and the suffering of those victims, and theirfamilies. and as boris gave his is evidence, inside, the protesters waited for him outside. his apology was not enough for them. heavy fighting, as israeli tanks close in on three areas of the gaza strip. the un says 600,000 people are under evacuation orders. a new hillsborough charter promises orforms for the a new hillsborough charter promises or forms for the deaths of fans. campaigners say it falls short. hello, welcome to today's verified

live. we start in the uk, where borisjohnson has apologised for the "pain, loss and suffering" during the covid pandemic, saying he takes personal responsibility for mistakes that were made. mrjohnson, who was prime minister throughout that period, has been giving evidence to the covid inquiry. during questioning, he said government ministers did the best they could in very difficult circumstances, but admitted they could have done better. so many people suffered, so many people lost their lives. inevitably, in the course of trying to handle a very, very difficult pandemic in which we had to balance appalling harms on either side of the decision, we may have made mistakes. i don't want to try to anticipate the discussion which i'm sure we will get into about the timings of

lockdowns. .. will get into about the timings of lockdowns... inevitably, we got some things wrong. i think we were doing our best at the time, given what we knew, given the information i had available to me at the time, i think we did our level best. where there are things that we should have done differently? unquestionably. boris johnson differently? unquestionably. boris johnson also _ differently? unquestionably. boris johnson also spoke _ differently? unquestionably. boris johnson also spoke about heard immunity, denying that it was his government's main strategy for dealing with the pandemic, but admitting it was factored into the government's response. fiur admitting it was factored into the government's response. our ob'ective was to protect — government's response. our ob'ective was to protect the i government's response. our ob'ective was to protect the nhs * government's response. our ob'ective was to protect the nhs and _ government's response. our objective was to protect the nhs and save - was to protect the nhs and save lives, and save lives by protecting the nhs. that was our objective. 0ur the nhs. that was our objective. our strategy was to suppress the curve and keep the elbow as much as we could. we did everything we could to do that. heard immunity was going to

be, we hoped, a by—product of that campaign which might be very long and difficult. he campaign which might be very long and difficult-— and difficult. he also told the advisory that _ and difficult. he also told the advisory that advice - and difficult. he also told the advisory that advice from - and difficult. he also told the - advisory that advice from scientist had changed after the initial set of restrictions was imposed in march 2020, which led to the decision to enter full lockdown later that month. , . . enter full lockdown later that month. ,. . ., . month. the scientific advice was startin: month. the scientific advice was starting to _ month. the scientific advice was starting to become _ month. the scientific advice was starting to become much - month. the scientific advice was starting to become much more i starting to become much more precautionary. and i think... i sensed from what i was being told about the effectiveness of the previous messages that we had to do more. and looking at the shape of the curves that i had seen, i thought that we would run out of —— we had run out of wiggle room. live now to our news correspondent ellie price. she's been out there throughout the

course of the inquiry. ellie, for all those families with you watching every minute of today's evidence, what have they made of it?- what have they made of it? well, it's been building _ what have they made of it? well, it's been building up _ what have they made of it? well, it's been building up to _ what have they made of it? well, it's been building up to this - it's been building up to this moment, hasn't it, this inquiry? we've so far heard from scientists, civil servants, political aides from other politicians, but in the end it was johnson other politicians, but in the end it wasjohnson making the key decisions during the pandemic. we heard that apology from him earlier — a big moment he saw to set the record straight. he said that we should've tweaked earlier, should've realised that coronavirus was more of an issue before it was, he said we should've stopped mass gatherings earlier here in the uk because he said that was really bad for messaging, and he said we should've realised that long covid was going to be more of a problem then it was, and he issued an apology for those suffering with long covid because he accepted he didn't take it seriously enough at the time. so i think we've

