the idf launched a raid on al—shifa hospital. hamas say the idea for violating international law. the idf is conducting _ violating international law. the idf is conducting a _ violating international law. the idf is conducting a high _ violating international law. the idf is conducting a high precision - is conducting a high precision operation in limited areas of al—shifa following intelligence had demanded immediate action. a bbc investigation has found that many women from malawi working in oman are being abused by their employers. the tiny critters posing a threat to australian wildlife — why the country's senate is tackling fire ants. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we begin in russia, where vladimir putin has vowed to strengthen the armed forces and prioritise what he calls, russia's special military operation in ukraine. he was speaking after a presidential election that was tightly—controlled by the kremlin. it delivered him more than 87% of the vote, and mr putin said the result had demonstrated people's trust in russia's current path.

he said when russians were united, no—one could intimidate or suppress them. as our russia editor steve rosenberg reports, in a rare move, mr putin also mentioned the opposition figure, alexei navalny, by name. for vladimir putin, six more years in the kremlin. russia's president is sounding more confident than ever. translation: whoever might want to intimidate us, - whoever might want to suppress us, our will and our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. then, mr putin's first public comments on the death ofjailed opposition leader alexei navalny. translation: you may be surprised, but a few days before mr navalny - died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west.

you can believe it or not. i said, "i agree," even before he had finished talking. but what happened happened. election results on russian tv, not a hold your breath moment. "the winner, by a mile and a half, vladimir putin." "what an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of putin," he says. "and a powerful signal to the west." but in this race, vladimir putin was, from the start, unbeatable. there were other candidates but no serious challenger. potential rivals here are swiftly removed from the political stage, forced into exile or put in jail. and elections, tightly controlled by the kremlin. but if they couldn't win, mr putin's opponents could at least protest.

and they did, in many parts of russia. opposition figures had called on russians to flood polling stations at midday, to vote against putin, or spoil their ballots, a symbolic protest against the system. we were here. i've never seen queues like this before at a russian polling station. before his death in prison, alexei navalny had backed the protests. it took courage to come. the authorities had warned that large crowds at noon would be viewed as illegal gatherings. ivan, not his real name, told me why he had come. it was important for me to see the faces of other people who would come here today, and to see that i'm not alone in my political views and that there are a lot of muscovites and other people who believe that russia

can be another country, with another future. for now, there'll be no change in the kremlin. this election was never about would vladimir putin win or wouldn't he? elections here are designed to ensure he wins, and wins big. from the outset, for the kremlin, this vote was about creating the impression that mr putin has a mandate from his people, not only for war in ukraine, but also for what he's doing at home, transforming russia into an increasingly militaristic society, in confrontation with the west. but across town, muscovites continue to pay tribute to alexei navalny, the man who had wanted to be russia's president. here, a ballot paper. in place of putin's name, navalny�*s. and this message — "he's the candidate we wanted." steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. oleksandra matviichuk is head of the centre for civil liberties in ukraine and spoke to me earlier.

she told me what she thought of putin's victory speech. it was a very suitable moment for putin to attack ukraine again. our international partners promised to be with us as long as it takes, but it is not secret that military support to ukraine, in the united states it is blocked, and other partners can't help us with artillery shells and ammunition and now we have a lack of weapons for the current moment. it is a brilliant time to attack and to occupy more territories. it is a genocidal war for us, it's a war about our existence. we have no other choice. we will fight because if we stop fighting, there will be no more us. earlier i spoke to vitaly shevchenko the russia editor at bbc monitoring. putin has also received congratulations from iran and north korea, and within russia state television is obviously

celebrating what it calls unprecedented numbers of people who voted for vladimir putin, people who turned out to vote and the reality is we can't really check those numbers because the electoral system in russia is absolutely tightly controlled by the kremlin and there is something that happened electoral exercise worked. one of the other three candidates on the ballot representing a nationalist party, he said he was happy for vladimir putin to win. he said he knew this was going to happen and it was victory. but among the people who don't support vladimir putin's policies, there is a completely different mood. an independent outlet operating from abroad now, they published an article this

