air strikes, there has been previous air strikes, there has been continual attacks on the houthi player magga and it is justified for them to strike again. they say they would be willing to continue to strike if necessary if there is not a de—escalation. strike if necessary if there is not a de-escalation._ strike if necessary if there is not a de-escalation. ., ~ , ., , . a de-escalation. thank you very much for that update. _ a de-escalation. thank you very much for that update. chris _ a de-escalation. thank you very much for that update. chris mason - a de-escalation. thank you very much for that update. chris mason from - for that update. chris mason from westminster.

as we come on air, more developments in the middle east, with reports of the us and uk beginning morejoint airstrikes against houthi targets in yemen. we'll have the latest. it come as israeli hostage families have come to britain to plead with the prime minister to try to help them resolve the regional crisis. we speak to the brother of twins who are held by hamas.

mounting anger inside israel, where the families of hostages stormed the knesset, about netanyahu's response to the crisis. i'll bejoined by liran, whose brothers are still being held hostage in gaza. we also hearfrom unicef on the ground in south gaza about the horrors children are facing there. every child in gaza has been traumatised. they have to be. almost every child has been displaced. has witnessed the absolute horrors of war that no child should have to witness. also tonight, millions of parents in england are being contacted by the nhs and urged to have their children vaccinated against measles. from the west midlands, where is a lower take—up of the vaccine and there is a highly contagious outbreak, we speak to young parents whose three—month—old baby has contracted the disease. as new hampshire prepares for tomorrow's republican primary, when nikki haley and donald trump

square up, we are there, and we're in illinois to witness the impact of abortion restrictions, an issue thatjo biden wants to make central to the presidential election. and we report from northern ireland, where the dup are still refusing to return to storment and kick—start power—sharing, after an impasse lasting 23 months and counting. and we look at the real—life cost of the stormont crisis in northern ireland. ifi if i can spend the time that i have left advocating for those affected by cancer, then they can sit around a table. good evening. major developments in the middle east as we come on air tonight, with reports of a possible deal for a pause in the fighting in israel. in a moment, i'll bejoined by the brother of twins who are hostages in gaza, who arrived here in the uk to meet rishi sunak and other member of the government

and the opposition, asking the politicians to put pressure on qatar, to "pick a side" and put pressure on hamas. however, the axios news site — just a single source — is reporting the germ of a deal to pause the fighting for two months, in return for the release of all hostages. mark's here to talk about that but also about the news that the uk and the us have mounted a second joint attack against the houthis in yemen, who have been attacking ships in the red sea. what do you know? this was the ei . hth what do you know? this was the eighth round _ what do you know? this was the eighth round of— what do you know? this was the eighth round of strikes _ what do you know? this was the eighth round of strikes but - what do you know? this was the eighth round of strikes but the i eighth round of strikes but the second in which the uk was involved. all of the others were conducted by the us. the pentagon says they ate targets. they are focusing on underground storage of missiles, apparently, and as surveillance radar that has been used by the s. radar that has been used by the 5. that was the aim. has said that four typhoon aircraft took part. we know

the uk has been dropping bombs, the us has been eating fighters from the eisenhower carrier strike group, and perhaps some cruise missiles. in that sense, it's more of the same. but it might be seen by others like iran as an escalation? i but it might be seen by others like iran as an escalation?— iran as an escalation? i wouldn't sa so iran as an escalation? i wouldn't say so because _ iran as an escalation? i wouldn't say so because it's _ iran as an escalation? i wouldn't say so because it's a similar- iran as an escalation? i wouldn't| say so because it's a similar level to the first night of strikes. moise to the first night of strikes. now the sinale to the first night of strikes. now the single source _ to the first night of strikes. now the single source report that there may be a proposal on the table. this is from israel, _ may be a proposal on the table. this is from israel, from _ may be a proposal on the table. ti 3 is from israel, from their correspondence, who is pretty reliable and israel —based. in essence, what happened was we learned in the last couple of days about a proposal through the qatar egypt mediation channel which was rejected by israel because it involved hamas getting all of its people back, including those who had taken part in the massacres of the 7th of october and basically it would leave hamas in power in gaza.

