of shifa hospital following concrete intelligence that they of shifa hospital following concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action. after a fact—finding mission sparked by the death of a young woman, the un accuses iran of "crimes against humanity" in its treatment of women and girls. hello, i m annita mcveigh. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we begin in russia, where vladimir putin has vowed to strengthen the armed forces and prioritise the war in ukraine, after yet another landslide victory in an election that western leaders have criticised as neither free nor fair. exit polls give him 87.8% of the vote in the presidential election — which was tightly controlled by the kremlin, with no credible

opposition candidate allowed to run. the electoral commission says turnout was 77%, which would be a post—soviet record. mr putin said the result demonstrated people's trust in russia's current path. translation: whoever might want to intimidate us, - whoever might want to suppress us, ourwill, our conscience, they have never been able to do it and never will. mr putin had no credible opponents — with all his opponents dead, jailed or in exile. one of the three men who ran against him even said he was happy with the outcome, calling it a victory. but supporters of opposition leader alexei navalny heeded the call he made before his death in an arctic prison last month to all turn out to vote at noon in a protest against the election. long queues formed around the country. in a rare move, mr putin mentioned his late critic by name while speaking about the election,

in response to a question from a western journalist. translation: you may be surprised, but a few days before mr navalny - died, some colleagues of mine told me that there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west. you can believe it or not. i said i agree, even before he finished talking. what happened happened. a short time ago i spoke to james mixi, _ a short time ago i spoke to james mixi, director of the russia and eurasia — mixi, director of the russia and eurasia programme. i mixi, director of the russia and eurasia programme.— mixi, director of the russia and eurasia programme. i began by asking him about to — eurasia programme. i began by asking him about to put _ eurasia programme. i began by asking him about to put on _ eurasia programme. i began by asking him about to put on public _ him about to put on public confidence during his victory speech and whether it flexes confidence during the war in ukraine. but unlike i think that is a correct premise, and by contrast with the with the speech last year when he survived the coup attempt, he does believe seem to be a much more

confident figure who believes he can win the war in ukraine, and will not back down. this particular vote shouldn't really cause an election —— shouldn't really be called an election because i understand it is not really an election as i understand the term. in his eyes that gives a fresh mandate, which gives them another possible five or years, which could take up to being an 83—year—old, but russia cannot hold out that long in the war and therefore neither can he. meanwhile,... possible meanwhile, . .. possible new meanwhile,... possible new sanctions against russia are being discussed. we have our europe correspondent nick beake about how they were responding to mr boughton�*s latest landslide. responding to mr boughton's latest landslide. ~ . ~ , , ., landslide. much like the results of the russian _ landslide. much like the results of the russian elections _ landslide. much like the results of the russian elections were - landslide. much like the results of i the russian elections were basically a foregone conclusion, the reaction from the various eu ministers today has been pretty predictable. as you say, there was this joint statement in which they say the russian people

were denied any sort of real choice in the vote that took place over the past three days. we heard from josep borrell, who is the veteran spanish diplomat, the eu's foreign policy chief, who said the russian election was characterised by repression and intimidation. one thing the eu hasn't done, which the widow of mr navalny wanted to happen, newly a move“ navalny wanted to happen, newly a novell now, she wanted the leaders to come out and say, president putin doesn't have any legitimacy and they wanted brussels really not to recognise this victory. that hasn't happened today, but as you have been saying, they are looking at more sanctions and we understand that the sanctions and we understand that the sanctions being talked about today and potentially being agreed would affect people within the prison system in russia, specifically those who worked at the penal colony in the arctic, where mr navalny was being held and where he died last month. w' �* ., ~

