in the last 12 months. hello and a very warm welcome to the programme. i'm sally bundock. we begin here in the uk where households in england and wales could see their water bills rise by around 20% over the next five years to fix pollution and shortages. the regulator, ofwat, has been deciding how much water companies can increase bills by in april, to improve leaky pipes, reduce sewage spills and build new reservoirs. any increases will vary depending on where you live. our business editor, simonjack has the details. what water everywhere. as an island nation it is all around ups but for many, our seaside and rivers give off left —— less a sense of security than a sense of risk. twice a week

rebecca sin cara and her action group members test the hastings shoreline and they feel let down and overcharged by the water companies. we down and overcharged by the water companies.— water companies. we are a coastal community - water companies. we are a coastal community and - water companies. we are a coastal community and we | coastal community and we absolutely rely on the sea. we have fishing industry, a tourist industry and a community that lives here that usesit community that lives here that uses it every day. we have a community that swims all year round and we rely on the health and safety of our water or our own well being as well as the well being of the environment. the bills haven't been paying for the infrastructure maintenance that we need to stop the flooding, stop the sewerage releases and to keep the clean water flowing. the bills are paying off the debt that the private companies have taken on and we know that. they haven't been keeping up with the infrastructure maintenance and that is why we are angry about the cost of this. we don't trust them to spend our money in the right way and we can't go anywhere else stop it

is a private company monopoly. water bills have risen slowly and inflation.— and inflation. private shareholders - and inflation. private shareholders and - and inflation. private - shareholders and executives haven't skimped on their own rewards and today all of that history comes together. so who is to blame for the water crisis? is it incompetent companies, greedy shareholders, bad regulators, climate change? the truth is, a bit of all of those. but we are where we are and it is hard to see an alternative to fixing this mess without pushing up a bills very substantially. each company is asking the regulator for different bill increases. on average they are asking for hikes of over 30% above inflation over the next five years. debt charities are warning that will hit further pressure on struggling households and are urging them to seek help. households and are urging them to seek help-— to seek help. things are definitely _ to seek help. things are definitely getting - to seek help. things are | definitely getting worse. to seek help. things are i definitely getting worse. i mean, we've had a 25% increase

in clients with debt issues this year alone. i don't think people are aware that if they contact their water companies they can actually — there is quite a lot of help that they can give, particularly if they are on a low income particularly if they have a disability. particularly if they have a disability-— particularly if they have a disabili . ., ., , disability. the government has ordered a complete _ disability. the government has i ordered a complete independent review of the water industry and the message is in it that won't come in time to change higher bills coming in april. and we will have more on this later in this programme during business today. thames water has got more than 15 million comp —— customers and has a debt burden of £16 billion stop it is asking to increase its bills significantly. we will be at looking at the implications with the expert view a little later on that. now to france, where all eyes will be on a court room in avingon. judges there are expected to hand down verdicts today in the high—profile case of 51 men accused of raping the same woman. gisele pelicot was repeatedly drugged by her husband,

who invited men he met online to have sex with her, while she was unconscious in her bedroom at night. andrew harding has been following the case. it all happened here, in a quiet village in southern france. a retired electrician, dominique pelicot, was experimenting with drugging his wife gisele, putting her to sleep. over the years, the drugs made her increasingly sick. she believed that she had a brain tumour and, for ten years, she's been going from one doctor to the other without knowing what was happening to her. in fact, her husband was contacting local men online, inviting these strangers at night into the couple's bedroom and filming them as they abused gisele's drugged and unconscious body. it is possibly one of the most

shocking aspects of this case, how easily he found 50, maybe 100 men in the neighbouring area, willing to participate in these scenarios. it's harrowing to think about. because it suggests that it's everywhere? yes. so, who were these local men? we've seen them in masks outside the court. the french police eventually identified 50 of them and put them on trial alongside dominique pelicot. one man hasjust agreed to meet me anonymously, his daughter speaking here on his behalf, arguing that her father thought the couple had both consented. translation: he did not understand how this - could have happened. he was tricked by dominique pelicot. but your father admits that he raped her, he raped gisele pelicot. translation: yes, | but not intentionally. maybe he should be punished.

he should have realised, but ten years is too much. it's unfair. but in court, dominique pelicot said the others were as guilty as him. i'm a rapist, like the others in this courtroom. they knew everything. and then, crucially, came the grotesque videos filmed by dominique pelicot, hard evidence that is so rare in rape trials. in the video, you can hear gisele pelicot snoring, so it's absolutely obvious that she is sleeping. and for the defendants, it's very complicated for them to defend themselves and to pretend, "well, i didn't rape her," with this kind of proof. it is here in this courtroom that dominique pelicot will soon learn his fate. he'll be sitting in the blue chair there, as usual, surrounded by all the other accused.

