belgian capital to a parts of the belgian capital to a standstill. these are live pictures on the east streets of brussels right now. eu agriculture ministers are meeting to consider their response to the protests. benjamin netanyahu says an assault on rafah will go ahead. the un secretary—general says nothing can justify what he called the collective punishment of the palestinian people in gaza. israeli offensive on _ palestinian people in gaza. israeli offensive on the _ palestinian people in gaza. israeli offensive on the city _ palestinian people in gaza. israeli offensive on the city would - palestinian people in gaza. israeli offensive on the city would not. palestinian people in gaza. israeli i offensive on the city would not only be terrifying for more than a million palestinian civilians sheltering there, it would put the final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes. final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes-— final nail in the coffin of our aid rourammes. ~ ., ., ., u , .,, programmes. wrong and unacceptable, prime minister — programmes. wrong and unacceptable, prime minister rishi _ programmes. wrong and unacceptable, prime minister rishi sunak _ programmes. wrong and unacceptable, prime minister rishi sunak condemns l prime minister rishi sunak condemns comments from the suspended mp about london has near sadiq khan. —— london's may. i am lewis vaughan jones. welcome lewis vaughanjones. welcome to bbc news now. i'm going to take you

straight to brussels. these are live pictures on the streets. banners protesting and you can see a pile of tyres there. at various times piles of tyres have been on fire and police water cannon have been used to put them out so things police water cannon have been used to put them out so things looking relatively quiet. you can see the tractors in the background there. that street has been blocked off for a while now. it's a bit quieter, as i said. earlier we have tear gas, water cannon. lots and lots of tractors. this was a little bit earlier. you get a sense of what has been happening over the last few hours there. farmers particularly angry about eu bureaucracy, about four than free trade agreements, bringing in cheaper competition and god's —— foreign free—trade agreements. certain obligations being put on them in the green deal, effectively saying it is to earn to earn a decent decent living. those protesters out on the street in brussels. you may have noticed in

few weeks across lots of countries in europe. the latest from our correspondent, nick beake. this is one of the main streets in brussels, normally really, really busy at the sort of time you can see what the pictures today. completely choked with these tractors. the police have said that they think around 900 tractors of in brussels today, backed up all the way to the end. you can see the slogans, the banners. and let me just rental and talk you through what we've got here. this is the european commission here where there is a meeting today. this is where a lot of the farmers are now congregating. there has been various tires that have been set on fire today, excuse me. and, also, there have been some speeches that have been given. the farmers have come from notjust belgium but other parts of the european union. we talk to one guy from the czech republic. he said basically that he was being

undercut. the price of food coming into the european union was much lower and he hasn't been giving the support that he needs and that is a common concern that a lot of people have. just look over the bridge here because you can see a bit of a stand—off. but noise you can hear is firecrackers and that's been sort of a constant noise all through this morning. but you can stand there and, earlier, one tractortried morning. but you can stand there and, earlier, one tractor tried to bash through a police barricade and the smoke in the air is a combination of some of the firecracker set off and also tear gas has been used by the police today. this is a sense of what's happening today, lewis. studio: nick, thank you so much. really, really interesting to get that walk around, again, sense of the geography and exactly what is happening now. if you an idea of the seriousness. took me that the politics and what is the resolution solution here. —— talk to me a bit about the politics. the simple fact is, this sort of action which is the latest in a series of protests does seem to be working because we have seen a

number of concessions that you have recently. if you look at me here this is where the commission is based make the decisions for the european union. they're saying they are going to either delay or postpone some extra environmental things that were coming in, environmental policies. that's up there. you can actually see the police water cannon that was used a little bit earlier to put out some of the tyres that were set on fire. in terms of the politics, there have been some concessions made. also, a reduction of an idea that farmers had to use some of their land and basically keep it aside to encourage biodiversity. so i think this is an acknowledgement from the powers that be here and in other countries across europe that they need to listen to farmers. eh, because they are causing. case in the city today and elsewhere, clogging up motorways and elsewhere, clogging up motorways and all the rest of it. but, also, the opinion polls suggest that broadly the public support the farmers and don't believe that they have had a fair deal of it. of course, some people say that the mini years now farmers right across

