new pressure towards a ceasefire between israel and hamas as the death toll rises in gaza. on the eve of the second major contest of the us campaign season, nikki haley and donald trump make theirfinal push to new hampshire voters. hello. i'm sumi somaskanda in concord, new hampshire, where presidential candidates are making their final pitches to voters here before they go to the polls in a key election. but first, the us and uk have again hit houthi targets in yemen in response to attacks by the group in the red sea. the pentagon says the joint strikes on monday targeted eight locations in yemen, including an underground storage facility and missile systems. this is video released by the pentagon in the past couple of hours. it shows fighters launching off the uss eisenhower. the pentagon says the strikes were intended to degrade

houthi capabilities to launch attacks on us and uk ships in the red sea. the us released a joint statement with the uk and four other countries: for weeks, iran—backed houthis have fired missiles and other projectiles at commercial ships, as well as a number of us—owned merchant vessels. the attacks have disrupted global trade and stirred fears of a further—destabilized middle east. a houthi military spokesman responded to the us—uk attacks, saying: the houthi movement says its attacks on red sea shipping are their response to israel's war on gaza. on monday, the us media outlet

axios reported that israel has offered a proposal to hamas to pause fighting for two months in exchange for the release of all hostages still being held by hamas in gaza. families of those hostages are pressuring the israeli government to strike a deal that will bring them home. on monday, relatives of some of the hostages stormed into the knesset, israel's parliament, injerusalem. the families broke through security and interrupted a finance meeting, accusing the government of a lack of urgency. israel says more than 130 hostages remain unaccounted for after more than 100 were freed through a deal in november. a dealfor a pause in fighting would be welcome news to palestinians who say they have no safe place to go. gaza's health ministry, run by hamas, says more than 25,000 people have been killed since october 7, most of them women and children. on sunday, the united nation's secretary general called the destruction and killing "utterly unacceptable" and reiterated the un's calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. for more on all of this,

i spoke a little earlier with retired lieutenant general mark schwartz. he served as the us security coordinator of the israel—palestinian authority from 2019 to 2021. lieutenant general schwartz, this is now the eighth strike that we have seen from the us on houthi targets, the second joint strike with uk forces, yet the houthis have remained defiant. what do you think these strikes can achieve? i think the strikes that occurred earlier, initially, they were a ramp—up of escalation of the attacks that occurred in the red sea against coalition maritime vessels, and the us was doing a lot with its partners and allies in the region, doing a lot of assessments in terms of where these attacks were coming from, the launch sites, the storage locations. so after the initial strikes, i think there's been some time to see what the houthi reaction was going to be and the strikes that took place just earlier, they were focused on weapon

storage facilities, where the houthis had moved their weapons as a result of the previous strikes. the aim of these strikes is to degrade houthi capabilities. do you think that the uk and us maybe underestimated the strength of houthi forces? i don't think they have underestimated it. i think we have a pretty good knowledge of the types of weapons and the amount of weapons that have been transited from iran into yemen to the houthis, so i think that the initial strikes, you are not going to hit all the targets that you hope to achieve. again, the intent is not to escalate, at least from the point of the administration. it is to de—escalate the crisis that's ongoing in the gulf of aden and the red sea. i think as ongoing assessments continue, if there is opportunities to continue to go after weapon stockpiles, that will be done. what do you think it is that has made the houthis so strong? we know they have gotten quite a bit of support,

obviously training and weapons from iran. they have no economy, so i think the preponderance of the resources that they have received, at least from the us standpoint, is coming from iran and there is really no—one else in the region that has a strategic interest or motivation other than the other terrorist organisations, like hamas and lebanese hezbollah and then the pmf organisations that exist inside of iraq and in syria as well. they are all vying for resources. so, clearly, it has been iran predominantly that has provided the weaponry. potentially some financial resourcing has come from other areas, but in terms of the hardware that we are seeing being used against maritime shipping, it is coming from iran. do you think this raises the concern again about the prospect of the israel—gaza conflict spreading in the region? i don't think it does.

