at least 27 people are killed as two explosions hit pakistan's balochistan province on the eve of the general election. we will be speaking to an expert. the crisis in dentistry in england — as people queue for nhs appointments and the government sets out a new plan. we will speak to the chair of the british dental association. the us secretary of state meets with israeli and palestinian leaders. we bring you the latest updates on the push for a ceasefire and hostage deal. isa is a real's prime minister speaks at this hour. {iii is a real's prime minister speaks at this hour. . ., _ this hour. of all the weeks to say that when brianna's _ this hour. of all the weeks to say that when brianna's mother - this hour. of all the weeks to say that when brianna's mother is . this hour. of all the weeks to say that when brianna's mother is in | that when brianna's mother is in this chamber. shame! parading as a man of integrity when he has absolutely no responsibility. what absolutely no responsibility. what -rom ted absolutely no responsibility. what prompted the _ absolutely no responsibility. what prompted the labour— absolutely no responsibility. what prompted the labour leader sir keir starmer to say that to rishi sunak?

we will bring you the latest from today's prime minister's questions. and we look at some of the beautiful images from the wildlife photographer of the year competition and speak to the organisers. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live. 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 balochistan. 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. the explosions happened within an hour of each other, around 150 kilometres apart. the latest information i have is the election commissioner pakistan has said the security should be put on high alert and he said tomorrow everyone should come out and vote. but right now, the province is going to a lot of uncertainty. so far, none of the groups have taken responsibility for the attacks, so balochistan is quite a diverse place, a diverse province as well because a of militant operations operate from their and there are

insurgent groups, baloch insurgent groups are fighting for separation from pakistan, and in the north—west, the quetta city are balochistan, there are other religiously moated organisations operate from there. injanuary, i went there, mid january, two one region and saw the main city to a bar, and a lot of attacks that happened on election offices and outside the political candidates' of this happened there and macron. i spoke with a lot of people there and that the majority of the people were saying they would not participate in the selection at all only because it is not their election. it is basically a selection which is being imposed upon them. there are people saying there are other problems in the provinces, forced disappearance, lack of education and basic facilities and they were saying the province was going through the same thing they were going through a0

years ago, so why should they vote? a lot of people are sending quite depressed about the upcoming elections. the latest from islamabad. we can speak now to veteran journalist 0wen bennettjones, this who was a former bbc pakistan correspondent. he's written numerous books and hosted multiple podcasts on pakistan's turbulent past. welcome to the programme, your analysis first of all of what has happened today? we do not know who did these attacks. there are so many militant groups out there. some nationals, somejihadi. it may be local rivalries. it could even be islamic state hitting a rival islamist party, so not clear, but in general terms, there are people in balochistan who do not want the election to go ahead, many people fighting for independence and the separation from pakistan, so it could be motivated simply to disrupt the vote. �* , ., , , ,

the vote. briefly, in that sense, is balochistan _ the vote. briefly, in that sense, is balochistan different _ the vote. briefly, in that sense, is balochistan different too - the vote. briefly, in that sense, is balochistan different too much - the rest of pakistan question? (17.3 committees. it has its own issues and is a very poor part of pakistan, and is a very poor part of pakistan, and very resentful of the rest of pakistan taking its resources and there has been insurgent is that there. it tends to produce an electrical terms local candidates, tribal leaders who get into parliament and quite often don't bother turning up in a slammer cetera, because the not terribly interested in pakistani politics. —— don't bother turning up in islamabad.— don't bother turning up in islamabad. ., ., ., islamabad. how important would you sa the islamabad. how important would you say the elections _ islamabad. how important would you say the elections are? _ islamabad. how important would you say the elections are? the _ islamabad. how important would you say the elections are? the addresses ma be not say the elections are? the addresses may be not terribly _ say the elections are? the addresses may be not terribly in _ say the elections are? the addresses may be not terribly in the _ say the elections are? the addresses may be not terribly in the sense - may be not terribly in the sense that the decisions are all made by the army and at the public have some saying it, but by and large, this will be a managed process. whoever wins will find themselves constrained by the generals who like to make all the decisions and get very upset when politicians show some independence. generally speaking, the politicians end up in

