cyprus's larnaca port for gaza. the bbc sees evidence that staff at nasser hospital in gaza were mistreated by israeli forces — we will bring you a special report. the prime minister of haiti, ariel henry, resigns as gang violence plunges the country into chaos. as sweden officiallyjoins nato — we visit the arctic circle to see what this new addition will mean for the alliance. one of the conservative party's biggest donors has been accused of making racist remarks about the mp, diane abbott. # . diane abbott. # ~ _ dianeabbott. and the american singer—songwriter, eric carmen. known for the hit single �*all by myself�* has died at the age of 7a.

for the first time since itjoined nato, the swedish flag has been raised at nato headquarters. they've been taking part in the largest military exercise since the cold war, amidst warnings of a new threat to europe from russia following its full scale invasion from damning of ukraine. jonathan beale reports from the arctic circle. nato says it's a bulwark for peace. but it's preparing for war. this, just part of its massive military exercise taking place right across europe. and with newest members sweden and finland in no doubt as to why theyjoined. being alone against russia is like, why take that risk when you canjoin nato? i personally feel a lot safer because now we have allies to depend on. in this scenario, they've come to defend northern norway after it's been invaded.

they're not calling the enemy russia, but it is a near neighbour. the aim of this exercise is to demonstrate how nato would come to the aid of an ally under attack. it is the very principle of the alliance — an attack on one is an attack on all. butjust how likely is that? no—one�*s saying the threat is imminent — russia's preoccupied with its war in ukraine — but it is moscow's aggression that's sounding the alarm. the important thing is, it's not if they will reinforce themselves, it's how long will it take? you're sure russia is a threat? i'm sure that russia is the threat, yes. and that we need to become even stronger as an allied country in the upcoming five and ten years. it's those living closest who are most aware of the threat. the country's now boosting defence spending, but also mentally preparing themselves for war.

both finland and norway share a border with russia... ..and they've already strengthened their defences with a citizen army — teachers, nurses and carpenters who are also part—time soldiers. these are members of norway's home guard, but it's no dad's army — most are young and ready to fight. you know, in world war two, this county was burned down — the whole county. so my grandparents, everyone, they had to flee. and, yes, if that's my option — just stay here and fight and do something i'm trained for, i'd rather stay here and fight, yeah. i look at the newspaper more often now than i did before just to see if there's something — something that's happened, or... yeah, especially with russia. for these nordic allies, it is now strength in numbers. but for russia, it's the mother of all unintended consequences —

more nato on its border. jonathan beale, bbc news, the arctic circle. the un secretary—general has again called for a ramadan ceasefire in sudan. it's suffering from the biggest displacement crisis in the world, and aid agencies warn it risks becoming the world's largest hunger crisis. reports say a top general in sudan's army rejected a ramadan ceasefire — unless the rival rsf paramilitary group leaves civilian and public sites. us officials are pushing to open more land routes for aid from chad — the army had closed access points, saying the rsf was using it to transport weapons, and has only re—opened one. the fighting there must end for the sake of the sudanese people who face hunger, horrors and untold hardships. in gaza, in sudan and beyond,

it's time for peace. i call on political, religious and community leaders everywhere to do everything in their power to make this holy period a time for empathy, action and peace. earlier we spoke to michael dunford, the world food programme's regional director for eastern africa. he told us about the severity of the situation in sudan. we have an extraordinary problem on our hands in sudan at the moment, not only inside the country, but also across the region. 8.4 million people displaced inside, another 1.9 million refugees escaping into places like chad and south sudan, countries that don't really have the capacity to meet their needs. the international community must put pressure on all parties to the conflict, to ceasefire, as we've just heard to the conflict to ceasefire, as we've just heard from the secretary general. it's essential that we have a cease fire which would allow humanitarian organisations such as the world food programme to scale up our operations massively. and that is the only thing

that is going to provide any ability to prevent the hunger crisis that is looming as we speak. we're all coming up next month to the one year anniversary of the start of the conflict and all of the efforts to try and impose or agree a ceasefire or to allow the humanitarian access thus far have not succeeded. but we can't give up hope. we need to continue to put pressure and we need key members of the security council and others to ensure that progress is being made because without an end to the conflict. an end to the conflict, we are facing a devastating catastrophe in sudan. one of the conservative party's biggest donors has been accused of making racist remarks about the mp, diane abbott. frank hester has accepted that he was rude — but insisted his comments, made in 2019, had nothing to do with ms abbott's gender or skin colour. here is our chief political correspondent with more. frank

