$83 million in damages to a woman he defamed. queen camilla says king charles is "doing well" after visiting him in hospital after he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate. hello. welcome to the programme. the uk hasjoined the us, australia, italy and canada in suspending funding to the un relief and works agency for palestine refugees — also known as unrwa. israel has accused some unrwa staff of being involved in the seventh of october attacks, in which hamas fighters killed about 1,200 people. unrwa's head said a full investigation into the allegations is being carried out — and anyone found to have been involved will be held accountable. this latest news comes as pressure is mounting on the israeli government to change its conduct in its war with hamas, after the international court ofjustice ruled that israel must do everything possible to prevent genocide there. here's our middle east

correspondent mark lowen. israel is seizing on another development as proof of what it says is the un's bias against it, which is that 12 members of staff of the un mission operating in gaza have been dismissed for... as they were found to be, to have been complicit in the hamas attacks on israel on the 7th of october. now, israel says that is proof that the un mission in gaza is not impartial — that it is pro—hamas. what the united nations and pro—un voices are saying is, "look, "the entire workforce of that un agency is 30,000 people. "so12 bad apples should not tarnish the entire "reputation of the un agency." but, you know, israel is saying that this is proof that we are fighting, in israel's words, a "just war" and we have the right to defend ourselves.

with me is our political correspondent, harry farley. first of all, tells more about the foreign office has said about this decision. i have been speaking to sources in the foreign office and in the last hour or so the, uk has committed 60 million so far to the humanitarian situation in gaza. that is not all been paid. that goes out in tranches, in different instalments. the next instalment is due in april and what the foreign office is saying is they opposing that future funding, so the future of this tolerance of that money that the uk government has committed, they opposing that until this investigation is concluded. spokesman said that the uk is appalled by these allegations against unrwa staff that they were involved in the attack on the 7th of october, 18 this act of terrorism that the government has repeatedly condemned. that's the foreign office statement this afternoon. what more do we know about the background in terms of how long the government have been funding unrwa and what

relationship is? unrwa is the main united nations body that works with palestinians in gaza. it is also the main body that the uk sends funds to if it wants to get funding to the palestinians in gaza. and, as mac was saying, israel has long accused different branches of the united nations including unrwa of bias and even anti—semitism and it is obviously saying that this proves that narrative. unrwa from their point of view maintain that they are doing vital work to ease the humanitarian situation in gaza and say that they were the only organisations are still working there. do organisations are still working there. ~ ., ., , ., there. do we know any more about this investigation, _ there. do we know any more about this investigation, then? _ there. do we know any more about this investigation, then? what - there. do we know any more about this investigation, then? what we | this investigation, then? what we understand _ this investigation, then? what we understand is _ this investigation, then? what we understand is that _ this investigation, then? what we understand is that israel - this investigation, then? what we understand is that israel handed l understand is that israel handed evidence to unrwa that some of its staff were involved in the 7th of october tax. staff were involved in the 7th of 0ctobertax. unrwa staff were involved in the 7th of october tax. unrwa themselves say 0ctober tax. unrwa themselves say they are looking into it, they've launched an investigation and have sacked those members of staff in the meantime. £31

sacked those members of staff in the meantime. . ., , , sacked those members of staff in the meantime. _, , , , , meantime. of course, 'ust briefly have a uk is t meantime. of course, 'ust briefly have a uk is now h meantime. of course, just briefly have a uk is nowjoining - meantime. of course, just briefly have a uk is nowjoining the - meantime. of course, just briefly have a uk is nowjoining the us, | have a uk is nowjoining the us, australia, italy and canada when it comes to suspending funding to unrwa. , ., ., ., comes to suspending funding to unrwa. ., ., ., unrwa. yes, a growing coalition of countries. the _ unrwa. yes, a growing coalition of countries. the us _ unrwa. yes, a growing coalition of countries. the us state _ unrwa. yes, a growing coalition ofi countries. the us state department said it was extremely troubled by the allegations and they see the israeli... italy and canada also journey in those countries suspending funding to unrwa. inside gaza, israel is pressing ahead with its military operation with tanks advancing into khan younis, in southern gaza, where thousands of people have been forced to flee. gaza's health ministry says 174 palestinians have been killed in israeli strikes in the past 2a hours. that takes the total reported killed in gaza since the war started to at least 26,257 — most of the dead are women and children. the head of the cia is expected to meet officials from israel, egypt and qatar in the coming days, in an attempt to negotiate

