hello. i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we start with the growing tensions in the middle east — against the backdrop of the israel—gaza war. an exchange of missiles between iran and pakistan stokes fears of wider regional escalation. and a scathing report concludes the police response to the uvalde school massacre in texas was a failure. we start with the growing tensions in the middle east — against the backdrop of the israel—gaza war. iran and its proxies are involved in exchanges of ground fire and air strikes across multiple countries. in yemen, us strikes targeted houthi positions

for the fifth time in a week. us central command confirms they destroyed two houthi anti—ship missiles that were heading towards the southern red sea. this comes one day after the us re—designated houthi fighters that are backed by iran, as global terrorists, citing their ongoing attacks against ships in the red sea. meanwhile iran condemned a missile attack on its own territory from neighbouring pakistan. state television says nine people were killed. it comes two days after iran ordered its own strikes across the border which are thought to have killed two children, and focused the world's attention on the troubled frontier region between the two countries known as balochistan. militant groups on both sides are thought to be based there, and it's also an area rife with cross—border drug trafficking. both iran and pakistan claim they're now targetting the militant groups hiding out in the mountainous region,

resulting in an increasingly strained relationship, between the two countries. in a moment we'll hearfrom the bbc�*s farhat javed who's in balochistan. but first, caroline davies has the latest from the pakistani capital, islamabad. rubble and dust. the aftermath of today's strike by pakistan in iran. nine killed, say iran's state media, children and women among them. pakistan says this was about national security. pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated, and specifically targeted, precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in sistan and baluchestan province of iran. this action is a manifestation of pakistan's unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats. most are seeing pakistan's attack

as a response to this — iran's missile strike inside pakistan two days ago, on what it claims was a terrorist base. pakistan says two children died. iran's justification is strikingly similar to pakistan's. translation: we won'tl allow them to play games with our national security. when it comes to the security of our country, we won't stand upon ceremony with terrorists in pakistan. iran has been trying to show its strength in the region with strikes in syria and iraq too. now it's seen a strike on its own soil and there are fears things could escalate. despite this strike, pakistan says it doesn't want a fight. and you can see the background to this. the economy here is weak. there's political instability. there's an election due in less than a month, and there are already difficult relations with india and neighbouring afghanistan. iran, too, has plenty occupying it, but there's real concern about how it might react.

the hope is that they would use one of the many channels they have available to them, foreign office, the embassy in islamabad, the military channels that it has open to it, in order to reach out and try and de—escalate the situation. and there are some indications that that might actually be the case. but considering that the first strike itself was unprecedented, so what iran does next from a kinetic standpoint is anybody�*s guess. iran has condemned pakistan's attack. the question is, will that be all it does? caroline davies, bbc news, islamabad. well the remote province of balochistan is located in the far south—west corner of pakistan, and bordering iran, and farhat tayeb who's there sent us this report. the timing is very important. this escalation has occurred just days before a general election in park —— in pakistan, where an interim government is in place and election campaigning is in full

swing. this is an unprecedented incident between two nations that otherwise boast of historically brotherly ties. iran and pakistan have long been accusing each other of harbouring militant groups. we seek people are supporting pakistan's response. it could raise escalation between the two countries but they also think this was needed to bring both the countries, to get both the countries to step back from the countries to step back from the brink. well let's look closer at iran's motivations with abbas milani. he's the founder and director of the iranian studies program at stanford, as well as a founding co—director of the iran democracy project and research fellow at the hoover institution. thank you so much forjoining us. first, ilike thank you so much forjoining us. first, i like to start by asking you why did iran think it was worth the risk of

upsetting the pakistani government in order to conduct these strikes?— these strikes? well, trying to fiaure these strikes? well, trying to figure out _ these strikes? well, trying to figure out the _ these strikes? well, trying to figure out the rationality - these strikes? well, trying to figure out the rationality of i figure out the rationality of the iranian regime is sometimes very difficult. but i think under these circumstances, iran has been hit several times over the last two or three weeks, so the last two or three weeks, so the commanders or proxies have been hit in lebanon, in syria, the second in command of the brigade was assassinated. and iran, because it considers itself to be a powerful force in the region, needed to respond. there was a lot of rhetoric that all of these attacks will not remain unretaliated. and they put themselves in this corner. but clearly i think they miscalculated what the pakistanis could do if they attacked d0 pakistanis could do if they attacked , ., ~ attacked do you think pakistan's _ attacked do you think pakistan's response l attacked do you think i pakistan's response will attacked do you think - pakistan's response will put this issue to bed? everything i

