a spokesman for rishi sunak says visually made by conservative donor frank hester about the diane abbott were racist and wrong, but he has rightly apologised for the offence caused. —— comments made by. the uk calls for answers from israel after a bbc report shows medical staff at a hospital in gaza being beaten and humiliated. gang violence and political turmoil continue to grip haiti. aid agencies say the situation in the capital, port au prince, is desperate. also coming up on the world today: surf's up. thrill seekers ride a five star title wave, a natural phenomenon. welcome to the world today, an hour of international news from the bbc.

a spokesman for the uk prime minister rishi sunak says comments allegedly made by major conservative donor frank hester about the mp diane abbott were racist and wrong, but he was rightly apologised for the offence caused. the guardian newspaper claims frank esther said miss abbott made him want to hate all black women and that she should be shot —— frank hester. he has admitted he was rude about her in a private meeting five years ago but insisted his comments had nothing to do about her gender or skin colour. miss abbott has reported him to the parliamentary liaison investigations team which was set up after the murder of another mp, jo cox, in 2016. she said, to and frightening. —— she said the comments were worrying and frightening. chris mason has the story. diane abbott is a political pioneer.

first elected nearly a0 years ago, she was the first black woman mp. whatever else happens after this, i think nobody can take this moment away from the black community. what did happen after that is she rose to bejeremy corbyn�*s shadow home secretary after being subjected to year after year of abuse, which multiplied in the era of social media. now, the guardian reports that frank hester, a multimillionaire donor to the conservative party, said this in 2019... the bbc has not independently verified that mr hester, seen here on the right with david cameron in 2016, said this, but he is not denying it. ..a statement claimed.

"rubbish," said this cabinet minister, kemi badenoch. the comments as reported were racist, she said, adding that there should be forgiveness where there is contrition. a cabinet colleague had a rather different take. the critical point here is i don't think what he was saying was a gender—based or race—based comment, but it was clearly inappropriate, he has apologised and i think we need to move on from that. diane abbott said the reported remarks from mr hester were worrying, frightening, alarming. her friend lady chakrabarti agreed. i'm anxious and upset on her behalf. i think she's incredibly brave — she's braver than i am and she's one of the bravest people i know. but i think we also reflect on where our politics is. nearly a quarter of the way into the 21st century, this is not where i thought

we would be. i think we've taken a step backwards. this is frank hester. he built up a computer company from scratch in leeds, designing software for the health service. he once trained to be a priest and has an 0be for services to the nhs. he donated £10 million to the conservatives last year but tonight he's at the centre of a growing storm of anger and condemnation. they�* re clearly racist and they're clearly sexist, and i think diane abbott was right to point out the call to violence, even in a flippant way, is really inappropriate. so they were really stupid remarks. i don't know that they were said, because i haven't had independent corroboration. diane abbott has now reported frank hester�*s alleged comments to the police. that was chris mason, our political editor. live now to our political

correspondent, hannah miller. earlier on we had a whole load of ministers during the immediate rounds, refusing to say the word racist or racism, and yet now, at 6pm in the evening or thereabouts, the premise or came out with those words. . ., , , ., the premise or came out with those words. . . , , ., ., words. yeah, it has been a real shift in the _ words. yeah, it has been a real shift in the last _ words. yeah, it has been a real shift in the last half-hour- words. yeah, it has been a real shift in the last half-hour so i shift in the last half—hour so from downing street, as you say can after a day of refusing to use the word racist. now coming out and saying that. in the last half—hour they released a statement saying that the comments allegedly made by frank hester were racist and wrong. he has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown, it should be accepted. the prime minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life and is the first british asian prime minister leaving one of the most ethnically diverse cabinets in our history, the uk is a living proof of that fact. there is no suggestion, though, in that statement that he will be giving the donations back, and i suspect that that is where the focus will now really shift.

