kyiv of shooting it down. in the us, donald trump defeats nikki haley in the republican a shake—up of the uk royal mail could see deliveries as few as three days a week. and the nominations for the 2024 the brit awards have just been released — it is the uk's biggest music award ceremony. hello, i'm ben thompson, welcome to the programme. we begin with developments in the war between israel and gaza — and the un refugee agency unrwa says a training centre sheltering tens of thousands of displaced people has been hit reports sat at least nine

people have been killed and 75 injured. israel has been pressing ahead with its offensive on southern gaza's main city, khan younis, cutting off hospitals, and killing more than 200 people in the last day. the overall number of palestinians killed in the war has been taken to at least 25,700. 0ur middle east correspondent mark lowen injerusalem gave us the latest. this is the un release and work agency for gazan refugees which has reported that two tank rounds hit one of its training centres in khan younis which was sheltering hundreds of people in that specific building, and they reported at least nine people dead and 75 injured, and they said that un teams including those from the world health organization are trying to reach that facility. the israeli army has blockaded roads around it, and that is part of a city which is now very much that the focus of the israeli offensive which

is intensifying in khan younis. israel has ordered the evacuation of districts in city that are set to hold more than half a million people. but intense fighting around at least three hospitals is trapping patients, staff and those sheltering in the areas around those hospitals, the aid agencies saying that at nasser hospital, which is still partly functioning in southern gaza, they are about 850 staff and patients inside the hospital and several thousand sheltering in the grounds unable to leave because of the intense fighting. find grounds unable to leave because of the intense fighting.— the intense fighting. and a lot of eo - le the intense fighting. and a lot of peeple will _ the intense fighting. and a lot of peeple will be — the intense fighting. and a lot of people will be surprised - the intense fighting. and a lot of people will be surprised that - people will be surprised that hospitals are again at the centre of some of this fighting, but we know khan younis, a recent focus as you are telling us they are of some of those israeli efforts to get rid of top hamas commanders, they say are holed up there. top hamas commanders, they say are holed up there-— top hamas commanders, they say are holed uo there-— holed up there. yes, the leader of

hamas in gaza, _ holed up there. yes, the leader of hamas in gaza, who _ holed up there. yes, the leader of hamas in gaza, who has— holed up there. yes, the leader of hamas in gaza, who has still- holed up there. yes, the leader of i hamas in gaza, who has still evaded capture, is believed to be in khan younis, his home city, or in tunnels beneath it— that's what israelis think, along with top hamas commanders, israel has yet to capture or kill any top hamas commanders in gaza itself, and partly to assuage public opinion here, partly to show that there is real progress on the ground in gaza, i think israel feels quite a lot of pressure to do so. you mentioned the surprise that some may feel about fighting in hospitals — israel insists always that hamas is embedding itself in medical facilities and launching attacks from hospitals, which is why there is intense fighting there. hamas and local health officials say that's not true. but the israeli majority public opinion is still behind this war and military public opinion is still behind this warand military campaign

public opinion is still behind this war and military campaign — public opinion is still behind this warand military campaign — but public opinion is still behind this war and military campaign — but when you have incidents like that on monday where 21 israeli soldiers were killed in a single attack, the biggest loss of life so far for the israeli army since the ground offensive began almost three months ago, there is a real pressure growing on the israeli government to show tangible progress in this operation, not least to get the remaining hostages back, but also to show that they are capturing or getting some of those top hamas officials they are going after. mark low-end with _ officials they are going after. mark low-end with the _ officials they are going after. mark low-end with the latest _ officials they are going after. mark low—end with the latest on the conflict between israel and gaza. russia has accused ukraine of shooting down a russian military transport plane which it says was carrying 65 captured ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange. none of the 7a people on board are thought to have survived. the bbc has verified this mobile phone video which shows the aircraft falling through the sky