the prosecution is asking for 20 years for pelicot and ten for many of the other men. but, in so many ways, this trial is really no longer about the accused. instead, it is gisele pelicot who has quietly taken centrestage, an inspiration to so many women. it doesn't take, you know, a lawyer. it doesn't take a minister, it doesn't take a government official to make an impact for women's rights. it just takes a woman with guts. gisele pelicot could have remained anonymous. instead, she embraced a public role, the victim who refused to feel shame. let's speak to consultant forensic psychologist, dr ruth tulley. thank you for talking to us on bbc news. this rape trial has shook france but also has been watched closely around the

world. it is shocking in its detail. what are your thoughts on the significance of this trial and what it means going forward with regards to sexual violence? {131 forward with regards to sexual violence? _, , forward with regards to sexual violence? , ., , violence? of course any rape trial is shocking _ violence? of course any rape trial is shocking that - violence? of course any rape trial is shocking that what . violence? of course any rape trial is shocking that what is | trial is shocking that what is shocking about this case is the sheer number of defendants and the manner in which the main perpetrator was apprehended because it wasn't a to do with crimes against his wife it was because he took greater risks and was caught in public doing something similarly offensive but a non—contact offence so what this tells us, and i think white is also so shocking and in the press so much alongside the numbers is that this could be happening anywhere and people don't know about it. these are seemingly ordinary men, as many people who offend many rapists are, they are known to people, they are somebody�*s brother, someone's colleague, someone's it means

that women primarily other victims. �* ., ., ., victims. and for that reason, gisele pelicot _ victims. and for that reason, gisele pelicot decided - victims. and for that reason, gisele pelicot decided to - victims. and for that reason, gisele pelicot decided to go l gisele pelicot decided to go public, decided to be known in this case and named in this case and she is going to make a big difference making that choice, would you say? absolutely. one of the things that she is —— she has talked about the press is she is standing up for herself, turning the shame around. there is no shame on a victim. sexual offending is always the offending is always the offending of the perpetrator so if her offending inspires one person to seek help, seek support or simply leave an abusive situation and it has made a difference to somebody else's life as well. in made a difference to somebody else's life as well.— else's life as well. in terms ofthe else's life as well. in terms of the motivation _ else's life as well. in terms of the motivation of - else's life as well. in terms of the motivation of these l of the motivation of these multiple perpetrators, as you mentioned, so many, all local, ordinary people — at your thoughts on that? ordinary people - at your thoughts on that?- ordinary people - at your thoughts on that? what is interesting _ thoughts on that? what is interesting about - thoughts on that? what is interesting about that - thoughts on that? what is interesting about that is l thoughts on that? what is interesting about that is it would be interesting —— it would be interesting —— it would be interesting —— it would be easy to assume that

the motivation for every man in this case would be the same but in my experience and according to the research into sexual offending, everybody�*s motivation is different, so seemingly similar act can be motivated by different things whether that is sexual deviance, powerand whether that is sexual deviance, power and control — it will vary from person to person so in terms of risk reduction in the future because largely if imprisoned and found guilty, these men will be released eventually, it will be important for people to understand their motivations to help reduce the risk of them reoffending in the future. find reoffending in the future. and 'ust reoffending in the future. and just briefly. — reoffending in the future. and just briefly, gisele _ reoffending in the future. and just briefly, gisele pelicot herself, she says i am an ordinary woman, i don't want to become an icon that actually truly i am in bits because of what she has learned about what has happened to her over a ten year period. your thoughts on her recovery following this? is there such a thing as recovery when such a grave long—term pervasive terrible thing has happened to someone. it will

differfrom person to person and perhaps this and being named and approaching the trial over the way she has will help her in some way but ultimately, you know, people ask — is this what everyone will do in this situation? this is not a normal situation? this is not a normal situation so we are looking through the lens of this as an abnormal situation. perhaps this will help her, perhaps it won't but each person who has been offended against will find a way to move forward, as difficult as that can be, but for some people, that can be almost impossible. so it varies from person to person and it is really important that her wishes after this trial especially about whether she wants to give interviews or not are fully respected.— are fully respected. doctor ruth tulley. _ are fully respected. doctor ruth tulley, thank - are fully respected. doctor ruth tulley, thank you - are fully respected. doctor ruth tulley, thank you for| are fully respected. doctor - ruth tulley, thank you for your time and your expertise and on bbc news we will be trial later