the release of hostages held by hamas, which many western governments consider a terrorist organisation. let's hear more from mark lowen — here he is on those upcoming talks. they are due to begin, we understand, as early as sunday, tomorrow, in france, there are reports, but the cia has not confirmed the location or the start date and they will involve bill burns, the head of the cia, who's meeting with his opposite numbers at mossad, israel's intelligence agency, and the egyptian spy agency as well, and top officials from qatar to try to revive attempts at finding a ceasefire — making progress towards a ceasefire in this conflict. tomorrow, sunday will be three months since israel launched its ground offensive in gaza, and the warring sides are still far apart on ceasefire proposals. we understand from reports that israel has mooted the idea of a one or two—month pause in fighting or truce, and the phased release of israeli hostages and palestinian prisoners. but hamas is said to be demanding a permanent ceasefire as part of any

hostage release deal. now, the fact that they are... these talks are due to take place show that the wheels of diplomacy are turning faster. president biden spoke to the emir of qatar and the president of egypt on friday, yesterday. and it all comes, of course, as the international court ofjustice places... says that israel must do all it can to prevent genocide in gaza, placing renewed focus and renewed scrutiny on the israeli forces' actions down in gaza. mark logan in the middle east for us. ——mark lowen in the middle east for us. a fire on board an oil tanker which has links to the uk has been put out, a day after it was struck by a houthi missile, off the coast of yemen. the houthis said the marlin luanda was targeted on friday in response to "american—british aggression". the operator of the ship, trafigura,

paid tribute to the bravery of the captain and crew and thanked the indian, us and french navies for their help. in a statement it said, "we are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the marlin luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished. the vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbour. the crew continues to monitor the vessel and cargo closely." this latest incident follows us and uk airstrikes on houthi targets in response to attacks on ships in the red sea region — one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. the uk government says it reserves the right to respond appropriately. 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. this is the marlin luanda, carrying russian oil from greece to singapore — the latest houthi target, the houthis were quick to take credit, their spokesman saying once again that this was being done to support the palestinians in gaza and in response to what he described as american—british

aggression. it's been two weeks since britain and the us first hit back, striking military targets inside yemen, aiming to deter the houthis. so far, the strategy doesn't appear to be working. so the attack on the marlin luanda in the gulf of aden signifies a great extension and escalation from the red sea to the gulf of aden, so a geographical extension, and also with the type of weapons. the missile used yesterday was a ballistic missile, and the houthis started their attacks in the red sea using drones. so we're seeing a technological expansion and a geographical extension. the houthis are using the attacks to bolster support at home, orchestrating huge rallies in the capital sanaa, relishing this confrontation with the west — something they've thought about and planned for for years.

they're being helped by iran. when us navy seals seized a dhow off the coast of somalia earlier this month, they found parts of ballistic and anti—ship cruise missiles. diplomats say weapons are also being smuggled through 0man. the marlin luanda is operated by a uk—registered company. here, a government spokesman said britain and its allies reserve the right to respond. paul adams, bbc news. let's hear a bit more from paul adams, who has the latest developments. the multinational company trafigura, which is based in singapore and which has been putting out statements on the condition of the vessel, the marlin luanda, just a short time ago put out its latest bulletin, and i'lljust quote to you from that. they say that we are pleased to confirm that all the crew on board the marlin luanda are safe and that the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished. that was a fire that was raging really throughout the night, and i think was a cause of grave