see from the _ this issue to bed? everything i see from the iranian _ this issue to bed? everything i see from the iranian side, - this issue to bed? everything i see from the iranian side, the | see from the iranian side, the rhetoric, the announcement the foreign ministry made, the announcement many of the elements within the regime have made, clearly indicates they don't want an expansion of this war. the iranian economy is very much like the pakistani economy, it's really — iran is having an election very soon, by all indications it's not going to be very popularly participated in. so the regime feels isolated. but the regime needs to also keep its posture of being a tough bully in the neighbourhood.— of being a tough bully in the neighbourhood. right. and the last iranian _ neighbourhood. right. and the last iranian elections _ neighbourhood. right. and the last iranian elections had - neighbourhood. right. and the last iranian elections had low l last iranian elections had low participation as well. so, domestically from what you can gather, given the problems at home, given the economic issues you're describing, is there support for a lot of these regional activities that the irgc, the revolutionary guards

are conducting abroad? it’s are conducting abroad? it's very difficult _ are conducting abroad? it's very difficult to _ are conducting abroad? it�*s very difficult to poll in iran, iran is an authoritarian society, it doesn't allow for free polling. but every indication that i have seen is the people of iran are not happy with these incidents. the amount of money that iran is spending on the proxy war, the amount of money that iran has spent in gaza, in lebanon, among the houthis, supporting some of the proxies in iraq, it's in the billions. and the iranian youth are unemployed, iranian youth are unemployed, iranian currency is reeling. in 1978, one dollar would buy you... now it would buy 55,000. these people are increasingly dissatisfied with the regime and i think the regime knows

it. ithink and i think the regime knows it. i think pakistan knows it, i think iran knows it, mr netanyahu knows it, and all of them are trying to take the message to iran that we know how isolated you are. and that's one of the reasons that i think in the last few weeks iranian officials close to the regime have hinted, dangerously, that iran might be making a new announcement on the nuclear front.— making a new announcement on the nuclear front.- to - the nuclear front. right. to me, the nuclear front. right. to me. that's _ the nuclear front. right. to me, that's one _ the nuclear front. right. to me, that's one of— the nuclear front. right. to me, that's one of the - the nuclear front. right. to | me, that's one of the things the nuclear front. right. to . me, that's one of the things to watch for. me, that's one of the things to watch for-— watch for. right. and of course. _ watch for. right. and of course, given _ watch for. right. and of course, given those - watch for. right. and of- course, given those historic protests we witnessed, the women—led protests, yes, the dissatisfaction is evident in the iran. why does iran rely on these proxy wars, on its backing of hamas, hezbollah, the houthis, what is its end game here? i the houthis, what is its end game here?— the houthis, what is its end came here? ~ ., game here? i think the end game clearl b game here? i think the end game clearly by what — game here? i think the end game clearly by what they've _ game here? i think the end game clearly by what they've done - clearly by what they've done and what they say is two—fold. 0ne and what they say is two—fold. one is to use these proxies in

the order forstall one is to use these proxies in the orderforstall or one is to use these proxies in the order forstall or delay or make impossible attacks by israel. part of its strategic posture. they're clearly unambiguously and in reality forces the regime has used in the past and threatens to use again, if the iranian populous rises up against them. in the last uprising they clearly brought hezbollah units, they brought hezbollah units, they brought iraqi shia units and marched them in iranian cities and indicated if the natives become too restive, we can bring these other forces from outside iran, because i think they realise even their own security forces are beginning to feel isolated and beginning to feel isolated and beginning to feel isolated and beginning to feel weakened. mr to feel isolated and beginning to feel weakened.— to feel weakened. mr milani, thank you — to feel weakened. mr milani, thank you for _ to feel weakened. mr milani, thank you for your _ to feel weakened. mr milani, thank you for your time. - to feel weakened. mr milani, thank you for your time. we l thank you for your time. we really appreciate it. well, as israeli forces continue their assault in southern gaza, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says he has

