house, a case that has outside his house, a case that has had considerable publicity for obvious reasons. stephen tomkinson was found not guilty. see you tomorrow. live from london. this is bbc news. ukraine's president says his military is still waiting for arms from the west, delaying a planned counter—offensive against russia. mentally m e nta lly we mentally we are ready. in terms of how motivated are military are, we are ready. in terms of enough personnel in our brigades, we are ready. in terms of equipment, not everything is arrived yet. the transpennine rail service in the north of england to be taken over by the uk government, after customer complaints about poor service and cancelled trains. braced for the twelfth rate rise in a row, the uk faces its steepest borrowing costs in almost 15 years. and eurovision fever heats up.

16 countries take the stage in liverpool later for the second semifinal. ukraine's president says his country is still waiting for more arms before it launches its counter—offensive against russian forces. volodymyr zelensky warned the army still needed the promised supplies, including armoured vehicles, that are only "arriving in batches". mr zelensky was speaking to the bbc�*s hugo bachega in kyiv, who was conducting the interview on behalf of the eurovision news group of public service broadcasters. everybody is waiting for this counteroffensive, and i think what is interesting is that president zelensky also acknowledged that some people may be tired of the war, but he also said he believed in victory, he believed

in success, obviously, this is the job of the president, to keep the country united, to keep morale high. i think there is a clear understanding that this much anticipated counteroffensive is likely to be crucial for ukraine, not only because what happens on the battlefield, but also in terms of the military support being given by western countries to ukraine. for weeks, for months, we have been talking about this counteroffensive. i asked the president whether his country was ready for it. so, mr president, i've been here for a few weeks, and i think almost every conversation i have had has touched on the issue of this much anticipated ukrainian counteroffensive. are you ready for this counteroffensive? translation: mentally, - we're ready, in terms of how motivated our military are, we're ready.

in terms of enough personnel and our brigades, we are ready. in terms of equipment, not everything has arrived yet. that is my answer. so you are still waiting for weapons, the military equipment that was promised to arrive? translation: yes, we are still expecting some things. - they will reinforce our counteroffensive. most importantly, they will protect our people. we are expecting armoured vehicles, they arrive in batches. we can advance with what we have got and i think we can successfully. but we will lose a lot of people. i think that is unacceptable. we need to wait, we need a bit more time. let me talk about something that happened last week because moscow accused ukraine of trying to assassinate president putin. was ukraine behind that alleged attack? translation: no, clearly we were not behind it. - they are always looking

to do something that would look like justification. "you do this, and we do this in response." but it didn't work. not even for their own people at home. so, who was behind it? i think it was on their own hand. what kind of thing was carrying bombs? why did it fail, then? no one was killed. everyone was safe and sound. that is why they did it themselves, absolutely, i'm confident in this. next year is an election year in america, which is your main ally. translation: i can't vote. i'm a citizen of ukraine. i can't say who i would vote for!

but, apart from that, are you concerned that depending on who is elected, you could end up losing this support from your main ally? translation: it is hard to say, to be honest. . elections and internal processes always affect any country, especially if we are talking about elections in the us. first, i do not think we would lose bipartisan support, and second, elections are taking place in one year's time, who knows where we will be? i believe we will win it by then. we are here in kyiv, eurovision is happening in the united kingdom,

and you were supposed to be hosting it here, but you can't because of the war. how disappointed are you, that you cannot host it? translation: l have great - respect for the united kingdom and its society. it is an amazing country, from the very start, my opinion has been that if we can't host eurovision, it should take place in one of the countries that share a border with us. such as slovakia, poland. or any other country which our people could reach easily. something nearby. that was president zelensky talking about eurovision, the much—anticipated ukrainian counteroffensive as well. we don't know when and where that is likely to happen. nearly one fifth of this country remains under russian occupation, so the next phase is likely to be extremely difficult for the ukrainian military, the russian forces have fortified some of their

positions along the front line. the president has also warned of a risk of a frozen conflict, he says this is what moscow wanted. he has also raised concerns that ukraine could face pressure to enter negotiations with russia if the ukrainian military did not achieve major gains in this offensive. that could be include concessions for regions of this country, the president said that this was unacceptable, and he told me, why should any country give its territory to president putin? studio: and it all seems quiet behind you, but what is the atmosphere like in kyiv now? it all seems calmer. ..this counteroffensive, in the last few weeks,

