is no longer focussed on public services. as a russian missile narrowly misses a kharkiv hospital president zelensky again calls on ukraine's allies to provide more air defences. hamas publishes a new video of two hostages as media covering ceasefire negotiations report notable progress. and thousands of people take to the canals of amsterdam to celebrate the dutch king's 57th birthday. hello, i'm samantha simmonds. we start with the news that a british conservative mp is defecting to the labour party — in a blow to the leadership of rishi sunak. dan poulter has been the mp

for central suffolk and north ipswich since the 2010 election. he combines his political career with practising medicine as an nhs hospital doctor on a part—time basis. he confirmed he was defecting to labour in an interview with laura kuenssberg — take a listen. and it increasingly difficult to look my patients, nhs colleagues and constituents in the eye. i feel the ifeel the nhs i feel the nhs deserves ifeel the nhs deserves better i feel the nhs deserves better in the terms of how it is governed. the conservatives had a compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society. i think the conservative party today is in a very different place. its focus is not on delivering or supporting high quality public services. with me is our political correspondent ben wright. tell is about who dan poulter is on the significance of his defection.

he represents central suffolk and north ipswich. hejoined the party under david cameron. he is very much of cameron conservative, he is at the centre of the party, one nation tory. he is in nm dilemma nhs dr working in mental health and has continued to do that alongside his time in parliament. he was briefly a minister and has been a backbencher for the last few years. this has come out of the blue. there has been speculation for a long time that the despondency and anger simmering on the tory backbenchers could burst into a defection at some point. today we have it. i think it is a big blow for rishi sunak. we are going to have big local elections in a few days which the tory party is braced for being bad was not the clock is ticking down quite fast to a general election. the prime minister doesn't have long to try to gee up his troops and prove he has a plan for pulling this back. what he says about public services, where his thought that tory to be

compassionate, in his view they no longer are. compassionate, in his view they no longerare. he compassionate, in his view they no longer are. he feels that the conservative he joined the party to represent has been abandoned by the current prime minister and his team and i think this is quite wounding. it is defended to be. defection to come out of the blue was not i am sure this will have been orchestrated to an extent was that they will have been talks going on for a while, perhaps, they will have been talks going on fora while, perhaps, between for a while, perhaps, between dan poulter and keir starmer. it is certainly a coup for the labour party. it is a big blow for rishi sunak. , , ., ., �* sunak. yes, tell us about... i don't think we've — sunak. yes, tell us about... i don't think we've had _ sunak. yes, tell us about... i don't think we've had reaction _ sunak. yes, tell us about... i don't think we've had reaction from - sunak. yes, tell us about... i don't think we've had reaction from the i think we've had reaction from the conservatives but what about the labour party? keir conservatives but what about the labour party?— conservatives but what about the labour pa ? ,, ., ., , ., labour party? keir starmer on social media said it — labour party? keir starmer on social media said it was _ labour party? keir starmer on social media said it was fantastic _ labour party? keir starmer on social media said it was fantastic to - media said it was fantastic to welcome dr poulter to the changed labour party. it is time to end conservative chaos, turn the page and get britain's future back was not pleased that dan poulter has decided to join us not pleased that dan poulter has decided tojoin us on not pleased that dan poulter has decided to join us on this journey and dan poulter says he would like to see an election happen now. it is not about to, i don't think. the expectation sill is that the general election will probably be towards the autumn. he intends to stay in

parliament. there is no requirement to have a by—election if there is a defection like this will stop he will now be sitting on labour's ranks. �* ., ., , will now be sitting on labour's ranks. �* . ., , ., , ., , ranks. and already the conservatives are facin: ranks. and already the conservatives are facing mass _ ranks. and already the conservatives are facing mass numbers _ ranks. and already the conservatives are facing mass numbers of - ranks. and already the conservatives are facing mass numbers of their- ranks. and already the conservatives l are facing mass numbers of their mps choosing not to stand at the next election for various reasons. which auain, is election for various reasons. which again, is indicative _ election for various reasons. which again, is indicative of _ election for various reasons. which again, is indicative of a _ election for various reasons. which again, is indicative of a political - again, is indicative of a political cycle. i think it is about seven to have decided they would rather do other things after the next election, whoever wins. ithink defections like this often seemed to symbolise a moment as well. they are quite rare. this is the third defection from the conservative party that we have had since 2019. christian wakefield left the tories in 2022 when borisjohnson was still prime minister, during the partygate scandal. lee anderson, former deputy chair of the party, was suspended and then went to join reform uk. chair of the party, was suspended and then went tojoin reform uk. his journey is indicative of some of the anger and disillusionment there is

