if you were a child? well, it's one with a very lovely meaning. we'll tell you more later in the programme. hello, welcome to verified live. prince harry has accepted substantial damages and settled his long—running legal battle against the publisher of the sun, news group newspapers, which is owned by the media tycoon, rupert murdoch. the duke of sussex and the former labour party deputy leader, lord watson, who also settled his legal claim today, alleged that journalists had carried out unlawful information—gathering into their private lives. news group newspapers gave a full and unequivocal apology to prince harry for serious intrusions over the course of 15 years. it's also apologised for intruding into the private life of his

late mother, diana, princess of wales. our correspondence watched that update from prince harry's barrister and sent this update. we were on the hook for an eight week trial. for an eight week trial, during which of course, evidence would have been presented in open court. witnesses may have even been called to give evidence. and prince harry has said all along that this was never about money for him. news group newspapers has settled 1700 cases, some of them outside the court system, but 1700 in total. and prince harry has said it wasn't about the money for him. it was about the acknowledgement that there was wrongdoing and an apology, and forjustice to be being seen, to be brought to those responsible for this illegal activity. so at the core of today's settlement was this apology by news group newspapers.

now ngn ran the news of the world, which it closed down several years ago during the phone hacking scandal. and the bosses at ngn had always denied that there was any wrongdoing at the sun newspaper. they had always pointed to the news of the world. so the fact that there was this apology today, this full and unequivocal apology, gives prince harry thatjustice, if you like, that he wanted to be seen to being done. what was interesting is there were two parts to the duke of sussex's claim. there was the accusation of illegal intrusive activity, but there was also the accusation of a widespread corporate cover up, including the deletion of millions of emails from news group, newspapers, servers and email systems. now, in their statement since the court statement was read out earlier on, ngn has continued to deny that that happened. and they've even said that one of the reasons that prince harry was happy with the settlement and the apology offered in court today, is because it meant he didn't have to give evidence in court in relation to this corporate cover up, because ngn insists he would have lost that argument.

0ur media and arts correspondent david sillito reports. prince harry's long battle against the press, fuelled by a fury that began with its treatment of his mother, princess diana, has today culminated in what he describes as a monumental victory. i've been asked to read out a statement on behalf of the duke of sussex and lord watson. outside the court where his trial challenging the publisher of the sun and the news of the world was about to begin, a statement from his barrister about an apology and a settlement from news group newspapers. in a monumental victory today, news uk have admitted that the sun, the flagship title for rupert murdoch's uk media empire, had indeed engaged in illegal practices. this represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong—armed into settling without being

able to get to the truth of what was done to them. after endless resistance, denials and legal battles by news group newspapers, including spending more than £1 billion in payouts and in legal costs, as well as paying off those in the know in order to prevent the full picture from coming out, news uk is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law. the scandal began when it emerged that the phone of the murdered schoolgirl milly dowler had been hacked. for one politician who took on news group and today also received an apology, this long battle has taken its toll. these unlawful practices were not isolated incidents. they were industrial in scale and central to the modus operandi of news group newspapers as a whole.

i once said that the big beasts of the tabloid jungle have no predators. i was wrong. they have prince harry. his bravery and astonishing courage have brought accountability to a part of the media world that thought it was untouchable. it is m years since the news of the world was closed, but today's apology also acknowledges wrongdoing by the sun. in a statement, it says... so while he didn't get his chance for a day in court, today's settlement does cover £10 million of legal costs. it is, he says, a monumental victory. david sillito, bbc news.

dr evan harris is the former director of hacked off, and consultant for the claimants legal team. he gave me his thoughts on why this case is so important. this is a very important development because for 1h years news corporation, owned by rupert murdoch and news uk, headed up by here by rebekah brooks, have denied that there was ever any unlawful activity whatsoever at the sun newspaper and they've settled 1300 claims of people who say this without allowing them to get to court and without making that admission. and for the first time, notjust on the steps of court, but inside the court, it's clear that they were forced to make that admission to avoid, at the very least, a public trial of these allegations. and, you know, lord watson can't continue to sue on something they've admitted. that's not how the court system works. so it's a full victory for prince harry and tom watson. and they both set out what a price they paid. i mean, prince harry gets revenge attacks