today in avingon. the head of the most powerful group in the rebel alliance now in control in syria, has told the bbc the country is exhausted by war, and isn't a threat to its neighbours, or the west. ahmed al—sharaa led the lightening offensive that toppled president bashar al—assad less than two weeks ago. he's the leader of the hayat tahrir al sham, or hts group of rebels. in recent days, he's been trying to allay fears a new government might restrict the rights of women and he says the group is no longer linked to al-qaeda. many syrians however are sceptical. well, ahmed al—sharaa, has been speaking to our international editor jeremy bowen. the de facto leader of syria, ahmed al—sharaa, chose to do the interview in the presidential palace built by the assads. he told me he wasn't surprised that the old regime collapsed so quickly. syrians, he said, needed to keep calm to tackle all the problems they face. you've made a lot of promises, you've said you will respect the mosaic of different sectarian groups here in syria, minorities as well. are you going to keep those promises?

translation: the syrian . population has lived together for thousands of years. we're going to discuss all of it. we're going to have dialogue and make sure everyone is represented. the old regime always played on sectarian divisions, but we won't. we were welcomed in all the big cities by all the sects. i think the revolution can contain everybody. so this isn't going to be some kind of a caliphate, or you're not going to make syria into a country like afghanistan? because you know there are people who say that maybe you want to behave like the taliban. translation: there are many differences between syria - and the taliban. the way we govern is different. afghanistan is a tribal community. syria is completely different. the peoplejust don't think in the same way. the syrian government and their ruling system will be in line with syria's

history and culture. so the culture of syria includes rights for women, it includes education for women, it includes tolerance for people drinking alcohol? is that all acceptable to you? translation: when it comes to women's education, - of course. we've had universities in idlib for more than eight years. i think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%. and alcohol? there are many things ijust don't have the right to talk about, because they are legal issues. there will be a syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. they will decide, and any ruler or president will have to follow the law. let's talk about wider issues that you face. first of all, this country is broken. there is a massive amount of destruction. the economy is destroyed. there are huge debts.

how do you begin to start dealing with all of that when the country is under sanctions and when major powers around the world and the united nations say that you are the leader of a terrorist group? translation: that's | a political classification. we haven't committed any crimes thatjustify calling us a terrorist group. in the last 1a years, we haven't targeted any civilians or civilian areas or civilian targets. i understand some countries will be worried by that designation, but it's not true. now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted, because they were targeted at the old regime. the victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

now to haiti — one of the poorest countries on earth, with the capital, port au prince, largely controlled by criminal gangs. despite the deployment of an international security force to help restore peace, there's been a recent upsurge in gang violence, especially following the resignation of the country's third prime minister, so far this year. a bbc team has travelled to the capital, and while they were there, one gang killed almost 200 civilians. nawal al—maghafi, producer jasmin dyer and cameraman jack garland's report, contains graphic images some viewers may find distressing. downtown port—au—prince — now the scene of daily street fighting between gangs vying for control. once one of the city's most populated areas, it's now a ghost town. we're with the kenyan

police on a patrol. they're here to support the haitian forces, as part of a multinational response to restore law and order. it's not long before we come under fire. gunfire we're being shot at by a gang member from that direction, so the guys... ..are just retaliating. and then this. a human body burning in the middle of the street. we're on our way to meet the leader of one of the most prominent gangs here, filming ourjourney under cover. reynold estina, notorious for kidnapping, is wanted by the fbi. your gang and gangs like yours have spread terror across the city. you have raped people, you have killed people. translation: when we capture an enemy, we are celebrating i a victory, so sometimes the group gets excited.

they capture somebody and they do things they weren't supposed to do with them, because when it's been the other way round, they would have done the same to us. gang warfare has driven 700,000 people out of their homes, to overcrowded schools like these where sexual violence and drug use is rife. this is the third place negosiat has had to make home. she tells me she's too afraid to sleep here. she stays up to watch over her five children. translation: my neighbourhood was taken over by gangs. - i left and went to live in solino for safety. today, again, i'm on the run to save my life and my children. the violence is escalating, a clear sign the kenyan strategy is failing. 2,500 personnel were due to be deployed, but only 400 are here. they tell us they're making progress and take us to see a former police station that they've now retaken. but the area is still