being held and where he died last month. �* �* ,, , ., month. nick beake in brussels. to the middle east _ month. nick beake in brussels. to the middle east now. _ month. nick beake in brussels. to the middle east now. israeli - month. nick beake in brussels. to| the middle east now. israeli troops have lodged an berber military operation on gaza's biggest hospital, al—shifa hospital, in gaza city. it is full of patients and people displaced by recent fighting. but israel says hamas fighters have been using it as a command centre and that 80 suspects have been arrested. the hamas run health ministry in gaza has accused israel of committing a war crime. here is anna foster. gunfire rings out in a street near gaza's biggest hospital. inside it, medics are still working and patients are still being treated. for months, hundreds of displaced palestinians have used the compound for shelter. israel called its operation a targeted mission, saying it used caution and care. hamas accused israel of acting against all international laws. the idf is conducting a high—precision operation in limited areas of al—shifa hospital

following concrete intelligence that we know senior hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the al—shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against israel. the israel defence forces released these pictures, saying they show its troops under fire. it's a short clip which doesn't confirm the time or sequence of events. international medics who have worked in gaza say their colleagues need to be protected. i do not believe the idf have provided any credible evidence since october 7th, and indeed, before then, that these hospitals were being used as hamas command centres. i have been in al—shifa hospital on many occasions. i have spoken to people i have known for many years who work there and i do not believe there is any evidence to suggest that. this morning, people have been told to evacuate the area around al—shifa to ensure their safety.

moving isn't easy after more than five months of war. there still isn't anywhere near enough aid getting into gaza. the un has warned of a looming famine. when the leaders of israel and germany met yesterday, the need to help starving civilians in gaza was high on the agenda. much more humanitarian aid is needed, continuously and reliably. i shared my concerns with the prime minister that the provision of aid from israel into gaza and the conditions for distribution must be urgently and massively improved. talks on a humanitarian ceasefire in gaza are due to be seen today. in gaza are due to ——resume today. in qatar, mediators will again try to negotiate a deal that both israel and hamas can agree to, but against that backdrop, a military ground offensive in gaza's southern city of rafah is still looming. half the population has been displaced to there, and there is strong pressure on israel to protect them. our goal in eliminating

the remaining terrorist battalions in rafah goes hand—in—hand with enabling the civilian population to leave rafah. it's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place. in fact, we will do the very opposite. it's hard to predict which will come first — a new ground attack or a ceasefire deal. another overwhelming uncertainty for gaza's desperate population. aun a un report says around half of gaza's population, someone point million people are already experiencing catastrophic hunger. the integrated food security classification report also says famine is imminent in northern gaza and is projected between now and may. around 300,000 people are still in the north, trapped by fighting and struggling for food. in the last half an hour, the un

secretary—general said the report was an appalling indictment of conditions on the ground for civilians. joining me now to talk about all this is sari bashi, who is about all this is sari bashi, who is a programme director of human rights watch based in the west bank. thank you forjoining us on bbc news today. let's begin with the reports that a famine is imminent. give us yourtake on that a famine is imminent. give us your take on the situation on the ground and quite how desperate it is in terms of that very basic human need of food and water.— in terms of that very basic human need of food and water. well, the famine -like _ need of food and water. well, the famine -like conditions _ need of food and water. well, the famine -like conditions are - famine —like conditions are man—made. from the very beginning, the israeli military stopped the delivery of food, fuel, electricity and other life—saving goods. and later they allowed only a trickle of aid in through the land crossings, very little of it reaching the north. the israeli military has delayed or denied humanitarian missions to the north, actually bombed trucks bringing in aid and killed a record number of well over 100 un aid workers for unrwa... the

100 un aid workers for unrwa. .. the israeli 100 un aid workers for unrwa... the israeli military, of course, says it has provided corridors for aid to reach where it is needed. more than half of the requests _ reach where it is needed. more than half of the requests from _ reach where it is needed. more than half of the requests from missions l half of the requests from missions to the north from the south to bring the aid in have been delayed or denied and the israeli military has refused to allow the aid in through plentiful truck routes that would allow them to go directly to the north. when you bring it in from the south, it is very difficult to bring it all the way to the north because we have waited until people are desperate. hungry people are loading the —— looting the trucks because there is not enough. there is a choice. the israeli military can open up adequate land routes, fulfil its obligation to secure those convoys and protect people so that they can actually have enough to eat. this doesn't have to be this way. is eat. this doesn't have to be this wa . , ., eat. this doesn't have to be this wa , , ., ., eat. this doesn't have to be this wa . , ., ., . . way. is there enough time to avert a famine? i way. is there enough time to avert a famine? i spoke _ way. is there enough time to avert a famine? i spoke earlier— way. is there enough time to avert a famine? i spoke earlier to _ way. is there enough time to avert a famine? i spoke earlier to the - famine? i spoke earlier to the deputy executive director of the world food programme and he said if the right logistics can be put in place, there is. what is your view on that? can a famine be averted? this can change tomorrow. the