had some admissions of failure today, but i'm not sure that's been enough for some of the people gathered here to protest, many here who have come from hundreds of miles to see borisjohnson here at the inquiry, many of whom didn't even get into the inquiry room today because it's a ticketed affair and there's only so any people you can get to the building. you can see them all gathering now, waiting for borisjohnson to leave the building. they want to feel their voices have been heard. larry byrne is here, you got a ticket in there today, didn't you? you very sadly lost her father during the pandemic — from what you've heard today, was it enough from borisjohnson? h0. you've heard today, was it enough from boris johnson?— you've heard today, was it enough from boris johnson? no, sadly boris johnson has — from boris johnson? no, sadly boris johnson has lied _ from boris johnson? no, sadly boris johnson has lied time _ from boris johnson? no, sadly boris johnson has lied time and _ from boris johnson? no, sadly boris johnson has lied time and time - johnson has lied time and time again — johnson has lied time and time again his _ johnson has lied time and time again. his whatsapp messages have finally— again. his whatsapp messages have finally been exposed, and no doubt more _ finally been exposed, and no doubt more is _ finally been exposed, and no doubt more is to— finally been exposed, and no doubt more is to come. he's let the country— more is to come. he's let the country down, thousands upon thousands of people are still dying from covid, and sadly he's not been able to— from covid, and sadly he's not been able to tell— from covid, and sadly he's not been able to tell the truth. the legal

team _ able to tell the truth. the legal team have finally brought him to task over— team have finally brought him to task over this, along with the rest of the _ task over this, along with the rest of the government. they partied and wheeled _ of the government. they partied and wheeled a _ of the government. they partied and wheeled a case down the road with booze _ wheeled a case down the road with booze and — wheeled a case down the road with booze and everything in it while we had to— booze and everything in it while we had to sit— booze and everything in it while we had to sit at home to try and deal with our— had to sit at home to try and deal with our loved ones the way we lost them _ with our loved ones the way we lost them and — with our loved ones the way we lost them. and it was heartbreaking to us as l'm _ them. and it was heartbreaking to us as i'm speaking here now. we them. and it was heartbreaking to us as i'm speaking here now.— as i'm speaking here now. we didn't aet as i'm speaking here now. we didn't net to the as i'm speaking here now. we didn't get to the issue _ as i'm speaking here now. we didn't get to the issue of _ as i'm speaking here now. we didn't get to the issue of partygate - as i'm speaking here now. we didn't get to the issue of partygate yet, i get to the issue of partygate yet, where a number of get to the issue of partygate yet, where a number 0— where a number of senior politicians, _ where a number of senior politicians, including - where a number of senior| politicians, including boris where a number of senior- politicians, including boris johnson politicians, including borisjohnson were find for bring lockdown rules. he's due back tomorrow, is there anything borisjohnson can say... i'll stop you there now, where swanson is leaving the building now. —— borisjohnson is leaving the building now. borisjohnsonjust getting into his car now to leave the inquiry here, amid shouts of

booing and jeering from the assembled protesters who were waiting for their moment to talk to him. as i say, it gives you a sense of the feeling outside the inquiry. larry, borisjohnsonjust leaving there, when he comes back tomorrow, is there anything he can say that will make you feel better, maybe even give you some closure? hat even give you some closure? not reall . even give you some closure? not really- after _ even give you some closure? not really. after listening him today, he basically said that anybody that was sick— he basically said that anybody that was sick and dying in hospital were bed pushers, and anybody over 80 years _ bed pushers, and anybody over 80 years of— bed pushers, and anybody over 80 years of age, they weren't worth keepingm — years of age, they weren't worth keeping... but years of age, they weren't worth keeping- - -_ years of age, they weren't worth keeping- - -— years of age, they weren't worth keeina...�* , �* . keeping... but this wasn't evidence toda , keeping... but this wasn't evidence today. this — keeping... but this wasn't evidence today. this was _ keeping... but this wasn't evidence today, this was what _ keeping... but this wasn't evidence today, this was what some - keeping... but this wasn't evidence today, this was what some of - keeping... but this wasn't evidence today, this was what some of the i today, this was what some of the whatsapp messages and documents that we've heard over the last couple of weeks, the things that borisjohnson is reported to have said? yes. weeks, the things that boris johnson is reported to have said?— is reported to have said? yes, i can understand- — is reported to have said? yes, i can understand. it's _ is reported to have said? yes, i can understand. it'sjust _ is reported to have said? yes, i can understand. it'sjust heartbreaking | understand. it's just heartbreaking to see _ understand. it'sjust heartbreaking to see how— understand. it'sjust heartbreaking to see how it's gone today. he's lied through his teeth, and no doubt thats— lied through his teeth, and no doubt that's the _ lied through his teeth, and no doubt