i believe that iran is very happy to see its proxies taking opportunities to attack israel, to attack the us and to attack any other ally or partner of israel that is involved in this conflict, whether primarily from resourcing. so i don't think... there has certainly been horizontal escalation that has taken place across the region, but again, you haven't seen direct involvement other than strikes that iran has taken in syria late last week, and then also that took place in pakistan as well. one more question, lieutenant general schwartz. we have seen these reports that we have not been able to confirm yet of the possibility of a ceasefire in the israel—gaza conflict. what impact do you think this would this have on the houthis? they themselves have said they are launching these attacks because of what is happening in gaza. i think the houthis would certainly portray it

as a victory and take credit for any military pause or ceasefire that occurs in gaza because they want to be seen as contributing to the efforts of hamas, the efforts of iran and the rest of the proxies that are operating in the region, so i think they will certainly take credit. i don't think that as part of israel's calculus right now, the attacks occurring in the red sea is informing their decision to conduct another operational pause. it is primarily focused on the release of further hostages. 0k. lieutenant general schwartz, always good to get your perspective. thank you forjoining us. thank you. have a great evening. here in the us, we're down to the final hours before the 2024 us presidential primary in new hampshire. republican voters are rallying behind the last two standing candidates, former us president donald trump

and former un ambassador and south carolina governor nikki haley. on sunday, florida governor ron desantis bowed out of the race saying there was no "clear path to victory". governor desantis struggled to keep momentum after the iowa caucuses last week, which mr trump won by a landslide. the latest major poll suggests mr trump holds a significant edge over ms haley in the granite state — 57-38%. since the new year, nikki haley has ramped up her criticism of the former president. in recent days, she has even questioned his fitness to serve in office. the future of her presidential campaign now depends on what happens on tuesday in new hampshire. earlier, boston globe reporter jess bidgood joined me here in concord to discuss the state of the race. what stood out to you in this final push from the candidates? absolutely. thank you so much for having me. voters here in new hampshire are ready to have an election, they are tired of the

ads and the mailers. they are also picking up on a sense that this year feels a little different, it feels a little bizarre. i mean, take today, for example. donald trump, the former president and frontrunner in this race, spent much of the day in new york, he had a court hearing. meanwhile, nikki haley was criss—crossing the state, seeking out support from her base of voters. but that is not the conservative republican base that is usually being courted around this time. she is looking for moderates and she's looking for independents, and so i think it is fed a sense of things are a little bizarre this year, a little different this year. we had the sense, speaking to voters, that things felt subdued because of the lead that the former president has built up. is that something you have heard from voters, it is not as exciting or tense as previous years? absolutely. i think �*subdued' is the right word.

voters who are used to having, you know, everywhere you turn, there is another candidate, are looking around and wondering where they all are. it is really unusual to have the field we know this much just two candidates at this point. usually that is a role that new hampshire plays, and this time the state knows they could play a role in, ultimately, determining the nominee is to be. and it is make or break right now for nikki haley. just a few weeks ago, we saw the governor of the state saying nikki haley could win new hampshire. now he says she could have a strong second place. what has led to that change in narrative? i think it is some of the polling you are talking about, you talked about at the outset. nikki haley, despite all the work she has put in here, despite all the inroads she has made with those independent voters and moderates she is seeking, she still training former president trump by double digits. —— trailing.

now they are saying we need to be stronger than we were in iowa. but they have been pretty careful not to set clear expectations, clear goalposts about what �*stronger�* actually means. does nikki haley have enough of an electorate here in new hampshire to be able to win this primary? at least come very close to donald trump? it is not impossible. new hampshire loves to talk about the years when it has delivered a big surprise, you know, really changed the trajectory of a candidate's race, and that could happen again, particularly depending on how many independents pull republican ballots on tuesday and vote for haley. however, even if that happens, even if everything goes absolutely perfectly for her here, which seems unlikely, but let's say it does, the big question then facing haley is where she goes next.