and exploding on the ground. 74 7a people were on board that plane altogether, including crew. no one is reported to have survived. russia has called it a barbaric act of terrorism. translation: �* ., ., translation: in the belgrade region, a russian aircraft _ translation: in the belgrade region, a russian aircraft was _ translation: in the belgrade region, a russian aircraft was down. _ translation: in the belgrade region, a russian aircraft was down. it - translation: in the belgrade region, a russian aircraft was down. it was - a russian aircraft was down. it was supposed to transport from the moscow region to belgrade of 65 military servicemen of the armed forces of ukraine. they were accompanied by three russian officers and a crew of six people — all of them died. the ukrainian prisoners of war were transported to the belgrade region in order to

conduct another swap that was agreed by moscow and kyiv.— by moscow and kyiv. ukrainian military intelligence _ by moscow and kyiv. ukrainian military intelligence has - by moscow and kyiv. ukrainian| military intelligence has issued by moscow and kyiv. ukrainian l military intelligence has issued a statement saying it doesn't have any reliable information about who exactly was on board the plane and how many people were there. it also says ukraine had not been informed of the need to ensure the safety of air space near the city of belgrade at the defined time, saying that is something that has happened on numerous occasions before. in that statement, they go on to say that it could point to russia's deliberate actions that aim to put the lives and safety of those prisoners of war under threat. so they are certainly blaming russians for not telling them that that plane was there, saying they've increased missile attacks in the area around the border. with the latest update from kyiv here's our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford. we've certainly got our first official statements from the ukrainians here in kyiv. we've been

asking for comments an explanation for several hours, and we now have two statements coming in rapid succession. one is from the military intelligence unit here, and also the second one from ukraine's general staff of the armed forces. now there are some answers and still some questions. essentially, what we have from the ukrainian military intelligence is an implicit acknowledgement i think that ukraine has shot down a russian transport plane over belgorod, as russia has been claiming all day. but ukraine is not able to say, or is not saying who or what was on board that plane. the statement says there's no reliable information about what was on board, whether there were prisoners of war on board who are being returned as part of a prisoner exchange to ukraine. but they are saying that there was a prisoner exchange that was planned today. they then go on to explain that normally, if there is a prisoner

exchange, then the russians will give information to ukraine about how those prisoners will be returned — and usually if aircraft are to be used, there will be an agreement that there will be a cessation of fire in that area whilst those prisoners were moved around. ukraine is saying that didn't happen this time. so again, not saying there were definitely prisoners on board, but it does say that there was information missing a head of that prisoner exchange. they then say this may indicate deliberate actions by russia aimed at creating a threat to life under the safety of ukrainian prisoners. just to get some general staff statement, again it's not directly saying it's even talking about the shooting down of this plane, but it talks a lot about the threat of missile strikes from the threat of missile strikes from the belgorod region on kharkiv, the northeastern part of ukraine, talking about a real increase in missile strikes and saying that ukraine must essentially remove that

threat, talking about targeting not just the missile launch sites but also of the delivery of weapons into and around russia. so again, implicitly i think we can see that the picture is building here that ukraine is acknowledging at least shooting down a plane, if not who or what was on board.— what was on board. yes, and sarah, it's a familiar _ what was on board. yes, and sarah, it's a familiar story, _ what was on board. yes, and sarah, it's a familiar story, isn't _ what was on board. yes, and sarah, it's a familiar story, isn't it, - it's a familiar story, isn't it, that as much is this is a military dispute, this is also a information war, came to her claim and counterclaim. both sides are keen to spin this is a story that they are the victim. i spin this is a story that they are the victim-— spin this is a story that they are the victim. ~ u, my , the victim. i think we can say very clearly that _ the victim. i think we can say very clearly that russia _ the victim. i think we can say very clearly that russia has _ the victim. i think we can say very clearly that russia has a - the victim. i think we can say very clearly that russia has a very - the victim. i think we can say veryj clearly that russia has a very long and proven history of disinformation and proven history of disinformation and outright lies, so you have to be extreme careful when dealing with information particularly now coming from russia. ithink information particularly now coming from russia. i think that's one thing we ought to be absolutely clear about. thing we ought to be absolutely clearabout. but thing we ought to be absolutely clear about. but in this case, i can say that the russian side has been