on the right of the party. what dan poulter�*s move suggests or represents its concern within the centre of the tory party about the direction it is heading in. haifa centre of the tory party about the direction it is heading in.- direction it is heading in. how do ou think direction it is heading in. how do you think the _ direction it is heading in. how do you think the tories _ direction it is heading in. how do you think the tories are - direction it is heading in. how do you think the tories are going i direction it is heading in. how do you think the tories are going to | direction it is heading in. how do i you think the tories are going to be able to manage this? the? you think the tories are going to be able to manage this?— you think the tories are going to be able to manage this? they will hope to move on — able to manage this? they will hope to move on very _ able to manage this? they will hope to move on very quickly _ able to manage this? they will hope to move on very quickly and - able to manage this? they will hope to move on very quickly and it - able to manage this? they will hope to move on very quickly and it is - to move on very quickly and it is going to be difficult. but quickly, i think our attention will be shifting to the local elections later next week and the results coming in on friday and saturday. that i think will be a very big moment and there is speculation around that that could potentially uncork a wider rebellion among tory mps against rishi sunak. i'm not quite sure myself but the numbers are there for that to happen. this is a political punctuation mark the sort of defection, that often symbolises a moment. i think this is how it will be seen.— how it will be seen. ben, thank you. it was can how it will be seen. ben, thank you. it was can see _ how it will be seen. ben, thank you. it was can see the _ how it will be seen. ben, thank you. it was can see the full _ how it will be seen. ben, thank you. it was can see the full interview- it was can see the full interview with dan poulter at 9am on sunday on

bbc one. ukraine says its energy infrastructure has been hit again, in another night of russian air attacks. officials in kharkiv, the country's second biggest city, said one missile had hit the grounds of a psychiatric hospital, damaging buildings and injuring a woman. there were also attacks in the dnipro region in central ukraine — and in the western areas of lviv and ivano—frankivsk. officials say equipment was damaged and at least one energy worker injured. russia has repeatedly targeted ukrainian energy infrastructure over recent months. it's attacks such as these that have led to the us providing more aid for ukraine. the united states outlined what will be included in a $6 billion package of military assistance. it's part of a larger $60 billion commitment which was approved by congress a week ago following six months of delays. the package will focus on air defence and includes interceptor missiles, anti—drone systems and artillery ammunition. what's not included are the new patriot

air defence batteries, which ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says are critical. 0ur ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse, has been monitoring events from southern ukraine. even by the standards of this war this was a night of busy skies, where you have the ukrainian authorities saying that russia launched 3a missiles from land, sea and air, and it was a large—scale attack where you have these power stations reportedly hit in the far westerly parts of ukraine, as well as in the east around the eastern city of dnipro, as well as kharkiv city in the north—east, where we are told a psychiatric hospital was narrowly missed, with 1,000 people inside. president zelensky has used the strikes to renew his pleas for air defence systems. yes, this western aid is coming in, but he is saying that western allies have the resources to stop every russian missile from hitting ukrainian targets.

he has used that political opportunity. but this wasn't a night of one—way traffic. you have russian authorities in the southern krasnodar region saying they intercepted more than 60 drones launched by ukraine. they say two oil refineries were hit and there are reports that an airbase too. the us at one point warned ukraine about hitting energy sites inside russia overfears of energy price rises and an escalation in this war. it is clear from last night that kyiv still does not share in those concerns. some breaking news this hour — israel's foreign minister says israel will defer its operation into the southern gaza city of rafah if there is a hostage deal. both sides are currently continuing to review proposals. egyptian mediators have arrived in israel and local media are reporting there's been "notable progress" in finding common ground. meanwhile,