israeli military today can open up adequate roots and commit itself to providing the security needed to deliver food. providing the security needed to deliverfood. the israeli military as an occupying power in gaza. not only is it operably blue obligated to facilitate humanitarian supplies, it is actually obligated to bring them. it should be bringing that food injeeps and them. it should be bringing that food in jeeps and trucks by itself because that is what the laws of war require from a military occupying civilian areas. i require from a military occupying civilian areas.— civilian areas. i also want to ask ou civilian areas. i also want to ask you about _ civilian areas. i also want to ask you about the — civilian areas. i also want to ask you about the plight _ civilian areas. i also want to ask you about the plight of - civilian areas. i also want to ask you about the plight of the - civilian areas. i also want to ask - you about the plight of the hostages who are held by hamas. what are you hearing about any negotiations, the movement of any negotiations to return those hostages to their families? i return those hostages to their families? . , _, . . families? i am very concerned that the lives of — families? i am very concerned that the lives of those _ families? i am very concerned that the lives of those hostages - families? i am very concerned that the lives of those hostages are - the lives of those hostages are being negotiated. international law is clear. hamas and islamichhad must immediately and unconditionally release all civilian hostages. the israeli military should not be bargaining how much food to let into gaza in exchange for hostages and

hamas and islamichhad should not be bargaining how many hostages released in exchange for food. everybody needs to fulfil their obligations to civilians.- everybody needs to fulfil their obligations to civilians. there is clearly more — obligations to civilians. there is clearly more that _ obligations to civilians. there is clearly more that both - obligations to civilians. there is clearly more that both sides - obligations to civilians. there is| clearly more that both sides can obligations to civilians. there is - clearly more that both sides can do. given that the situation seems pretty intractable right now, do you think something like the spectre of famine, given that people are already starving, is enough to change the metrics? i already starving, is enough to change the metrics?— already starving, is enough to change the metrics? i am very worried about _ change the metrics? i am very worried about that, _ change the metrics? i am very worried about that, but - change the metrics? i am very worried about that, but what l change the metrics? i am very - worried about that, but what would change the metrics would be of the international community, in particular the uk, the united states and other governments that are arming the israeli military, would suspend those arms transfers to make it clear that the conflict of the israeli military needs to change immediately. that could avert a famine. a, immediately. that could avert a famine. , ., . famine. sari bashi, programme director at _ famine. sari bashi, programme director at human _ famine. sari bashi, programme director at human rights - famine. sari bashi, programmej director at human rights watch famine. sari bashi, programme. director at human rights watch in the west bank, thank you very much. thank you. the united nations has accused iran of "crimes against humanity" in its treatment of women and girls.

the fact—finding mission was sparked by the death of 22—year—old mahsa amini while in custody for allegedly violating the islamic dress code. this triggered mass protests and a crackdown on protesters. torture, rape and extra—judicial executions were among the violations found in iran. bbc�*s persian's kasra naji spoke to sara hossain, chair of the un mission. it's been a long journey and we started it looking into the alleged human rights violations that occurred during the course of the protest that started on the 16th of september 2022. and in the course of our investigations, what we found has led us to conclude that there haven't only been violations of international human rights law, but there've also been violations of international criminal law. and that's why we've been compelled to make these findings of crimes against humanity. and the reason we've come to that conclusion is that we found the ingredients of crimes against humanity, which is a widespread and systematic attack. like what? like violent, brutalfiring on protesters in demonstrations,

