our top story this hour, the final release of israeli hostages and palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal is now under way. the handover was held in private, instead of the widely broadcast public ceremonies for palestinians prisoners. they include more than 400 gazans detained by israeli sentences in israeli jails.

these pictures show people arriving in the occupied west bank after leaving ofer prison. will be extended, or progress to phase two. and is ready to start talks on a second phase. end of this first phase of the ceasefire that the last remaining four dead hostages who were to be whose release was suspended last saturday, they too are to be released.

when phase one ends, phase two should begin. hostages, alive or dead, it would see israeli to the current hostilities there. and israel over this. to play any role in gaza any more, that it must be disarmed has so far rejected. those are the issues negotiators have and the fact that they haven't even started those discussions doesn't raise hopes that this next phase would be able to go smoothly.

of the first phase — i think that's likely to get faced up to, as the ceasefire hopefully continues. elsewhere, thousands of israelis have gathered along three members of the bibas family who were killed in captivity in gaza. freed hostage and father yarden bibas said his final goodbye to his wife shiri bibas and two young sons, who were killed by hamas. the remaining hostages. translation: i want to ask forgiveness on behalf -

this disaster should not have happened. have returned alive. against the backdrop of the delicate ceasefire deal, the white house says the ai video posted by president trump was not created by anyone at the white house. in a statement to our us media partners cbs, deputy press secretary anna kelly said: marianna spring looks at at the online

was a huge reaction online. there are social media tactics at play here. previously proposed. he spoke about gaza turning into a possible riviera in the middle east. as well as accusations of ethnic cleansing. it's quickly apparent this gaza video is generated using artificial intelligence, not least because of the parts ai has been used in this

satirical illustrative way a lot, often to generate a shock factor. ai images of gaza previously sparked criticism that they in the life of taylor swift. donald trump is known for capitalising on wider it also shows content seemingly generated by political are not always clear. to the white house.

media algorithms which run on emotions it's pushed to more people, more eyeballs and ultimately more money for the social media companies, which is how these systems work. donald trump has yet to comment on why the video was shared. uk prime minister sir keir starmer is also due correspondent, merlyn thomas. shejoins us now live from washington. prime minister keir starmer already been talking in 7 what 7 5 what has what has said? washington. what has he said? sir keir starmer been

sir keir starmer has been at the uk speaking at the uk ambassador�*s residence in washington. he has speaking at the uk ambassador�*s reside president hington. he has speaking at the uk ambassador�*s reside president donald . he has speaking at the uk ambassador�*s reside president donald trump |s speaking at the uk ambassador�*s reside president donald trump a friend mrfifriendand ” ' 7 7 mrfifriendandhe ' 7 7 777777frien7d7a7nd7 hq 5157; 7 7 7 7frie7n7d7a7nd7 hq 5157; 53137 7 close friend and he also said there is no more important —: the uk than us. similarly, he also said mm w m takin out a chainsaw that taking out a chainsaw isn't quite my style, a reference to elon musk�*s referefiee efi elfin fieééé at rfiffirfifiifi efi elfifi fluiéi at a f355? efi e135 gigi? at a conservative appearance at a conservative recently he gathering recently where he took out a chainsaw, a reference to the fact the us down generally on the cutting down generally on the and rolling back government, and rolling back on all of these that the uk are same page. sir keir starmer the same page. sir keir starmer said they are stripping away ie!!! ta-e and bureaucra . so red tape and bureaucracy. so is really a calling card this is really a calling card to say, look, we have more in common than you think. we are doing something quite similar. that is sir keir that is something sir keir starmer will try to do in the =-= meeting between the two leaders. we from the new

