unchanged at a% last month. good morning. we start this hour in indonesia where polls have closed in what's billed as the largest and most complex one day election in the world. more than 200 million people were eligible to vote in the world's third—largest democracy. the vote took place in the country's 17,000 islands, across three time zones. the front runner, defence minister, prabowo subianto, is hoping to win the presidential vote outright, to avoid a second round. the former general is up against two former provincial governors in the contest to replace the popular outgoing president. this polling station behind me is very accessible, just one of 820,000 polling stations across the country that spans the space of the continental united states, thousands of islands. they have done it before and they do it very well.

there has been aided of a problem with the weather, a massive thunderstorm, but as far as we can tell, the vote has gone well, turnout is pretty good. behind me, there are observers watching the officials, as they go through the count. they have done the president and they are doing the vice president now. they also have other votes for regional parliaments has well. there are huge numbers of candidates they have to go through. it is a big job they are getting it done and they expect to have a fairly definitive result reallyjust by the end of the day, within a few hours. polls that have been conducted as people finished voting, exit polls, are suggesting that prabowo subianto, the frontrunner, the defence minister, is doing very well. he has a commanding lead and it looks as though he is going to get more of the 50% stanley 50% threshold required to win outright at this stage.

for his supporters, that is good to be a great achievement. this is a man who has been aiming for the presidency for many years. he tried twice in previous elections. he is 72 now. a final achievement for him. but he is very controversial. has a human right to record that is much criticised. and the most controversial aspect of him is that he got the support of presidentjokowi, he remains very popular and switched sides at the last minute, he has his son in as the running mate through a very controversial court decision. there has been a lot of dispute and argument about the way the incumbent and the frontrunner have come together to build this commanding lead but as things stand, this looks like the outcome to this election. in terms of the challenges for whoever wins, what would you say the main ones are? whoever takes over is building on quite an impressive legacy. presidentjokowi brought a measure of calm, he is a very

conservatory figure, has a great popular touch and comes from humble roots himself, very much widely liked and he brought in a lot of the... normally it is very fractious, huge numbers of ethnic and religious groups, he brought a lot of people into his big tent government to get consensus around his development project, his infrastructure projects, which most people think been very good. it is continuing his legacy which really all three candidates have been committing to do with some variations, that is going to be considered the right course for indonesia. there are still continued problems about raising people out of poverty. there is concern about the indebtedness of state companies. the biggest concern is if prabowo subianto wins, he is such a firebrand controversial figure, what kind of president is he going to be and in particular, what is he going to do to democracy? a lot of his pronouncements are very anti—democratic. that is where a lot

of the concerns lie. there are reports coming from gaza that the israeli military have ordered people to evacuate a hospital in khan yunis. the israeli army has not yet commented on the reports. hundreds of people have taken refuge at the hospital. medical staff have continued to keep treating the sick and wounded. israel claims hamas uses hospitals as cover for its operations. it comes as a top un official has warned an israeli assault on rafah, gaza's southernmost city, could lead to a "slaughter". over a million palestinians are crammed into rafah. a un spokesman told the bbc, the united nations would not participate in any forced evacuation, and had not seen any israeli evacuation plans. rafah has come under heavy israeli air strikes in recent days,

it comes as a top un official has warned an israeli assault on rafah, gaza's southernmost city, could lead to a "slaughter". rafah has come under heavy israeli air strikes in recent days, with at least 67 people killed there on monday according to gaza's health ministry. yes, nasser hospital is one of the few functioning hospitals left in gaza and it has been under siege for many weeks because it is in khan yunis, the focus of the israeli military operation. they said that's where hamas has its command structure and its leadership. but the hospital has been surrounded by tanks, the palestinians are there, the doctors have for a while reported sniper fire that has killed a number of people in the compound. and the conditions had been deteriorating significantly. supplies are running out. there is sewage on the floors. there is not enough food. we have been watching out for a while and what we understand now based on reports from the doctors inside the hospital and also from some of the social media images, it seems the israelis

have made an evacuation order for people to leave. it is not clear if that applies just to the displaced people who have been living there because people have traditionally in this conflict anyway gone to hospitals because they thought they would be safe places, so there are displaced people living there, or if it means the patients and the doctors are also meant to leave. they have been mixed messages about that and there are people in quite a serious medical condition there that would be difficult to move. it is a moving situation at the moment but it comes after weeks of pressure on this hospital. what the israelis say is that dog that uses civilian infrastructure including hospitals as a cover for its operations, although that is something that medical officials deny. in the meantime, there appears to be no progress in those talks in cairo. there was not a breakthrough. there was a very senior level discussion yesterday, on tuesday, trying to move that proposal along,

it is a draft framework that has been around for some weeks. hamas made some amendments to it, which israel strongly rejected. they were not able to close and pretty wide gaps but the egyptians and the americans say things are moving in the right direction. what we understand from some reporters that a big sticking point is the ratio of how many palestinian prisoners would be freed for the release of israeli hostages but talks to continue at a lower level and there is a lot of political pressure behind it from the americans, especially, president biden had said clearly he wants this six week pause in the fighting in order to get the hostages released but also to get a period of calm so that they can get more aid into gaza and so they will keep trying because the political pressure is there.

