live from washington. this is bbc news. several countries have condemned the us for vetoing the latest un resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. instead the us offered its own draft. two major parties in pakistan agree to form a coalition government, nearly two weeks after a contested vote failed to deliver a clear winner. and, frozen embryos are children. that's the ruling by alabama's supreme court. we'll look at what that means for the state, and beyond. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. great happy with us. the us is facing widespread condemnation at the un security council in new york, after it vetoed a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza. it's the third time washington has blocked the move.

13 out of the 15 council members voted in favour, while britain abstained. france — a us ally — expressed regret that the measure had failed to pass, given what it called "the disastrous situation on the ground". the us argued the text would jeopardise sensitive talks to end the war between hamas and israel, and proposed a temporary ceasefire instead. washington's resolution opposes israel's plans to invade the overcrowded city of rafah, saying it would harm civilians and push them into neighbouring countries. it also rejects any actions leading to the systematic demolition of civilian infrastructure — and condemns calls by some israeli government ministers forjewish settlers to move to gaza. as a condition of the truce, it calls for the release of all hostages still being held by hamas. it's not clear when or if the text will be put to a vote. from new york, our correspondent, nada tawfik, has more. the us proposed language calls for a temporary ceasefire as

soon as is practical. it is the first time the united states has used the word ceasefire, to stronger language but it certainly does not go as far as members wanted to see. 13 members wanted to see. 13 members signed on to the draft saying that there is an overwhelming international consensus for a ceasefire. they are extremely concerned about what they believe is a looming catastrophe in rafah where 1.5 catastrophe in rafah where1.5 million palestinians have been forced to seek shelter. the un warned a ground operation by israel into rafah would amount to a slaughter and the people they are victims of an assault thatis they are victims of an assault that is unparalleled in its intensity, brutality and scope. from members of the security council, a realfear that the suffering of palestinians is intolerable, unbearable and will continue unless the security council acts to get a ceasefire. united states, in

its position, believed that any ceasefire resolution would jeopardise talks under way to secure a six—week pause in fighting and to secure the release of hostages. the united states is trying to push members to back its alternative draft. if it does get to a vote, perhaps united states could get some members to sign on but we already have heard from russia and china, who are very likely to veto any such measure by the united states, in fact russia accused the us of having a bad faith attempt to use this proposed resolution to use this proposed resolution to distract from its veto. saying that the security council has already waited five months and a ceasefire is needed now. equally, china said the us position was untenable and by essentially not agreed to a ceasefire it was green

lighting the slaughter of palestinians. let's get more perspective on the story. live now to luis moreno ocampo, former prosecutor of the international criminal court. very good to have you. a us official, speaking to the washington post, cited the need to let the negotiations "play out." instead of putting forward a resolution for a temporary ceasefire because they said the former would jeopardise sensitive negotiations happening at the moment. what you make of that? i happening at the moment. what you make of that?— you make of that? i think weekly it— you make of that? i think weekly it is _ you make of that? i think weekly it is valid - you make of that? i think weekly it is valid but - you make of that? i think weekly it is valid but i - you make of that? i think| weekly it is valid but i feel the us very weak —— legally it is valid. that is what is happening. because in this, the us voted in favour in december for a different solution. ordering exactly to provide

humanitarian assistance and creating the condition for a ceasefire. that resolution was adopted in december, not veto. there was the first to know veto. now almost two months later the us is back in a very weird position, they cannot stop benjamin netanyahu. the problem is now, 2 million people are dying, starving and this in the international court saysis this in the international court says is genocide. civilisation is dying. the us is needs to support the law but is supporting benjamin netanyahu who is destroying israel. i want tojump in there. i'll want to jump in there. i'll come back to the icj in a moment, you mentioned the political aspect in thatjoe biden is in a weak position and cannot stop apra to but i want to come back to the argument that we saw at the un. — i

