could suspend its planned incursion into rafah — if there is a deal where hamas releases its remaining hostages. police arrest anti—war protesters at a university in boston, amid nationwide demonstrations at college campuses. we speak to the editor of a student—run newspaper in california. after more russian attacks on ukraine, president zelensky renews his appeal for western allies to provide more air defences. hello, i'm helena humphrey. glad you could join us. we start in the middle east — where israel's foreign minister has said a planned military incursion into rafah in gaza could be suspended. that's if a deal is made to free the remaining hostages held by hamas. ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas have been stalled for weeks. but local media are reporting "notable progress" this weekend.

us secretary of state antony blinken is expected to visit saudi arabia in the coming days. meanwhile, hamas has posted a new video, which shows two of the hostages captured during its october attack. keith siegel, and omri 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 — considered a terror group by the uk and us governments — has published in the past few days. our correspondent, anna foster, is in tel aviv where families have been gathering — to again call for the release of all the hostages. omri miran�*s father was actually already on the list of confirmed speakers for this event tonight. when he got up on the stage, he talked about the moment, he said he was sitting having coffee with someone and talking about his grandchildren when the man he was talking to held his phone and said, "look, they have released a video of omri." what was also interesting was as the crowd were gathered here tonight, is they showed that video in full, it is not something that normally happens

because of course when you see the people in it, the two men in this case looking very malnourished, obviously speaking under duress, sending messages to their families and urging the israeli government to come to some sort of arrangement, some sort of deal to try and achieve their release. now, of course that deal and those talks have been going on for weeks and weeks. the last time we saw a significant hostage release was at the end of last year. at one point, we were told the talks had very much broken down, the two sides weren't really in communication at all but the egyptian delegation�*s visit this week and the further efforts of the us and us secretary of state antony blinken, we are led to believe that perhaps they are moving slightly closer in terms of trying to achieve a deal, but certainly those powerful messages we heard tonight on the stage from the hostage families, they were talking directly to israel's leaders, directly to the politicians and were saying, "you

need you to do a deal. while we know they are alive, you need to do what they can to ensure their release now". demonstrators have also been calling for the resignation of israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. thousands gathered in tel aviv on saturday to protest against the handling of the war and to demand new elections. in gaza itself, the hamas—run health agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli air attacks in the past day. on saturday, residents of two houses in rafah that were hit by israeli fire searched through the rubble. the united nations continues to warn of a lack of food, with half of the population starving. the us military has said a new humanitarian pier being built off the coast of gaza could be up and running by early may. the us has said there will be no american troops on the ground, but the bbc has learned that british troops could be deployed to help deliver the desperately needed aid. our 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. here in the us, police in boston shut down a student protest demanding a ceasefire in gaza, after university authorities said the demonstrators were using �*virulent anti—semitic

slogans�*. northeastern university said about 100— a mix of students and outsiders — were detained. one of the student organisations involved in the protest rejected the university's statement. at columbia university in new york — the epicentre of the nationwide protests— one student leader was barred from the site and officials are looking into how the protests there are being handled. our north america correspondent, will vernon, has more. there have also been arrests today at indiana state university. 69 people, we understand, detained there at indiana university, too. and negotiations are ongoing at columbia university in new york over the protest camp there. and that's what really sparked this latest escalation in the protests, really. pro—palestinian demonstrations have been going on for several months now at a number of universities, but the mood has really changed in the last week or so, and that was because of an incident at columbia. on the 18th of april, the nypd were called

onto the campus to take down a protest camp there. dozens of people were arrested and that really ignited tensions. and a number of other protest camps were then pitched at various universities across the country. now, the protesters say that they're unhappy with the us government's support for the israeli military campaign. they want a ceasefire in gaza, but also they're demanding that their universities divest, so cut ties with companies with links to israel. but manyjewish students say that they feel intimidated by these demos. there have been a number of reports of verbal assaults or even physical attacks onjewish people by the pro—palestinian demonstrators. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, as well as many people in congress here, say that these protests are anti—semitic. of course, the demonstrators deny that. and university administrators say that a lot of this trouble is being caused by radical outside elements that