leaders. we heard from the new ambassador the lord fier—w—h 7wh7o77 , 77hhi>7gsid peter mandelson, who said donald trump is a consequential president. very consequential president. so similarly, as we saw with se. aimitarty. as. we gate with ~ , , french president the french president emmanuel macron earlier this week. goes a long way with slattery goes a long way with the us that is the us. preaiaent. that. ia ~ , . british the us. preaiaeht. that it ~ , . british team 7= over has over for has 7 over for these talks7w|lltry 77talk7s7w7ill7t7ry7t7o777777 high�*tavettatka’will try tc: —— flattery goes a long out for with this meeting with president trump? the real key to look out for is these us to leekeet far is these us guarantees. te leekeet far is these us guarantees. this te teeieeet far is these us guarantees. this will d a sticking point. these a sti seem mint. these a sti seem to it. these a sti seem to be these a sti seem to be at ase a sti seem to be at odds. a sti seem to be at adds. the leaders seem to be at odds. the prime minister has british prime minister has emphasised the importance of the us security guarantees in relation to any peace deal in z is president ukraine. whereas president trump has said, actually, we not 7 not going to 7 not going to make 7 not going to make any are not going to make any guarantees very security guarantees beyond very much. europe to much. he said europe needs to step up do more. but this step up and do more. but this comes at a very meeting comes at a very criticaljuncture meeting comes at a very critical juncture for the

europe relationship. aha eaflaee fetatiahah'ie;" " " " between sandwiched between president macron's meeting earlier this week and the ukrainian president zelensky�*s meeting later this week. so what sir starmer will be able to do gair stsrmer saitt be: abte ta as this keir starmer witt be: abte ta as this meeting, gair stsrmer saitt be: abte ta as this meeting, we will have in this meeting, we will have to wait and see, but it's a very delicate diplomatic dance, with a of things already on with a let ef thihas atreacty eh , , . , table to talk about. with a let ef thihgs atreacty eh , , . , table to talk about. the in gaza, �* in gaza, trade, tariffs. war in gaza, trade, tariffs. and how �*flattery and and how far flattery and are on the same showing they are on the same page will go, we will have to and see. . page will go, we will have to - and see-— for more, let's chat with evie aspinall, quite the diplomatic tripe wrote sir keir starmer has to 7 —7— quite" 7 7 —7— quite7t7he 7 7 —7— quite7the diplomatic wa|.k.-—:qbite.the diptematic ukraine top of the tightrope. ukraine toe of the what does he bring to the list, what does he bring to the table? ~ , ,., , list, what does he bring to the table? ~ , a, , , table?7ebsetbte.g ., a . mm table?7ebsetbte.g ., a . m i!!! the number—one priority to the uk. uk wants to position itself

as a bridge between the us and to showcase to trump we europe, to showcase to trump we can be trusted with european security and bring you up with quite lot around as. qaitera tet area-ha aefehee as. gaitera tet area-ha aefehee a strong and security, a strong in that area. that we brin z— z: effl— -_ is what we bring ta the tabte; ., ' ~ ' 77 ,- "* well is what we bring te the tabte; ., ' ~ ' 77 ,- "* well as is what we bring te the tabte; w , ,, , w w w well as a is what we bring te the tabte; w w ww w ww ww well as a good relationship as well as a good relationship with the us, which not all of has in the way. europe has in the same way. keir starmer has been very in the lead up this cgajck igthe lead us te this to cg.jgicgig iggthe lead us te this to talk cgnggicgig iggthe lead db te this to talk about cgnggicggig iggthe lead db te this to talk about what 77 the 7 the is the is willing commitments the uk is willing to make. british peacekeepers on the ground, perhaps. on. thegrecmd. perhaps. british absolutely, british peacekeepers. and big announcements around uk defence spending yesterday �*the day increasing defence before, increasing defence spending 2.5% and then to before, increasing defence sp 2013. 2.5% and then to before, increasing defence sp 2013. a 2.5% and then to before, increasing defence sp 2013. a big 5% and then to before, increasing defence sp 2013. a big statement n to before, increasing defence sp 2013. a big statement from by 2013. a big statement from the uk designed show trump the uk designed to show trump we are we can be we arerserieds, we can be and we areserie'a's, we can be and we will we areseriebs, we can be and we will lead on trusted and we will lead on security. —— 3% by

