might have otherwise spent. you might have otherwise spent. it is a huge strain. it is a lot of pressure. coming in at 2.4% lot of pressure. coming in at 2.1i% when i bought my home, to where we are now no, there are 25%, is a huge impact, very stressful. stay with us. a reminder you are watching bbc news. live coverage as we keep an eye on the bank of england as we expect the latest interest rate decision from the bank. last month in august, the rate was cut from 5.25%, to 5%. at the moment the expectation is the bank of england will hold its rates at 5%. a lot of that is coming from the latest inflation figures we had, coming in on wednesday, which showed inflation had been held at 2.2% last month. at the

moment, we have that figure from the bank of england, some breaking news here and bbc news which is that the bank of england has held uk interest rates at 5%. so this is the figure from the bank of england holding interest rates at 5%. that was the expectation from analysts and economists. this followed on from the latest inflation figures, uk wide inflation figures, uk wide inflation figures, uk wide inflation figures which show that inflation had held at 2.2%. but bringing our cost of living corresponded. what is your reaction to these latest figures? it your reaction to these latest fi . ures? , your reaction to these latest fiaures? ,. ., i, , figures? it is analysts exnected _ figures? it is analysts expected that - figures? it is analysts expected that the - figures? it is analysts i expected that the bank figures? it is analysts - expected that the bank of england has held that rate at

5%. so not followed what we saw in august and early reduction that we saw in august of i/4%. we kept the rate the same at 5%. expectations will be increasing even further now of the next decision to be made which won't be until november. then we will see a further cut because the bank has indicated that there will be more cuts before the end of the year. so people will be looking towards november. there will be plenty of people delighted to hear that interest rates are being held, particularly those who have savings where of course, if you are just coming up to retirement or a living of your savings as a pensioner, keeping that high rate is important. but there are people with credit card debt, carfinance and people with mortgages, seeing that rate held a little longer means those rates when

people come to fix a deal will be higherfor a little bit longer then they hoped. we be higher for a little bit longer then they hoped. we are caettin longer then they hoped. we are getting more — longer then they hoped. we are getting more information - longer then they hoped. we are getting more information about| getting more information about the decision from the bank. interestingly, it says that the policy voted eight — one. there was one member who voted for a further cut. what is your reaction to the? it further cut. what is your reaction to the?- further cut. what is your reaction to the? it is so is interesting _ reaction to the? it is so is interesting when - reaction to the? it is so is interesting when you - reaction to the? it is so is interesting when you getl reaction to the? it is so is - interesting when you get nine people around a table. it is rare for a unanimous decision. there are people around the table with very different views. in august, five of those individuals had voted to reduce the rate but four had voted for the rate but four had voted for the rate but four had voted for the rate to remain the same in august. it goes with the majority and that is why the rate was cut in august. so the fact that that they are more unanimous than last month and

that we are seeing eight say it should be held and only one member voted for the reduction shows a degree of unanimity amongst the members that thing should remain where they are at the moment. again, like i say, it will put pressure on that november decision and all eyes will be on the brink in six weeks' time.— weeks' time. we need to mention some reporting — weeks' time. we need to mention some reporting from _ weeks' time. we need to mention some reporting from our- some reporting from our economics editor, he hasjust said that the governor of the bank of england has told them that we should be able to reduce rates gradually over time but it is vital that inflation stays low so we need to be careful not to cut too fast or by too much. he says that it fast or by too much. he says thatitis fast or by too much. he says that it is a clear hint of further cuts probably at november or december�*s meeting. perhaps a sign that we are moving into a period of interest rate cuts. yes, the

