lift and �*fly me to the moon' again... a us rocket could make the first lunar landing in more than 50 years. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we start this hour in gaza as israeli forces confirm they have entered the largest functioning hospital in the southern gazan strip. hospital in the southern the israel defense forces says it has credible information that the bodies of hostages taken during hamas s 7 october attack on israel may be in the facility in khan younis. let's show you these dramatic pictures from inside the nasser hospital, which have come to us from the reuters news agency. they appear to show chaos and damage inside the hospital. a spokesman for the hamas—run health ministry said the israeli military had demolished the southern wall

of the hospital complex and entered that way, and that they'd been asked to transfer all patients to an older hospital building. on wednesday, israeli forces ordered the evacuation of thousands of displaced people sheltering near nasser hospital, which is the largest medical facility in the south of the gaza strip. in a statement they said, "we conduct precise rescue operations — as we have in the past — where our intelligence indicates that the bodies of hostages may be held." a later statement confirmed several arrests had been made. a rearadmiral a rear admiral spoke earlier. we have credible intelligence from a number— have credible intelligence from a number of sources including released so cottages indicating hamas held hostages in the hospital in khan younis— hostages in the hospital in khan younis and there may be bodies in the hospital facility. it was proven

with other— the hospital facility. it was proven with other hospitals across gata, hamas _ with other hospitals across gata, hamas systematically uses hospitals of terre _ hamas systematically uses hospitals of terre haute. according to intelligent assessment, information be gathered on the ground, medical facilities _ be gathered on the ground, medical facilities have been used by hamas for terror_ facilities have been used by hamas for terror operations. let's speak to our correspondent, jenny hill in jerusalem. what more can you tell us about this developing story? it is what more can you tell us about this developing story?— developing story? it is certainly by no means the _ developing story? it is certainly by no means the first _ developing story? it is certainly by no means the first time _ developing story? it is certainly by no means the first time israel - developing story? it is certainly by no means the first time israel has | no means the first time israel has accused hamas of embedding its self, its fighters and facilities into hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, something hamas denies as it has done in this case. israel say they have good intelligence that this hospital and

one of the few remaining hospitals that actually functions in gata, actually, was being used by hamas fighters who had held hostages there. there wasn't much of an indication that the israeli forces were going in to rescue hostages. you saw the idf spokesman speaking the. it was really more of a question, we understand, or perhaps there might be bodies of hostages in there might be bodies of hostages in the facility. we know that some arrests were made. we are waiting for more details about who has been arrested, presumably these are suspected hamas fighters, that is what israel's purpose was, to go in and see if they could find fighters and see if they could find fighters and any evidence of hostages held their perhaps to recover bodies. [30 their perhaps to recover bodies. do we know more about where these patients have gone to and how they will continue to receive medical care, and of course many people who

were sheltering in the nasser hospital. were sheltering in the nasser hosital. ~ . , were sheltering in the nasser hosital. ~ ., , ., , , , hospital. what is happening? it is not clear where _ hospital. what is happening? it is not clear where patients - hospital. what is happening? it is not clear where patients and - hospital. what is happening? it is i not clear where patients and medical staff have gone in the immediate aftermath but yesterday israeli troops one civilians who were using the hospital for shelter that they should leave the facility and overnight people did leave and we don't actually know where they have gone, it is difficult to say. the israelis often suggested to people they should head to a narrow strip of land right on the mediterranean coast to the west of khan younis, a strip about one kilometre wide, iii kilometres in length, mainly agricultural land. the israeli said people should head there when they need to get out for their own safety. it is possible some people did end up going there, that is not clear at this stage.— clear at this stage. jenny hill “oininu clear at this stage. jenny hill joining us — clear at this stage. jenny hill joining us with _ clear at this stage. jenny hill joining us with the _ clear at this stage. jenny hill joining us with the latest - clear at this stage. jenny hill. joining us with the latest from jerusalem. thank you for the moment.

