the uk and japan fall into recession. a landmark vote in greece — it could become the first orthodox majority country to legalise same sex marriage. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. israeli forces have confirmed they've conducted a military operation inside the largest functioning hospital the israel defense forces says it has credible information that the bodies of hostages taken during hamas s 7th october attack on israel may be in the facility. a be in the facility. trauma surgeon has contacted thi bbc a trauma surgeon has contacted the bbc to see tanks and snipers were surrounding the hospital from all sides. israel describes it as a "precise and limited" operation at the nasser hospital in khan younis. hamas — which is designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government — has called israel's claim "lies". jenny hill sent this

report from jerusalem. where there should be healing and hope, chaos and injury. shouting. this is the nasser hospital in khan younis. corridors filled with smoke and panic. "we are being attacked by israel," this doctor shouts. he checks for casualties. gunfire. "there is shooting," he shouts. "get your heads down." yesterday, israeli forces ordered civilians to leave the hospital. this was, they claim, a precision strike, because they believe hamas fighters held israeli hostages here. we have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that hamas—held hostages at the nasser hospital in khan younis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the nasser hospital facility. israel continues its assault on gaza.

earlier, its forces claimed to have killed more hamas fighters. talks aimed at a temporary ceasefire and the return of israeli hostages are ongoing, but there's no sign of a breakthrough, and so the eyes of the world are on rafah. more than a million displaced civilians have sought refuge in gaza's southernmost city. but israel believes hamas fighters are hiding here too and despite growing international protest, plans a major ground offensive. among those voicing their concern, the german foreign minister. "more than half of gaza's population is currently seeking "shelter in rafah," she says. "many have nothing more than small children in their arms "and the clothes on their backs. "these people cannot simply vanish into thin air." some are trying to move away, but where to go? there are few safe options and right now little hope of peace. jenny hill, bbc news, jerusalem.

we canjoin our we can join our correspondent paul adams injerusalem now. what do you know about this ongoing operation? as you heard in the clip from the military— as you heard in the clip from the military spokesman in that package, the israelis — military spokesman in that package, the israelis say they have reason to believe _ the israelis say they have reason to believe that inside the nasser hospital— believe that inside the nasser hospital will be evidence that some of the _ hospital will be evidence that some of the israeli hostages were held there. _ of the israeli hostages were held there, judging by the gunfire that's been heard around the hospital in the test— been heard around the hospital in the last few days, including the use of snipers, — the last few days, including the use of snipers, they also clearly believe _ of snipers, they also clearly believe that hamas fighters have been _ believe that hamas fighters have been using the hospital. back to the tail end _ been using the hospital. back to the tail end of— been using the hospital. back to the tail end of last year, what we had at another— tail end of last year, what we had at another hospital in gaza, this is somewhat— at another hospital in gaza, this is somewhat similar. they are not saying — somewhat similar. they are not saying they think there is a whole infrastructure beneath a hospital

but the — infrastructure beneath a hospital but the israelis are clearly saying nasser _ but the israelis are clearly saying nasser hospital has been used and abused _ nasser hospital has been used and abused by— nasser hospital has been used and abused by hamas and that is why they seem so_ abused by hamas and that is why they seem so intent on getting inside the hospitat _ seem so intent on getting inside the hospital. having effectively laid seat to — hospital. having effectively laid seat to the area for a number of weeks — seat to the area for a number of weeks we _ seat to the area for a number of weeks. we have seen civilians streaming _ weeks. we have seen civilians streaming out, civilians who have largely— streaming out, civilians who have largely been sheltering in the grounds — largely been sheltering in the grounds of the hospital. clearly some _ grounds of the hospital. clearly some patients have also had to leave and some _ some patients have also had to leave and some of— some patients have also had to leave and some of the medical staff probably. but some of the patients and the _ probably. but some of the patients and the medical staff, excuse me, are stitt— and the medical staff, excuse me, are stilt in— and the medical staff, excuse me, are still in the hospital and clearly— are still in the hospital and clearly this is a situation causing enormous — clearly this is a situation causing enormous anxiety and concern for those _ enormous anxiety and concern for those who— enormous anxiety and concern for those who remain inside. you mention the number — those who remain inside. you mention the number of — those who remain inside. you mention the number of people _ those who remain inside. you mention the number of people who _ those who remain inside. you mention the number of people who have - those who remain inside. you mention the number of people who have been i the number of people who have been displaced in southern gaza. what more do we know about what is happening in rafa, head of the anticipated israeli offensive? that offensive at _ anticipated israeli offensive? that offensive at the _ anticipated israeli offensive? that offensive at the moment is really