so prime minister benjamin netanyahu rejected that and what we seem to have now is a counter proposal, a two month ceasefire with a phased release of the remaining hostages, we think there are some typically 100 and 110 alive still in gaza. in return, obviously, the release of presumably hundreds if not thousands of palestinian prisoners. what it says then though is that, when that is all done, basically military operations are back on at a reduced level with some kind of israeli withdrawals and other confidence building measures but i think, from a hamas point of view, that will to lead israel in a position where it could hit their leadership in after they had given back the hostages, so i think is not that likely that this one will fly let's see.— i think is not that likely that this one will fly let's see. liran berman, brother of twins ziv and gali, who were kidnapped from their house in kfar aza,

joins me now in the studio. thank you forjoining me strip before i go on to talk about what you were talking to rishi sunak about, let's talk a little bit about the twins, they are 26 and described what your twin brothers alike. the? what your twin brothers alike. they are the light _ what your twin brothers alike. they are the light of _ what your twin brothers alike. tue: are the light of everyone, they are each other best friend. they haven't been separated. they travelled round the world. they work together in the music industry. they support the same football teams, they are my little kids' best uncles. the? same football teams, they are my little kids' best uncles.— little kids' best uncles. they were taken from _ little kids' best uncles. they were taken from home _ little kids' best uncles. they were taken from home that _ little kids' best uncles. they were taken from home that night. - little kids' best uncles. they were taken from home that night. the| taken from home that night. the impact on yourfamily taken from home that night. the impact on your family is incalculable but tell me about your parents. incalculable but tell me about your arents. ., ~ , ~ , parents. thankfully, ithink, my

father doesn't _ parents. thankfully, ithink, my father doesn't realise. - parents. thankfully, ithink, my father doesn't realise. he - parents. thankfully, ithink, my father doesn't realise. he has . father doesn't realise. he has dementia, parkinson's, so the burden is on my mother. she needs to take care of my father. on the other hand, tremendous stress on the little kids, being hostages. so i am doing my part, coming here in the delegation. d0 doing my part, coming here in the delegation-— delegation. do you know anything about their situation _ delegation. do you know anything about their situation since - delegation. do you know anything about their situation since the - about their situation since the first release of other hostages? since then, no, but those released said they saw them separately. they had minor injuries but in the tunnels more than 100 days, even minor injuries can turn into severe injuries. but the relief of them being alive, at least, was tremendous.—

being alive, at least, was tremendous. ., , ., , being alive, at least, was tremendous. ., , ., tremendous. how robust are they as human beings? _ tremendous. how robust are they as human beings? very _ tremendous. how robust are they as human beings? very robust. - tremendous. how robust are they as human beings? very robust. good. l tremendous. how robust are they as i human beings? very robust. good. you saw the prime — human beings? very robust. good. you saw the prime minister _ human beings? very robust. good. you saw the prime minister david _ human beings? very robust. good. you saw the prime minister david up - human beings? very robust. good. you saw the prime minister david up is - saw the prime minister david up is there anything he said that gave you hope? you want him to be advocates of the israeli position whereas some people think it's better if they are the middlemen. it people think it's better if they are the middlemen.— the middlemen. it was one of the first prime _ the middlemen. it was one of the first prime minister— the middlemen. it was one of the first prime minister is _ the middlemen. it was one of the first prime minister is in - the middlemen. it was one of the first prime minister is in the - the middlemen. it was one of the | first prime minister is in the world to support israel and the families since the seventh october, so i thanked him. iasked him to since the seventh october, so i thanked him. i asked him to do more, to keep fighting, to pressure qatar, because we know that qatar has the most leveraged on hamas. they are hosting the leadership. and they are vastly involved in europe. we hosting the leadership. and they are vastly involved in europe.— vastly involved in europe. we saw ima . es

vastly involved in europe. we saw images from _ vastly involved in europe. we saw images from the _ vastly involved in europe. we saw images from the connecticut - vastly involved in europe. we saw images from the connecticut of i vastly involved in europe. we saw i images from the connecticut of other families of hostages protesting inside at the approach netanyahu was taking and now we hear there is the possibility of some kind of proposal coming from israel via the egyptians and qataris of a pause in the fighting. what do you make of that? firstly, for the classic part, i don't want to be in the shoes of decision—making. they don't want to be in my shoes but the decision making of what deal to take and what to give back, i am thinking i am not involved with this. but you can't blame the families. more than 100 days without knowing, suffering, without sleep. you can't blame anyone from the families. regarding the deal, right now, we will take whatever. we need our loved ones back. we need them yesterday, not