hamas has posted a new video, which shows two of the hostages captured during its attack last october. keith siegel, and 0mri miran, both identify themselves. while the video is not dated, there is a reference to the recent passover holiday. it's the second such video that hamas has published in the past few days. in gaza itself, the hamas—run health agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli attacks in the past day. on saturday, people searched through the rubble of rafah, trying to recover what they could, after two houses were struck in the southern gaza city. the bbc has learned that british troops could be deployed to gaza to help deliver humanitarian aid. soldiers may be used to drive lorries across floating causeways on a new sea route, dropping supplies onto beaches. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale reports from jerusalem. some aid is getting into gaza by land. trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies. some aid is being dropped by air, but the united nations says it is nowhere near enough to help

the people of gaza who, it says, are facing famine. so there are plans for aid to come by sea. the us army is building floating platforms like this off the coast, where aid will be taken off ships and put into trucks. that floating causeway is expected to be anchored on the beach somewhere near here, where israeli forces will secure a distribution area. the us says there will be no american boots on the ground. so the uk is considering whether british forces should drive the trucks along the causeway that may look something like this. but that would mean british forces being put in harm's way on the beaches of gaza, so—called wet boots on the ground, potentially at risk from hamas fighters. hamas at the end of the day could try and interrupt this. i would like to think they won't but i think probably they won't. but it's possible that they could. unfortunately in these sorts of operations, you end up in places you wouldn't

want to have gone to. british forces could be deployed from this uk air base in cyprus, but, as of now, it is just an option. there has been no decision and it is yet to pass the prime minister's desk. the mod refused to comment. sending british troops to the beaches of gaza would be a big decision. they would be at risk in a war zone, they would be operating in the holy land for the first time since the 1940s. but someone has to drive these trucks and they've got to make a decision soon, the us says this new aid corridor is going to be up and running by early next month. james landale, bbc news, injerusalem. joining me now is brigadierjohn deverell — former senior british officer in the occupied palestinian territories, and former director of defence diplomacy at the ministry of defence. welcome to you. thank you for being with us. first of all i want to ask you about the ongoing negotiations when it comes to hostage release and ceasefire. just in the past half an

hour or so we have had developments from the israeli government, saying they would be willing to put on hold any operation into rafah if there was a hostage release, a deal, and we have also seen, in the past hour or so, the release of this new video by hamas, featuring two of those hostages. what is your sense of where this leaves us, where this leaves the negotiations, if this points to significant progress? i would say the first obvious point is there anything to do with hostage release is to do with negotiation. i would say that it is an easy win really for the israeli side to make because, since the israelis, two or three or four weeks because, since the israelis, two or three orfour weeks ago, because, since the israelis, two or three or four weeks ago, and because, since the israelis, two or three orfour weeks ago, and give up the ground forces, for the opportunity to amass fighters to spread, so i would say, in many ways, compared to a few weeks ago, a rafah operation is much less relevant and in order to do it would be really fair presentation or

political purposes on the israeli side to stop it is an easy giveaway for the israelis to say that, i would suggest.— for the israelis to say that, i would suggest. for the israelis to say that, i would su: est. , , .,, ., ., would suggest. many people would ask wh it has would suggest. many people would ask why it has taken _ would suggest. many people would ask why it has taken so _ would suggest. many people would ask why it has taken so long _ would suggest. many people would ask why it has taken so long for— would suggest. many people would ask why it has taken so long for any - why it has taken so long for any kind of deal to be done when there are more than 130 hostages being held by her mass word mac in both israel and hamas blaming each other for not reaching a point where they can both agree. i5 for not reaching a point where they can both agree. is a for not reaching a point where they can both agree-— for not reaching a point where they can both agree. is a former military lan can both agree. is a former military [an in can both agree. is a former military plan in my — can both agree. is a former military plan in my view— can both agree. is a former military plan in my view would _ can both agree. is a former military plan in my view would be _ can both agree. is a former military plan in my view would be the - can both agree. is a former military plan in my view would be the first l plan in my view would be the first option should have been to go for hostage release. and then to do the other things that they have done, the operations having secured hostages, but nonetheless that situation in which the israeli war cabinet has got themselves, and so be it. the whole thing is massively regrettable. i would argue we are complicit in the operations, we are supplying weapons, and so i think it is quite right and proper, slightly jumping ahead to the other subject, that at least we are considering, our government is considering