only a _ offensive at the moment is really only a talking point, there is no sign _ only a talking point, there is no sign of— only a talking point, there is no sign of it— only a talking point, there is no sign of it actually happening, it is something for minister benjamin netanyahu refers to repeatedly with these _ netanyahu refers to repeatedly with these dire warnings of an all—out is assautt— these dire warnings of an all—out is assault because the israeli belief again— assault because the israeli belief again is— assault because the israeli belief again is that this is an area, the last city, — again is that this is an area, the last city, where hamas have any kind of sway— last city, where hamas have any kind of $an and _ last city, where hamas have any kind of sway and its a city next to the egyptian — of sway and its a city next to the egyptian border so it is a place there — egyptian border so it is a place there are — egyptian border so it is a place there are links into egypt, tunnels which _ there are links into egypt, tunnels which hamas have used over the years to get— which hamas have used over the years to get men— which hamas have used over the years to get men and equipment in and out of gaze _ to get men and equipment in and out of gaze and — to get men and equipment in and out of gaza. and so it is the last big military— of gaza. and so it is the last big military objective but the israelis simply— military objective but the israelis simply do — military objective but the israelis simply do not have the manpower in the gaza _ simply do not have the manpower in the gaza strip at the moment to conduct — the gaza strip at the moment to conduct a — the gaza strip at the moment to conduct a major operation and rafah and so _ conduct a major operation and rafah and so i _ conduct a major operation and rafah and so i think most people believe that white — and so i think most people believe that while the civilian population is still— that while the civilian population is still largely bare, with no plan in place — is still largely bare, with no plan in place for— is still largely bare, with no plan in place for them to move elsewhere and without — in place for them to move elsewhere and without the significant levels of israeti —

and without the significant levels of israeli personnel available to conduct — of israeli personnel available to conduct such an operation, we are looking _ conduct such an operation, we are looking at— conduct such an operation, we are looking at something that is probably still weeks away. paul adams in jerusalem, _ probably still weeks away. tani. adams injerusalem, thank probably still weeks away. i—ii adams injerusalem, thank you. let's ta ke let's take it to new york now, mr donald trump is due to work through the doors now, a new yorkjudge is set to roll on his bid to dismiss the first of four indictments he is facing today. this is crucial because it's a decision which will determine whether the first ever criminal trial of a former us president can go ahead next month. donald trump of course the front runner for the donald trump of course the front runnerfor the republican runner for the republican presidential nomination runnerfor the republican presidential nomination for the election this year. he has asked the

sitting justice to throw out a 3k count indictment which charges him with falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to stormy daniels,, that was before the 2016 election. we saw earlier donald trump leaving trump tower, getting into a car and his motorcade making its way across new york. we then bought you pictures as he arrived into the court and we are expecting him to walk through to appear in the courtroom in the new york state courtroom in the new york state court at any moment. and as we have seen, mrtrump has court at any moment. and as we have seen, mr trump has used these court dates to raise money for his campaign. and you know, in 2016, we saw him at countless campaign rallies and of course will expect to see him a countless campaign rallies later this year if he indeed secures the nomination but we are also

seeing him at court quite a lot. just a reminder before we leave court scenes for the moment, the reason we are staying on these pictures, it's a significant day in the us and in us politics because thisjudge at the the us and in us politics because this judge at the court in new york state, new york state court will rule on the board of donald trump to dismiss the first of four indictments that he faces in that decision will determine whether the first ever criminal trial of a former us president will proceed next month. of course, he faces a number of other charges, in fact, as a separate court hearing on thursday, his lawyers will ask a judge in georgia to disqualify the prosecutor who charged him and several of his allies with trying to overturn his election loss in 2020. we will be back with that as and

when we see donald trump but let's move away from that. a boy aged 16 has been fatally stabbed in bristol. police say he was attacked by two people wearing masks who escaped on bikes. he's the third to be stabbed to death in the city in three weeks. we canjoin our we can join our correspondent at the scene, please bring us up—to—date with what has happened. brute scene, please bring us up-to-date with what has happened.— scene, please bring us up-to-date with what has happened. we know this attack happened _ with what has happened. we know this attack happened in _ with what has happened. we know this attack happened in the _ with what has happened. we know this attack happened in the park _ with what has happened. we know this attack happened in the park in - attack happened in the park in bristol at around 6pm last night, you can probably make out the police forensic tent, surrounding one of the benches here in the park and the police say the 16—year—old was stabbed by two masked figures who made their escape on bikes. we know the boy was able to get out of the park and ran to the main road

