as america's top diplomat visits saudi arabia — amid a renewed push for a ceasefire. inflation in the uk falls to its lowest level in almost two and a half years — after price rises slowed for food the uk government has band �*s 15 synthetic opiates as a bbc investigation reveals its data may be underestimating their spread. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. sudan's conflict is described as the war the world forgot. civilians caught up in the country's civil war share graphic accounts to the bbc of rape, ethnic violence and street executions at the hands of the paramilitary group rsf. we will shortly show you first hand testimonies — but before that, top united nations officials met today — saying the war has plunged

the country into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history". the un special rapporteur spoke to the bbc earlier and gave this assessment it is the largest as well as the fastest displacement crisis in the world today. the needs are staggering and they continue to rise. and all the positive indicators, food security, access to health care, reproductive health, we see these rapidly declining, and what we see our negative indicators, malnutrition, child protection issues, access to health and rising food insecurity. since april last year, sudan has been torn apart by fighting between these two men one is the head of the country's military, general abdel—fattah al bur—han , and the other is his former ally, general mohammed ham—dan dagalo who leads a paramilitary group called the rapid support forces.

together, they took power in 2019 — but the power sharing agreement that resulted has now broken down and there is fierce fighting and within sudan lies another humanitarian crisis, in the western region of darfur —where the rsf is accused of targeting and killing non—arabs, with reports of hundreds of deaths. the rsf have repeatedly denied any involvement in the violence in the region and have called for an independent international investigation. the united nations says that with 8.1 million people forcibly displaced, and tens of thousands killed. this could trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. and the bbc has uncovered harrowing evidence of the violence experienced by women in the ongoing conflict in sudan. the bbc�*s merchuma reports on the chad sudan border, in adre, and a warning that some viewers may find this report distressing. yesterday, this 19—year—old found out that she is pregnant. within

minutes, she will begin an abortion, desperately hoping that her family never knows. it desperately hoping that her family never know-— desperately hoping that her family never knows. . , , ,, ., never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married _ never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married and _ never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married and i _ never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married and i was _ never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married and i was a - never knows. it happened in sudan. i'm not married and i was a virgin, i i'm not married and i was a virgin, except for the incident that happened. except for the incident that happened-— except for the incident that ha ened. , i. ., ., except for the incident that ha ened. , ,, ., . happened. this young woman, whose name we have — happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, _ happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, was - happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, was trying i happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, was trying to flee fighting in her hometown when she was captured, held for a day and repeatedly raped. i she was captured, held for a day and repeatedly raped-— repeatedly raped. i didn't tell an one repeatedly raped. i didn't tell anyone and — repeatedly raped. i didn't tell anyone and i _ repeatedly raped. i didn't tell anyone and i don't _ repeatedly raped. i didn't tell anyone and i don't think - repeatedly raped. i didn't tell i anyone and i don't think anyone knows. ,, , , ., knows. the un says the sexual violence experienced _ knows. the un says the sexual violence experienced like - knows. the un says the sexual violence experienced like her l knows. the un says the sexual l violence experienced like her has been used as a weapon of war. she is one of more than 600,000 people who have fled sudan for camps like this one in neighbouring chad. she was helped by the international charity, but other voluntary groups have also sprung up to support the large number of women who have been affected by either physical violence or sexual attacks.

affected by either physical violence orsexualattacks. it's affected by either physical violence or sexual attacks. it's a side of the conflict that does not often seen. we have been given privileged access to join this group. and film access to join this group. and film a meeting ran by zahara. this woman is a former university student who has been speaking to zahara. she was attacked by armed men in her home in sudan. when she called for help, they fired a bullet inches away from her mother as she tried to stop what was happening. her mother as she tried to stop what was happening-— was happening. zahara spends time with me at home. _ was happening. zahara spends time with me at home. she _ was happening. zahara spends time with me at home. she talks - was happening. zahara spends time with me at home. she talks to - with me at home. she talks to me. she says what happened to you happen to a lot of people and you must be strong and positive.— to a lot of people and you must be strong and positive. women have been victims of violence _ strong and positive. women have been victims of violence across _ strong and positive. women have been victims of violence across sudan - victims of violence across sudan during the civil war. the fighting has also seen a resurgence of a blood he ethnic conflict, 20 years ago, the un says 300,000 members of the black african community were killed in the darfur region amidst accusations of genocide. much of the

