ahead with its rafah offensive. the fourth major obstacle to peace is israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, who has all too frequently bowed to the demands of extremists. redefining extremism. the government here names groups that are calls for concern and could lead to restrictions. at least 60 migrants are feared dead after an overloaded dinghy breaks down trying to reach europe from libya. and for the first time in its history, glastonbury will have two female headline acts. find out which artists get the prestigious spots. hello, i'm sarah campbell. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them.

let's start with us senate majority leader, chuck schumer, has called for new elections in israel, saying the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is "a major obstacle to peace" and risked making israel a "pariah". senator schumer said it was a "grave mistake" for israel to reject a two—state solution. the fourth major obstacle to peace is israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, who has all too frequently bowed to the demands of extremists like ministers smotrich and ben—gvir and the settlers in the west bank. i have known prime minister netanyahu for a very long time. while we have vehemently disagreed on many occasions, i will always respect his extraordinary bravery for israel on the battlefield as a younger man. i believe in his heart he has his highest priority is the security of israel. however, i also believe prime minister netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over

the best interests of israel. prime minister netanyahu's party has responded to chuck schumer saying israel is not a banana republic but a proud democracy that elected its prime minister. the statement said a senator should respect israel's elected government and not undermine it, even more so in war time. let's speak to north america correspondent tom bateman. take you through the certificates first of all of chuck schumer�*s comments and in the response from israel. it’s schumer's comments and in the response from israel.— schumer's comments and in the response from israel. it's no secret that chuck — response from israel. it's no secret that chuck schumer _ response from israel. it's no secret that chuck schumer is _ response from israel. it's no secret that chuck schumer is a _ response from israel. it's no secret that chuck schumer is a critic - that chuck schumer is a critic and an one _ that chuck schumer is a critic and an one of— that chuck schumer is a critic and an one of the current israeli coalition _ an one of the current israeli coalition. this was a far more significant _ coalition. this was a far more significant intervention and we have heard _ significant intervention and we have heard from — significant intervention and we have heard from him so far, and given his position— heard from him so far, and given his position as _

heard from him so far, and given his position as the leader of the majority, _ position as the leader of the majority, the democrats, in the us senate, _ majority, the democrats, in the us senate, describing himself as the highest _ senate, describing himself as the highest ranking jewish elected official— highest ranking jewish elected official in american history, he then— official in american history, he then went _ official in american history, he then went on to really excoriate deep _ then went on to really excoriate deep israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. now during this very long speech, _ netanyahu. now during this very long speech, he _ netanyahu. now during this very long speech, he was up there 45 minutes, he started _ speech, he was up there 45 minutes, he started by saying people should understand as far as he was concerned that hamas bore responsibility for unleashing the current— responsibility for unleashing the current war but then he spoke about the impact _ current war but then he spoke about the impact of what he called the israeti _ the impact of what he called the israeli war machine in terms of the scale _ israeli war machine in terms of the scale of— israeli war machine in terms of the scale of civilian suffering in gaza. it scale of civilian suffering in gaza. it then _ scale of civilian suffering in gaza. it then moved on really to the longer—term outlook, and he made it very clear— longer—term outlook, and he made it very clear that the only way through all this— very clear that the only way through all this in— very clear that the only way through all this in his view was a two state solution — all this in his view was a two state solution. israel side by side with independent but a demilitarised palestinian state. he then listed what _ palestinian state. he then listed what he — palestinian state. he then listed what he said were the four obstacles to this _ what he said were the four obstacles to this outcome. he listed hamas, he

listed _ to this outcome. he listed hamas, he listed extremist members of the israeti _ listed extremist members of the israeli government, he listed the palestinian authority leadership and he also _ palestinian authority leadership and he also listed the israeli prime minister— he also listed the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and repeatedly said these were the four optical— repeatedly said these were the four optical to _ repeatedly said these were the four optical to peace. he said if the current— optical to peace. he said if the current israeli coalition continued along _ current israeli coalition continued along its— current israeli coalition continued along its current course, what you said was _ along its current course, what you said was effectively an outlook to take all— said was effectively an outlook to take all of— said was effectively an outlook to take all of the land that israel would have control over all of the land where — would have control over all of the land where israeli and palestinians live, he _ land where israeli and palestinians live, he said that would lead to international support for israel declining — international support for israel declining further. and he said it would _ declining further. and he said it would become a pariah state. this was extremely outspoken. he called for elections in israel and that is something that will rile and has already— something that will rile and has already riled as we heard from that statement — already riled as we heard from that statement you mentioned, the current israeti _ statement you mentioned, the current israeli government. and he said that is the _ israeli government. and he said that is the way— israeli government. and he said that is the way to have this sort of moment— is the way to have this sort of moment as the war wound down, he said, _ moment as the war wound down, he said. of— moment as the war wound down, he said, of debate and discussion of the way— said, of debate and discussion of the way through. he said he thought that israet— the way through. he said he thought that israel had lost its way or the

