that is why it has got to be paused while a new set of protection is put in place. soaring energy bills are put many under pressure, the government's already urged

suppliers stop forcibly switching customers to meters. the pressure's been upped for more to be done to protect the poorest customers who can't afford to pay. the energy multinational shell has announced record profits of over £32 billion for 2022. it's more than double what the company made in the previous year. surging oil and gas prices since russia's invasion of ukraine have played a big part. let's talk to our business editor simonjack. there has been a lot of losers from energy price increases, but shell isn't one? ., , ., ., isn't one? no, these are wow numbers. _ isn't one? no, these are wow numbers. 32 _ isn't one? no, these are wow numbers, 32 billion. - isn't one? no, these are wow numbers, 32 billion. it- isn't one? no, these are wow numbers, 32 billion. it the i isn't one? no, these are wow- numbers, 32 billion. it the biggest profit recorded by a uk company ever, as far as i can see. that is all fine you might think, are they paying lots of tax is the next question? what we found out they're

playing £100 million of tax. next year they will pay £1105 million. that is peanuts you might say compared to the profits. but only 5% of shell's activity happens here in the uk. most of their money, almost all, is made in and taxed by other countries. plus, they're allowed to offset decommissioning costs for old oil rigs and investment in the uk against the profits. that is why the tax numbers are in the uk are so low. that won't satisfy people who think they're not paying their fair share. some say they should pay tax on their share buy backs, the way they give money to shareholders, they give money to shareholders, they gave five million last year and another five billion this year, that includes pension funds, but some people will say they're not paying

enough tax and they're giving more to their shareholder than they're spending on renewables. that is where they will come under the most pressure. where they will come under the most ressure. . ~' where they will come under the most ressure. ., ~ , ., households in england and wales will see the largest increase to their water bills for almost 20 years from april. the industry body water uk says bills could rise by 7.5% to an average £1148 a year. consumer groups have warned it could be the tipping point for customers already struggling to pay. water uk says that the increase is due to higher energy costs. there's to be £200 million of extra funding for children's social care services, the government has announced, after a year—long review. it says the money will transform the sector and provide better support for vulnerable families. record numbers of children are currently in care in england, but charities say much more needs to be done. sanchia berg reports. stacey works at durham university

and used to have a very independent life. now, she's a kinship carer for herfour—year—old niece georgie. adult activity has been replaced by a round of school, gymnastics, soft play. i love my life now. it is vastly different to what it was and what it could have been. i love my little person, i love she is cheeky, mischievous and it's an avenue i didn't think i wanted. i certainly don't want my own children, but i like georgie. stacey stepped in to stop georgie being taken into care. a court order made her georgie's special guardian, but she doesn't get an allowance as a foster carer would and it can be hard to make ends meet. i'm not ashamed to say it, but we make it into a game where georgie will go and find the yellow stickers when we're out shopping and see what items are there and they don't know why kind of we are doing that. but, yeah, kind of just making the most of the amount of money we've got.

the government has promised to support carers like stacey in a strategy for children's social care announced today. it says it will put families at the heart of reform. focus on more family—like placements, including kinship carers. give early support for families where addiction, domestic abuse and mental health difficulties. what we are trying to do is make sure families can get the early help they need, they don't end up escalating into crisis and we can keep more families together. but where children can't stay with their family, they're going into a family—like environment, maybe kinship carer, or with a foster carer. where that's not possible, they're going into children's homes we also can make sure they have a stable and loving environment. this children's centre in north london is a model the minister would like to see copied elsewhere. it's helped cut the number of children going into care. i think it's down to taking a whole system approach and to making that decision to invest in early intervention, to make sure that families can get the support

when they need it at the first opportunity. can you get a green one? such early intervention is expensive. observers say the government's plans are too small scale, they only promise a fifth of the money recommended by last year's independent review into the sector. so there won't be any more cash in stacey's wallet. sanchia berg, bbc news. and sanchia joins me now. how are these proposals being viewed? .., ., how are these proposals being viewed? ., ,, . viewed? the education secretary in the introduction _ viewed? the education secretary in the introduction said _ viewed? the education secretary in the introduction said this _ viewed? the education secretary in the introduction said this was - viewed? the education secretary in the introduction said this was a - the introduction said this was a once in a generation opportunity and shouldn't be wasted. she said it set out how important it was for children to have families; love and the secure and stable home. and repeated that it wouldn't be wasted. the government would make this the first step to reform. but as i said, the actual cash set out for these

reforms in the first two years is just £200 million, that is a fifth of whatjosh mcallister said in the independent review would be needed to transform the system. while he has welcomed the direction of travel, he's said that he doesn't think there is enough there to go far enough orfast think there is enough there to go far enough or fast enough, think there is enough there to go far enough orfast enough, given think there is enough there to go far enough or fast enough, given the nature of the change that's needed this massive reset of the system. thank you. our top story this lunchtime. the bank of england increases rates from 3.5 to 4% as it tries to tackle soaring prices. how a global wave of bird flu is spilling over to some mallals. coming up on the bbc news channel... come as you are — no need to dress up any more for race meets. casual clothing will be welcome as the jockey club tries to attract new fans.