morning speaking of helplessness, hopelessness and isolation among the people who oppose vladimir putin and his policies, so this is the kind of russia we are seeing right now. there is of course the late opposition figure alexei navalny who is a spectre of this election, and vladimir putin mentioned him by name. how unusual was that foeradimir putin? very unusual, the first time it has happened, and it makes you wonder about the psychology of power in russia because vladimir putin only uttered the name of his most vocal and popular rival after he died. perhaps it shows how confident putin is, how emboldened he is and how determined he is to continue what he has been doing for more than 20 years now. you used the word emboldened, and he has spoken about ukraine

following this election result. how does ukraine factor into this election? it was central to vladimir putin's platform. he kept talking about how russia is fighting for its survival, how it is surrounded by enemies. the idea that russia needs to wage what vladimir putin calls a special military operation, it was a cornerstone of his platform, it reinforces a feeling of besieged fortress, and of course it also is a distraction from whatever domestic problems russians might face at home. let's look at the middle east now — and our correspondent anna foster is in eastjerusalem. over to you, anna. overnight israel has launched a new raid on gaza's biggest hospital,

that al—shifa hospital, a place where we have seen numerous raids during the war. it is also a working hospital as much as any hospital in gazais hospital as much as any hospital in gaza is working at the moment, there are still medics inside, patients being treated and a lot of people are using the compound for shelter. the idf said they carried out this operation because they said hamas had regrouped after previous raids there and they said hamas was actually operating within the hospital once again. hamas has accused israel of violating international law by targeting the hospital where patients are being treated. let's hearfrom hospital where patients are being treated. let's hear from the hospital where patients are being treated. let's hearfrom the rear admiral. here's idf spokesperson, daniel hagari. following concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action, we know senior hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the al—shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against israel. our targeted mission isn'tjust an operational necessity, it is a global imperative.

our forces have undergone specified training to prepare them for the sensitive environment and complex scenarios they may encounter. our war is against hamas, not against the people of gaza. we seek no harm to the civilians that hamas is hiding behind, which is why we will conduct this operation with caution and care, while ensuring that the hospital continues its important functions. we have heard that 80 people have been detained in hospital. we have also seen _ been detained in hospital. we have also seen the idf's arabic spokesperson posting a map, asking people _ spokesperson posting a map, asking people in_ spokesperson posting a map, asking people in the vicinity of the hospilal— people in the vicinity of the hospital to move to alpha wasi, what has been _ hospital to move to alpha wasi, what has been declared a saison on the

eastern _ has been declared a saison on the eastern coast of gaza but after more than five _ eastern coast of gaza but after more than five months a while, for people to actually— than five months a while, for people to actually move his proving increasingly difficult. let speak to a surgeon — increasingly difficult. let speak to a surgeon from oxford university hospilal— a surgeon from oxford university hospital trust who spent time working — hospital trust who spent time working in hospitals in gaza during the war _ working in hospitals in gaza during the war. thank you forjoining us. really— the war. thank you forjoining us. really appreciate your time. i know you were _ really appreciate your time. i know you were there in new york at the moment, — you were there in new york at the moment, speaking to the un. give us an idea _ moment, speaking to the un. give us an idea of— moment, speaking to the un. give us an idea of your insight into what it is actually— an idea of your insight into what it is actually like in hospitals and gather— is actually like in hospitals and gather at— is actually like in hospitals and gather at the moment. the situation is a- allin: gather at the moment. the situation is appalling there — gather at the moment. the situation is appalling there and _ gather at the moment. the situation is appalling there and the _ is appalling there and the conditions _ is appalling there and the conditions are _ is appalling there and the conditions are appalling. i is appalling there and the i conditions are appalling. i've is appalling there and the - conditions are appalling. i've been working _ conditions are appalling. i've been working in— conditions are appalling. i've been working in garden— conditions are appalling. i've been working in garden hospital- conditions are appalling. i've been working in garden hospital for- working in garden hospital for nearly— working in garden hospital for nearly 15_ working in garden hospital for nearly 15 years _ working in garden hospital for nearly 15 years and _ working in garden hospital for nearly 15 years and operating i working in garden hospital for. nearly 15 years and operating on nearly15 years and operating on many— nearly 15 years and operating on many occasions _ nearly 15 years and operating on many occasions in _ nearly 15 years and operating on many occasions in al—shifa - nearly 15 years and operating on many occasions in al—shifa and i nearly 15 years and operating on - many occasions in al—shifa and other hospitals _ many occasions in al—shifa and other hospitals and — many occasions in al—shifa and other hospitals and even _ many occasions in al—shifa and other hospitals and even in _ many occasions in al—shifa and other hospitals and even in so—called - hospitals and even in so—called normal— hospitals and even in so—called normal or— hospitals and even in so—called normal or quiet— hospitals and even in so—called normal or quiet gaza _ hospitals and even in so—called . normal or quiet gaza pre—october hospitals and even in so—called - normal or quiet gaza pre—october the seventh. _ normal or quiet gaza pre—october the seventh, conditions _ normal or quiet gaza pre—october the seventh, conditions are _ normal or quiet gaza pre—october the seventh, conditions are always - seventh, conditions are always extremely— seventh, conditions are always extremely challenging - seventh, conditions are always extremely challenging but - seventh, conditions are alwaysl extremely challenging but since october— extremely challenging but since october the _ extremely challenging but since october the 7th, _ extremely challenging but since october the 7th, since - extremely challenging but since october the 7th, since the - october the 7th, since the systematic— october the 7th, since the systematic targeting - october the 7th, since the systematic targeting and i systematic targeting and