euro ean euroean leaders, abdut eurepeah leaders, he abdut eurepeah leaders. he had spoken kindly although he had spoken kindly about prime starmer, what do you put that down to? i starmer, what do you put that down to? ~ . starmer, what do you put that down to? ~' , ., g down to? the uk, a personal like the uk, a personal to scotland and he connection to scotland and he really likes the royal family. really likes the rd�*yal family. starmer really likes the rayal family. starmer is also a very keir starmer is also a very conventional british figure, which appeals to trump. and ultimately he has quiet on a lot of 77cold have 7 he could have said 7 he could have said that stuff he could have said that trump has done, he's been very z— he says, and he is not what he says, and he is not rocking the much at this rocking the boat much at this point. i think 7 -7 appreciates that. do you think minister appreciates that. do you think - minister starmer - appreciates that. do you think| - minister starmer - be to get some commitment able tegetserhe ceramitraeht president trump when it from president trump when it comes to security for ukraine? i think it's unlikely trump to very much at this commits to very much at this certainly nothing in point. certainly nothing in public. behind scenes, i keir starmer will very thifiii. seir stsrmer will be if??? to thifiiii. eeif starmer will “as if??? to get ti�*iifiii. eéif fatéfftéf gill be if??? to get informal agreements keen ts get infdrmal agreements a backstop around security and a backstop from the united states so that europe scales up security, if europe scales up security, the us will be with them to

maintain ukraine's security long—term. 7 the long-term. wba. .. g- from [e expecting from the meeting is to take place after prime minister starmer? we sti-sister eta—seer? lessees—steed w trump “ii—"er “em-e" lewis—"fl“ w trump will meet president trams witt meet zelensky on t president zelensky on friday. i think in many ways that is the think. in'manyways that is the important one. think. in'mahyways that is the important one. lots think in'mahyways that is the important one. lots of most important one. lots of talk minerals etc from talk about minerals etc from ukraine that could be part of a -=: with the 7 7 77with {canes 77 7 with the united states. deal with the united states. that would be most critical ibggtggvggygld be the most critical to have at this conversation to have at this ukraine be hoping -m that conversation also leads to security guarantees. again i security guarantees. again 5 think we will concrete, but concrete. but at least we are ho-cin trum- very least we are hoping trump comes along to the conversation is to be less ans iis s'ii'fifi ts eis lsss 7 7 77 77 77 7777 critical of ukraine and vocally critical of ukraine and zelensky, personally as well, move much closer back and move much closer back toward the european approach to this conflict.— this conflict. thanks for your thoughts- — around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

to myanmar now, where thousands of people from around authorities cut power and phone lines forcing armed groups supporting the scams to begin freeing workers. but with so many nationalities involved, thailand is struggling to process all the workers. in makeshift camps with limited food and sanitation. 0ur southeast asia correspondent jonathan head tell us more about where you are. . tell us more about where you are. , , ,., tell us more about where you are, , , , tell us more about where you are. , ,, g ., of hundred metres from the myanmar border. —— this spot. the behind me spot. the building behind me are centres, it is one