there has been an effort from a high level officials, to perhaps manage the expectations. i think one official told me that the leaders here in ukraine know that they need to be successful after receiving billions of dollars in weapons and military equipment from western countries, but that this upcoming counteroffensive should not be seen as a silver bullet in this conflict. let's bring you some breaking news. english actor stephen tompkinson has been found not guilty at newcastle crown court of inflicting grievous bodily harm by punching a drunk man who was making noise outside his house. these are pictures of mr tompkinson leaving court earlier this week. the 57—year—old is known best perhaps for his roles in drop the dead donkey. he was accused of lashing out at the complainant, causing him to suffer a fractured skull when he fell and hit his head

on the pavement in may last year. he always denied this, and said he simply pushed the man away in self defence, and he has been found not guilty today. the bank of england is widely expected to raise interest rates for a twelfth time in a row, as it tries to curb inflation. analysts believe the rate will increase by a quarter of a percentage point, to 4.5%, making it more expensive to borrow. for uk viewers, we'll have full coverage when that decision happens here, and on our website, in an hour's time. part of the uk's rail service is going to be taken over by the government, after customer complaints about poor service and cancelled trains. transpennine express runs services linking towns and cities across northern england and up to scotland. the company's contract will not be renewed at the end of may, and routes will now be run by a appointed business

on the government's behalf. around one in six transpennine services were cancelled in march, that's around i7%, the highest rate in the uk. but there's been ongoing disruption since early 2022 and injanuary and february this year, almost a quarter of services were cancelled. the government say the change won't affect passengers and the move won't "instantaneously fix" the issues, but aims to improve performance. live now to our correspondent, danny savage, who's in leyburn in north yorkshire. just take us through why this decision is being made. the just take us through why this decision is being made. the level of service offered _ decision is being made. the level of service offered by _ decision is being made. the level of service offered by transpennine - service offered by transpennine express in recent months has been appalling. what would happen here is that late at night, every day of the week, transpennine would offer a list of services they were not going to run the next day. people could see at nine o'clock in the evening what would not be running the next morning. this was a regular thing for commuters and travellers in northern england. they would look at this every night and work out if

their train wasn't running. on sundays, at rush hour, coming across the pennines of manchester and leeds via huddersfield, perhaps three out of four services would be cancelled at peak time, and those that did run wouldn't have enough carriages on them, so it sufferfrom wouldn't have enough carriages on them, so it suffer from severe overcrowding. what passengers are hoping is that this move really does change things for them. there has been a precedent set in the past, there are two other operators appear in northern england, lner, who run the long distance services, who some may be familiar with between london and edinburgh, and northern england, and edinburgh, and northern england, and also another company that has been nationalised and taken into public ownership. there is much more of a feel—good factor and customer satisfaction on those services. it is hoped that this government move will have that effect on transpennine express as well. it can only get better for people using those services.—

only get better for people using those services. this contract runs out in may. _ those services. this contract runs out in may. so — those services. this contract runs out in may, so they _ those services. this contract runs out in may, so they only - those services. this contract runs out in may, so they only have - those services. this contract runs out in may, so they only have a i out in may, so they only have a couple of weeks to get an alternative in place. how easy will that be? f alternative in place. how easy will that be? j ., , ., that be? they've done it before, so it is something _ that be? they've done it before, so it is something that _ that be? they've done it before, so it is something that has _ that be? they've done it before, so it is something that has been - that be? they've done it before, so it is something that has been done| it is something that has been done in the past. there will be companies on the sidelines ready to go and take over. the key thing will be whether this new operator, the new management, can persuade drivers to work on their off days, which they have been reluctant to do because of discussions and arguments over pay. if they can actually get a better relationship between management and staff, particularly train drivers, then this problem could be solved pretty quickly. it has happened in the past with other operators. northern were terrible for a long time, they were taken into government ownership, and has vastly improved. it was hoped that transpennine express will do the same. in the north of england who do not have alternative rail operators to fall back on to, in manchester or

leeds, then you could have gotten another operator's train, you would have been delayed. in outlying places that is not the case. it will make a real difference to people and the economy of northern england as well. it can't run properly with people being late to work overtime. thank you for updating us and giving us more analysis on that story. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. at 88 years old, martin was being given the chance to fly in a light aircraft for the first time. his request when he was asked by carers if there was anything he had ever wanted to do. and he was away for a flight that would give martin unrivalled views over the south coast, and the chance to be a pilot. # i want to fly away.—