violence against women in sudan during the current conflict has been blamed on the rapid support forces and its allies. in a chilling online video, one prominent member sets out why he feels fighters have the right to assault women. translation: figs to assault women. translation: e; for to assault women. translation: is for raping or not raping, if we rape your daughter or your girl, for raping or not raping, if we rape your daughter oryour girl, it for raping or not raping, if we rape your daughter or your girl, it is an eye for an eye. this is our country and this is our right, and we took at stop at the rapid support forces told us the majority of accusations against them are untrue, but its troops are held accountable when incidents occur. but zahara says black african women are being targeted. translation: this is because rape — targeted. translation: this is because rape leaps _ targeted. translation: this is because rape leaps an - targeted. translation: this is because rape leaps an impact i targeted. translation: this is| because rape leaps an impact on society. they used it as a weapon of revenge. society. they used it as a weapon of revenue. ~ , . society. they used it as a weapon of revenue.~ , . , revenge. with this conflict, cases of sexual violence _ revenge. with this conflict, cases of sexual violence are _ revenge. with this conflict, cases | of sexual violence are widespread, but this is a troubling topic here

and comes with a lot of shame and stigma. this means that those who speak out or seek medical attention are only a fraction of those who are affected. ordinary women are paying the price for the brutality which has been unleashed by the conflict in sudan with no end in sight, many more people could end up suffering in silence. in the past few moments, the reuters news agency has just reported that the us state department has announced more than $47 million in humanitarian assistance for emergency response in sudan and neighbouring countries, including chad and south sudan. the irish prime minister leo vardkar has resigned. in an unexpected announcement, mr varadkar described his period leading his country as "the most fulfilling time of his life". he will step down before the next general election in the republic of ireland.

mr varadkar became ireland's youngest taoiseach in 2017 when he became leader of fine gael. lets listen to him announcing his resignation from the steps of government buildings a short while ago. i knew that one part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to someone else and then having the courage to do it. that time is now. so i'm resigning as leader effective today and will resign as taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office. i've asked our party general secretary and executive council to provide for the new leader to be elected in advance on saturday the april 16, thus allowing a new taoiseach to be elected when it resumes after the easter break. i know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you will understand my decision. i know that others will, how shall i put it, cope with the news just fine.

that is the great thing about living in a democracy. there is never a right time to resign high office, however, this is as good a time as any. budget 2024 is done, negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one, the institutions of the good friday agreement are working again, and our trading relationship with the uk in the post—brexit era is settled and stable. the new taoiseach will have a full two months to prepare for the local and european elections and up to a year before the next general election. my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political. i believe this government can be re—elected and i believe my party, fine gael, can gain seats in the next dail. most of all, i believe the re—election of this three—party government will be the right thing for the future of our country, continuing to take us forward, protecting all that's been achieved and building on it. but after careful consideration and some soul—searching i believe that a new taoiseach

and a new leader will be better placed than me to achieve that. to renew and strengthen the team, to focus our message on policies, to drive implementation and after seven years in office, i don't feel i'm the best person for thatjob any more. there are loyal colleagues, good friends, — there are loyal colleagues, good friends, contesting and local elections and i want to give them the best— elections and i want to give them the best chance possible. ithink they have — the best chance possible. ithink they have a better chance under a new leaden — they have a better chance under a new leader. i am standing aside in the absolute confidence that the country — the absolute confidence that the country in — the absolute confidence that the country in the economy are in a good place _ country in the economy are in a good place and _ country in the economy are in a good place and that my colleagues in government from all three parties will continue to work hard for the nation's — will continue to work hard for the nation's best interests. on a personal— nation's best interests. on a personal level, i have enjoyed being taoiseach, _ personal level, i have enjoyed being taoiseach, leaderand personal level, i have enjoyed being taoiseach, leader and cabinet member since march _ taoiseach, leader and cabinet member since march of 2011. i have learned so much _ since march of 2011. i have learned so much about so many things, met so many— so much about so many things, met so many people _ so much about so many things, met so many people who i would have never -ot many people who i would have never got to _ many people who i would have never got to meet, and been places to i