former unwra spokesperson, chris gunness gave us his assessment on the risks if there is an israeli assault on rafa. it has become a symbol of man's inhumanity to man. there are 1.5 million people and rising living in makeshift shelters, they don't have access to sanitation, toilets, water, food, medicine. what we are seeing is what martin griffiths, that same un official you just quoted, we are seeing the climax if you like of this, what martin called an unprecedentedly barbaric assault and i say that president biden needs to stop talking about benjamin netanyahu going over top. we need to see a massive humanitarian mobilisation, the protection of palestinians can no longer be in the israeli hands. if the americans can get warships to the eastern mediterranean for military purposes, they can get them therefore merit —— are monetarily in purposes. president 0bama in 2010 signed an

executive order after the 80 earthquake and 20,000 service personnel were mobilised, floating ships, helicopters and ships to evacuate the sick and wounded and dying. that is the kind of humanitarian response we need. the safe area in inverted commas designated by israel is six square miles, not enough for 1.5 million people, even to stand up in. in amongst all this, unwra has been in focus facing accusations that some staff colluded with hamas in the october the 7th attacks and they may have knowingly let hamas build a data centre underneath the gaza headquarters. it has already led to funding being suspended. might it speu funding being suspended. might it spell the end of unwra? i think it won't but unwra _ spell the end of unwra? i think it won't but unwra is _ spell the end of unwra? i think it won't but unwra is undoubtedly l won't but unwra is undoubtedly facing a profound existential crisis and to be clear, what we are seeing is israeli news management and i have been on the other end of it because here we are with the top supreme court —— caught in the world

discussing plausible genocide as israel accused of conducting on these allegations are coming out as that discussion is going on in the hague. we know from the ap correspondent that was taken there that one small part of this panel went under the unwra headquarters and this begins to feel like another hospital where it was like the end of a james bond movie and in the end it was nothing like that and bbc verify itself made very good report which showed there was israeli when it plays and of the evidence and i fear that what we are seeing is more of the same, i have been on the other end of it.— of the same, i have been on the other end of it. ~ ~ ., , ,, other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 --eole. other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 peeple- if--- — other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 people. if... at _ other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 people. if... at the _ other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 people. if... at the moment, - other end of it. unwra has suspended 12 people. if... at the moment, the . 12 people. if... at the moment, the israelis want unwra to be disbanded. and at the moment, the funding has been cut back quite drastically. tell us a bit about how it operates, how important it is, because people think it is an aid agency but it does also do things. we

think it is an aid agency but it does also do things. we should not bu into does also do things. we should not buy into the _ does also do things. we should not buy into the guilty _ does also do things. we should not buy into the guilty narrative. - does also do things. we should not buy into the guilty narrative. there | buy into the guilty narrative. there must be no perception of guilt. although the new york times splashed this story across its front pages, sky news, the financial two —— financial times, channel 4 news have made very clear that there is no evidence in this dossier. as far as what unwra does, in gaza itself it has 13,000 staff who are in the most appalling situation, risking their lives, 1506i think at the latest count, the number of staff killed and there will be more sadly underneath the rubble. before the war, 1.2 million people were on full distribution list and that undoubtedly has swelled enormously. because of this donor cut which i see as illegal, a violation of international law, it is a violation of the interim provisional rulings by the international court of justice, as a direct result of that, it is likely that hundreds of thousands of people will starve, starvation is a massacre in slow

motion. and what these donors have done is fired the starting gun on the slow motion massacre. let's make no mistake, that is a significant —— the significance of what this donor defined means. let's bring you some breaking news. the nato chief has just announced that 18 nato countries will hit the target of 2% in defence spending of their gross domestic product in 2024. that is after they was criticism from president trump, saying he would encourage russia to attack any nato member failing to meet it defence spending. that has beenin meet it defence spending. that has been in a spotlight. nato announcing that 18 of the nato countries will hit the target of 2% in defence spending in 2024 and saying that allies in europe, we were keep

