the crisis in dentistry in england as people queue for nhs appointments and the government sets out a new plan. the us secretary of state meets with israeli and palestinian leaders — the latest push for a ceasefire and hostage deal. on verify today, we have been looking at the government's claims that poor weather conditions had no impact on a fall in small boat crossings the channel. and three students have deciphered a two—thousand—year—old scroll using ai, unlocking mysteries of what the romans spent their time thinking about. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. two bombs have exploded in south—west pakistan —

just hours before polls open, for the general election tomorrow. at least 27 people have been killed and many more injured. authorities say, they were targeting the election offices in two parts of baloochistan. the people of pakistan will head to the polls, after a campaign marred by violence and claims of poll—rigging. these are some of the pictures in so far — these from the blast in the pishin district, outside the election office of an independent local candidate. officials told the bbc he was meeting his polling agent at the time. the second explosion went off outside the office of a political party — killing at least eight people. the afp news agency quotes a senior police official, saying it happened in the main bazaar. (map the explosions happened within an hour of each other, around a hundred and 50 kilometres apart. here's more from our correspondent saher baloch in pakistan. the latest information i have

is that the election commissioner of pakistan has said that the security should be put on high alert and also the fact he said that tomorrow everybody should come out and vote. in a similar statement, the chief minister of balochistan province also said the same thing and said we will not let these attacks divert any of our efforts to hold these elections on time. so tomorrow everybody should turn up to vote. but right now the province is going through a lot of uncertainty and fear. tell me more about the attack themselves. we have the pictures up on the screens. in one area, the attack was basically targeted at the independent candidate who is contesting elections from the area and in another area a religious political party, their office was attacked. so soon after that the police reached the spot and so far none

of the groups have taken responsibility for the attacks. balochistan is quite a diverse place because a lot of militant organisations operate from there. for instance in the south—west of balochistan there are insurgent groups who are fighting for separation from pakistan and in the north—west there at the militant organisations which are religiously motivated. i know you have been to the province recently, give me a sense of what it's been like in the run—up to the elections. injanuary i went there and i went to the main city. a lot of incidents and a lot of attacks that have happened on election offices and outside the political candidates offices happened there. so i was the end i spoke with a lot of people over there.

the majority of the people were saying they will not participate in the selection at all only because it is not their election. it is basically a selection which is being imposed on them. a lot of people were saying there are other problems ailing the province, like forced disappearances. they were talking about a lack of education and a lack of basic facilities they say the province is going through the same thing it was going through a0 years ago. a lot of people were depressed about the upcoming elections. we will have more on that story a little later on. the us secretary of state antony blinken is having talks with israeli and palestinian officials to try to negotiate a ceasefire in gaza. hamas says it has given its response to a framework proposal. israel and the united states are said to be reviewing it. the gaza health ministry announced earlier that a further 123 people had been killed in the past 2a hours — taking the overall

total to 27,708. it is four months since the attacks on israel by hamas, in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. a short while ago, the un secretary general antonio made an impassioned appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza. the situation in gaza is a festering wound _ the situation in gaza is a festering wound on— the situation in gaza is a festering wound on our— the situation in gaza is a festering wound on our collective _ the situation in gaza is a festering| wound on our collective conscience that threatens _ wound on our collective conscience that threatens the _ wound on our collective conscience that threatens the entire _ wound on our collective conscience that threatens the entire region. . that threatens the entire region. nothing — that threatens the entire region. nothing justifies _ that threatens the entire region. nothing justifies the _ that threatens the entire region. nothing justifies the horrific- nothing justifies the horrific terror— nothing justifies the horrific terror attacks— nothing justifies the horrific terror attacks launched - nothing justifies the horrific terror attacks launched by l nothing justifies the horrific- terror attacks launched by hamas against _ terror attacks launched by hamas against israei— terror attacks launched by hamas against israel on _ terror attacks launched by hamas against israel on the _ terror attacks launched by hamas against israel on the 7th - terror attacks launched by hamas against israel on the 7th of - against israel on the 7th of 0ctoher~ _ against israel on the 7th of october. nor— against israel on the 7th of october. nor is— against israel on the 7th of october. nor is there - against israel on the 7th of october. nor is there any i october. nor is there any justification— october. nor is there any justification for— october. nor is there any justification for the - october. nor is there any - justification for the collective punishment _ justification for the collective punishment of— justification for the collective punishment of the _ justification for the collective l punishment of the palestinian people — punishment of the palestinian people. yet, _ punishment of the palestinian people. yet, israeli _ punishment of the palestinian people. yet, israeli military. people. yet, israeli military operations— people. yet, israeli military operations have _ people. yet, israeli military operations have resulted i people. yet, israeli military operations have resulted in| operations have resulted in destruction— operations have resulted in destruction at— operations have resulted in destruction at a _ operations have resulted in destruction at a scale - operations have resulted in destruction at a scale and i operations have resulted in- destruction at a scale and speed without— destruction at a scale and speed