that's the way the man is. all right. larry — that's the way the man is. fill right, larry byrne there who will be back tomorrow i'm sure do see a little bit more of the evidence that borisjohnson is giving. now the head of the inquiry here has made it clear that the point of the inquiry is not to apportion blame to any personalities, but you can see the strength of feeling here, that certainly there is a true sense that boris johnson's certainly there is a true sense that borisjohnson's reputation is very much on trial here today, and will be tomorrow and evidence resumes in the morning. be tomorrow and evidence resumes in the morning-— the morning. ellie, thanks very much. live now to tim bale, professor of politics at the queen mary university of london, with a specialisation on uk politics and elections. tim, welcome to the programme. what have you made of today's evidence? i don't think we've seen the flashpoints that some perhaps expected and wanted, and clearly

from the interview you've just had, those bereaved families will never be satisfied with borisjohnson's evidence. he played it fairly calmly today, there was some irritation among some people there with his occasionalfailure to among some people there with his occasional failure to recollect what had happened, "i don't know, i don't remember, i don't recall," and that is a problem when you're trying to gather evidence for something, there's obvious he some frustration with those lost whatsapp's, which will be more difficult to get out of borisjohnson what he was thinking at the time then it has been with other witnesses to the inquiry. you will remember _ other witnesses to the inquiry. you will remember the timeline, what did you make of the explanations for the slowness in response injanuary and february? i slowness in response in january and februa ? ., ., �* , slowness in response in january and februa ? ~ . �* , �* , february? i think that's where he's in trouble in _ february? i think that's where he's in trouble in this _ february? i think that's where he's in trouble in this first _ february? i think that's where he's in trouble in this first way, - in trouble in this first way, because it was fairly obvious i think too many scientists, both those advising the government and

those advising the government and those without that something was going very badly wrong. they saw pictures from italy, he talked about those but then said that perhaps in highlight, he should have tweeted earlier, to use his language, that something bad was going to happen. he hasn't really i think got around the accusation that he was slow to act. it's fine to say that in hindsight perhaps he should've banned public gatherings earlier, it's fine to make an apology and talk about shaking people's hands. but we still haven't really got to the truth of quite why there was that delay, even when scientists and his advisers were telling him a couple weeks before we actually locked down that this would be necessary. locked down that this would be necessary-— locked down that this would be necessa . . . , ., ., ~ ., necessary. what did you make of the cluestionin necessary. what did you make of the questioning around _ necessary. what did you make of the | questioning around decision-making, questioning around decision—making, his decision—making and the culture within downing street? because that was so important about when they were making decisions, how they were

making decisions — borisjohnson talked about disparate and difficult colleagues he was working with. yes. colleagues he was working with. yes, sor , colleagues he was working with. yes, sorry. there — colleagues he was working with. yes, sorry. there is _ colleagues he was working with. ye: sorry, there is perhaps an colleagues he was working with. 12: sorry, there is perhaps an extent to which he is blaming other colleagues — he talked about big egos clashing — but he also defended what was going on by suggesting that he allowed that kind of conversation to go on because he thought it was important that people were able to challenge each other. now i guess many people in many workplaces would say that it's one thing to encourage challenging debate, but it's another thing not to discourage challenging behaviour — and it's interesting he made clear that in fact, he did apologise to the deputy cabinet secretary about some things that were said about her by his advisers. just a final thought, because we've had day one of this, day two — do you anticipate perhaps more of the more difficult questions, specifically to borisjohnson, about

that second lockdown? is that what we have coming tomorrow? yes. that second lockdown? is that what we have coming tomorrow?- we have coming tomorrow? yes, i think people _ we have coming tomorrow? yes, i think people will _ we have coming tomorrow? yes, i think people will understand - we have coming tomorrow? yes, i think people will understand it - we have coming tomorrow? yes, i| think people will understand it was incredibly difficult when covid first hit, and there is a degree of sympathy for boris johnson first hit, and there is a degree of sympathy for borisjohnson and some of these around him then. i think the second wave however, which of course killed more people than the first one, people generally think there was less excuse for the government not getting on top of that much quicker since they have the scientific information, they knew full well what covid was like, and if you think about things like eat out to help out, which presumably he signed off on, as well as rishi sunak, they made things worse. so if there will be a flash point, it'll come tomorrow. tim, thank you _ point, it'll come tomorrow. tim, thank you for— point, it'll come tomorrow. tim, thank you for your _ point, it'll come tomorrow. tim, thank you for your time - point, it'll come tomorrow. tim, thank you for your time today, i thank you for your time today, thanks forjoining us on the programme. israel says its troops have entered the heart of southern gaza's largest city, khan younis.