esther runs _ correspondent with more. frank esther runs a _ correspondent with more. frank esther runs a software - correspondent with more. frank| esther runs a software company, correspondent with more. f�*a'ia; esther runs a software company, and is one of the conservative party's biggest donors. just last year, he gave the party £10 million, 5 million himself and £5 million through his company. it was at a meeting of that company back in 2019 where the guardian alleges he was talking about an executive from a rival firm and then went on to say that this, "it is like trying not to be racist, but you see diane abbott on the tv and you just want to hate all black woman because she is there, and i don't hate all black women at all, but i think she should be shot. " it is important to say that the bbc has not verified these remarks, that mr hester responded saying that he accepts he was rude about diane abbott in a private meeting several years ago, but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender or colour of skin. also it is

worth us noting that his team say that that response, that apology of sorts, is not a confirmation that he made the comments as quoted by the guardian. there is already a big row over missing westminster stop just moments after the guardian's report 15, wes streeting, the shadow health secretary, stood up in the house of commons and said the comments were revolting, racist and —— inciteful. the tories have repeated the claim that the comments had nothing to do with diane abbott's gender or colour of skin. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. this is kathleen's last virtual world checkup. she has been recuperating at home after a hospital admission.- recuperating at home after a hospital admission. they are polite

and efficient _ hospital admission. they are polite and efficient and _ hospital admission. they are polite and efficient and they _ hospital admission. they are polite and efficient and they listen. - hospital admission. they are polite and efficient and they listen. if - and efficient and they listen. if they say it will be a visit, it is a visit. if they say no visit tomorrow, but it will be a phone call, a phone call.— tomorrow, but it will be a phone call, a phone call. she's going to do her assessment... _ call, a phone call. she's going to do her assessment... the - call, a phone call. she's going to do her assessment... the idea i call, a phone call. she's going toj do her assessment... the idea is sim - le do her assessment... the idea is simple enough- _ do her assessment... the idea is simple enough. patients - do her assessment... the idea is simple enough. patients can - do her assessment... the idea is. simple enough. patients can leave hospital and go home sooner. their care uses a mix of technology and home visits. it frees up hospital beds, and patients prefer it. we don't beds, and patients prefer it. - don't often talk about the side—effects of being in hospital and the implications of that. it is hugely disruptive for people, it is noisy, it is not a great place for people to recover, and there are also problems with infections. overall, this is a really good initiative in the nhs. for more stories across _ initiative in the nhs. for more stories across the _ initiative in the nhs. for more stories across the uk, - initiative in the nhs. for more stories across the uk, had - initiative in the nhs. for more stories across the uk, had to i initiative in the nhs. for more i stories across the uk, had to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news.

joe biden has posted a new budget. it offers a contrast with donald trump's vision. here's more from michele trump's vision. here's more from michel , , �* ., , michele present biden outlined his residential your _ michele present biden outlined his residential your budget _ michele present biden outlined his residential your budget pitch. - michele present biden outlined his residential your budget pitch. it. residential your budget pitch. it includes higher taxes on the... wealthy. as well as eight for israel. if it became law, it was a 3 trillion —— seven $.3 trillion. it would also push debt over 100% of gdp. by contrast, donald trump's economic vision is for more tariffs, pump more oil, and more... present biden is trying to win over american is unhappy with the economy. although this budget proposal has little chance of being approved by

congress, it is a blueprint of what the future could hold if the democrats win in november. the value of bitcoin has reached an all—time high. now, the uk's financial watchdog says it will loosen some of the rules. for the last two years, lines charting the value of bitcoin have mostly been in one direction. but in the last few weeks it's all changed. now this virtual currency is hitting new all time highs. the reason? well, it's mostly down to this place. injanuary, traders from us investment giants were given the green light by us watchdogs to start selling products linked directly to bitcoin. as a result, they've spent billions buying up coins. further stoking the fire, today, uk financial authorities say