told the us he opposes an existing palestinian state in any post—war scenario. washington has long maintained that agreeing to a pathway to a palestinian state is the only way to achieve a lasting peace between israelis and palestinians. the us has been quick to respond. white house national security spokesperson john kirby said of netanyahu's comments, "we obviously see it differently." kirby also said presidentjoe biden would not stop working toward a two—state solution. for the latest on the war, mark lowen sent this update from jerusalem. well, in the south of gaza, they have reported the heaviest fighting so far this year, with intense military air strikes by israel around khan younis, the largest city in the south of gaza, and rafah as well, with the israeli defence forces saying dozens have been killed as they say, terrorists, and

the hamas—run health ministry says 93 people were killed in overnight strikes, and that they — there's real concern for those sheltering around nasah hospital, the largest still functioning in the south of gaza where intense fighting is taking place. the israelis say they're targeting terror cells in the vicinity of the hospital, but remember more than half of the hospitals in gaza are completely out of operation, only 15 of the 36 in the territory are still partially functioning. the number sheltering in the south of gaza are enormous. rafah had a pre—war population of 280,000, it's now over one million. so, there's a huge concern over the israeli air strikes in that area. now, meanwhile, the — the aid and the medicines that qatar and france managed to strike a deal on, with the israelis and palestinians, have now come into gaza. this is much needed

medicine for some a0 or so hostages, israeli hostages being held by hamas in need of medicines and also medical aid for palestinians in gaza that israel has agreed to, as part of this deal. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. thousands of public sector workers in northern ireland have staged rallies during what was billed as the country's largest strike in 50 years. more than 100,000 public sector workers took part, calling for increased pay and better conditions. the strikes caused major disruption, with most bus and train services being cancelled, and schools closed. health services were also disrupted. tata steel is to go ahead with plans to close both blast furnaces at its port talbot factory in south wales. up to 3,000 jobs could go, with a formal announcement expected on friday.

the company is due to replace the furnaces with an electric version, which is more environmentally friendly, but needs fewer workers. and the prince of wales has visited his wife catherine in hospital as she recovers from her surgery. the princess of wales is said to be doing well in her recovery. catherine has spent her second night in hospital after a successful, planned abdominal surgery at the london clinic private hospital. you're live with bbc news. well, here in washington, the congress has approved legislation to fund the government through to the end of february. that's as it scrambles to avoid a partial shutdown on saturday. the measure passed the senate by 77 votes to 18 — more than clearing the 60 votes needed. it then passed the house of representatives 31a to 108, and is expected to be signed into law by presidentjoe biden later. but a bigger battle looms over the final budget, and over stalled legislation

to send aid to ukraine. the republican—led house says it will not entertain the plan unless democrats agreed to a severe crackdown at the us—mexico border. democrats are still at odds over how much to concede on republicans' border demands. now, to a scathing report looking into the deadly 2022 school shooting in uvalde, texas. the us attorney general, merrick garland, has called the police response a failure, that should not have happened. mr garland spoke after the release of a highly critical report which said officers demonstrated no sense of urgency nor coordination in their response to the incident. when the gunman burst into robb elementary school on may 2ath, 2022, hundreds of police officers rushed to the scene but it took

more than an hour for them to confront him. in that time, the gunman killed 19 students and 2 teachers. that delay sparked outrage among the victims' families and across the us. it also prompted the us department ofjustice to investigate, producing today's report that runs 600 pages long. it found "cascading failures of leadership, decision—making, "tactics, policy and training". some victim's members were there — some victim's members were there when the shooting took place — that includes alfred garza, whose10—year—old daughter ameriejoe garza was killed. alfred has been critical of the law enforcement response, and spoke to me just a short while ago. thank you so much for your time. i can't imagine how difficult this is for you right

now. i realise a report like this is not going to bring back your daughter but does it bring any sense of closure to you? not closure yet. you know, i understand for some families and survivors of the —— families of the survivors and people who lost children this can be retraumatising in a sense, even for myself but i do realise something like this could open that door to what we ultimately want, and that is the accountability portion of this whole ordeal. as far as i know, the report was very extensive and detailed and they spent a lot of man—hours on this report and brought in a lot of experts, interviews and hopefully some of this information that is out in this report will help us expedite