very quick to say outright that there were prisoners of war more on board that plane, ukrainian prisoners, and to say ukraine has shot them down. it's also gone so far as to suggest that was done deliberately. no ukraine is not confirming there were prisoners on board — if that is confirmed, it'll be a horrific situation for all those involved. i've met some of the families involved here in ukraine, those who haven't seen their loved ones for a long time and have been terrified even before this about what would happen, and they are now externally worried and waiting to get some kind of news.— get some kind of news. sarah rainsford _ get some kind of news. sarah rainsford there. _ get some kind of news. sarah rainsford there. this - get some kind of news. sarah rainsford there. this is - get some kind of news. sarah rainsford there. this is the i get some kind of news. sarah - rainsford there. this is the russian foreign minister, sergei lavrov, who has now called for an emergency session of the un security council — he says that he wants that to happen within the next few hours, that would be 8pm uk time, so 3pm us time. according for that session to sit, thus the only time we will find

out from ukraine what exactly happened with the downing of this military transport plane carrying 65 ukrainian soldiers designed to be taking part in a prisoner exchange. russia has call it a barbaric act of terrorism. so with 65 prisoners of war and crew taking the death total to 75 in that crash of a plane close to 75 in that crash of a plane close to the ukrainian border. here in the uk, royal mail could be allowed to reduce letter deliveries to five or even three days a week. these are among the options being considered by the communications watchdog, ofcom. it says a universal postal service risks becoming unsustainable following a large fall in the numbers of letters we send. the prime minister says he's opposed to any cuts in key services provided by the royal mail. here's our business correspondent, theo leggett. it's been the same for generations. every day, from monday to saturday,

postal workers have been out and about delivering letters. it is a service royal mail is still obliged to offer by law, but it is struggling to maintain it. and that leaves people like peter from ormskirk feeling frustrated. years ago, you would know your postman or postwoman because it would be the same person week in, week out for quite a long time. now we find every time we have a delivery, it is a different person. so you get wrong deliveries, you get no deliveries, i don't think they know the rounds quite so well. now ofcom says the six day service could be reduced to five, or even three days a week. and deliveries could be slowed down, with most letters taking three days to arrive, although urgent post could still be delivered next day. what we are saying today is the number of letters we are sending since 2011 has halved. so something has got to give or the service willjust be too costly, and either stamp prices will go up, or it will become unsustainable. so we are opening up a debate on this today,

we are not proposing a specific answer. what we want to do is hear people's views about something that remains incredibly important to us and will do in the future. the problem is too few people are sending letters these days with more and more of us relying on digital communication. that makes the service very expensive to run and royal mail is losing a lot of money. the postal operator says change is badly needed. letters volumes have dropped from 20 billion a year to seven billion a year as consumer behaviour has changed. that means we are only delivering about four letters per week, per address. and what we need, given the fact that royal mail lost about £419 million last year, is a sustainable universal service that protects the "one price goes anywhere" service that people really need. ofcom says the changes it's suggesting could save hundreds of millions of pounds for royal mail. but they would need government approval and ministers don't seem enthusiastic. i do understand letter volumes have decreased significantly, but nevertheless a six—day service

is really important for our citizens, but also for businesses that rely on saturday deliveries. not least the magazine sector and the greeting cards sector. last year, royal mail settled a bitter ill—month dispute with employees represented by the communication workers union over pay and conditions. but now the union is angry once again. it said... with fewer and fewer people sending letters, changes to postal services are widely seen as inevitable. delivering a solution that suits royal mail, its employees, its customers and politicians is likely to be an uphill challenge. theo leggett, bbc news. prime minister rishi sunak has sought to bat away suggestions he "doesn't get" britain.

at prime minister's questions, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, asked whether mr sunak was surprised one of his own mps said he wasn't listening to what people want. in a newspaper article, the former levelling up secretary, sir simon clarke, accused the prime minister of not "getting" the country and called for him to be replaced. live now to vicki young, our deputy political editor. not the sort of headlines the prime minister wants as he prepares to face an election, is it? ida. face an election, is it? no, that's riaht, face an election, is it? no, that's right. you — face an election, is it? no, that's right. you don't _ face an election, is it? no, that's right, you don't want _ face an election, is it? no, that's right, you don't want your- face an election, is it? no, that's right, you don't want your own i face an election, is it? no, that's l right, you don't want your own side saying things like this, sir simon clarke saying that rishi sunak is an uninspiring leader and that he is leading the tories into an election in which they will get massacred. so he thinks there should be a change of leader, even though there's been, let's face it, quite a few of those already. so it's interesting because lots of people are thinking, will sir simon clarke have a lot of other peoplejoining him in these calls? that hasn't happened, so i guess that was something of a bonus for rishi sunak as he faced the labour