they too are open to allowing some trading based on crypto assets. some are now wondering just how far this virtual currency can go. some people think that the potential of bitcoin is to replace all other currencies and there are shops and restaurants like this one in london that accept bitcoin. ijust bought this £7 burger, for example, which was 0.00009 bitcoin. but the way prices are going now, who knows what it'll be worth tomorrow? i don't think we're going to see bitcoin becoming a genuine currency, but i think we're seeing it become as a recognised and potentially widely used investment asset. people buying it to save for the longer term and to benefit from the price rises. bitcoin was created by an anonymous internet user in 2009 to make sending money as easy as sending an email, all without needing any financial institutions. bitcoin transactions are processed by a huge network of volunteers who use computers to check transactions as a reward. who use computers to

check transactions. as a reward, they're automatically given new coins. right now, the demand for those coins seems to be higher than ever, and many bitcoin fans are celebrating their new—found riches. others, though, are wondering with caution which way the notoriously unpredictable line will go next. joe tidy, bbc news. the prime minister of haiti, a real henry has called for calm after announcing his resignation. in the last few minutes, he has said that haiti wants peace, need sustainability and sustainable development and to rebuild democratic institutions. he says he is asking all haitians to remain calm and ask for peace and stability to come back as soon as possible. let's speak tojean—martin bauer, world food programme

country director for haiti. he isjoining us from the capital port au prince. can you tell us how bad the humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti? i humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti?— humanitarian situation is at the moment in haiti? i need to clarify that i am moment in haiti? i need to clarify that i am in _ moment in haiti? i need to clarify that i am in the _ moment in haiti? i need to clarify that i am in the second _ moment in haiti? i need to clarify that i am in the second city, - that i am in the second city, about 150 kilometres from port—au—prince. the situation in port—au—prince and got quite dramatic, with the city being surrounded by groups and arms. in the port itself, it was looted a few days ago. it is impossible to get in and out of port—au—prince at this time. there has been an upsurge in violence, leading to massive population displacement. i'm quite concerned about the humanitarian climate in port—au—prince. what concerned about the humanitarian climate in port-au-prince. what kind of work is wfp _ climate in port-au-prince. what kind of work is wfp able _ climate in port-au-prince. what kind of work is wfp able to _ climate in port-au-prince. what kind of work is wfp able to do? _ climate in port-au-prince. what kind of work is wfp able to do? were - of work is wfp able to do? were doinu of work is wfp able to do? were doing everything _ of work is wfp able to do? were doing everything we _ of work is wfp able to do? -- doing everything we possibly can in relation with the options we have on hand. we have been deploying a hot meal service to people who have had to flee their homes when these armed

groups attacked specific neighbourhoods. they will tend to burn the house as a residence so that they never come back. we are dealing in port—au—prince alone with more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes with nothing but the shirts on the back. inaudible the violence is also affected parts of haiti, it has been nationwide, and we're trying make sure that our programmes remain running. we've been able to provide support for about 160,000 school meal programmes. the programme has very short supply change. we don't have issues with bottlenecks and structure such as the port run routes. that is making it possible for us to continue these programmes. we fed about 152,000 haitians. white

pledges is not an issue with security? gang violence is rife. there is a tight correlation between both, because hunger invites humanitarian... it impacts farming, and has impacts on people's ability to buy food they require. all of these factors have been undermined, and i'm quite worried about what comes next. we need is a return to security, we need stability, we need humanitarian access, and we also need more donors to step up to fund this. we've talked about how important it is to have security in haiti. people do not know it is grossly underfunded. the united

nations security plan for haiti was only 35% funded last that is not enough. we need people to step up now. �* enough. we need people to step up now. ~ . , , ., , ., now. and the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional— now. and the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional $150 _ now. and the caribbean summit on the crisis, an additional $150 million - crisis, an additional $150 million was announced for a un backed force to aid the country. how quickly do you think that will get to you, and will be enough? than? you think that will get to you, and will be enough? you think that will get to you, and will be enou~h? �* , ., ., . , will be enough? any announcement is welcome. will be enough? any announcement is welcome- the — will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue _ will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue is _ will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue is that _ will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue is that we - will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue is that we have i will be enough? any announcement is welcome. the issue is that we have a | welcome. the issue is that we have a humanitarian response plan that is $674 humanitarian response plan that is $671; million for this year, so we're going to need much more support. in the case of haiti, it is not about guns or security versus food, we just need more sustained support to be able to make a difference we are quite concerned that we will not be able to sustain it unless we get donations in the next few days stop donations in the next few days stop do you think there are resignation of a real henry and his call for