cannot stop benjamin netanyahu. they need to let negotiations plough right now rather than calling for a ceasefire. do you think that could be a valid point? think that could be a valid oint? ., �* think that could be a valid oint? ., ~ ., , think that could be a valid oint? ., ~ .,, ., . point? no. and i was a chief prosecutor _ point? no. and i was a chief prosecutor i _ point? no. and i was a chief prosecutor i saw, _ point? no. and i was a chief prosecutorl saw, i- point? no. and i was a chief prosecutor i saw, i know - point? no. and i was a chief i prosecutorl saw, i know don't prosecutor i saw, i know don't indict them now because there is a provision coming. after you indict them to arrest him. it's all the same, their belief we need to stop everything and it will fail because benjamin netanyahu is very clear that there is no return. he knows that if he stops the war, his not the prime minister anymore and will properly go to jail. that's why he has no option. that's why he has no option. that is destroying israel. let me be clear on that. i that is destroying israel. let me be clear on that.- that is destroying israel. let me be clear on that. i want to ask ou me be clear on that. i want to ask you one — me be clear on that. i want to ask you one more _ me be clear on that. i want to ask you one more question i ask you one more question before going onto the icj, you say the us is in a weak

position, due you see this body is being capable of doing anything right now to stop fighting either temporarily or permanently?— fighting either temporarily or permanently? well, 9096 of the world is asking _ permanently? well, 9096 of the world is asking for— permanently? well, 9096 of the world is asking for an _ permanently? well, 9096 of the world is asking for an urgent. world is asking for an urgent ceasefire to protect 2 million people living in gaza. that is important. 90% of the world is saying stop this and joe biden is saying no, i will not stop it, but i will try to stop benjamin netanyahu and his not able to do it. that's the problem. able to do it. that's the problem-— able to do it. that's the roblem. �*, _, ., g problem. let's come to the icj which you _ problem. let's come to the icj which you mentioned - problem. let's come to the icj which you mentioned as - problem. let's come to the icj which you mentioned as well, | which you mentioned as well, previous case we saw on question of whether israel is committing genocide and today we saw ten countries scenting arguments on the legality of the israeli occupation. looking at what you are seeing, what do you think the outcome may be in this case given what we have seen at the icj in the past? already, onjanuary

seen at the icj in the past? already, on january 26, seen at the icj in the past? already, onjanuary 26, this is a breach of genocide, while its intention is to commit genocide, explain why the killing, explained that mental and bodily harm they are suffering, the mental harm with people living in gaza. it's a disaster. and they gave one month to israel to present how to stop the genocide and what is happening next week... israel has to go back before the icj and explain what they are doing to stop and consider their doing something to stop. basically the outcome would be ok we confirm it is committing genocide. canjoe biden support a country committing genocide? no, i don't think so. the

problem _ no, i don't think so. the problem is... _ no, i don't think so. the problem is... unfortunately we arejust running out problem is... unfortunately we are just running out of time and we will have to leave it there but i thank you for sharing your perspective with us tonight on these stories, thank you so much forjoining us. the world food programme said it will pause aid deliveries to northern gaza until conditions allow for safe distribution. the agency says its crews have faced crowds, gunfire and looting. the un has been warning of looming famine in the north since december. and in the south, more than 30 patients, including children have been evacuated, from gaza's nasser hospital. the hospital stopped functioning last week after an israeli raid — which israel described as a �*precise and limited' operation. the world health organization says the hospital has no electricity or running water, and conditions inside are ripe for the spread of disease. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. one patient in a wheelchair. one patient on a stretcher can be set in the ambulance. in the darkness of nasser hospital, a rescue under way. for 1a patients, some of them elderly, a chance to escape