would _ got to meet, and been places to i would never see both home and abroad and i am _ would never see both home and abroad and i am deeply grateful for it. despite — and i am deeply grateful for it. despite the challenges would wholeheartedly recommend a career in politics— wholeheartedly recommend a career in politics to _ wholeheartedly recommend a career in politics to anyone who is considering it. however, politicians are human — considering it. however, politicians are human beings and we have our limitations — are human beings and we have our limitations. we give it everything until we — limitations. we give it everything until we can't any more, and then we have to _ until we can't any more, and then we have to move — until we can't any more, and then we have to move on. earlier i spoke to our ireland correpondent, sara girvin and asked her about the timing of the announcement. yeah, it really was a massive shock to a lot of people, even to those in dublin's political circles. you know, when leo varadkar was first appointed as taoiseach back in 2017, it was really history making for a number of reasons. he was the youngest ever taoiseach at the age of 38. the first from an ethnic background and the first gay leader. now, during an emotional address today, i know you just heard some of the press conference, he talked about what he described as personal and political reasons for standing down. he said he was simply not the right man for the job any more, not the right man to lead his party

into the next election. it must be called early next year. we have heard a lot of political reaction today, as you can imagine, i will give you just a flavour of that. the prime minister, rishi sunak, said he and leo varadkar have worked on many things together, such as the restoration of power sharing in northern ireland. he said he wished him well and looked forward to working with his successor. we heard from the deputy irish prime minister, who said that when leo varadkar told him about his plans last night, he had been really, really surprised to hear about those. others have taken today as a chance to call for a fresh election. we have heard from the president of sinn fein, she is the woman who wants to be higher than's first female taoiseach. she says that earlier next year is too late to have an election and she wants one now. now, as for those who will be

the next taoiseach, who will be the next leader, we don't expect to wait too long. there are a few names in the framework and we are expecting to hear about who that might be in the next few weeks. previously leo varadkar had said that he would retire from politics before the age of 50. today he stepped down as taoiseach at the age of 45. the us secretary of state is visiting the middle east to bolster international efforts to secure a truce in gaza as the threat of famine looms. antony blinken has been meeting the saudi leadership injeddah on his first stop. saudi arabia has announced it will donate 40 million dollars to the un agency for palestinian refugees. mr blinken will also travel to egypt where he will meet arab foreign ministers and he will also go to israel. mr blinken's visit comes after he warned that gaza's population is starving — saying that its two million people are experiencing "severe levels of acute food insecurity". today, the uk's largest delivery of aid to gaza has crossed the border and is being distributed by the world food programme.

a full uk field hospital has also been set up in the territory. meanwhile israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says that preparations are under way for the invasion of rafah in the southern gaza stripjames elder , a spokesperson for the children's charity unicef , gave details from gaza in the south, and rafah, the nutritional situation you can now see, you can see gluttonous in some children despite the fact that malnutrition is three times worse. in the north, there is a level of desperation, just exhaustion and people. i always promised myself i will never say it's become impossible to describe but i do wish that sometimes i could capture the number of women and mothers who held my hand and cried in the last couple of days because theyjust don't know how they are going to protect their children from the bombs, the drones you can hear now

