tense negotiations for a ceasefire in gaza continue in the middle east. delegations from israel, hamas, the us, qatar and egypt are convening in cairo — to consider a proposal that hamas approved on monday, but israel dismissed. the stakes couldn't be higher — with hamas warning that this is israel's last chance to secure the release of its hostages — and the israeli army closing in on the southern gazan city of rafah. on monday night, troops seized the gaza side of the rafah border crossing — effectively cutting off humanitarian deliveries to the territory. it comes days after israel closed the other nearby aid crossing of kerem shalom — although the white house now says, that's expected to reopen as early as wednesday. israel says its "limited" operation in rafah will continue until hamas forces in the area are destroyed, or the group hands over the first of its remaining hostages. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu says, he's holding firm on his country's position in hostage negotiations. the position in hostage negotiations. entrance to rafai

the the entrance to rafah or two goals, the return of her hostages and the elimination of hamas. as the war cabinet unanimously decided, there very farfrom the cabinet unanimously decided, there very far from the necessary requirements, israel will not allow hamas to restore its evil rule in the gaza strip or its military capabilities to continue striving for destruction. for our destruction. for more on the latest developments, paul adams reports from jerusalem. a deal may now be tantalisingly close, but in rafah, israel's military pressure is relentless. today, severing gaza's last link with the outside world, the crossing point into egypt. and raising the flag, sending an unmistakable message to hamas. the noose is tightening. the sounds of approaching war echo

among the displaced, hundreds of thousands of palestinians living in the sand against the egyptian border or next to the sea. "i don't know where to stay, heart medicines, "i don't know where to stay, this man says, "people are fleeing from rafah. "i have my children with me." gazans have been on the move since yesterday morning, heeding israel's latest warnings, not knowing if the coming days will bring relief or despair. translation: after what we have i witnessed, they have said multiple times that there will be a ceasefire, but we are frustrated and we have no hope. there is no big hope, only a small one. injerusalem, john and rachel have also battled with belief and fear. their son was abducted and badly injured on october the 7th.

no sign of life until this hamas video two weeks ago. his parents nowjust daring to hope. when we heard the news that maybe there is a deal, we were cautiously optimistic, and we remain cautiously optimistic. it is scary to have military actions going on, there are innocent- civilians including our son. we just need this to come to an end and we need the mediators- on all sides and the two main parties to just sit in a room . and hammer this out and don't come out of the room without a deal. - israel's defence minister says the rafah operation will not stop until hamas is eliminated all the hostages start to return. or the hostages start to return.

talks are set to continue — a successful outcome still far from guaranteed. early today come on with the royal jordanian air force. the combined operation drop more than 25,000 meals ready to eat 13,000 equivalent meals ready to eat 13,000 equivalent meals ofjordanian foods. the pentagon says it has completed the construction of a pier to deliver aid to gaza. but with the current closure of two land crossings, the un says — no aid has reached the strip for more than 2a hours. for more on the situation facing civilians and particularly children on the ground, i spoke to hamish young in rafah. he's unicef�*s senior emergency coordinator in gaza. there are 600,000 children and rafah facing difficult conditions, can you give us an idea of what life is like for them at the moment? i would characterise _ for them at the moment? i would characterise it _ for them at the moment? i would characterise it is _ for them at the moment? i would characterise it is facing _ characterise it is facing catastrophic conditions for the

children of rafah is extremely difficult. most of them have been displaced here from other parts of the gaza strip. they may have left the gaza strip. they may have left the combat in gaza city, they may have moved and been displaced again to rafah. it was a town of 280,000 people which is now housing one point two, one .3 million people in the vast majority have moved here and it's a massive shoulder problem in most people are living in tents or evenjust under in most people are living in tents or even just under plastic sheeting and that is really tough for her children and we see that rapidly increasing disease and acute watery diarrhoea which you know can kill children quite easily is currently 20 times higher than it was at the same time last year. children have nowhere to go, they have nothing to do, they have not been in school since the start of the conflict in