europe benefited from subsidies and other incentives and actually they shouldn't be complaining in this way. studio: nick they're giving us an idea of a flavour of some of the demands on the streets of brussels. farmers also out right now in madrid in spain. this is the live feed there. we have seen hundreds of people out in tractors there. some of the same concerns they have been voicing. and also about life right now, of response in part from the politicians. they have been meeting in brussels to try and consider some of the demands of the farmers and give some kind of a response. they've spoke bitterly about the need to reduce the administrative burden, basically cut a bit of bureaucracy on farmers. let's take a quick listen in and get a flavour of what they're talking about now. it flavour of what they're talking about "ow-— flavour of what they're talking about nova— flavour of what they're talking about now. , ., ., ., about now. it is leading to a bad situation on _ about now. it is leading to a bad situation on the _ about now. it is leading to a bad situation on the european - about now. it is leading to a bad| situation on the european market about now. it is leading to a bad - situation on the european market so the best way would be to support ukraine in transit and transport to

seaports and then send products to the countries where ukraine has always traditionally sent their products. that would be the best way. what we need for that is also a positive approach by ukraine, some cooperation. what i miss a bit is ukraine to implement this kind of system. so ukraine's attitude is very important here as well. our ukrainian partners need to understand the situation farmers. no market can sustain this kind of increase of imports in such a short time. that's what happened. the problems are notjust for polish or romanian or hungarian farmers now. i have talked to french farmers, they are also really concerned. they produce a loss of cereals. problems

for animal production perhaps smaller. perhaps with the exception of chickens. hope all three. ukraine actually imports a lot of products from europe and other sectors —— perhaps with the exception of chickens and poultry. we do need some order in the straight that it can proceed normally. —— we do need some order in this trade. we are hearing just some of the concerns of some of the measures being looked at there. interestingly they have a fervent ukrainian going there. we saw protest in poland about that coming off the effectively cheaper and therefore putting their own livelihoods at risk. —— about that coming across the border. interesting domination of country specific concerns as well as more broad, general ones way eu policies were impacted. we saw farmers out in the streets in the register member

to go. our correspondent guy hedge co is there as well. talk is that what has been happening there in the register member to go. our correspondent guy hedge co is there as well. talk is that what has been happening there in last couple of outs. weight the protest here is now wrapping up. it outs. weight the protest here is now wrapping lip-— outs. weight the protest here is now wrapping up— wrapping up. it probably see a lot ofthe wrapping up. it probably see a lot of the farmers _ wrapping up. it probably see a lot of the farmers here _ wrapping up. it probably see a lot of the farmers here in _ wrapping up. it probably see a lot of the farmers here in their- wrapping up. it probably see a lot| of the farmers here in their yellow vests walking back along this big central avenue in madrid towards buses they are going to take in—depth farms and homes. earlier this morning, they gathered at the ministry of agriculture just round the corner from here and then made their way along the street up to the spanish offices of the european commission and the scenes here were much tema, i think, then the scenes we have been singing brussels this morning and really weren't many violent incidents but i think the fact they have been protesting outside the agriculture ministry and either paying commission offices reflects how farmers in spain are aiming their grievances at both national government here in spain

and also the european union. —— they were also protesting outside european commission offices. they won their own government to represent them and take a strong stance in their favour before russell's distract they want their government to represent them. particularly today when the agriculture ministers meeting. studio: we have been seeing these protests right across europe, not just in madrid where we are seeing on the streets today. it is this combination and difficult matter of local issues with particular farm structures in the country but also this european wide concerned about things like the bureaucracy. that's right. a lot of agreements of the spanish farmers are shared by french, german, polish and italian farmers as well. those grievances tend to focus on the european regulation issues, environmental controls, health controls. i think