and from starvation. this is what people are facing and i went into khan younis where i spent a couple of time a few months ago. i've never seen such devastation. which makes everyone shiver to think that there are discussions about potentially here rafah. earlier i spoke to our correspondent in jerusalem, mark lowen. he told me about the situation in rafah. that is why there are these dire warnings of the israeli military does indeed go into rafah. today benjamin netanyahu said he approved the operational plans for the incursion into rafah and that soon he would approve the evacuation plans. it would take some time for the incursion to begin because the evacuation would have to go first. this is all at the centre of the acrimonious relationship of the moment increasingly so and the biden

administration, the two leaders spoke a couple of days ago for the first time in more than a month, and president biden told benjamin that yahoo said that the incursion would be a mistake. it's likely it to be at the centre of talks on friday when the us secretary of state comes to israel on a previously unscheduled leg of his middle east tour, was that a snub to israel? we don't know. but clearly the two governments are at loggerheads over rafah and on several other parts of the war. they will discuss it all on friday during those talks. taste the war. they will discuss it all on friday during those talks.- friday during those talks. we are 'ust friday during those talks. we are just learning _ friday during those talks. we are just learning that _ friday during those talks. we are just learning that the _ friday during those talks. we are just learning that the foreign - just learning that the foreign ministers of egypt, saudi arabia, qatar and jordan and the uae�*s international cooperation minister and a top of him is going to meet with the top secretary of state in cairo on thursday. for many months now we have been talking intermittently with hopes of a hostage return cease—fire agreement. what do you read into the fact that anthony boykin is here that he is going to meet with all of these officials and also, as you said,

with the israeli leaders, given that he wasn't expected to do that. i he wasn't expected to do that. i think he is trying to give impetus to those talks that are ongoing in delhi, but we've already had a seniorfigure from hamas delhi, but we've already had a senior figure from hamas saying that the proposals have been negatively received by israel. —— ongoing in doha. he said that constituted a step backwards in the cease—fire talks that are continuing in the qatari capital. so i think anthony lincoln will be desperately trying to breathe life into those cease—fire talks. but also talking about the day after when the guns fall silent in gaza and who and what could try to reconstruct that shattered territory. saudi arabia is key to all of this because the saudi have said if israel a future palestinian state so they could normalise relationships with israel thatis normalise relationships with israel that is a huge prize for the israelis. the day after the present

is the acute suffering on the ground, whereas as we heard earlier in the week, famine could be declared in northern gaza unless a cease—fire is very soon and unless there is a sudden and huge injection of eight on the ground. still to come on the world today... banning opioids after 100 deaths last summer. and today is the internaitonal day of happiness...so what is the happiest country in the world? we find out later on in the programme. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

the uk government's flagship rwanda bill hasjust suffered another defeat — with peers voting 271 to 288 to push their demand that the legislation must have "due regard" for domestic and international law. it's the first in a series of votes.

earlier this week mps in the house of commons overturned ten changes previously made to the bill by the house of lords. for more, our political correspondent peter saulljoins us from westminster. peter, welcome to you. seems that not a week goes by that the story doesn't bubble up some way or another. explain what happened today and remind us of what the bill is. many, many hours of debates and votes on this particular issue in the house of commons and the house of lords going back many, many months. we've had five government defeats now in the house of lords this evening on this flagship piece of legislation which is designed to address some of the concerns that the uk supreme court raised that rolando was not a safe place to send people who arrive in the uk on small boats. the lords tonight, quite a lot of opposition still there addressing concerns about the

legality of the rwanda bail, whether or not children should be sent, the last defeat we've had in the past few minutes or so would require the government to carry out age verification on individuals to check that they are not under the age of 18 before potentially sending them to rwanda. what this means ultimately is that there is a lot of opposition out there, but eventually the house of lords is going to fold. that is what tends to happen. i think what's really annoyed a lot of members of the second chamber this evening is the fact that the government has not changed anything, has not compromised at all, and usually that's the way it kind of goes. we have the system a ping—pong where it goes from one house to the other, the expectation is that the government makes a few tweaks here and there which might be able to get on the side, a real sense of determination that they are going to send it back to the house of commons, also that the government could try to instead they've pushed