jail to three years after going into power, that has already happened to one of the candidates three times in the selection, could happen again if he needed it a prime minister. the truth is the civilian leaders are really a facade on what is a hybrid system in which the military make a lot of the decisions in all key areas, that will be the case after the election just as before. goad the election 'ust as before. good touch and the election just as before. good touch and perhaps _ the election just as before. good touch and perhaps my _ the election just as before. good touch and perhaps my final - the electionjust as before. good touch and perhaps my final question because i know you host multiple podcasts on pakistan's terribly in the past, but why is the political setup in pakistan arejust the past, but why is the political setup in pakistan are just so volatile and turbulent? it is setup in pakistan are just so volatile and turbulent? it is a very violent country _ volatile and turbulent? it is a very violent country in _ volatile and turbulent? it is a very violent country in which _ volatile and turbulent? it is a very violent country in which the - volatile and turbulent? it is a very| violent country in which the central government does not have a lot of control. that is the basic issue, no law and order. people in the provinces and the outlying areas can go away with asserting themselves, whether it be teledyne, baloch, insurgents, militant groups, there are so many people out there ——

taliban. they do not have the control that many other countries see so politics is turbulent, life is turbulent, many people face a lot of difficulties in their daily lives keeping safe and managing just two make a living where contracts are enforced just to do their business. thank you so much forjoining us here. now, to another important story. have a look at these pictures coming up have a look at these pictures coming up filmed on tuesday... ..showing a queue of people who are all lining up to see a dentist or register. at one stage the police were called to help control the crowd. those are pictures in bristol. 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. health secretary victoria atkins explained the government's plan to tackle the issue. an additional £200 million on top of the £3 billion... additional after a budget cut. and interestingly, it's a little bit rich, it's a little bit rich for labour to be lecturing us when their proposals would only provide 700,000 appointments. we have gone the extra mile because we want to turbo—charge this and we are offering 2.5 million more appointments with a long—term plan. the health secretary on bbc breakfast. labour's shadow health secretary, wes streeting, was outside a dental practice in bristol this morning. i have spoken to one woman who has had to go private to get some emergency dental work. a patching up

with a temporary filling. she is desperate now to get into this nhs dentist because otherwise, she is going to be hit with a bill of potentially thousands of pounds that she cannot afford. spoken to another man who has been waiting three years without a dentist, and those images we have seen on our tv screens in recent days of people queueing down, round the block, will resonate with millions of people across the country who are in exactly the same position after ia years of conservative government, and what the government has announced today, much of which has been lifted from what labour has announced, as an emergency dental rescue package, will go some way to plugging the immediate shortfall but what it doesn't do and what the dentists are crying out for is reform of the dentists' contract so we can recruit and retain the nhs dentists we need, and retain the nhs dentists we need. that is just some of the politics. the bbc has been contacted by so many people today recounting their

stories of their struggles to find an nhs dentist. let's hearfrom one of them. i an nhs dentist. let's hear from one of them. ., .,. an nhs dentist. let's hear from one of them. ., ., , of them. i have extracted 13 of my own teeth- — there it is, no explanation needed. live now to lincolnshire to speak to shaun charlwood, former dentist and chair of the british dental association's general dental practice committee. thank you so much for being here on the programme. your reaction first of all to what the government has announced today.— of all to what the government has announced today. good afternoon, thank ou announced today. good afternoon, thank you for— announced today. good afternoon, thank you for having _ announced today. good afternoon, thank you for having me. - announced today. good afternoon, thank you for having me. i - announced today. good afternoon, thank you for having me. i think. thank you for having me. i think what practices and colleagues and patients were hoping for was a response from government that was proportionate to the crisis that nhs dentistry is undoubtedly facing. and it feels as though the nhs dental service needs life—support, and it

has received frankly a bit of a sticking plaster. ithink has received frankly a bit of a sticking plaster. i think colleagues are deeply concerned that these measures will deliver the scale of change and improvement that your viewers clearly need in order for them to access nhs dentistry. we are aware of british patients going to ukraine for treatment, we are aware of home dentistry, and your item there illustrates the extent of that. eight of ten dentists are reporting evidence of diy dentistry. and in bristol, a practice open the appointment book this weekend and are inundated with an enormous queue which the police had to manage. and those pictures are on the screen now. just explain to me briefly why

