is a �*major obstacle to peace�*, as israel vows to push ahead with rafah offensive. benjamin netanyahu, who has all too frequently bowed to the demands of extremists. fist frequently bowed to the demands of extremists. �* . , ~:: ., , ., extremists. at least 60 migrants are feared dead after— extremists. at least 60 migrants are feared dead after an _ extremists. at least 60 migrants are feared dead after an overloaded - feared dead after an overloaded dinghy breaks down trying to reach europe from libya. and an anti—corruption hotline to root out dishonest police officers in britain leads to more than 700 investigations. hello, welcome to verified live, 3 hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. here, the government has set out a new definition of extremism. it's part of its promise to tackle what is says is an �*increased threat�* since the hamas attacks

in israel last october. several groups were named in parliament as possibly facing restrictions under the new definitions. but concerns have been raised that it could be seen as unfair and undemocratic. this has become a regular sight at weekends in our cities, thousands of people taking to the streets in protest at israel's actions in gaza. the current conflict in the middle east has prompted a political debate notjust about the fighting there, but about the impact on community cohesion here. in recent weeks and months, we have seen a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality. in a surprise speech two weeks ago, the prime minister warned that extremists were trying to tear us apart. who exactly are these so—called extremists? well, today the government has published a new definition of extremism. it is described as the promotion

or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and undermine the uk system of democracy and democratic rights, or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to do that. it is the brainchild of the community secretary. michael gove told the commons that groups that fall foul of the term will in effect be blacklisted, excluded from government meetings and funding. we are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief. but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidise or support in any way organisations of individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear. he proceeded to name some of those organisations. the british national socialist movement and patriotic alternative, who promote neo—nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethno state, and the targeting of minority groups for intimidation, are precisely

the types of groups about which we should be concerned and whose activities we will assess against the new definition. he also said some muslim groups gave rise to concern. labour, though, want more. today's statement does not go far enough. regardless of how workable and effective this new definition and centre of excellence is, this announcement will not be enough. and some organisations already feel got at. communities are very concerned at this time as to how the government is going to apply this consistently and equally, given it is not a legal definition but one that they have arbitrary power to choose. all of this is pretty fundamental to our democracy. we expect our politicians to defend people's right to speak out, no matter how unpalatable their views might be, but we also expect them to protect the values that most of us hold dear. those currently in power hope they have struck the right balance.

ilyas ill—yass nag—dee is the racialjustice director for amnesty international uk, hejoins me now. iam i am looking at your press release and you are disguising describing it as a smash and grab on human rights. what is your problem with what michael gove announced today? i think the starting point for this conversation has to be the conversation has to be the conversation about this. we find in our research that the current definition of extremism and captured people who were in trade union organisation or and i is in and around environmentalism. by broadening this definition there is widespread concern that the government is politicising this area of extremism in the year of a general election.—

general election. has it been significantly _ general election. has it been significantly broadened? - general election. has it been l significantly broadened? most organisations say it's not that different to the 2011 definition. the difference as far as we're concerned is that in the year of a general election we are seeing this, what the government has been accused of doing as politicising the concept of doing as politicising the concept of extremism. the introduction and use of, michael gove using parliamentary privilege to name certain groups is incredibly concerning. we think that this is in response to the largely peaceful protests that have been recurring in recent weeks mean that the government is determined to silence those who disagree with their policy. the new definitions today alongside the introduction of new regulations on protests fall in line with the patchwork of legislation that we have seen introduced in

recent years. that we have seen introduced in recent yew-— that we have seen introduced in recent veere— that we have seen introduced in recent ears. a ., ., ., . recent years. michael gove announced a list of initial — recent years. michael gove announced a list of initial groups _ recent years. michael gove announced a list of initial groups that _ recent years. michael gove announced a list of initial groups that they - a list of initial groups that they are going to look at to see whether they go against this definition of extremism. do you agree that there are some groups across the uk that need to be looked at more closely? that there are groups that need to have their taxpayer funding removed if they are found to be extreme as? i think if the government believes that groups have broken the law then there are a whole host of laws in place that they can use to investigate this. there are bodies like the charity commission and others that can investigate this. this new standard of using parliamentary privilege to label groups is simply lowering the evidential standard. this could be extended to other groups in the computer and is concerning —— other groups in the future. what