israeti _ that israel had lost its way or the israeli government had lost its way in terms _ israeli government had lost its way in terms of— israeli government had lost its way in terms of its current course and called _ in terms of its current course and called for— in terms of its current course and called for elections and is effectively calling for the replacement of benjamin netanyahu as prime minister. just replacement of ben'amin netanyahu as prime minister.— prime minister. just worth restating the importance _ prime minister. just worth restating the importance of _ prime minister. just worth restating the importance of the _ prime minister. just worth restating the importance of the relationship l the importance of the relationship between the us and israel in terms of the us as an ally of israel, for the strength of these comments from such a senior politician cannot be ignored. and obviously have not been ignored. and obviously have not been ignored because we have heard the reaction from israel.— reaction from israel. that's right. i mean, israel, _ reaction from israel. that's right. i mean, israel, the _ reaction from israel. that's right. i mean, israel, the united - reaction from israel. that's right. i mean, israel, the united states| reaction from israel. that's right. l i mean, israel, the united states is israet's _ i mean, israel, the united states is israet's key— i mean, israel, the united states is israel's key backer and notjust in political— israel's key backer and notjust in political and diplomatic support but in terms _ political and diplomatic support but in terms of military support. certainty— in terms of military support. certainly the united states gives about _ certainly the united states gives about $3.8 billion worth of military assistance, that's weapons, defensive systems, to israel every year~ _ defensive systems, to israel every year. cumulatively israel is the biggest — year. cumulatively israel is the biggest recipient of us military aid historically, so it's a key relationship. what you have had increasingly is a sense of pressure,

including _ increasingly is a sense of pressure, including from key elements of president biden's democrat base, about— president biden's democrat base, about why— president biden's democrat base, about why if the us is saying for some _ about why if the us is saying for some of— about why if the us is saying for some of the israelis are not allowing _ some of the israelis are not allowing enough humanitarian aid in gaza and _ allowing enough humanitarian aid in gaza and that is triggering what we have heard us a quarter of the population on the brink of famine, people _ population on the brink of famine, people ask— population on the brink of famine, people ask why that support for israet. — people ask why that support for israel, military support for israel not leveraged by the us to try and drive _ not leveraged by the us to try and drive them — not leveraged by the us to try and drive them towards the policy outcomes that the us wants. that is becoming _ outcomes that the us wants. that is becoming an increasing question, a question— becoming an increasing question, a question that's been asked increasingly in briefings. the administration says that it will always— administration says that it will always have and will always support and give _ always have and will always support and give israel what it needs to defend — and give israel what it needs to defend itself from the fact this question is being raised more and more _ question is being raised more and more is _ question is being raised more and more is interesting. it was alluded to by— more is interesting. it was alluded to by chuck— more is interesting. it was alluded to by chuck schumer in his speech where _ to by chuck schumer in his speech where he — to by chuck schumer in his speech where he said that if the extremists in the _ where he said that if the extremists in the government of israel continues in the course of policy, effectively — continues in the course of policy, effectively that relationship when to start _ effectively that relationship when to start to be looked at. so i think that question being asked as i say more _

that question being asked as i say more. ., a, ., . .,, ., more. 0k, tom bateman in washington, thank ou. the israeli military said it plans to move nearly 1.5 million displaced palestinians in rafah to what it described as "humanitarian islands" in the middle of the gaza strip. the white house says it can't confirm whether israel will go ahead with the plan, and aid agencies have insisted that safely moving such a large number of people in a war zone would be almost impossible and an assault on rafah could prove disastrous. merlyn thomas from verify has been looking at where israel might try to move the people from rafah. the israeli army has said it plans to move palestinians out of the city of rafah in southern gaza to what it described as "humanitarian islands". it comes ahead of a planned military offensive in rafah, and rafah is at the southern border with egypt. over a million displaced palestinians are currently sheltering there after being forced to leave their homes because of the israeli

offensive elsewhere. and this is the satellite image from before, in december. look at this road and this area. and this is one from late february. and you can see just how many people are there. tents are everywhere, even on roads. so where will people go from rafah? we don't know. the israeli statement doesn't specify exactly where, but there are already questions of where in the rest of gaza has the infrastructure and buildings still intact to shelter people coming from rafah. take a look at this map. this is the gaza strip. and this is a map of all of the areas that have been damaged. that's the red patches that you can see. those are areas that have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war. after all, the people who came to rafah came because they were fleeing much more intense bombing in the rest of gaza. now, one of the most heavily affected areas is khan younis. it's a city in southern gaza some seven kilometres north of rafah. this is a satellite image from december. and this is from february.