# i want to fly away. martin, you have control. _ # i want to fly away. martin, you have control. i— # i want to fly away. martin, you have control. i have _ # i want to fly away. martin, you have control. i have control. - # i want to fly away. martin, you have control. i have control. this| have control. i have control. this experience _ have control. i have control. this experience was _ have control. i have control. this experience was provided - have control. i have control. this experience was provided by - have control. i have control. this experience was provided by the i have control. i have control. this i experience was provided by the care company that helps martin at home, as part of efforts to help improve their clients' lives.— their clients' lives. never too late, their clients' lives. never too late. matters _ their clients' lives. never too late, matters and _ their clients' lives. never too late, matters and that - their clients' lives. never too late, matters and that is - their clients' lives. never too - late, matters and that is something we need to learn more, that it is possible to really enjoy later life. that is what this is all about. you're live with bbc news. the pakistani army has warned that strong action will be taken against people attacking military installations and public property. the warning came after supporters of the former prime minister, imran khan, clashed with security forces and attacked government buildings for a second day, in protest at his arrest over allegations of corruption. at least ten people have been killed in the unrest so far. mr khan has been remanded in custody for eight days. he denies any wrongdoing.

corresponded in pakistan is following the developments for us. of course, this is additional charges. we've had multiple court cases that have been brought against imran khan over the course of the last few months. now, in particular today, we've heard this morning about seven cases registered against the pti, which is imran khan's party, against him and against some of the central leadership. some of these charges include murder, robbery, attack on police, damage to public property and other charges, all of which have been filed under the anti—terrorism legislation as well. in terms of other updates here from pakistan this morning, of course, there was plenty of unrest last night across places like here in islamabad, but also in in lahore, in peshawar and karachi. and this morning, we're now already hearing that there is fresh violence again in lahore. we've seen images of a police car that is in flames in the city of lahore as well.

the big question here, samantha, is whether or not the various actions that have been taken by the government, by the officials, by the army here, will mean that some of these protests will start to dwindle in the course of the next few days, or if instead they might continue or even ramp up. now, of course, imran khan was arrested on tuesday. that was the source of the original source of this outbreak of protests and unrest. of course, last night we also heard that several of his key members of his leadership, of his camp, of his party, the pti party, had also been arrested overnight as well. now, does this take the wind out of the sails of the pti, or does this actually encourage people to decide to come out on the streets and continue to protest? we're not certain. i think the other really important point here, samantha, is, is the background and why this is so significant in pakistan, why this is such a pivotal moment for pakistan. now, what we have seen over the course of the last few days is many of the public attacking things that represent the army, that represent the military. that is something that we have not

seen for decades in pakistan. that is a very significant development. and in terms of how the army have responded, yesterday, they came out and said very adamantly that they would not tolerate these sorts of aggressions. and yet overnight we saw more government buildings being attacked. we saw police stations being attacked. the army has been out on the streets in islamabad and other cities around pakistan, and exactly what will happen next and how this will develop next, as we're now going into beyond 48 hours after imran khan was arrested. a high—profile tory mp has criticised the british prime minister for ditching the government's plan to scrap thousands of eu laws at the end of the year. jacob rees—mogg says the policy change is "hard to fathom." ministers say they want a "new approach" to removing eu laws, and would not race to a deadline. live now to our chief political correspondent, nick eardley. jacob rees—mogg and ardent

brexiteer. what has he been saying? not only an ardent brexiteer, but when he was on the government he was the man who introduced a law that said you have to review or scrap all eu law within the uk statute book by the end of 2023. i have to say, when that legislation was introduced, a lot of people thought, there is no way that is going to work. i will tell you who didn't say that. rishi sunak. at the time, he was running to be conservative leader. he actually promised to review or scrap all of these laws within 100 days. a very all of these laws within100 days. a very different picture today. the government are saying we have discovered all these laws we didn't even know where there. there's about 4500 of even know where there. there's about a500 of them, and wejust even know where there. there's about a500 of them, and we just don't have time to go through the mall and decide what we want to keep and what we want to scrap, so instead of automatically scarfing them all, we are going to now say, here are the ones we want to get rid of. —— is wrapping them all. the government hopes to get rid of about 2000, just