bank of _ interest rate cuts. yes, the bank of england _ interest rate cuts. yes, the bank of england has - interest rate cuts. yes, the bank of england has been i bank of england has been criticised for increasing rates to such a high level and then keeping them there for such... are based so many people. but the bank of england is cautious and do not want to rush those cuts because if we see inflation go up again as a result that is going to have a huge impact on households across the uk who would end up paying more for all of the goods and services that they buy on a day—to—day basis. so the bank do not want to go too fast in the reductions and that is what we are hearing their from andrew bailey, the governor of the bank of england, who is clearly remaining cautious. but they are certainly suggesting that there will be further cuts to come. ., ~' there will be further cuts to come. . ~ i, there will be further cuts to come. . ~ . ., come. thank you so much for our come. thank you so much for your analysis. _ come. thank you so much for your analysis. stay _ come. thank you so much for your analysis. stay with - come. thank you so much for your analysis. stay with us i your analysis. stay with us please. let's bring in an independent mortgage adviser. thank you for itjoining us. i guess this will be a key focus

for so many mortgage holders and homeowners across the country. what is your reaction to the rate staying at 5%? {iii to the rate staying at 5%? of course it was not unexpected and as— course it was not unexpected and as we _ course it was not unexpected and as we heard from your colleagues it was pretty unanimous. i think that inflation is the big issue. nobody— inflation is the big issue. nobody wants to see that going up. nobody wants to see that going up so— nobody wants to see that going up. so from a mortgage point of view— up. so from a mortgage point of view most — up. so from a mortgage point of view most buyers will be pretty pleased — view most buyers will be pretty pleased that it has not gone up but they— pleased that it has not gone up but they will understand why it needs— but they will understand why it needs to — but they will understand why it needs to stay the same for the time _ needs to stay the same for the time being, at least.— needs to stay the same for the time being, at least. what have ou seen time being, at least. what have you seen over _ time being, at least. what have you seen over the _ time being, at least. what have you seen over the past - time being, at least. what have you seen over the past year? i time being, at least. what have| you seen over the past year? of course the conversation has been whether to hold rates or cut them. we have seen a cut recently from 5.25% to 5%. how has this impacted the mortgage market? ~ .,, has this impacted the mortgage market? ., ., _ , has this impacted the mortgage market? ., ., , , market? most mortgage buyers or borrowers tend _ market? most mortgage buyers or borrowers tend to _ market? most mortgage buyers or borrowers tend to fixate _ market? most mortgage buyers or borrowers tend to fixate more - borrowers tend to fixate more on fixed — borrowers tend to fixate more on fixed rates. although from a public— on fixed rates. although from a public confidence or burrowing confidence point of view they like to— confidence point of view they like to see big rates go down,

they— like to see big rates go down, they tend _ like to see big rates go down, they tend to focus on fixed rates — they tend to focus on fixed rates is _ they tend to focus on fixed rates is most barrows take out fixed _ rates is most barrows take out fixed rates. so we see them come — fixed rates. so we see them come down solely over the last few months. so regardless of what — few months. so regardless of what the _ few months. so regardless of what the bank rate is doing the fixed _ what the bank rate is doing the fixed rates do something differently and these have been good _ differently and these have been good because it is going back down — good because it is going back down again now. for good because it is going back down again now.— good because it is going back down again now. for people who want to renew _ down again now. for people who want to renew fixed _ down again now. for people who want to renew fixed rates - down again now. for people who want to renew fixed rates plans | want to renew fixed rates plans or now start a fixed rate mortgage, to those cuts immediately reflect in the deal is that they are able to reach with the banks? ads, is that they are able to reach with the banks?— with the banks? a lot of lenders _ with the banks? a lot of lenders allowed - with the banks? a lot of lenders allowed people | with the banks? a lot of i lenders allowed people to with the banks? a lot of - lenders allowed people to look at re—fixing their rates are renewing _ at re—fixing their rates are renewing their rates six months ahead — renewing their rates six months ahead. this has now come down to three — ahead. this has now come down to three months, which is where it was— to three months, which is where it was prior... a smaller window— it was prior... a smaller window in _ it was prior... a smaller window in which to look and review— window in which to look and review their mortgages. so they can start — review their mortgages. so they can start to look three months before — can start to look three months before but obviously if rates do continue to fall they can switch _ do continue to fall they can switch down right up until almost _ switch down right up until almost the last few days before their _ almost the last few days before their rate — almost the last few days before