have infiltrated the ranks of the students. and that's certainly what we heard from northeastern earlier today. they told us that whilst around 100 were detained, only about 12 or maybe a bit more than that of them actually had student ids. so many of them were not from the university at all. the situation has also been tense at the university of southern california in los angeles. these are scenes from earlier this week — as skirmishes broke out between protesters and police. dozens of demonstrators were arrested on wednesday. the university has also cancelled its main graduation ceremony and the valedictorian speech by a muslim student due to "security concerns." live now tojonathan park, he's a student at the university of southern california and the digital managing editor with the daily trojan newspaper. welcome, jonathan, thank you for taking the time to be with us. what is the mood on campus

right now but she remarked how big our concerns about anti—semitism? big our concerns about anti-semitism?- big our concerns about anti-semitism? the mood in aeneral anti-semitism? the mood in general is — anti-semitism? the mood in general is frustration - anti-semitism? the mood in general is frustration and - general is frustration and angen general is frustration and anger. the thing on peoples mind right now is the cancellation of the commencement ceremony, whatever people start on israel and the war in gaza, people i've spoken to, the seniors have already had to hide their graduations cancel back in high school because of the pandemic, i know they are not able to get that proper academic celebration, celebration of their academic achievements with this final commencement ceremony since it has been canceled. with the protest right now, there has been anti—semitism, both against pro palestinian demonstrations that have been jewish and pro—israel, we had a seder after the protest hosted by a pro israel students, it

was a small seder asking the israeli government to bring them home, bring the hostages home, and there was an anti—semitic heckler shouting insults and expletives targeting jewish people. the next day, pro—palestinian jewish groups, a chapter here ofjewish voice for peace, the hosted an event for the tens of thousands of people that have been killed in gaza, and there was an anti—semitic heckler there that they had to suppress, so there really has been anti—semitism on both sides. been anti-semitism on both sides. ., . , been anti-semitism on both sides. ., ., , , ., been anti-semitism on both sides. ., , , sides. how has your university, or would you — sides. how has your university, or would you say _ sides. how has your university, or would you say your - or would you say your university handling that idea of balancing the right to protest and free speech with the real security concerns that you just mentioned there? lie: you 'ust mentioned there? usc has you just mentioned there? usc has been you just mentioned there? iisc has been doubling you just mentioned there? iis

reason for canceling the valedictorian speech. i think usc was particular noticeable in how quickly it will shut down. we have seen at columbia, for example, where they were able to have the encampment for able to have the encampment for a few days before police came by and try to shut it down and arrested lessons of protesters there. for us here at usc, it was 4am i saw them set up on wednesday, and it was about starting at 530 through 9pm, where police had sort of finished clearing up the area and arrest 93 protesters. we are here in about 50 of them are here in about 50 of them are students, no confirmation on the university so far on that number. usc was notable in just how quickly that protest was suppressed, and our presidentjust put out a

statement yesterday saying that the university did not really want to have the protesters arrested, but they said the protesters hers frequently violated, a quote, flagrantly violated, a quote, flagrantly violated directives and policy. in terms of what the protesters are calling for, most of them, just run us through that, and is it that they have taken a cue from what we have seen on the east coast? irate cue from what we have seen on the east coast?— the east coast? we received a mission statement _ the east coast? we received a mission statement from - the east coast? we received a mission statement from them | the east coast? we received a i mission statement from them as that protest was starting, and there are a list of six demands, i can't read all —— recall all of them at the top of my head, but the include an academic boycott regarding israel, for the university divest from companies that are linked with israel, and in that mission statement, the directly cited the process ongoing in columbia as the inspiration for

what is going on at usc right now, and that protest is standing in solidarity with the rest of the country.— rest of the country. briefly, if ou rest of the country. briefly, if you don't _ rest of the country. briefly, if you don't mind, - rest of the country. briefly, | if you don't mind, jonathan, are there any indications that some of the process going on could have been infiltrated in the same we have seen the accusations of infiltration in other parts of the country? that was a clean that was echoed by our university administration, in one announcement regarding their response to their protest, there was a statement that there was a statement that there could've been at the on wednesday, the campus was opened, but we saw a majority being students as well as media there on wednesday. in the process ongoing right now with the cams —— the campus is close to everyone but students and faculty and people where business at the university, so right now i would emphasize