under half. that has infuriated some of the conservative mps under half. that has infuriated some of the conservative mp5 on the brexiting of the party. i've been on the phone some of them this morning. they are not happy. they been in the commons having a go at kemi badenoch, the business minister, saying it is not good enough. it was one of the few things the conservative party could agree on when it came to brexit, and they are very unhappy. one of the people who have spoken out publicly, jacob rees—mogg, as you say, spoke to the today programme this morning. this comes back to the prime minister's promise in his video during his leadership campaign when he said he would do this. now, bear in mind, at that time he had already given right round consent to the retained eu law bill. i had briefed him on it. he knew that it wasn't easy. he knew that it was going to be an effort to get it done by actually a slightly longer deadline at that point. he accepted the deadline of 2023, and then he has broken his word. and this is very

serious, in my view. the tensions in the conservative party over brexit aren't what they were two, three, four years ago, when it was open civil war on an almost daily basis. it is a reminder that those tensions are still there, and it is a reminder that there is a group of conservative mps, probably about 20, may slightly more, you can get pretty unhappy at the government pretty quickly when it comes to brexit. . ~ pretty quickly when it comes to brexit. w ., pretty quickly when it comes to brexit. ., ~ , , brexit. nick who, in westminster, thank yom — the welsh plaid cymru party has announced llyr gruffydd will take over as its interim leader, following the resignation of adam price. mr gruffydd, who represents north wales in the senedd, will not stand in the forthcoming leadership contest. his appointment was agreed at a meeting of the party's members on thursday morning. it will need to be rubber—stamped by the party's national council on saturday. mr price's resignation followed months of difficulties in plaid including allegations of a sexual

assault and a toxic working culture. the grand final of the eurovision song contest is just days away, and tonight, the second semifinal takes place in liverpool. millions around the world are expected to be watching — with 16 countries competing for a place in saturday's final. the uk is hosting this year's contest on behalf of last year's winners, ukraine. live now to liverpool, with maryam moshiri. thank you very much indeed. it is so exciting. everything has been building up towards the second semifinal this evening, symantec, where 16 countries will compete for the final ten places in that grand final on saturday. there's everything to play for, we can expect some amazing performances tonight, and i'm very happy to say i'm joined by vaughan staples, the overall head of the biggest eurovision fan club in the world,

the uk eurovision fan club. you are such an expert, and you love your revision so much. first of all, before we talk about the fan club and your love of eurovision, talk me through the semifinals tonight. there are a few favourites? absolutely. i think austria are a fab number tonight, very fun. australia, big rock band, big name in australia, they're performing tonight as well. slovenia, a very fun young band. those of three i would keep your eyes on tonight. if you got tickets to the show? absolutely, yes.— you got tickets to the show? absolutel , es. ., ~ ., absolutely, yes. talked me through this fan club — absolutely, yes. talked me through this fan club of— absolutely, yes. talked me through this fan club of yours. _ absolutely, yes. talked me through this fan club of yours. how - absolutely, yes. talked me through this fan club of yours. how many i this fan club of yours. how many members you have now?- this fan club of yours. how many members you have now? when i started it we had 1800 — members you have now? when i started it we had 1800 members, _ members you have now? when i started it we had 1800 members, and _ members you have now? when i started it we had 1800 members, and today - members you have now? when i started it we had 1800 members, and today we | it we had 1800 members, and today we have 7000 members. the world has gone crazy for eurovision, and certainly in the uk we have. em? gone crazy for eurovision, and certainly in the uk we have. why has the world gone _ certainly in the uk we have. why has the world gone crazy, _ certainly in the uk we have. why has the world gone crazy, what - certainly in the uk we have. why has the world gone crazy, what is - certainly in the uk we have. why has the world gone crazy, what is it - the world gone crazy, what is it about eurovision? in the world gone crazy, what is it about eurovision?— about eurovision? in times like these four— about eurovision? in times like these four things _ about eurovision? in times like these four things aren't - about eurovision? in times like these four things aren't always | these four things aren't always great, having this bubble that creates such a fun atmosphere, welcoming atmosphere, and inclusive