october last year and so they are largely outdoors on the streets and in the fields. find largely outdoors on the streets and in the fielde— in the fields. and the children you have spoken _ in the fields. and the children you have spoken to, _ in the fields. and the children you have spoken to, what _ in the fields. and the children you have spoken to, what did - in the fields. and the children you have spoken to, what did they - in the fields. and the children you j have spoken to, what did they say about their concerns and needs? first and foremost, notjust every child you speak to, every single person i speak to her there a lot of people i speak to and they all say we need peace. that is the beginning and the end of it. so, what we need is a cease—fire here, a conference of long—lasting cease—fire. everyone is very clear about that. when i would kids say that they want to go back to school and they want a structured life and they do not use that sort of terminology but they certainly say they want to go back to school and they want to have some order to their lives. a lot of kids and this is really tragic, a lot of kids say that i want my sister back

where i want my mum or dad back because all of them have suffered death within the family, either the immediate family or close relatives. and they talk about the loss of their friends as well and that is really tough to listen to we are talking to kids. the really tough to listen to we are talking to kids.— really tough to listen to we are talking to kids. really tough to listen to we are talkin: to kids. ~ ., , , talking to kids. the white house is said that the _ talking to kids. the white house is said that the pricing _ talking to kids. the white house is said that the pricing will— talking to kids. the white house is said that the pricing will be - talking to kids. the white house is said that the pricing will be open . said that the pricing will be open as of wednesday and that his expectation, can you give them an idea of what the process of aid until now it would impact that is had on children? it’s until now it would impact that is had on children?— until now it would impact that is had on children? it's a huge impact on children — had on children? it's a huge impact on children because _ had on children? it's a huge impact on children because as _ had on children? it's a huge impact on children because as you - had on children? it's a huge impact on children because as you rightly. on children because as you rightly say, it's been very difficult to bring supplies in and when they do get here it's hard to move them around and it's hard to get them to the people who need it most in the

example of supplies up to the north, there is only one road that we can use as a on it and takes an average of four hours to get to that checkpoint and there's always problems, a of instruction and and as a result, getting enough supplies up as a result, getting enough supplies up northjust to as a result, getting enough supplies up north just to give you another example budget 85 trucks of food in april and they need 900 trucks to make aid there. and that is a direct impact in child malnutrition in the north is running over 15% which is the threshold for an emergency in the threshold for an emergency in the south where they have better access and around five or 6%, they really show she starkly the impact that has when it is difficult to move supplies around. distributing fl ers to move supplies around. distributing flyers to civilians _ move supplies around. distributing flyers to civilians with _ move supplies around. distributing flyers to civilians with these - move supplies around. distributing flyers to civilians with these plans. flyers to civilians with these plans to move them from rafa as they might

commence with the ground operation is we're expecting, what do you make of israel's plans to move civilians but accessing aid?— of israel's plans to move civilians but accessing aid? there is nowhere safe anywhere _ but accessing aid? there is nowhere safe anywhere in _ but accessing aid? there is nowhere safe anywhere in gaza _ but accessing aid? there is nowhere safe anywhere in gaza and - but accessing aid? there is nowhere safe anywhere in gaza and is - but accessing aid? there is nowhere i safe anywhere in gaza and is nowhere for anyone to go, there is no way to save them and the humanitarian needs can be met, there is no one with enough health service in fresh water and sanitation and medical services and sanitation and medical services and food, what we need is for the ground invasion of rafah to not go ahead and we need a cease—fire and the children need a cease—fire. thank you forjoining us today. meanwhile here in the us, president biden addressed the rise in anti—semitism since hamas's october seventh attacks — and reiterated his commitment to supporting israel. he made the comments

during a ceremony to mark holocaust remembrance day. (sot still coping with the trauma of that day in the aftermath. we have seen a ferocious surgeon anti—semitism in america and around the world. my commitment to thejewish people is the security of israel and to exist as an independentjewish state, even when we disagree. in the third week of witness testimony in donald trump's criminal trial, the former president came face—to—face with stormy daniels, the former adult film star at the center of the hush money case. on the witness stand, daniels was asked about a sexual encounter she alleges that she had with trump in 2006. mr trump denies the encounter happened. prosecutors have charged trump with falsifying business records to conceal a payment to ms daniels before the 2016 presidential election. we can go now to our nada tawfik in manhattan.