concern to the ship's owners — bearing in mind, of course, that this was a ship carrying oil products, and so the possibility of a fire spreading was a very real one. carrying oil products, and so the possibility of a fire spreading was a very real one. the vessel is now sailing towards what is described as a safe harbour, and the crew is continuing to monitor the vessel and the cargo closely. the statement from trafigura also compliments the role played by the navies of india, the united states and france, all of whom sent vessels to assist in the situation with the tanker. and, in fact, some of the images that we have seen of the tanker today were filmed from the indian vessel that approached to offer assistance. so, trafigura says, "we would like to recognise the exceptional "dedication and bravery of the ship's master and crew," who managed to control fire in what the company described "extremely, highly difficult circumstances, "as well as the essential assistance provided by india, "the united states, and french navies." so, this was clearly

a serious attack. it was an attack not in the red sea but in the gulf of aden, which is not the first time that's happened, but there are indications that the houthis are becoming bolder — they are attacking targets in a wider area — and that so far, the strategy of the west, of the united states and britain in particular to attack houthi military targets inside yemen in an effort to deter the houthis from conducting these attacks on shipping, that strategy so far has yet to bear fruit. donald trump says he'll appeal against a court order to pay 83 million dollars in damages to a woman he defamed. ejean carroll said the former us president destroyed her reputation when he said she'd lied about him sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. a jury in a previous civil fraud trial found ms carroll was sexually abused by trump in the 1990s. she said the ruling was a "great victory for every woman". mr trump said he'll appeal. nada tawfik reports from new york.

ejean carroll has now taken on donald trump twice in court, both times emerging victorious. last may, he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, and ordered to pay her $5 million in damages. this second defamation trial looks set to cost him far more — $83 million. donald trump was not present when the verdict was read. and earlier, he stormed out of court when ejean carroll's lawyer was delivering her closing statement, arguing that the former president acted as if the law didn't apply to him. afterwards, he slammed the verdict on social media as "absolutely ridiculous" and a politically motivated witch—hunt directed by president biden. we will immediately appeal. we will set aside that ridiculous

jury and i just want to remind you all of one thing. i will continue with president trump to fight for everybody�*s first amendment right to speak. everybody has a right to defend themselves when they are wrongfully accused, and to be able to say, "i didn't do it". donald trump has repeatedly denied raping the former advice columnist at a department store in the �*90s. ejean carroll's lawyer submitted as evidence videos and posts where trump continued to defame her while the trials taking place. i have no idea who she is, where she came from. this is another scam. it's a political witch—hunt. the damages awarded to ejean carroll were far more than the 2a million she asked for. it signals that the jury agreed with her lawyers that only a very large sum that would hurt donald trump financially would convince him to stop. in a statement, ejean carroll described the verdict as a victory for every woman who stands up

when she's been knocked down and a huge defeat for every bully who's tried to keep a woman down. donald trump has plenty of other upcoming trials, where he faces a total of 91 felony counts and the threat ofjail time. but so far, it hasn't dented his chances of becoming the republican presidential nominee. quite the opposite — it's energised his base. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. joining me is scott lucas who is professor of us and international politics at the clinton institute, university college dublin. thanks forjoining us here on the bbc. i think the question many of our viewers will want to chew over is whether any of this is going to hurt mr trump's chances in the year's presidential race?- year's presidential race? let's start off with _ year's presidential race? let's start off with the _ year's presidential race? let's start off with the fact - year's presidential race? let's start off with the fact that - start off with the fact that legally, of course, it hurts trump. he now has been found guilty of

committing sexual assault. he has been found guilty in another case of committing fraud with his businesses and now he's been found guilty of malicious deformation with the jury awarding far more in damages than even ejean carroll's lawyers have requested. politically, i'll start with what i think your correspondent ended with, which is a bit of a misleading take fed by the us media, that that just energises trump's base. that is what the trump team says. that is what they want the media to believe. that is what they want to propel trump to republican nomination, the presidency with the media going with the spectacle. in fact the reality is that some trump voters in his first campaign said if i shot a man in plain view in new york city people would still vote for me. i know some of those people. but there are also many people who would not vote for donald trump because of these issues. polls have