they'll share those concerns and fear perhaps they are being undercut by countries outside the european union. here in spain, there are some other specific of his release farmers. for example, the drought thatis farmers. for example, the drought that is affecting many parts of the country, particularly the northeast where a state of emergency has been called. they want the spanish government to take direct immediate measures to help them with regards to that drought as they say having an immediate impact on their harvest and impact on prices for the consumer. they have very specific concerns under display as well. studio: thank you very much for that. we have been hearing from the united nations secretary anthony could ever say nothing can justify what he called the collective punishment of the palestinian people in gaza, specifically talking about rafah, of

course. let's ta ke take a listen to his comments. rafah is the core of — take a listen to his comments. rafah is the core of the _ take a listen to his comments. rafah is the core of the humanitarian - is the core of the humanitarian operation and unrwa is the backbone of that efforts and all of the israeli —— an all—out is really offensive in the city would not only be terrifying for more than a million palestinian civilians sheltering there, you could put the final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes. {lit course we heard again from benjamin netanyahu, israeli prime minister talking about the proposed ground offensive by israeli troops in rafah saying that that will go ahead. let's get the latest from a middle east correspondent, jenny hill. we have heard what we've already heard, if you like, from benjamin netanyahu insisting that he will still plod on with those plans for a major ground offensive in the southern city of rafah. he says that evenif southern city of rafah. he says that even if there's a ceasefire deal, it would simply delay his plans. he, of course, has claimed that there are

battalions of hamas fighters holed up battalions of hamas fighters holed up in a city hiding among the civilian population and he says that she has to send his troops into, in effect, when the war, finish the job. what's interesting is that we now understand that the main draw israeli military have put forward a plan to ministers detailing how they intend to get civilians out of harms way before the ground offensive begins but we have no details whatsoever of this plan. and israel has insisted repeatedly it will move civilians to safety without giving details and that's causing enormous concern to international aid agencies, while warning of the dire consequences of such a ground attack. israel doesn't appear, as far as we can see, to be making physical preparations at this stage, eitherfor physical preparations at this stage, either for the physical preparations at this stage, eitherfor the ground physical preparations at this stage, either for the ground offensive oh, actually, to move people. which is giving some pause for thought. but benjamin netanyahu's stated position

is a source of huge concern to foreign governments, two and, of course, we've heard dire warnings in recent weeks about notjust course, we've heard dire warnings in recent weeks about not just the threat to life and palestinian civilians from israeli air strikes and ongoing fighting across the strip but also the humanitarian situation on the ground, particularly in the north of gaza where it's very difficult to get a clue to people and there are concerns about malnutrition and, indeed, perhaps imminent famine. thanks tojenny hill for that. in another development, the palestinian government which rules parts of the west bank has admitted its resignation to its president made a bass. he spent his decision saying the new reality and gaza required a consensus among palestinian people about political arrangements following the israel hamas wall. it comes as pressure grows from the united states on masse made a bass

that a political structure that can rule after the war. we spoke to the head of the fatah party which holds office in the west bank and ask him why the government has resignation. we have talked about the importance — resignation. we have talked about the importance of _ resignation. we have talked about the importance of rearranging - resignation. we have talked about the importance of rearranging the| the importance of rearranging the palestinian scene, as it were, and when there is consensus among palestinians for the day after, preparing ourselves for opening a debate within palestinian ranks. and, as you quite rightly put it, to prepare a government that is ready to engage in state building after this war with the hope the international community would live up international community would live up to its promise of fulfilling the palestinian operations by recognising an independent palestine. d0 recognising an independent palestine.— recognising an independent palestine. ~ ., ., palestine. do you know what matt abbas is waiting _ palestine. do you know what matt abbas is waiting for? _ palestine. do you know what matt abbas is waiting for? what - palestine. do you know what matt abbas is waiting for? what his - abbas is waiting for? what his decision will be when exactly it will be talking about the new structure ready to look forward to be in place? i’m structure ready to look forward to be in place?— structure ready to look forward to be in place? i'm not sure whether ou are be in place? i'm not sure whether you are referring _ be in place? i'm not sure whether you are referring to _ be in place? i'm not sure whether you are referring to a _ be in place? i'm not sure whether you are referring to a bass - be in place? i'm not sure whether you are referring to a bass of - you are referring to a bass of referring to benjamin netanyahu