today. we will take whatever right now, because it's been crazy, 108 days. now, because it's been crazy, 108 da s. ., ~' , now, because it's been crazy, 108 das. .~g , . now, because it's been crazy, 108| days-_ thank now, because it's been crazy, 108 - days— thank you days. thank you very much. thank you for havin: days. thank you very much. thank you for having me- — the terrible damage and suffering inflicted by hamas on the lives of the hostages and the families of those who were murdered and wounded in the october 7th attack is incalculable and will pass down through generations. so too are the lives and livelihoods and homes of palestinian civilians destroyed, more than 9,000 children killed. the latest figures for deaths in gaza are 25,000, according to the hamas—run health ministry, and 1.9 million gazans displaced. in a moment, we'll be speaking to a member to a nalyst to analyst of the area. first, though, earlier tonight i spoke to hamish young, who works for unicef

in the khan younis governate in the south of gaza. he told me about the plight of the children. every child in gaza has been traumatised. they have to be. almost every child has been displaced. has witnessed the absolute horrors of war that no child should have to witness. many, many, many children have seen their parents killed, family members killed, their communities decimated, even their siblings. so, you know, we assess all children to be in need of, you know, psychological support. obviously, that's something that's going to have to come over time. but also, i can't underestimate some of the physical carnage that we witness on a regular basis. i mean, you've probably heard recently there's been a lot of talk about the numbers. it's over 25,000 people estimated to have been killed by now, around 9,000 children. sometimes, the reality can get lost in those big numbers. we were in a hospital last week

and we met a young boy, 13 years old, who'd been badly injured up north, had been evacuated to the south. he had shrapnel wounds to his hand and just above his heart. the shrapnel wounds in his hand took so long to treat, the gangrene set in, and he had to have his arm amputated above the elbow, without an anaesthetic. and, i mean, that is just beyond belief. so i think it's really important in talking about the numbers to also remember that these are individual children. israel repeatedly says that hamas are using the hospitals for cover. have you seen that yourself? have you witnessed that? you know, i'm not an expert in, you know, military cover or anything like that — we're not there looking for it — but i've absolutely seen nothing of that. we've just seen incredibly dedicated health care workers, working under horrendous conditions, and children and other

patients in just awful, awful circumstances. people are constantly being displaced and then displaced again. what is it... ? and again. can you give me a sense ofjust the roller coaster of every single day for maybe a couple of children, a baby? what is that like? well, the children, obviously, first and foremost, they're all out of school. all schools are closed down. there's a lot of unexploded ordnance around. there's a huge amount of rubbish. there's an increasing amount of sanitation problems, sewerage. and just finally, if you think that we all subscribe, we all sign up to the international rights of the child, what would you say about the way that children are being treated in this conflict? well, the most important of the convention on the rights of the child is the right to life and, you know, too many children have been deprived of that right. children are also entitled

to have the right to the best available health care and they're not getting that. it's a dire situation, and the only thing that will really help is a comprehensive ceasefire, and i can't emphasise that enough. hamish young, thank you very much forjoining us. so what should we make of the report by axios — a news website, and only a single source — that there is the germ of a deal being put forward by israel, through qatari and egyptian mediators, essentially that israel would have a two—month pause in fighting if hamas returns all hostages? there would be an exchange of palestinian prisoners held in israeli jails, though how many of the 6,000 or so is not specified, and there would be a second phase, including the release of female soldiers and the bodies of hostages. joining me is the middle east analyst and former hostage negotiator aaron david miller. thank you forjoining us tonight.

first of all, what do you make of this germ of a proposal that we are hearing about which, of course, has not been double sourced? hat hearing about which, of course, has not been double sourced?— not been double sourced? not only has it not been _ not been double sourced? not only has it not been double _ not been double sourced? not only has it not been double sourced, - not been double sourced? not only| has it not been double sourced, it's in line with the capacity of what we know and don't know about the hostage situations since the inception of this crisis. we have no indication of a statement of the hostages being held. we have very little access into negotiations with the qataris, egyptians and israelis have been involved in four weeks. i think this proposal reflects pressure on the government of israel, and the prime minister is under enormous pressure from hostage families, protesting outside his residence. i think there is a recognition on the part of the israeli defence forces that the