dismantlement - systematic targeting and dismantlement of- systematic targeting and dismantlement of the i systematic targeting and - dismantlement of the hospital systematic targeting and _ dismantlement of the hospital turned the health— dismantlement of the hospital turned the health care — dismantlement of the hospital turned the health care structure _ dismantlement of the hospital turned the health care structure the - the health care structure the ability— the health care structure the ability to— the health care structure the ability to work— the health care structure the ability to work in _ the health care structure the ability to work in these - the health care structure the - ability to work in these hospitals, the ability— ability to work in these hospitals, the ability to _ ability to work in these hospitals, the ability to anything _ ability to work in these hospitals, the ability to anything remotely. the ability to anything remotely resembling _ the ability to anything remotely resembling proper— the ability to anything remotely resembling proper health - the ability to anything remotely resembling proper health care. the ability to anything remotelyl resembling proper health care is extremely— resembling proper health care is extremely challenging. - resembling proper health care is extremely challenging. i - resembling proper health care is extremely challenging.— resembling proper health care is extremely challenging. i know you are not there _ extremely challenging. i know you are not there at _ extremely challenging. i know you are not there at the _ extremely challenging. i know you are not there at the moment - extremely challenging. i know you are not there at the moment and i are not there at the moment and obviously i wouldn't ask you to comment on the current rate because you're not there, you can't see what is going on, is rotated target hospitals because hamas regularly uses hospital as cover for its fighters. while you have been there, is that something you have ever seen evidence of? blot is that something you have ever seen evidence of?— evidence of? not at all and as you can imagine _ evidence of? not at all and as you can imagine l _ evidence of? not at all and as you can imagine i follow _ evidence of? not at all and as you can imagine i follow this - evidence of? not at all and as you can imagine i follow this very - can imagine i follow this very closely— can imagine i follow this very closely and i do not believe the idf have provided any credible evidence since _ have provided any credible evidence since october the 7th before then that these hospitals were being used as hamas _ that these hospitals were being used as hamas command centres. i've been in al-shifa _ as hamas command centres. i've been in al—shifa hospital on many occasions, spoken to people i've known _ occasions, spoken to people i've known for— occasions, spoken to people i've known for many years who work there and i known for many years who work there and i do _ known for many years who work there and i do not _ known for many years who work there and i do not believe there is any

