a ground offensive will be launched in rafah if hamas does not release all hostages by march 10. it is the first time israel has warned when its troops might enter gaza's southernmost city where an estimated 1.3 million civilians are sheltering. earlier, the world health organization said gaza's nasser hospital has ceased to function following an israeli raid. israel defense force troops entered the hospital on thursday, saying intelligence indicated that hostages taken by hamas were being held there. the who said it hadn't been allowed to enter the site. in a post on x, formerly twitter, the director—general of the world health organization tedros adhanom ghebreyesus said: "nasser hospital is not functional anymore. "the who team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess "the conditions of the patients." our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is injerusalem and says facilities at nasser hospital are close to collapse.

the situation in nasser hospital remains extremely precarious. it's unclear exactly what's going on there. the israeli military has been there since the early hours of thursday morning. they are arresting members of staff who they believe are connected with hamas. they've discovered some arms that have been hidden away in the hospital. and they're also looking for evidence that hostages may have been held in the hospital at one point or another. they say that, while doing that, they are doing their best to try and keep the hospital functioning, bringing in diesel and oxygen and helping to repair a generator. the head of the who, and gaza's health ministry, have both said that the hospital is essentially not functioning anymore. we've heard reports from inside the hospital suggesting that as many as 11 people may have died as a result of interruptions to power and oxygen.

so i think, at the very least, what we can say is that the situation in nasser hospital is really, really difficult, and perhaps close to collapse. further south, in rafah, a city waits for the expected israeli military operation there. and today, they got a bit of a clue as to when that might happen, because benny gantz — a member of benjamin netanyahu's war cabinet — said that if israeli hostages are not released by the beginning of ramadan — that's in precisely three weeks — then the israeli assault on rafah would begin. that's three weeks in which 1.3 million civilians have to be moved out of the way, because the white house has demanded that that should happen before any israeli military assault. and right now, there are no signs of a plan in place for that mass evacuation. meanwhile, israel has condemned brazil's president, lula da silva, after he accused israel of committing genocide in gaza and compared its actions to the holocaust.

he was speaking at the african union summit in addis ababa. translation: what is happening in the gaza strip _ with the palestinian people has a parallel in history. in fact, it did exist when hitler decided to kill the jews. israel has strongly criticised his comments. prime minister benjamin netanyahu called them "shameful and grave," and a little earlier this evening, said the israel defense forces were going to lengths to prevent civilian deaths. today, the president of brazil — by comparing israel's war in gaza against hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation, to the holocaust, president da silva has demonised thejewish state like the most virilous anti—semite. he should be ashamed of himself. applause so, how unusual is it for lula da silva to speak out in this way? our reporter, mimi swaby,

has this reaction from south america. this isn't the first time president lilla de silva has thrown his hat into the ring with strong word choice. the outspoken president is pushing for brazil to take a more present and progressive stands on the world stage, especially after his predecessor, right—wing jair bolsonaro. he is seen as a president who stands up for the underdog, domestically with his rights and land restoration. on sunday, lula warned against rushing to conclusion surrounding the death of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny, breaking away from any other western leaders. lula's criticism of israel's operation in gaza are the latest in a chain of strong criticism from the region, like many other leaders in latin america, he is unafraid of making international controversy through bold

statements. joining me live now is former diplomat and president of the middle east policy council, gina abercrombie—winstanley. thank you so much for being with us today.— thank you so much for being with us today. thank you very much. thank— with us today. thank you very much. thank you _ with us today. thank you very much. thank you for - with us today. thank you very much. thank you for being i with us today. thank you very i much. thank you for being here. the situation in gaza is growing dire with calls for hamas to return all the remaining hostages. what does this mean for the civilians and medical workers on the ground who may have to leave rafah? it isa it is a dire situation as we all are observing from abroad. we have information about the hospital feeling, we have information about the hospitalfeeling, certainly, gazans have been going from place to place as the israelis have been pursuing hamas. so there are challenges with whether they can get into egypt if that comes to pass on the

egyptians have been very clear that they do not want to see palestinians pushed out of the gaza strip and displaced on a permanent fashion, so it is unlikely that it will take a great number. there have been palestinians that have tried to move back towards central and northern gaza as additional pressure happens on rafah. but the humanitarian situation is something that is unconscionable and we are all seeing it. unconscionable and we are all seeing it— seeing it. you speak of the challenges _ seeing it. you speak of the challenges of _ seeing it. you speak of the challenges of getting - seeing it. you speak of the challenges of getting into l challenges of getting into egypt. with more than a million palestinians seeking refuge in rafah, is a mass evacuation possible? no. there is no—one who believes that, and that is why we have heard from governments around the world, including the president of the united states,