and you can see how some of those neighbourhoods have been completely flattened there. and again, this is in central gaza. again, this is from october. and this is from march. and you can see just how extensive that damage is. and getting anywhere in gaza is a huge challenge. there's only one main road from the south to the north that's fully operational right now, and that's being used to transport aid. it's the coastal road here, this orange one called al—rasheed road. so in order to move over a million people out of rafah, safe routes will likely have to be created. israeli military spokesperson daniel hagari has said this planned evacuation of palestinians to so—called "humanitarian islands" would be carried out in coordination with international actors. but last night, us secretary of state antony blinken has said he's not seen any details of an evacuation plan and any evacuation of over a million people will take time. but the plans for how exactly that

will happen is unclear. speaking via video link to a pro israeli lobby group in the us, benjamin netanyahu outlined his plan for the civilian population in rafah. ~ , ., , rafah. we will finish the “0b in rafah. we will finish the “0b in rafahwhnefi rafah. we will finish the “0b in rafah while enabling h rafah. we will finish the “0b in rafah while enabling theh rafah. we will finish the job in i rafah while enabling the civilian population— rafah while enabling the civilian population to _ rafah while enabling the civilian population to get _ rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out _ rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of - rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of harm'sl rafah while enabling the civilian - population to get out of harm's way. we have _ population to get out of harm's way. we have taken— population to get out of harm's way. we have taken measures _ population to get out of harm's way. we have taken measures to - population to get out of harm's way. | we have taken measures to minimise civitian— we have taken measures to minimise civilian casualties _ we have taken measures to minimise civilian casualties that _ we have taken measures to minimise civilian casualties that no _ we have taken measures to minimise civilian casualties that no other - civilian casualties that no other army— civilian casualties that no other army has — civilian casualties that no other army has taken _ civilian casualties that no other army has taken in _ civilian casualties that no other army has taken in history. - let's speak to gideon levy in tel aviv. he is a columnist for the haaretz newspaper. thank you for talking to us here on bbc news. can we talk first of all of those comments from the very senior us politician chuck schumer and the fairly strong pushback from israel? , , ., ~

israel? yes, it is a kind of intervention in domestic l israel? yes, it is a kind of- intervention in domestic politics, but i would like to tell the americans that they should not have too many expectations from replacing benjamin netanyahu. because this illusion that if netanyahu will step down, and he should step down by the way after the failure of the terrible fiasco of the 7th of october, but even if netanyahu will step down one way or the other, the alternative will not be any better in terms of continuing the war and the occupation. anyone like benny gantz are supporting this war from the beginning and have no intention to put an end to it. they speak nicer, they are kinder and may be less corrupted, but when it really comes to the core issues, the differences will be much smaller thanit differences will be much smaller than it seems from the outside. and above all, with all due respect to the americans and far from being support of benjamin netanyahu, but

the prime minister in the government of israel should be elected in israel and it should be also defeated in israel. but israel and it should be also defeated in israel.- defeated in israel. but the relationship _ defeated in israel. but the relationship between - defeated in israel. but the relationship between the i defeated in israel. but the i relationship between the us defeated in israel. but the - relationship between the us and between israel is a very important one, is it not? do you get a sense that it's being very strained at the moment? it’s that it's being very strained at the moment? �* , ., , that it's being very strained at the moment? �*, ., , ., , , .,~ moment? it's at its lowest peak ever, especially _ moment? it's at its lowest peak ever, especially because - moment? it's at its lowest peak ever, especially because israell moment? it's at its lowest peakl ever, especially because israel is now depending on the united states more than ever in history. that's this leveraged that the americans have over israel, and they are not using it. this is here. because if the americans, for example, would have liked to see less killings or even stopping the war tomorrow, they could bring israel to do it very easily. israel cannot continue this war without the american support, and there is some hypocrisy in the american attitude on one hand to say