that it right now i would emphasize thatitis right now i would emphasize that it is completely student run, besides the legal organizers that are overseen this protest, and are only a few of them.— this protest, and are only a few of them. jonathan parker, student at _ few of them. jonathan parker, student at the _ few of them. jonathan parker, student at the university - few of them. jonathan parker, student at the university of i student at the university of california and a digital editing manager with the daily children, thank you for speaking with us. —— daily children. the united nations warns a possible assault by paramilitary forces in sudan's north darfur state would have "devastating consequences" in a region that is on the brink of famine. the agency says the rapid support forces are reportedly encircling the regional capital al fashir, suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent. at least 43 people — including women and children — have already been killed there in the past two weeks. war between the sudanese army and the rsf erupted last year. more than eight million people forced from their homes due to conflict since april 2023, in what is the world's largest displacement crisis. on friday, the un's human rights office expressed

grave concern about the recent escalation of violence in north darfur. this dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of supplies, delivery of commercial goods and humanitarian aid has been constrained by the fighting. the commissioner calls for a cease to this situation and end to the conflict that has been in country and end violations of humanitarian law. for more on the situation, i spoke to quscondy abdulshafi, senior regional adviser at freedom house. freedom house is a nonprofit dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world. i know you have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground and speaking with people where possible in al fashir.

what are they bracing for? thank you for having me, helena, iappreciate it. the attack on al fashir has the far—reaching and devastating consequence, and it would really be a new story of the storyline of the sudan conflict hardship, potential hardships and what has happened. in the past few days, there's an ethnic targeting and similar to previous incidents, this time it is minority groups based mostly around al fashir. this attack on al fashir would have an aspect of ethnic cleansing. the army in al fashir are undera commander of the former rebel movement, leaders who have agreed a peace agreement in 2018,

and that deal was supposed to be absolved in the south. they are from arab ethnic groups, meaning the conflict in al fashir is different from the other conflict in other cities. it has a key ethnic aspect, and is very much dangerous if this attack happens, it will have far—reaching, devastating and far—reaching consequences. anyone listening to that would understand how that sounds concerning, the prospect of ethnically motivated violence, but as i understand it, that area is also encircled to anybody who wants to flee could find it difficult because it is on the verge of famine. it is difficult, there's nowhere for people to flee, the city is the second largest controlled by rsf, there is increasing and check in of the city and people targeted for their ethnicity are being targeted seriously.

so people currently in al fashir, basically thousands of people have fled in the past two days of attacks on the cities around al fashir by rsf, they have nowhere to flee and nowhere to go. it's desert in the north, and people if they rush outside they can die because of lack of weter— to drink, and it is still dry season at this moment, so it is very difficult for the large number of people living there in the city to find a way to get out of the city. there are not many options away for people to run to. to ukraine — where president volodymyr zelensky is calling on western allies to urgently send at least seven more patriot missile systems. it comes after another night of russian bombardment seriously damaged energy infrastructure in ukraine — with four power plants hit. president zelensky said the targets included facilities supplying gas to the european union. fighting continues in the eastern donetsk region. russian troops made gains there earlier this week.

ukrainian media reports that another village near avdiivka has been captured as russia tightens its hold on the region. let's speak now to brigadier general mark kimmitt, former assistant secretary of state for political—military affairs. good to have you with us. thank you for being with us. we good to have you with us. thank you for being with us.— you for being with us. we are seeinu you for being with us. we are seeing this — you for being with us. we are seeing this call— you for being with us. we are seeing this call from - you for being with us. we are| seeing this call from president zelensky for more air defense. specifically regarding the patriot systems. all coming off the back of the granting of some 60 billion us dollars in military aid. was it that that aid to not go far enough, do you think, potentially? the first issue _ you think, potentially? the first issue is _ you think, potentially? the first issue is getting - you think, potentially? tue: first issue is getting it on the ground. it is clear the russians realize they are not making as much ground progress as they would like, so they are starting to attack infrastructure again, using ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and without the