leader. now sir simon clarke, of course, lots of questions to him about whether he was acting alone — he says he was, that he wasn't part of some wider plot — and the fact that no one else publicly has joined him. he's been talking to our political editor, chris mason. find i political editor, chris mason. and i totally reapect _ political editor, chris mason. and i totally respect the _ political editor, chris mason. and i totally respect the strong - political editor, chris mason. and i totally respect the strong views that something like this it evokes. no one _ that something like this it evokes. no one likes the guy who's shouting "iceberg," _ no one likes the guy who's shouting "iceberg," that i suspect people will be — "iceberg," that i suspect people will be even —— we will hit the iceberg — will be even —— we will hit the iceberg. and we are on course to do that, _ iceberg. and we are on course to do that, that's — iceberg. and we are on course to do that, that's the point at which i need _ that, that's the point at which i need to— that, that's the point at which i need to make, calmly and respectfully, that we are not responding to the situation with the seriousness it warrants. i want a conservative government that delivers — conservative government that delivers for communities like mind and -- _ delivers for communities like mind and -- like — delivers for communities like mind and —— like mine and our country, and— and —— like mine and our country, and i_ and —— like mine and our country, and i really— and —— like mine and our country, and i really worried we are on

course — and i really worried we are on course for— and i really worried we are on course for a shattering defeat. 30 course for a shattering defeat. so ou course for a shattering defeat. you can hear course for a shattering defeat. sr you can hear his course for a shattering defeat. 5r you can hear his frustration there, and that's anger and frustration, he wants harder line immigration, for example, and i think the fact that no one else has so farjoin him means this doesn't feel like some kind of organised plot which will asked rishi sunak, but of course these things are very destabilising. for now, thanks very much, good to have you there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the body that looks into potential wrongful convictions was warned it could have missed important dna evidence in rape cases a year after first rejecting an appeal by andrew malkinson. his conviction wasn't overturned until a decade later and his lawyers say the criminal cases review commission report means he could have been exonerated earlier. police have shot a dog dead after reports of it attacking a man

in hamilton in scotland. officers were called to the tinto view area of the town on tuesday to deal with the "dangerously out of control" animal. the man was taken to hospital with "serious injuries" following the incident, which involved a "large bulldog—type dog". almost ten million people in england now can't access free earwax removal services on the nhs. the hearing—loss charity rnid warned that some people are resorting to "dangerous self—removal methods" if they can't afford to go private. the government says patients can still be referred by their gp if the problem is linked to hearing loss. your live with bbc news. you might picture the amazon as lush and green. but a new study says that climate change is making drought much more likely in the rainforest. the amazon is the largest land—based carbon sink on earth, meaning it's able to absorb carbon emissions and help clean the air, but it faces

a very uncertain future because of increased deforestation. it's often called the "lungs of the planet", for its ability to absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping limit global temperatures but is it. carbon dioxide is the biggest source of global warming. live now to professor regina rodrigues, from florianapolis, in brazil. she is an expert in physical oceanography and climate at the federal university of santa catarina. thank you for being with us on bbc news. this is a bit of a double whammy — the increasing temperatures coinciding with an increase in drought that really poses a huge risk to the amazon.— drought that really poses a huge risk to the amazon. exactly. that's what is happening _ risk to the amazon. exactly. that's what is happening now, _ risk to the amazon. exactly. that's what is happening now, and - risk to the amazon. exactly. that's what is happening now, and in - risk to the amazon. exactly. that's l what is happening now, and in 2023, we had unprecedented drought in the amazon, with the culmination of these two factors, deficient rainfall and high temperatures. haw rainfall and high temperatures. how do ou rainfall and high temperatures. how do you separate _ rainfalland high temperatures. how do you separate what is man—made,