calm will make a difference to the situation there? irate calm will make a difference to the situation there?— situation there? we are very security conscious _ situation there? we are very security conscious at - situation there? we are very security conscious at their i situation there? we are very - security conscious at their world food programme. we make sure that we do distribution, they are done in a way that secure communities themselves. we are looking at developments. the night seems to have been calm in port—au—prince. we are watching and being cautious at present. are watching and being cautious at resent. ., ~' , ., , are watching and being cautious at resent. ., ,, , ., , . let's get some of the other news of the day now. a former boeing employee who raised concerns about the company's standards has been found dead in the us. he was giving evidence against boeing in the days before his death. it was said he died from a self—inflicted wound. police are investigating full stop donald trump has criticised a bill

that could ban the use of tiktok in the us. he says such a move would give an unfair advantage to facebook owner meta. lawmakers are set to vote on a bill this week that would... air b&bs says it will ban most indoor security cameras in the property it lists. it follows complaints that they would be found in areas where guests would expect privacy. the new policy comes into effect at the end of april. french experts and fired x—rays at a violent, hoping to find the secret to its sound. the aim was to create

a 3d model of the violin, both to conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully. irate conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully.— conserve it and to understand why play so beautifully. we know much more about _ play so beautifully. we know much more about the _ play so beautifully. we know much more about the health _ play so beautifully. we know much more about the health of - play so beautifully. we know much more about the health of the - more about the health of the instrument, this for us was very important, because paganini himself said, " i leave my violin to the city of genoa that it be perpetually preserved. that was part of his will. now we are better able to understand the instrument and better able to conserve the instrument. while we have been on air, we have been watching the ship that left larnaca in cyprus. details of that story on a website. it is taking is 200 tonnes of food to jazz up from cyprus and a pilot project that is open up a new sea route of aid to gaza, which is on the brink of

famine. now, what do morecambe and wise, frank sinatra and the beatles all have in common? they've all performed in blackpool — and this week the town's illustrious history of entertainment is being celebrated with a new multi—million pound attraction. the museum, called show town, will open to the public on friday — but our arts correspondent david sillito has been given a sneak preview of what's on offer. # every year when - summer comes round. # off to the sea i go. # i don't care... hello and welcome to blackpool. yes — welcome to blackpool, and showtown... hello, sir. # with me little stick of blackpool rock! - ..a new multi—million—pound attraction telling the story of blackpool's place in the history of entertainment. where's charlie cairoli? he's here. # i'm leaning on a lamp post at that corner of the street, in case... the girls took me round somewhere. i think it's round this way. is it? i think it's round this way.

oh, right. oh, here we go! and i invited a blackpool connoisseur to test it out... you're enjoying this, aren't you? i really am! it's, er... it's fantastic, really is. it's round here — oh, here you go. go on, do a bit of the buddy holly! i love him doing this. go on, do buddy holly! ..syd little of little and large. born in blackpool... # peggy sue... ..and, in the �*70s and �*80s, top of the bill. 1979. wow. your heyday. two shows a day — look at that — 6:10 and 8:50. you were doing two shows a day? yeah, yeah. how many days a week? six days a week. that's what you did. and then you got sunday off? no — you went to scarborough or somewhere like that and did a one—night show. you were working seven days a week, two shows a day? seven days a week, yeah. that was always the go in the �*60s. ali bongo, norman wisdom! frank carson — look at that. # oh, there's no business... and sid knows his stuff. he really has... there you are — charlie cairoli. look at that. ..met everyone, beginning

with the town's most famous clown. charlie cairoli is a legend, you know? so you played with the cairolis? yes! keith harris and orville. he hated... he hated that green duck. they always hate the thing that made them famous. it's amazing — you know... he hated the duck? he didn't like the duck, no, no. and that was just the beginning. victoria wood — she was our guest on our radio show. even vic and bob. we actually did their tv show. everybody that was anybody played blackpool. however, blackpool these days isn't quite what it was. it is a familiar story in seaside towns of britain, but this is a chance to remember what made this place great when it really was, for millions, the home of entertainment. there is such a lot to celebrate in blackpool, and we're - here to do just that. it's not the richest of towns now. this is a reminder of just how extraordinary