don't kill so many civilians, restrain yourself and follow the international law and other remarks like this, then on the same day supply israel with all this ammunition. so one or the other, i argue in favour of continuing this war? so don't pay this lip service. are you for stopping this work? you know americans, well, how to bring israel to stop it within days. lester, this concept of humanitarian islands and whether that's a realistic possibility to move potentially up to more than a million people to different areas of gaza, as has been suggested, although very short on detail in terms of the exact plan. you see, sarah, i terms of the exact plan. you see, sarah. i don't _ terms of the exact plan. you see, sarah, i don't know— terms of the exact plan. you see, sarah, i don't know little - terms of the exact plan. you see, sarah, i don't know little about i sarah, i don't know little about being a shepherd, but nobody can movei million sheet being a shepherd, but nobody can move i million sheet from one being a shepherd, but nobody can movei million sheet from one place to the other within days or weeks.

it's impossible. and we are dealing with human beings. we are not only dealing with human beings, we are dealing with human beings, we are dealing with human beings, we are dealing with human beings who went through help the last year. they were removed from one place to the other, each time they were promised and they were getting into a safe zone, it was never a safe zone. part of them were already moved twice or three times with children and elderly people, with sick people. there is no place in gaza which will be safe. it must be very clear. and above all, there is no place which can absorb so many people in gaza, which is totally destroyed. the destruction in gaza is unbelievable. you know, people, it is not only to put them on a piece of land, there needs to be some infrastructure. you needs to be some infrastructure. you need electricity, you need water, you need food, you need homes. where exactly in this tiny, destroyed area

which really looks like nothing before, where exactly can israel move i before, where exactly can israel movei million people? and the world should stop it by any means, and not for this trap believing israel that those people will be safe. timer;r for this trap believing israel that those people will be safe. they will not be safe- _ those people will be safe. they will not be safe. we _ those people will be safe. they will not be safe. we appreciate - those people will be safe. they will not be safe. we appreciate your - not be safe. we appreciate your time. thank you very much indeed for joining us. we are going to stay in gaza here on bbc news because the... the humanitarian situation in gaza remains dire. cancer patients say they're being denied exit for life—saving treatment through the rafah crossing to egypt despite their names appearing on authorised evacuation lists. in parallel, fees charged by an egyptian company arranging evacuations from gaza have rocketed during the war, becoming unaffordable for most. the bbc�*s lara elgebaly has the story, which was also produced by haya al badarneh. i'm on my way to the border crossing.

hopefully i will find my name there and be able to travel. god willing. this is sahem's third time at the border in as many months. she was being treated for leukaemia when the conflict began, leaving her and almost 10,000 other cancer patients in gaza without treatment. despite her name being on evacuation lists for the sick and the injured, she was turned away at the border. and i read that my name was published on the rafah coordination groups. my name was published on the departure list twice. i have been to the crossing point twice for no reason. i was turned away. sahem's name appeared on this list for evacuation to turkey on november 19th, but border agents on the palestinian side turned her away, saying the turkish envoy wasn't there to receive her. but we found that that wasn't the case. muna ashrafi was being treated for breast cancer and was on the same evacuation list as sam. she was allowed to leave to turkey for treatment that day and was even able to bring her two

daughters with her. translation: afterl got through the crossing - onto the egyptian side, i saw the turkish consul waiting for us and i knew i was going to turkey. we've spoken to two other cancer patients who say they've been turned away at the border despite their names being on evacuation lists. officials in turkey told the bbc that they are not involved in approving the exit of patients from gaza and that they are willing to treat as many patients as they receive. only 600 cancer patients from gaza have managed to leave since october 7th. israel vets who is allowed to leave gaza. the israeli ministry of defense told us they have no restrictions on the number of patients allowed to leave for medical treatment. palestinian border authorities declined to comment on sahem's case. but it seems there are other ways to leave gaza. a lucrative monopoly has emerged from the war, with one egyptian travel agency, hala, charging palestinians $5000 per person to exit gaza within one to two weeks. this is more than four times the average annual salary in gaza.

this man says he had to pay a hala employee an extra $300 to get his family on the evacuation list. we've hidden his identity. translation: they weren't letting anyone in. _ if you wanted to go in, _ you had to pay to be let in so then you could pay the $5000. the fee was $5000 - for an adult and $2500 for a child for palestinian passport—holders. - he is one of ten people who told us they made extra payments of up to $4000 to help employees to get their families evacuated. but it seems the best connected in gaza can leave without paying at all. we found the names of palestinian citizens on an evacuation list meant for egyptians. one of them told us they were helped to get on the list by someone with political connections. neither hala nor the egyptian foreign ministry responded to our questions. in gaza, time is running out for sahem, whose cancer is spreading.