calling on the israelis to keep humanitarian concerns uppermost so that they cannot begin this assault on rafah without a clear understandable, credible plan in place to protect these civilians, and that has not yet happened. israel has been facing mounting criticism in recent weeks, the latest from brazil's president. what does this say about the role of diplomacy in negotiating this conflict? is there a realistic possibility of a diplomatic solution? of course, there always is. as long as the united states and qatar, egypt and other parts of the region are talking, there is a possibility for a diplomatic solution. the israelis have been clearer now, saying much tendency out of

that deadline. that gives another two, two .5 weeks of opportunity for ongoing negotiations, us officials, whether it is the ambassador, david satterfield, the head of the cia or ambassador burns engaged in these discussions, they will be pushing and pushing hard for a solution, for a negotiation that successfully ameliorates is pressure on rafah. we have to keepin pressure on rafah. we have to keep in mind that there are millions of civilians in place and in danger. the world is not ignoring that. and the israeli government, to its cost, would ignore that. they have their aims, they got to get their hostages out, but we have to keepin hostages out, but we have to keep in mind the millions of civilians that are in danger. how much sway does the united states having a role towards a potential diplomatic solution here?

well, we've all heard that the relationship between president biden and prime minister netanyahu has been strained in recent days. it is a deep pity and a clear picture of how the israeli intent to eradicate hamas from the beginning so far has failed when you move from a president who has said clearly, under bitingly, we stand with israel, to the point where the president of the united states is saying the israeli actions are over—the—top, that it is too much, but they have two paws, that we need a ceasefire. that is where we are between the united states and israel. that said, they are our ally and we will do our best to the us government will do its best to work with them to find a solution so that they can move forward for their security. but

absolutely israeli life is important, but palestinian life is equally important. and that is equally important. and that is the message that the united states is giving israel at this time. ., , states is giving israel at this time. . , , ., ~ time. internally in israel, mr netanyahu — time. internally in israel, mr netanyahu is _ time. internally in israel, mr netanyahu is facing - time. internally in israel, mri netanyahu is facing pressure time. internally in israel, mr. netanyahu is facing pressure to bring home hostages. do you think this ultimatum to hamas is an attempt to appease those criticisms? i think the pressure is extraordinary on prime minister netanyahu, but it has been since the beginning of this conflict, and he has shown himself able to resist it. the fact that he has given this much ten deadline puts pressure on him to bring those hostages out beforehand —— much the 10th. i think everyone understands that if there is a full assault on rafah from the idf that the hostages will be in grave danger. as much danger as any palestinian civilian,

and certainly, hamas fighters. so the pressure is intense right now, and i think that is what is going to give additional push to the diplomatic negotiations. gina, thank you _ diplomatic negotiations. gina, thank you so _ diplomatic negotiations. gina, thank you so much _ diplomatic negotiations. gina, thank you so much for sharing i thank you so much for sharing your perspective and expertise. last november, the bbc reported on the case of a young woman and her disabled brother, tala and yazid, in rafah. they were trying to escape, but were repeatedly turned away at the border, along with their mother and siblings. our special correspondent fergal keen has been following the family's story. and a warning — you may find it distressing. we came back to no electricity, no food for today. explosion she's been a constant, caring voice from within the siege. and one more day closer to my brother running out of medications and we're still here. explosions

tala abu nahla's daily life a relentless struggle, to care for her disabled brother yazeed. three times they tried to escape rafah. like last november, when our cameraman first met them at the border. we are trying to do anything that we can to survive, because we just... i simply don't want to die at 24. they didn't get out of gaza then. drone flies overhead back home, amid the constant noise of drones overhead, tala tried to comfort yazeed. sirens and then, just a few days ago, we had news from cairo. they'd escaped to the safety of a flat in the egyptian capital. tala described the moment they left. i can't hear drones anymore. and i can't see... i can't... i'm sorry.

i won't be hearing any bombings or any air strikes. and that felt really surreal. but normality — even being able to boil a kettle for tea — has brought uncomfortable feelings. this is one of the hardest feelings to talk about. tala carries the memory of the people she left behind. every time i have food to eat or i don't have to go running for water. but knowing that everything is available, it makes me feel even guilty to think about everyone in gaza, the 1.2 million people who are displaced in rafah right now. but they had to leave.