tactics they have pursued on the ground are frankly wasting assets and not achieving their goals through artillery and air strikes. we have already seen the escalation in gaza city. i expect within weeks you will see the same in central gaza and the south. as to this proposal, it's going to have to involve an asymmetrical trade of palestinian prisoners and, whether or not hamas would agree to a two—month pause and not a permanent cessation of hostilities is unclear. this proposal suggests things are moving in the right direction. this moving in the right direction. as ou moving in the right direction. as you say, also if hamas was to give up you say, also if hamas was to give up all the hostages, what does it have left in its hand?— up all the hostages, what does it have left in its hand? well, i guess that is the point. _ have left in its hand? well, i guess that is the point. what _ have left in its hand? well, i guess that is the point. what it _ have left in its hand? well, i guess that is the point. what it wants - have left in its hand? well, i guess that is the point. what it wants is l that is the point. what it wants is all of the palestinian prisoners' club, 6,000 to 7,000 in israeli

jails, and it wants a permanent cessation of histology is. the israelis are never going to provide this because whether or not they agree to a pause for two months, the intention is to eliminate the three key leaders who were responsible for the october the 7th terrorist attack. yahya sinwar and muhammad deif. they are in the structure beneath khan younis. so i would argue the israelis will operate at some level in gaza for months to come. 50 some level in gaza for months to come. , ., �*, ., ., some level in gaza for months to come. , ., �*, ., , come. so is netanyahu's game to buy himself more — come. so is netanyahu's game to buy himself more time _ come. so is netanyahu's game to buy himself more time and _ come. so is netanyahu's game to buy himself more time and power- come. so is netanyahu's game to buy| himself more time and power because he feels inevitably that the end of all this, there will be an election and possibly, he will be out? you

know, it is _ and possibly, he will be out? you know, it is hard _ and possibly, he will be out? you know, it is hard to _ and possibly, he will be out? gm. know, it is hard to know. he is on trial for know, it is hard to know. he is on trialfor bribery, injuries trial for bribery, injuries and district court before three judges. he testifies next month —— in a jerusalem district court. at his own trial. clearly, he must remain prime minister to have any chance of beating this indictment. and avoiding jail time, assuming within a yearfrom now avoiding jail time, assuming within a year from now that there is a conviction or a plea bargain in which... i make a prediction to you that by next time this year, there will be a different government in israel. it will be a right of centre governments, but it will lack the extremism and the political decision—making of this one. so decision-making of this one. so let's decision—making of this one. so let's move now to the news tonight that there has been a second joint strike by the uk and the us on the houthis in yemen, what you make of that? , , ., , .,, ., ., that? this is a problem without a solution. that? this is a problem without a solution- if _ that? this is a problem without a solution. if you _ that? this is a problem without a solution. if you believe _ that? this is a problem without a solution. if you believe in - that? this is a problem without a l solution. if you believe in freedom of navigation as both britain and the united states do, you cannot sit idly by while the houthis threaten

cargo shipments and 12 to 15% of global trade through the suez canal without reacting. it is just that this reaction is not going to deter the houthis, it is probably not going to degrade their missile and drone capacity. so i think the administration, along with britain and a few other countries who have signed up to this, are trying to hold their own. create some improvements, untilthe hold their own. create some improvements, until the israeli war between israel and hamas in gaza ends. ., ~ between israel and hamas in gaza ends. . ~ ., between israel and hamas in gaza ends. . ., ., , ends. thank you for “oining us, aaron david * ends. thank you for “oining us, aaron david miller. _ ends. thank you forjoining us, aaron david miller. thank- ends. thank you forjoining us, aaron david miller. thank you. j according to nhs england, almost 3.5 million children under 16 have not been vaccinated against measles and are therefore unprotected and at risk of becoming ill. london and the west midlands, where the uptake of the mmr vaccination is low, is being targeted first,

and headteachers in some areas are now working with the nhs to run clinics in schools. damejenny harries, the head of the uk health security agency, has issued a call to action right across the country after hospitals in birmingham reported a sharp rise in cases in children. so why has there been a fall in the take—up of the mmr? i'm joined by karl and davina barrett, whose three—month—old was hospitalised with measles, and professor peter openshaw, an immunologist at imperial college. good evening, first, karl and davina. first, can you tell me what happened to ezra? he davina. first, can you tell me what happened to ezra?— happened to ezra? he had some cold-like symptoms _ happened to ezra? he had some cold-like symptoms that - happened to ezra? he had some cold-like symptoms that started happened to ezra? he had some - cold-like symptoms that started with cold—like symptoms that started with coughing and sneezing which we were not overly concerned about. we had an over —— older child who brings home different kinds of viruses and we thought it was something that could be managed at home with a bit of paracetamol and rest and fluids. but it turned into a bit of a period