a hospital on its knees. the war is nearby. this was not a simple operation. we don't see them here, but israeli soldiers control the hospital. the mission had to be carefully coordinated. the hospital is filthy, large parts of it deserted. you can think about the worst situation ever. you multiply it by ten and this is the worst situation i have seen in my life. it's the debris, it's the light, working in the darkness, patients everywhere. israel says it had no choice but to raid the hospital. hamas, it says, was here in force. the army finding weapons and arresting scores of suspected gunmen. and in the pharmacy, a chilling discovery. medications supposed to be given to vulnerable israeli hostages. the medications remain, the hostages are gone. israel insists the hospital still works, but the charity medecins sans frontieres says nasser

can no longer offer proper care. what's left of gaza's health system, they say, is barely functioning. further north, desperate scenes as trucks carrying flour are mobbed. gaza city hasn't seen aid in weeks, but after two chaotic convoys with shots fired and drivers beaten, the un has once again suspended deliveries. it's all too much for marianne, her home destroyed, herfather dead. "what do you lack?" she's asked. "everything," she says. "i miss bread." and the war still rages, despite distant talk of a cease—fire. in darabela in the middle of the gaza strip, air strikes are claiming dozens of lives. another hospital inundated — the injured, the confused, converging on a place that should offer refuge but only

contains horror. like rafa, israel says it is yet to send troops into darabela for all the grief and death, it appears it can still get worse. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. one day after alexei navalny�*s widow, yulia, posted a video blaming russian president vladimir putin for her husband's death — alexei's mother has posted a video of her own, in a direct appeal to putin. lyudmila navalnaya says that she just wants to bury her son with dignity. take a listen. translation: behind my back is a colony where _ translation: behind my back is a colony where on _ translation: behind my back is a colony where on peppery - translation: behind my back is a colony where on peppery 16 - translation: behind my back is a colony where on peppery 16 my| a colony where on peppery 16 my son alexei navalny died. is the 15 i cannot see him. they won't hand over his body to me, and they won't even tell me where he is. i speak to you, vladimir putin — the decision on the question depends only on you. let me finally see my son.

i demand you immediately hand over the body of alexei so that i can bury him. navalny�*s family says they've been told alexei's body may not be returned for two weeks. the kremlin on tuesday rejected a call by the council of the european union for an independent examination of navalny�*s remains. the white house said tuesday it will announce a �*major sanctions package' against russia in response to navalny�*s death. officials offered limited details, but said the sanctions will target a range of different elements of russia's defence industrial base. sources of revenue for russia's, as well as actions to hold putin accountable for two years of war in ukraine. the white house said the sanctions will be announced friday, which marks the eve of the two—year anniversary of russia's invasion. meanwhile, russian authorities are now actively searching for alexei navalny�*s brother, oleg navalny, that according to a russian state—owned media report. the report said russia has opened a new criminal case against oleg, but did not say why he is being investigated. he was already on russia's wanted list for charges that critics have compared to those

placed on alexei navalny. we also have an update tonight on the case of evan gershkovich, the us journalistjailed in russia. on tuesday, a russian court rejected a complaint by the wall streetjournal reporter, regarding the extension of his pre—trial detention. the decision means he will be held in jail until at least march 30, pending his trial. gershkovich is being held on espionage charges and faces up to 20 years in prison. the us government says he's being wrongfully detained. in pakistan, two major parties have reached an agreement to form a coalition government after days of negotiations. the deal will see asif ali zardari of the pakistan people's party become the main candidate for the presidency. and shehbaz sharif, the younger brother of former prime minister nawaz sharif, will be the coalition�*s pick for prime minister. the agreement ends days of uncertainty following the february 8 vote, in which candidates backed by the party of former prime minister, imran khan, won the largest number of seats in parliament. but they did not win enough

for an outright majority, farhat javed with bbc urdu has more. these two parties have a long history of building cases against each other, cases that they have been calling politically motivated but in the last few years we have seen there have been sitting together for example these two parties of these were to measured parties to oust a former minister from measured parties to oust a former ministerfrom his measured parties to oust a former minister from his office in 2022. then for the next two years they successfully ruled the country and now once again there is this alliance. running there is this alliance. running the government will not be izzy for pakistan because the last two years is been a political turmoil and there is economic instability, pakistan's economy has been on the verge of default and there is a rising internal security situation that has been terrorist attacks across the country and his other challenges that any coalition that forms the government in pakistan will