since he is the one conducting the war. —— if you are referring to mahmoud abbass. there will be new government. this government, a caretaking government, will have five weeks ahead of it to form a new government to replace it. we'll wait and see how things develop with the hope that before ramadan, which is due on the 10th of march, there will be a total cessation of hostilities that was not going to pave the ground for different future. are that was not going to pave the ground for different future. are you confident that _ ground for different future. are you confident that will _ ground for different future. are you confident that will happen - ground for different future. are you confident that will happen with - ground for different future. are you confident that will happen with thatj confident that will happen with that deadline of ramadan, that there will be a substation of the hostilities before then? —— cessation of the hostilities. irate before then? -- cessation of the hostilities-— before then? -- cessation of the hostilities. , ,, ., , , hostilities. we 'ust know because we 'ust heard hostilities. we just know because we just heard from _ hostilities. we just know because we just heard from benjamin _ hostilities. we just know because we just heard from benjamin netanyahuj just heard from benjamin netanyahu that he is going ahead with his plans in rafah and this secretary general has expressed concerns but who cares? netanyahu does not care, does not give a damn what the world is thinking in is acting well beyond

and above international law. so there is... time if this operation is going to be conducted in rafah according to what is leaked out of the israeli covenant is going to take weeks. nobody knows. as far as what is consent, we will get government support and be ready with a new government.— a new government. thanks to dr sabri saidam for that. _ another person says the changes to the palestinian offers you an important step. talking to my colleague christine fraser. i think transformation of the pa is an important step. it needs to happen. it also represents what needs to be happening which the president has been asking for this to deal with civilian casualties and the whole overall approach of the world. ., . .

world. you watch the full interview with john kerry _ world. you watch the full interview with john kerry on _ world. you watch the full interview with john kerry on the _ world. you watch the full interview with john kerry on the context - world. you watch the full interview with john kerry on the context in i withjohn kerry on the context in bbc news. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. let's look at some of the story is making the news now. a study by the resolution foundation has found people in their early 20s are more likely to take time off work because of illness than those in their 405. the think tank says mental health is a particular concern the think tank says mental health is of particular concern, with around a third of 18 to 24 year olds reporting they have conditions such a5 as anxiety or depression. the home office 5aid as anxiety or depression. the home office said more than 290 people crossed in small boats on sunday. this is the highest daily number more than three months. up to 358 people crossed and jenny the seventh. railservices people crossed and jenny the seventh. rail services across sussex and surrey have been severely disrupted due to a major signalling fault. ourfailure in the early hours of monday has caused delays and cancellations to southern and

thames link services. thames link said they expected the disruption between east croydon and brighton to continue between three and 10pm. your life with bbc news. a bit of politics here in uk now. unacceptable and wrong is how the prime minister has described remarks from the former deputy chairperson anderson which sparked a row over islamophobia. lee anderson claimed the mayor of london sadiq khan was controlled by islamist and when he refused to apologise he was suspended from the conservative party. in a statement to gb news anderson repeated that he won't apologise for the remarks. labour has accused the tories are repeatedly failing to tackle islamophobia. labour leader keir starmer was asked about the edison's comments a little earlier. i think this is straightforward. it's islamophobia and the prime minister should call it out for what it is.

the reason he won't is because he is so linked. they are divided, they are chaotic and if they are re—elected we are going to have five more years of this. it is only labour now that can unite the country, bring people together, turn a page on this and actually usher in the sort of society, the sort of future that people desperately want for the prime minister lacks the strength. he's to week. he can't call it out for what it is. that's how weak he is. mr call it out for what it is. that's how weak he is.— call it out for what it is. that's how weak he is. mr anderson will a- roach how weak he is. mr anderson will approach this _ how weak he is. mr anderson will approach this morning. _ how weak he is. mr anderson will approach this morning. let's - how weak he is. mr anderson will approach this morning. let's take how weak he is. mr anderson will i approach this morning. let's take a look. on anderson, do you accept your comments were racist for your party? mranderson? so that your comments were racist for your party? mr anderson? so that was a lee andersonjust a party? mr anderson? so that was a lee anderson just a few hours ago. let's speak now to a few hours ago. let's speak now to a few hours ago. let's speak now to a few hours ago. let's speak now to our political correspondent damian grammaticas.