yazeed's medication had run out, worsening his condition. he would have a seizure every time he heard bombing. and it gets really scary, like, his body and his... his mind is not being able to understand everything that's going on. tala knows a world beyond gaza. she studied in the us, lived with an american family. she won a fellowship for young leaders funded by the state department. but always coming home to yazeed, here together in 2021. will she return to gaza? i don't know how long is it going to take, but i would want to be a part of rebuilding it and healing it. i don't think... i think everyone who leaves gaza, gaza still does not leave them. the cairo sky is safe,

but it's not the sky of home. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at a major story we are following in the uk. a woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at a house in bristol. the 42—year—old suspect is in police custody at a hospital. our reporter danjohnson has more. we know the police were called here shortly after midnight by someone who was concerned about the welfare of these children. they found three children dead at a semi—detached property just further up this quiet residential street. and a 42—year—old woman was arrested. because there had been previous police involvement, we're told within the last few weeks, the independent office for police conduct has been involved. there has been a referral by avon and somerset police,

which will now investigate what the level of that interaction was and whether there's anything further to be investigated there. police say the deaths are an isolated incident and there is no further risk to people in the community. you're live with bbc news. to russia now, where at least 150 people have been sentenced to shortjail terms after attending commemoration events for alexei navalny. more than 400 mourners have been arrested across russia for paying tribute to president putin's most prominent political opponent who died suddenly in an arcticjail on friday. our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford has this report. ever since the death of alexei navalny, russians have been leaving tributes, pausing to remember a man who dared to stand up to vladimir putin and who has died in prison

for his politics. this woman describes navalny as a hero. she says he fought for russia to be free, a democracy, she says, not a dictatorship. screaming they are strong words in a country that does this when people come to lay flowers. since alexei navalny died, several hundred people have been arrested across the country. the kremlin doesn't want sorrow turning into anger and into mass protest. so in moscow, one memorial has now been fenced off, access restricted. and up in saint petersburg, men clear away the flowers so the scale of support for navalny isn't obvious. but each time, there are more people and fresh tributes. these are the last—known images of navalny on a video link from prison to a court. his cheerfulness is an act of defiance in itself. he died the next day.

we still don't know the cause. his mother travelled to the arctic region to get her son's body and to find answers. so far, she has neither. navalny�*s team are accusing the authorities of hiding something. they have reason for suspicion. three years ago, the politician was poisoned with a nerve agent. the risk of returning to russia after that were always clear. and that's true for others who've spoken out too, like vladimir kara—murza, also poisoned and then arrested for condemning the war on ukraine. his wife says the death of alexei navalny underlines the immense cost of dissent. i was horrified, but not surprised because the use of political assassination as a method of dealing with opponents has been there for, well,

for the entire rule of vladimir putin. navalny was putin's loudest challenger. his sudden death leaves many questions unanswered and it leaves a family and followers to grieve. this evening, his wife posted a single image — the caption just says, "i love you." now to the remarkable story of conjoined twins, marieme and nay, who were born in senegal and live in cardiff. when they were born, doctors expected them to survive only for a few days. but they have defied all expectations. they are now seven years old, and thought to be the only growing conjoined twins in europe. lucy owen has their story. what is it now? marieme and ndeye playing with their friends

at mount stuart primary in cardiff. their dad always wanted them to go to a mainstream school. it's just a way for me to show they are part of society. they don't have to hide from anybody. they see kids, they play with them, to laugh with them, to make friends, to develop as individuals. they are both so pretty. marieme's favourite colour is my favourite colour too. | that's why they're together, because they really love each other. they may share a body, but the girls are two very different characters. marieme is very quiet, very reserved, introverted personality. it's completely different from ndeye. she's very independent. she wants to be in charge of everything. when they were born, doctors in senegal didn't expect them to live more than a few days. they thought separation was their best hope of survival. but when the girls

arrived in the uk, it was discovered that marieme's heart was too weak for the complex surgery and the decision was made not to separate them. i can't — i can't allow myself to choose who will live, who will die now. let the doctor listen to your heart. marieme and ndeye share one pair of legs, one pelvis, and each has a spinal cord and heart. they have regular check—ups at the children's hospitalfor wales. what you can clearly see here are two spines. so this is illustrating the approximate place of where they are joined. what does everybody say when you're in the standing frame, girls? oh, you look tall! now, the girls continue to surprise everyone around them. at school, they spend time in a standing frame to get them used to being upright in the hope that one day they may walk. we're going to live. how long, i don't know, i don't want to know now.

i don't want to know. i just concentrate on the present and celebrating life. an extraordinary family. now, christopher nolan's film oppenheimer has had a great night at the baftas, winning seven awards. poor things was not far behind, taking home five awards. our culture editor katie razzel was there. how many movie stars can you fit into a photo opportunity? bafta had the brits and americans embracing and the irish out in force. for one night only, london was a who's who of the movie world, with the president of bafta, the prince of wales, attending his most high—profile royal engagement since his wife's operation and the king's cancer diagnosis. this red carpet is heaving with the kind of star power only the biggest night of the british film calendar can deliver — a night to celebrate talent on screen and behind the camera