computer and is concerning -- other groups in the future.— groups in the future. what is amnesty international's - groups in the future. what is amnesty international's view groups in the future. what is i amnesty international's view on whether there has been an upsurge in extremism since october of last year? is that something you recognised and that needs to be tackled? ~ ., ~ , , recognised and that needs to be tackled? ., ~ , , i, ., i, tackled? what amnesty international is particularly — tackled? what amnesty international is particularly concerned _ tackled? what amnesty international is particularly concerned about - tackled? what amnesty international is particularly concerned about is - is particularly concerned about is the rhetoric that we are seeing from the rhetoric that we are seeing from the government, in particular we saw the government, in particular we saw the prime minister's speech outside downing street and the introduction of further anti—protest measures. it looks like the government is set on shrinking the space for dissenting views on the right to protest and is using this moment of community fear to pass these measures, which is deeply cynical and inappropriate. will have to leave it there, thank you very much.

the us senate majority leader, chuck schumer, has called for new elections in israel, saying the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, risked making israel a �*pariah'. senator schumer said it was a �*grave mistake' for israel to reject a two—state solution. the israeli military says it plans the obstacle to peace is benjamin netanyahu. to move nearly 1.5 million displaced palestinians in rafah to what it described as "humanitarian islands" in the middle of the gaza strip. aid agencies have insisted that safely moving such a large number of people in a war zone would be almost impossible and an assault on rafah could prove disastrous.

merlyn thomas from verify has been looking at where israel might try to move the people in rafah. the israeli army has said it plans to move palestinians out of the city of rafah in southern gaza to what it describes as humanitarian islands. it comes ahead of a planned military offensive in rafah, and rafah is at the southern border with egypt. over a million displaced palestinians are currently sheltering there after being forced to leave their homes because of the israeli offensive elsewhere. and this is the satellite image from before in december. look at this road and this area. and this is one from late february. and you can see just how many people are there. tents are everywhere, even on roads. so where will people go from rafah? we don't know. the israeli statement doesn't specify exactly where, but there are already questions of where in the rest of gaza has the infrastructure and buildings still intact to shelter people coming from rafah.

take a look at this map. this is the gaza strip. and this is a map of all of the areas that have been damaged. that's the red patches that you can see. those are areas that have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war. after all, the people who came to rafah came because they were fleeing much more intense bombing in the rest of gaza. one of the most heavily affected areas is khan younis. it's a city in southern gaza, some seven kilometers north of rafah. this is a satellite image from december and this is from february. and you can see how some of those neighborhoods have been completely flattened there. and again, central gaza. again, this is from october and this is from march. and you can see just how extensive that damage is. and getting anywhere in gaza is a huge challenge. there's only one main road from the south to the north that's fully operational right now and that's being used to transport aid. it's the coastal road here, this

orange one called al—rasheed road. so in order to move over a million people out of rafah, safe routes will likely have to be created. israeli military spokesperson daniel hagari has said this planned evacuation of palestinians to so—called humanitarian islands would be carried out in coordination with international actors. but last night us secretary of state antony blinken has said he's not seen any details of an evacuation plan and any evacuation of over a million people will take time. but the plans for how exactly that will happen is unclear. we have just had a statement from the white house saying they cannot confirm whether israel has a plan for evacuating people out of rafah. let's speak to eyal ben—ari, senior fellow at the jerusalem

institute for strategy and security. although this plan has been announced, how logistically could that happen in effectively a war zone? ,., ., that happen in effectively a war zone? , ., ., ., that happen in effectively a war zone? , i, _ zone? good evening. i would say it is a hue zone? good evening. i would say it is a huge logistical— zone? good evening. i would say it is a huge logistical undertaking - zone? good evening. i would say it is a huge logistical undertaking we | is a huge logistical undertaking we are talking at least about two major areas. one would be pushing the civilians in the rafah area towards the coast and up towards the north, towards the southern part of central gaza. that is one possibility. the other is that we have been having consistent reports about egypt creating a humanitarian area just on the border of rafah. in the egyptian