damian, talk us through what is going on here. what you see other source of spill—over tensions inflamed by that war in gaza spilling over. you have had in recent days still to focus on anti—semitism in the labour party now in the last few days there is focus on islamophobia in conservative ranks and what you heard their hair from the labour leader sir keir starmer, this call on rishi sunak to do more because. you had those comments come at the end of last week from lee anderson who used to be the deputy chair of the conservative party, put into that position by rishi sunak. mr anderson resigned from that post in a sort of... because he didn't agree with mr sunak on some issues of handling migration policy. that was a month or so ago. it was not known for his outspoken views. on friday, he made these comments on the tv

show here is where he said the mayor of london, sadiq khan, who was a muslim, he said he had handed over control of the capital to his mates and that has caused this sort of storm of criticism. mr anderson suspended by the party has refused to apologise today. he won't apologise at the weekend. that was not why he was suspended. he is renewed that refusaljust today saying when you think you are right you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness. then he says that siddique can the mayor of london should have been the first to call for the pro—palestinian matches in london to be cancelled and says it is a double standard for political benefit. he said his words may been clumsy but

were born out of sheer frustration. the labour party are saying this is a clear case of islamophobia, racism targeting sadiq khan because he is a muslim. they say the prime minister needs to address that point. rishi sunak said the comments were wrong and unacceptable but not label them as islamophobia.— and unacceptable but not label them as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank ou as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very — as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very much _ as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very much for _ as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very much for that. _ as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very much for that. we - as islamophobia. damian grammaticas, thank you very much for that. we are i thank you very much for that. we are going to take you to hungry now. over the last couple of hours, parliament has been talking about something pretty significant, expecting to ratify sweden as a nato member. a potential moment of history there. it is widely expected to happen now. it significant because sweden asked a couple of years ago to join and this is now will be the last hurdle in a way do make hurdle in a way tojump over. following russia's invasion of ukraine in 2022 sweden and finland asked tojoin nato. but nato works by consensus, meaning every member must agree

to invite an aspiring country to join and turkey and hungary withheld their approval. they gave finland the green light in april of 2023 but sweden's route has taken longer. hungary has been the last of the 31 nato allies holding out. its nationalist government, led by viktor orban, had been blocking sweden's membership claiming its politicians unfairly criticised its democratic standards. but the government is now recommending approval of sweden's application. mr viktor mrviktororban mr viktor orban has now called on parliament to ratify sweden joining. we can speak now to the former swedish diplomat who is director of the stockholm centre face in european studies. thank you much for coming on the programme. how significant a moment as this? of course, this is a very historic moment for sweden, giving up its military none alliance after 210 years. i now also finally after

almost two years being able to join nato. almost two years being able to 'oin nato. ~ ., almost two years being able to 'oin nato. . . w . almost two years being able to 'oin nato. ~ . ., ., , . almost two years being able to 'oin nato. . ., ., ., ' . ., nato. what actual real difference to think it makes _ nato. what actual real difference to think it makes in _ nato. what actual real difference to think it makes in the _ nato. what actual real difference to think it makes in the real— nato. what actual real difference to think it makes in the realworld? i think it makes in the real world? image is a huge difference of course to be a former member of the alliance of political elite like—minded and to be at the decision—making table together with finland —— and alliance of the politically like—minded. in finland -- and alliance of the politically like-minded. in terms of ukraine where _ politically like-minded. in terms of ukraine where supports _ politically like-minded. in terms of ukraine where supports ukraine? | ukraine where supports ukraine? where does that leave the status of russia? talk to me that the geopolitics of all this. sweden has consistently _ geopolitics of all this. sweden has consistently since _ geopolitics of all this. sweden has consistently since february - geopolitics of all this. sweden has consistently since february 2022 l consistently since february 2022 been one of the strongest supporters of military support for ukraine and other support and the population is one of the strongest if not the stronger support in europe for ukraine and the will of course continue now once it is a nato