where ezra became a bit more unwelcome he started to groan and seemed quite lethargic. and then a rash appeared over his entire body which started on the head, moved down to the torso and quickly went down to the torso and quickly went down to the torso and quickly went down to his legs and his arms. this is when we went to the a&e and they were quick to see that ezra had a temperature and they were concerned then that he was affected by measles, although it was not confirmed until three days later. and he also then contracted covid. i see he is well and sleeping now. he is too young to take the mmr. his brother is 15 months old and has had the vaccine. how surprised are you or is it one of these things that it could have been avoided or it couldn't have been avoided and you never knew whether your little one was going to get measles? ianthem never knew whether your little one was going to get measles? when we were there. — was going to get measles? when we were there. we _ was going to get measles? when we were there, we were _ was going to get measles? when we were there, we were told _ was going to get measles? when we were there, we were told for- was going to get measles? when we were there, we were told for his - were there, we were told for his age. _ were there, we were told for his age. it_ were there, we were told for his age. it was_ were there, we were told for his age, it was very rare. but we kind

ofjust— age, it was very rare. but we kind ofjust tried — age, it was very rare. but we kind ofjust tried to track everything back— ofjust tried to track everything back to — ofjust tried to track everything back to where we had been. i think the only— back to where we had been. i think the only thing we could think was we had gone _ the only thing we could think was we had gone to a soft play centre with our older_ had gone to a soft play centre with our older son and it could have been passed _ our older son and it could have been passed on— our older son and it could have been passed on from another child just running _ passed on from another child just running past or coughing or sneezing. you know, you just don't know _ sneezing. you know, you just don't know. because it is airborne, you 'ust know. because it is airborne, you just cannot — know. because it is airborne, you just cannot control it.— know. because it is airborne, you just cannot control it. what do you make of the _ just cannot control it. what do you make of the lower _ just cannot control it. what do you make of the lower take-up - just cannot control it. what do you make of the lower take-up in - just cannot control it. what do you make of the lower take-up in the l make of the lower take—up in the west midlands, is it because it is difficult to make appointments or is it because there is a hesitancy, what you think is happening? i think there is a lot — what you think is happening? i think there is a lot of _ what you think is happening? i think there is a lot of misinformation - there is a lot of misinformation about vaccines and people had been misinformed about the mmr vaccine causing autism and i think that has gone through generations and that was a misconception that was really spread when we were younger. about 13 years ago, it is still passing

down through generations and causing people our age not get their children vaccinated, unfortunately. what is your message for parents who have not had their children vaccinated and are considering it? especially with what you went through with your little one at hospital? through with your little one at hosital? , ~' ., through with your little one at hosital? , ~ ., , hospital? yes, i think for us, we wouldiust_ hospital? yes, i think for us, we would just recommend - hospital? yes, i think for us, we would just recommend anyone l hospital? yes, i think for us, we | would just recommend anyone to hospital? yes, i think for us, we - would just recommend anyone to get it. would just recommend anyone to get it for— would just recommend anyone to get it for a _ would just recommend anyone to get it for a lot _ would just recommend anyone to get it. for a lot of people, it is a choice. _ it. for a lot of people, it is a choice. but _ it. for a lot of people, it is a choice, but ezra didn't have a choice — choice, but ezra didn't have a choice to— choice, but ezra didn't have a choice to be ill. and obviously, there _ choice to be ill. and obviously, there was— choice to be ill. and obviously, there was a _ choice to be ill. and obviously, there was a hard few days for us in hospital— there was a hard few days for us in hospital of— there was a hard few days for us in hospital of watching him on fluids and oxygen. so we willjust be really— and oxygen. so we willjust be really conscious that it's important to get— really conscious that it's important to get these jabs done and be very mindful— to get these jabs done and be very mindful of— to get these jabs done and be very mindful of it. to get these 'abs done and be very mindful of it?— to get these 'abs done and be very mindfui of ii— mindful of it. thank you all very much indeed — mindful of it. thank you all very much indeed for _ mindful of it. thank you all very much indeed forjoining - mindful of it. thank you all very much indeed forjoining us - mindful of it. thank you all very i much indeed forjoining us tonight. and now i am joined by professor peter openshaw. obviously as i said, ezra is too young to be vaccinated. but what about other babies? you said it is quite rare, is it rare for babies to get measles? it is