translation: we are suffering now. my medicine is finished. i'm so tired. i can hardly see in front of me. no blood tests or anything. my chemotherapy ran out a long time ago. without the money or connections many patients like sahem have been left behind. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 17—year—old boy's admitted killing a schoolgirl, who was stabbed at a bus stop in south london. 15—year—old elianne andam was attacked in croydon in september on her way to school. during an appearance at the old bailey, the teenager, who can't be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denied murder. the number of middle—aged people dying from cancer in the uk is at a 25—year low, according to new data. a study from cancer research uk found deaths among those aged 35—69 have fallen, thanks to screening, better treatments and policies aimed at reducing smoking. labour has set out plans to cap resale prices for concert tickets

to crack down on people who buy them to list online at an inflated cost. sir keir starmer said access to music, art and theatre should not be "at the mercy of ruthless ticket touts". the government says it's already introduced tough enough measures. you're live with bbc news. here, the government has set out a new definition of extremism. it's part of its promise to tackle what is says is an "increased threat" since the hamas attacks in israel last october. with the details, here's our political correspondent peter saull. this has become a regular sight on weekends in our cities — thousands of people taking to the streets in protest of israel's actions in gaza. the current conflict in the middle east has prompted a political debate notjust about the fighting there,

but about the impact on community cohesion here. in recent weeks and months, we've seen a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality. in a surprise speech on downing street two weeks ago, the prime minister warned that extremists were trying to tear us apart, but who exactly are these so—called extremists? well, today, the government has published a new definition of extremism. it's described as "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and undermine the uk's system of democracy and democratic rights, or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to do that". it's the brainchild of the communities secretary. michael gove told the commons that groups who fall foul of the term will, in effect, be blacklisted, excluded from government meetings and funding. we are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression,

religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, it sponsors, subsidises or supports in any way individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear. he proceeded to name some of those organisations. the british national socialist movement and patriotic alternative, who promote neo—nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethno—state, and the targeting of ethnic minority groups for intimidation are precisely the kind of groups about which we should be concerned and whose activities we will assess against the new definition. he also said some muslim groups gave rise to concern. labour want more. today's statement does not go far enough, and regardless of how. workable and effective this new definition and centre i of excellence is, this _ announcement will not be enough. and some organisations already feel got at. communities are very concerned at this time as to how the government is going to apply this consistently and equally, given that it's not a legal

definition, but one that they have arbitrary power to choose. all of this is pretty fundamental to our democracy. we expect our politicians to defend people's right to speak out, no matter how unpalatable their views might be, but we also expect them to protect the values that most of us hold dear. those currently in power hope that they've struck the right balance. peter saull, bbc news. politicians and business leaders in haiti continue to negotiate the make up of a transitional council that will govern the caribbean nation after its prime minister, ariel henry, officially stands down. the united nations is evacuating non—essential staff from haiti as the situation there continues to deteriorate. live now to our central america correspondent will grant, who's on haiti's border. well, is there any sign that the political chaos is coming to and then? any sign the order is being restored? flat then? any sign the order is being restored? ., . , then? any sign the order is being restored? ., ., , ,, .,

restored? not really. i think what we are seeing _ restored? not really. i think what we are seeing is _ restored? not really. i think what we are seeing is that _ restored? not really. i think what we are seeing is that some - restored? not really. i think what we are seeing is that some of- restored? not really. i think what l we are seeing is that some of those actors involved and what's happening in haiti, whether or not it's the us state department or the other caribbean nations, they are trying to move forward with this transitional council, trying to... for example, the us is named an ambassador to haiti, steps that look like structural support and change and so on, but behind—the—scenes, on the ground in haiti, there is the reality that the gang leaders, one particular powerful one, if still rejecting outright the membership of the people on this board or on this transitional council and threatening them and theirfamilies. so transitional council and threatening them and their families. so with the violence that already has been employed for several days, that's been called that a little but then again we are hearing now reports that the country's main penitentiary has been set on fire. so it remains this hugely difficult picture on the ground despite the efforts internationally and otherwise to sort of get some stability back to

