welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. in recent days, there's been growing concern and speculation over how catherine, the princess of wales, is following her abdominal surgery. now, new video shows her smiling on a shopping trip with her husband prince william, in windsor. kensington palace has confirmed the footage taken by a member of the public and published by the sun, is genuine. the images were published just over a week after the princess admitted editing an official portrait of her with her children. she has been out of the public eye since christmas. today, the prince of wales was back at work visiting housing initiatives in sheffield to promote his project to tackle homelessness. here's our royal correspondent daniela relph. calming the noise of social media

conspiracies, orjust fuelling them the first pictures of the princess of wales since her surgery, out shopping at the weekend with her husband at windsorfarm shop. it seems her recovery is going well — but still the rumours persist. spin around that one. got it. the safety of a selfie — royal photos have been a tricky issue recently. today prince william was in sheffield, trying to shift the focus onto the more serious side of public duty. you think a lot of people think, give people a house and it's fixed? it's not been taken care of very well outdoors. he met supporters of homewards, his project to end homelessness in six areas of the uk. how are you? nice to meet you. he is one of the most famous people on the planet, and a lot of people might say,

"surely a prince won't care "about an issue like homelessness, or a lack of access to housing, "because he may not have directly experienced that." but i somewhat feel that is even more impressive about it, not having that direct experience but still understanding that so many people are suffering. there was also chat about the challenges faced by young families, an area the princess of wales has worked on, something her husband mentioned. containing all the speculation is impossible for the team around the prince and princess of wales. the footage from the farm shop will dampen some of the more outlandish theories, but things will not feel anything like normal again until the princess of wales returns to the routine of royal duty after easter. the rumours and gossip were off the agenda today, replaced perhaps by a sense of relief.

that a regular royal engagement went off smoothly amidst speculation that won't quite go away. daniella relph, bbc news, sheffield. let's speak to stephen bates now — he's a former royal correspondent for the guardian, and author of the book royal inc: britian�*s best—known brand. good to talk to you, thanks for joining us. so what do you make of this? a lot of people are saying, "look, ultimately this hasn't been handled very well by the royal family's press, pr people."i handled very well by the royal family's press, pr people." i guess ou could family's press, pr people." i guess you could say _ family's press, pr people." i guess you could say that, _ family's press, pr people." i guess you could say that, almost - family's press, pr people." i guess| you could say that, almost anything that happens to the royal family has bear traps attached to it. the original problem of this likely manipulated photograph of princess catherine and her children struck me at the time and since as a pretty minor problem. all royals throughout

the centuries have manipulated their public images, and this was a pretty minor example of that. but of course, in the age of social media, it set all sorts of hairs running. and the absence of the princess for the last 2—3 months has allowed a lot of speculation to come to the surface. so it's been good she's been seeking out and about, and i'm sure that the palace won't object to the fact of her and prince william being photographed at a farm shop. but given all the speculation and the fact that there is a vacuum in terms of what the princess was doing from christmas till now, why do you think the palace decided to release a photo that had been clearly doctored then killed by five of the

big news organisations is like ultimately that is a mistake, surely? ultimately that is a mistake, surel ? , ~ �* , ultimately that is a mistake, surel ? , ~ �*, ., surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think— surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think it _ surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think it was _ surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think it was a _ surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think it was a pretty - surely? yes, i think it's a mistake, but i think it was a pretty minor i but i think it was a pretty minor one on a scale of events. i think the federal agencies now are ultrasensitive and cautious about photographs from bitter experience. i think that the moving, for instance, of the sleeve or a positioning the hand... manipulate there images to all the time. but surel it's there images to all the time. but surely it's a _ there images to all the time. but surely it's a trust issue, isn't it, between the royals in the press, and indeed the public in the royals? yes, i guess you could call it a trust issue, but it's something pretty minor in the overall scale, it seems, and i think the problem

where it has arisen has been over the fact that the royals trying to be more public about what was going on in revealing that the princess was going into hospitalfor an abdominal examination and operation rather gave the game away. and you can't, as are royal, be a little bit open". can't, as are royal, be a little bit oen... . �* , can't, as are royal, be a little bit oen... ,�* can't, as are royal, be a little bit oen... n �*, open... that's it, isn't it? it's how much — open... that's it, isn't it? it's how much information - open... that's it, isn't it? it's how much information you i open... that's it, isn't it? it's. how much information you give open... that's it, isn't it? it's- how much information you give to fill that vacuum? looking at these pictures taken by a member of the public — these aren't the official pictures, they are taken by someone from the press — however kensington palace allowed the sun to publish these pictures, they would've given these pictures, they would've given the go—ahead to the sun to do that, because i guess they want to quell any further speculation. but why not do it in an official way, why you do it this way? itjust do it in an official way, why you do it this way? it just feels, do it in an official way, why you do it this way? itjust feels, i don't know, it could've been handled