on him by the newspapers for daring to stand up to them, but has been prepared to do that in order for this to come out, notjust for him, but for all those people who brought claims and all the others who were targeted, because, as court documents have shown, there were 35,000 payments across the sun and the news of the world to the main private investigators, and there were over 100 of them used by the sun and the news of the world over at least 16 years. that this claim has been going on at prince. prince harry and lord watson. they were the last man standing in this case. what insight can you give us into the decision to settle? because prince harry had said he was there for those who couldn't afford to go to court. some sections of the media in their coverage of this news today, saying this is a climb—down from him when he promised a crusade against sections of the tabloid press. well, firstly, they're the last two in this wave because there's a series

of waves and this litigation has not necessarily ended. you can only sue in this country against something that's denied or not admitted. that's the way the law works. if someone admits something, you don't have a cause of action. so once he, once they've admitted what he called for, then he it's them settling. it's not the not prince harry. he has conceded nothing. they are paying him damages and they're paying his legal fees now. i'm not at liberty to say what the total cost of that is, but i see the bbc have said that it's an eight figure sum, upwards of 10 million. it wouldn't surprise me, and i've not seen it denied. but that's not prince harry backing down. it's not prince harry who's admitted anything. it's news group, newspapers, news uk saying that the sun engaged in criminal activity. let's be clear about that. that's what unlawful activity means. it means blagging of medical records. it means obtaining phone bills. it means, in many cases, phone hacking, listening to voice messages. it means getting financial records. these are all gross intrusions of people's

privacy done in secret. the key thing is there's a distinction. sorry to interrupt you, dr harris. there's a distinction, isn't there, in the words unlawful and illegal. because illegal refers to something that is expressly forbidden by statute. but i just want to come on to the question of. will we everface.... i just want to clarify, because it's because it's important this bbc verified gets this right. yes, you are correct, but our pleaded case in paragraph six of the private investigator annexe to our amended generic particulars of concealment and destruction searchable, you can see that we provide a criminal offence behind each one of these unlawful civil torts. so they do represent criminal offences. the defence made clear news group that these were serious allegations and we agree. therefore we have to be careful in what we say. they denied until now, all of them at the sun and now they've admitted them. that's the fact. i want to just draw your

attention to a couple of lines from the statement from news group newspapers, in which it says many allegations remain unproven. yes, it has apologised for a number of matters, but many allegations it says, remain unproven. it says after more than a decade of litigation and 1a years since the news of the world closed down, today's settlement draws a line under the past and brings an end to this litigation. so do you think there will ever be any possibility of individual culpability in this. and what more would you like to see the police and parliament do? good question. i mean, my reaction to their statement is they wish. they wish it drew a line under it. they're desperate to try and draw a line under it. but that's not how the rule of law works in this country. there are allegations denied and as yet unproven, because these haven't been the subject of court determinations that because they denied under oath that there was unlawful activity at the sun in the criminal courts, in this high court, at the leveson inquiry and in front

of parliamentary committees, this was denied, either that was just an unfortunate error or they knowingly denied something that they knew to be true. the latter is called perjury when it's done under oath at the leveson inquiry and in court, and it's contempt of parliament where it's done in at a select committee, that if the rule of law is to mean anything, the police and parliament have to investigate those allegations. they are allegations. and until that is done so there can be no line drawn under this. and make no mistake, prince harry and tom watson and the other claimants are not going anywhere in terms of pursuing a proper investigation of these matters. news group deserve to put their defence. they deserve an investigation and a hearing, not a presumption. but that investigation must now take place. we are very nearly out of time, dr harris. so just a brief response to this final question, if you would, please. news group newspapers says

there are strong controls now and processes in place at all of its titles. looking at the statement to ensure that this can't happen now. do you take any reassurance from that? i don't believe it. there's no independent regulation of the press. and if they were, if they were confident in that, they wouldn't have blocked the second stage of the leveson inquiry, untilthere�*s an independent press regulator and not a not a self—regulatory poodle, which there is at the moment, no one can have any faith that these practices have been ended at certain titles, especially in the tabloid press. there is more detail on our live page on the bbc website where you can get more reaction on those developments at the court today. a 14—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the stabbing of a 12—year—old boy in birmingham yesterday. the victim was found with serious injuries in hall green and later

died in hospital. 0ur midlands correspondent phil mackie reports. another young life has been lost to the scourge of knife crime. these pictures were taken yesterday afternoon. the boy was stabbed on his way home from school and nothing could be done to save him. today the grief was palpable. rowena's son was at school with the boy who died. i'm a mum, i'm a nurse. i'm a mum and a nurse and everything else. and i walk my dog in the park next to it. it's just sad that something like this has had to happen and potentially he was on his own for a little bit. and the length of time it took for people to sort of reach him. maybe it was too late by the time i got to him. it's just sad. another life has been taken too early. he didn't deserve this, from what my children say. he was a lovely caring, innocent little boy. a relative sent the bbc this tribute.