their rate expires.— their rate expires. thank you, chance. their rate expires. thank you, change- that _ their rate expires. thank you, change. that is _ their rate expires. thank you, change. that is jane - their rate expires. thank you, change. that is jane king, - their rate expires. thank you, change. that is jane king, an| change. that is jane king, an independent mortgage adviser. let's return to our cost of living corresponding. we have talked a lot about homeowners and mortgage holders, but what about savers and people with other types of debt? have interest rates over the past four years affected in? fight; four years affected in? any with savings _ four years affected in? any with savings has _ four years affected in? any with savings has been - four years affected in? jifuy with savings has been able to accumulate a little more on their patch of savings over the last couple of years. lots of people have rejoiced about that fact after decades of very, very low interest rates and bank accounts earning very little of savings. it has been within the last three years that savers have been able to earn some money and returns of their saving accounts. any fall in the interest rates would have impacted them and will impact them gradually. we sought such a steady rise in interest rates and of course, those rates are still so high

that it those rates are still so high thatitis those rates are still so high that it is a good point to be trying to save at the moment. he then added 5% rate, that is huge compared to ten to 12 years ago in terms of interest rates. forsavers, years ago in terms of interest rates. for savers, although they are not seeing a reduction, it is good to keep your savings accruing at 5% rate even if that bank does reduce the interest rate at the next decision. it is likely to falter on the 4.75%. the bank has been reducing —— fall to 4.75%. we heard that he is talking about going slow and steady in the reduction and it is a grey we will see big falls. the people who have other types of debt like car finance, credit cards, actually those rates will also be held as we are hearing. they are impacted by the central bank

the government and the bank of england there, they are making a decision which will impact both mortgages and other debts, too. ., ~ both mortgages and other debts, too. . ~ , ., both mortgages and other debts, too. ., ~' , ., , both mortgages and other debts, too. . ~ i. , . ., too. thank you very much. that is our cost _ too. thank you very much. that is our cost of _ too. thank you very much. that is our cost of living _ is our cost of living corresponding. she is bringing us the analysis of the decision at the bank of england. let's go live to our economics editor. he is outside the bank of england. what can you tell us about how the bank came to reach this decision today? yes. reach this decision today? yes, it was not _ reach this decision today? yes, it was not a _ reach this decision today? yes, it was not a close _ reach this decision today? yes, it was not a close vote, - reach this decision today? yes, it was not a close vote, eight . it was not a close vote, eight of the 9—member committee voted to hold interest rates at 5% after the cut in august. one vote every cut, a member that very often votes for cuts. so i think the general impression that you get is that the bank of england is ready to cut again this year but a little

bit cautious right now. if you write the main inflation forest fire is out but some of the embers either and they are worried it could catch fire again. they are not entirely sure that it is completely done, the after effect, if you like, of the massive inflation over the last few years. so they are taking it slowly. we have heard from the bank of england governor andrew bailey who says that the economy has evolved as expected but we should be able to reduce rates gradually over time but it is vital that it stays low so we cannot cut it to thatcher by too much. so a directional steer that —— credit quickly by too much. as we saw yesterday, airfare is going up a lot in

august, there are still some little pockets of inflation, the after—effects of the very high levels of inflation that we have seen over the past few years. so theyjust want we have seen over the past few years. so they just want to see how that settles. elsewhere, like we saw from the americans yesterday, some quite good news on the economy. things are starting to turn on confidence picking up. not a booming economy by any means, indeed growth is forecast 0.3% down a touch from ticking along the economy. mortgage back up to where it was at the time of the inverness mini budget —— make the inverness mini budget. so you get the impression that it has started to change the narrative in the economy amongst consumers and householders. but they don't want to go too far because they cannot declare total victory,