0pposition parties have been calling for that money to be given back all day and that is the kind of question that remains unanswered by the statement that we have just received. i don't imagine it is a question that will die down any time soon. as for diane abbott, as you heard there, she has reported the alleged remarks to police, to a unit called the parliamentary liaison and investigation team, over specifically the alleged comments that she should be shot of that is a unit at the met police that was set “p unit at the met police that was set up after the murder ofjo cox, and mp, in 2016. they are understood to be assessing what is alleged to have happened here and we would expect an update in due course on that, but this is a row that has certainly moved on in the last half—hour with that statement from downing street, but not one that is likely to

suddenly disappear. but not one that is likely to suddenl disa ear. . . . ~ suddenly disappear. hannah, thank ou. let's speak to nicola rollock, professor of social policy and race at king's college london. and also author of the book the racial code. it is good to have you on the world today. let me get your reaction first of all to what you've been hearing the last 12 hours. goad been hearing the last 12 hours. good evenina. been hearing the last 12 hours. good evening. actually _ been hearing the last 12 hours. good evening. actually the _ been hearing the last 12 hours. (13r>r>:c evening. actually the entire situation is atrocious. it is a bore and. —— abhorrent. the alleged comments from frank hester are racist and misogynistic and most concerning of all they condone violence against an individual, and in this case, a black woman. it should not have taken our prime minister, and ijust heard the news this evening, but this long to make a very clear statement about the fact of racism.

this throws up the question of how black people, especially like women, are treated in this country. it is not only within the realms of politics but beyond that. where do you thing we are in terms of race relations in this country? we you thing we are in terms of race relations in this country?- relations in this country? we are regressing. _ relations in this country? we are regressing. and _ relations in this country? we are regressing, and it _ relations in this country? we are regressing, and it is _ relations in this country? we are regressing, and it is workable i regressing, and it is workable to have to say, but we are regressing. what we really need is strong and unequivocal political leadership and it comes to these issues —— it is unfortunate to say. i fear delays like but we saw today to call out these alleged comments from frank hester give the impression that the uk, and indeed our politicians, are taking a light touch approach to issues of race and racism, and let me say this. these comments have been reported just a few weeks, not even two full weeks, following the publication of the review, and a

year this month following the publication of the review by baroness casey. both of which examine issues of misogynist misogyny, in terms of culture, and violence against women, so these comments are of concern, yes, because of the concerns expressed by mps, the increased concerns expressed by mps about their safety, but also because we are in a climate where we should all collectively be championing and campaigning against any violence that is perpetuated by any violence that is perpetuated by any individual, not least against women and girls. and in terms of the final point which i really must underscore, the lack of political confidence, courage and leadership on these issues is really increasing

racial divisions in this society. it's dreadful.— racial divisions in this society. it's dreadful. ., , it's dreadful. professor, it is good to net it's dreadful. professor, it is good to get you — it's dreadful. professor, it is good to get you on _ it's dreadful. professor, it is good to get you on the _ it's dreadful. professor, it is good to get you on the programme. - it's dreadful. professor, it is good to get you on the programme. i l it's dreadful. professor, it is good - to get you on the programme. i thank you once again for taking the time to speak to us on the world today. thank you. the uk government has demanded answers from the israeli government after a report by the bbc showing medical staff in gaza being mistreated. medical staff have told the bbc they were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital duties after a raid at their hospital last month. they've said that some detainees were stripped, kept in stress positions for several hours or had muzzled dogs set upon them. israel said it occupied the nasser hospital site believing it was used by hamas and that severalfreed israeli hostages have said they were held there. you might find some parts of this report by wyre davies distressing. not for the first time in this war, israeli soldiers have been filmed standing over stripped and kneeling detainees in gaza. but these are medical staff,

detained after the israeli army overran the nasser hospital in khan younis. most of them are still held captive. for weeks, the medics had witnessed israel's military advance closing in around their hospital. the fighting in khan younis was fierce. thousands of people who'd sought refuge in the grounds fled under gunfire. what should have been a place of safety was completely the opposite. 0ne nurse was shot inside a hospital operating theatre through a window. another person shot at the main entrance. the hospital was under siege. on february the 15th, after giving warnings, israeli tanks overran the hospital. there were chaotic scenes as troops took control.

patients who'd been unable to evacuate were moved by medics from collapsing wards. israel says it found hamas weapons, also medication which they say supports accounts from israeli hostages that they were held there. in the idf�*s own footage, you can see that hospital patients had their hands zip tied, detained outside in their beds and wheelchairs. this was when troops also detained the medical personnel, more than 50 of them forced to leave their posts and remove their surgical clothing. israel says it did so in case there were concealed weapons, and that among the 200 arrested at nasser were terrorists posing as medics. dr amira assouli had remained at nasser throughout the siege, before the israeli incursion, risking her own neck to save lives, as people were shot inside the grounds. she later witnessed what happened to her fellow doctors.