looking for help and we understand a van driver stopped and that together they drove to a local police station to try to get him help but they found the police station was closed. we heard from local people who run some of the shops half a mile from here that they were trying to save his life while waiting for an ambulance but sadly he was pronounced dead at the roadside outside the shops despite the efforts of people to save him. there is a murder inquiry underway, police are looking for the two figures, trying to work out exactly who was responsible for the death of the boy. police say there is no evidence this was connected to other teenage stabbings in the city but he is the third 16—year—old to lose his life in three weeks, there was a stabbing of a 15 and a 16—year—old and other teenagers have been injured in bristol stabbings already this week police were talking about extra patrols across the city to tackle

knife crime in bristol. there will be increasing calls for that action and there is concern in this community and more widely across bristol about how many young people are losing their lives are being injured in the course of knife crime and local people telling us the cctv cameras do not work, they had to wait for the ambulances, police have withdrawn from the community because the police station has been closed and that there must be more action to protect young lives. dan and that there must be more action to protect young lives.— to protect young lives. dan johnson re ”ortin to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on _ to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on that — to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on that for— to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on that for us, _ to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on that for us, thank- to protect young lives. dan johnson reporting on that for us, thank you | reporting on that for us, thank you so much. two of the world's leading economies — the uk and japan — have gone into recession. the uk economy shrank by 0.3% in the final three months of last year. while japan's contracted by 0.4%. a recession is often measured by a fall in the economy over two consecutive quarters. it's a widely used method across many countries — and is often referred to as a technical recession. experts say it's because of higher inflation and interest rates which have hit consumer spending. our chief economics correspondent dharshini david has more

on the situation in the uk. it was a damp end of the year. from construction to manufacturing and retail, the biggest cost of living crunch in decades, and the higher interest rates deployed to combat that took their toll on spending, profits and output, pushing the economy further into reverse. what most would term a mild recession. we are all managing but it is hard sometimes, yes, as pensioners, everything is going up, but you just have to live to your means. we really feel the i increase of the cost of the food and everything. even we went to the food bank. we are doing very well. we are not doing too bad. i have been retired two years and on a basic pension which has

just gone up in april by £65 so i am feeling really rich at the moment! we are not alone. this is how major economies fared in the second half of last year. typically grappling too with inflation and higher rates. japan entered recession. germany, canada, even france didn't do much better. but back home, we are counting the cost. accounting for population growth, each person in the uk was equivalent to £140 worse off by the end of 2023 because of that gdp performance. that is just in comparison to the start of 2022. while the economy dipped right there in the second half of 2023, confounding the government's pledge to grow the economy, it has basically flatlined as a whole over the last year or two. the chancellor admits it has been a challenge. independent forecasters say if we stick to our guns by the early summer we will start to see interest rates falling, so that is why it is

an important period now despite this challenging data that we stick to a plan that is seen inflation really start to fall. i don't buy this argument that you need to have a recession to get inflation down. other countries are doing an awful lot better at controlling inflation whilst managing to grow their economy which is the point i made about britain being acutely exposed to the challenges that we face. now in 2024, the pace may be picking up for some as the jobs market and wage growth for example have been resilient. cautious optimism. there is a path of recovery over 2024 but it is a slow and gradual path. inflation is double the bank of england target of 2%, interest rates will start to ease, from may at a gradual pace. but growth over the last 15 years has been a fraction of what it was prior to 2008's financial crisis.

