the afternoon in throughout the afternoon in protest against the government's family farm tax. we've got reporters on the ground and we are speaking to farmers throughout the show, and a day of celebration in the middle east as four female israeli hostages are handed to the red cross. it's the second group freed by hamas since a ceasefire was agreed. and we've been seeing scenes of joy and jubilation. we will be there, live on the ground, bringing you that breaking story and the face of pure evil. we will be discussing the story that's dominated the headlines for the past week. the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing of axel rudakubana, who faces 52 years in prison. calls grow for a law to change, to allow under—eighteens to be given whole life sentences in exceptional circumstances. i don't want to look at that boy's picture any more, to be honest with you. i'd rather look at the

happy, smiling, innocent faces of those little girls who are no longer with us, god rest their soul. anyways, i'm dawn neesom and this is the weekend. and it starts right here and now. so thank you for joining me this saturday afternoon. i really appreciate your company. it's been a very hard week on so many levels hasn't it. so there is lots to get through in today's show. so much to unpack from the week, but also some some good stuff we're talking about as well. so do stay with us. it's going to be a very, very busy show and it is indeed nothing without you and your views. so let me know your thoughts on all the stories we'll be discussing today by visiting gbnews.com/yoursay and join in our conversation. i have a brilliant panel and they're staying with me all afternoon. slight tweak to the show today, a brand new format so you really don't miss anything. keeping me

company today is political journalist and commentator for novara media, michael walker , novara media, michael walker, and former reform uk deputy leader ben habib. thank you very much for joining leader ben habib. thank you very much forjoining me, gentlemen. but before we get stuck into today's stories, let's get those news headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> john, thank you and good afternoon. the top stories four female israeli hostages have been released by terror group hamas today. they're now back in israel. the girls took to stage in gaza city square, where crowds of people cheered surrounded by armed hamas fighters. all four of the girls were guided to red cross vehicles, waiting to take them to a border to be handed to the idf, and we do now know that they have been handed over. they were all wearing military uniform. israel has now reportedly released 70 palestinian prisoners. as many as 200 are set to be released today. it's the second such

exchange since the ceasefire began last weekend. the first wave saw three israeli hostages released, including british israeli emily damari. and some breaking news this hour that west yorkshire police says three teenagers, 118 and two aged 19, have all died after a car hit a tree near wakefield yesterday evening. more on this breaking story just as soon as we get it. elsewhere, heavy rain and strong winds could bring flooding to parts of the uk this weekend after the severe effects of storm eowyn. up storm eowyn. up to 80mm of rainfall could be seen in parts of england and wales, with several amber and yellow warnings issued by the met office over today and tomorrow. it comes after winds reached 100mph yesterday as that storm left one person dead. he

has been named today as kasper dudek. more than a million people have been left without power. it's caused significant travel disruption across the uk and in ireland. network rail scotland has said nearly 400 incidents of damage had been found, including more than 120 reports of fallen trees today, though network rail gave an update saying most of its network is now up and running. in other news, farmers from across the uk are staging a national day of unity as tractors prepare to be in convoy throughout britain in a bid to protect the sector. it comes as pressure is mounting on the government to halt the controversial family farm tax that could see some forced to sell their land to foot the bill. the national farmers union warned that many farmers were at breaking point and couldn't afford increased bills. elsewhere, a former actor who was released from prison in error as part of the early release scheme, has been convicted of assaulting his partner the day after he was

freed. jason hodgkinson, who starred in the 1987 film empire state, was one of around 1700 prisoners who walked free on the 10th of september last year as part of the government's plan to ease overcrowding in prisons. but the 53 year old was one of 37 inmates who were released by mistake when the scheme was rolled out. he was photographed giving a thumbs up as he left hmp durham after serving half of an 18 month sentence for assaulting his ex—partner and breaching a restraining order. in other news, wh smith is reportedly in secret talks to sell its entire high street business in britain more than 230 years after it opened its first shop in central london. the company's high street arm comprises roughly 500 stores, employing around 5000 people across the country. wh smith will reportedly confirm the plan to the london stock exchange on monday morning. the us state

department has ordered a freeze on new funding for almost all american foreign development assistance, following an executive order issued by donald trump hours after taking office on monday. the us president ordered a 90 day pause in us funded global projects pending a review of their efficiency and to check they're consistent with his foreign policy. secretary of state marco rubio's directive includes excludes funding for emergency food programs and military aid to israel and egypt. however, it remains to be seen whether it'll affect the flow of vital us military assistance to ukraine to help it fend off russia's invasion. around £3 billion in funding for future arms shipments to ukraine authorised by the us congress remains, but it's unclear whether mr trump will decide to spend it or not, and that order has been criticised by humanitarian officials because it didn't exclude life saving health programmes. and buckingham palace has released a

photograph of the king ahead of burns night tonight. that photograph, which has been posted on the royal family's x account, shows his majesty in the library at balmoral castle. dressed in the traditional tartan skirt and the caption wishing those celebrating a very happy burns night is also included. and those are the latest gb news headlines for now. more news from me in half an hour. >> for the very latest gb news direct to your smartphone, sign up to news alerts by scanning the qr code or go to gbnews.com/alerts. >> thank you very much, tatiana. right before we get stuck into today's stories, as i said, we have got a really busy show, so thank you for your company. you don't want to move a muscle because it is absolutely packed, but i want to start by reading off a message from one of you because i could not agree with you more. this is from andrew

andrew paddon. sorry mark crawford. mark crawford says that picture of that scumbag and we all know which one you're talking about chills me to the bone.i talking about chills me to the bone. i just can't see or look at it anymore. and mark, i am 100% with you. as the former editor of a national newspaper. i don't want to see his picture on page one anymore. i want to see and remember those beautiful, innocent little girls smiling out at me. so i will make my best effort not to show you that picture anymore. because we don't need to see him or even remember his name. it's not about him. what he did was evil. nothing else. okay, right. let's get straight on to today's story because farmers again across the nation are staging a national day of unity as tractors gather throughout britain in a bid to protect their sector. it comes as pressure is mounting on the government to halt the controversial family farm tax that could see some, in fact, many, forced to sell their land to foot that bill. well, joining

us now from selby abbey is gb news yorkshire and humber reporter anna riley. anna, thank you for joining reporter anna riley. anna, thank you forjoining us reporter anna riley. anna, thank you for joining us today. another very important day for farmers raising their voices once again. gb news right behind him. most of the country behind them. is the government taking any notice? what's happening with you today? >> good afternoon don. well, we're here in selby for their national day of unity. many farmers have gathered here today. we've got the beautiful backdrop of selby abbey. we've got a turnout backdrop of selby abbey. we've got a t