atmosphere, where everyone comes to celebrate, yes there are countries competing, but everyone celebrates every country in different songs. it is a fun festival atmosphere and everyone joins is a fun festival atmosphere and everyonejoins in. we is a fun festival atmosphere and everyone joins in.— everyone “oins in. we spoke to eo - le everyone joins in. we spoke to people who — everyone joins in. we spoke to people who came _ everyone joins in. we spoke to people who came here - everyone joins in. we spoke to people who came here from i everyone joins in. we spoke to - people who came here from croatia who support the finnish entry. there is a sense that it really is about the music, right?— is a sense that it really is about the music, right? absolutely, it is a son: the music, right? absolutely, it is a song contest — the music, right? absolutely, it is a song contest and _ the music, right? absolutely, it is a song contest and people - the music, right? absolutely, it is a song contest and people have i the music, right? absolutely, it is i a song contest and people have their favourite songs and favourite performance. i would love the uk to do well, but of my favourite song is croatia or finland, then those of the songs i will be supporting. lets aet into the songs i will be supporting. lets get into that- _ the songs i will be supporting. lets get into that. you told me early on that the uk's entry is your favourite. what is it about that song you love so much? i favourite. what is it about that song you love so much? i think it is a treat song you love so much? i think it is a great pop — song you love so much? i think it is a great pop stop — song you love so much? i think it is a great pop stop she _ song you love so much? i think it is a great pop stop she has _ song you love so much? i think it is a great pop stop she has a - song you love so much? i think it is a great pop stop she has a fabulous attitude, the song is a really good bop, and it is a song that represents our music scene. hoop bop, and it is a song that represents our music scene. how many ears have represents our music scene. how many years have you — represents our music scene. how many years have you been _ represents our music scene. how many years have you been going? _ represents our music scene. how many

years have you been going? this - represents our music scene. how many years have you been going? this is - years have you been going? this is m tenth years have you been going? this is my tenth contest. _ years have you been going? this is my tenth contest. how _ years have you been going? this is my tenth contest. how does - years have you been going? this is my tenth contest. how does it - my tenth contest. how does it compare? _ my tenth contest. how does it compare? i — my tenth contest. how does it compare? i have _ my tenth contest. how does it compare? i have never- my tenth contest. how does it | compare? i have never known, my tenth contest. how does it - compare? i have never known, and of course i compare? i have never known, and of course i am — compare? i have never known, and of course i am biased, _ compare? i have never known, and of course i am biased, but— compare? i have never known, and of course i am biased, but i _ compare? i have never known, and of course i am biased, but i have - compare? i have never known, and of course i am biased, but i have never. course i am biased, but i have never known a city get behind eurovision like liverpool has. every shop, every bass, every train, every query, you see the eurovision symbol. it is amazing to see it. find symbol. it is amazing to see it. and ou symbol. it is amazing to see it. and you worked — symbol. it is amazing to see it. and you worked closely with the ukrainian team, and ukraine is not represented here in such a major way, given that it should be held in kyiv. it way, given that it should be held in k iv. ., way, given that it should be held in kiv. ., kyiv. it so important we don't foruet kyiv. it so important we don't forget that — kyiv. it so important we don't forget that ukraine _ kyiv. it so important we don't forget that ukraine should - kyiv. it so important we don't l forget that ukraine should have posted, we are doing it on behalf of them. we are very british and very proud of that, but ukraine is at the heart of it, and we are standing with them as well. you heart of it, and we are standing with them as well.— heart of it, and we are standing with them as well. you have 7000 members — with them as well. you have 7000 members. talk _ with them as well. you have 7000 members. talk to _ with them as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me _ with them as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me about - with them as well. you have 7000| members. talk to me about them. with them as well. you have 7000 i members. talk to me about them. i live from every walk of life? members. talk to me about them. i live from every walk of life ?- live from every walk of life? every kind of background _ live from every walk of life? every kind of background and _ live from every walk of life? every kind of background and walk - live from every walk of life? every kind of background and walk of i live from every walk of life? ea kind of background and walk of life, absolutely. we are united by our love for eurovision. this is the one time of year we can all get together