bring us up—to—date on what happened today in court. bring us up-to-date on what happened today in court-— today in court. stormy daniels was the most eagerly _ today in court. stormy daniels was the most eagerly anticipated - today in court. stormy daniels was l the most eagerly anticipated witness and as expected it was on the most contentious days in court going from dry documents right back to the salacious testimony about that alleged sexual encounter in his donald trump faced her, as he seeks another run for the white house. in court was my colleague and madeline, what is so striking about today is the fact that we're used to seeing stormy daniels in interviews being animated, playful. and despite the pressure of testifying against a former president, she really did maintain that light—heartedness. definitely, she seemed a little nervous — definitely, she seemed a little nervous and her answers were a little _ nervous and her answers were a little long—winded but we saw that character — little long—winded but we saw that character even though she was dressed — character even though she was dressed very modestly with her hair pulled _ dressed very modestly with her hair pulled back and in a black t—shirt, she encountered some very salacious details _ she encountered some very salacious details to— she encountered some very salacious details to the audience and for the

most _ details to the audience and for the most part— details to the audience and for the most part kept her cool in her usual light—heartedness while doing this. into light—heartedness while doing this. into that_ light—heartedness while doing this. into that testimony, the defence tried to block parts of that, how did that actually play out in court? we started the day off with them trying _ we started the day off with them trying to — we started the day off with them trying to testify about and by the afternoon, they're calling for a mistriai— afternoon, they're calling for a mistrial because of the details that she provided about the alleged sexual— she provided about the alleged sexual encounters she had with donald — sexual encounters she had with donald trump. some of the details she provided to the court were not relevant _ she provided to the court were not relevant for — she provided to the court were not relevant for records case and the judge _ relevant for records case and the judge said — relevant for records case and the judge said he agreed with them and he did _ judge said he agreed with them and he did say— judge said he agreed with them and he did say it did not want a mistriai— he did say it did not want a mistrial but he told the court that some _ mistrial but he told the court that some details would've been better left unsaid. just some details would've been better left unsaid., , ., left unsaid. just the fact that donald trump _ left unsaid. just the fact that donald trump was _ left unsaid. just the fact that donald trump was posing . left unsaid. just the fact that donald trump was posing on j left unsaid. just the fact that - donald trump was posing on the bed before they had sex in dressed in a satin robe i guess you could argue that prosecutors are hoping jurors see why donald trump would be so keen to not have that sex scandal

voters ahead of election but this is about falsifying business records and if it was done to influence the election, what did the cross—examination to two so doubt that she was paid off because of the election? it that she was paid off because of the election? . , ., , ., that she was paid off because of the election? . , . , ., ., election? it was really heated and the attorney _ election? it was really heated and the attorney focused _ election? it was really heated and the attorney focused on _ election? it was really heated and the attorney focused on trying - election? it was really heated and the attorney focused on trying to l the attorney focused on trying to attack _ the attorney focused on trying to attack stormy daniels's credibility, try to _ attack stormy daniels's credibility, try to make it seem like a liar and accused _ try to make it seem like a liar and accused her— try to make it seem like a liar and accused her of making up when she was sitting — accused her of making up when she was sitting on the stand and daniels -ot was sitting on the stand and daniels got a _ was sitting on the stand and daniels got a hit _ was sitting on the stand and daniels got a bit more defined in this testimony and far back at her and said no, _ testimony and far back at her and said no, my— testimony and far back at her and said no, my story is the truth. it made _ said no, my story is the truth. it made for— said no, my story is the truth. it made for a — said no, my story is the truth. it made for a very traumatic afternoon stop you _ made for a very traumatic afternoon stop you what about the jury come over to _ stop you what about the jury come over to see — stop you what about the jury come over to see the facial expressions throughout all of this. is hard to tell what— throughout all of this. is hard to tell what the jury made of this today, — tell what the jury made of this today, he _ tell what the jury made of this today, he seemed very engaged in the usual note _ today, he seemed very engaged in the usual note taking and looking back and forth— usual note taking and looking back and forth between daniels and whichever attorney was questioning her comments are there to know, the faciai— her comments are there to know, the facial expressions looked very much