putting boots on the ground in order to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian catastrophe. i am glad we are considering that if it is true. , ., ., i. true. do tell us about what you think is the _ true. do tell us about what you think is the likelihood - true. do tell us about what you think is the likelihood of - true. do tell us about what you think is the likelihood of that l think is the likelihood of that happening and how significant it would be. the happening and how significant it would be. , . ., would be. the significance i would an ue is would be. the significance i would argue is really _ would be. the significance i would argue is really political— would be. the significance i would argue is really political and - argue is really political and presentational. let's face it contractors could quite easily do thisjob in terms contractors could quite easily do this job in terms of driving trucks of humanitarian aid of the floating dock. let's assume it is being seriously considered and it might well happen. and i think it is always about this mitigation and then the questions in the minds of then the questions in the minds of the british planner will be how far they put british servicemen and women into gaza, how far they penetrate. do theyjust simply drive the trucks with the stores onto dry land and then somebody else takes the trucks forward? 0r land and then somebody else takes the trucks forward? or do they actually go to distribution points? are busily the further forward they go the more risk. two or three suggestions, very clear suggestions i would have in terms of mitigating

that risk. the first is they need rules of engagement. 0ne benefit of service men and women doing this is they can be armed, which i would recommend. from my experience, working for two years in the palestinian territories, the greater risk typically, as we have seen with a very tragic deaths of the british aid workers a few weeks ago in fact is from relatively trigger—happy and uncontrolled junior israeli service men and women. there is of course also risk from her mass word mac, possible abductions and things like that. and so firstly clear rules of negotiation. the second point i was make is there should be a no strike list which the israeli should have. something that we, the british government should have assured ourselves that they were having an do have, because we are supplying weapons to them. the note strike list should include things like hospitals but also humanitarian distribution points and very importantly where they are getting the stores of the ships. the third

point i would make is that it is extremely important to have officers at the heart of the operation control headquarters. liaison officers from from the people actually taking the trucks are from these organisations, in this case from the british military. those three things will certainly mitigate the risk. , ., , ., the risk. interesting to get your thou:hts, the risk. interesting to get your thoughts, thank _ the risk. interesting to get your thoughts, thank you _ the risk. interesting to get your thoughts, thank you for - the risk. interesting to get your thoughts, thank you forjoining| the risk. interesting to get your i thoughts, thank you forjoining us. there are protest going on in tel aviv right now. let's show you one for the demanding of the release of those hostages. people now in what is known as hostage square in central tel aviv. the family, friends, many people out on the streets demanding the release of more than 130 hostages still being held by her mass word mac for more than six months now. as we were saying, there has been another hamas

video hostage release in the last half hour or so. there is another anti—government protests taking place in tel aviv. you can see their pictures of prime minister benjamin netanyahu. there is a lot of anger towards him by some israelis. they don't feel he has prosecuted this war in the correct way and still retains a lot of support in the country, but many people want him to go. they do want to see another election in the country. so far his war cabinet is holding strong but there is a strong feeling against him as well in many parts of the country. police in the united states have moved in on a pro—palestinian protest at northeastern university in boston. officials said about 100 people were detained as they were moved from the site, but that those with student id would be released and not face any legal action. these are pictures from a different university — columbia — where students have inspired other pro—palestinian demonstrations across the country. the protesters are demanding the university cut all its ties

with israel because of its attack on gaza. for more on the protests let's go live to washington where we can speak to will vernon. bring is the latest on these protests. where are they taking place and how well attended are they? place and how well attended are the ? ., place and how well attended are the ? . . ., ._ place and how well attended are the ? . . ., ., , they? the main incident today has been at north-eastern _ they? the main incident today has been at north-eastern university | they? the main incident today has| been at north-eastern university in been at north—eastern university in boston, as you mention. the university administration have just told us that over a dozen people who were detained were released after showing their student id. as you mentioned around 100 of them detained at that protest. but it is notjust boston. there are protests going on all over the country this morning, in indiana, in colombia. these protest camps have spread across the country and the situation really has escalated in the last week or so. that is after an incident at columbia university in new york when the nypd were called

in to clear one of these protest camps and dozens of people were arrested there. that really ignited the situation and then all these encampments spring up right across the country and these protests carry on this morning. the protesters are demanding that... well, they are demanding that... well, they are demanding a ceasefire firstly in gaza. they are unhappy about us government support for israel. and they are demanding that the universities divest, so cut off ties with any companies that have links to israel. manyjewish students say that they feel intimidated by these protests. there have been reports of jewish people being verbally or even physically assaulted by pro—palestinian demonstrators. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, many others in congress too, have said these protests are anti—semitic. the protesters deny that there is anti—semitism there