face and is not easy to tackle. the process for electing the prime minister involves a parliamentary vote, which is expected by the end of february. a separate election to decide the next president will be held in the coming weeks. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some top stories in the uk. police in london say a body has been found in the river thames by officers searching for the chemical attack suspect abdul shokoor ezedi. the suspect had been on the run following an attack on a woman and her two children in south london injanuary. authorities said distinctive clothing on the body led them to believe it is ezedi. but they have not made any official confirmation. britain's prime minister announced plans to help british farmers. in a speech to the national farmers union annual conference, rishi sunak outlined details of how to boost the uk's food security. the union largely welcomed the news, but said the scheme includes no new actual money. farming groups say more needs to be done to protect the sector from overseas competition.

the body shop has started to shut almost half of its 198 stores in the uk after it went into administration last week. the move will lead to hundreds ofjob losses. the company's administrators say the cuts would help re—energise the brand. the stores immediately affected include four in london, where rents and other overheads are highest. you're live with bbc news. in the us, reactions to an alabama supreme court ruling on embryos continue to pour in — with the white house criticizing the decision that considers frozen, fertilized eggs to be children. on friday, alabama's top court ruled that fertilized eggs created for in—vitro fertilization, or ivf, can be considered children under state law — and that individuals can be held liable for destroying them. the verdict allows three couples to sue for wrongful death, after their frozen embryos were destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic. in the majority ruling,

justice jay mitchell says "unborn children are children, "without exception." the national infertility association calls the ruling a terrifying development, writing on social media: "this new legal framework may make it "impossible to offer services like ivf, a standard medical "treatment for infertility." to talk about this let's bring in kelly baden, she's the vice president for public policy at the guttmacher institute, a reproductive rights advocacy organization. good to happy with us, thank you forjoining us. the justices, want to take you to what they said. they cited the constitution and said if foetuses were killed while woman is pregnant and that falls under the wrongful death of a minor act and nothing excludes extra you're in children from that as well. what you think of that argument? i what you think of that argument?— what you think of that argument? i think this particular— argument? i think this particular argument i argument? i think this particular argument in| argument? i think this - particular argument in this case really demonstrate the extremism of the moment that we are in. the context cannot go

on spoken, we are about 1.5 years since the us supreme court overturned reverses weight and upended nearly 50 years of the prosecution and we are starting to see how the chaos and confusion is extending well beyond abortion —— roe v wade. it is focused on ivf and so having ought in states where abortion is banned entirely including alabama is already bad enough but now when you look at this particular court and this particular case and really see them see how far they can go evan beyond the already devastating abortion ban to think about how to target folks trying to build their family to ivf shows the extremism of the moment we are in. i come back to abortion bands in a moment but specifically on this ruling in alibaba thejudges specifically on this ruling in alibaba the judges say they have a duty to protect unborn life and legislative because at the policy. life and legislative because at the policy-— life and legislative because at the oli . ~ . ~ , the policy. what you think this will mean _ the policy. what you think this will mean for _ the policy. what you think this will mean for ivf _ the policy. what you think this will mean for ivf clinics - will mean for ivf clinics operating in alabama? it will cause a lot —