it until after parliament breaks up for easter. so all of this means it will be pushed back a little bit further, clearly the key consideration for the prime minister. many in the conservative party are holding onto the hope that once they see these flights going off to rwanda, the government's conservative party and the opinion polls might start to improve. the prime minister says it will happen at some point in the spring. it's quite a vague deadline he has set. it's quite achievable if you think spring could go on until the end of may intojune. the longer this goes on, the likelihood of this happening before the big test in the may local elections for the prime minister seems increasingly unlikely. {lilia seems increasingly unlikely. 0k, peter, seems increasingly unlikely. 0k, peter. thank _ seems increasingly unlikely. 0k, peter, thank you. _ the uk government has banned 15 powerful synthetic opioids linked to the deaths of more than 100 people in the country since last summer. the drugs — known as nitazenes, can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin.

it's believed that a crackdown in herion production in afganistan has seen a rise in synthetic opioidses here — the national crime agency says nitazines are being created in illicit labs in china and often enter the uk by post. earlier this week, crime and policing minister, chris philp, announced that the uk is enhancing its surveillance and early warning system for banned substances. at the conference, he also met us secretary of state antony blinken to discuss how both countries plan work together to tackle the synthetic opioids threat. we have pulled together an early warning system drawing on tests done at the border, tests done on samples that have been seized, postmortem toxicology as well as overdose reports that i think does give us the complete picture and talking to our american colleagues, they have told us that is the most important thing which is why we have put it together so quickly. let's speak to drjudith yates , a retired gp in birmingham,

who has been researching the number of deaths caused by these drugs. welcome to you and good to have you with us. tell us a bit more about them, what makes them so dangerous and how widespread do you think their use is?— and how widespread do you think their use is? . .,, ., , ., their use is? synthetic opioids are, as we have — their use is? synthetic opioids are, as we have just _ their use is? synthetic opioids are, as we have just heard, _ their use is? synthetic opioids are, as we have just heard, many - their use is? synthetic opioids are, as we have just heard, many timesj as we have just heard, many times stronger than fentanyl, and i think most of us have heard what we are talking about now, most of us have heard of fenta nyl talking about now, most of us have heard of fentanyl which have caused so many deaths in america over the past five years, increasing numbers. but the threat to the uk into europe at the moment is these new synthetic opioids, they were called —— first discovered in the 1950s and never tested on humans because they are just too potent. the amount you take for pain relief and the amount that might kill, a tiny grain might be the difference between living and

dying if you take one of the stronger ones.— dying if you take one of the stronger ones. dying if you take one of the stronrer ones. j , ' ., stronger ones. they've been 15 of these synthetic _ stronger ones. they've been 15 of these synthetic opioids, - stronger ones. they've been 15 of these synthetic opioids, haven't l these synthetic opioids, haven't they, make a difference? i welcome they, make a difference? i welcome the uk government's _ they, make a difference? i welcome the uk government's focusing - they, make a difference? i welcome the uk government's focusing on i they, make a difference? i welcome | the uk government's focusing on the problem, because i am very frightened and concerned about what is going to happen in 2024, 2023 we saw the first deaths linked to heroin use and nitazenes in the uk, the first and only a large number, but i think 2024 is likely to be much worse. they are classifying them as classe drugs and unfortunately we can't ban our way to a drug free world. we have been trying that for 50 years. heroin and cocaine, for example, are already classe drugs and have been for that whole 50 years and they have just increased. 5 whole 50 years and they have 'ust increased. �* ,, ., , whole 50 years and they have 'ust increased. �* ,, . , , whole 50 years and they have 'ust increased. �* ,, ., , , , , increased. 's are 'ust very briefly, what does _ increased. 's are 'ust very briefly, what does need _ increased. 's are just very briefly, what does need to _ increased. 's are just very briefly, what does need to change - increased. 's are just very briefly, what does need to change to - increased. 's are just very briefly, i what does need to change to protect people? is it awareness? yes. what does need to change to protect people? is it awareness?— people? is it awareness? yes. we need a broad-based _