have been 7777hai7/7s7i7t7e7e7h t7rapp7e7d7 77777hai7/77e7t737e77e7n t7rapp7e7d7 in. 77777hai7/77e7t7j7e77e7n t7rapp7e7d7 in. a people have been trapped in. a chinese actor was a thinese actdr whd was a case was celebrated case was trafficked there last month and helbed �* the thai there last month and helbed �*the thai government into they 7 been built in =-——= the last two or three most at them. thei; haee years, mostsefthemslhey have up years, mostsefthemslhey have up along border :::.= 7:7“: 7 it is effectively a because it is effectively a lawless war zone over there. lawless war zone ever there. chinese syndicates lawless war aene ever there. chinese syndicates can the chinese syndicates can pretty freely, in operate pretty freely, in collaboration with the armed militias that control that territory. people going into them in large numbers all over them in large numbers all over the world, young people looking forjobs, promised high—paid for jobs, promised high—paid jobs, forjobs, promised high—paid jobs, only needing english or other skills. the way other language skills. the way in which people operate in buildings is tats at tots at torture iots oii torture and �*abuse. �*a7buse. they �* abuse. they are �*a7buse. they are held other abuse. they are held there for at least a �* and a there for at least a year and a half, sometimes longer. that is half, sometimeslonger. that is beginning to stop, because all beginning to stop, because of this thai action. we are now

in a position where of in a position where some of these scam centres, and we these scare centres. and we — .- ..- this is these scant centres. and we — .- ..- this is one of them, are think this is one of them, are now being workers. as they are being emptied. _ workers. as they are being emptied, what _ workers. as they are being emptied, what is _ workers. as they are being | emptied, what is happening workers. as they are being - emptied, what is happening to those people? how are they being repatriated to where they from? and that is a roblem. slowly. and that is a problem. you can't go out through myanmar, and it's almost mvanmar ans t=air"e=t ~ to get from here, impossible to get from here, even that is in myanmar, even though that is in myanmar, to areas like the main city of it's a three day yangon, it's a three day through the middle �*a fidl’ iti’itfil' zone. war zone. access is onit; = -7 �*the7th7ai7bord7e7r7. 7 7 �*the7th7ai7bord7e7r7. we7 everthe thai berder. we think . . . were 8000 people who have there wefeigttttb people whoihave freed from the been freed from the scam centres, being held by the militia groups in improvised 27 very very crowded conditions. camps, very crowded conditions. they have to come over to to be processed, mm is takin an awful lon it is taking an awful long time. in the meantime, alarm about .. .-. .- bf . . 77 777 77 of7peo7ple 7 77 777 77 of people over conditions of people over there. the frenzy of construction

has now stopped. many have been trafficked and horribly mistreated. when asked, nearly last month, thailand cut fuel and power to start freeing the workers. and taken in by the thai army. i spoke to mike, an ethiopian stranded in myanmar with 400 we were sleeping on the floor.

i just want to go home. that is all i'm asking. for years, thailand has been accused of doing too little and human trafficking scams. of trapped workers. so many people from so many countries back to safety and back to their own homes. for the moment, thailand is reluctant to bring over more about sanitation and toilets. people are basically suffering

while they are waiting. many army also in this area, so if they will find me... we met a young bangladeshi man who escaped from a notorious he has come back to free 17 friends who are still there. electric shock torture. if not, electric shock. every week, we need to earn for them $5,000.

the civil war in myanmar has ignited an epidemic difficult to control. we expect 90 indonesians to cross the �* today, we expect 90 indonesians to cross the �*today, their cross the border today, their has been and have 7 777hst7e flights 7 7 77 77 7 777hst7e flights 7 7 777but 7 77 have flights but it they have flights home, but it is slow progress, first is slow progress, the first group in more than a week. there are people there. there are 8000 people there. there are 8000 people there. the concern is not health the concern is notjust health and safety, it's the concern is notjust health and safety, its people beginning to panic. some are talking about making their own way across, that's very dangerous, they might get shot at. some fear if they don't come over soon, the armed gr°u7p777s777 2. 5.755. e’lsi groups will not able support ips will not able support them7ll not able support them7and t able support them7and will able support them7and will push to support them and will push them back into scam thcnn bask inte the ram where they them bask inte the 2:am where they could face compounds where they could face �* punishment. thailand has bigger punishments thailand has acting, but even the started acting, but even the 8000 freed now are just a fraction of thought to fraction of 100,000 thought to be working in scam centres