south carolina is coming up on the primary calendar soon, that is her home state, she was elected governor twice and yet she is trailing former president trump in a state that is much more conservative than this one, and then beyond that, the map starts to look really tough for her even if things go really well here for her tomorrow night. let's fast forward to the general election. if it is donald trump againstjoe biden, how do you see voters in new hampshire going? do you see them supporting, especially the republicans here, donald trump? so, the relationship between new hampshire and trump i think is an interesting one. in 2016, new hampshire republican voters were the ones who gave him his first big victory in a primary and set him on the path to the nomination, and, ultimately, the presidency. but that said, this is a pretty purple state. at the boston globe, we have some recent polling

that shows a trump—biden match—up here would see biden winning. the polling looks good for biden, he is trailing and many other states so was something about this state where you have got a primary electorate drawn to trump, that is favourable to him, but overall, the state remains kind of moderate enough that it is not going to be an easy state for him to win in a general, and if it is close, new hampshire will really matter. it is such an interesting thing to watch this state at this phase of the game. thank you forjoining us. great to have your insights with us tonight. thank you for having me. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. at least two people have died and thousands were left without power after storm isha hammered the uk. large areas of scotland, northern ireland, northwest england and wales were hit by heavy rain and winds up to 99mph. 0ur weather correspondent looks at how the cold air here in the us has led

to the harsh weather hitting the uk. what we've got is what's happening in the us driving things. there's been some intense cold air, temperatures dropping down even as far south as kentucky to around —29 by night. that cold air has been clashing with warm air across the mid—atlantic, firing up a particularly lively jet stream, and it's that which has been picking up areas of low pressure, developing them further, and sending them our way. and this is what we'll see in our next named storm — storm jocelyn — set to push its way in tomorrow. amber warnings are in place across northern and western parts of the uk. in the most exposed areas, storm jocelyn is expected to bring gusts of wind of between 55 and 65 miles per hour. and there will be yet more rainfall. you're live with bbc news. returning to the new hampshire primary elections that begins here injust hours. it's a tough race for nikki haley, of course, who's trailing donald trump by double digits in the latest polls, but it's an even tougher one for minnesota democratic congressman dean philips who's trying

to unseat president biden in a long—shot bid for the white house. my colleague carl nasman sat down with him here in the granite state. carljoins me now. carl, tell us about his campaign. this is the definition of a longshot, challenging a sitting resident in a state like new hampshire and some background about the primary taking place on tuesday, there are no delegates being awarded, in a way this is very symbolic due to a technical reason, this will not count towards the actual nomination backed president biden himself not on the ballot, there is a right and campaign asking democrats to write in residentjoe biden when they go to the polls tomorrow. dean phillips is a democrat and sitting congressman from minnesota and he has decided to run here against the sitting president

not necessarily because he has a great chance of winning but there is some symbolism here, not only from mr phillips from the democratic party, and certain members of it were not entirely satisfied with the way the biden campaign has been staging its campaign, the way it has or has not been going after the former president donald trump. i sat down with dean phillips and i started by asking him whether he was concerned his campaign for president may be harming his own parties chances of remaining in the white house in 2020. he if i didn't run, that would be harming our chances of winning in november. fix, would be harming our chances of winning in november.— would be harming our chances of winning in november. a man who is a aood winning in november. a man who is a good man _ winning in november. a man who is a good man but _ winning in november. a man who is a good man but is _ winning in november. a man who is a good man but is destined - is a good man but is destined to lose, — is a good man but is destined to lose, in _ is a good man but is destined to lose, in which the country has — to lose, in which the country has lost _ to lose, in which the country has lost faith, in whom the country— has lost faith, in whom the country has lost faith in facing _ country has lost faith in facing notjust a norman republican the most dangerous man in— republican the most dangerous man in the history of this countrx _ man in the history of this countrx i_ man in the history of this country. i am afraid democrats are sleepwalking into disaster.