evidence — and i do not believe there is any evidence to suggest that. when i was working _ evidence to suggest that. when i was working at— evidence to suggest that. when i was working at another hospital over christmas — working at another hospital over christmas and new year during this war, christmas and new year during this war. again — christmas and new year during this war, again there was no evidence at all of— war, again there was no evidence at all of any— war, again there was no evidence at all of any hamas military presence in the _ all of any hamas military presence in the hospital. if they claim this is the _ in the hospital. if they claim this is the case — in the hospital. if they claim this is the case and they need to provide the concrete evidence to suggest that it's — the concrete evidence to suggest that it's a — the concrete evidence to suggest that it's a case and they have failed — that it's a case and they have failed to— that it's a case and they have failed to do so.— that it's a case and they have failed to do so. tell us a bit more about the message _ failed to do so. tell us a bit more about the message you _ failed to do so. tell us a bit more about the message you are - failed to do so. tell us a bit more i about the message you are sending. you are going to be speaking to the un about what you have seen there. what will you be saying to them? i what will you be saying to them? i will be making... i'm going with a couple _ will be making... i'm going with a couple of— will be making... i'm going with a couple of american doctors who spent quite a _ couple of american doctors who spent quite a lot— couple of american doctors who spent quite a lot of time in gaza. we will be describing what we have seen. we will be _ be describing what we have seen. we will be talking particularly about the targeting of health care workers, nearly 500 have been killed now over— workers, nearly 500 have been killed now over 250 have been abducted, the deliberate _ now over 250 have been abducted, the deliberate targeting of the health care infrastructure and the hospital _ care infrastructure and the hospital. you targeting your earlier

report _ hospital. you targeting your earlier report about al—shifa now running as a hospital— report about al—shifa now running as a hospital again. report about al—shifa now running as a hospitalagain. it is, but it report about al—shifa now running as a hospital again. it is, but it has been _ a hospital again. it is, but it has been almost largely disabled after the attack soon after october the 7th, the attack soon after october the 7th. but — the attack soon after october the 7th, but they are now working again but when _ 7th, but they are now working again but when it— 7th, but they are now working again but when it was destroyed three months — but when it was destroyed three months ago, they not only destroyed the buildings, they destroyed all the buildings, they destroyed all the infrastructure, all the scanning units, _ the infrastructure, all the scanning units, the — the infrastructure, all the scanning units, the ct scanners, the mri scanners, — units, the ct scanners, the mri scanners, the oxygen tanks, the oxygen— scanners, the oxygen tanks, the oxygen supplies, the fuel supply. so it is almost— oxygen supplies, the fuel supply. so it is almost impossible for that to be rebuilt — it is almost impossible for that to be rebuilt in order to function as a normal— be rebuilt in order to function as a normal hospital at the moment. so we will be _ normal hospital at the moment. so we will be making these observations extremely clear to the un and i'm going _ extremely clear to the un and i'm going to _ extremely clear to the un and i'm going to washington in two days to meet _ going to washington in two days to meet various members of congress to let them _ meet various members of congress to let them know the truth of what is actually _ let them know the truth of what is actually happening there and to really— actually happening there and to really push the desperately urgent need for— really push the desperately urgent need for a permanent and immediate ceasefire _

need for a permanent and immediate ceasefire. ., ~' , ., need for a permanent and immediate ceasefire. ., ,, , ., ., ., , ceasefire. thank you for “oining us, from oxford — ceasefire. thank you for “oining us, from oxford university _ ceasefire. thank you forjoining us, from oxford university hospital- from oxford university hospital trust. on the point of a ceasefire, a humanitarian ceasefire, israel is sending today a delegation to discuss hamas's latest proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire and hamas wants that to have the ability to become a permanent ceasefire. israel has a different position. they are pushing for the release of some of the more than 100 hostages still being held in side gaza, but it will being held in side gaza, but it will be the first time since before ramadan when it israeli delegation will be present at those talks so there they are happening injohar, brokered between qatar and egypt. also worth noting, —— they are happening in doha. the focus on rafah, where more than half of gaza's population is sheltering, benjamin netanyahu has repeatedly

said in the face of international pressure about the catastrophic potential impact of a ground operation in bradford that he is certain he will go ahead with that. —— rafah. he was meeting olaf scholz who was cautioning about that, moving citizens out of harms way and this is a bit of benjamin button yahoo's statement when he said any israeli ground operation and offensive in rafah would be preceded, he said, by trying to move those displaced civilians to an area of safety. i assured chancellor scholz that our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in rafah goes hand—in—hand with enabling the civilian population to leave rafah. it is not something we will do while keeping the population locked in place. in fact, we will do the very opposite.