largely peaceful protesters, in many places across the country, and also large numbers of people in different places. we found cases of killings, extrajudicial killings, cases of torture and ill treatment, cases of rape all happening across those patterns and against a civilian population. so we found all of the ingredients there. we've also made a finding of the crime against humanity of gender persecution, intersecting with persecution on grounds of ethnicity, in religion. so in particular, violent violation of human rights and gender—based and gender—based laws against women? it's a specific, actually, it's one of the specific acts that's part of the crime against humanity, which is gender persecution. and we found that in the way in which a structured system of discrimination is applied against women, women and other

minority groups, in fact, in the country at large. and some of the kinds of cases we've come across are rape, gang rape, rape with an object and instances of, of course, groping and touching and also women saying the kind of language that's been used against them. so one witness said that when she was being raped, she was told by the person, by the perpetrator that this is the freedom that they wanted. as you know, this was the woman life freedom movement. and so a lot of these attacks were also highly gendered with very misogynistic and sexist language being used alongside. how widespread was the rape issue? well, we found a significant number. we found more than, ithink, 60, 62, we found about 62 cases and we have... of rape? yeah. and we've got 21 cases that we've

directly documented ourselves. that was sara hossain talking to our reporter. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the united states has condemned the latest launch of a ballistic missile by north korea. military officials in seoul said pyongyang fired a missile towards its eastern waters on monday morning, just days after the end of south korean—us military drills. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is currently in seoul, where he's been attending a conference on the impact of digital technology on democracy. our correspondent shaimaa khalil in tokyo has more on north korea's latest missile launch. the united states described the ballistic missile launches as, a

threat that undermined both regional security and democracy. these missiles landed outsidejapanese territorial waters, prompting condemnation from tokyo as well. it is unclear whether the launching of these missiles was meant to coincide with antony blinken's visit to the south korean capital of seoul, but in a meeting the secretary of state had with the south korean president, he said that both countries will continue to work together to counter the threat posed by the north. one other thing to keep in mind about the launch, these launches today is that they follow an 11 day joint military exercise that involved both us and south korean forces and when that happens, when these military drills happen, they often prompted a reaction from the north korean leader, gy kimjong—un, often in the form of missile launches. kim jong—un is adamant to continue to develop and expand his country's nuclear programme. and the tensions between the north and the south have

continued to mount and, as it stands, we haven't seen any evidence that the cycle of escalation is going to ease any time soon. the state department maintains that it is committed to the diplomatic route. let's turn to the ongoing speculation about the position of uk prime minister rishi sunak. business secretary, kemi badenoch, has told conservative mps speculating about replacing him as prime minister to "stop it" and "end the psychodrama". there had been reports that some tory politicians want the leader of the house of commons, penny mordaunt, to lead them into the next general election. mr sunak was asked about the speculation. here's what he had to say. iam not i am not interested in all westminster politics. it doesn't matter. what matters is the future of our country and that is what i'm squarely focused on. that is what i get up every morning working as hard as i can to deliver, whether it is cutting people's taxes, increasing the state pension, today increasing

the state pension, today increasing the number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses. those are the things that matter to people and as we have seen over the last few weeks, our plan is working, inflation is coming down, wages are growing and the economy is back to growing and the economy is back to growing again and if we stick to this plan i can deliver a brighter future for everyone in our country. that is what i'm doing. you future for everyone in our country. that is what i'm doing.— future for everyone in our country. that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus _ that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus on _ that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus on the _ that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus on the big _ that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus on the big thing - that is what i'm doing. you say you want to focus on the big thing the l want to focus on the big thing the british people, so why can't you get your disloyal colleagues to shut up? all conservatives are united in wanting to deliver a brighter future for our country and that is why we are putting people's taxes, £900 for it to deliver a brighter future for our country and that is why we are putting people's taxes, £900 for a people person and work, the middle of what is the country has seen and we are getting the number of boats down by a third last year, tackling illegal migration and today announcing new numbers of apprenticeships is supporting small businesses. these are the things that matter to people and we are absolutely united in delivering for the country on these important things. the country on these important thins. ~ . ., ,