relatively rare _ for babies to get measles? it 3 relatively rare because babies are born with an antibody they have acquired from their mothers, if their mothers have been vaccinated or have had measles. but actually, that's quite a lot of people who have now grown—up without having had and without being vaccinated. so this could be a more common situation now. i think it is very important that we have catch—up programmes not only for children, but also for adults who may have missed out on this incredibly safe and incredibly good vaccine. abs, missed out on this incredibly safe and incredibly good vaccine. a catch u n and incredibly good vaccine. a catch u- for and incredibly good vaccine. a catch up for parents _ and incredibly good vaccine. a catch up for parents as — and incredibly good vaccine. a catch up for parents as well— and incredibly good vaccine. a catch up for parents as well because - and incredibly good vaccine. a catch up for parents as well because what j up for parents as well because what they are talking about now is this trialling of having clinics in schools and i remember when i was in schools and i remember when i was in school that that was where i got my vaccines. but you also saying adults should be getting the measles vaccine. if should be getting the measles vaccine. , ., should be getting the measles vaccine. , . , , ., ., vaccine. if they have missed out on the vaccine. _ vaccine. if they have missed out on the vaccine, they _ vaccine. if they have missed out on the vaccine, they should _ vaccine. if they have missed out on the vaccine, they should have - vaccine. if they have missed out on the vaccine, they should have a - the vaccine, they should have a catch up throughout the population. older adults who catch measles for the first time and are not vaccinated are also at risk. it is a very nasty disease and incredibly

contagious. the most contagious disease we know. did contagious. the most contagious disease we know.— contagious. the most contagious disease we know. did we take our eye off the ball when _ disease we know. did we take our eye off the ball when it _ disease we know. did we take our eye off the ball when it looked _ disease we know. did we take our eye off the ball when it looked like - off the ball when it looked like measles had been eradicated and rather than keeping up with the pressure to make sure you get the vaccine, it sort of drifted away? that may be part of it. and certainly, it was amazing to see how much the numbers of measles cases did drop when the vaccines were rolled out to a large proportion of the population. it came down from half a million cases down to a few hundred. and actually, we were declared measles free. we lost that status about five years ago. but it is an incredibly effective vaccine. tell me, where do you think the hesitancy comes from? is it because it is difficult because you cannot get so many nhs appointments? i5 get so many nhs appointments? is there a hesitancy? i think there is a problem with not being able to roll out the vaccines in a way that is convenient for very busy, very hard pressed parents. and i think

you can quite understand how hard it is to get to the vaccine appointments, especially if you are trying to work and all the rest of it. ithink trying to work and all the rest of it. i think that is a major part. innate it. i think that is a ma'or part. we need to be — it. i think that is a major part. we need to be imaginative about this, then. innate need to be imaginative about this, then. . ., need to be imaginative about this, then. ~ ., . , need to be imaginative about this, then. . ., ., , ., then. we do, and there is a brilliant _ then. we do, and there is a brilliant new _ then. we do, and there is a brilliant new nhs _ then. we do, and there is a brilliant new nhs plan, - then. we do, and there is a brilliant new nhs plan, but| then. we do, and there is a - brilliant new nhs plan, but they have decided to not actually pay for it until after the next election. thank you very much indeed, professor peter openshaw. the republican presidential nomination is crystallising quickly and, on the eve of the poll in the new hampshire primary, it's now, with desantis gone, a two—horse race between former us president donald trump and former south carolina governor nikki haley. they are both engaged in their last day on the stump. the haley camp say they've raised half a million dollars and counting since desantis dropped out and, in new hampshire, the republican primary is open to independent voters, so the unknown is where those voters, and even former desantis voters, expected to back trump, could give their support. joe pike has been in illinois, following the issue of abortion