a former russian army officer has told the bbc that he witnessed russian soldiers committing crimes in ukraine, including torture, looting, and threats of rape. konstantin yefremov said he saw one ukrainian prisoner of war being beaten, shot and humiliated. mr yefremov, who is now seen by russia as a traitor, is the most senior officer to speak openly. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has this exclusive interview. this is the war in ukraine — the official russian version of it. packaged, promoted, propagandised by moscow. fearless russian soldiers fighting the good fight, defending the motherland. but konstantin yefremov was there, and the reality, he says, is very different.

konstantin was a senior lieutenant in the russian army, but he's fled russia. and he's agreed to tell me about crimes he says he saw russian soldiers committing in ukraine. starting here. this is one of konstantin's first photos from ukraine, an airbase seized by russian troops in melitopol. translation: i saw looting there. soldiers and officers grabbed everything they could. they climbed all over the planes, and went through all the buildings. 0ne soldier took away a lawnmower. he said proudly, "i'll take this home and cut the grass next to our barracks." buckets, axes, bicycles — they bunged it all in trucks. konstantin says that on the day russia invaded ukraine, he tried to quit the army. he was warned he'd face up to

ten years in prison for desertion. in occupied ukraine, he was sent to guard this artillery unit. and then, a facility where he says he witnessed ukrainian prisoners of war being tortured. translation: the ukrainian had a blindfold on. _ the colonel put a pistol to the prisoner's forehead and said, "i'm going to count to three, and then shoot you in the head." he counted and then fired just to the side of his head, on both sides. the colonel started shouting at him. i said, "comrade colonel, he can't hear you. "you've deafened him." the interrogations, this torture, continued for about a week. every day, at night, sometimes twice a day. the interrogations became increasingly violent, claims konstantin.

translation: during another interrogation | the colonel shot the prisoner in the arm and in the right leg, under the knee, and hit the bone. i went to the commanders and said, "the ukrainian needs to go to hospital. "he'll be dead by morning from blood loss." we dressed him up in a russian uniform and took him to hospital. we told him, "don't say you're a ukrainian prisoner of war, "because either the doctors will refuse to treat you, "or the injured russian soldiers will hear you and shoot you." the bbc has verified documents, photographs and videos provided by konstantin, confirming his identity and his movements. once he'd returned to russia, back on base, he was accused of a serious breach of discipline for refusing to go back to ukraine. he was dismissed from the army. a russian human rights group,

gulagu.net, has helped him leave the country. translation: | apologise i to the whole ukrainian nation for coming to their home as an uninvited guest with a weapon in my hands. i don't even have a moral right to ask forforgiveness from the ukrainians. i can't forgive myself. so i can't expect them to forgive me. konstantin says that senior officers called him a traitor for being anti—war. but he points out that he gave an oath to protect his country, not to attack another. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the man at the top of the welsh rugby union has told politicians that there had been "warning signs" about sexism, but the governing body was "in denial". it follows allegations of sexism

and misogyny aired as part of a bbc investigation. let's speak now to our correspondent wyre davies, who's in cardiff for us. just tell us more. the welsh rugby union has admitted _ just tell us more. the welsh rugby union has admitted its _ just tell us more. the welsh rugby union has admitted its facing - just tell us more. the welsh rugby union has admitted its facing an i union has admitted its facing an existential crisis ever since those revelations by bbc wales about alleged sexism and a toxic culture inside the body. that reflected in many ways the racism crisis at yorkshire cricket and allegations of bullying in british gymnastics. and today, appearing before a senate macro committee in cardiff bay, nigel walker, the interim head of welsh rugby union, the interim chief executive, said he admitted they had turned a blind eye to many of these allegations for a long time and that the union really had to sort itself out so they said they had made some personnel changes at the top, they'd already suggested widespread reform to the welsh rugby union and they had set up a task force, so they were setting up a task force to look

into what we broadcast a week ago. but with just a few days now before the start of the six nations wales facing ireland here in cardiff, it's pretty clear that this is a huge crisis particularly facing women and girls inside the welsh rugby union but also affecting the wider game as well. . ~ but also affecting the wider game as well. ., ,, , ., but also affecting the wider game as well. . ~' , ., , but also affecting the wider game as well. ., ,, i. , . well. thank you very much, where davis. a global wave of bird flu — which has killed more than 200 million birds — is spilling over to some mammals, according to research in the uk. public health officials have detected the disease in otters and foxes. more targeted testing and surveillance is to be carried out, but currently the risk to human beings is described as very low. here's our environment and rural affairs correspondent, claire marshall. this is now, by far, the worst avian flu outbreak in global history. more than 200 million birds both wild and farmed have died or had to be culled. a development that's worrying scientists now is the spillover into mammals. in the uk, the virus has been found in foxes.