the country on these important thins. ~ , ., things. when it comes to the election. _ things. when it comes to the election. why _ things. when it comes to the election, why would - things. when it comes to the election, why would you - things. when it comes to the j election, why would you take things. when it comes to the - election, why would you take £500 from someone you said may racist comments? he from someone you said may racist comments?— from someone you said may racist comments? . . , . ., , comments? he has already apologised for his comments _ comments? he has already apologised for his comments and _ comments? he has already apologised for his comments and my _ comments? he has already apologised for his comments and my view - comments? he has already apologised for his comments and my view is - comments? he has already apologised for his comments and my view is that i for his comments and my view is that when someone apologises generally and expresses remorse, that should be taken into account and that's that. ~ , . , ., that. when is earliest that the lanes to that. when is earliest that the planes to rwanda _ that. when is earliest that the planes to rwanda will- that. when is earliest that the planes to rwanda will take - that. when is earliest that the planes to rwanda will take offj that. when is earliest that the - planes to rwanda will take off with the asylum seekers on them? i’m the asylum seekers on them? i'm still the asylum seekers on them? i“n still committed to what i said earlier, which as we will get a plane on offer in the spring. we need to have a deterrent, we still need to have a deterrent, we still need to have a deterrent, we still need to get these planes into the air because we need to make a statement that you come here illegally, you will not be allowed to stay. that is the only way we solve the issue of illegal migration. we have made progress, boat numbers were down by a third last year, so that shows our plan is working, but in order to finish the job we need the rwanda scheme through. we are trying to get it through. we are trying to get it through parliament, but everyone is trying to block us, including the labour party because they don't have a plan for illegal migration. we do

and i'm determined to get it through and i'm determined to get it through and get the numbers down as quickly as possible. what matters is the choice of an election, that substance and as we have seen over the past weeks and will continue to see this week, our plan is working. taxes are being cut by £900 for a typical person in work, the state pension is going up by £900, the number of boat crossing is down by a third, waiting list starting to come down. those are the things we are focusing on and we will stick to our plan and give a brighter future for everyone in our country. that is the choice at the election and that is what we will deliver. i spoke a little earlier to _ will deliver. i spoke a little earlier to our _ will deliver. i spoke a little earlier to our political - earlier to our political correspondent... harry farley, who's been in westminister following the story... what rishi sunak is a disease not interested in westminster politics, but the problem for him is westminster politics or at least the mps in westminster are very much interested in him and his future as conservative party leader. i have been over in the house of commons or the houses of parliament this

morning and the mood among conservative mps is dire, to say the least. it is fractious, they had a very difficult week last week. lee anderson, the former deputy chairman of the conservative party, joining the rival party on the right, reform uk. there was also this reference they are about a conservative party donor, a businessman, mr hester, and comments he made about a former labour mp diane abbott. the perception from some was that those two rows were handled badly by rishi sunak and his team and ultimately conservative mps are looking at the same polls that we can all see, which show the conservative party trailing the labour party by a significant distance. and conservative mps, some of them are thinking, well, can it get any worse? i have been over in the house of commons. you don't have a massive queue of tory mps waiting to say

rishi sunak should go and we need to replace him, but it is fair to say that the mood is very fractious and when that is the case, some conservative mps, at least, a minority, it is worth saying, are looking at alternative options. one other point, just to reference is the rwanda bill, which comes back to the rwanda bill, which comes back to the house of commons today. that is the house of commons today. that is the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to a wanda mack and the bill aims to block further legal challenges to that scheme. rishi sunak and the government will be hoping that can pass through the houses of parliament as quickly as possible. he said he wants to get flights off to rwanda in the spring and as part of that he is hoping he will have some good news to tell his conservative mps._ conservative mps. briefly, the opposition _ conservative mps. briefly, the opposition party. _ conservative mps. briefly, the opposition party, as _ conservative mps. briefly, the opposition party, as you - conservative mps. briefly, the opposition party, as you say, i conservative mps. briefly, the - opposition party, as you say, ahead in the polls. it is looking very much to take on the conservatives on this territory, labour talking about how it is going to remove failed asylum seekers and foreign national criminals? , , .