rights which, today, joe biden announced as a keystone of his election campaign, and we'll hear about that in a moment. but first, he's moved to new hampshire for tomorrow's political excitement. is it politically exciting out in the cold tonight? i is it politically exciting out in the cold tonight?— is it politically exciting out in the cold tonight? i wouldn't say excitini. the cold tonight? i wouldn't say exciting- i _ the cold tonight? i wouldn't say exciting. i think— the cold tonight? i wouldn't say exciting. i think we _ the cold tonight? i wouldn't say exciting. i think we are - the cold tonight? i wouldn't say exciting. i think we are excited | exciting. i think we are excited about the final two candidates still celebrating the withdrawal of ron desantis, even though the question remains whether his question —— his voters go next. second polling is very unpredictable because it reminds —— depends on small samples. they had two different conclusions, people were backing for different reasons and may go in different directions. donald trump has been endorsed and is according to polls ahead of nikki haley going into primary is in new hampshire. the current presidentjoe biden used the 51st anniversary of that landmark supremejudgment roe v. 51st anniversary of that landmark supreme judgment roe v. wade 51st anniversary of that landmark supremejudgment roe v. wade on abortion to launch a campaign to try

and put that very issue at the heart of november's election. since roe v. wade was overturned in 2022, the us has become a patchwork of different laws state—by—state on terminations. and as we found out in one illinois town, that has ended up changing communities and changing lives. itjust seems like there's a dark cloud over carbondale. this town is on the front line of america's battle over abortion. i think that's a plus. i think it shows you that we are a welcoming community. - 18 months ago, there were no termination clinics in carbondale. i feel like it's become more divided. now, there are three. our sweet little town now has become the epicentre of abortions for the midwest, and it's heartbreaking to think about it. so we do our ultrasounds in these rooms, counselling, surgical procedures.

providing access to terminations is a family affair for andrea gallegos. she was by her doctor father's side in their texas clinic on the day the supreme court decision came through and changed her life. i mean, shrieks ofjust grief. and patients, we had had a patient beg, you know, because of her situation, tojust let us do it. it was really heart—wrenching. with abortion banned in texas, she moved with her family 780 miles to carbondale, illinois. in just over a year, her clinic has treated almost 6,000 patients. i think our youngest patient may have been 12. abortion does not discriminate. about 95% of them travel from other states. many, over long distances.

and how are people when they walk through the door? more than anything, i think exhausted. they've driven all night to get here for their morning appointment, or if they've stayed overnight in a hotel and in an unfamiliar place they're scared about, you know, what does it mean? i had an abortion in illinois, but i live in tennessee. what does it mean when i'm home? and what if something happens? and do i tell my doctor at home? can i go to jail because i came here? what's the answer to that? erm... it depends on if they trust their physician. some would argue, though, that overturning roe was democracy at work. ijust don't think it was democracy. i really don't. to overturn something that had been in effect for so many years, i still can't hardly believe it.

earlier, when we arrived at the clinic, we were greeted by anti—abortion campaigners, who call themselves "sidewalk counsellors". we're from the bbc, a uk broadcaster. do you mind us asking what you're doing here? my name is georgina and i'm a sidewalk counsellor. and so we try to help women know that there are resources if they would like to keep their babies. and what sort of conversations do you have? we just talk with the women and see if there's any way we can help them. i'd better get back to myjob. 0k. the way these anti—abortion campaigners are dressed — a bit like parking attendants — is, according to their critics, an attempt to mislead women arriving here. and they can point them to a different clinic across town, which encourages women to think again. meanwhile, the leaflets they're handing out in english and in spanish contain warnings about the devastating psychological consequences and physical complications of terminations.

those are based on a study which has been repeatedly discredited by major research institutions. geography is the reason carbondale has been put on the map. it sits at the southern tip of the state of illinois, where abortion rights are protected, but close to the border with three states — missouri, kentucky and indiana — where abortion is banned under almost all circumstances. it's the same story further south. in total, 1k us states have banned terminations. and elsewhere, in places like georgia and south carolina, abortion is banned beyond six weeks, a point where many women wouldn't know they�* re pregnant. i never thought that - i would need an abortion for a planned pregnancy, but i did _ today, the white house is launching a campaign to try and put this fight at the centre of november's election, precisely because access to abortion is one of the few vote winners the president can rely on. we need leaders thatj will protect our rights and not take them away,