it some of the most intense fighting in khan younis since the fighting began. hospitals in gaza say they are overwhelmed by casualties, with patients lying on blood—stained floors. the united nations says more than 80% of gaza's population have now been driven from their homes. here's our middle east correspondent yolande knell. another neighbourhood crushed after last night's bombardment, stunned residents returning to what is left of their homes in the southern city of khan younis. although israeli tanks have moved in nearby, this area hadn't been given evacuation orders. 0ne palestinian mother says she doesn't know how her family survived. translation: suddenly the bomb hit us. - you wouldn't know where it came from. it was a miracle that we were pulled from under the rubble. my head was injured. my daughter and son were hurt, all of us, we were all injured. further north, these are some of the latest victims of heavy bombing in one of the most intense

stages of this two—month long war. this cemetery is all that is left and a mass grave is now being dug. —— has nose left. we're told all of the dead here were displaced families who had already fled from their homes seeking safety. a sharp rise in the civilian death toll in gaza and a humanitarian crisis, which the un says is getting worse by the hour, all adds to international disquiet and pressure on israel. it says the only way to end this war quickly is to use crushing force against hamas. but there is domestic pressure on the israeli government. some relatives of the more than 130 people still held hostage in gaza went to meet the war cabinet yesterday. it says it's prioritising bringing home their loved ones, but many don't buy it. this israeli news site was given a leaked recording of one recently—released woman who left her husband in captivity.

you put politics above returning the hostages. my husband used to beat himself up every day, punch himself in the face until he bled because he could not bear it, and now he's alone, god knows in what condition. and you only think about the regime, to bring down hamas. the latest reports suggest israeli forces expect this stage of their offensive in gaza to last for several more weeks. for the families of israeli hostages and the palestinians living amidst the brutal fighting, that's a fearful prospect. israel's strategy, let me tell you in the last 5—10 minutes, israel's five minutes dutch prime minister say israeli forces are encircling the house of the hamas leader. he

said, i i set our forces could the house of the hamas leader. he said, i i set ourforces could reach anywhere in the gaza strip. today they are circling his house. his house may not be as fortress and he can escape, but it's only a matter of time before we get him." so those comments from benjamin netanyahu released in a video statement in the last little while. benjamin that yahoo said it can only be achieved through crushing force. —— benjamin netanyahu. earlier, michael 0ren, former israeli ambassador to the united states, told us more about the role of israel on the palestinian death toll. it has everything to do with the numbers, because it is fighting against an enemy that is hiding behind this palestinian civilians. we have notjust a moral interest, keep this in mind, we also have a strategic interest. the idf, the israeli defence forces needs time and space to complete this battle.

and every civilian death increases pressure on israel, especially from the international community to enforce a ceasefire. a ceasefire means hamas gets away with mass murder. a ceasefire means that we lose the viability of this country. so there is tremendous at the state, israel has every interest, moral as well as strategic. but on the strategy, as well as obviously the world watching simply the number of palestinian civilians being killed, you heard what the us defence secretary was saying, that there is a huge danger here for israel that you emerge from this with a military victory, perhaps, but a broader strategic failure in terms of what you done, and what you have pushed palestinians into. we don't know that. we know that israel has fought wars since i9lr8. sure, but that the danger, isn't it? he is right about that, that is the danger. israel has fought wars again and again since i9lr8, and some of our enemies have internalised that making war against us is not a good idea. it's better to make peace with us. that's true of egypt and jordan