surrounded by gang snipers. the police fire some warning shots. they can shoot from here. so just that building over there, the red with the blue, is where the snipers are shooting at you? you heard the shot? yeah. stay down now. the violence permeates every stage of life here. shayna is two years old. she, like 760,000 children in haiti, is starving. translation: i would like my kids to be able to eat bread, . even if i can't. i would like to get proper care for my child, too. i don't want to lose her. but as the situation here continues to deteriorate, haiti risks losing an entire generation. nawal al—maghafi, bbc news, port—au—prince, haiti. now, a look back

at the movie year. what have been some of the best films released in 2024 — here's tom brook. 2021: is 2024 is drawing to a close and as is the custom, every december, we look back at the film is released during the last 12 months. some were quite good, some were brilliant and they were a few that were truly awful. anyway, there is my list of the top ten films of 2024. at number ten, the seed of the sacred figure, a family drama that serves as a microcosm of life and of around's authoritarian government. this critique of the government was filmed in secrecy avoiding detection. in ninth place, a musical crime film and genius story of a mexican drug lord that undergoes agenda transition. it is told with great flair and empathy by french director. at number

eight, conclave, a drama revolving around the heated election of a new pope. a classy commercial picture with a great performance from ralph fiennes. , , ., ., ., a great performance from ralph fiennes-_ it i fiennes. this is not a war. it is a war! _ fiennes. this is not a war. it is a war! make _ fiennes. this is not a war. it is a war! make a _ fiennes. this is not a war. it is a war! make a wish. - fiennes. this is not a war. it is a war! make a wish. one i is a war! make a wish. one wish? in — is a war! make a wish. one wish? in seventh _ is a war! make a wish. one wish? in seventh place, . is a war! make a wish. one | wish? in seventh place, the world war _ wish? in seventh place, the world war ii _ wish? in seventh place, the world war ii epic _ wish? in seventh place, the world war ii epic from - wish? in seventh place, the| world war ii epic from steve mcqueen, a beautifully wrought story of a young boy trying to find his way home. what britain's homefront depicted as a place of stoicism but also as mcqueen makes clear bigotry as well. # where have you been, my blue—eyed son? at # where have you been, my blue-eyed son?— # where have you been, my blue-eyed son? at number six, a comlete blue-eyed son? at number six, a complete unknown, _ blue-eyed son? at number six, a complete unknown, portrait- blue-eyed son? at number six, a complete unknown, portrait of. complete unknown, portrait of bob dylan's early years. timothee chalamet shines as a young villain but does make the young villain but does make the young dylan but some of the best performances come from the supporting cast. ellen fanning is dylan's girlfriend.

# i walked in i crawled on six crooked highways. i # i walked in i crawled on six crooked highways.— # i walked in i crawled on six crooked highways. i know you miaht crooked highways. i know you might not _ crooked highways. i know you might not the _ crooked highways. i know you might not the most _ crooked highways. i know you i might not the most comfortable person — might not the most comfortable person people... i�*m might not the most comfortable person implem— might not the most comfortable person people..._ no. i might not the most comfortable | person people..._ no. a person people... i'm not? no. a real -- jewish — person people... i'm not? no. a real -- jewish cousins _ person people... i'm not? no. a real -- jewish cousins going - person people... i'm not? no. a real -- jewish cousins going in i real —— jewish cousins going in poland. a character study which is does the very talented ciaran caulkin. and the room next door, pedro almodovar�*s first film in the english language. first film in the english language-— first film in the english lanaauae. language. the day you find it ost is language. the day you find it post is the — language. the day you find it post is the day _ language. the day you find it post is the day has _ language. the day you find it post is the day has a - language. the day you find it post is the day has a ready . post is the day has a ready happened. post is the day has a ready happened-— post is the day has a ready hauened. ., , ., ., . ,., happened. rate performances and tilda swinton _ happened. rate performances and tilda swinton and _ happened. rate performances and tilda swinton and julianne - tilda swinton and julianne moore make this story that revolves around euthanasia strangely live performances. —— rate performances. strangely live performances. -- rate performances.— rate performances. people... can't stand — rate performances. people... can't stand them. _ rate performances. people... can't stand them. at - rate performances. people... can't stand them. at number| can't stand them. at number three, can't stand them. at number three. hard _ can't stand them. at number three, hard truths _ can't stand them. at number three, hard truths in - can't stand them. at number three, hard truths in which i three, hard truths in which mike leigh proves he still was it that still has what it takes to deliver an authentic, gripping family drama. an