you think this government plan will not work. ., :: :: :: :: ., not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that — not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is _ not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is a _ not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is a a _ not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is a a lot _ not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is a a lot of _ not work. there are £20,000 golden hellos, that is a a lot of money, - hellos, that is a a lot of money, 2.5 million more appointments, why do you not think that will have the desired effect?— do you not think that will have the desired effect? taking them one at a time, in desired effect? taking them one at a time. in terms _ desired effect? taking them one at a time, in terms of _ desired effect? taking them one at a time, in terms of the _ desired effect? taking them one at a time, in terms of the golden - desired effect? taking them one at a time, in terms of the golden hellos, | time, in terms of the golden hellos, the government had said it would apply to a maximum of 2a0 dentists. if it is only applying to that number of dentists, it is not going to address the unmet need for urgent dentistry, which research indicates is in excess of 10 million patients, so 2a0 dentists will not be able to deal with the size of the problem. let me ask you, then a separate question. as well as what i have also talked about, the government are talking about increasing fees

per patient by what they say is a considerable amount for the new work that will be taken on. they are talking about targeting children in schools and vans to go to places like that. and that particular part of the problem. if you do not think thatis of the problem. if you do not think that is the solution, what is? the solution has _ that is the solution, what is? tue: solution has been that is the solution, what is? tta: solution has been outlined that is the solution, what is? tt2 solution has been outlined by the cross—party health select committee. and fundamentally, that involves nhs dentistry working to a different nhs contract. the reason there is a crisis in nhs dentistry is because the nhs contract is unfit for purpose, as described by the cross—party select committee. and until there are serious discussions about working under a different nhs dental contract, that would involve prevention and a move away from government targets, nhs dentistry willjust not be appealing to enough nhs dentists. we cannot recruit and

retain enough nhs dentists and e—series proposals do not go far enough. the one important element that the committee recommended was to do away with the unit of dental activity contract. and that is the one item the government has chosen ignore. and without conversation and development of ideas away from the current contract, you and your viewers will not see the skill of improvement that we are all desperate for.— improvement that we are all desperate for. improvement that we are all deserate for. ., ~ , ., ., ., ~ desperate for. thank you for talking to is life here _ desperate for. thank you for talking to is life here on _ desperate for. thank you for talking to is life here on the _ desperate for. thank you for talking to is life here on the programme. . desperate for. thank you for talking l to is life here on the programme. we will be live in the middle east in just a moment. around the world and across the uk, you're watching 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. one person has been left with minor injuries after a passenger train struck a large tree on the track and derailed. the east midlands service partly came off the rails between thetford and harling road in norfolk on tuesday evening, on its way to norwich. an engineer at the scene said everyone on board had a "very lucky escape". you're live with bbc news. as promised, let's turn to the middle east. 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. live now to our correspondent barbara plett usher injerusalem. just in terms of those talks with antony blinken, he is there in the region again, what is your assessment of the gap there still is to try to get this hostage and a ceasefire deal over the line? t ceasefire deal over the line? i think there is still quite a gap because although hamas responded with proposals for a phase

operation, releasing israeli hostages in phases in exchange for palestinian prisoners and a cessation of hostilities, they did say they wanted it to go to a permanent ceasefire, something the israelis have rejected any past, and the americans, i think, are expecting them to reject that part of it in their talks. mr lincoln has said there is still a lot of work to do and the israelis have been quite clear they will continue —— mr blinken, they want to continue their defence against hamas, so i think we are waiting for the israeli response and the prime minister benjamin netanyahu is set to give a news conference shortly and which perhaps he will do so. the is where the

media are quoting the defence minister saying that hamas's answer to the defence line was formulated so that israel would refuse it and their position will lead to the continuation of war, that is in the israeli media. you can see what the sentiment is, but we will need to find out officially from the israelis how they're going to respond. israelis how they're going to resond. , , , ., . respond. very briefly, how much ressure respond. very briefly, how much pressure is _ respond. very briefly, how much pressure is benjamin _ respond. very briefly, how much pressure is benjamin netanyahu| pressure is benjamin netanyahu hunter. clearly the americans increasingly becoming frustrated, but you also have all the hostages and a large number have been killed who were believed to have been held in gaza. he who were believed to have been held in gaza. , , , , ., in gaza. he is under pressure from the family is _ in gaza. he is under pressure from the family is saying _ in gaza. he is under pressure from the family is saying the _ in gaza. he is under pressure from the family is saying the priority - the family is saying the priority needs to be getting the hostages out at this point and he is under pressure from far right members of his cabinet who say there cannot be any deal with hamas, and he is under pressure from the americans and other mediators, qatar and egypt to respond to hamas in some ways so the