shown that a majority of americans believe that if donald trump is convicted in criminal trials, such as the two trials committed with his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, then he should not be president, and those people including a number of republicans, republicans who have been supporting for example nikki haley in the current contest for the gop and, significantly, i think importantly for november, include an awful loss of independence with whom trump is having trouble getting support, including in... just having trouble getting support, including in...— including in... just to say it is a civil trial _ including in... just to say it is a civil trial that _ including in... just to say it is a civil trial that found _ including in... just to say it is a civil trial that found that - including in... just to say it is a civil trial that found that mr - including in... just to say it is a i civil trial that found that mr trump was legally responsible for sexually abusing and defining ejean carroll i did that but we heard from not at all thick that he vigorously denies raping her. you say that it could impact his standing in the campaign. it is worth, of course, going over some of the other cases that he faces in the coming months. because

this wasn't the only one. i’m faces in the coming months. because this wasn't the only one.— this wasn't the only one. i'm going to say something _ this wasn't the only one. i'm going to say something that _ this wasn't the only one. i'm going to say something that is _ this wasn't the only one. i'm going to say something that is quite - this wasn't the only one. i'm going | to say something that is quite often not reported but is a statement from fact so won't get the bbc in trouble. when trump's lawyers earlier last year appealed to get the damages of $5 million against him reduced over what in the civil trial was found to be the sexual abuse of ejean carroll, the judge, abuse of ejean carroll, thejudge, judge lewis kaplan, who also presided over this week's trial, ruled that the sexual assault did constitute rape. so that is legally on the record. what we await to see in terms of the criminal trials in four cases, one of which is an attempt to influence the 2016 election through a payment to the aduu election through a payment to the adult film star stormy daniels, one is about the alleged theft of classified documents from when trump was president in two, with its attempt that led up to the capital attack in january 2021 to attempt that led up to the capital attack injanuary 2021 to overturn illegal election. we will see if any of them do come to trial. if they do come to trial, this will at the very

least tie up trump as he campaigns to be present and, yes, i do think that for all the talk of people keep talking about the mythical trump base, you have to realise that base is a minority of americans. they may be enough to get trump into the presidency but it is by no means a certainty. and i want to add this one important point. whatever the politics, politics should not be used to prejudice the legal proceedings, and there is a danger that if the media keep repeating the trump lie that the legal cases only make him stronger, that supports his efforts to get the cases thrown out on the grounds that, hey, you don't want to come after me because i'm only going to benefit even if i'm convicted. that's the port of trump's line is, unwittingly, putting your thumbs on the scales of justice. i putting your thumbs on the scales of 'ustice. ., �* ., putting your thumbs on the scales of 'ustice. ~ �* ., ., ., justice. i think i'm a scot, what some peeple — justice. i think i'm a scot, what some people might— justice. i think i'm a scot, what some people might say - justice. i think i'm a scot, what some people might say and - justice. i think i'm a scot, what - some people might say and certainly one of our colleagues who have been one of our colleagues who have been on the road talking to his base, is that they definitely feel

invigorated by this and that many want to stand loyal to him. the question, of course, scott, is whether that's just a very small section of the electorate who voted for him in previous elections and whether those undecided voters will actually be turned off by all of this legal drama.— actually be turned off by all of this legal drama. absolutely right. the squeaky _ this legal drama. absolutely right. the squeaky wheel _ this legal drama. absolutely right. the squeaky wheel gets _ this legal drama. absolutely right. the squeaky wheel gets the - this legal drama. absolutely right. l the squeaky wheel gets the grease. from supporters and, again, i know some of them, some of them are in my family, they are very much a squeaky wheel and the problem is, think about how many trump supporters have been interviewed by the press in recent weeks. and, by and large, they are going to support their guy. then support that with hammy supporters of nikki haley have been interviewed by the press? how we supporters of former candidate such as ron desantis who is now to the race? how many independents have been interviewed by the media? the media tends to be self—selecting in just simply going to the most die—hard trump supporters and when those supporters give the message out that trump wants to give out the media is caught in a cyclejust