people? is it awareness? yes. we need a broad-based public - people? is it awareness? yes. we need a broad-based public health| need a broad—based public health approach and we know how to do that. i'm pleased the government is trying to turn around and help us, but the criminaljustice approach is sometimes good money thrown after bad, doesn't help. we need to focus on the information ends understanding what is happening and people who use drugs. i am understanding what is happening and people who use drugs.— understanding what is happening and people who use drugs. i am so sorry, we are out — people who use drugs. i am so sorry, we are out of time, _ people who use drugs. i am so sorry, we are out of time, stay _ people who use drugs. i am so sorry, we are out of time, stay with - people who use drugs. i am so sorry, we are out of time, stay with us - we are out of time, stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. we had a real mixture of weather conditions across the uk on wednesday. conditions across the uk an area of low pressure brought a lot of cloudy weather, some damp, drizzly conditions into the afternoon for some. and across parts of eastern scotland, even into the early part of the afternoon, temperatures were just around 7 celsius. so it felt chilly here. but across southeast england, we had some sunny spells break out in relatively warm air. and so that sent temperatures surging. we had highs up to around 17 celsius, making it one of the warmer days of the year.

now, overnight tonight, a few mist and fog patches are possible across england and wales, but later in the night, we'll see some rain move in to scotland and to northern ireland as well. the rain here is associated with a warm front that's set to bring milder weather conditions back in across the uk. now, might well be turning a bit milder, particularly across northern areas of the country, but it will be a wet and a windy day. now, the heaviest rain will be in scotland. the strongest winds for northern scotland, with gusts of wind running into the 50s of miles an hour. the rain trickles southwards into northern ireland and northern england through the day. but across wales, the midlands, east anglia and southern england, we may well again see the cloud thin and break at times to give some spells of sunshine. we could see temperatures reaching 17 celsius. colder air moves back in on friday. this strap of cloud, a bit of rain is a cold front pushing southwards across england and wales. sunshine follows that feature through, but there will be quite a lot of showers, heavy ones at that across scotland, northern ireland and the north west of both england and wales. some of the showers will have hail

mixed in, temperatures down, but actually quite close to average at 10—12 celsius. the weekend dominated by low pressure that will be sending in loads of showers across the uk. and saturday is going to be one of those days where most places will see several showers during the day, some of them heavy with hail. and across the northern half of the uk it will be cold enough over the hills to see a bit of sleet mixed in. temperatures a bit below average, but feeling chilly, particularly factoring in the wind. now the same area of low pressure pulls away on sunday, but we'll continue to see a feed of showers affecting northern and eastern scotland and eastern areas of england. bigger gaps between the showers, ao of the two days of the weekend, sunday looks like bringing us slightly better weather, if you like. but then into monday, we get some colder air moving in, bumping into a weather system, and that could bring a spell of hill snow into parts of scotland.

this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines. inflation in the uk falls to its lowest level in almost two and half years at the price rises slowed for food and eating out continuing to rise for housing and fuel. our correspondent it's a rare invitation to a kremlin event for putin celebrity supporters less than a week after the president won his fifth term. an election described by western leaders is neither free

fifth term. an election described by western leaders is neitherfree nor fair. the irish prime minister announces he is going to step down. the lender hospital which treated the princess of wales says it will investigate after reports that staff try to access our private medical records. good evening. there was some welcome news for the uk economy today, with a sharper than expected fall in inflation. the rate at which prices go up fell from 4% to 3.6% in february and has fallen sharply since its high of over 11% in october 2022. it's now at its lowers level in nearly two and a half years. the prime minister says that the uk economy is turning a corner — but as our economics editor faisal isalm has been finding out — many people are still feeling the pinch. the first day of spring is often a turning point of renewal. but at this farm shop near crewe, the rebirth of the economy as inflation falls to more normal levels isn't yet hitting home.