mission accomplished over what has been remarkable inflation over the last few years. did ou aet over the last few years. did you get a — over the last few years. did you get a sense, _ over the last few years. did you get a sense, it - over the last few years. did you get a sense, it is probably hard to say, but you think there is some influence from those decisions we have seen by the us federal reserve... in terms of the uk? it the us federal reserve... in terms of the uk?— the us federal reserve... in terms of the uk? it may be the other way _ terms of the uk? it may be the other way around, _ terms of the uk? it may be the other way around, actually, - other way around, actually, oddly enough. it is the world central bank that started the cut and i think the us to some degree were playing catch up with the jumbo cuts we saw yesterday. so i think it may be the other way around. what you do get now is a big message in terms of the caution and gradualism that we see, very gentle cuts. you will have all the world's central banks cutting interest rates and that does start to draw a line under what has been an extraordinary inflationary shock. it is not

over and people's prices are still much higher than two or three years ago but you can start to see...— three years ago but you can start to see... we had to leave it there and — start to see... we had to leave it there and say _ start to see... we had to leave it there and say goodbye - start to see... we had to leave it there and say goodbye to - start to see... we had to leave | it there and say goodbye to our viewers on bbc two. we will bring you more from the middle east injust a moment. let's take you live to that news conference there in beirut. this is the health minister giving the latest details on the attacks on

pages and walkie—talkies targeted in the last couple of days and quite a large number of people killed, 32 is the latest we have had reports about. so hundreds and hundreds of people injured. let mejust give you some more details. the levity have a minute to —— the lebanese health minister said that the explosions from yesterday alone has risen to 25, who have lost their lives after the explosions on wednesday in beirut. in other places, too, across lebanon and hundreds of injured, as well, with children and the elderly among the casualties. israel at the moment has not confirmed that it was responsible for these attacks, although it is

widely believed to be responsible. we are still waiting for confirmation on that. now, the now, head of the microsoft threat analysis centre has told the bbc that russia, iran and china all have plans to disrupt the us election. all three countries have been found using ai powered interference campaigns for the first time. bbc verify 5 ai correspondent, marc cieslak, was given access to the nerve centre in new york. times square, new york city — an unlikely location for a secure facility which monitors attempts by foreign governments to destabilise democracy. it is, however, home to mtac, the microsoft threat analysis centre. its job is to detect, assess and disrupt cyber enabled influence threats to democracies worldwide. the work that's carried out

here is extremely sensitive. we're the very first people that have been permitted to film inside. it's also the first time russian, iranian and chinese attempts to influence a us election have all been detected at once. all three are in play, and this is the first cycle where we've had all three that we can definitely point to. individuals from this organisation serve on a special presidential committee in the kremlin... reports compiled by these analysts advise governments like the uk and us, as well as private companies, on digital threats. this team has noticed that the dramatic nature of the us election is complicating attempts at outside interference. the biggest impact of the switch of president biden for vice president harris has been it's really thrown the russians so faroff theirgame. they really focussed on biden as somebody they needed to remove from office to get what they wanted in ukraine. russian efforts have

now pivoted to. undermining the harris campaign via a series of fake videos designed to provoke controversy. this comes after the us government directly accused russia of election interference. the department ofjustice seized 32 websites. they said they used al to create and spread disinformation via a campaign which this team has been tracking for more than two years, dubbed doppelganger. doppelganger is best known for cloning the websites of well—known international media. it makes fake versions of fox news, the washington post, which look very much like the original but are reworked entirely with pro—russian propaganda. so you've got some examples up on your screen here. this one here, an article which says it's from fox news, but is in fact an article which is from this group called doppelganger. yes. this was in fact made in moscow. these analysts were instrumental in detecting iranian election influence activity via a series of bogus websites. the fbi is now investigating this, as well as iranian hacking of the trump campaign.