the hamas leader is just said that any agreement between israel and hamas should secure a ceasefire and israeli military withdrawal from gaza in addition to achieving serious prisoner swap deal. the head of the main un palestinian relief agency in gaza has said it is desparately short of funds after israel linked some of its staff to the hamas attack on the 7th october. philippe lazzarini has urged countries to resume their funding of unrwa so it can carry out vital work. britain has said it wants an �*absolute guarentee' that the agency will not employ staff who are willing attack israel. we have half a million children at the age of the primary and secondary school deeply traumatised. our collective priority, we have to bring them back to an education environment because the more we wait to do this, the more we might sow the seeds

for further resentment and future hate, and this is certainly not the recipe to promote peace and security in the future in the region. and the only organisation capable to provide, at scale, public services like education is unrwa because the agency was created to provide these services to one of the most destitute communities in the region, being the palestinian refugees. and you can follow the story live, get the latest developments as they happen, and read expert analysis on the bbc news website and bbc news app.

the uk has fallen into recession. the economy shrank by nought point 3% in the final three months of last year, according to the office for national statistics. that follows a contraction of 0.1% from july to august. we'll be taking a look at what this means forfamilies, businesses, politics and the wider world. a recession is often measured by a fall in the economy over two consecutive quarters — a widely used method across many countries in the world — this is termed a technical recession. experts say it's down to higher inflation and interest rates which have have hit consumer spending. the figures more broadly point to an economy that is stagnating, despite a strong jobs market and real wage growth. but it is a blow for britain's prime minister rishi sunak, given his pledge to have the economy growing by the end of 2023. the opposition labour party say mr sunak "can no longer credibly claim his plan is working". let's have a look at the figures globally. if we take a look at this graph, we can see anything on the right of this thick black line is doing well and everything on the left is not. if we start with the us,

we can see it's the best performer overall. the economy there grew by 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023, which was much better than expected. italy has had weak growth. france has remained flat. by contrast, germany's economy shrank by 0.3% last year, the worst recorded performance of all major global economies but germany avoided recession. uk and japan didn't — and are in recession. there has been criticism from the labour party. there has been criticism from the labour party. labour says the government's economic record is "in tatters" but the chancellor has been playing down the news. jeremy hunt blamed high inflation. he's been speaking to our economic editor faisal islam. we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioritised tackling inflation, and that means higher interest rates, and that is the right thing to do because you cannot have long—term, healthy growth with high inflation. but also for families, when there

is a cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their energy bills are much higher, it is the right thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted, inflation is coming down, real wages have been going up now for six months. and if we stick to our guns, independent forecasters say that by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling, and that will be a very important relief for families with mortgages. the shadow chancellor rachel reeves has blamed the prime minister personally for the uk economy falling into recession. she said it was rishi �*s recession. she said other countries are doing a better job of growing their economies whilst managing inflation. fist job of growing their economies whilst managing inflation. at the moment the _ whilst managing inflation. at the moment the uk _ whilst managing inflation. at the moment the uk has _ whilst managing inflation. at the moment the uk has the - whilst managing inflation. at the moment the uk has the highestl moment the uk has the highest inflation — moment the uk has the highest inflation in the g7 and only the uk and japan — inflation in the g7 and only the uk and japan i —

inflation in the g7 and only the uk and japan i think are likely to have gone _ and japan i think are likely to have gone into— and japan i think are likely to have gone into recession at the end of last gone into recession at the end of test yeah — gone into recession at the end of last year. so i don't buy this argument _ last year. so i don't buy this argument that you need to have a recession— argument that you need to have a recession to get inflation down. 0ther— recession to get inflation down. other countries are doing an awful lot other countries are doing an awful tot better— other countries are doing an awful lot better at controlling inflation whilst _ lot better at controlling inflation whilst also managing to grow their economy — lydia prieg is head of economics at the new economics foundation, a british think—tank. good to speak to you. how significant is this? how this recession?— significant is this? how this recession? . , , ., ., recession? the recession at the moment is _ recession? the recession at the moment is shallow _ recession? the recession at the moment is shallow and - recession? the recession at the moment is shallow and most i moment is shallow and most economists expect this recession to remain shallow and also short lived. so i think the bigger issue for government and for people in general is not this recession per se, but the fact that most economists expect the fact that most economists expect the uk economy to stagnate for the next few years. so far as to be in