an eye on at news conference. ukraine's military says it's destroyed a russian warship that was in its territorial waters off occupied crimea in the black sea. the military said on social media that the cesar kunikov, the large landing ship pictured here, was near the resort town of alupka when it was hit. let's speak to our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse. how we heard any more details about this? we how we heard any more details about this? ~ ., how we heard any more details about this? ~ . , ., , ., this? we have seen footage put out b the this? we have seen footage put out by the ukraine _ this? we have seen footage put out by the ukraine military _ this? we have seen footage put out by the ukraine military appearing i this? we have seen footage put outj by the ukraine military appearing to show a column of smoke on the horizon. looking out to the black sea from occupied crimea for colleagues have verified that it is indeed... it appears to be the cesar kunikov. this landing ship, the second type of vessel in almost as many months that has been destroyed by ukrainian forces, it appears. we have yet to hear anything from the

russian installed authorities. they are instead reporting several ukrainian drone strikes further afield. but what this means, we are talking about a landing ship that can carry several hundred tonnes of cargo, hundreds of personnel, and up to a dozen armoured vehicles, it is the most efficient way for russian forces to move men and equipment for its southern water effort of the ukrainian coast. and we make this the 24th russian vessel that has been damaged or destroyed by ukraine, which barely has a navy. it has lost control of most of its coastline and yet it has used these marine —type drones that travel over water, they are packed with explosives, all cruise missiles, to great effect, which has severely damaged the russian navy in this area, undermined its presence to the extent that ukraine can now establish its own trading group for grain once more. and it has lessened

russian missile strikes on the black sea itself. russia's ability to repair these vessels or replace them completely really is questionable. given how ukraine has reasserted itself on the black sea. this will be welcome good news because further north across the vast front line, it is a bit of a different story. you have ukrainian generals seriously considering tactical retreats in some areas, as russian ground forces continue to launch wave after wave of attack, but what we are seeing is the russian navy continuing to be frustrated by ukraine, which only has a handful of ships itself. meanwhile we have had this report today that the camera and has denied a reuters report that the russian president proposed a ceasefire in ukraine to the us via intermediaries, what do you make of all that? i intermediaries, what do you make of all that? ~ , , ., all that? i think this is nothing surprising- _ all that? i think this is nothing surprising. brad _ all that? i think this is nothing surprising. brad may - all that? i think this is nothing surprising. brad may putin, i all that? i think this is nothing surprising. brad may putin, if| all that? i think this is nothing i surprising. brad may putin, if you look at his recent interview with

tucker carlson, where he sought to finance repeated and challenged his rationale for this war and he said he would be open for negotiations on his terms, i think president putin is still looking to take as much of ukraine is possible and also looking to consolidate what he has taken over the past ten years in this campaign of aggression against ukraine. i think the idea of there being any kind of negotiation or on the russian side when ukraine was enough —— and enough pressure or he was able to kind present something as some kind of a win, the territory has he has taken so far. we are still yet to reach that point. the point ukraine keeps making is that the idea of a ceasefire, concession or anything like that in terms of territory, will not stop there for russia. ukraine is already having to balance its economic realities. president zelensky having to make critical considerations when he

mobilises men in his population. russia can remain on a war footing under putin. it can continue to mobilise hundreds of thousands more soldiers, manufacture more equipment, more missiles, which it continues to launch against ukraine, and putin's overall goal, his dream, his prize, is here, kyiv, as well as the whole of ukraine and i cannot see that changing anytime soon. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. more than 100 families looking after severely disabled adults and children outside hospital have told the bbc that the nhs is failing to provide enough vital support. the health service says help is based on individual needs and guidelines ensure consistency across england and wales. however, some families describe the system as adversarial. ultra—processed foods should be clearly labelled, experts say. scientists said the warnings were needed as some ultra—processed foods could fall into the "healthy"

green category of the "traffic—light" system and some may be unaware that what they were buying was ultra—processed. these types of foods have been linked to obesity and heart disease. labour has suspended a second parliamentary candidate over comments he allegedly made about israel. graham jones, the former labour mp for hyndburn, is also facing an investigation, the bbc understands. it comes after labour withdrew support for the party's candidate for the rochdale by—election, azhar ali, for apparently making antisemitic remarks. you're live with bbc news. to the us next and for the first time in 150 years a member of the president's cabinet has been impeached by lawmakers in the us house of representatives. republicans accuse the homeland security secretary, alejandro mayorkas of failing to enforce immigration laws, resulting in a record surge of migrants crossing the mexican border. it's the first time in us history