haiti. �* sort of get some stability back to haiti. . ., ,., sort of get some stability back to haiti. . ., , ,_ sort of get some stability back to haiti. . ., , ,, , ., , haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefl , haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefly. very — haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefly, very difficult _ haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefly, very difficult for _ haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefly, very difficult for any - haiti. and for some bubbly and very briefly, very difficult for any sort - briefly, very difficult for any sort of humanitarian aid to get into although civilians really need help at the moment?— although civilians really need help at the moment? yeah, absolutely. this is a unitarian _ at the moment? yeah, absolutely. this is a unitarian crisis _ at the moment? yeah, absolutely. this is a unitarian crisis of- at the moment? yeah, absolutely. this is a unitarian crisis of huge . this is a unitarian crisis of huge proportions now. the human are talking about an air bridge they will be moving aid from here in the dominican republic to haiti, but the details are sparse and it has not yet been set up. it should be soon, but we are still not there yet and in the meantime, the population in places like port—au—prince isjust caught in the middle. brute places like port-au-prince is “ust caught in the middlei places like port-au-prince is “ust caught in the middle. we have to leave it there _ caught in the middle. we have to leave it there but _ caught in the middle. we have to leave it there but thank - caught in the middle. we have to leave it there but thank you - caught in the middle. we have to leave it there but thank you for i leave it there but thank you for bringing us that update from haiti's border. really important story and we will keep you up—to—date with any developments in haiti. do you stay with us here bbc news. hello. you may have noticed things feeling a little milder out there today. certainly temperatures

have been on the rise, but we're paying for it because it's another fairly cloudy day for many of us with outbreaks of rain, too. this is the picture in bedfordshire. we have had some spells of hazy sunshine in the south and the east, but really through the rest of today, showery rain affecting much of the uk. but it is certainly feeling mild, particularly in the south. that's down to the fact that we've got the air coming in from the southwest, this warm front sitting across parts of scotland in particular. a cold front does follow on behind, so something a little cooler and showery later in the day, particularly out towards the west. but we could see 16, possibly 17 degrees in the warmest spots across parts of eastern england, butjust single figures across scotland. and that's because we're sitting in the slightly cooler air and more persistent rain here across central scotland. some patchy rain for northern ireland, northern england and wales just drifting slowly eastwards as we head through the evening hours. so you may well catch a shower almost anywhere through this evening and overnight as well. the next band of showery rain moving into the south—west for the early hours of friday. for most of us, it's mild night, certainly frost free, but a little bit chillier across central and northern parts of scotland first thing tomorrow. so we've still got that more persistent rain across scotland. nothing particularly heavy,

and it'll turn to snow for a time, just on top of the highest peaks. should tend to dry up a little bit tomorrow for northern ireland into wales, the south—west as well. so some sunnier spells, still a few scattered showers elsewhere working their way eastwards on that breeze. and top temperatures, 15, possibly 16 degrees, so a degree or so down on what we've got out there today. but friday night now we're looking at heading into saturday morning, it's quite a cold night, particularly in the north. certainly a chance of some frost around here. could be some mist and fog patches for parts of southern and eastern england, for instance, as well. more cloud on saturday, than starts to work in from the south—west. so we'll see some showers, potentially northern ireland, wales and south—west of england, whereas further north and east you're more likely to stay dry through the day. and temperatures for most of us, ranging between around six in lerwick to 13 in norwich. heading through the second half of the weekend, then, into sunday, this frontal system makes its way further east. so, yes, it will bring a spell of rain around. it could be lingering for some eastern areas first thing on sunday. but then it does look like we see a return to sunny spells and a few scattered showers moving in on that breeze. not a bad day, actually,

for many of us. some sunshine looks like it could break through. and, again, we're in that milder air with temperatures up to around about 14 to 16 for most of us.

this is bbc news. senior us democrat chuck schumer says benjamin netanyahu is a major obstacle to peace, as israel vows to push ahead

with its rafah offensive. redefining extremism — the government here names groups that are a �*cause for concern' and could face restrictions. and an anti—corruption hotline to root out dishonest police officers in britain leads to more than 700 investigations. royal horticutural society encourage gardeners to live harmoniously with slugs and snails. first sport. here's sarah. thank you very much. let's start with day three of cheltenham, dubbed st patrick's thursday for the irish who have been celebrating a lot of success so far. the irish have had the better of the first two days. not the case today, though. the british horses have farered better. success at cheltenham for one familiar face. laura scott is there for us.

plenty of