criminals? yes, exactly, labour stressin: criminals? yes, exactly, labour stressing their _ criminals? yes, exactly, labour stressing their plan _ criminals? yes, exactly, labour stressing their plan for - criminals? yes, exactly, labour stressing their plan for asylum l stressing their plan for asylum today. it is worth also saying that they are very much opposed to the government's rwanda scheme and when it goes back to the house of lords later this week they are hoping to insist on further changes.- insist on further changes. harry farley there- — stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. it's felt quite warm out there for many of us today, particularly where we've had the blue skies and the sunshine, but the weather is changing again and changes are happening out to the west because this cloud is coming in from the atlantic. the winds are picking up. we're going to see some rain arriving, as well. ahead of that, we've

got some mild air. it could make 15 degrees around the moray firth and 16 is quite likely in the south—east of england. we do see that rain coming in, together with stronger winds into northern ireland and we'll see one band of rain pushing eastwards overnight, followed by a second band of rain that's developing. that one could be quite heavy rain with gusty winds, gales likely in the far north of scotland. it will be a pretty mild night out there, milder than it was last night. temperatures no lower than 9 or 10 degrees. those two bands of rain that we start with in england and wales willjust tend to fade away and it will brighten up in many places, leaving just a few showers. a few showers will continue in northern ireland, but the earlier, heavier showers in scotland will move away, sunshine will come out and the winds will ease, as well. temperatures still reaching 12 or 13 degrees in scotland and northern ireland, but again peaking at 16 in the south—east of england. we could see a bit of rain developing in the south—west of england by the end of the day. that weather front is going to move back northwards again overnight and into wednesday,

taking rain northwards too. some of that rain for a while affecting northern ireland, perhaps some southern and eastern parts of scotland. most of the rain more likely from the south—west into wales, through the midlands and across northern england. scotland and northern ireland turning drier and brighter through the day. across the south—east of england it may stay dry, as well. here it is still quite mild — 16 or 17 degrees — but behind the rain to the north things are cooling off a little bit now. we're all going to see some rain over this week ahead, but there may not be too much rain across the north—east of scotland and we're probably going to miss most of the rain in the south—east of england. it's going to be wetter in the west, particularly across western parts of scotland. as we head into thursday, we will see the winds picking up across northern areas and these weather fronts bringing more rain into scotland and northern ireland in particular. as we move into the end of the week and into the weekend, it's staying windy, but the wind direction is changing, eventually coming to the north—west or the north. that will bring colder weather and lots of showers.

start cutting red tape for small firms and a boost for apprenticeships — but with a new survey showing uk manufacturing output is falling, will government plans be enough to boost the economy?

the to boost the economy? price of cocoa is at a recort high. the price of cocoa is at a record high. it the price of cocoa is at a record hiuh. . , ., , , high. it means more expensive chocolates- _ high. it means more expensive chocolates. the _ high. it means more expensive chocolates. the economy - high. it means more expensive chocolates. the economy as i high. it means more expensive - chocolates. the economy as warning prices could take time to full back to more normal levels. welcome to world business report. we start in the uk where prime minister rishi sunak has set out plans to support to cut red tape for businesses and boost the availability of apprenticeships. speaking at an event in the midlands, he said he wanted to make it easier for businesses to hire new apprentices by investing £40 million into the apprenticeship budget. apprenticeships benefit young people and businesses who hire them. but for smes, the system can be expensive and confusing, despite the huge progress. so, to ensure that funding is available, whenever there is demand for apprenticeships, we are increasing the apprenticeship budget by £40 million. and for small businesses hiring young apprentices,

we will now fund the cost of their training in full.