like they— facial expressions looked very much like they did on any other day. she will be like they did on any other day. will be back in like they did on any other day. file: will be back in court like they did on any other day. 5ie: will be back in court on like they did on any other day. 5“ie: will be back in court on thursday and cross—examination will continue in prosecutions will be back to question her once more. thank you both so much- _ let's bring in faith gay, former assistant us attorney in the eastern district of new york. ijust want i just want to get your take on stormy daniels testimony. aha, i just want to get your take on stormy daniels testimony. a gorgeous da in new stormy daniels testimony. a gorgeous day in new york _ stormy daniels testimony. a gorgeous day in new york and _ stormy daniels testimony. a gorgeous day in new york and we _ stormy daniels testimony. a gorgeous day in new york and we recovered - day in new york and we recovered from a covid—19 world and their tourists everywhere in downtown, not on screen but is probably one of the most sordid days in american history for a former president to be sitting there listening to my new details, whether he used a condom, what pyjamas he was wearing, what happened in that room is beyond stormy daniels, beyond anything that defies the imagination i think many are in this country and glad it's not been covered live with cameras

in the courtroom. but absolutely, the prosecutors needed to put this in to show how important it was to keep this story, whether it is true or not, to keep these details from the american people right before the 20 election the defence appeared to make real inroads today in terms of the stand was changing her story over time and a great desire to see donald trump hurt and bringing cases against them would that have been lost in the beer financial interest in the case, making money on this in terms of the celebrities as she goes forward and the defence cross—examination was quite confident in thejury cross—examination was quite confident in the jury was listening very carefully it was certainly the most high—stakes day of the child so far. most high-stakes day of the child so far. , , ., most high-stakes day of the child so far. , , ~ ., far. this is the third week of witness testimony _ far. this is the third week of witness testimony and - far. this is the third week of witness testimony and howl far. this is the third week of l witness testimony and how do far. this is the third week of - witness testimony and how do you assess where this trial stands right now. , . ., , .,

now. there but the case together brick by brick _ now. there but the case together brick by brick and _ now. there but the case together brick by brick and it _ now. there but the case together brick by brick and it is _ now. there but the case together brick by brick and it is not - now. there but the case together brick by brick and it is not fully i brick by brick and it is not fully dependent on the testimony of michael cohen, the documentary outcome the financial trail is been introduced to this jury with painstaking care and if there jurors who due doubt and witnesses who were not saints are not nuns like stormy daniels or michael cohen, they'll be a chance of them to say look, they rely more on the concerning witnesses. i think is very much the jurors see them alert and are taking notes and they're watching the testimony is anyone who would have, like a tennis match and i think it's way too early to tell how this outcome is going to turn out. just a ruestion i outcome is going to turn out. just a question i what _ outcome is going to turn out. just a question i what we _ outcome is going to turn out. just a question i what we saw _ outcome is going to turn out. just a question i what we saw today, - outcome is going to turn out. just a question i what we saw today, the judge in the classified documents, this was expected but she confirmed that she is in indefinite leave postponing this, what do you make of that? it postponing this, what do you make of that? , ,., ., . postponing this, what do you make of that? , ., . ., that? it heightens the importance of the case for — that? it heightens the importance of