repeating this repeating this. i'm not saying that this is a falsehood. there are a lot of people who do support donald trump. what i'm saying is they do tend to get magnified in the media coverage and we will see how this shakes out in the months to come, both in the remaining gop contest and in the general election. we remaining gop contest and in the general election.— remaining gop contest and in the general election. we have only got ten seconds- _ general election. we have only got ten seconds. if _ general election. we have only got ten seconds. if you _ general election. we have only got ten seconds. if you had _ general election. we have only got ten seconds. if you had to - general election. we have only got ten seconds. if you had to call - general election. we have only got ten seconds. if you had to call it i ten seconds. if you had to call it now, assuming that it is a trump and abiding contest, who would you qualify? abiding contest, who would you auali ? ., , _, abiding contest, who would you auali ? ., , qualify? no, see, ifi could call thatl qualify? no, see, ifi could call that i would — qualify? no, see, ifi could call that i would be _ qualify? no, see, ifi could call that i would be down _ qualify? no, see, ifi could call that i would be down at - qualify? no, see, ifi could call that i would be down at the - qualify? no, see, ifi could call- that i would be down at the bookies right now making a whole lots of money! i am right now making a whole lots of money! iam not right now making a whole lots of money! i am not one that is going to predict the outcome of a very, very balanced election.— balanced election. staying on the fence for now, _ balanced election. staying on the fence for now, the _ balanced election. staying on the fence for now, the pressure - balanced election. staying on the fence for now, the pressure of. balanced election. staying on the| fence for now, the pressure of us and international politics at the clinton institute and the university of dublin. thanks very much. thank ou. now it's time for a look at today's sport with chetan. hello from the bbc sport centre. we start in melbourne where aryna sabalenka has won the women's australian open singles title for the second year in a row. the number two seed from belarus beat china's zhung chinwen — playing in herfirst grand slam final — in straight sets.

nick parrott was watching. it has been a stroll in the park for sabalenka. the last fortnight has been a stroll in melbourne park for sabalenka. she hasn't dropped a set in a way to the final. standing on her way was china's 12th seed, zheng qinwen. she was trying to emulate a different chinese player, who won the australian open ten years ago. but she often looked over wound in her first major final and lost the first set in 33 minutes. a rare minute of uncertainty came from sabalenka came when she was trying to close out victory. looking to finish in style, she struggled to find a winner and ended up having to save a break point. on herfifth championship point, she eventually hit the shot she had been striving for. her delight clear to see if she became the first woman to win back—to—back australian titles since her compatriot victoria azarenka over a decade ago.

nick parrott, bbc news. great win for sabalenka — but there's been disappointment for the british defending champion alfie hewitt, who's lost the men's wheelchair singles final to the japanese 17—year—old tokito oda. hewett was beaten in straight sets by the same player he lost the wimbledon final to last summer. but he will still leave melbourne with silverware, with he and his partner gordon reid having already been crowned men's doubles champions. for oda, it's his third grand slam singles title. i was runner—up last year, and then i played... against alfie also last year, and then... but, i'm, ithink, the score is not what i wanted, and then this time was, i played really well and i'm just really happy. in cricket, england's ollie pope has staged a one man rescue act, to keep england's hopes alive in the opening test against india, in hyderabad. with wickets falling all around him,

and the tourists in trouble, pope's epic 148 not out on day three has dragged england to 316—6 in their second innings, 126 runs ahead with four wickets in hand. there are no english premier league games at the weekend, as the fourth round of the fa cup takes centre stage. six games on saturday, everton against luton and fulham versus newcastle are just two of them. the early kick off sees the lowest ranked side left in the competition — non—league maidstone united at championship side ipswich, where it's currently 2—1 to maidstone. and that's all the sport for now. thank you very much. king charles remains in hospital in london where he is recovering after a surgery for an enlarged prostate. live now to our reporter ellie price, who's outside

the hospital in central london. that is the london clinic private hospital. the queen visited her husband and 2.5 hours ago and we understand she is probably still in there. she was by his side yesterday when he vie for that operation on his in large pro—state which although it is a fairly standard procedure he had not unusual to stay for a night till two in hospital, of course he stayed in overnight. we don't know whether he is here to visit because she is not coming out on whether he is here to accompany... obviously will come here next to ours in buckingham palace doesn't offer ongoing commentary as to exactly what is going on from that point of view. and, of course, it is worth remembering that the queen herself may be visiting another member of the royal family because of course looking's daughter—in—law, kath and princess of wales, is also in the same hospital having received surgery on her abdomen 12 days ago, an operation that we didn't get too many details on but we were told she would be in hospitalfor around two weeks with that and as i say, it is