we did — are sleepwalking into disaster. we did it — are sleepwalking into disaster. we did it in 2016, it is unforgivable and shameful to do the same — unforgivable and shameful to do the same thing knowingly this yeah — the same thing knowingly this year. most americans understand democracy— year. most americans understand democracy thrives of competition and it dies with coronations. this is not about condemning someone and taking him down — condemning someone and taking him down this is about running for something i wish more democrats would do so, i have tried _ democrats would do so, i have tried for— democrats would do so, i have tried for months, to get other democrats who have names better known _ democrats who have names better known than mine to participate. what _ known than mine to participate. what are — known than mine to participate. what are you hoping for when the results come out? i believe we achieved — the results come out? i believe we achieved more _ the results come out? i believe we achieved more success - the results come out? i believe we achieved more success thanj the results come out? i believe l we achieved more success than i could _ we achieved more success than i could have — we achieved more success than i could have imagined which is the process of democracy absent my candidacy there would be nothing _ my candidacy there would be nothing happening, no coverage of democrats, we would have seeded — of democrats, we would have seeded hundreds of hours of prime—time television to the gop — prime—time television to the gop there would be nothing to talk about which is why young people — talk about which is why young people are apathetic and not engaged, plenty of them engaged withioy_ engaged, plenty of them engaged withjoy and optimism at our events, _ withjoy and optimism at our events, we are doing a service to the — events, we are doing a service to the democratic party if

pe0pie _ to the democratic party if people pay attention. to get to quantify— people pay attention. to get to quantify that, 20% or so or above _ quantify that, 20% or so or above that would be outstanding, we started at zero ten weeks ago i had no name recognition the most recent tracking _ recognition the most recent tracking poll had us above 32%, if we _ tracking poll had us above 32%, if we get — tracking poll had us above 32%, if we get the midtwenties would be extraordinary. here is what the country should pay attention to. clinton achieved 84%— attention to. clinton achieved 84% when he was incumbent, barach— 84% when he was incumbent, barack obama 82%, i thinkjoe barack obama 82%, ithinkjoe biden— barack obama 82%, i thinkjoe biden will be way below this with— biden will be way below this with a — biden will be way below this with a super pack set up to do it every— with a super pack set up to do it every camp in —— member has come up to here. my colleagues from _ come up to here. my colleagues from congress all hands on deck, — from congress all hands on deck, he _ from congress all hands on deck, he is a week candidate and — deck, he is a week candidate and a — deck, he is a week candidate and a good man not electable, today— and a good man not electable, today is— and a good man not electable, today is the first day the polls _ today is the first day the polls will be showing up with the votes. polls will be showing up with the votes-— the votes. will you go into november _ the votes. will you go into november and _ the votes. will you go into november and consider i the votes. will you go into november and consider a | november and consider a third—party run test in i'm a democrat in a republican seat i have been a member of democrat leadership i am a cubit

humphrey democrat. i leadership i am a cubit humphrey democrat. i want to invest in my — humphrey democrat. i want to invest in my party _ humphrey democrat. i want to invest in my party and - humphrey democrat. i want to invest in my party and wake i humphrey democrat. i want to invest in my party and wake it| invest in my party and wake it up invest in my party and wake it up before _ invest in my party and wake it up before it's too late i intend _ up before it's too late i intend to run as a democrat and secure _ intend to run as a democrat and secure the — intend to run as a democrat and secure the nomination as a democrat. secure the nomination as a democrat-_ secure the nomination as a democrat. ~ ., ., ., ., democrat. would you roll out a run with a _ democrat. would you roll out a run with a third _ democrat. would you roll out a run with a third party _ democrat. would you roll out a run with a third party say - democrat. would you roll out a run with a third party say the i run with a third party say the no labels campaign? i run with a third party say the no labels campaign?- run with a third party say the no labels campaign? i have said data drives _ no labels campaign? i have said data drives my _ no labels campaign? i have said data drives my decision, - no labels campaign? i have said data drives my decision, it - no labels campaign? i have said data drives my decision, it is . data drives my decision, it is clear— data drives my decision, it is clear third—party candidate clear third— party candidate would _ clear third— party candidate would likely clear third—party candidate would likely draw votes from the eventual democratic nominee so i the eventual democratic nominee so i intend — the eventual democratic nominee so i intend to get behind the democratic nominee i expect that— democratic nominee i expect that witt— democratic nominee i expect that will be me if it isjoe biden— that will be me if it isjoe biden the message to everyone right— biden the message to everyone right now— biden the message to everyone right now is a horrific decision both by him and a party— decision both by him and a party that would allow a coronation of someone who can lose _ lama i am a democrat. we saw ron desantis — i am a democrat. we saw ron desantis dropping _ i am a democrat. we saw ron desantis dropping out - i am a democrat. we saw ron desantis dropping out of- i am a democrat. we saw ron desantis dropping out of the i desantis dropping out of the race if donald trump leaves the granite state with a large margin of victory, do you think that's it, will he be the nominee? i that's it, will he be the nominee?— that's it, will he be the nominee? ,, . , ., nominee? i think that is that alread i nominee? i think that is that already i give _