—e 77 7 t7h7e7bo7rd7e7r.77 77 7 77 the7border. how across the border. how committed is thailand and china to eliminate the problem altogether from the border? that is not clear yet. jonathan, those numbers 7 100,000 thought to 77 there. 7 77 there. we 7 77 there. we heard 7 77 there. we heard from be over there. we heard from a victim from and 7 there.7tell us more ethiopian there. tell us more about the nationalities involved and what their countries are or not to countries are doing or not to get them back. is, countries are doing or not to get them back.— get them back. a lot from you get them back. a lot from - you have - get them back. a lot from - you have to - get them back. a lot from - - you have to remember, africa. you have to remember, these people are carrying thesgeggeople are carrying out online deception to iersuade --eole to over their money. 7 over their money.7language hand over their money. language are important, skills are very important, although they use a of ai although they use a lot of al to disguise them. a lot of african countries where english african seuntri'es where english spoken, south african ceuntries where english spoken, south asia, is spoken, south asia, places where jobs are very short. lots of because that is a of chinese because that is a big market the is of these countries have embassies in even have embassies in thailand. i be blunt, thailand. i will be blunt, some of the african countries are

to almost nothing to willing todo almost nothing to their willing todo alntost nothing to their own people. is help their own people. china is very proactive, but it's treating everyone who comes out treating everyone whecentes out a criminal, we have seen as a criminal, we have seen them zip tied with police escort is being taken off planes. the pretty sympathetic reception from some who may have been trafficked. 7 have been trafficked. it's7 well have been trafficked. it's a very mixed picture. thailand visit be with visit might be overwhelmed with what it has to deal with. jonathan, thank you. i you would like �*you would like to know more this story, jonathan has raboutrthis storyrjenathan has an extensive all 7 7al7l7777what7 7 7 7 al7i7777what7 has detailing all of what has happened. go to our website, also available on our mobile the vatican says pope francis is showing signs of improvement pope francis resumed work on wednesday after receiving the eucharist in the morning. the vatican also said the pope had a peaceful

receiving therapy. we simply cannot sustain, as a country, a $2 trillion deficit. the interest rate, just the interest on the national debt �* exceeds the defence now exceeds the defence department we are departmentsbending. we are over trillion on spending over $1 trillion on if this interest. if this continues, the country will become de the—cebntrv will besente de bankrupt. it's not an = 77 thihg,7it77 thing, it is an optional thing, it is an thing. has died at the age of 39.

after responding to an emergency call on wednesday. the us actress was best known for her roles in buffy the vampire slayer and gossip girl. business today next. hello. that has now cleared away, and the weather is quieting down for the next few days. with a risk of some frost and some mist and fog of the uk, parts of scotland.

but for most of us, lots of blue sky from the word go. and a few drizzly showers — they'll linger longest around 9—11 celsius our top temperature — so still not particularly warm, but it is just pushing we've got some mist and some fog that could be quite colder than that in the more rural spots. the sunshine has got a little bit more strength to it this time of year on the final day of winter on friday — that'll just start to burn away the mist and fog gradually through the course of friday morning. could keep some fogginess right into the afternoon, i think. there'll be light winds, there'll be some sunshine,

and a bit of fairweather cloud that bubbles up during friday afternoon. but it should feel pleasant enough with those sunny spells. now, into saturday, a weather front moves in from the northwest. it tends to fizzle out as it does so, reallyjust and fog, but that should clear away, so some sunny spells. half of the weekend as well. second weather front tries to nudge its way in from the northwest, bringing a cloudier, western isles seeing cloud increasing later in the day. for most of us, a similar day again — dry and settled, bye— bye.

the chinese app deepseek. and the president of the european comission will be in india from the united states. i'm steve lai.

nvidia reported solid results for both the last katie. new have been looking into the numbers in more detail. do numbers in more detail. what do they it suggests that the market is a little bit divided, there was good and bad news on the results. the three months that ended on the 26th of january. that a jump of 12% on the previous quarter — annual revenues were also up, rising tojust over