and the four signatories to the abraham accords. so, not true every time we defend ourselves we create more enemies. sometimes when we defend ourselves we get friends. and i think there is going to be a growing number of palestinians who also internalise that the hamas way is not the way to ensure the best future for their children and grandchildren. at the end of the day we still have no choice. we have to internalise this. this is not a matter of choice for this country. it's a matter of life and death for this country. and, yes, it's terribly tragic and painful that hamas is hiding behind its civilian population. you say that you have no choice. the tactics of course are a choice. if you are a palestinian civilian told to evacuate, where should they go? any way we can possibly tell them to leave or stop but we are in a very difficult situation where hamas is actually moving with the civilian population. we tell the civilian population to move out of an area, hamas moves with the civilian population. that's not an answer, though. where is safe for palestinian civilians to go in the knowledge that they will be hit by the sort

of bombardment that we are seeing? we will do the utmost to move them out of those areas. again, we are dealing with... sorry to interrupt you again, but that is not an answer. if you are a palestinian trying to work out — and we have the grid on the screen at the moment — trying to work out where is safe for me, i know i have got to believe, that's what i am being told. but where is safe to go? i mean, there is the area that the un has been saying is a tiny patch of barren land, nothing there, no facilities, no shelter, no water. that is effectively where you are saying 600,000 people should go. we are going to move them wherever they can possibly be moved and urge them to move. we urge them to move any place we believe combat is going to take place. you are not going to accept my answer, but that is the answer. if you have a better answer for defending your country, i'd like to hear it. because you don't have one, certainly.

we have to win this war. the un secretary—general is giving comments as we speak, talking about this war. let me take you through a few of the things he's been saying, because he said there is no effective protection for civilians in gaza, repeating again that nowhere is safe. he has warned the security council that the war in gaza may aggravate existing threats to international peace and security, and just saying in the last couple of moments, public order in gaza is likely to completely break down soon. we are also being told by antonio guterres that he's delivered a letter to the president of the security council invoking article 99 of the un charter, it's the first time he's done that since he became secretary—general — article 99 states that the secretary—general may bring the attention of the security council any matter which he believes may threaten the maintenance of international peace

and security. so that letter has gonein and security. so that letter has gone in and the strongest comments yet coming to us from the un secretary—general. more on that here in a moment or two. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. saudi arabia has announced long term tax incentives to foreign firms which locate their regional headquarters there. firms will receive benefits, including a 30—year exemption from corporate income tax. the country's finance minister said the measure would give multinationals greater stability. the world's biggest oil exporter wants to become a business hub with a more diverse economy. k—pop superstars blackpink have renewed their agency contract, ensuring that the group will continue to perform together. formed in 2016, blackpink has become the world's biggest k—pop girl group. the renewed contract follows months of negotiations, during which there were rumours the group might split up.

their official youtube channel has more than 92 million subscribers. tributes have been paid to denny laine, the lead singer of the legendary �*60s band the moody blues, who has died at the age of 79. he was also in the group wings with sir paul and linda mccartney, co—writing mull of kintyre, which famously outsold any beatles single in the uk. you're live with bbc news. we're nearing the midway point of the united nations climate summit in dubai, with some critics saying not enough is being accomplished. the un's climate chief simon stiell has accused nations of "posturing," urging them to reach an ambitious deal to meet climate goals. today, the cop28 summit shifted to the impact transport and urban envrionments are having on climate. experts, as well as representatives from nations across the globe, highlighting their efforts to make cities more sustainable. but there's concern about disagreements over the wording

of the summit�*s final text. 0ur correspondent carl nasman has more. in many ways, it's a tale of two weeks into bite here at the cup 28 summit. this first week, we have seen a flurry of pledges and promises and agreements, many of them seeing as positive steps forward. the headliner was launching the loss and damage fund after 30 years, and the other agreement was by 100 nations to triple their renewable energy capacity and double their energy efficiency. of course, these are just pledges, so now the challenge will be as we approach week two to start gathering this pledges together and agree to put them down in writing, and to make them down in writing, and to make them part of a final text to come out of cop 28. the trouble is, you need every single country here to agree on that text — there are around 200 countries. so it's difficult sony gosens haven't —— so