we will enable them to leave because our consideration for reducing and minimising civilian casualties has guided us and will continue to guide us in the future. benjamin netanyahu benjamin neta nyahu the benjamin netanyahu the israeli prime minister, important to say that concerns have been raised about how you remove those 1.4 million people who are already being displaced to the south of gaza, the logistics of such an operation and indeed whether people would want to move there, already having been displaced from their homes. more detail to come on that before any potential operation. that is all for nowt from here in eastjerusalem, back to london. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. steve ha rley's best steve harley's best known song make

me smile reach number one in the british out in 1975. he had been forced to cancel promises last year after being diagnosed with cancer. that m25 between junctions ten and 11 is reopened after being closed all weekend to demolish a bridge. the daytime closure of the motorway, one of the country but my busiest stretches, was unprecedented. national highway says the work was finished eight hours ahead of schedule. a fictional starship is landed on 50p coin. the royal mint has unveiled its latest collectible star wars pieces. collectors and fans can enjoy a feature on the coin depicting a silhouette of the millennium falcon. there is also the rebel alliance symbol for all you fans out there. you're live with bbc news. a bbc investigation has revealed extensive abuse of african women working in oman

as domestic servants. dozens of malawian women, who have been lured there by recruiting agents, have told bbc africa eye that they were beaten, raped and treated like prisoners whist working in the gulf country. whilst working in the gulf country. a warning that this report by africa eye's azeezat olaoluwa contains distressing details from the start. ifeel like i'm in prison. please, please, please, madam, please. these videos were recorded by domestic workers in oman. they are all from malawi, one of the world's poorest countries. the women came together in a whatsapp group after being duped by dishonest recruitment agents into going to oman. georgina was promised a lucrativejob in dubai, but instead she found herself in the omani capital, muscat. translation: i was not allowed to rest. - i was waking up at 3am and going to bed at 1am. the most difficult thing that made me desperate to escape was the boss forcing me to have sex with him. it was so painful because i

had no way to say no. he threatened me and said if i shouted he would shoot me. i got badly injured because it wasn't only him. he would bring friends and they would pay him after. in oman alone, there are an estimated 300,000 domestic workers, most of them from africa or asia. ekaterina runs an ngo which supports migrant workers in the gulf. we identify them as victims of trafficking or forced labour or other forms of exploitation.

so we negotiate with their employer for them to be released. the laws that are in place prohibit a domestic worker to leave the employer. she cannot change jobs and she cannot leave the country, no matter how you are treated. woman screams. man shouts. you crazy! please help me out. the malawian government asked ekaterina to help negotiate the release of over 50 women. the body of 23—year—old ida, who had died in uman, was also brought home. the majority of these women have been released because money has been paid to the employer, from $1,000 to $2,000 per person. how can you buy somebody else's freedom?

the malawi government says it has paid over $160,000 for these women to return. oman's labour ministry has told the bbc that it only received one complaint from a malawian domestic worker in the two years to 2023. it said it is prohibited for employers to impose any form of forced labour on workers or to keep their private documents without their written consent. azeezat olaoluwa, bbc news. you can watch bbc africa eye's full film, trapped in oman, on the bbc africa youtube page. the united states has condemned the launching of missile by north korea. it was fired on monday morning just days after military drills. it comes after antony blinken is in so to promote democracy in the region.