all politicians will be under pressure to show how they will turbo boost prosperity as the election looms. as we said, japan has also fallen into a recession. robert cuffe has been looking at the numbers for us. let's look into the numbers that we talking about a moment ago. this is the churches saw some months ago, the churches saw some months ago, the amount the economy grows by each quarter and that's coming quite close to it but after a flat growth throughout much of last year we've tipped into two quarters of a shrinking economy but it's clear if you look at the growth per person, what matters is not the total amount of money in the economy but the amount per head and that has been falling for seven quarters, much longerfall in the falling for seven quarters, much longer fall in the wealth of the

country and that's the long—term story. it's notjust i bejust in recession or not, but its long—term drift, lack of growth in the uk is not keeping up with population growth and that is what is setting a key problem for many politicians setting the budget in coming weeks and months. it's notjust a uk problem. we will neverjust a little bit! let's look at other countries, the countries that are growing that and the outliers. america grew pretty robustly in the third quarter of last year and in the fourth quarter, the leading advanced economies in the world it is probably the only one that has done it, flat for france, germany is flat and falling in the uk and japan both slipping into recession the second half of last year. we are all dealing with the same fallout from the pandemic, the worse, the rising cost of living and rising interest

rates to try and tackle and bring inflation down again. the exceptions are the countries who are growing but there is a small silver lining that i would like to finish on and that i would like to finish on and thatis that i would like to finish on and that is the recession we have seen so far, this fault we have seen in the uk is probably the mildest in 50 years. looking at all the recessions we've seen over that time, you see in most of those cases the economy has fallen by about at least i% in that time. here is the most recent recession, pretty unique, i'm not sure on the pandemic by the way, if i shot the pandemic, statistics would be literally off the top of the chart but the only session close to what we are seeing at the moment was 2012 and we got that was a false alarm, that was revised after

erroneous data so 202! stands as the mildest recession we've seen in the forecast is a turnaround that the long—term problem of sluggish growth is probably not one that will be fixed quickly. is probably not one that will be fixed quickly-— is probably not one that will be fixed quickly. is probably not one that will be fixed cuickl. ., ,, ., fixed quickly. robert, thank you for takin: us fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through _ fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through all _ fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through all of _ fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through all of that - fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through all of that and - fixed quickly. robert, thank you for taking us through all of that and so| taking us through all of that and so interesting to see all of that data. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. new data shows there were a higher waiting times and a&e in england. british gas has announced its profits for 2023. said it increased tenfold to £750 million. the supplier said thejump tenfold to £750 million. the supplier said the jump from 72,000,022 was because of the regulator allowing it to recover

losses of £500 million that had racked up in the aftermath of the russian invasion of ukraine. the parent company of british gas says its parents fell by i7%, down to 2.8 billion pounds. the by—elections in kingsborough and wellingborough will decide who will replace former mps. you are watching bbc news. the nato secretary—general has warned that the us failure to approve continued military assistance to ukraine was already having an impact on the battlefield. jens stoltenberg was speaking after kyiv described the situation on the frontline as increasingly difficult, but he added he expected congress would eventually approve an aid package. it's being held up by republicans in the lower house.

i welcome 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. greece could soon become the first country with a christian orthodox—majority, to legalise same—sex marriage. parliament is due to vote on the measure on thursday. the bill has been introduced by the country s centre—right prime minister. but about a third of his own mps are expected to vote against it. that means he ll need the support of the left—wing opposition for it to pass. let's speak to chief economic advisor to greek prime minister, alex patelis. thank you forjoining us. this could be a hugely significant day for your

country, tell us about when the vote is likely to happen under your feeling optimistic it will pass? thank you so much for the invitation, i hope you are well, i am sitting here in the croatian parliament and the vote is scheduled for later tonight, probably around ten p m local time. five political parties out of nine in parliament that support marriage so there is broad expectation that this bill will cross with a comfortable majority and grease will be the 16th country in the eu to legislate marriage equality.— country in the eu to legislate marriage equality. there has been some opposition _ marriage equality. there has been some opposition even _ marriage equality. there has been some opposition even amongst. marriage equality. there has been i some opposition even amongst your own party who may vote against it so this is not an easy push, this change? this is not an easy push, this chance? , , ., _ change? these things never easy. look back in _ change? these things never easy. look back in history _ change? these things never easy. look back in history you _ change? these things never easy. look back in history you will - change? these things never easy. look back in history you will find l look back in history you will find

responses of centre—right passes party is pushing through, david cameron in the in apart fewer than half mps in the conservative party supporting the legislation and i believe i! supporting the legislation and i believe 11 years ago in germany, it is expected more than half of the centre—right party of government in greece, more than half of the mps will support the legislation and of course let us not forget that greece was the tenth country to join the original european economic community backin original european economic community back in 1981. again, it was new democracy that led the push back there. the country spent the previous decade, trying to stay in the european union and mentioned will become the 16th country to legislate marriage equality and the first in this part of the of the world, the south—east of europe.