area. the which would be two major areas. but one must realise that the very act of establishing the infrastructure, which includes tents, sewage, running water, public facilities for health government etc. is something that would take months to carry out. that etc. is something that would take months to carry out.— months to carry out. that is interesting _ months to carry out. that is interesting that _ months to carry out. that is interesting that you - months to carry out. that is interesting that you bring i months to carry out. that is | interesting that you bring up months to carry out. that is - interesting that you bring up the matter of timing. with that amount of people and logistics, that will take time. ., �* , of people and logistics, that will take time. ., �*, , ., , , take time. that's right. obviously, certainly in — take time. that's right. obviously, certainly in the _ take time. that's right. obviously, certainly in the gaza _ take time. that's right. obviously, certainly in the gaza area, - take time. that's right. obviously, certainly in the gaza area, to - certainly in the gaza area, to control and establish the infrastructure... as you said before, there are no actual plans that have been published to the general public. we have been told by

israel that the whole campaign will take months to complete. people are talking about 2025 or 2026. this effort will take a long time but does fit with the overall idea of the campaign in gaza.- does fit with the overall idea of the campaign in gaza. what do you think of the — the campaign in gaza. what do you think of the statement _ the campaign in gaza. what do you think of the statement from - the campaign in gaza. what do you think of the statement from the . think of the statement from the white house saying they have no idea of the plans, they are not aware of the plans. it seems there has been more pressure from the white house to find out what is going on, what israel's plans are. at to find out what is going on, what israel's plans are.— israel's plans are. at this stage i a . ree israel's plans are. at this stage i agree completely _ israel's plans are. at this stage i agree completely with _ israel's plans are. at this stage i agree completely with the - israel's plans are. at this stage i agree completely with the idea l israel's plans are. at this stage i i agree completely with the idea that benjamin netanyahu is completely beholden, because of the structure of his collation, to the radicals

and others. knowing him, according to his track record, his holding the cards very close to his chest. based again on precedents, he will perhaps wait for even greater american pressure on israel and coming out with certain plans. we have seen this time and again during this campaign. the us would say, more humanitarian aid. netanyahu prevaricate and then finally capitulate. it is quite a porous institution in israel and so we are getting media reports about humanitarian islands. i don't have any idea about concrete plans. {line

any idea about concrete plans. one ofthe any idea about concrete plans. one of the objectives of the idf is to get rid of any hamas operatives. when you potentially are moving more than 1 when you potentially are moving more than1 million people from one area to another, how do you separate, identify those hamas operatives? how would it do that logistically? this is one of the _ would it do that logistically? in 3 is one of the things that will take time. to create various checkpoints, roadblocks, etc. they would have to check each individual. there are two big worries from the idf point of view. with hamas operatives seeping into the humanitarian islands. the other hand, the idf is worried that the hamas will potentially start to control these islands. dominating or

controlling all the access to food, medicine and so on. just as it has done and is doing in gaza. 0ne medicine and so on. just as it has done and is doing in gaza. one more point which may interest the international audience is that we are hearing in the last month suggestions about creating a governmental or military government, the kind of government through which israel occupied and controlled the west bank and gaza before 2005 and before the oslo accords. in every one of these humanitarian islands you would have a military governor and an apparatus under him. irate you would have a military governor and an apparatus under him. we will have to leave — and an apparatus under him. we will have to leave it _ and an apparatus under him. we will have to leave it there. _ and an apparatus under him. we will have to leave it there. we _ and an apparatus under him. we will have to leave it there. we really - have to leave it there. we really appreciate your time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

a 17—year—old boy's admitted killing a schoolgirl, who was stabbed at a bus stop in south london. 15—year—old elianne andam, was attacked in croydon, in september, on her way to school. during an appearance at the old bailey, the teenager, who can't be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder. the number of middle—aged people dying from cancer in the uk is at a 25—year low, according to new data. a study from cancer research uk found deaths among those aged 35 to 69 have fallen, thanks to screening, better treatments and policies aimed at reducing smoking. labour has set out plans to cap re—sale prices for concert tickets, to crack down on people who buy them to list online, at an inflated cost. sir keir starmer said access to music, art and theatre should not be "at the mercy of ruthless ticket touts". the government says it's already introduced tough enough measures. you're live with bbc news.