a hearing has been held in australia's capital canberra, as part of a senate inquiry examining the threat from invasive fire ants. experts say they pose more of a danger to australia than rabbits, cane toads, foxes, camels, wild dogs and feral cats combined. the ants are native to south america and are thought to have entered australia in shipping containers. our correspondent in sydney, phil mercer, told us more. when these fire ants attack, they do so as a swarm and they use theirjaws to lock onto the victim's skin and they use a stinger or a spike in the abdomen to inject venom into the victims, and they sting multiple times. and the authorities say that these creatures pose a threat notjust to people but to pets, livestock and wildlife. these creatures were first discovered in australia at the port of brisbane in 2001. they have spread throughout

the south—eastern part of queensland state, encroaching now over the border into neighbouring new south wales, and also they have been found at major ports around australia as well. so this federal inquiry in the australian capital canberra looking at ways that these ants are affecting are potentially affecting health, economy, and society. after yet another volcanic eruption, a state of emergency is in force in southern iceland. it's the fourth eruption since december. residents in the small town of grindaveek have been evacuated. the blue lagoon geothermal spa, which is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, has also closed. popular tourist destinations, has also closed. lava flows cut off one road overnight, but they've slowed down since then. this latest eruption is believed to be the most powerful so far.

we wa nt we want to remind you of our lead story, president putin has said he will strengthen the armed forces and prioritise what he calls russia's special military operation in ukraine. he was speaking after a presidential election which delivered him more than 80% of the vote. mr putin said the result had demonstrated people's trust in russia's current path. plenty more on the legitimacy of that election. plenty more on the legitimacy of that election. stay with us here on bbc news. the weather this weekend is going to be changeable, the first half of the week mild and the second half of the week mild and the second half will feel colder, closer to average, but today a lot of dry weather. sunny spells and showers around but as we go through the day it they will tend to ease.

there are one or two showers around, but as we go through the day, they'll tend to ease. and that's because we've got a weather front pushing from the west to the east, weakening all the time, bringing this line of cloud, possibly the odd shower. but for most, it's going to be dry. it will be sunny. the sunshine turning hazy in the west later as rain arrives in northern ireland with strengthening winds, but still temperatures 8 to 16 degrees north to south. then as we head through the evening into overnight, our weather front brings its rain from the west towards the east, fragmenting and turning more showery in nature. as it does so, it's going to be cloudy, it's going to be blustery, and it's going to be another mild night. temperatures, six to about ten degrees. so we start off tomorrow on that cloudy note with some showers. a lot of these pushing over towards the east. we may end up with a band of cloud lingering in the far southeast, but a lot of dry weather following on behind with some sunshine. temperatures will similar in the southeast today, 15 or 16 degrees and still quite mild for the time of year, nine to 12 to 14, quite widely.

now, as we head from tuesday into wednesday, this is the front lingering in the southeast, but it also has another attachment which is pushing northwards and eastwards during the course of wednesday. it's a wave in front. so this forecast could well change. but what it looks like at the moment is we'll have all this cloud and rain across some central and eastern areas pushing away as we go through the course of the day. behind it, what you'll find is brighter skies, some sunshine. but we could hang on to a bit more cloud and some showery outbreaks of rain in the far southeast. temperatures fresher in the north, but still mild as we push further south. then as we head through thursday and into the weekend, look at the isa bars over the next few days, they are squeezed so it's look at the isobars over the next few days, they are squeezed so it's going to be windy at times. we've also got weather fronts drifting through, so we'll see some rain and then the wind changes through the weekend to more of a northerly. so the outlook basically is windy at times. there will be some rain and as that northerly wind comes in, it's going to turn colder with some wintry showers on the tops of the hills.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the business secretary tells conservative mps to stop speculating about ousting rishi sunak — dismissing rumours some tories want the leader of the house of commons to take over as prime minister. councils in england say they're now spending an average of two thirds of their budget on vital services for adults and children.

great britain's most succesful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has told the bbc she's retiring and won't compete in the paris games this summer. conservative party plotters seeking to oust rishi sunak should "stop messing around" and end the "westminster psychodrama", that's according to cabinet minister, kemi badenoch. the business secretary spoke out after widespread speculation about tory mps considering replacing the prime minister with commons leader penny mordaunt in an attempt to avoid a general election disaster. well, ms badenoch was speaking on bbc breakfast — she started by answering questions about conservative party donor frank hester — who has already donated £10 million to the party and it's now reported £5m more in donations to the conservtive party may still be being processed. i've just said that he's apologised for his comments. i think that that should be the end of the matter. i think this endless churning around of exactly when and how much the donations were is a distraction from the work which i am doing here today in coventry, where we're talking

about small businesses and how to make life