this is an orthodox country so this will be quite a cultural shift, even though many will say this is a long time coming. though many will say this is a long time coming-— time coming. many countries with stron: time coming. many countries with strong countries _ time coming. many countries with strong countries -- _ time coming. many countries with strong countries -- churches - time coming. many countries withj strong countries -- churches have strong countries —— churches have passed this legislation, island, south america for example, and of course there is separation of church and state in greece, the views of the church or fully recognised and respected, the government legislate and we will see what happens. the chief economic adviser to the prime minister of greece, many people come back to you after an update. thank you so much. let's go to new york, anytime now we await donald trump walking those doors and enter the court in new york. it is a new york

state court in manhattan, in york church is set to roll in the bed of dark trump to overall the first of four indictments he faces on thursday and thejudges four indictments he faces on thursday and the judges then asked throughout a 34 count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to facilitate hush money payments to the pawn star stormy daniels. we saw him leave trump tower a week ago. he has arrived in the building and those cameras are squarely locked on the door at the new york state court in manhattan. we await mr trump to walk in and begin that hearing. this is hugely significant because this decision could determine whether the first ever criminal trial of a former american president can go ahead next month. mr trump is the first runnerfor the ahead next month. mr trump is the first runner for the republican presidential nomination. this is a

key part of that, he faces other hearings and other court appearances, as of course we know. ask them, this trial that is awaiting us today, scheduled for the 25th of march. it does not look like donald trump overthrew... there he is, i was wrong. let's start with those pictures! hello there. we've got some unseasonably mild air across much of the uk today. temperatures are a lot higher than they would normally be at this time of the year and higher than yesterday perhaps as well. we've widely got 15 degrees across england and wales and some eastern areas, 17 or even 18 degrees is possible. that's helped by a bit of sunshine coming through. as you can see here earlier on in essex. and continuing the nautical theme, you can see just how different the weather here is in aberdeenshire — fog, low cloud and some rain

that's been affecting scotland. that's going to move northwards and out of the way, should dry off in northern ireland. but we're seeing rain developing in england and wales that could be quite heavy for a while. it'll push its way south eastwards. clearer skies will follow and a few showers overnight across some northern and western parts of the country. temperatures aren't going to be quite as high as they were last night, but still 7 to 9 degrees — pretty mild start to friday. and then we're going to see some sunshine on friday. a few showers initially across northern scotland. those will tend to fade away. the odd shower further south, into northern ireland, pushing into england and wales. but i think southern areas are likely to have a dry day and there won't be many showers around at all. temperatures are still 12 in the central belt, 14 in the south east of england, not quite as high as today, but still above average for the time of year. there are some weather fronts to head our way over the weekend. that one's going to fade away. this is the main driver coming in during saturday and then heading eastwards during sunday as well. ahead of that, we've got a slight ridge of high pressure, so dry weather, could be quite a bit of cloud, mind you. best of the sunshine in the east.

a few spots of rain coming in ahead of the main rain band. so it will get wetter in northern ireland. that rain will push before nightfall into western parts of scotland. ahead of it, again, those temperatures probably peaking at 13 or 14 degrees. now, that band of rain on that weather front will push eastwards across all areas overnight. so it's going to be wet for a while. whilst northern areas should see the rain clearing away, it's going to be a bit of a struggle further south across england and wales. main rain band, followed by a cluster of rain here, pushing towards the south east. the best of the drier weather probably across northern england, northern ireland and scotland, with just a few showers in the far northwest. and temperatures over the weekend are not changing very much. 12 to 14 degrees is mild, just not quite as high as today.

the uk dips its toe into a recession as the latest figures show the economy shrank for two quarters in a row. and it's blast off for what could be the first ever private spacecraft to land on the moon.

welcome to world business report, i'm mark lobel. we start with the news that the uk dipped into a recession at the end of 2023. official figures show the economy shrank by 0.3% in the last three months of the year, following a fall in gross domestic product of 0.1% from july to september. gross domestic product — or gdp — is a key measure of economic activity — with a recession defined as two consecutive quarters — six months — of negative growth. despite this, the economy grew by 0.1% across the whole of 2023, but this is still the weakest economic growth since 2009 following the global financial crisis. today, the uk chancellor — or finance minister — jeremy hunt acknowledged the data, but defended the governments handling of the economy we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioratised tackling inflation — that means higher interest rates — and that's the right thing to do, because you can't 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,