without parallel— destruction at a scale and speed without parallel since _ destruction at a scale and speed without parallel since i- destruction at a scale and speed without parallel since i becamel without parallel since i became secretary— without parallel since i became secretary general. _ without parallel since i became secretary general. especially. secretary general. especially alarmed _ secretary general. especially alarmed by— secretary general. especially alarmed by reports _ secretary general. especially alarmed by reports the - secretary general. especiallyl alarmed by reports the israeli military— alarmed by reports the israeli military intends— alarmed by reports the israeli military intends to _ alarmed by reports the israeli military intends to focus - alarmed by reports the israeli military intends to focus next| alarmed by reports the israeli i military intends to focus next on rafer— military intends to focus next on rater we — military intends to focus next on rafer we hundreds _ military intends to focus next on rafer we hundreds of _ military intends to focus next on rafer we hundreds of thousandsj military intends to focus next on . rafer we hundreds of thousands of paiestinians— rafer we hundreds of thousands of palestinians have _ rafer we hundreds of thousands of palestinians have been _ rafer we hundreds of thousands of palestinians have been squeezed l rafer we hundreds of thousands of| palestinians have been squeezed in rafer we hundreds of thousands of. palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate _ palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search— palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search for— palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search for safety. - palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search for safety. such - palestinians have been squeezed in a desperate search for safety. such an| desperate search for safety. such an action— desperate search for safety. such an action would — desperate search for safety. such an action would increase _ desperate search for safety. such an action would increase what - desperate search for safety. such an action would increase what is - action would increase what is already— action would increase what is already a _ action would increase what is already a military _ action would increase what is already a military nightmare i action would increase what is - already a military nightmare with untoid _ already a military nightmare with untold regional— already a military nightmare with untold regional consequences. it| already a military nightmare with l untold regional consequences. it is time for— untold regional consequences. it is time for an— untold regional consequences. it is time for an immediate _ untold regional consequences. it isl time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire _ time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and — time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional- time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional releasel ceasefire and unconditional release of att— ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages _ ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages. this _ ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages. this must - ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages. this must lead - ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages. this must lead to i of all hostages. this must lead to reversible — of all hostages. this must lead to reversible actions— of all hostages. this must lead to reversible actions towards - of all hostages. this must lead to reversible actions towards a - of all hostages. this must lead to reversible actions towards a two i reversible actions towards a two state _ reversible actions towards a two state solution _ reversible actions towards a two state solution based _ reversible actions towards a two state solution based on - reversible actions towards a two state solution based on the - reversible actions towards a two state solution based on the us. reversible actions towards a two i state solution based on the us —— reversible actions towards a two - state solution based on the us —— un resolutions, — state solution based on the us —— un resolutions, international— state solution based on the us —— un resolutions, international law- state solution based on the us —— un resolutions, international law and - resolutions, international law and previous— resolutions, international law and previous agreements. _ earlier i spoke to dan arbell. he is the former deputy chief of mission at the israeli embassy in washington. i asked him what he beleives are the biggest obsticles to a ceasefire—hostage deal.

there is a proposal on the table on a hostage return and israel in return needs to stop the fighting for a certain period of time and release palestinian prisoners that are held in israel. it seems that hamas's demands are high and israel has to review them and see if it can actually meet them. the secretary of state is in the region for the fifth time to try and see where the parties are at and to try to convey to israel the us position that it wants israel to move forward on a dealer to be flexible. behind—the—scenes, we're seeing what's happening in front the cameras on the screen as you talk to us, but how frustrated you think the americans are with benjamin netanyahu and his national security minister? only a couple of days ago he took swipes at joe biden, saying he hadn't backed israel and he was praising himself with sending humanitarian aid to gaza.