we found that in the source code for these websites, what they were doing was using al to rewrite content from a real place and using that for the bulk of their website. and then occasionally they would write real articles when it was a very specific political point they were trying to make. the third major player in this election interference is china using fake social media accounts to provoke a reaction in the us public. experts are unconvinced these campaigns affect which way people actually vote, but they worry they are successful in increasing hostility on social media. well, we can talk to one of those experts that markjust mentioned. the former uk head of the national cyber security centre. thank you for being with us. how worried are you about this threat?— about this threat? thank you for having — about this threat? thank you for having me. _ about this threat? thank you for having me. i— about this threat? thank you for having me. i am - about this threat? thank you for having me. i am at- about this threat? thank you for having me. i am at the i for having me. i am at the sceptical end in terms of the impact. i think it is definitely something that needs

watching in the us federal government will make a huge effort to try to stop it occurring or reduce the instances of it occurring and welcome the work of microsoft and other companies that they do in the space. but i think we are at risk of talking ourselves into a problem and undermining confidence in democratic elections because i think a lot of this does not have any impact. in 2016 there was a hack on hillary clinton's campaign that did not destabilise the election. whether it affected the outcome is unknowable but it certainly disable lies dead. since then a lot of the stuff has been very poon lot of the stuff has been very poor. one example is china's social media fake accounts. these things are hopeless and winning convince anybody. they unravel in a study recently published said that i am a

robot or go to chinese characters. don't confuse the intent which is there from russia and china to have this sort of impact. to have this impact is really, really hard and most are unsuccessful. riff and most are unsuccessful. of the countries that we have been talking about, russia and china and iran, which are the biggest in terms of the threat? you put the threat into proportion for us but which should be be most worried about? in us but which should be be most worried about?— worried about? in the specific issue of electoral _ issue of electoral interference, the one with the longest form and the only real record of success russia. that is basically they are still living off the past glories that they would see of 2016. they did a deep fake affecting the slavic election last year. china has a very large cyber

campaign which is aggressive but it is a relatively new to them. iran did attack the trump campaign but because america... the media didn't touch it and it was revealed that the iranians had tried to send the hacked cheque information to the biden campaign in the abiding campaigns did not touch it. —— and the biden campaign did not touch it. actually, as we saw in 2020, is easy to talk about foreign interference but the biggest risk of interference in the election in 2020 was domestic.- interference in the election in 2020 was domestic. thank you so much ciaran _ 2020 was domestic. thank you so much ciaran martin. _ 2020 was domestic. thank you so much ciaran martin. let's - 2020 was domestic. thank you so much ciaran martin. let's go - much ciaran martin. let's go back now to what is happening in lebanon. we have been hearing the news conference from the lebanese health ministry who have said that 37 people have died in the last couple of days, 25 yesterday,

wednesday, and more than 600 injured in that one day. israel so far has not made any comment about these attacks but it is widely believed to be behind them. we can talk to a former commander with the israeli special forces, commander with the israeli specialforces, doron avital. thank you for being with us. are you in any doubt that israel is behind these attacks? evenif israel is behind these attacks? even if i had my doubts, this is the official proclamation of israel that they do not take a stand on it. there are a few players that could do... but israel does not take responsibility for tab israel does not take responsibility for ta israel does not take resonsibili forta ., responsibility for tab what you think about _ responsibility for tab what you think about these _ responsibility for tab what you think about these attacks? - responsibility for tab what you | think about these attacks? we have heard legal experts who say that they believe that these attacks could be... because they are indiscriminate on devices that they could be considered as a war crime. this

is a covert _ considered as a war crime. this is a covert operation _ considered as a war crime. try 3 is a covert operation uncovered operation in all states including britain and the us on the border of legality. there is another commander anyway that technology is operated so it is hard to decide whether we are talking about a crime here. i think we have to take into account that there is a war right now between israel and has bob and take into account —— between israel and hezbollah. they carry the pages... hezbollah. they carry the pages- - -_ hezbollah. they carry the ”aes... ~ ., ., . pages... we know that children have been _ pages... we know that children have been killed _ pages... we know that children have been killed in _ pages... we know that children have been killed in these - have been killed in these attacks and elderly people. it is tragic for sure but in the context of collateral damage alike and as a tragic events happen. in this new technology may be new rules should apply but it is in the context of a