translation: it was tough for us to see how the doctors, _ who had bravely stayed at the hospital despite the dangers, were stripped and beaten. their hands were tied behind them and they were left in the sun for hours. his hand broken in captivity, dr ahmed sabha is one of the very few medics to have since been released. he shows the positions they were forced to adopt for hours and says they were also tortured. translation: they forced us to kneel down with our eyes blindfolded. - there was a pit in the ground, and we thought they would execute us and bury us there. we said our prayers, but they were just intimidating us.

abhorrence israel says any abuse of detainees is against idf orders —— israel says any abuse of detainees is against idf orders and is strictly prohibited. but crucially, according to the hospital manager who dealt with the israelis during the raid, the detention of so many of his staff left his hospital woefully short of doctors. translation: eight doctors and 15 nurses were left - treating 250 patients. you can imagine the level of care we could give with no water or electricity in the hospital at that point. during this time, 13 patients and injured people died. the israeli army says it operated within nasser in a precise and focused manner and says it provided equipment enabling it to function and treat patients. but with the war continuing, and with more than a0 medics still detained or missing, the hospital has been closed for weeks. wyre davies, bbc news. the foreign secretary, lord cameron,

was asked in the house of lords about this report and he described it as "very disturbing". these are very disturbing pictures and reports that have come out from this hospital and we need to get to the bottom what exactly happened and we need answers from the israelis about that. and when we have those, then it'll be easier to comment. the us have also commented on the bbc�*s report. matthew miller, state department spokesperson, was asked about the report during a briefing and whether the us would raise the matter with the israeli government. the bbc reported yesterday regarding some medical staff from the nasser hospital in khan younis. they've interviewed three doctors, or three members of the staff, at that hospital who have given detailed accounts of their detention by israeli authorities. they told the bbc they were humiliated, beaten, doused with cold water, forced to kneel in uncomfortable positions for hours, one was set upon by a dog. i'm wondering, is that one of the specific cases you would raise with the israeli government?

i have only seen the report. i don't know if we've raised it, but i would expect that we would. it's the type of cases that we often raise with them, to seek more information and make clear, as we always have, that any detainees should be treated in strict compliance with international humanitarian law. let's just very briefly take you to some live pictures coming into us from bbc news. these are pictures of port—au—prince in haiti, a huge ongoing story there, protests are currently taking place across haiti against efforts to try and decide the country's future. this all the back of the event ignition of the prime minister ariel henry, who announced he is stepping down and that a transitional provincial council would be created —— the resignation of. gangs currently control 80% of the haitian capital. we spoke to an aid worker earlier in the show, about an hour or so ago, and she told me the situation is

absolutely desperate for many people there, especially in terms of food and schooling and fuel as well, so we will try and bring you more on that story later on in the show. still to come on the world today: a romanian court rules social media influence are entertained and his brother can be extradited to the uk on rape and human trafficking charges. surf is up on the river severn. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the rate of unemployment in the uk rose to 3.9% in the three months to january. that's up from 3.8% from the previous three months. the new labour market figures, released by the office for national statistics, also showed that more than a fifth of 16—to—64—year—olds in the uk were not actively looking for work.

cambridge university says it's working on a new plan that could drop its current quota for undergraduates coming from state schools. it says it plans to take into account a wider range of factors about a student's background, including whether applicants received free school meals. cambridge has faced criticism for admitting almost half of its students from london and the south—east. a tiktok star who used the platform to document her rare type of cancer has died at the age of 22. leah smith from merseyside suffered from ewing's sarcoma, which usually affects children and young people. more than half a million people followed herjourney on tiktok, which recorded her daily life living with the disease. you're live with bbc news. let's return to haiti. aid agencies say the situation in the capital, port au prince, is desperate, with the city under the control of armed gangs. gangs have tightened their grip on the streets and control the main roads in and out of the capital, port au prince. the whole region around the capital is under a month—long state of emergency,

while a curfew has been extended. some important things to bring you “p some important things to bring you up to date with. kenya has said it will pause its deployment of police officers, who were due to lead an international security mission in haiti. the united states played down kenya's announcement, saying a transition deal will bring a new government as sought by nairobi. let's speak to wolf pamphile, the founder and executive director of haiti policy house in washington. it is good to talk to you here on the world today. the situation there is looking ever more dire. it is true. is looking ever more dire. it is true- the _ is looking ever more dire. it is true. the gangs _ is looking ever more dire. it is true. the gangs have - is looking ever more dire. it 3 true. the gangs have consolidated their efforts, they are working together against the government at the moment, and i don't think it has ever been seen before, and also technology is playing a big role in the situation right now because the gangs are using drones to do surveillance on the police, and at the same time the police don't have the same time the police don't have the same time the police don't have