nominee? i think that is that already i give credit - nominee? i think that is that already i give credit to - already i give credit to ambassador hayley for participate anyone who dissipates in democracy should be celebrated, but the writing is on — be celebrated, but the writing is on the _ be celebrated, but the writing is on the wall he has an iron grip— is on the wall he has an iron grip on— is on the wall he has an iron grip on that party, i saw last night — grip on that party, i saw last night at _ grip on that party, i saw last night at that rally that would shock — night at that rally that would shock people. the passion, the interest— shock people. the passion, the interest the dedication the diversity of people in that line. _ diversity of people in that line, remarkable. nikki haleyl don't— line, remarkable. nikki haleyl don't think has a chance. that will out — don't think has a chance. that will out tomorrow in the numbers which will leave me is the only— numbers which will leave me is the only person i believe standing on the way of a donald trump _ standing on the way of a donald trump residency and i think that— trump residency and i think that is— trump residency and i think that is what the country should be focusing on.— be focusing on. congressman, thank you _ be focusing on. congressman, thank you. no _ be focusing on. congressman, thank you. no delegates - be focusing on. congressman, thank you. no delegates are l be focusing on. congressman, l thank you. no delegates are up for crabs thank you. no delegates are up for grabs tomorrow _ thank you. no delegates are up for grabs tomorrow in - thank you. no delegates are up for grabs tomorrow in new - for grabs tomorrow in new hampshire on the democratic side, the first state that will count, south carolina coming up next month and that is a state where joe next month and that is a state wherejoe biden did very well during his last election. there is more symbolism on the ballot for democrats, there is that right an option where many people will be writing joe biden but there is a campaign to have them rates rather than

write a candidate on that line to write ceasefire, that is a message about the situation in the middle east, there are some of the democratic party hoping joe biden will do more to push for a ceasefire in gaza, that is also something to pay attention to with when democrats cast their votes on tuesday. mil democrats cast their votes on tuesda . . , ., ., democrats cast their votes on tuesda .�* ., ., tuesday. all important aspects to be looking _ tuesday. all important aspects to be looking at. _ tuesday. all important aspects to be looking at. thank- tuesday. all important aspects to be looking at. thank you - tuesday. all important aspects to be looking at. thank you so | to be looking at. thank you so much. let's turn to some important news around the world. cameroon has begun the roll—out of the world's first routine vaccine programme against malaria in a move projected to save thousands of children's lives across africa. the symbolic first jab was given to a baby girl named daniella on monday following successful pilot campaigns in kenya, ghana and malawi. the who has hailed it as an historic moment. police in ecuador say they have arrested the head of a colombian armed group and that authorities will return him to colombia. carlos l, known as �*el gringo', was captured on sunday

in the northern city of ibarra. his oliver sinisterra organisation has links to terrorist groups near ecuador�*s border with colombia. ecuador�*s military is fighting criminal gangs under a state of emergency. the us supreme court is allowing federal agents to remove razor wire that texas installed at its border with mexico to deter migrants. on monday, the justices voted 5—4 to vacate an appeals court ruling that had allowed the wire in eagle pass to stay in place amid a legal battle. the us government argued the wire illegally stopped them from managing the border. us vice—president kamala harris on monday started a national tour in support of reproductive rights. she spoke in wisconsin on the 51st anniversary of the roe v wade supreme court decision that legalised abortion nationwide, and which the court overturned in 2022. presidentjoe biden also convened a task force on reproductive healthcare access — a key campaign issue in this year's presidential election.