the place is, isn't it? i think that's really fair to say. yeah, blackpool is quite easily knocked, to be honest. - it is a town that is well worn, well used, and in real need i of additional development. look — stan laurel�*s hat. orville and his silver disc. and, of course, strictly! so how many shows are we talking about in the �*60s, �*70s? oh, you had 25 shows... so 25 venues? venues, yeah, yeah. but that's not 25 shows, though. no — sometimes they had multiple shows a day. i mean, that's thousands and thousands of people, isn't it? absolutely. more than the west end in london. oh, bigger than the west end? yeah, yeah. so that you could have more bums on seats in blackpool per day than you could at the west end in london. newsreel: after dark, - lancashire's favourite resort becomes a blackpool of light. it's the illuminations — _ and everybody's welcome who prefers the blackpool prom to the albert halt _ absolutely everyone seems to have played blackpool. we've got the beatles, frank sinatra, lady gaga, cilla...

sweep squeaks. oh, sooty and sweep, of course. because... what's that? yeah, you're proper blackpool talent. sweep squeaks. you're from blackpool? sweep squeaks. 19...? 1948?! sweep squeaks. so this is your 75th anniversary year? sweep squeaks. ah, you're looking... well, you're looking pretty good, actually, for being 75 years old. sweep squeaks. sweep squeak—sings. # oh, i do like to be beside the seaside! and syd... you're enjoying this, aren't you? iblinkin' am! it's miles better than i thought it would be. ..he didn't want to leave. yeah, really is. david sillito... sweep squeaks. ..bbc news... sweep squeaks. blackpool. sweep squeaks. time for the weather with carol.

hello again. today's turning out to be fairly cloudy and also wet, the heaviest rain across england and wales, and that will be quite slow to clear. and as we go through this week, although it's turning milder, there will be spells of rain. now, if we take a look at the rainfall accumulation chart, you can see the key is here. we've got a lot of dark blues in the chart, meaning 20 to 30 millimetres of rainfall. but locally we've got the bright greens, which is even more than that, and it's falling an already saturated ground, exacerbating the risk of localised flooding. so a lot of cloud on the cards today. for most of us it's been producing some rain. but even as the rain pushes steadily eastwards behind it will have a legacy of cloud, murky, dank conditions, hill and coastal mist and fog. the brightest skies with some sunshine will be across the far north of scotland. temperature wise, seven in lerwick to 13 in belfast, birmingham, london and plymouth. now as we go through the evening and overnight, we start off on a largely dry note, but we've got two weather fronts. here's the first one pushing eastwards, taking some rain. here's the second one moving south—eastwards, bringing heavier rain across scotland and northern

ireland, eventually into the far north of northern england. the wind picking up behind it, but a very mild night ahead of it. so tomorrow we start off with this rain again, slowly sinking southwards. there will still be a fair bit of cloud ahead of it, but we'll see some breaks in the cloud tomorrow with some sunshine. whereas for scotland and northern ireland it's going to be windy with sunshine and showers, gales across the far north, temperatures 8 to 15 degrees. but in the sunshine in the south—east, we might see a little bit higher than that. wednesday night into thursday, our weather front retreats northwards once again taking its rain with it. there's another one coming in from the atlantic as well. so thursday is looking fairly cloudy, wet as the rain moves northwards. showery rain coming in from the west pushing eastwards. these are the temperatures — eight to about 16 degrees north to south. again, in any breaks in that cloud, we might see a little bit higher. and that's illustrated here. we've got this south—westerly wind coming in across much of the country, but note how we've got more of a north—westerly

in the far north. so here temperatures will dip temporarily. so the outlook remains unsettled with rain or showers.

live from jerusalem, this is bbc news.

the bbc sees evidence that staff at nasser hospital in gaza were mistreated by israeli forces — we will bring you a special report. a ship loaded with 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid has left cyprus's larnaca port for gaza. also on the programme... hately's prime minister _ also on the programme... hately's prime minister ariel _ also on the programme... hately's prime minister ariel henry - also on the programme... hately's prime minister ariel henry resigns| prime minister ariel henry resigns and calls for calm after gang violence plunge the country into chaos. and american singer—songwriter eric carmen, known for their hit single all by myself, has died. hello, i'm anna foster. you are live with bbc news. i am here injerusalem, where we start with a special report. the bbc has seen evidence that doctors, nurses and other hospital staff were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital medical

duties when israeli forces overran the nasser hospital in gaza last month.