patriot missile systems and other systems which are critically short of a mission right now, ukraine is taking some pretty significant attacks on their infrastructure, particularly gas and oil and electrical reducing facilities. let's talk about what that means for civilians underground. we are over two years into this war, and attacking that kind of energy infrastructure can have a serious impact on them at the time when morale, as we understand, would be low. do you think that's the aim of moscow? i you think that's the aim of moscow?— moscow? i think it is. it is been a — moscow? i think it is. it is been a tough _ moscow? i think it is. it is been a tough few- moscow? i think it is. it is been a tough few years i moscow? ithink it is. it is. been a tough few years and moscow? ithink it is. it is- been a tough few years and they are counted on more and more troops coming to the front nine. most of them, except for the draftees, our young and ready to go, but at the end of the day president zelensky cannot keep the war up on this yet the public support of his people, so if putin can break

the morale of the ukrainian people, the ukrainian people will call for negotiations and the negotiations will be harsh and they would not be in ukraine barbara —— you can's, they will not like what putin demands of them.- they will not like what putin demands of them. talking about the call for _ demands of them. talking about the call for patriot _ demands of them. talking about the call for patriot missiles, - the call for patriot missiles, the call for patriot missiles, the defense system, the fact that this has come under heart of the heels of the passing of the us aid patrick —— package, what does it indicate underground militarily? do you think it's a name for ukraine to try to get the upper hand or perhaps the situation that they are in, when we look at the other village near avdiivka being captured, that troops are in a trickier position that we might�*ve thought? it’s in a trickier position that we might've thought?— might've thought? it's clear the case that _ might've thought? it's clear the case that the _ might've thought? it's clear the case that the ground . might've thought? it's clear - the case that the ground troops are having a tough time in the defense. they are not losing a significant amount of ground,

they are certainly not seen any breakthrough by russian forces, but those carefully dug defensive positions in some areas, they have had to evacuate and move back to less defendable positions. the russians —— russians are continuing to push, not making significant progress, but they are still grinding down the ukrainian forces in the weight thatis ukrainian forces in the weight that is a historical norm for how russia fights these types of wars. �* . ~ how russia fights these types of wars. �* ., ~ ., ., ., ~' how russia fights these types of wars. �* ., ~ ., ., ., ~ .,, of wars. and taking a look, as ou of wars. and taking a look, as you say. _ of wars. and taking a look, as you say. about _ of wars. and taking a look, as you say, about how— of wars. and taking a look, as you say, about how russia - of wars. and taking a look, as| you say, about how russia has historically done in regards to the on the battlefield, in your frank assessment, do you think the ukrainian retreat is still possible here? i the ukrainian retreat is still possible here?— the ukrainian retreat is still possible here? i think the best we can ask _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for this _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for this year, - possible here? i think the best we can ask for this year, is - we can ask for this year, is that when the ammunition gets into ukraine, they can stiffen up into ukraine, they can stiffen up the lines. in my mind, very little chance for successful cou nteroffe nsive little chance for successful counteroffensive this fighting season. a year from counteroffensive this fighting season. a yearfrom now, this

intuition may be different, but this year, no, i don't think either side has a chance for victory. either side has a chance for victo . , ., ., ., victory. one year from now, if we sort of _ victory. one year from now, if we sort of think _ victory. one year from now, if we sort of think about - victory. one year from now, if we sort of think about the - we sort of think about the future and that way, do you think the western resolved will still be there and that funding for a further military injection, for example? i think the west and _ injection, for example? i think the west and the _ injection, for example? i think the west and the danger- injection, for example? i think the west and the danger that l injection, for example? i think| the west and the danger that a russian victory in ukraine would mean. it means, perhaps, attacks in other areas, none nato nations as well. we are convinced the we have a second bite intern, president biden will not want to keep america in the fight and rally support from the europeans, it would be a long war but a war that has to be fought, and is particularly notable that did ukrainian troops are doing this without nato soldiers by their sides as their fighting. brigadier general mark sides as theirfighting.