human caused global warming versus a naturally occurring phenomenon — i'm thinking of el nino, you may have to explain that the people? {lilia thinking of el nino, you may have to explain that the people?— explain that the people? ok, so in the uk, the _ explain that the people? ok, so in the uk, the world _ explain that the people? ok, so in the uk, the world attribution - the uk, the world attribution project has been doing this work for specifically extreme events in europe and other parts of the world. i work together with them to do exclusively for this drought event and the amazon, and what we do is we run models with carbon emissions, mimicking our current situation, and we relate it to the preindustrial era without climate change. and we compare the results and see what other events are like that with the characteristics we have now and are more likely to happen without and with climate change, and we get to

the conclusion that for meteorological drought, what we call which is just considering the rainfall aspect or deficiency, is ten times more likely to happen in under conditions of climate change. and we considered the combination of drought with the high temperatures, it is 30 times more likely to happen. it is 30 times more likely to ha en. �* , ., ., it is 30 times more likely to hauen. �* , . ., happen. and explained to me if you will why protecting _ happen. and explained to me if you will why protecting the _ happen. and explained to me if you will why protecting the amazon - happen. and explained to me if you | will why protecting the amazon is so important? because it serves two purposes here, not only is it a carbon sink, as i mentioned in the introduction, but it is able to absorb and hold onto that carbon. it has an ability to reduce the effects of climate change, so any destruction they are not only threatens to release that carbon, but also limits our ability to respond to climate change? exactly, it is a source — respond to climate change? exactly, it is a source of—

respond to climate change? exactly, it is a source of moisture _ respond to climate change? exactly, it is a source of moisture into the . it is a source of moisture into the atmosphere and for other parts of the globe, and actually has its own impact on the atmosphere. so the forest is not only releasing carbon, which makes things worse, but also it interrupted a lot of the water cycle particularly for south america. cycle particularly for south america-— cycle particularly for south america. ., , ., america. really could have you with us, thank america. really could have you with us. thank you _ america. really could have you with us, thank you for _ america. really could have you with us, thank you for explaining - america. really could have you with us, thank you for explaining that, i us, thank you for explaining that, professor. we will follow that very closely as you underline there, so important in that battle against climate change. thank you for being with us. the brits awards nominations will be announced in less than an hour.

live now to stuart worden who is the principal of the brit school in london. talk to us about that diversity on the nominations? because this was a real problem last year, but the nomination categories in the number of nominations have changed to try to address that. it of nominations have changed to try to address that.— to address that. it looks to be like the record industry _ to address that. it looks to be like the record industry is _ to address that. it looks to be like the record industry is always - to address that. it looks to be like the record industry is always has l the record industry is always has really listened and thought, "we need to make sure the nominations in the brick awards reflect society and the brick awards reflect society and the diversity of this country, and the diversity of this country, and the diversity of the music industry." i think they've done that, it's a profoundly diverse set of nominations. you that, it's a profoundly diverse set of nominations.— that, it's a profoundly diverse set of nominations. you should be proud because there's _ of nominations. you should be proud because there's a _ of nominations. you should be proud because there's a lot _ of nominations. you should be proud because there's a lot of— of nominations. you should be proud because there's a lot of alumni - of nominations. you should be proud because there's a lot of alumni on i because there's a lot of alumni on this list — talk to me about who you are keeping a close eye on. for raye, it's _ are keeping a close eye on. for raye, it's a — are keeping a close eye on. fr?" raye, it's a massive day. she's an incredible young woman, a role model, she was a brilliant student here, and olivia dean has three nominations today, she's a really exciting artist, she's up for three categories including artist of the year. and i think those two young

women left here between may be olivia five years ago, raye ten years ago, they are two remarkable women that i think are leading the way in the music industry now. they've got their own voice, singing about things they believe in — extraordinary day. i about things they believe in - extraordinary day.— about things they believe in - extraordinary day. i don't want to interru t, extraordinary day. i don't want to interrupt. but _ extraordinary day. i don't want to interrupt, but used _ extraordinary day. i don't want to interrupt, but used that - extraordinary day. i don't want to interrupt, but used that word - extraordinary day. i don't want to | interrupt, but used that word role model, which is so important for students who are coming through the industry or certainly getting their first taste of the industry right now. the focus here is clearly on the acts themselves, but this is about dancers and the bands and stuff, as well, about the entire music industry that will look at these nominations and say, "that could be me one day."— could be me one day." that's the most amazing — could be me one day." that's the most amazing thing _ could be me one day." that's the most amazing thing about - could be me one day." that's the most amazing thing about that i could be me one day." that's the i most amazing thing about that brit awards themselves, because that night we will have young dancers on stage, people working backstage on the lighting and sound, the whole ecosystem of the music and entertainment industry, whether on camera or running the show — that's what britain does so well, which is