amazing performance from marion john baptiste, portrait of a fascinating woman who loves everyone the wrong way. i fascinating woman who loves everyone the wrong way. i have been harassed _ everyone the wrong way. i have been harassed by _ everyone the wrong way. i have been harassed by people - everyone the wrong way. i have been harassed by people all. been harassed by people all day! i'm sick to death of it! at number two, another great movie from sean baker. , it is a tragicomedy that is so original and full of life that you can't help but love it. these are yours.- you can't help but love it. these are yours. all these are yours. yes? yes. all of them? _ these are yours. yes? yes. all of them? yes. _ these are yours. yes? yes. all of them? yes. and _ these are yours. yes? yes. all of them? yes. and the - these are yours. yes? yes. all of them? yes. and the talking | of them? yes. and the talking movies number _ of them? yes. and the talking movies number one _ of them? yes. and the talking movies number one film of 2024 is the brutalist which spans us every —— several decades. adrian brody is a hungarian architect and holocaust survivor who arrives in the us where as an outsider he encounters the ugly side of the american dream.— american dream. they do not want us here. _

american dream. they do not want us here. do _ american dream. they do not want us here. do you - american dream. they do not want us here. do you mean? | american dream. they do not. want us here. do you mean? the --eole want us here. do you mean? the peeple here. _ want us here. do you mean? the peeple here. they _ want us here. do you mean? the people here, they do _ want us here. do you mean? the people here, they do not - want us here. do you mean? the people here, they do not want i people here, they do not want us here! ,, , , , us here! quite simply brilliant, _ us here! quite simply brilliant, epic - us here! quite simply| brilliant, epic cinema. they you have it. tom brook. they you have it. tom brook. the bank of england's meeting today, so much to talk about. i will see you shortly. hello. after the overnight rain across england and wales, thursday promises to bring lengthy spells of sunshine. it'll be a little on the chilly side, particularly across the north of the uk with a noticeable breeze, but overall, not a bad day. now, here's the satellite picture of that weather system earlier on, spreading across the uk. the rain has been mostly across the southern half of the country — in the north, we've had showers and clear spells. by the middle of thursday, that weather front is way towards the east of us — and in its wake, we're in that north westerly airstream.

so, this is what it looks like early in the morning — still the remnants of the rain there across east anglia, but 1—2 showers also further towards the west. frost—free for england and wales, typically five celsius, closer to freezing in northern ireland and scotland. so here's that weather, then, on thursday — sunshine, particularly across eastern and central england, but notice a few showers in scotland, and 1—2 elsewhere. but on the whole, a fine day. the temperatures — around eight for cardiff and for london, about that for liverpool. in edinburgh and belfast, it'll be a shade cooler than that. and then, friday, we're expecting more rain to sweep in. this next weather front crosses the country — middle of the day, it'll be in central areas of england. gusty winds for a time, too, before it clears away and the skies turn clear, as well. now, let's have a look at the forecast for the weekend, because it will be very blustery. a nasty area of low pressure is expected to sweep just to the north of us — it'll introduce really strong winds to northern and western scotland, and really blustery elsewhere. 60—70mph gusts there in the north of scotland, 50mph across many central parts of the uk.

the temperatures may reach 12—13 in some spots — but, because it'll be windy and there'll be showers, some of them wintry over the hills, it won't feel particularly warm. and it's notjust saturday that'll be windy, another very blustery day on sunday to come — look at that, gusts approaching 50mph further south, too. but it will be colder on sunday, you really will feel that wind chill. those temperatures will dip to six celsius — add on those 40—50mph gusts, and you'll need your thick coats. now, here's christmas week — it turns out that christmas day will be about the mildest day, but it is going to be generally settled. bye— bye.

the fed cut interest rates but stocks sink on wall street and in asia as the us central bank signals next year it will ease at a slower pace. belfast�*s historic shipbuilder harland & wolff is rescued again from administration. will it succeed this time? will thames water be given the green light to bring in whopping bill increases for its customers? the survival of the company is at stake. and the sweet smell of success: we look at the growing

fragrance industry as perfume sales spike this christmas. live from london, this is business today. i'm sally bundock. abc show. we have the bank of england meeting as well today. we start in the us where the central bank did what most analysts predicted and cut interest rates for the third time this year. but it was whatjerome powell had to say about next year — the chair of the federal reserve — that spooked markets. the rally on wall street came to a dramatic halt as investors digested the prospect of fewer rate cuts in 2025. so now in the worlds biggest economy the key lending rate is in a target range of 4.25 to 4.5%. that's despite us inflation hovering at around 2.7% which is some way above the fed's target rate of 2%.

jerome powell explained the decision, suggesting