brigadier general mark kimmitt, former secretary of state for fashion. thank you. let's turn to some important news around the world... russianjournalist konstantin gabov has been arrested on charges of "extremism". he's accused of preparing material for a youtube channel once run by the late opposition leader alexei navalny. aides and allies continue to run that channel after mr navalny died in a russian prison back in february. yulia navalny blames president putin for her husband's death. mr navalny�*s movement is designated as "extremist" by vladimir putin's government. officials in kenya are warning people to brace for even heavier rainfall, as severe downpours continue across parts of east africa. officials say at least 76 people have been killed in floods so far. tens of thousands of people have been displaced. the red cross says more than half the country is impacted. a lawyer for harvey weinstein says the former film producer has been hospitalised after being moved

to a new york prison. it comes days after the state's highest court overturned a rape conviction against him, saying he had been treated unfairly during the case. mr weinstein remains in prison on a 16 year sentence for a different rape conviction in 2022. before we go, i want to show you these live pictures from washington dc where pro—palestinian demonstrations are happening outside the venue for the annual white house correspondents' association dinner. protesters are demanding us presidentjoe biden do more to bring an end to the war in gaza. mr biden is due to speak at the dinner shortly in front of journalists, celebrities, and administration officials. you are watching bbc news, i would have more for you at the top of the hour. see you then. hello there. we're seeing some changes to the weather this weekend.

part two of the weekend promises to be quite wet across some eastern areas, another chilly but bright day further west that you are, but it marks a changed all weather because as we move into the new week, we'll start to draw up some warmer air from the near continent. many areas will actually turn a lot warmer than what we've had over the past week. this area of low pressure will continue to bring some rain to central, southern and eastern parts of england through the night. so early sunday, this is the position the rain will be in. less cold for england and wales, 5—8 degrees, but another cold night for scotland and northern ireland, a touch of frost. but it's here you'll have the best of the sunshine from the word go for sunday morning. further east, it will be a cloudy, wet picture, with that rain slowly pulling away from eastern england, becoming confined to north—east scotland, the northern isles. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, a few scattered showers developing into the afternoon, and a windy day to come, particularly close to the north sea, close near to that area of rain. temperature—wise, the low teens for many, but distinctly chilly again across this north—east corner. that rain continues to clear northwards into the northern

isles during sunday night. it turns a lot drier for many with clear spells. we'll start to see thicker cloud and some showery bursts of rain pushing into western areas, though, by the end of the night, though many areas will stay dry. temperature—wise, well, actually milder for many, particularly scotland and northern ireland, than we've had of late. still a few chilly spots there for north—east scotland. this is the picture for monday, certainly the pressure picture. we've got low pressure out toward the west. this will be bringing south or south—westerly winds across the country. and actually for large parts of england and wales, particularly towards the south and east, it's going to stay dry all day with some good spells of sunshine. but rain will be splashing into western areas and moving across the irish sea as we move through the course of the day. some of this will be quite heavy. we've got the low teens celsius in the north and the west. could be up to 16 or 17 celsius in the south—east with that sunshine and the warm wind coming off the continent. for the rest of the week, we hold on to lower pressure towards the west of the uk. that will continue to bring our air source from the south—east or the east at times,

and there will be weather fronts close by. so it's an unsettled theme, i think, but it's going to feel warmer throughout this week than what we've had over the past week. it could be up to 20 degrees in the warmest spots across the south—east. but with low pressure nearby, it will tend to remain on the unsettled side. take care.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines

for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello. a very warm welcome to talking business weekly with me, aaron heslehurst. let's go and take a look at what's on the show. this is wednesday, she's my three—year—old german shepherd cross. i've had herfor about two and a half years, since the middle of the pandemic, and i spend about £250 a month average on her, which is about i7% of my salary. yep, the global pet industry. it has been booming as more and more of us spend big, pampering our pooches and caring for our cats. a surge in ownership during the pandemic has changed how we treat our furry friends, ushering in a new era of humanising our animals, with social media leading the pack. and it's an industry set to be worth half a trillion dollars by the end of the decade. so i'm going to be discussing all of that with these two. there they are, the head of an agency representing social

media animal celebrities — yeah, you heard me right —