the case for sure _ that? it heightens the importance of the case for sure and _ that? it heightens the importance of the case for sure and i _ that? it heightens the importance of the case for sure and i don't - that? it heightens the importance of the case for sure and i don't think i the case for sure and i don't think this was a surprise because she's been headed that way for some time but i think it's off to stage left but i think it's off to stage left but it increases the importance here and of course it increases the importance ofjust and of course it increases the importance of just the and of course it increases the importance ofjust the decision, not to declare a mistrial based on the salacious details that came out about former president trump and the team is left to make a victim which suggests that it's incredibly undignified for former president to be dragged through this and go to more examinations of the many different versions of stormy daniels story. different versions of stormy daniels sto . . ., different versions of stormy daniels sto . . ~' , ., different versions of stormy daniels sto. ., ,, different versions of stormy daniels sto. ., . to a developing story now in the uk. there are reports of long delays at airports — due to an outage affecting passport e—gates at the border. a spokesperson for heathrow airport said they were aware of an issue with uk border systems across the country. in a statement heathrow airport said: our teams are supporting border force with their contingency plans to help resolve the problem

as quickly as possible and are on hand to provide passenger welfare. manchester airport and gatwick airport also confirmed they had been affected. the ukrainian security service says it broke up a russian plot to assassinate president volodoymr zelensky. the plan allegedly involved two coronels within the ukrainian state guard. ukraine says they were part of a network of russian agents belonging to the russian state security service, the f—s—b. james waterhouse has more from kyiv. assassination plots are common especially since the invasion when russian paratroopers attempted to land in kyiv and take out president zelensky. this alleged plan really does stand out any of the countries intelligence service claiming to have held two serving kernels which are responsible for keeping institutions as well as senior officials safe and they are accused officials safe and they are accused of leaking president zelensky and his other officials, their movements

to moscow, the details of how their protected by security guards as well as the addresses in which they stay and the plants of those addresses to be struck by russian missiles, but the details don't stop there. these two took weapons from the ukrainian regions where they were serving which included drones, mines and explosives they allegedly took them to kyiv to carry out this attack. the us announced dozens of charges against a russian national on tuesday, thought to be the mastermind of the world's largest criminal ra nsomwa re group. the us state department is offering $10—million dollars for information leading to the arrest of lockbit developer, 31—year—old dimitry khoroshev. the justice department says the malicious ransomware group targeted thousands of victims and stole more than $100—million dollars. meanwhile the american soldier detained in russia over the weekend has now been identified as staff sergeant gordon black. the us army said he was not

there on military business. russia says he was arrested on suspicion of theft and could face up to five years in prison. separately, russia also detained another american — a private citizen — on charges of quote, "petty hooliganism". vladimir putin was inaugurated tuesday for his fifth term in office. the russian president won more than 87% of the vote in the march election. though he faced no serious challengers. our russia editor steve rosenberg attended the inauguration ceremony. but the leaders stays the same. but the leader stays the same. vladimir putin strode into the throne room of russian czars. the grandeur of the grand kremlin palace match the image is cultivated of a modern russian emperor. vladimir putin could have walked this with

his eyes shut, after all he had been down this way many times before. is the longest—serving leader in russia since dictatorjosef stalin. this is his fifth term. this is vladimir putin's fifth term in the kremlin. the oath, to serve the russian people, and then, the leader who invaded ukraine accused the west of aggression. we are not refusing to speak to western nations. it's up to them, whether they keep trying to hold russia back and continue their aggression, and years of pressure on our country or seek a path to cooperation and peace. peace. here, they are not expecting that any time soon. the west needs a week russia that will fall apart. the west needs a weak russia that will fall apart. putin is standing on their way, so they try to weaken russia by taking putin.