and many universities say that a lot of the trouble is caused by outside elements, by radicals who have infiltrated the students. that is certainly the case with north—eastern university. in a statement earlier they said that the police were called in after anti—semitic language was used during the protests and that professional organisers had infiltrated the students. certainly infiltrated the students. certainly in one case _ infiltrated the students. certainly in one case at — infiltrated the students. certainly in one case at columbia - infiltrated the students. certainly in one case at columbia one - infiltrated the students. certainly in one case at columbia one of i infiltrated the students. certainly. in one case at columbia one of the student leaders protesting the war has actually been banned from campus after a video emerged of him saying allegedly anti—semitic things, didn't it? allegedly anti-semitic things, didn't it? ., �* , didn't it? that's right. the president _ didn't it? that's right. the president of _ didn't it? that's right. the president of columbia - didn't it? that's right. the - president of columbia university is under huge pressure over that, over the case of the student you just mentioned, and in general, concerning this protest on campus. this is what triggered the situation. the pro—palestinian

demonstrations have been going on at universities for months now, but it was this incident on the 18th of april at columbia that really inflamed tensions and caused these protest camps to spread across campuses. but university administrators are in a real tricky situation over this. on the one hand they are under pressure to protect jewish students, to stamp out anti—semitism and intimidation on campus. 0n the other hand they want to make sure that they are not infringing on the rights and freedoms of students to protest, to assemble, freedom of speech, and also as we have seen in colombia, calling on the police to clear these tents and detain people can often inflame tensions and make the situation much, much worse. they are in a real bind over this. no one seems to have come up with a solution to this tricky political complex political problem. and

meanwhile the process continues. the situation is tense and things are getting more and more tense. milli. getting more and more tense. will, thank ou getting more and more tense. will, thank you very _ getting more and more tense. will, thank you very much. _ a man who'd paid to join the small boat crossing from france to the uk this week, has told the bbc he decided against making the journey because he was worried the dinghy was overcrowded. five people — including a young girl — died. an investigation is continuing into exactly what happened. 0ur correspondentjon donnison reports from calais. chaos, desperation and violence as more than 100 people tried to cram onto a small boat in the early hours of tuesday morning. among them was 16—year—old marcus, not his real name, from south sudan. where are you here? i'll be on this side. on that side? yeah, this side. five people were killed, including a seven—year—old girl. and how did people die? there were too many people.

they were crushed maybe. i didn't see them die. ijust wanted to save myself. 30 or a0 guys were trying to force themselves on the boat because they did not pay the money. marcus, who is fleeing life as a child soldier in south sudan, says he paid people smugglers $1,000 to make the crossing and even though he was injured in the last attempt, he's willing to pay more to try again. you can see today that the sea is calm and the wind has dropped, and that means more attempted crossings. here you've got a boat that's been abandoned, it looks like police have slashed it open. you've also got a tear gas canister, which police have been using, and some abandoned children's clothing. despite the dangers, people like marcus are not going to give up. and what of the government's rwanda policy? the government is saying they will deport people who cross to rwanda. does that worry you? that will not stop me, i will never give up. i will try my best to cross the english channel. and the chance came

sooner than we expected. after we left marcus this morning, we heard that he'd headed to the beaches once more for another attempt to reach the uk. jon donnison, bbc news, in calais. thousands of people took to the canals of amsterdam on saturday to celebrate the dutch king's 57th birthday. dressed in orange — the national color — they packed small boats and made their way down the historic waterways of the capital. king willem—alexander and his family celebrated his special day with a walkabout in the northern city of emmen — where he proved to be quite popular. translation: all these people came to our translation: all these people came to your birthday? _ translation: all these people came to your birthday? yes, _ translation: all these people came to your birthday? yes, how _ translation: all these people came to your birthday? yes, how about - to your birthday? yes, how about that. own, _ to your birthday? yes, how about that- own. you — to your birthday? yes, how about that. own, you want _ to your birthday? yes, how about that. own, you want to _ to your birthday? yes, how about that. own, you want to kiss - to your birthday? yes, how about that. own, you want to kiss from | to your birthday? yes, how about. that. own, you want to kiss from the kin: ? that. own, you want to kiss from the king? yes. — that. own, you want to kiss from the king? yes, exactly. _ that. own, you want to kiss from the king? yes, exactly. i— that. own, you want to kiss from the king? yes, exactly. i expect- that. own, you want to kiss from the king? yes, exactly. i expect the - king? yes, exactly. i expect the kin: to king? yes, exactly. i expect the king to at _ king? yes, exactly. i expect the king to at least _ king? yes, exactly. i expect the king to at least kiss _ king? yes, exactly. i expect the king to at least kiss my - king? yes, exactly. i expect the king to at least kiss my hand. . king? yes, exactly. i expect the i king to at least kiss my hand. that is what _ king to at least kiss my hand. that is what i _ king to at least kiss my hand. that is what i came for. and king to at least kiss my hand. that is what i came for.— is what i came for. and i would be our best is what i came for. and i would be