that process for accountability. that process for accountabili . ., ., , accountability. you have been -ushina accountability. you have been pushing for — accountability. you have been pushing for accountability - accountability. you have been pushing for accountability for| pushing for accountability for some time. what does accountability look like to you after this report? i mean, there is no question that mistakes were made. there were plenty of mistakes made and unfortunately they cost lives, potentially cost lives. you know, it is one thing to make a mistake and a mcdonald's drive—through, hey you missed about order. but these mistakes cost lives, people die because of these mistakes. and somebody needs to be held accountable for that, you know. the fact that so many, a lot of what this report has stated, we already knew a lot of it, for the most part. butjust the

fact that these people were standing in this hallway for so long and doing nothing, you know, it isjust long and doing nothing, you know, it is just a hard long and doing nothing, you know, it isjust a hard pill to swallow. a hard pill to swallow when these people signed up for what they signed up for and then they are in this hallway with this guy in this classroom full of children and then they do nothing. that's, it is very infuriating. so... i hope that this extensive report bring some type of accountability to whomever it falls upon. before i let you go i also want to ask you because your community still depends on police forces for protection but what is that relationship like right now between the community and the police? i between the community and the olice? ~' . ., , police? i think the community has lost a _ police? i think the community has lost a lot _ police? i think the community has lost a lot of _ police? i think the community has lost a lot of respect - police? i think the community has lost a lot of respect for i has lost a lot of respect for our local law enforcement and

it isjust, it— it—i can't even begin, you know what i mean? there is a lot of respect that has been lost for our local law enforcement. i personally don't, i don't believe they could help me in a situation where my life was in danger anymore. especially because of this situation. you know, i think, pretty much what they are good for is giving tickets. you know? iwill are good for is giving tickets. you know? i will be honest with you, they are good for stopping you, they are good for stopping you when you do something. if their life is not in danger they are probably good for that. but if there is a real threat presenting itself, i don't think they would do good in that situation at all. they have already proved that. and, before i have already proved that. and, before i let _ have already proved that. and, before i let you _ have already proved that. and, before i let you go, _ have already proved that. and, before i let you go, could - have already proved that. and, before i let you go, could you | before i let you go, could you just remind us and tell us

about your daughter and for people who have not been following this as closely and are dealing with the reality of these children whose lives entered far too soon, your child was only ten years old, what is it you remember most about her?— about her? her touch. that's, that is something _ about her? her touch. that's, that is something that, - about her? her touch. that's, that is something that, you i that is something that, you know, that. i remember like yesterday i was looking at pictures that we attended, i have a set of twin sister said they had a sweet 16 and my daughter, that is the photo she was wearing the purple dress and we took a photo together and we took a photo together and i can remember that they vividly. i can remember that day, the last day i spend with her and leanne ho had disconnection like no other. she was a lot like me. she was very quickwitted, like to play jokes and laugh a lot, all the time. it was no serious business. when me and her were

together it was playtime pretty much. we were always on each other and getting on each other�*s cases and making fun of each other, roasting each other and just played pranks on each other. stuff like that. so, she was very much like me and what i miss most isjust her touch. she was a very happy person. she was a very happy person. she liked to see others laugh. she liked to see others laugh. she was very outgoing, outspoken person. i mean, i miss her dearly. i'm about to have another child now. we got one coming here soon probably any day now and i know she would have been very happy to know that she was going to have another addition to the family, another addition to the family, another baby sister. and, you know, that is what we think about a lot. what would life be like if she was still here versus what life is like now she is not. so that is the aspect of what we like to think

about, what would life be like if she was still here and just never forget her. if she was still here and just neverforget her. i if she was still here and just never forget her. i think about her all the time. she is on my facebook wallpaper— sorry, my phone box screen. every time i pick up my bone she is there. i see her every day all day and you know... see her every day all day and you know- - -_ see her every day all day and ou know... ., ~' , . you know... thank you very much for sharing _ you know... thank you very much for sharing that _ you know... thank you very much for sharing that with _ you know... thank you very much for sharing that with us. - you know... thank you very much for sharing that with us. and - for sharing that with us. and also my warmest, warmest feelings and congratulations you have another child coming. so, thank you so much for your time and sharing this with us, especially on a day like today that as you said i'm sure rings up that as you said i'm sure rings up a lot of really difficult emotions for you. yes, thank ou. emotions for you. yes, thank you- that _ emotions for you. yes, thank you. that was _ emotions for you. yes, thank you. that was alfred - emotions for you. yes, thank you. that was alfred garcia i emotions for you. yes, thank i you. that was alfred garcia and there are more _ you. that was alfred garcia and there are more details - you. that was alfred garcia and there are more details from - you. that was alfred garcia and | there are more details from the police report on our website. and of course so much of what alfred garcia there has also detailed is detailed on a website so please go and read it. award season is in full swing.