and party and celebrate. who time of year we can all get together and party and celebrate.— time of year we can all get together and party and celebrate. who is your money on? — and party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. _ and party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. me _ and party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. me too. - and party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. me too. thank i money on? finland. me too. thank ou, money on? finland. me too. thank you. vaughan- _ money on? finland. me too. thank you, vaughan. lovely _ money on? finland. me too. thank you, vaughan. lovely to _ money on? finland. me too. thank you, vaughan. lovely to talk- money on? finland. me too. thank you, vaughan. lovely to talk to i money on? finland. me too. thank. you, vaughan. lovely to talk to you. we have all the very latest from here in liverpool. i'm talking to acts, to fans, people who have come here from all over the world, so do tuning throughout the day on the bbc. back to you. studio: and everyone has to keep the energy levels up, we have days to 90, energy levels up, we have days to go, it is not till saturday! that energy levels up, we have days to go, it is not till saturday!- go, it is not till saturday! that is not a problem. _ go, it is not till saturday! that is not a problem, trust _ go, it is not till saturday! that is not a problem, trust me! i go, it is not till saturday! that is not a problem, trust me! thank| go, it is not till saturday! that is i not a problem, trust me! thank you very much- — stay with us here on bbc news. for our viewers here in the uk, we will be covering that bank of england interest rate decision in half an hour's time. interest rates widely expected to go up for the iath widely expected to go up for the 1ath month in a row, to levels we have not seen for more than a decade. that is it for me for the moment, ben will have more on world business report very shortly. thank

you for watching, i will see you later. hello. our spell of showery spring weather continues at least for another day today. there'll be some spells of warm sunshine developing, but they're going to be sparking off heavy potentially thundery showers that are going to be quite slow—moving for many of us through the course of today. so although high pressure is trying to move its way in and settle the weather down from the atlantic, we've still got the remnants of an area of low pressure just drifting slowly southwards and eastwards today. so still a lot of unstable air. so that means big rising air currents creating this peppering of showers almost anywhere. heaviest in the west through the morning, particularly for northern ireland, but by the afternoon, it's eastern england. i think they'll see the most frequent and heavy downpours, cloudier skies across northern

and eastern parts of scotland with a bit of drizzle here, so temperatures only about 13 degrees at best. but in the sunshine further south, typically 16 or 17. i think the west of scotland probably the warmest spot, 18 or 19 degrees today. so heavy thundery downpours easing through the evening. and then as we head through the night, that cloud in the north and the east drifts its way further southwards and westward. so quite a murky start, i think, to your friday morning. not going to be cold, temperatures around about eight or nine degrees first thing tomorrow. so we will have lost that area of low pressure, but we've still got this frontal system you can see here on friday, it'll drift into parts of southeastern eastern england, but it is higher pressure generally in charge through the day. so a drier day on friday. still quite cloudy skies for eastern scotland, central and eastern england. and there's that rain on that weak front that'll drift in, particularly for east anglia and for the southeast through the day tomorrow. so a bit cooler under the cloud, 13 or 1a degrees towards the east, but west is best 17, 18 degrees if you're looking for some sunshine, that is. heading through saturday, high pressure holding on for most of us, so a quiet start to your weekend. there's a weather front waiting in the wings, that will move in for sunday, but saturday, i think,

mostly dry and settled. we have still got quite a bit of cloud for some central and eastern parts of england. it will tend to break up more, especially towards the south, so more sunshine i think certainly compared to friday. temperatures still a little bit down around that east coast, 1a, 15 degrees. but in the sunshine further south and west, 20 or 21 degrees, it will feel quite pleasant. heading into sunday, this weather front works in initially to the north west. for northern ireland and scotland, some morning showers and some of that rain just tracking into parts of england and wales later in the day, but still quite warm, i think, during the day on sunday. temperatures come down a little bit into next week and we're still seeing a scattering of showers with some sunshine in between. bye— bye.

another rise in the cost of borrowing? the bank of england looks set to hike interest rates — we'll get the decision in half an hour. with a! rapdily evolving, the european parliament decides later on a strict and wide—ranging ai act. welcome to world business report. another day and another — expected — rise in interest rates, this time in the uk. rates are expected to rise

from a.25% to a.5%