member. one has to remember that the military support ukraine is formally not going through nato but through a process with more than 50 countries at the table so that won't change that much but of course it will increase coordination. of course, this is not something that russia had hoped for and they tried to stop further eu enlargement in december 2021 so from the russian point of view of course this is counter—productive. view of course this is counter-productive. view of course this is counter-roductive. �* . . counter-productive. i'm afraid, fredrik lojdquist, _ counter-productive. i'm afraid, fredrik lojdquist, we're - counter-productive. i'm afraid, fredrik lojdquist, we're out. counter-productive. i'm afraid, fredrik lojdquist, we're out of| counter-productive. i'm afraid, - fredrik lojdquist, we're out of time to think very much for coming on the programme. stay with us. headlines going up. other business news coming up going up. other business news coming up as well in just a couple of minutes. i'm lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news. hello there.

good afternoon. still rather blustery today towards the south of the uk, but there is a lot of dry weather around, especially in the west. lots of blue skies, sunshine here today in swansea, as recorded by our weather watcher. further east, although there will still be some sunny spells, expect to see some showers blow in from the north sea. there's more of the same as we head through the rest of the afternoon too. some of these showers making their way as far west as eastern areas of wales. but across western scotland, northern ireland, western wales and the south—west of england it is largely dry. a bit of wind chill to factor into those temperatures towards north sea facing coast with a brisk north—easterly wind. it will feel a little colder than this out towards the east. highs between seven and ten degrees celsius. the strong winds across the channel islands eventually easing down as we head through the evening. overnight tonight, a couple of weather fronts just approaching the far north—west of scotland, northern ireland, north—west england. high pressure topples further southwards. here the winds will lighten and there will be some fog patches developing into tomorrow morning. for many a touch of frost, but temperatures will rise slightly as we head through the small hours of tomorrow morning. we'll start the day off with many of our temperatures just slightly above freezing. the fog lingering on across

south—east england and then gradually clearing away. this weather front gradually slipping further southwards and eastwards bringing some outbreaks of rain, but gradually petering out as it comes into the area of high pressure. behind it the skies will brighten again towards the north and the west, but expect to see a few showers, possibly a bit wintry over the higher ground. as we head through tuesday and into wednesday another warm front approaches. so, again, a touch of frost for many on tuesday night into wednesday. this weather front is going to drag behind it some milder—feeling air, but it's quite a wet start to the day across western scotland, northern ireland, down through western wales, north—west england. drier and likely to stay dry for much of the day further east, with again some hazy sunshine, but clouding over. we'll see temperatures creep back up again into double figures as that milder air starts to take hold. then, as we head through thursday, colder air follows behind the second weather front that's going to sweep in from the west again. some of the showers on thursday could turn a bit wintry, particularly over the higher ground, but there'll also be some spells of brightness and sunshine too. the milder hangs on in the south and the east. bye— bye.

fairwarning. ryanairsays passengers will face higher prices this summer because of delays of aircraft maker boeing. and a red sea crisis. a third of uk firms now say they are affected by the shipping disruption in a vital trade route. hello, you are with world business report, i am hello, you are with world business report, iam ben hello, you are with world business report, i am ben thompson and we're going to start this hour with your�*s biggest airline, budget carrier ryanair because the boss is warning passengers should expect more expensive fares this summer. michael o'leary says the price of tickets could be up to 10% higher compared with last year because the company is struggling to get hold of new planes. he is blaming the late delivery of some boeing aircraft, which will affect the number of available seats. jones reports. after what has been a very wet and windy winter, it is hardly

surprising that the thoughts of