and that'sjoe biden - and kamala harris. i'mjoe biden, and i approve this message. ijust would take you and your audience back to 1992, when bill clinton was running for president. and he said, "abortion should be safe, legal and rare". and that's how he defined what it meant to be pro—choice. it should be legal, but it should be safe and rare. and that was right where american public opinion was. and he really kind of brought americans to the pro—choice side with that definition. carbondale's catholic priest, father bob flannery, was ordained in 1973, the year roe v wade came into being. has the overturning of roe v wade given your congregation a sort of purpose? definitely. there is a big turnout from our parish. he is sad his town has become a destination for abortions, but is heartened by how his congregation has tried to help women think again. i'm sorry that we're kind of the focus for that, but i'm grateful that we have a response

that the community's making. they collect donations, including toys, nappies and baby wipes, for their project across town. we kept a chapel here on—site because we are run by the catholic church and we like to promote prayer and service to god. mary fleming helped found st anne's cradle of hope. this is where we bring our moms and dads to come and go shopping for their child. everything in here is free of charge. they provide support to those who decide against abortion. how do you persuade somebody not to have a termination? by showing them that we care about them. we know that what she's facing is really tough and we want to be there to help her. if she does choose life, we're here. we'll help you out. are there any circumstances in which you support an abortion? only to save the life of a mother. but in the case of rape or incest

or fetal abnormalities? it's not the child's fault that they're the product of rape. it's like being punished for a crime that your father committed. if you were created out of a horrible act, you shouldn't make it an even more horrible act by killing that child. it could, though, of course, be very traumatic for the mother. it's also very traumatic to have an abortion. carbondale's mayor supports the clinics. i think that's a plus. i think it shows you that we are a welcoming community. we are not so set in our ways that we can't be accessible to anyone. this town, like the us, is at a crossroads. whatever direction it takes in november, any return to legal abortions nationwide

is a long way off. and joe will be in new hampshire tomorrow for polling day. a deadline for the resumption of power—sharing in northern ireland passed last week with no statement from the dup about whether it is prepared to return to stormont. so the next move should be legislation from the government, which is technically required to call an election within 12 weeks. no sign of that so far. instead, we had an appearance today by the dup leader, sirjeffrey donaldson, who said that the vast majority of people in northern ireland want to see the restoration of power—sharing, on the right terms. and he said he would have talks with the government on that this week. here's nick in belfast.

i was diagnosed with stage four high grade serious ovarian cancer in april 21. it was just a real shock. ovarian cancer, it's a hidden disease. you know, most people are diagnosed at a very late stage. and unfortunately, i am one of those people. a personal tragedy. and in northern ireland, the human side of a politicalfailure, blaming a power vacuum for weakening cancer treatment. in northern ireland, there is a cancer strategy. it has never been implemented because stormont collapsed. within that strategy, there is a lot of good ideas. christine campbell has a clear message for political leaders. get back to work. if i can spend the time that i have left, advocating for those affected by cancer, then they can sit around a table. a plea to the seat of government where there is no government. northern ireland's largest unionist party, the dup, walked out of stormont two years ago in a row over brexit trading arrangements.

a deadline for a restoration of the assembly passed last week. now westminster will have to introduce legislation to postpone automatic elections unless the dup has a change of heart. from sirjeffrey donaldson today, don't count us out, as he rejected weekend reports that he's abandoning devolution. the vast majority of people in northern ireland support stormont, support our devolved government and want to see the institutions restored. but a key element of that restoration is that unionists as well as nationalists, can support the basis for the restoration of our devolved institutions, and that is what i am working to achieve. belfast has been transformed in the 30 years since i was first reporting from here during the troubles. it's called the peace dividend. but this place largely came to a standstill last week with a large public sector strike

caused in part by the lack of a devolved government able to make big decisions. jeffrey donaldson knows the political danger of that, and so he would like to reform a power—sharing executive. but he has a divided party, and for the moment he can't do it. to persuade the dup to come back, the government is offering an extra £3.3 billion in funding over five years. that includes 600 million for public sector pay and then a change in the law to guarantee northern ireland's place within the uk's internal market. i think he is very much on the pragmatic side and he's being increasingly explicit about that and he's hoping to get support in order to be able to make thatjump. a unionist newspaper believes sirjeffrey donaldson wants to move, but unionists will continue to have grave concerns about checks on goods arriving from great britain, whatever concessions number ten offers.

one thing we've been consistent in saying is,