fighting can at least pause for a moment for long enough to get aid into gaza and try to get the hostages out. so he is under a lot of pressure from different sites. barbara plett usher there in jerusalem, thank you very much for that update. as barbara was saying, we are expecting to hear from benjamin netanyahu in the next ten minutes, and as soon as that starts, we will carry it live. the hunt continues for suspect abdul ezedi a week after a chemical attack injured a woman and her two young daughters in clapham in south london. the metropolitan police have just given an update on the situation at their headquarters in central london. he has not been spotted since 11pm on the evening of the attack. commanderjon savell from the metropolitan police gave an update to the media a little earlier and he described the latest on the woman who had been attacked and her two daughters. we are seven days on, as you know. she is still sedated, still very poorly, and we have not been able to speak with her. 0ur poorly, and we have not been able to

speak with her. our thoughts are with her in terms of making a recovery. the children were able to get a little bit of an account of what went on, but we are taking a great deal of care and how we are approaching the children, for obvious reasons, so there is not a great deal i can release two at the moment about exactly the movements that evening just before attack. we do know they were arranging to meet and that they did get any car, and that the attack took place in any car, as you will have seen from cctv. lets speak to our correspondent azadeh moshiri who's outside new scotland yard in central london. tell is more. what you had there is a big development _ tell is more. what you had there is a big development in _ tell is more. what you had there is a big development in terms - tell is more. what you had there is a big development in terms of- tell is more. what you had there is a big development in terms of the l a big development in terms of the motive. that is what the police have been trying to piece together and what they have confirmed is that not only the young mother, 31 years old, and her two children were known to abdou shakoor as eddie, but the

mother and abdul shokoor ezedi and the mother where any relationship and it broke down, which is believed to be the reason for the attack. they believe is a day has sustained injuries that if not treated could be fatal, which is why it is so important for hospitals to be on high alert for him he does come in. they have also said that they believe that the mother has sustained injuries that are severe enough that she has had to be sedated. she is still sedated, her condition is so poor that she is unable to talk to the police, which presents its own problems in terms of the manhunt. they have been able to speak to the young children, but of course those conversations have been very sensitive given how young they are. they are only three and eight years old. they are also organising an anniversary appeal, given we are now one week into a large manhunt.

thank you for the latest. let's return to the story developing here over the last few hours. rishi sunak is facing calls to apologise for a jibe about sir keir starmer�*s position on trans people at prime minister's questions, just 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. tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman — although, in fairness, that was only 99% of a u—turn! of all the weeks to say that, when brianna's mother is in this chamber — shame! parading as a man of integrity when he has got absolutely no responsibility.

absolute shame. live now to our political correspondent peter saull. there developing. we saw the exchanges, but more reaction and questions over the last few hours. yes, a real row this has prompted today in westminster. a familiar line of attack from rishi sunak, accusing the labour leader of u—turning on various different issues, but it was the fact that he brought up that specific issue of gender, transgender rights that really riled keir starmer. you could see in that clip just how furious he was because just moments see in that clip just how furious he was becausejust moments before, he had brought up the fact that esther ghey, the mother of the murdered transgender teenager brianna ghey was due to be watching proceedings in parliament. she has had a series of meetings herself with politicians today, so labour clearly feel that rishi sunak overstepped the line here. there are calls any chamber for him to apologise. he ignored those calls, but went on to praise

esther ghey, calling her representative of the very best of humanity for the way she has responded to her daughter's murder. since then, we have had lots of ministers are going on behind rishi sunak. if you conservative mps concerned about the language you use, but the equalities minister kemi badenoch accusing keir starmer of political point scoring here. and a short while ago, the chancellor, jeremy hunt, spoke to our political editor, chris mason. i5 jeremy hunt, spoke to our political editor, chris mason. is it jeremy hunt, spoke to our political editor, chris mason.— editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority — editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority group _ editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority group to _ editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority group to be _ editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority group to be the - editor, chris mason. is it right for a minority group to be the punch | a minority group to be the punch line to _ a minority group to be the punch line to a — a minority group to be the punch line to a joke _ a minority group to be the punch line to a joke in— a minority group to be the punch line to a joke in 2024? _ a minority group to be the punch line to a joke in 2024? it- a minority group to be the punch line to a joke in 2024? [it is- a minority group to be the punch line to a joke in 2024?— line to a 'oke in 2024? it is not, but the line to a joke in 2024? it is not, but the premise _ line to a joke in 2024? it is not, but the premise could _ line to a joke in 2024? it is not, but the premise could not - line to a joke in 2024? it is not, but the premise could not have| line to a joke in 2024? it is not, - but the premise could not have been clear about _ but the premise could not have been clear about the enormous respect he has for— clear about the enormous respect he has for breanna gray's mother. 0n the really— has for breanna gray's mother. 0n the really important issues of the day,..~ _ the really important issues of the da ,... ., ., ., , day,... he made a 'oke about trans --eole in day,... he made a 'oke about trans