how frustrating will that be for the us administration? the us administration is clearly frustrated with benjamin netanyahu and some of his cabinet ministers and they are not hiding it. they are focused on brokering the deal, dealing which you have first of all an end to the fighting and hostage return and the second stage to try and rebuild gaza and transfer the authority to a palestinian body that will govern day—to—day affairs. clearly there is lots of tension between washington and jerusalem as we speak and antony blinken is going to address those issues, conveying us concerns and trying to leverage us influence of israel to change its approach.

in a meeting with the prime minister, british families of some of those still being held captive in gaza have urged him to do more to secure their release from hamas — which is designated a terrorist organistaion by the uk and other government. greg mackenzie reports. with every day that passed, the chances of all the hostages, the chances of my father, reduces. holding back tears, the british families of hostages eli sharabi and oded lifshitz speaking publicly, calling for the immediate release of their loved ones. the daughter of oded said that she is devastated. my father, oded, is 83 years old, has complex medical needs and is really not built for the conditions of being a hostage.

the delegation have met with the british prime minister and a number of qatari officials. the meeting comesjust a day after israel confirmed that 31 of the 136 remaining hostages in gaza have been killed. when i was a child, i was scared of the dark. i was scared of the monsters in my wardrobe and the monsters under my bed. so i slept with a light on until i was eight or nine years old. since the 7th of october, i slept with a light on again. because when i was a child, i thought there were monsters in the world. on the 7th of october, i found out there were monsters in the world. the conflict in gaza was triggered by an unprecedented cross—border attack by hamas gunmen on the 7th of october, in which about 1,300 people were killed and 250

others taken hostage. since then, more than 27,000 people have been killed in gaza, according to the hamas—run health ministry. a new deal to release more hostages — much like those released in november in exchange for palestinian prisoners — has stalled, with hamas responding this week to a new proposal which could include a six—week truce. israel and the uk have both said they are reviewing hamas's response, but the family say they feel time is running out. greg mckenzie, bbc news. campaigners in england say dental care in the country is in "crisis" — with millions unable to get help on the nhs. but the government is announcing new plans to improve access. those plans include offering �*top—up

payments�* for dentists to take on new nhs patients — as well as bonuses to work in under—served areas. but health leaders say, the measures don't go far enough. here's our health editor, hugh pym. long queues outside a new dental practice in bristol highlighted the increasing frustration about the lack of nhs treatment. some areas have been branded "dental deserts," and this morning nicky campbell's 5 live phone—in was full of calls about problems finding an nhs dentist. had an appointment, it was before christmas, and then got a letter from the dentist saying it had been cancelled. they explained how they weren't offering nhs appointments at the moment. so i rang the dentist and they said, "well, we can certainly see you, i but we don't know if we can see you on the nhs." _ a new government and nhs plan for england has been unveiled today, this will involve two and a half million more appointments over 12 months and a new patient premium for dentists to treat around

i million new patients who have not seen a dentist for at least two years. nhs fees for dentists paid by the government will rise, and around 240 dentists will be offered payments of up to £20,000 to work in underserved areas for up to three years. i hope it will be welcomed by both patients and the dentist profession alike, because this really is a step change in how we tackle nhs dentistry in this country. but dentists' representatives said the £200 million of funding is not new, it has come because of previous underspending on dentistry. how are you funding it? are you funding it via an underspend in the budget? we are spending £3 billion a year on nhs dentistry, l this is an additional... is that an underspend? it is an additional 200 million. research by bbc news in 2022 found that nine out of ten dental practices in the uk offering nhs care were not taking on any

new adult patients for treatment. i've extracted 13 of my own teeth. some patients were found to be driving hundreds of miles in search of treatment, and even pulling out their own teeth. the research led to a parliamentary inquiry. the government have come out with a series of temporary measures in the hope that that will buy them some time until the other side of the election, but frankly after 1a years they have had plenty of time. their time is up and the longer the conservatives are in power, whether it is dentistry or gps or operations, the longer patients will wait. dentists have told us today of gaps in their local areas for provision of nhs treatment. i mean, in greater manchester alone there is only enough money to cover 60% of the population. the budget only goes as far as 60% access. so that is 40% that will not get access to nhs dentistry. and scenes like this are still

evident in some communities. the latest government measures are unlikely to cut the queues any time soon. hugh pym, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. convicted sex offender and former singer gary glitter will stay in prison after losing a parole board bid. he was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. the 79—year—old was automatically released in february last year but was put back behind bars six weeks later after breaching his licence. all proceedings at the old bailey in london have been delayed after a fire near the building. around 1,500 people were told to evacuate and around 25 firefighters have been tackling the blaze. there are no reports of any injuries.