this extraordinary night of celebration of diverse talent. and for our young people that go to this school in croydon which is free, it's supported by the brick trust, they'll be in the audience going, "wow, that could be me." and that's inspiring is the talent pipeline continues. 50 inspiring is the talent pipeline continues-— inspiring is the talent pipeline continues. . , ~ ., continues. so incredible, i know ou'll be continues. so incredible, i know you'll be keeping _ continues. so incredible, i know you'll be keeping a _ continues. so incredible, i know you'll be keeping a close - continues. so incredible, i know you'll be keeping a close eye . continues. so incredible, i know you'll be keeping a close eye on j continues. so incredible, i know- you'll be keeping a close eye on how those nominations shape up into real awards. we'll keep a close eye on it too, thanks to be with us. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. as storm jocelyn cleared our shores, wednesday has been a day for assessing the damage that was left. but it was a slightly quieter story with the winds gradually easing down. we did actually see some brief

glimpses of sunshine, not a bad afternoon in hexham, northumberland. and as we go through the evening and overnight, the winds will continue to ease. we've got these weather fronts starting to slowly drift in from the west. they'll bring outbreaks of rain, but they will also introduce this south—westerly flow, which is driving milder air right across the country. so there'll be a lot of clouds to start the day on thursday. outbreaks of drizzle, misty conditions along west coasts and some rain moving out of northern ireland into northern scotland. but by the afternoon, most of the persistent rain will have eased away. it will stay damp and drizzly with a few showers out to the west. but an incredibly mild story for all of us. i3 celsius in london. at this time of year, we should be seeing temperatures around 7—8 celsius. there will be some showery outbreaks of rain into northern england. hopefully a brighter story into the afternoon for northern ireland. mild here, and still very mild particularly in comparison to where we were just over a week ago in scotland, highs of 10—12 celsius.

now, through thursday night into the early hours of friday morning, there'll be a spell of heavier, more persistent rain, as the cold front starts to push its way steadily eastwards. hopefully that will clear away from east anglia. here, it will be a mild start on friday morning. clearer skies, fresher conditions, 4—5 celsius in the far north and west. but that's where we'll have the best of the sunshine. and on the whole, a ridge of high pressure will build on friday, keeping things largely fine and quiet. a few scattered showers along north and west facing coasts of scotland and northern ireland. a little bit fresher here, but generally those temperatures above where they should be for the time of year still, at around 6—12 celisus. into the start of the weekend, england and wales still under this influence of high pressure, quiet and dry. toppling across the high, we'll see weather fronts. so as we look further ahead, there's always the risk of some wetter and windier weather into the far north and west, nowhere near as severe as it has been. and on the whole, that mild trend is going to stay with us. the best of any sunshine certainly

across central and southern areas, but not a bad weekend ahead for most.

this is bbc news. the headlines... tanks shells hit a un facility sheltering tens of thousands

of people in khan younis, gaza — killing at least nine people. a russian military plane crashes, with no survivors. moscow says ukrainian prisoners of war were on board and accuses kyiv of shooting it down. here in the uk — a shake—up of the royal mail, which could see deliveries reduced to as few as three days a week. and the nominations for the 2024 brit awards have just been just been released — with dua lipa receiving three nominations. all that's still to come in as half—hour, but before that attentively tend to be busy sports latest from rep. jane has the latest details. chelsea await the winners of tonight's efl cup semi—final between fulham and liverpool. the second leg is finely poised, with the visitors liverpool having the advantage, following a 2—1 win at anfield earlier this month. fulham manager marco silva says

he hopes playing at craven cottage can make all the difference.