the indian prime minister, narendra modi, has consecrated a hindu temple on a disputed site in ayodhya where a mosque was destroyed three decades ago. it's widely seen as the start of his election campaign. millions of hindus are celebrating the temple opening, saying it's a long—standing dream come true. but it evokes painful memories for muslims — a mosque that stood on the site was illegally torn down, triggering religious violence across the country. many accuse mr modi of violating india's secular constitution by opening the temple. our south asia correspondent yogita limaye has this report. a grand opening for one of hinduism's most revered deities. india's prime minister performing rituals for the consecration of an idol of lord ram. hundreds of people, holy men, actors, politicians attended the ceremony. but it wasn't just them streaming into ayodhya.

we've met ordinary people who are thronging in from hundreds of miles away. hindus who've told us why this day is so specialfor them. why this temple at a site at which they believe to be the birthplace of their most revered deities lord ram is so important. translation: i'm so fortunate to be here today. _ it's taken so long for lord ram to get his temple. we are extremely happy. but this day isn't without controversy. many are accusing the prime minister of violating india's secular constitution by participating in a major religious event. it's also controversial because of the divisive history of the site at which the temple is being constructed. in 1992, up till 1992, a 16th century mosque stood there, which was illegally destroyed by mobs of hindu men. this triggered violence across the country in which thousands of people were killed. mohammad shahid's father

was burnt alive in 1992. translation: the country wants to forget it. - but muslims can never forget. it was a black day. we were betrayed then. and that's why we feel fear. i will send my children out of the city for a few weeks to keep them safe. the opening of the temple is being seen as the start of prime minister modi's re—election bid, and its expected to give him another resounding victory. yogita limaye, bbc news, ayodhya. thank you for watching bbc news. stay tuned. hello. storm jocelyn is the latest

named storm to come our way, through tuesday and into tuesday night. the storm system has been fired up by the same process which we saw with storm isha. cold arctic air recently across the eastern portion of the united states and in canada, big temperature contrast down towards florida, and that has really fired up an active and potent jet stream. and it's jet streams which have developed this low pressure system. this is jocelyn, not as potent as isha, but will still cross the country and have impacts. now, storm jocelyn is almost like a two stage storm. the winds will strengthen throughout tuesday, but by day it's the heavy rain which could have its greatest impact across parts of scotland, north—west england, north—west wales. and then into the night the winds start to peak with the worst of them across the northern half of the uk. by contrast, out there to start the day on tuesday, fairly quiet start. earlier frost will have gone across eastern areas as temperatures rise, clear and bright here to begin with with some high cloud around, but in the west already mild, windy and wet. some heavy rain at times in northern ireland throughout much of the day, clearing into the late afternoon. some of the heaviest, most persistent rain, though, setting up across the hills

of southwest scotland, also into parts of cumbria, yorkshire, dales and north—west wales. it's here where there's a real risk of flooding. rain will have pushed across all parts, turning a bit drizzlier, that rain across the south later and lots of low cloud. very mild but very windy to end the day. and it's into the night where winds will strengthen further. met office amber warning across the north and west scotland. we're expecting some of the greatest impacts and gusts of wind in excess of 80mph. so let me take you through tuesday night. there's jocelyn passing to the north. the isobars really packing in once the worst of the heavy rain's out the way and the winds strengthen right the way through into the start of wednesday morning rush hour, particularly in scotland. those winds will gradually ease there and impacts could still be ongoing, but wednesday, it's almost a repeat of what we saw on monday — a lot more in the way of dry and sunny weather around, a few showers in the north, and then clouding over across the south with some drizzle in cornwall later in the day. overall, a fresher day than tuesday. a fresher night, then with a touch of frost in the north—east of the country as we go through into thursday. these next weather fronts that are pushing not quite as potent

as we've seen so far this week. it will bring lots of cloud across the country. damp and drizzly, around some western coast and some of the heavier bursts of rain at times in the west, but a bit more erratic and not as windy as it will be during the next 36 hours. take care.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories

for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. when chinese sovereignty was restored in hong kong, beijing's communist rulers saw the logic of maintaining the one country, two systems principle. so, how come some 26 years later, hong kong's autonomy looks more like a convenient fiction than a fact? my guest is regina ip, convenor of hong kong's executive council and leader of the new people's party. what does hong kong's fate tell us about beijing's worldview?