rishi sunak is facing calls to apologise for a jibe about sir keir starmer�*s position on trans people at prime minister's questions. the pm ridiculed the labour leaderfor u—turning on the "definition of a woman". it camejust moments after the labour leader told mps that the mother of murdered teenager brianna ghey who was transgender —— would be watching pmqs from the public gallery. you're live with bbc news. the prince of wales has returned to public engagements for the first time since the king charles' cancer diagnosis. prince william had stepped back after his wife, the princess of wales, underwent abdominal surgery. a few hours ago, he oversaw an investiture ceremony at windsor castle. the king spent the night at sandringham after beginning his treatment on monday. helena wilkinson reports. back to work, prince william carrying out public duties at windsor castle today. he's been handing out honours to those who've made a difference to public life.

ellen, mrs convery, for services to association football. ellen white — the england women's football team's record goal—scorer, who was key to their euros victory in 2022 — was one of those receiving her award. it must be a difficult time for the heir to the throne. not only will he be worrying about catherine, his wife, but also now his father. yesterday, the king was pictured for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced, with the queen, being driven to buckingham palace. later, he was flown by helicopter to the sandringham estate in norfolk, where he'll spend time following the start of his cancer treatment. while the king was in london yesterday, he saw his younger son harry, who had flown in from california. they spent around 45 minutes together. the last time harry saw his father in person was at the coronation last year.

there are no plans, though, for a meeting between harry and his brother william, whose relationship remains strained. while the king undergoes treatment for cancer, other members of the royal family — including prince william and princess anne — will need to step in and take on public duties on his behalf. the family will be supporting the king both publicly and privately, as he gets through his treatment. helena wilkinson, bbc news, windsor. a team of students has made a giant step towards solving one of archaeology�*s greatest puzzles. using artificial intelligence, they successfully read the contents of a charred scroll that was buried during the eruption of mount vesuvius near pompeii nearly two thousand years ago. esme stallard reports. in herculaneum near pompeii where lava from vesuvius overwhelmed a luxury roman villa and its library

which contained 800 scrolls. this was the first, and as yet only, library from ancient roman times ever discovered. but all attempts to open the scrolls failed as they were just too delicate. a $1 million challenge was launched to find a way to read them, and a team of three students used artificial intelligence and pattern recognition on the scroll to reveal 2000 greek letters. youssef nader led the winning team. we were really proud of our work and i was really happy with what i did on the detection and sort of pushing the ai limits to its extreme. so what does it say? it is about having fun, music and food. and scholars believe it was written by a greek philosopher. and amazingly, this new technique has only been used to read 5% of one scroll. it is hoped by the end of this year 90% of the four other scrolls scanned could be unlocked.

esme stallard, bbc news. the hunt continues for suspect abdul shokoor ezedi a week after a chemical attack injured a woman and her two young daughters in clapham in south london. the metropolitan police are due to give an update on the situation at their headquarters in central london. let's speak to our correspondent. bring us up to date. the let's speak to our correspondent. bring us up to date.— let's speak to our correspondent. bring us up to date. the police have released new _ bring us up to date. the police have released new information _ bring us up to date. the police have released new information and - bring us up to date. the police have released new information and are i released new information and are also organising an anniversary appeal because as you mentioned we are now a week into a large manhunt for abdul ezedi, a man with

significant injuries on the right side of his face and yet he still hasn't been found. what police have said is that they believe they have a strong indication of the motive now, that it's possible it was because he was in a relationship with the mother who was a victim of the attack alongside her two young children. and that it is believed that relationship broke down. they believe he arranged a meeting with her and that she agreed to it. they've also provided new information, the fact he is now known to have last been seen last week on wednesday shortly after 11pm. remember, that was the last place we saw him was heading towards embankment, victoria embankment, shortly after ten tm. as for the victims, we know the two young children were discharged from hospital but as for the 31—year—old mother she is still in hospital. they have confirmed that she is still sedated and that it's believed

she will lose sight her right eye. and what are they saying because for a week now they have been hunting and he doesn't have a phone, how is it that he's been able to evade all of the authorities with all of those officers searching for him? you would think— officers searching for him? you would think that _ officers searching for him? you would think that it _ officers searching for him? gm. would think that it would be a benefit of the fact this is happening in london where we have cctv cameras all over the city, but the problem is there is so much information that it takes a lot of time to go through it, something the police have reiterated today. as for the phone, that was found after a forensic investigation of the car and that phone was useful because you could go through it, police were able to perhaps go through contacts and find information but it also means they weren't able to track him. in terms of his movements last week on wednesday a lot of that