they're scavengers and can feed on birds. it's also been found in otters, the kind of animal also likely to encounter infected birds. so, what about the risk to humans? ok, so, this is our genetics laboratory. we were shown into the government lab in surrey at the heart of the uk's fight against avian flu. so, here we have some of the latest technology and innovation in order to speed our work and generate that really important data. so this virus is absolutely on the march. how much of that is a worry to you that this might be be the next covid—i9? well, i think when you're working with this disease every day, you're acutely aware of the risks and what it can become. without overplaying, this global spread is a concern. if we don't solve the problem across the globe, we're going to continue to have that risk. this view is held around the globe. we spoke to the head of science at the world organisation

for animal health. there is a risk for further transmission between species and we cannot underestimate the potential adaptation to human virus. and that, in addition to the risk for impacting animal health, will have a very important impact on public health. the threat to humans is still said to be very low. overwhelmingly, the virus infects birds. on a global level the situation with this virus is getting more and more critical, and yet the first line of defence is often people just out and about. in warwickshire, this lake is treasured by locals. many migrating waterfowl come here. last month there was an outbreak of avian flu and restrictions are still in place. it's been horrendous, been awful. sue runs a volunteer group. we're out here every day. we can see what's going on and we can see the state of the birds that are in. we check all the areas around with the binoculars to make sure

there is no dead animals in the corners. the advice is clear. heed any warning signs and don't touch any dead or dying birds. claire marshall, bbc news. the bbc has announced its line—up of chief presenters for its revamped tv news channel, due to launch in the spring. matthew amroliwala, christian fraser, yalda hakim, lucy hockings and maryam moshiri will lead the new line—up. it follows the decision to merge the two existing news channels. firefighters in dorset and wiltshire have told the bbc they raised complaints about a toxic culture of bullying and harassment in the service at least 18 months ago. a police investigation and an independent inquiry have been launched, after allegations female firefighters were sexually harassed at work and claims some firefighters shared photographs of women who'd died in car accidents, as well as making derogatory comments. our west of england correspondent

danjohnson reports. they fly the flag for equality and respect, but are those values protected throughout this fire service? i've witnessed individuals manipulate and bully other members of crew, and the atmosphere has always been what i'd class as toxic. this former firefighter says not. they've had ample opportunities to look into this and they've decided not to. they've turned a blind eye to it and ignored it and brushed under the carpet for too long now. he left 18 months ago, e—mailing his concerns to the fire service chief. so i reminded the man at the top about that. what have you done in the last 18 months to tackle these issues to improve the culture? so i'm not prepared to talk about a specific case or a specific individual. i'm not asking you to talk about this specific case. my question was, what have you done in the last 18 months to improve things or to tackle those sorts of issues? so what we've done in the last 18 months and before that is we've worked incredibly hard

with the culture of our organisation. we have implemented the national fire chiefs council and the local government association employers' core code of ethics. we've had a significant period of training as well. has anyone been suspended in that time? so i'm not able to comment on individual cases. i'm not asking you to comment on individual cases. i'm saying, has anybody? i can say that we have had cases that have come before us and those cases have been investigated thoroughly and that has been up to and including dismissal. another former firefighter told me that he'd seen a colleague taking pictures on the scene of a crash and that he knew female firefighters who'd been harassed and felt forced out of the service, and he said hr knew about these issues but didn't do anything. i think when they dive deeper into the stations, from the north of wiltshire to the bottom of dorset, it's going to be a culture they find everywhere. it's going to be rife throughout and it's going to take a lot of fixing.

inquiry into the 1998 omagh bombing. 29 people died as a result of the attack by the just announced, as you say, in the house of commons by the northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris, will be what lessons can be learned about what happens in the run—up to the omagh bombing. the court ruling, which was made 18 months ago, put the government under

a legal duty to look into a new investigation into the attack, which happened just yards away from where i am now in the centre of the town of omagh in county tyrone and in terms of lives lost, as you said, it was the worst atrocity in the history of the conflict in northern ireland. 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed on a saturday night afternoon in august of 1998. so a number of families led by michael gallagher, whose son aidan were killed, have been leading the campaign for many years now for a public inquiry and basically the arguments they are putting forward backed up now by a legaljudgment is that there is a chance that intelligence could have been pieced together by the security forces on both sides of the irish border to prevent the attack and now under work under way to select the chairfor under work under way to select the chair for the under work under way to select the chairfor the inquiry. under work under way to select the chair for the inquiry.— chair for the inquiry. chris, many thanks.

part of scotland known as the flow country is aiming to become a world heritage site — along with the likes of the acropolis in greece and the great barrier reef in australia. the area of caithness and sutherland is roughly 50 miles across and covers a total of almost a million acres of land in the scottish highlands. described as the flow country, it contains the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world. the peatlands, which have been growing for 10,000 years, are formed by layers of waterlogged mosses and other vegetation as they die off. a decision by unesco on the flow country's nomination is expected next year. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. good afternoon. sunshine is in short supply today. some of those very bright indeed, a beautiful picture earlier on from a weather watcher in essex but compare that with the west of scotland where it's been thoroughly grey, the cloud has been producing outbreaks of rain and you can see the extent of that cloud. many places grey and damp, some

heavy rain in northern scotland, a