here in britain and across the world. applause it is no exaggeration to say this room has in it the greatest actors in the world. inside the royal festival hall, master of ceremonies david tennant got down to business. right, let's give out some baftas! a night of laughter, but also emotion, particularly when da'vine joy randolph picked up best supporting actress for playing mary lamb, a bereaved mother and school cook in the holdovers. there have been countless marys throughout history who have never got a chance to wear a beautiful gown and stand on the stage here in london. best actress went to emma stone for poor things. the frankenstein—style fantasy walked away with five awards in all. i reallyjust want to thank my mum cos she's the best person i know in the whole world and she inspires me every single day. and stone beat, amongst others, margot robbie — barbie, the biggest—grossing

movie of the year, was entirely snubbed at the baftas. bradley cooper's maestro and martin scorsese's killers of the flower moon also walked away with nothing. the zone of interest. instead, a british film in german about the holocaust triumphed. the zone of interest picked up three awards, including outstanding british film and film not in english. cillian murphy... acclaimed director christopher nolan has never won a bafta. his film about the father of the atomic bomb now has seven. cillian murphy as best actor, robert downeer, best supporting actor, and nolan himself, best director. this is an incredible honour, being back home, getting this from bafta, in the festival hall, where my mum and dad used to drag me to make me have some culture. michaelj fox, diagnosed with parkinson's disease 30 years ago, got a standing ovation. it can change your day, it can change your outlook, it can sometimes even change your life. in a surprise appearance, he handed out the biggest award, best film.

oppenheimer. oppenheimer�*s night to celebrate, a night that mayjust be repeated at the oscars in three weeks. katie razzall, bbc news. thanks for watching. see you soon. hello there. sunday started the day on quite a wet note for large areas of england, but it was tibenham in norfolk that was the wettest place in the country with 31mm of rain. once that cleared, most of the uk had some decent spells of sunshine and it was an exceptionally mild day. the highest temperature, in hampshire's gosport, was 17 celsius. that's 8 degrees celsius above average for this time of the year. it'll stay pretty mild as well as we go through the next few hours. a band of rain crosses scotland and northern ireland. the rain heavy for a time, but it won't last very long. eventually, we'll start to see that rain encroaching in across parts of northern england and wales as we start off monday morning.

a mild and frost—free start to the day, temperatures typically around 7 or 8 degrees. now, through the rest of monday, this band of rain reaches east anglia, southeast england, but very weak. just an odd patch of rain left over and a stripe of cloud. further northwestwards, a ridge of high pressure follows. so for most of the uk, again, we're looking at some fairly lengthy spells of sunshine, a few showers for western scotland. it'll turn a bit cloudier in northern ireland, but i suspect the clouds going to be quite high through the afternoon, so still staying dry and bright. now, for the middle part of the week, we've got further weather systems coming in off the atlantic, so it will be quite wet and windy at times. tuesday, the wettest weather through the morning will be across scotland and northern ireland. again, a weather front here bringing some fairly heavy rain, but again, not lasting too long. the weather front moves its way southwards and eastwards while weakening, with a mixture of sunshine and showers following to scotland and northern ireland through the afternoon, so that's probably why we'll see some of the best of the sunshine. there'll be some bright weather, though, for central and eastern england and it will be another very mild day. it then turns a lot windier through wednesday, gusts of wind reaching 50 or 60mph for northern scotland. quite windy for wales

and western england, some heavy rain here as well. over the hills of wales and western england, we could see around 50—odd millimetres of rain, and that will be enough to bring some renewed concerns that we could see some further localised surface water flooding. it stays mild again, but the mild weather won't last much longer because we swap those mild southwesterly winds for cooler northwesterly winds through thursday and into friday, and that will really drop the temperatures back close to average for the time of year. so, thursday, some wet weather moves its way eastwards. quite a windy day. as the rain clears, we'll see lots of showers moving in, and in the colder air, some of those showers will start to fall as snow across the hills in the north, particularly above 300 metres elevation, although you could see a bit of sleet or hail lower down.

china's economy gets a boost from lunar new year spending which surged past pre—covid levels. and — asia's biggest air show returns to singapore this week. we'll look at efforts to make the industry more sustainable. hi there. welcome to asia business report with me, mariko oi. let's start this morning in china and some signs of recovery in the world's second biggest economy. tourism spending over this month's lunar new yearjumping by 50% to almost $90 billion,

surpassing pre—covid levels according to government data. china's markets have also just reopened for the first time in more than a week. they are trading higher. we also saw the country's central bank keeping a key interest rate on hold over the weekend. jameel ahmad, a chief analyst at online trading brokerage, gtc, gave me his sense of the data. pretty much what we've seen is since the chinese economy did reopen following what was pretty much close to three years of lockdowns, we have seen underwhelming data. this data regarding the increased tourism spending, yes, it looks like it is hitting the right path as we enter into 2024, but it is just one set of data so far and we need to see more to start getting more optimism about the chinese economy getting back onto the road once again. when it comes to the central bank decision — not so much of a surprise. everybody in the central bank world and the investor

community is really waiting for the fed, which is of course the us central bank,