a migrant charity says at least 60 people are feared to have died while trying to cross the mediterranean sea on a dinghy. the group were trying to reach italy from libya. 25 people were rescued. with me now is our reporter sofia bettiza. what can you tell us about what might have happened? ihiiiii what can you tell us about what might have happened?- what can you tell us about what might have happened? all of this is an account from _ might have happened? all of this is an account from one _ might have happened? all of this is an account from one ngo. - might have happened? all of this is an account from one ngo. they - might have happened? all of this is| an account from one ngo. they said that last week a group of people set off from libya for italy. after three days the engine broke down. the dinghy capsized. we have spoken to the ngo who have confirmed that those people were adrift for four days, waiting to be rescued, with no food and no water. what happened was horrific. people started to die. after a few days, the ngo spotted

the dinghy, they rescued 25 people and they are all under medical care but they are traumatised. they have told the ngo that one man from senegal lost both his wife and his one baby. they have said that at least 60 people have believed to have died. . ~ least 60 people have believed to have died. ., ,, , ., , least 60 people have believed to have died. . ~' ,. , . politicians and business leaders in haiti continue to negotiate the make up of a transitional council that will govern the caribbean nation after its prime minister ariel henry officially stands down. one of the country's most powerful gang leaders, has rejected the deal, which excludes anyone who has been convicted, indicted, or sanctioned. gangs that control most of the capital port—au—prince launched an armed campaign almost two weeks ago, when they called for the removal of the prime minister. the united nations is evacuating nonessential staff from haiti as the situation there continues to deteriorate.

let's speak to dr christopher sabatini, senior research fellow for latin america, us and the americas programme. thank you forjoining us. how in your estimation can haiti be brought back under some sort of control? it's going to take a number of efforts on multiple fronts. the first is the provisional or transitional council has to be established. but it has to be broadly representative, not of criminal groups. as your introduction said, a number of criminal gang leaders are opposing theirs. they cannot be part of any deal. it has to be representative, but beyond just the usual suspects in haiti. since 1998 effectively, the political class has not undergone any recycling of leadership, as has the business class. the new transitional council

has to include those. the second involves security. that is key. there is a need for a multi lateral security force. there was a force from the united nations, that is not going to be sufficient as their security situation has deteriorated. we have an alliance of gangs that have seized 80% of control of the capital and controlling the major access points out of the capital, ports and the airport. getting assistance and humanitarian assistance and humanitarian assistance is going to require a security force that is much more robust than kenyan police forces and others can provide. it will need probably the united states, europe and other countries being involved, in tandem with this provisional

transition council. irate in tandem with this provisional transition council.— transition council. we should emphasise — transition council. we should emphasise that _ transition council. we should emphasise that the - transition council. we should - emphasise that the humanitarian situation there, there is a civilian population trying to survive. mani; population trying to survive. many are hunkered _ population trying to survive. many are hunkered down _ population trying to survive. many are hunkered down in _ population trying to survive. many are hunkered down in their - population trying to survive. ij�*ia�*iy are hunkered down in their houses, scared to laze, leave. there are more than 300,000 people who have been displaced. there is a huge humanitarian disaster looming. there are stories of malnutrition and hunger already. humanitarian assistance... haiti doesn't provide much of its own food. food needs to be delivered quickly, but that requires a security force that can deliver it outside of the capital. we have to leave it there. thank you very much. a hotline inviting people to call in with complaints of corruption

in britain's largest police force — has led to more than 700 investigations. more than 3000 calls were made to london's met police force's anti—corruption hotline in the 18 months since it was set up. the figures have been revealed as the police anti—corruption and abuse reporting service rolls out nationally. let's speak to zoe billingham — who has spent much of her career inspecting public services to promote improvement, and is a former chief inspector of constabulary thank you forjoining us. what happens when people ring this hotline? it happens when people ring this hotline? , .., ., , hotline? it is confidential, it is beini hotline? it is confidential, it is being run _ hotline? it is confidential, it is being run by — hotline? it is confidential, it is being run by crimestoppers. i hotline? it is confidential, it is - being run by crimestoppers. people can bring in anonymously. women out there who have lost trust in the police, who know of inappropriate behaviour by a police officer can report into this hotline in safety and security, knowing there is going

to be no retribution. that is what this is about. we saw in the wake of the murder of sarah everard and the atrocities of david carrick, nearly 3000 calls were made to a similar hotline. this is being rolled out nationally. that is really important. the issues we found in the metropolitan police, that will be replicated in otherforces the metropolitan police, that will be replicated in other forces across the country. this is not a metropolitan police problem. it is great this hotline is out there and that the police service in england and wales shows that it means business about rooting out corrupt and rogue officers. doers business about rooting out corrupt and rogue officers.— business about rooting out corrupt and rogue officers. does the police have the infrastructure _ and rogue officers. does the police have the infrastructure to - and rogue officers. does the police have the infrastructure to manage | have the infrastructure to manage these investigations, there are hundreds of people being reported. in the setting up of a new process like this, every single force in the country will have looked how to