that a sitting cabinet secretary has been impeached. president biden called it a blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship and accused the republicans of playing petty political games. the margin couldn't have been any closer coming down to a single vote. the yays are 214 and the nays are 213. the resolution is adopted. let's speak to now to scott lucas, professor of us politics at university college dublin. give us an idea of how we got to this point. we give us an idea of how we got to this point-— this point. we got to this point because and i need _ this point. we got to this point because and i need to - this point. we got to this point because and i need to be - this point. we got to this point i because and i need to be honest this point. we got to this point - because and i need to be honest with you this is a political stunt. there is a backdrop here that for decades the —— there have been issues with the —— there have been issues with the number of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the mexican border is. in recent years, those issues became almost a breakdown of the

system be trump administration, there was no longer adequate funding for dealing with migrants and asylum seekers but instead you have things like the wall with mexico, the emphasis on these massive detention centres and on separation for families. the biden administration effectively inherited a broken system and in combination with that, especially since, we have had a surge in migration and asylum seekers coming from latin america as part of a global wave, the largest number of refugees that we have had in history because of conflict across asia and conflicts in latin america, economic problems, environmental problems, which are mounting. it is quite a challenge for the biden administration and there have been record numbers up until december of migrants and asylum seekers trying to across the border. and homeland security, the department overseeing that, is on

the front line of that. this impeachment and the reason i qualitative little stand, there is no evidence. the republicans did not even try to charge an impeachable offence on alejandro mayorkas, they basically said we disagree with your operations and how you are try to deal with is, therefore we are going to impeach. deal with is, therefore we are going to impeach-— deal with is, therefore we are going to impeach. what will happen now? it'll no to to impeach. what will happen now? it'll go to the _ to impeach. what will happen now? it'll go to the us — to impeach. what will happen now? it'll go to the us senate, _ to impeach. what will happen now? it'll go to the us senate, where - to impeach. what will happen now? it'll go to the us senate, where you would have to have two thirds to vote to convert. the democrats have a narrow majority and it is highly unlikely that even a single democrat would vote alongside republicans, evenif would vote alongside republicans, even if the republicans held together to get rid of alejandro mayorkas. he will be acquitted and will continue to serve. and they will continue to serve. and they will be absolutely no effect, no subsidy effect in this impeachment process in terms of operational matters and policies. what it does however raise it is a white noise attempt and by what —— what i mean is it has very little to do with the issues on the border but it is an attempt to amplify and magnify the

idl disorder and of discontent in support of donald trump possibly as campaign. most house republicans now support donald trump and that is at the core of what is happening here. last week, after four months of negotiation, the us senate adopted a bill which had $20 billion of order enforcement, alongside aid to ukraine, taiwan and israel. the house republicans rejected it, effectively said we don't want this money for border enforcement. less than a week later, what are they doing? impeaching alejandro mayorkas over the argument that there is not enough border issues —— enforcement. to the uk now — where figures just out show

inflation remained unchanged last month despite an increase in the energy price cap. the office for national statistics said the rate at which prices were rising was four percent in january exactly the same as in december. forecasters had expected a slight rise to 4.2% the biggest upward factor was rising gas and electricity costs — the biggest downward factor was furniture and food. earlier, i spoke to ana desmond who is a senior economist at ulster university economic policy centre and asked her what she made of the latest figures. i think it is quite remarkable again that we have seen this slightly lower than expected inflation rate. it has come down significantly since what we experienced last year, which is welcome for both businesses and individuals. and again, markets are expecting this to further fall to in and around that target rate of 2% this year. again, some positive news for people across the uk today. what for people across the uk today. what do ou for people across the uk today. what do you expeet — for people across the uk today. what do you exoeet the — for people across the uk today. what do you expect the effect on interest rates? it do you expect the effect on interest rates? , ., , . ., ., do you expect the effect on interest rates? ,., , . ., ., rates? it is a difficult one to say. we talk about _ rates? it is a difficult one to say. we talk about slightly _ rates? it is a difficult one to say. we talk about slightly the - rates? it is a difficult one to say. we talk about slightly the ink -- |

we talk about slightly the ink —— impacts on core inflation on services, that will give cause for concern to the bank of england. however, again, new zealand around gdp figures tomorrow might put a little bit more pressure on the bank. in little bit more pressure on the bank. , ., ., ., bank. in terms of overall the inflation rates _ bank. in terms of overall the inflation rates coming - bank. in terms of overall the inflation rates coming down | bank. in terms of overall the - inflation rates coming down from last year. people are still feeling it. what are the main effects that people have on their spending power? prices are still going up. yes. prices are still going up. yes, rices prices are still going up. yes, prices are _ prices are still going up. yes, prices are still— prices are still going up. yes, prices are still rising - prices are still going up. yes, prices are still rising but - prices are still going up. yes, prices are still rising butjustl prices are still going up. yes, | prices are still rising butjust at a slower rate than what we previously experienced over the last year. we had some quite positive using that we had strong wage growth in the uk, subtly stronger than in the eurozone and across in the united states but that is not to say it all not have been feeling the pinch. people will have gone through