we now have the bafta's nominees for the top british films and tv series of 2023. our culture editor katie razzall has more. discharged — and preparing for glory, is this the year director christopher nolan wins his first ever bafta? we are in a race against the nazi. 0ppenheimer has 13 nominations, including best actor for cillian murphy, as the theoretical physicist behind the atomic bomb. this is the best day ever... is the best day ever! maybe not the best day for barbie with just five chances of a win next month. the most popular movie across the world last year but not in the running for best film. producer, margot robbie is up for best actress. gothic romance saltburn also has five nominations including 0utstanding british film.

its writer—director is emerald fennell. saltburn is an entirely british crew. we were over 50% women on our cast and crew as well, which meant a great deal to us. so to win a bafta means the world to us. this is bella... the fantastical coming—of—age comedy poor things has 11 nominations. and the heartwarming 19705 drama the holdovers has 7 nominations. including the curmudgeonly teacher and the grieving mother. it means a lot. i used to call it when i was younger the british 0scars, so to me it feels like ijust got nominated for an oscar today. but amongst bafta's emissions, martin scorsese is not on best director list for killers of the flower moon. his true crime story

about the murders of native americans is up for best film, but neither leonardo dicaprio or lily gladstone are nominated. the oscar winner robert de niro is. it would be his first ever bafta win. katie rasul, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. the cold wintry snap continued on thursday with more snow that's been accumulating across parts of northern scotland also northern ireland, around some exposed coast of england and wales as well. this was the picture in highland. we've got several centimetres even right down to sea level, up to a0 centimetres over the higher ground. now, still a cold day to come on friday, with some more snow. but milder, windier and wetter weather arrives as we head through the course of the weekend. 0vernight, snow continuing to pile in across northern and western scotland in particular. few showers, perhaps northern ireland, north—west england. so some slippery conditions as we start the day on friday, around some western areas in particular. temperatures, i think at 6:00 in the morning, around about —2, —3 for many of us, a little bit milder, perhaps under the cloud cover across parts of western scotland

with the breeze picking up, too. we're going to continue to see snow across scotland, but it'll mainly be over the higher ground because later in the day at lower levels, that is going to turn back to rain showers, as that slightly milder air moves in. for much of northern ireland, england and wales, mist and fog clear away through the day to leave some sunshine and temperatures will be at that little bit less cold than recent days. so we're looking at highs between around about a—6 degrees friday afternoon for most of us. and then as we move through into the weekend, we've got this area of high pressure which then moves its way out towards the southeast and that opens the doors for atlantic weather fronts to move their way in. so bringing some rain, some wind and some milder air, you can see the yellow and orange colours returning to the map as that arctic air gets squeezed away towards the east. so for saturday, some fairly heavy rain across parts of england and wales, particularly the further north you are, further south and east should stay mostly dry. could be some more rain across parts of scotland and northern ireland as well later on in the day. just wintry over the highest peaks but i think for most it

will be falling as rain. still relatively cool in the south and the east, six or seven, but double figures further west. into sunday, the next frontal system moves in. so it's really this central swathe of the british isles that are going to be particularly wet. windy, ithink, wherever you are on sunday. gales around exposed coasts and hills too. temperatures in the low teens possibly for some of us in the south. single figures further north. the outlook for the course of next week is for the much milder weather to return but it will also be windy and often unsettled too. bye— bye.

the cost of living — inflation injapan hits the highest level in more than four decades last year. is this the end of its lost decades? hi there. welcome to the asia business report. we start in the red sea because yemen's houthi movement says it has targeted another ship in the gulf of aden with naval

missiles. this is the latest attack