at bit of an economic slump and performing below our potential for the next few years and that it is a key challenge that the government needs to address. find key challenge that the government needs to address.— key challenge that the government needs to address. and what are the main driving — needs to address. and what are the main driving factors _ needs to address. and what are the main driving factors behind - needs to address. and what are the main driving factors behind this? in| main driving factors behind this? in terms of the slump, we obviously have had a cost of living crisis which, although inflation is expected to continue falling, many people are still struggling so for example we have over 3 million households in fuel poverty so there is a cost of living issue that the government needs to address to make sure vulnerable people are supported. on top of that, a more long—standing problem is the fact that we have had chronic low investment in both businesses and the state for many, many years. low in comparison to other similar countries. and it is very difficult to see how we are going to emerge from this slump and really start to grow properly again, boost living

standards if we don't see a proper investment strategy from government. investment in things like housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, skills and health so people can work and be off work due to ill health. it is things like this we have been lacking for quite some time now and the uk is in many trouble from many years of under investment. hagar the uk is in many trouble from many years of under investment.— years of under investment. how is this auoin years of under investment. how is this going to. _ years of under investment. how is this going to. we _ years of under investment. how is this going to, we are _ years of under investment. how is this going to, we are already - years of under investment. how is this going to, we are already in i years of under investment. how is| this going to, we are already in the middle of a cost of living crisis, how do you see this impacting so many people across the uk? taste how do you see this impacting so many people across the uk? we have not at that many people across the uk? we have got at that moment _ many people across the uk? we have got at that moment i _ many people across the uk? we have got at that moment i think— many people across the uk? we have got at that moment i think around - got at that moment i think around one in three children living in poverty. so there is definitely more the government should be doing, looking at things like social security, removing things like the two child limit for social security and making sure that social security payments are properly pegged to the

cost of living as opposed to more arbitrate levels, which is a current situation. the cost of living crisis immediately the government should be looking at that. in terms of protecting us from future cost of living crises, we need to see more energy investment in domestic renewable production and also things like retrofitting so houses aren't leaking loads of energy so we can bring down bills for households and those two things would make us more resilient to any future global fossilfuel price resilient to any future global fossil fuel price shocks. thank you very much — fossil fuel price shocks. thank you very much were — fossil fuel price shocks. thank you very much were taken _ fossil fuel price shocks. thank you very much were taken through - fossil fuel price shocks. thank you | very much were taken through what fossil fuel price shocks. thank you - very much were taken through what is quite a complicated story. the campaign for real ale are calling on the government to show their support for pubs, social clubs and breweries as well as side up as greek producers. it comes as breweries across the uk are closing due to a lack of funding. let's speak to the chief executive of camra, tom stainer. let me get your reaction to the news

about the uk falling into a recession. i about the uk falling into a recession.— about the uk falling into a recession. ~ , ., , ., recession. i think it is a sign that the struggle _ recession. i think it is a sign that the struggle brewers _ recession. i think it is a sign that the struggle brewers and - recession. i think it is a sign that the struggle brewers and pubs . recession. i think it is a sign that i the struggle brewers and pubs have had over the last couple of years has been accurate, that the cost of living crisis is added to the cost of business crisis, material crisis and consumers having less money to spend, thisjust and consumers having less money to spend, this just reinforces that fact. we have seen hundreds of pubs close already, around six breweries are under threat at the moment, and even a big brewer has been finding it difficult. things are incredibly difficult for hospitality. has it difficult. things are incredibly difficult for hospitality.- difficult for hospitality. has this been lingering _ difficult for hospitality. has this been lingering fallout _ difficult for hospitality. has this been lingering fallout from i difficult for hospitality. has this been lingering fallout from the | been lingering fallout from the covid pandemic as well? absolutely, there has been _ covid pandemic as well? absolutely, there has been a _ covid pandemic as well? absolutely, there has been a fragile _ covid pandemic as well? absolutely, there has been a fragile recovery i there has been a fragile recovery from covid, a lot of businesses in hospitality have used up their reserves, took on debt, which they are still trying to repay. we see things going on the right direction but it has been in fragile but these