12 days for her. so it mayjust be that queen camilla has been visiting catherine, princess of wales too. ali price, who was at the hospital there. thank you very much. the bring is up—to—date on the latest there. but is it for this half hour but there is more on that and on the rest of the day's news on the bbc news website. we have plenty of analysis is well on the main story which is of course the ongoing situation in the middle east. i'm the vaidyanathan. to stay with us. i willjoin the vaidyanathan. to stay with us. i will join you the vaidyanathan. to stay with us. i willjoin you after a quick break. hello there. we had lots of sunshine around yesterday. things are not quite the same for this weekend. there is more cloud around but it is staying dry this deal for much of the country through the weekend and as the winds continue to strengthen, so the temperatures will continue to rise. now, a lot of the cloud that we are seeing their today has been

quite high cloud, making the sunshine by the hazy early on. you can see the extent of the cloud that has been coming in from the atlantic. that is ahead of this band of thick cloud that is in the north—west of the uk on that weather front and that's where we are continuing to see most of the rain as we head into saturday evening. a few spots of rain could head across northern ireland into western scotland and the temperature is around 8—10 . scotland and the temperature is around 8—10. it is a scotland and the temperature is around 8—10 . it is a little bit milder than it was yesterday. that rain moves away from northern scotland, some dampness for a while parts of scotland and northern ireland with mcleod. the clear skies will be for eastern areas of a reason i was last night so it shouldn't be quite as cold where there is a risk of a touch of ground frost. some sunshine here and sunshine across many parts of the country at times. more cloud affecting the south—western heading into the midlands. they cut band of rain pushing into northern ireland and particularly north west scotland and particularly north west scotland and the afternoon. bale is picking up and the afternoon. bale is picking up ahead of that, very windy in the

north—west of scotland and a keen wind blowing through the alley but it is a southern wind and that is why convergys are going to continue to right to be could make 1a degrees in north wales and when the moray firth because that rain. winds are coming from the canaries where there is a loss of such carbon dust at the moment. some will feel that rain coming in from the north west and will see wetter weather coming in is moving to monday. rain turning quite heavy and it is notjust rain but we will see some snow across southern uplands of things turn a little chillier in scotland and northern ireland. likely to stay dry in the midlands in many parts of eastern england and here it is going to be very mild, temperature 111—15 . weather front miles on tuesday, quite a day and generally dry but we are going to find some other funds approaching the north west and things may be a little bit cooler on tuesday and hampshire should rise a little on wednesday. that is called m on the far north—west by the end

of the day. —— there is some colder air in the far north—west by the end of the day.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a houthi missile strikes a british—linked oil tanker off the coast of yemen. the houthis say the attack was in response to what they called us and british aggression. the uk government has threatened retaliation. the uk joins countries suspending funding for a un agency in gaza after israel accuses some staff of involvement in the 7th

of october attack. unrwa has announced that it had sacked a number of staff and is investigating the accusations. a jury in new york orders donald trump to pay $83 million in damages to the writer e jean carroll. mr trump had already been found to have defamed her with comments he made in 2019. mr trump says he will appeal against the order. explicit deepfake images of taylor swift lead to calls for new laws over ai—generated pictures. you can find more on that story on the bbc website. now on bbc news, influential with katty kay: jose andres. jose andres is one of the most famous chefs in america. he also runs one of the biggest food charity organisations in the world. and i wanted to sit down with him to find out what it's like feeding people in high—end restaurants, and in disaster zones.