people in the — day,... he made ajoke about trans people in the presence _ day,... he made ajoke about trans people in the presence of— day,... he made ajoke about trans people in the presence of brianna'sj people in the presence of brianna's mothen _ people in the presence of brianna's mother. he— people in the presence of brianna's mother. ., . ., , mother. he said that when it comes to transitions, _ mother. he said that when it comes to transitions, economic— mother. he said that when it comes to transitions, economic issues, - to transitions, economic issues, labour— to transitions, economic issues, labour changes its position. this is my point, — labour changes its position. this is my point, chris. his point was that if a political— my point, chris. his point was that if a political party that wants to govern — if a political party that wants to govern this country cannot make up its mind _ govern this country cannot make up its mind about really important issues, — its mind about really important issues, including how they would run the economy, then they risk all the progress _ the economy, then they risk all the progress we have made. gf the economy, then they risk all the progress we have made. so ministers making the point there that there are legitimate questions for the labour leader to answer. it will be interesting to see how long that online holds with real criticism swirling around the prime are now about notjust being potentially bit insensitive, but also being transphobic, which he strongly denies.— also being transphobic, which he strongly denies. peter, thank you very much- _ strongly denies. peter, thank you very much. that _ strongly denies. peter, thank you very much. that brings _ strongly denies. peter, thank you very much. that brings us - strongly denies. peter, thank you very much. that brings us to - strongly denies. peter, thank you very much. that brings us to thel strongly denies. peter, thank you i very much. that brings us to the end of this particular edition. do not forget we have israel's prime minister about to address the media in the next units. we will carry that life here on bbc news. do not go away. —— in the next few minutes.

hello. well, is there snow on the way? the answer is yes — for some of us. but for most of us, it's going to be a case of sleet and probably heavy rain, and this is going to be happening really for the rest of the week. now, on the one hand, we have a weather front with mild weather spreading in from the southwest. 0n the other, there's cold air streaming in from the arctic, and that cold air is in place across more northern parts of the uk. and with this weather frontapproaching, riding into this colder air, we will see that awkward mix of rain, sleet and snow across more central parts of the uk. but that's still to come. in fact, the early hours across scotland and the north of england are clear and chilly. temperatures really will be tumbling away, whereas in the south—west of the country, that weather front approaching, mild southwesterlies. so temperatures here of around 11 degrees in plymouth. colder by the time we get to birmingham, it's three. and then from northern england

northwards, it's a frost and we're expecting snow from morning onwards across parts of northern wales and into the pennines, but really anywhere across this central swathe of the country could see some wet snow on the cars, on the grass. but we're going to focus on the amber warnings across northern wales and the pennines. so here widely could be ten to 15 centimetres, but across the higher routes, higher hills, as much as 20 to 25, so tricky conditions there across the transpennine roads through the course of thursday afternoon and into thursday evening. in the south, it's mild and it's wet. in fact, a spell of heavy rain is expected across southern england, could be as much as 40 millimetres here. and then this area of wintry weather moves northwards. and i think by the time we get to friday, strong winds developing across northern britain, a strong easterly here, quite cold, but the focal point for snow will be around more eastern parts of scotland.

across the mountains, no doubt there'll be some blizzards, but for the vast majority of us, it's way too mild for snow. it's ten degrees in hull, ten degrees in birmingham, 13 expected in london. so is it going to turn cold or mild at the moment? if we look at the outlook for the rest of the week and into next week, it is going to stay generally on the mild side and often unsettled. bye— bye.

this is bbc news, the headlines... benjamin netanyahu is due to speak to the in the next few minutes, we will carry that live. the crisis in dentistry in england — as people queue for nhs appointments — and the government sets out a new plan. the river wye has turned green, say campaigners — because of chicken manure. and they're taking the government to court because of it. we have a special bbc report — with the teams trying to tackle america's growing synthetic opioid crisis. and, let sleeping bears lie. we look at some of the beautiful images from the 'wildlife photographer of the year�* competition.

hopefully we'll squeeze a lot of that