very viable businesses are threatened with closure. this is damaging for local and national economy because these businesses employ local people, bring money into local economies unlike big online businesses which suck money out of our economy.— out of our economy. thank you for brinuain out of our economy. thank you for bringing us — out of our economy. thank you for bringing us a _ out of our economy. thank you for bringing us a view— out of our economy. thank you for bringing us a view from _ out of our economy. thank you for bringing us a view from camera, i bringing us a view from camera, and we will be looking for other angles on the developing story in the uk throughout the day. coming up, we will bejoint throughout the day. coming up, we will be joint life by several experts to answer your questions about the uk entering a recession and what it means. do get in touch. you can use the hashtag... or e—mail us... around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other

stories making news here in the uk. a murder investigation has been launched after a 16—year—old boy was stabbed to death in bristol. the teenager was attacked by two people wearing masks in a park in the old market area of the city. while formal identification of the victim has not yet taken place, avon and somerset police said his family had been informed. people are voting to elect new mps in kingswood and wellingborough. the by—elections will decide who'll replace former conservative mps chris skidmore and peter bone. mr skidmore resigned as an mp last month and mr bone had to vacate his seat because of a successful recall petition. results are expected early on friday. actor david harewood has been named the new president of the prestigious british drama school rada. harewood — who appeared in homeland and supergirl — is taking overfrom sir kenneth branagh, who's stepping down after nine years in the role. cynthia erivo, the star of the new wicked film, will be vice president.

you're live with bbc news. the nato secretary— general has warned that america's failure to approve continued military assistance to ukraine is already having an impact on the battlefield. jens stoltenberg was speaking after kyiv described the situation on the front line as increasingly difficult. he said he expected congress would eventually approve an aid package. it's being held up by republicans in the lower house. nato allies are providing more support, more air defence, more ammunition. i welcome the decision by the european union to allocate 50 billion euros to ukraine, and i expect the us congress to agree a package of continued support to ukraine because supporting ukraine is not charity, supporting ukraine is an investment in our own security. let's speak to andrew dorman professor of international security, king's college london.

there is a bitterfrustration there is a bitter frustration about funding. we are hearing that from kyiv. where do you think these talks happening at the moment, though, to be hearing from nato will go and how they will change the game, because what we are seeing in america is the funding still hasn't been approved? that is correct. the meeting of nato defence ministers try to achieve three things, getting the funding through to ukraine so to ensure ukraine have continuing support from nato and funding coming from you europe. secondly, the message to the republicans say you need to vote this package through, to support ukraine in its war against russia's illegal invasion so it is to try and talk to them,. the third thing is to

work out defence plans, reasonably fresh. mil work out defence plans, reasonably fresh. �* , work out defence plans, reasonably fresh. . , , ., fresh. all this comes as we heard from donald _ fresh. all this comes as we heard from donald trump, _ fresh. all this comes as we heard from donald trump, former- fresh. all this comes as we heard i from donald trump, former president, making comments about nato and how if he does become the next us president he might change the equation with the us�*s relationship with the alliance. titer? equation with the us's relationship with the alliance.— with the alliance. very much so. trum - , with the alliance. very much so. trump, although _ with the alliance. very much so. trump, although we _ with the alliance. very much so. trump, although we cannot i with the alliance. very much so. i trump, although we cannot formally take the united states out of nato, he can undermine the whole us guarantee to the rest of the nato alliance which would have massive implications for nato simply by pulling us forces out while stating he will not respond to an article five pledge, so there is real concern about what trump second presidency might look like and what impact it would have on the whole of european security and the world and ukraine. ., ,,., ., european security and the world and ukraine. ., ., ., ., ., ukraine. professor of international securi at ukraine. professor of international security at king's _ ukraine. professor of international security at king's college, - ukraine. professor of international security at king's college, thank . security at king's college, thank you very much. in the past few hours we've heard from the uk's foreign secretary, lord cameron. he repeated calls for the us congess