the same capability to do surveillance on the gangs themselves. the police are in a fishbowl with the gangs watching over them with drones.— fishbowl with the gangs watching over them with drones. we've 'ust heard the canyons i over them with drones. we've 'ust heard the canyons are i over them with drones. we've 'ust heard the canyons are not i over them with drones. we've just heard the canyons are not sending their force into haiti, heard the canyons are not sending theirforce into haiti, so where is theirforce into haiti, so where is the answer going to come from in bringing this city back into control —— the kenyans? the bringing this city back into control -- the kenyans?— -- the kenyans? the answer is already there. _ -- the kenyans? the answer is already there. the _ -- the kenyans? the answer is already there. the haitians - -- the kenyans? the answer is. already there. the haitians have been telling the authorities what should happen, they are listening at the worst time, when things are going the worst they have ever been, but the international community can definitely support haiti with technology at the moment while they are waiting for, if there is a force to go to haiti, but there's a lot of technological support the police could use to use against those gangs, like up—to—date intelligence, drones, whatever to ensure they can keep an eye on the gangs and monitor their... . , keep an eye on the gangs and monitor their... ., , , ., ., ., their... one last question i want to ask ou,

their... one last question i want to ask you. we _ their... one last question i want to ask you. we saw — their... one last question i want to ask you, we saw the _ their... one last question i want to ask you, we saw the prime - their... one last question i want to | ask you, we saw the prime minister stepping down, this is off the back of pressure from gangs inside haiti. does this not set a bad president? what happens if in the future the and intend 1015 years, this happens again if gangs don't like the prime minister? the again if gangs don't like the prime minister? ., , ., ., , minister? the gangs are from very impoverished _ minister? the gangs are from very impoverished neighbourhoods, - minister? the gangs are from very impoverished neighbourhoods, so| minister? the gangs are from very l impoverished neighbourhoods, so to address this, you have to address the social dynamics within haiti but within the society itself, to prevent younger men from signing onto these gangs, from joining those gangs, and actually treat a safer community, safer country, and that solution is within haiti and haitians have that solution. they need to have the right tools and technologies to take care of all that. . ~ technologies to take care of all that. ., ,, , ., ,., technologies to take care of all that. ., ,, i. ,., . technologies to take care of all that. ., ,, i. . ., that. ok, thank you so much for “oininr that. ok, thank you so much for joining us _ that. ok, thank you so much for joining us on _ that. ok, thank you so much for joining us on the _ that. ok, thank you so much for joining us on the world - that. ok, thank you so much for joining us on the world today. i that. ok, thank you so much for - joining us on the world today. thank ou ve joining us on the world today. thank you very much- _ joining us on the world today. thank you very much. let's _ joining us on the world today. thank you very much. let's leave _ joining us on the world today. thank you very much. let's leave wolf- joining us on the world today. thank you very much. let's leave wolf for. you very much. let's leave wolf for a second and _ you very much. let's leave wolf for a second and bring _ you very much. let's leave wolf for a second and bring you _ you very much. let's leave wolf for a second and bring you these - a second and bring you these live pictures and port—au—prince. you can see there there is something burning in the middle of the road, if we

take these drop—off we can see it a more clearly. the situation is desperate. we are hearing from aid agencies on the ground the people are desperately in need of food, of fuel and also at the moment controlled 80% by armed gangs. it must be an extremely frightening situation for people living in that city. of course, we will bring you the very latest from haiti throughout the day here on bbc news. the controversial social media influencer andrew tate and his brother tristan are one step closer to being extradited back to the uk after a romanian court today approved the move. the brothers are facing several allegations, including rape and human trafficking, spanning several years, allegations the tate brothers "categorically reject" according to their representative. lucy williamson reports. they've been here so many times to battle romania'sjudicial system. today, they were here to fight the uk's —

tristan in his trademark coat, andrew in a jacket emblazoned with his nickname, top g. after a night in custody, little swagger for the cameras. the ruling came quickly — extradition granted to face questions of rape and human trafficking in the uk, but not until after romania has itself tried them on similar, unrelated charges and, if found guilty, after any prison sentence has been served. both men have denied all the charges against them. released from police custody today but still under a travel ban, andrew tate gave his response. we are innocent men. we're very innocent man, and in time, everybody�*s going to see that and we're very excited to finish this judicial process and clear our names. andrew tate, once one of the world's most googled men, is adored by fans as a successful model of masculinity, seen by others as a dangerous influence.