win the war, and the war is serious, and we are fighting. _ you could stop it tomorrow though by pulling your troops out. of course not. we will never stop, because we are fighting for our people. _ it's incredible to think that in the near quarter of a century that vladimir putin has been in power in russia and america has been through five different presidents and britain has had seven prime ministers. mr putin's support welcome the continuity, as they see it, despite the danger that comes from having one man in power for so long with so few checks and balances. but it's notjust in the kremlin where you will find president putin. 70 miles from moscow, big vladimir is watching you. western governments called russia's election a sham, but in this town, what do they think of the man who was declared the winner? i like him, says valentina,

he does a lot for people. our pensions are big, but he cannot fix everything in one go. he's had 25 years. but we don't know who comes next, if he goes, she says. perhaps that is because potential rivals are in exile or injail, leaving one man running russia. and finally the vienna philharmonic orchestra is performing a symphomy by beethoven — on the 200th anniversary of its acclaimed premiere. notes you may well be familiar with — notes you may well be familiar with, it's widely regarded as one of the great masterpieces of western classical music. beethoven's 9th symphony, which culminates with the famous choral ode tojoy there, was first performed in 182a in vienna, where the german composer lived and worked for most

of his life. remember you can find more on all the days news at our website, bbc dot com slash news. hello there. for some of us, the bank holiday weekend was rather soggy. some lucky ones did get to see some drier and sunnier weather, but conditions have slowly improved. on tuesday, high pressure has built and brought a lot of dry weather around — glorious weather watcher picture here from bolton with the rhododendron flowers in full bloom this time of year. but it's looking pretty good for the rest of this week thanks to the high pressure — it's going to be mostly settled, there should be increasing amounts of sunshine, and as result, it's going to feel warmer, temperatures reaching the mid—20s celsius, particularly across england and wales. wednesday, high pressure's the dominant force, but we do have these weather fronts affecting

the far north—west corner of the uk. i think most places starting dry, quite a bit of cloud around, the sunshine will break through and it becomes sunny across england and wales, southern and eastern scotland, parts of northern ireland, but it'll turn breezier, cloudier and eventually wetter for the north—west of scotland as we move through the day. now, the breeze as well quite a feature across the hebrides, into the northern isles as well. lighter winds elsewhere, so in that sunshine, it's going to feel quite warm, with temperatures reaching 21 or 22 degrees in the warmest spots, but even up to 20 degrees there for edinburgh, 18 or 19 for belfast. now into thursday, we still have our area of high pressure with us, bringing fine and settled weather, but this weather front continues to bring further rain or showers across the north of scotland, and more of a breeze here as well. so it stays rather cloudy with further splashes of rain throughout the day on thursday. the rest of scotland, northern ireland, certainly england and wales, it looks dry with plenty of sunshine around. i think it should be completely dry on thursday. there is a small risk of a shower on wednesday in england and wales — thursday mostly dry, warmer, 22 or 23 degrees. friday, anotherfine—looking day thanks to high pressure.

we lose that weather front as well from northern scotland, so i think conditions will improve here. southerly winds begin to pick up. there's still a chance of the odd shower across the north of scotland, but many places will be dry. in fact, much of the country will see good sunny spells around. and temperatures again responding — we're getting close to the mid—20s celsius in the warmest spots here. 20 or 21 degrees through the central belt of scotland. as we move out of the week into the weekend, saturday looks to be fine as well. i think a largely fine picture with very few showers across the north of the country throughout the day on saturday. more in the way of sunshine for most. again, light southerly winds, those temperatures close to the mid—20s, up to 22 or 23 for the central belt of scotland, as warm as 20 degrees there for aberdeen. now as we head into sunday, we start to see areas of low pressure moving in from the west. that could give rise to some showers across the north and west of the uk, some of these could be heavy, could see a cluster of heavy,

maybe thundery showers pushing up to the channel islands, south—west england later in the day on sunday. but i think it could be the warmest day on sunday for england and wales, mid—20s, and feeling a bit more humid as well. then into next week, look at that. low pressure takes over, and starts to bring an increasing chance of showers or longer spells of rain. but with the low sitting in this position, we will be drawing in an easterly wind, so i don't think it'll be particularly cold. but it's likely to be more unsettled, particularly the further south you are across the country, closer to the centre of the low. so, yes, as we move into next week, it looks like things will be turning more unsettled once again. like i mentioned, not particularly cold, but it could be quite wet and some of these showers could be heavy and thundery as well, with a bit of sunshine in between. stay tuned to the forecast.