war that has to be admitted, there is no question about this. israeli citizens are also being targeted in the north and being targeted in the north and being killed. it is part of the war and we are in a war that hasa lower war and we are in a war that has a lower neck started. [30 has a lower neck started. do ou has a lower neck started. do you think — has a lower neck started. do you think that israel... the defence —— like you think that israel... the defence -- like— you think that israel... the defence -- like that hezbollah started it is — defence -- like that hezbollah started it is moving _ defence -- like that hezbollah started it is moving things - started it is moving things from gaza _ started it is moving things from gaza to _ started it is moving things from gaza to the - started it is moving things from gaza to the border . started it is moving things i from gaza to the border with ramadan to the back lebanon. is it a new phase? —— to the border of lebanon. it a new phase? -- to the border of lebanon. israelis have to prepare _ border of lebanon. israelis have to prepare for - border of lebanon. israelis have to prepare for other i border of lebanon. israelis i have to prepare for other new moves in lebanon. it could be a long range missile other hezbollah... it is clear that

israel's objective in the north is very clear and even limited which is to secure some battlezone. it is not to be present like we were in 2000 —— until 2000, present like we were in 2000 —— until2000, but present like we were in 2000 —— until 2000, but how to ensure this... israel would be forced to do some military actions to do that. do to do some military actions to do that. ~' to do some military actions to do that. ~ ., ., , do that. do think that means that there — do that. do think that means that there is _ do that. do think that means that there is going _ do that. do think that means that there is going to - that there is going to be fighting on the ground, an all out war between israeli troops and hezbollah? it is out war between israeli troops and hezbollah?— and hezbollah? it is in the cards, and hezbollah? it is in the cards. an _ and hezbollah? it is in the cards, an option. - and hezbollah? it is in the cards, an option. i- and hezbollah? it is in the cards, an option. i cannot| cards, an option. i cannot predict the future. israel prefers a limited campaign in the south and trying to dismantle the long—range missiles but it could quickly extend to a full—grown war —— full blown war.

extend to a full-grown war -- full blown war. ..._ full blown war. thank you very much — full blown war. thank you very much doron _ full blown war. thank you very much doron avital. - hello. plenty of sunshine across the uk this afternoon. there will be some changes through the rest of the week. friday into the weekend low pressure moves up from iberia and that is set to bring some rain. the rainfall amounts from friday to sunday pinpoints parts of wales and central england. some points could see months full of rain. further north and west it stays dry. it also does today for many. plenty of sunshine across western areas and more developing or widely through the afternoon. some of the cloud will shift. around these coasts it could stay cloudy all day long. cool in the breeze with temperatures in the high

teens although to make 20. highest in the south—east and london with 26 possible. overnight the north—easterly breeze will chart the crowd backin breeze will chart the crowd back in again and a more extensive tonight. parts of scotland and eastern areas, especially. temperatures could shut down in the west to lower figures, even single digits. on friday, low cloud will linger in eastern scotland and england. through the day whilst the sunshine comes through we can see some thundery showers develop through southern england and wales. many places will stay dry at this stage and temperatures will start to creep down even with the sun. into the weekend then and saturday we will see some of the shadows to the lack showers showers lingering. isolated showers lingering. isolated showers in northern england but

it is the cloud which could bring some drizzle to us. plenty of sunshine, though. temperatures dropping a bit more as the breeze picks up. the bees will pick up further into sunday as the low pressure drift towards us —— make the breeze. some thundering possible across wales and central and southern england. east anglia might not be too bad. try further north with some patchy dresser where the low cloud... —— met with some patchy drizzle.