operating in alabama? it will cause a lot of _ operating in alabama? it will cause a lot of confusion - operating in alabama? it will cause a lot of confusion and l cause a lot of confusion and devastation certainly in the short—term. families trying to use ivf to create and build their families, use ivf to create and build theirfamilies, doctors, providers, lawyers will have to figure how to advocate in this comp located situation and i think unfortunately is going to mean people price out of what is already an expensive procedure and may not be covered by insurance and ultimately i'm not going to be able to create the families they want to create because some judges decided to step in between them and their healthcare needs. [30 between them and their healthcare needs. do you see other states _ healthcare needs. do you see other states following - healthcare needs. do you see other states following suit - other states following suit following what alabama has done here? it following what alabama has done here? , . . , following what alabama has done here? ,. ., _.,, here? it is certainly possible. this ruling — here? it is certainly possible. this ruling opens _ here? it is certainly possible. this ruling opens the - here? it is certainly possible. this ruling opens the door. here? it is certainly possible. this ruling opens the door to | this ruling opens the door to more states and courts to consider how far they can go. we are ready know that overturning roe v wade was not the end game and this is another example of seeing how much further they can go and more states will certainly consider ways to push for this so—called fiddle personhood

agenda and see what they can push with. i agenda and see what they can push with-— push with. i would ask about that because _ push with. i would ask about that because after _ push with. i would ask about that because after roe - push with. i would ask about that because after roe v - push with. i would ask about i that because after roe v wade was overturned we saw many reproductive rights campaigner seeing — treatments will be the next target but most republicans say that will not be a target and the former vice president mike pence who was a conservative said that his wife had fertility treatments that would never be a question that would never be a question that would be up for legislation. why do you think this could indeed then go beyond alabama and perhaps even nationally? i think we have to unfortunately wait and see. this is one particular case where it was heavily focused on a religious argument. we know ivf is incredibly popular, about 1% to 2% of all births use the technology every year and we also know that abortion rates are popular, contraception is popular and support from everyday americans has not

stopped politicians and judges from going after them so we have to be prepared for the continuation of some of these worst—case scenarios is damning on that decision. irate worst-case scenarios is damning on that decision.— on that decision. we know abortion — on that decision. we know abortion is _ on that decision. we know abortion is on _ on that decision. we know abortion is on the - on that decision. we know abortion is on the ballot i on that decision. we know i abortion is on the ballot and on that decision. we know - abortion is on the ballot and a number of states this year. the majority of americans if you look at the polls support some level of access to abortion rights. to think that will be enough of an issue to really drive boaters this year? it is drivin: drive boaters this year? it is driving voters _ drive boaters this year? it is driving voters out _ drive boaters this year? it is driving voters out so - drive boaters this year? it 3 driving voters out so far, the ballot measures that have happened on reproductive rights on abortion rights since the decision have shown its a winning issue, americans want to see basic protections of rights of our reproductive freedom to be maintained and so i think we will continue to see voters come out for that but we are operating in systems and structures and states where many voters have been gerrymandered out of having never mattered. it's not as simple as knowing the public supports reproductive rights or ivf, we have a lot of obstacles to consider to navigate to make

sure elected officials and judges represent our viewpoints.— judges represent our viewpoints. judges represent our viewoints. �* ., ., ., viewpoints. we'll have to leave it there, interesting _ viewpoints. we'll have to leave it there, interesting to - viewpoints. we'll have to leave it there, interesting to get - it there, interesting to get your perspective tonight, thank you. your perspective tonight, thank ou. . ~' your perspective tonight, thank ou. . ~ , ., let's turn to some important news around the world. a prosecutor in the us charged two men with murderfor last week's deadly shooting at the super bowl victory parade in kansas city. a woman died and 22 others were injured. police say the men were arguing and that led to the gunfire. they've been identified as dominic miller and lyndell mays. both men were wounded during the incident. republican presidential candidate nikki haley is vowing to remain in the race. speaking to voters in her home state of south carolina, the former governor promised to continue her campaign at least through super tuesday, on march 5. south carolina holds its primary on saturday. polls there show her trailing rival former president donald trump by wide margins, which has fuelled speculation that ms haley might drop out. an appeals court in chile has ordered the re—opening of an investigation into the death of poet pablo neruda. the nobel laureate was a prominent member of chile's communist party when the dictator, augusto pinochet, seized power in 1973.