to pass a bill that included support for ukraine. we applaud what the eu has already done for ukraine but because of their strength and the power in the world, we really do want to see congress pass that money to support ukraine economically, but crucially, militarily in the months ahead. we saw yet again yesterday in the black sea — the huge success that ukraine is having against putin's russia. they have now sunk 20%, over 20%, of russia's black sea fleet. as a result, ukraine is exporting grain again, the ukraine economy is growing again, the black sea is open again. as a result, ukraine is exporting grain again, the ukraine economy is growing again, the black sea is open again. when people talk about stalemate, there is no stalemate on the black sea and we have to do everything

we can to make sure ukraine can succeed this year and beyond. we must not let putin think he can out wait us or last us out. that is why this vote in congress is so crucial. at least five people have been killed in an air attack on the russian city of bell road. 18 others are said to have been injured in the strike, not farfrom are said to have been injured in the strike, not far from the are said to have been injured in the strike, not farfrom the ukrainian border. air defence systems had shut down 1a ukrainian missiles over the region. localtv down 1a ukrainian missiles over the region. local tv in russia said one rocket hit a shopping centre while another landed on a city sports stadium. the city is around 30 kilometres from ukraine. the city is around 30 kilometres from ukraine. a rocket has blasted off from cape canaveral in florida, carrying a robotic lander for a touchdown on the moon in a week s time. 3...2...1... the nova—c lander is privately—owned and carrying nasa instruments to study precision landing, space weather and other phenomena on the lunar surface.

if touchdown is successful, it will be the first american moon landing in more than 50 years. let's speak to our science correspondentjonathan amos, joining us from cardiff. u nfortu nately, unfortunately, not cape canaveral, but let's discuss what is happening there. we have been talking a lot about different countries having lunar missions. let's start with this one because it is the american attempt for the first time after 50 years tell us what the story behind this is. . , years tell us what the story behind this is. ., , ,, years tell us what the story behind this is. ,, this is. nash said the us space aren this is. nash said the us space agency is _ this is. nash said the us space agency is going _ this is. nash said the us space agency is going back _ this is. nash said the us space agency is going back to - this is. nash said the us space agency is going back to the i this is. nash said the us space i agency is going back to the moon in agency is going back to the moon in a serious way, they have to put astronauts back on the lunar service, 26, 27, 28 and before they do that they want to send a series of robotic instruments to study them in's surface to understand how those astronauts will be able to live on the surface because the idea is they will go back and stay, not go for

three days and then return, an extended period. they are using private companies to carry the instruments on these robotic lander. nasais instruments on these robotic lander. nasa is not in charge of this mission we have seen large, it is a customer, it has bought space for its payloads to go to the moon. we will see a series of these this year, six in total. we had one last month with a company called astro robotic and this is the intuitive machines company from houston in texas. they have got off earth very successfully and are on their way and we will find out at the back end of next week whether they can plan successfully. irate of next week whether they can plan successfully-— successfully. we talked a lot about the about the _ successfully. we talked a lot about the about the launch, _ successfully. we talked a lot about the about the launch, solar - successfully. we talked a lot about the about the launch, solar panels| the about the launch, solar panels not lining up. other similar challenges at this mission could face? it challenges at this mission could face? , ' . challenges at this mission could face? , , . ., ., ., face? it is difficult to land on the moon. face? it is difficult to land on the moon- about _ face? it is difficult to land on the