your best birthday _ is what i came for. and i would be your best birthday present? - your best birthday present? absolutely, it would make my day. so — a royal fan expecting something rather special to mark the birthday she shares with king willem—alexander. .. and this is what happened when the monarch walked by. so — a royal kiss did happen... here's what the happy recipient thought of her peck on the hand. translation: well, i first asked him to kiss me on — translation: well, i first asked him to kiss me on the _ translation: well, i first asked him to kiss me on the cheeks _ translation: well, i first asked him to kiss me on the cheeks but - translation: well, i first asked him to kiss me on the cheeks but he - to kiss me on the cheeks but he thought it was a bit much. so i said, at least kiss my hand. then for a moment he looked like, should i do it, and then i got a kiss on my hand. he did it. it made my day. stay with us on bbc news. thank you for watching.

hello there. it certainly has been a saturday of contrasts across the country. we started off grey and wet across southern england. the rain petered out to a blanket of cloud and drizzle. a lot of cloud across wales, the midlands, for much of the day. further north it was a different story. sunny spells and scattered showers but escape those showers, a beautiful afternoon in fife, as you can see. we have more heavy rain though arriving through the night tonight. it is across the south. that rain — some of it really quite intense — will gradually drift its way steadily north and east as we go through sunday. once again a day of contrasts because the rain will continue to move its way out of the midlands, up into the north—east of england and eastern scotland. west will certainly stay drier and brightest for longest. into the afternoon we should see an improving picture across much of england and wales. sunny spells, a few scattered showers, and temperatures peaking at around 13 degrees. it will be windy on those exposed east coasts. sheltered western areas clinging onto some glimpses of sunshine. a little more cloud generally

and the rain still quite heavy and persistent, with gusts of wind across the east coast of 40—50 miles an hour. that makes the eight degrees in aberdeen feel pretty disappointing. that low eases away. the isobars squeeze together. it stays blustery into monday. 0n the whole a relatively quiet start to the working week. temperatures to greet us first thing — we are looking at around 2—6 degrees. it will be dry, there will be some sunshine coming through early on. breezy but a southerly wind will make it start to feel just that little bit milder, particular in the sunnier moments. here is the low moving into northern ireland and perhaps clouding over across western coastal fringes as we go through the day. temperatures in the sunshine should peak at 16 degrees. starting to feel a little better. tuesday, final day of april, could actually see a little more warmth. we have still got this low pressure out to the south—west. but because the winds are circulating around that low we are tapping

in to a milder south—easterly. that is driving in some warmth from the near continent and you really will start to notice the difference. for our final day of april, yes, it is likely that we could see temperatures peaking in one or two spots into the high teens. there will be some showers around but a little bit quieter and a little bit warmer than of late.

this is bbc news. the headlines... british conservative mp dr dan poulter quits the party to join the opposition labour party. speaking to the bbc, he said the conservatives were no longerfocused on public services, and a general election was needed as soon as possible. ukraine says russia has carried out another air attack — narrowly missing a hospital. the us says it will "rush" patriot air defence missiles and ammunition to ukraine — president zelensky says they are "urgently" needed. hamas publishes a new video showing proof of life for two hostages in gaza. israel's foreign minister says it will defer the operation in rafah if a hostage deal is reached. and scotland's first minister seeks to save his political career, inviting leaders of other parties to talks — hoping to change their plans to oust him. humza yousaf insists he won't resign despite a week of political turmoil.