i've spoken to the relative who said the statement said that the boy was on a ten—minute walk home when the incident happened. she said that he had onlyjust started at secondary school and he had his whole life ahead of him. locals say the park where the boy was stabbed has been plagued by anti—social behaviour and low—level criminality. knife crime is a constant worry. last year the west midlands had the highest rate of that type of offence in the uk. my message to the wider community and young people is you must not carry knives. and to parents and carers of children, we really have to enforce that message collectively as the police and the community. everyone, you must not carry knives and we must not use knives because these are the tragic consequences of it. the 14—year—old boy arrested on suspicion of murder is also being questioned in connection with an assault in the same area last sunday on an 80—year—old woman. the family of the boy who died

are being cared for. phil mackie, bbc news, birmingham. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

we can cross to my colleague in washington. donald trump's second term has begun at a fast and furious pace. the latest development we have seen are some comments from trump on ukraine and russia, what can you tell us? he ukraine and russia, what can you tell us?— you tell us? he has posted on truth social, _ you tell us? he has posted on truth social, his _ you tell us? he has posted on truth social, his own - you tell us? he has posted on truth social, his own social. truth social, his own social media network, in relation to russia and ukraine. he said today, i am russia and ukraine. he said today, iam not looking russia and ukraine. he said today, i am not looking to hurt russia, i love the russian

people i have always had a good relationship with president putin, we must neverforget that russia helped us win the second world war. but he goes on then to say, i am going to do russia, who is a company is failing and present page in a big failure, settle now and stop this ridiculous war. it is only going to get worse. if we don't make a deal and soon i have no other choice but to put high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on anything being sold by russia to the united states and various other participating countries. let's get this war, which would never have been started if i were president, overwith. have been started if i were president, over with. we can do it the easy way or the hard way. the easy way is always better. he finishes, it is time to make a deal, in capitals, no more lives should be lost. we had some words from president trump last night in the impromptu press conference that he gave where he was asked

about would there be more sanctions on russia and he said, oh yes, probably their word. we rememberfrom the campaign that he promised he would resolve the war in ukraine within 2a hours of taking office. that deadline slipped about a week or two ago when his special envoy to ukraine said, actually, the deadline was more about 90 days orso deadline was more about 90 days or so and the middle of may is the point at which president trump pross max special envoy has said they would see a deal being done between ukraine and russia. president trump in his post using the word settle and deal and the threat of further sanctions and taxes and tariffs. that is the first level of detail that we have heard him talk about in relation to that. he did not mention the conflict in ukraine by name in his inaugural address. that is something that

people had anticipated, so we will wait to see what he does next on that and whether we hear anything further from him a little bit earlier. he has been signing these executive augers at pace since he took office on monday lunchtime and we are told that he will be signing another executive order later today, although we don't have any details on what that will be. speaking earlier, the speaker of the house of representatives, mikejohnson, said there was excitement over what the republicans were going to do next and that they were ready to deliver.— ready to deliver. everybody feels excited _ ready to deliver. everybody feels excited at _ ready to deliver. everybody feels excited at the - ready to deliver. everybody l feels excited at the moment. the excitement of being in a great — the excitement of being in a great country. the atmosphere in washington has changed. the press _ in washington has changed. the press corps probably notices it. press corps probably notices it there _ press corps probably notices it. there is a lot of anxious anticipation and excitement about— anticipation and excitement about what was going to do. the house _ about what was going to do. the house republicans are ready to deliven — house republicans are ready to deliver. what came out of the meeting — deliver. what came out of the meeting yesterday is that we are going to do this in a