respond. it is all very well to encourage people... they then need to do something with the information. in the metropolitan police, the commissioner has vetted 500 posts into counter corruption measures so that when someone rings in, action can be taken. that will be being replicated across england and wales. the heads of the police leading bodies have committed to providing resources to make sure that public trust can be restored because rogue officers are rooted out. �* , ., because rogue officers are rooted out. �* , , , because rogue officers are rooted out. , ,, _ , out. are you surprised by the number of calls? in — out. are you surprised by the number of calls? in the _ out. are you surprised by the number of calls? in the metropolitan - out. are you surprised by the number of calls? in the metropolitan police . of calls? in the metropolitan police i was astonished _ of calls? in the metropolitan police i was astonished at _ of calls? in the metropolitan police i was astonished at the _ of calls? in the metropolitan police i was astonished at the number - of calls? in the metropolitan police i was astonished at the number ofl i was astonished at the number of police officers... as a result of the calls that have come in from

members of the public. there are over 1000 officers suspended on restricted duties or suspended and being investigated. we know there are three police officers or staff in the metropolitan police in our courts every single week being charged with criminal offences. the scale of police corruption, the scale of police corruption, the scale of police corruption, the scale of rogue officers is intense. i don't expect it will be as intense across the rest of the forces, there are 42 much smaller forces, we will almost certainly see a another surge in police corruption cases coming into the public domain, rightly officers being rooted out. it will take time for policing to work through that.— take time for policing to work throu:h that. . ~' ,. ,., . take time for policing to work throu:h that. . ~ ,, . ., through that. thank you so much for that. just want _

through that. thank you so much for that. just want to _ through that. thank you so much for that. just want to bring _ through that. thank you so much for that. just want to bring it _ through that. thank you so much for that. just want to bring it some - that. just want to bring it some breaking news that has just come into us here. this is that the singer vibes cartel won his appeal in court. this is over his murder conviction over a decade day. he collaborated with performance like rhianna. he won his appeal in a london court regarding a decade old conviction. hello. you may have noticed things feeling a little milder out there today. certainly temperatures have been on the rise, but we're paying for it because it's another fairly cloudy day for many

of us with outbreaks of rain, too. this is the picture in bedfordshire. we have had some spells of hazy sunshine in the south and the east, but really through the rest of today, showery rain affecting much of the uk. but it is certainly feeling mild, particularly in the south. that's down to the fact that we've got the air coming in from the southwest, this warm front sitting across parts of scotland in particular. a cold front does follow on behind, so something a little cooler and showery later in the day, particularly out towards the west. but we could see 16, possibly 17 degrees in the warmest spots across parts of eastern england, butjust single figures across scotland. and that's because we're sitting in the slightly cooler air and more persistent rain here across central scotland. some patchy rain for northern ireland, northern england and wales just drifting slowly eastwards as we head through the evening hours. so you may well catch a shower almost anywhere through this evening and overnight as well. the next band of showery rain moving into the south—west for the early hours of friday. for most of us, it's a mild night, certainly frost free, but a little bit chillier across central and northern parts of scotland first thing tomorrow.

so we've still got that more persistent rain across scotland. nothing particularly heavy, and it'll turn to snow for a time, just on top of the highest peaks. should tend to dry up a little bit tomorrow for northern ireland into wales, the south—west as well. so some sunnier spells, still a few scattered showers elsewhere working their way eastwards on that breeze. and top temperatures, 15, possibly 16 degrees, so a degree or so down on what we've got out there today. but friday night now we're looking at heading into saturday morning, it's quite a cold night, particularly in the north. certainly a chance of some frost around here. could be some mist and fog patches for parts of southern and eastern england, for instance, as well. more cloud on saturday, than starts to work in from the south—west. so we'll see some showers, potentially northern ireland, wales and south—west of england, whereas further north and east you're more likely to stay dry through the day. and temperatures for most of us, ranging between around six in lerwick to 13 in norwich. heading through the second half of the weekend, then, into sunday, this frontal system makes its way further east. so, yes, it will bring a spell of rain around. it could be lingering for some eastern areas first thing on sunday. but then it does look like we see a return to sunny spells and a few

scattered showers moving in on that breeze. not a bad day, actually, for many of us.