negotiations have been slow going. simon still basically prodding countries, saying we need to move faster and ambition, we need a bullet train to speed through this climate ambition and climate progress —— simon steele. so that will be the challenge in week two, and we will see as these final days play out, what kind of language and agreements make it into that final text. :, , agreements make it into that final text. . , ., . , f~ agreements make it into that final text. . , ., �*, text. the latest from cup 28. let's no text. the latest from cup 28. let's to back text. the latest from cup 28. let's go back to — text. the latest from cup 28. let's go back to the _ text. the latest from cup 28. let's go back to the live _ text. the latest from cup 28. let's go back to the live pictures - text. the latest from cup 28. let's go back to the live pictures from l go back to the live pictures from khan younis —— copp 28. that different image looking into the nasser hospital in khan younis, so much as focus there because the casualty numbers continue to grow, and referred from the un secretary—general in the last little while saying there is no protective

civilians dust protection for civilians dust protection for civilians in gaza, and the warning that the war may aggravate existing peace and order, likely to break down completely in gaza. he talked about 1.1 million people seeking refuge in facilities in gaza, creating undignified, overcrowded, on democrat unhygienic conditions, going on to say the health care system in gaza is collapsing with hospitals turned into battlegrounds. so that again, really strong comments from the un secretary—general. that's it for now, i'm back with the headlines in just a moment. hello there. earlier on today, there were about 20 flood warnings in england. we could see the numbers rising in the next few days, because we've got spells of wet and windy weather heading our way, and some higher temperatures, as well. and this is the first belt of cloud starting to bring some rain this evening into more

western areas of the uk. that's going to run eastwards, and into the cold air, it was very cold start in scotland today, and it's remained below freezing in some places. any mist and fog in east anglia will tend to lift as the wind picks up, and that wet weather moves in. briefly some snow over the tops of the pennines. could be quite dicey, particularly if you're travelling along the a9 in scotland overnight with some snow over the hills, icy conditions as well, maybe turning back to rain towards the end of the night, as temperatures start to rise above freezing by thursday morning. we're getting milder air coming in from the atlantic. the winds are picking up as well. it's going to be a southerly wind that heads our way into thursday. and we've got more rain coming in from the west. so after some wet weather overnight, the second band of rain coming in here — this could be heavier rain, there may be an inch or two of rain over the hills of southwest england, south wales, and southwest scotland. now the rain takes all day to reach east anglia in the southeast, by which time it may

well have cleared away from northern ireland. but it's going to be a windy day on thursday. the winds could be touching gale force around coastal areas, but temperatures are going to be higher than today. 7—8 celsius in scotland and eastern parts of england is an improvement, and double figures are likely in northern ireland, west wales, and the southwest of england. that band of rain continues eastwards during tomorrow evening out into the north sea, lingering up towards shetland on friday. the main driver is that area of low pressure, and it's going to wander eastwards across the uk. there may be some early sunshine across eastern areas, but cloud will increase what these showers, the longer spells of rain wrapped around the low. and on friday, it's still quite windy across southern areas of the uk. celsius in scotland and maybe 12—13 in the southeast of england. now into the weekend and we keep this run of west—to—southwesterly winds coming in.

all our weather continues to pile in from the atlantic. now, it's not going to be a complete wash—out this weekend. there will be some sunshine and maybe a few showers in between. these spells of rain coming in from the west, driven on by some strong winds which should keep it on the mild side. live from london, this is bbc news.

main headlines as have power, boris johnson admits his government underestimated the challenge of the covid—19 pandemic and apologises to families who lost loved ones. competing claims about how the uk pandemic death toll compares with other countries. the un says nowhere is safe in gaza as israeli soldiers continue to surround three different areas of gaza. sac asam secretary last month says the conservatives face electoral oblivion if they get the policy wrong. promising reforms following the deaths of football fans campaigners say it falls short.

let's head to the sportscenter. the football association is complained about the behaviour of former spanish football president who was banned from the sport for three years after his performance of the women's world cup finals forcibly kissing jenny without her consent during the ceremony. 0n the right of rubiales, disciplinary hearing, he seemingly forcefully kissed the england player on the face and stroked the face of the england player when asked to give evidence, for written reasons they have not been released by the world governing body. extending their lead of the english premier league, the

liverpool and manchester city to try and close