moon. about half _ face? it is difficult to land on the moon. about half of _ face? it is difficult to land on the moon. about half of the - face? it is difficult to land on the| moon. about half of the missions face? it is difficult to land on the i moon. about half of the missions in space industry that have tried to put down softly on the lunar surface have failed so it is not easy. we have failed so it is not easy. we have this vision of the 1960s and 70s, apollo and we think it is easy. believe me, it really isn't. there is no atmosphere on the moon, you can use parachutes, there is no gps, you can meet mac don't know where you can meet mac don't know where you are, you have to use navigation, using craters, radar to work out how far above the service you work then you control your thrusters, your rockets to get you down to the surface slowly. so you can put down safely without crashing into the surface. as we have seen, right through space registry, a lot of people have tried and a lot of people have tried and a lot of people have tried and a lot of people have failed. == people have tried and a lot of people have failed.— people have failed. -- space histo . people have failed. -- space history- we _ people have failed. -- space history. we will _ people have failed. -- space history. we will stay - people have failed. -- space history. we will stay with i people have failed. -- space| history. we will stay with that story and there is more on that on the bbc news website. a reminder of

our top story, israeli forces have confirmed they have entered the largest functioning hospital in the southern gaza strip. we will have more on that story and the news that the uk has entered a recession, so do stay with us here. hello again. we have unseasonably mild air today. temperatures higher than they would normally be at this time of the year and higher than yesterday as well perhaps. we have brightly 15 degrees across england and wales in some eastern areas, 17 or 18 degrees as possible. that is helped by a bit of sunshine coming through, as you can see here earlier on in essex and continuing the nautical theme, you can seejust on in essex and continuing the nautical theme, you can see just how different the weather here is in

aberdeenshire. fog, low cloud and rain in scotland. that will move northwards and out of the way, should dry off in northern ireland but rain developing in england and wales, quite heavy for a while and pushing south eastwards. clear skies will follow and a few showers overnight across northern and western parts of the country. temperatures aren't going to be as high as last night, still seven to 9 degrees. a mild starter friday. some sunshine on friday, some showers initially across northern scotland. those fade away, the odd shower further south, northern ireland and pushing into england and wales but i think southern areas will have a dry day and there will be many showers around. temperatures are still 12 in the central belt, 1a in the south—east of england, not quite as high as today, but above average for the time of year. lots of weather fronts had outweigh over the weekend. this is a main driver coming in during saturday and heading eastwards during sunday as well. ahead of that, a ridge of high

pressure, dry weather, a bit of cloud, the rest of the sunshine in the east, spots of rain coming in, wetter in northern ireland and the rainbow push before nightfall into western parts of scotland. ahead of it, temperatures will be peaking at 13 or 1a degrees. the band of rain and that weather front will push eastwards across all areas of an item it will be wet for a while whilst northern area should seek rain clear away, a struggle further south across england and wales, the main rain band followed by a cluster of rain here pushing towards the south—east again. the best of the drier weather probably across northern england, northern ireland and scotland and some showers in the far north—west. temperatures over the weekend not changing much. 12 to 14 the weekend not changing much. 12 to 1a degrees, not quite as high as today, mild.

this is bbc news, the headlines. dramatic pictures from gaza's nasser hospital. the israeli military says it's conducting an operation inside the facilty. a setback for two of the world's biggest economies — the uk and japan fall into recession. we'll answer your questions live.

and a rocket blasts off from florida — it could make the first us moon landing in more than 50 years. now it's time for your questions answered on the uk falling into recession, what that means for you and how other countries around the world are doing in comparison. joining me now is our cost of living correspondent, we have an esteemed panel of experts answering your questions. joining me now is our cost of living correspondent, kevin peachey, chris martin, professor of economics from university of bath, rajan lakhani, head of money from personalfinance firm plum, and susannah streeter, head of money and markets, hargreaves lansdown.