relatives of the poet said last week that forensic tests had revealed he'd been poisoned while in a hospital for cancer treatment. the wikileaks founder julian assange began his latest attempt to fight his extradition from the uk to the united states. he's wanted in the us for disclosing secret military files more than a decade ago. assange's lawyers accuse the us of "state retaliation" over its bid to prosecute the wikileaks founder. speaking to the bbc earlier, assange's brother gabriel shipton discussed what he sees as the dangers involved with being sent to the us. if he were to be extradited, his life would be at risk and it could lead to his death. there's also a chance that if he is extradited, his prosecution is changed to include the death and altar which exist under the espionage act. there is a very real risk that him being extradited could

lead even to him being executed under the espionage act if his prosecution is looked at again. it's a real risk. his brother also told the bbc that the powder was unable to attend the hearing due to his poor health. if this latest plea by assange's legal team fails, he will have exhausted all appeal routes in the uk and will enter the process of extradition. and before we go, the fab four are making one more appearance on the silver screen — or rather, four appearances to be precise. oscar winning director sam mendes is set to make a series of films about the beatles, each from the perspective of a different band member. it's the first time paul mccartney, ringo starr and the families of john lennon and george harrison have given permission to make a scripted film. mendes says he's honoured to be telling their stories. the movies are due to hit cinemas in 2027.

thank you for watching bbc news. we'll be back at the top of the hello. with the ground saturated across most parts of the uk right now, the prospect of more rain is only going to enhance the risk of flooding over the next few days. and rain it will be, also accompanied by some stronger winds as well. now, rainfall totals for the next two days shows that all of us will see that wetter weather. but it's these darker colours and the bright greens in the west, which shows the highest rainfall totals on the hills — over 50 millimetres — and where it is actually linked into this strip of cloud which stretches all the way from the caribbean towards us, bringing up airfrom the mid—atlantic. so it's again mild air. so even after that initial dip in temperatures, by the start of wednesday morning, it is going to be milder there but a pretty wet, miserable rush hourfor many. driest and brightest weather across orkney and shetland, rain's with you through the afternoon, but it's a day for some of you where the second half of the day is much

better than the first. northern ireland brightening up by lunchtime. bright conditions developing across scotland, northern and western england and wales will stay cloudy. east anglia, the south east and in the channel it will stay pretty wet. a windy day across the board. winds touching gale force. and even though it will be mild on the face of it, 11—13 degrees, it's that wind which will temper the feel. now that first batch of rain gets out of the way, but it still links into some more persistent rain around the english channel through the night and into thursday morning. another batch of pretty lively downpours will work the way in from the west, and that will be dividing line between the milder air that sits there through the night in the southeast and something colder to the north and west with some frost and ice. and that colder air will gradually push its way in as we go through into thursday, pushing across all parts of the uk as rain gradually clears its way eastwards and it'll push us back really to the way february should feel now. it's a mild start for much of england wales, outbreaks of rain heavy at times strong winds developing through the english channel. the rain does edge out of the way british skies

showers will develop and there'll be a mixture of rain, hail and also a bit of sleet and snow over the hills, too, with temperatures by the end of the afternoon in mid to high single figures. cold start to friday as well compared to what we've been used to. but again, it'll be a day of sunshine and showers. some of you have a better chance of staying dry than you will do over the next few days. but when the showers form again, they'll be on the heavy side, quite lively and it will be wintry over the hills just about anywhere. stay with the cooler conditions into the weekend. there will be some dry and bright weather. there'll be a few showers scattered around too. take care.

the us promises more major sanctions on russia. we look at what this could mean for the economy. and — how climate change is hitting the panama canal, exacerbating the supply chain crisis. welcome to asia business report. let's begin in the us, with just announced plans to impose major sanctions on russia. officials say the measure also target a range of items, including sources of revenue for the economy. the move follows the death of prominent russian opposition leader alexei navalny, as the war in ukraine rages on.

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