bipartisan way. the senate republican and the house will work— republican and the house will work together to advance the america _ work together to advance the america first agenda. the president has wasted no time either~ — president has wasted no time either~ in _ president has wasted no time either. in the past two days just— either. in the past two days just a — either. in the past two days just a couple of highlights, listen _ just a couple of highlights, listen to this list, he shut down _ listen to this list, he shut down the ridiculous cbp one, he began _ down the ridiculous cbp one, he began restoring american energy dominance, restored merit—based hiring _ dominance, restored merit—based hiring and — dominance, restored merit—based hiring and eliminated the eia initiatives, eliminated the radical— initiatives, eliminated the radical gender ideology madness and revoke security clearances of those — and revoke security clearances of those who sign the bogus ietier— of those who sign the bogus letter about hunter biden's lepton _ letter about hunter biden's laptop. he has done more in the last 48— laptop. he has done more in the last 48 hours for the american people — last 48 hours for the american people and joe biden did in four— people and joe biden did in four years. people and joe biden did in four years-_ people and joe biden did in four ears. four years. mike johnson laying out some of— four years. mike johnson laying out some of the _ four years. mike johnson laying out some of the measures - four years. mike johnson laying out some of the measures that| out some of the measures that president trump has enacted in just a couple of days that he has been in office. promises he made on the campaign trail and

we heard mikejohnson refer to some of these measures which president trump is describing as common—sense measures, relating to what are known as the el, diversity equity and inclusion measures here. we can talk a bit about what is involved. i am joined talk a bit about what is involved. iam joined by talk a bit about what is involved. i am joined by the director of the racialjustice programme at the american civil liberties union. we heard speak johnson say the president had restored merit—based hiring for the federal government and ended the radical gender ideological madness as he phrased it. the resident and his allies had been framing this as not in line with civil rights legislation and these policies is our discriminatory themselves, do you see as madness as he does? know, that is 'ust madness as he does? know, that is just wrong _ madness as he does? know, that is just wrong and _ madness as he does? know, that isjust wrong and an _ madness as he does? know, that isjust wrong and an effort - madness as he does? know, that isjust wrong and an effort to - is just wrong and an effort to recast — is just wrong and an effort to recast what were efforts to comply _ recast what were efforts to

comply with anti—discrimination law _ comply with anti—discrimination law. these... what these orders do is _ law. these... what these orders do is repeal— law. these... what these orders do is repeal long—standing law. we are — do is repeal long—standing law. we are saying this covers the law that _ we are saying this covers the law that was in place by the federai— law that was in place by the federal government since, across— federal government since, across democratic and republican administrations. what — republican administrations. what they are trump administration is trying to do is go — administration is trying to do is go beyond what we have seen, what _ is go beyond what we have seen, what has — is go beyond what we have seen, what has been the policy of the federal— what has been the policy of the federal government and push this to — federal government and push this to the extreme right. it is outside of where the american public is in recognising and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to succeed, to apply forjobs -et to succeed, to apply forjobs get educational opportunities as weii~ — get educational opportunities as well. ., , ., get educational opportunities as well. ., ., , as well. those who are employed in the equality — as well. those who are employed in the equality and _ as well. those who are employed in the equality and inclusivity - in the equality and inclusivity roles will be put on administrative leave at the end of the day today. the order also says that private companies should do the same. how can that were?—

companies should do the same. how can that were? what we are seeinu is how can that were? what we are seeing is an _ how can that were? what we are seeing is an attempt _ how can that were? what we are seeing is an attempt to - how can that were? what we are seeing is an attempt to chill - seeing is an attempt to chill efforts— seeing is an attempt to chill efforts in the private sector and — efforts in the private sector and what we know from the executive orders that have been released — executive orders that have been released is that they are both trying — released is that they are both trying to— released is that they are both trying to stop the activities of the _ trying to stop the activities of the federal government and trying — of the federal government and trying to— of the federal government and trying to get the federal agencies to identify different programmes in the private sector— programmes in the private sector that are trying to advance diversity equity and inclusion— advance diversity equity and inclusion and casting it as illegal— inclusion and casting it as illegal and unlawful, which simply— illegal and unlawful, which simply isn't true.— illegal and unlawful, which simply isn't true. just to “ump in there because i simply isn't true. just to “ump in there because were h simply isn't true. just to jump in there because were almost| simply isn't true. just to jump i in there because were almost at the end of the show. what message does this send out to those who are from minority backgrounds? i those who are from minority backgrounds?— those who are from minority backgrounds? i think what this doesnt backgrounds? i think what this doesn't change _ backgrounds? i think what this doesn't change is _ backgrounds? i think what this doesn't change is existing - doesn't change is existing anti—discrimination law and does — anti—discrimination law and does require the same organisations and companies to comply— organisations and companies to comply and to take steps to ensure _ comply and to take steps to ensure that everyone has an equal— ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity, but we see the trump administration sending a clear signal that it is trying _