females...are barely sentient. tate himself says he's absolutely a misogynist. it doesn't matter whether a woman wants to be a lawyer or a house—maker or a webcam girl. unless she has a man directing her, sh they're just not built to be completely independent creatures. tate says his comments are often misinterpreted, but police, teachers and women's rights groups say his influence is toxic. in the uk, some women have spoken publicly about their experience of meeting him, like evie — not her real name — who spoke to the bbc and is being voiced by an actress. there's enough evidence out there to show that, you know, these women that he's harmed do exist, so i think he needs tojust get a bit of a reality check and admit to what he's done.

the tates' lawyers said today both his clients were fully committed to the legal process. andrew tate, who once praised what he described as romania's more lenient approach to sexual assault claims, is now battling those claims in both romania and the uk. lucy williamson, bbc news. let's ta ke let's take you briefly back to haiti now on the world today, because these are the latest pictures we have got. we know gangs control 80% of the city and their protests and violence continuing as you can see from these pictures, despite the resignation of the prime minister ariel henry. we will bring you the very latest on what is happening in haiti and around the world on the world today with maryam moshiri after this short break. stay with us. hello there, good evening.

it's been another really quite wet day for many of us, particularly across england and wales. in fact, parts of south—east england have already seen their average march rainfall. we're not yet halfway through the month. a lot of saturated ground out there. and although the air is milder as we head through the rest of the week, there will be further spells of rain at times, especially in the north and the west. and if we just take a look at the rainfall accumulation chart for the rest of the week, most spots are in for another 20 to 30 millimetres, but parts of north—west england and north—west wales could see as much as 70 to 80 millimetres of rainfall, so it willjust add to the risk of localised flooding, and there are already plenty of flood warnings in place. that's also partly due to the spring tides yesterday and today. this was the situation earlier on, then, so this low pressure out towards the north—west of scotland just pushing these weather fronts further eastwards. but the rain has now cleared across parts of east anglia and kent. there will be another set of weather

fronts just pushing down from north—west scotland, through into north—west england and western wales, so turning really quite wet here. but ahead of the front, some very mild—feeling conditions, a lot of mist and nurk, but temperatures here may not drop out of double figures. it will be a mild start to the day across the board. and then on wednesday, our weather front is stalled across wales and into north—west england. to the north of the front, some sunshine, but some showers move in across north—west scotland later. gales across the north of scotland, with the low pressure centred here. further towards the south and the east, ahead of the front, there will be a lot of cloud. but given any brighter spells, temperatures could rise here in the milder—feeling air to 15, 16 degrees. now, as we head through wednesday night and into thursday, our weather fronts start to retreat further northwards again, bringing some further spells of possibly quite heavy rain across northern ireland, northern england and into southern scotland. again, some brighter skies towards the north of scotland, but a lot of cloud as well. a rash of heavy, thundery showers across wales, south—west england, gradually pushing further eastwards, but plenty of dry weather again for east anglia, parts of kent and sussex. given some brighter skies, we could see 16 or 17 degrees in all of that milder—feeling air.

but the colder air still across parts of northern ireland and scotland, and that's gradually going to sink a little further southwards as we head through friday. so we'll come into some slightly cooler—feeling conditions as we head into the start of the weekend, staying unsettled, more rain at times.

this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines. race row — a spokesman for rishi sunak says comments allegedly made by conservative donor frank hester about mp diane abbott were "racist and wrong" but he has "rightly apologised for the offence caused". the uk calls for answers from israel after a bbc report shows medical staff in gaza being beaten and humiliated at nasser hospital. haiti remains in the grip of gang violence and political turmoil, meanwhile there are hopes that a transitional council will be appointed within the next 48 hours. social media influencer andrew tate and his brother are to be extradited to the uk from romania over allegations of rape and human trafficking. we start this half in sudan, where the head of the un has again called for a ramadan ceasefire. it's suffering the biggest displacement crisis in the world, and aid agencies warn it risks becoming the world's largest hunger crisis. a top general in sudan's army is reported to have rejected

a ramadan ceasefire —— unless a ramadan ceasefire — unless