a difficult time and this is perhaps allowing people to rebuild their finances a little bit. but the wage growth will be welcomed but maybe not necessarily alleviating all of the financial pressure that people have faced over the last number of months and years. in have faced over the last number of months and years.— have faced over the last number of months and years. in terms of how thins no months and years. in terms of how things go forward, _ months and years. in terms of how things go forward, governments i months and years. in terms of how| things go forward, governments are at this stage, an election year, they are watching these figures closely, what sort of surprises might there be that you might think actually will keep an eye on this because that might affect things in the next few months? by, because that might affect things in the next few months?— the next few months? a couple of thins the next few months? a couple of things here. _ the next few months? a couple of things here, rishi _ the next few months? a couple of things here, rishi sunak, - the next few months? a couple of things here, rishi sunak, one - the next few months? a couple of things here, rishi sunak, one of. the next few months? a couple of i things here, rishi sunak, one of his pledges was to halve inflation by the end of last year, that was delivered. again, both politics and the bank of england will be closely watching the inflation rate but also as i mentioned before, gdp figures coming out tomorrow, again thinking back to a promise to grow the economy, we have been talking about the potential for a technical recession, so again that'll something that will be on the outlook and horizon coming into an

election year, the prospect of economic growth over the next couple of months. balanced with inflationary pressures and interest—rate figures. plenty to look out for in the coming months. nato defence ministers have gathered for a meeting with the focus of supporting ukraine. also no mines were donald trump's comments over the weekend. the secretary general of the nato has given a news conference, saying 18 nato countries will hit the target of 2% in dissent —— defence spending in 2024. this -- defence spending in 2024. this ear, -- defence spending in 2024. this year. exoeet _ -- defence spending in 2024. this year. exoeet 18 — —— defence spending in 2024. t�*i 3 year, expect 18 allies to spend 2% of their gdp on defence. that is another record number. and a six fold increase from 2014, when only three allies met the target. [30 fold increase from 2014, when only three allies met the target. do stay with us on bbc—

three allies met the target. do stay with us on bbc news. _ hello again. for many of us today, fairly cloudy and rain on and off. but north of scotland sees something slightly different, here we have clearer skies and fresher conditions. for the rest of the uk, these weather fronts moving from the south, northwards and eastwards. in between them, some brightness developing across north wales and the midlands into east anglia, but you can also see where we've got the clearest skies, temperatures here between 6 and 8 degrees, milder for northern ireland, the rest of england and wales. well into double figures, 15 at best. through this evening and overnight, bands of rain push northwards, taking all this cloud with them. some of that will be heavy and persistent across northern england and scotland and quite a mild night, thatair pushing further north.

in aboyne it was —4, tomorrow morning, +5. tomorrow, ourfronts moving north and all this mild air coming up from the near continetn before this later thsi weather front comes in bringing more rain. another fairly cloudy day for most, the rain continuing to push northwards across scotland and then we have the second front coming in bringing rain as well but ahead of it and behind it, brighterskies. tomorrow, across the eastern england, up to 17 degrees with the milder are air pushing further north across scotland as well. thursday into friday, the rain eventually pushes away with the wind changing direction, so temperatures dipping a little bit but still mild. there goes the rain, a fair bit of cloud left in its wake with some showers here or there but equally, bright weather too. instead of temperatures being 17, it will peak around 14. you can see too across scotland into northern ireland, between eight and 12 degrees.

on saturday, cloudy again for many, brighter breaks developing but later on, another front sweeping into the west, bringing rain and strengthening winds as well. temperatures from six, in lerwick, up to 14 in the south of england and south wales.

this is bbc news. the headlines: voting in indonesia ends — unofficial results have strongman prabowo in the lead. reports of a military order to evacuate a hospital in gaza, as the un warns an israeli assault in rafah could lead to slaughter. a record number of nato countries will this year hit the defence spending target of 2% of their gdp. and here in the uk, the latest data shows the inflation rate is unchanged at 4%. protesting indian farmers have clashed with the police after resuming their march towards the capital, delhi. there were scenes of chaos at the shambhu border between the northern states of punjab and huryana, where the farmers were stopped on tuesday. the farmers are demanding minimum guaranteed prices for a range of crops, debt relief and a withdrawal of cases registered against some of them during previous agitation.