sending a clear signal that it is trying to chill those efforts and that it once both the federal government and tocat— the federal government and local and private sector actors to feel — local and private sector actors to feel that the trump administration will be coming after— administration will be coming after them for these efforts. and — after them for these efforts. and so— after them for these efforts. and so that is a real problem and — and so that is a real problem and at — and so that is a real problem and at odds with the current administrative law. we want to ensure — administrative law. we want to ensure that people continue to apply— ensure that people continue to apply existing law.— apply existing law. we'll be talkinu apply existing law. we'll be talking about _ apply existing law. we'll be talking about this _ apply existing law. we'll be talking about this more - talking about this more throughout the day. thank you so forjoining us here on the bbc. we will have lots more on what president trump does today on his third day in office later. . ~ on his third day in office later. ., ,, , ., on his third day in office later. ., ~' , ., , on his third day in office later. ., ,, i. , . on his third day in office later. . ~ , . ., later. thank you very much. to return to _ later. thank you very much. to return to a _ later. thank you very much. to return to a story _ later. thank you very much. to return to a story we _ later. thank you very much. to return to a story we brought i return to a story we brought you earlier. police in the uk have confirmed the name of the 12 you're a boy who died after being stabbed in birmingham. he was leo ross. they have released a tribute from his head teacher describing him as

a lovely and bright member of the school community. he had just started secondary school recently. a 14—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. after a run of quieter weather over the last few weeks, things are about to get quite stormy across the uk. the met office has already issued a number of amber warnings across parts of northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england and north wales. we could see some damaging gusts in excess of 90 miles an hour for one or two. storm eowyn is still out in the western atlantic right now. it's set to develop into that potent storm, but before it arrives, this will bring some wet and windy weather tomorrow before we see a quieter spell after some rain through today. now that rain is clearing away from eastern areas. clearer skies tonight. relatively light winds. it's a recipe for some mist and fog, particularly across some eastern parts of southern england, and some frost as well, just about anywhere. lowest temperatures minus five

minus six to the grampians as we go into thursday morning. so if you have plans for the outdoors, morning could be best, although watch out for some fog first of all, east anglia and the south east. already rain into northern ireland. batch of rain and strengthening winds will push into western scotland, wales, western parts of england during the morning, pushing its way eastwards into the afternoon. gales likely towards the west and southwest. things will brighten up here later in the day. should stay dry and bright, though, towards the far northeast of scotland. feeling cooler out there, especially with those stronger winds. but here's storm eowyn coming towards us. a beast of a storm as it pushes in towards friday. strongest the winds just on the southern flank of this low pressure. so this is where the met office have those amber warnings. it's worth noting that there will be various stages. worst of the winds in northern ireland in the morning. northern england, north wales, middle part of the day. southern scotland through the afternoon we could see winds, hills and coasts, 80—90 miles an hour, maybe a little bit more. that will cause damage and destruction. but even away from that widespread gales for many rain sweeping across southern areas quite quickly during the morning to sunshine for the afternoon. a few showers around,

but the rain will linger across parts of northern ireland, scotland and with some snow falling across the scottish mountains. it is going to be a day in which the temperatures are fairly academic, higher than we've seen through recent days, but with those strong winds it does mean it will feel much cooler than that. into saturday, the strong winds will remain across the north of scotland after quite a wild night. still some snow in the mountains here. not a bad day for many on saturday though. brighter weather with a few showers dotted here and there, but then some increased shower activity out in the west later in the day. stay tuned to the forecast.

0pen open for business, rachel reeves courts investors in davos amid market fears about britain's flatlining growth and creaking public finances. and ai bulls for wall street, us head towards record highs after plan to boost tech infrastructure by up to $500 billion. that optimism would raise fears of a global trade war despite threats from the white house that tariffs on chinese goods could come in by the end of the month. plus the squid game—winner, netflix sews to an all—time high as a record number of us are sign up for the streaming service over the holiday period. one analyst

said he thought the number was a typo. we start with the uk economy because the uk's finance minister, chancellor of the exchequer rachel reeves, is in the swiss alps on a mission to talk up the uk to international investors. her trip to the world economic forum in davos comes amid concerns on financial markets about the weak state of the british economy and the government finances. they have sent uk borrowing costs soaring on bond markets. those concerns were underlined today as official figures showed a surge in uk public sector borrowing last month. the gap between revenues and spending, that had to be covered by borrowing, was a £17.8 billion in december. that is over £10 billion higher than the same month in 2023 and the highest send a figure for years. rachel reeves has been speaking to our economic set editor in davos and he has to watch tough decisions she was making

to create economic growth.