information also came from the use of his bank card that that card has not been used since wednesday so that presents some problems. police are operating under two main theories and it's that either someone is assisting him and we do know that on one date —— monday police said somebody was detained suspected of having assisted abdul ezedi. all there is a second possibility, the chance that he may have come to some harm. this is also why that appeal comes into play because they were also giving this briefing alongside the founder of an afghan charity here in london who was appealing to the afghan community as well so that anyone with any information that could lead to his arrest come forward. the police are offering £20,000 to the public for anyone who has any information of that kind. the founder of that charity also tried to reiterate that this attack that

is believed, this is not a representation of the afghan community here in the uk. ads, representation of the afghan community here in the uk. a final thou~ht community here in the uk. a final thought about _ community here in the uk. a final thought about the _ community here in the uk. a final thought about the woman - community here in the uk. a final thought about the woman and - community here in the uk. a final thought about the woman and her community here in the uk. a final- thought about the woman and her two children, what are the police saying in terms of basic conditions? we know the in terms of basic conditions? - know the young children aged three and eight, severity in children, have been discharged. but the 31—year—old mother is still sedated and they did say she was too poorly to speak to police which obviously is another complication in the investigation and is also an indication of how severe these injuries have been. they also believe that she may lose in her right eye. so when you are talking about a corrosive substance like this, something police have said is believed to be a strong alkaline, that means these injuries are in

their own words life changing. thank ou ve their own words life changing. thank you very much _ their own words life changing. thank you very much for — their own words life changing. thank you very much for the _ their own words life changing. thank you very much for the latest - their own words life changing. thank you very much for the latest after i you very much for the latest after that police briefing at new scotland yard. of course, there is so much background information and if you want more on this storyjust follow the bbc live page on the bbc news website. that investigation going on now for a week so a lot of the background information and what the police have said and of course the sightings they have been able to establish through all the work they are currently doing with cctv, they have 100 officers currently scouring cctv right across the capital. that is the latest coming to us from the met police. the headlines in the business news coming up in a moment.

hello. well, yes, there is some snow in the forecast, but it's not going to be particularly widespread. having said that, where it does fall, it could end up being quite heavy. on the one hand, we have mild weather and weather systems coming in from the south. on the other, colder air from the arctic is spreading into scotland right now. so it's a chilly, bright picture here through the rest of the day. some snow showers across the highlands, but still relatively mild with some damp weather across the south of the country. and here's that big low that's approaching us with its rain—bearing clouds. you can see all of that rain spreading towards the uk. so we've got cold air in the north coming in from the arctic, milder air spreading in from the south. it's where these two air masses meet. well, that's where we're going to have that period of rain, sleet and snow, really icy conditions maybe in some areas from northern wales into the pennines. you can see how big that temperature contrast is as well. so from morning onwards it's across the north of wales, mainly, around the pennines as well. there will be quite a broad area where we could have some rain,

sleet and snow. sleet and snow in this area is certainly possible, snow showers in scotland, but i think it's more likely to be heavy rain in the south of the country. so these are the lower risk yellow warnings from the met office and if we zoom into the amber warnings which have been issued. so this is for northern wales and also the pennines. well, i think broadly speaking, quite widespread, 10 to 15 centimetres of snow possible. but in some of the higher routes, the exposed higher elevations could be 20 to 25 centimeters. so really troublesome conditions i think in these areas. and then through the course of thursday, that rough weather, that wintry weather moves further northward. so that low pressure is still very much with us on friday. but i think the milder air wins and it spreads across the bulk of the country, some wintry mess for sure, i think, across the highlands on friday. but if we have a look at the temperatures, you can see it's much too mild for snow by friday.

it's nine degrees in liverpool, above average across the south of the country. and if you look at the outlook over the next few days, yes, briefly, i think turning cold across some parts of the uk, but on the whole it's still that west south—westerly. that's it for me. bye bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... at least 27 people are killed as two explosions hit pakistan's baluchistan province — on the eve of the general election. of all the weeks to say that, when brianna's mother is in this chamber. shame. parading as a man of integrity, when he's got absolutely no responsibility. what prompted labour leader sir keir starmer to say that? we bring you the latest from prime minister's questions. we have a special bbc report — with the teams trying to tackle america's growing synthetic opioid crisis. time for a look at the business news now with tadhg enright. uber has reported a record number of monthly active users in its latest results.