better. ~ ., �*, know, it could've been handled better. ~ . �*, ., better. well, that's always true! you may know _ better. well, that's always true! you may know better— better. well, that's always true! you may know better than - better. well, that's always true! you may know better than i - better. well, that's always true! you may know better than i do, | better. well, that's always true! i you may know better than i do, but better. well, that's always true! - you may know better than i do, but i very much doubt a member of the public sought the position of buckingham palace... but i'm assuming _ buckingham palace... but i'm assuming the _ buckingham palace... but i'm assuming the sun _ buckingham palace... but i'm assuming the sun would've i buckingham palace... but i'm - assuming the sun would've sought the permission. assuming the sun would've sought the ermission. , ._ assuming the sun would've sought the ermission. , , ., assuming the sun would've sought the ermission. , ._ ., ., ,~ permission. they may have asked about whether _ permission. they may have asked about whether this _ permission. they may have asked about whether this event - permission. they may have asked about whether this event had - about whether this event had occurred, but i doubt very much they ask permission from the palace to publish the photographs in the first place. it’s publish the photographs in the first lace. �* , ., publish the photographs in the first lace, �* , ., ., publish the photographs in the first lace. �* , . . , place. it's all an interesting debate to — place. it's all an interesting debate to be _ place. it's all an interesting debate to be had, - place. it's all an interesting debate to be had, and - place. it's all an interesting debate to be had, and i'm i place. it's all an interesting . debate to be had, and i'm sure place. it's all an interesting - debate to be had, and i'm sure many people up and down the country are having it up and —— in their homes and offices. thank you. key to the whole discussion that's being had. earlier, i spoke to our disinformation and social media correspondent marianna spring. anyone who uses social media i'm sure probably has encountered the frenzy that's been unfolding around the princess of wales. some of it's genuine questions — people pointing out a real edited photograph — but some of it is extreme conspiracy

theories and disinformation. and actually, over the last 2a hours, it's sort of been a perfect example of that. so this footage was released, it was shared by tmz and the sun newspaper, and it showed kate out shopping with prince william. but social media went into overdrive immediately... what were they saying on social media about it? well, some of the users were suggesting this was actually a body double, that it wasn't really kate, that it was someone who impersonates her, who was playing that role. this was false — but nonetheless, it was the first thing that appeared on my tiktok feed and my feed on x this morning — meaning that the algorithm, the computer—generated systems were recommending it, pushing it to me. and i looked at some of the most viral videos, i found there were more than 12 million views on this specific conspiracy theory on x, and more than 11 million views around this specific conspiracy theory on tiktok — that's according to their own data, and that's probably pretty generous underestimate, that's just looking at the most viral content.

i tracked down some of the of users as well — they are based all over the world, from germany to australia, the us and here in the uk too. and all of them said to me, "well, i can post what i want, "and i just want to put theories out there and see what people think." they're getting lots of likes, views, and followers out of this. i asked the social media companies about this — tiktok said to me, according to their guidelines, the social media site doesn't allow misleading or false content that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent. and x didn't respond to my request for comment, but they do say in their guidelines that defending and respecting the users' voice is one of their key values. let's turn our focus on the middle east — and the latest warning about the humanitation situation in gaza. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has said that the entire population of gaza is in need of humanitarian assistance and is suffering from "severe levels of acute food insecurity". it's a stark assessment of the ongoing crisis in the territory as american pressure on israel grows. mr blinken has urged israel

to prioritise the delivery of supplies into gaza. in a moment, we will talk to our correspondents in jerusalem and washington. but first, let's take a listen to some of what mr blinken said. according to the most respected measure of these things, 100% of the population in gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity. that's the first time an entire population has been so classified. we also see again, according to, in this case, the united nations, 100% — the totality of the population — is in need of humanitarian assistance. that was the stark warning from the us secretary of state. but benjamin netyanyahu has said there's no way to destroy hamas in rafah, other than by a ground incursion. all this, as talks continue in qatar in a bid to secure a ceasefire deal. let's hear some of what israel's prime minister said earlier today.

translation: we of course share in this desire to allow— an orderly exit of population, and provide aid to the civilian population. we've been doing this since the beginning of the war. but i made it clear to the president in the clearest way that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in rafah — and there's no way to do it other than the ground invasion. earlier i got the reaction from our middle east correspondent mark lowen and our north america correspondent gary o'donoghoue. well, israel has consistently claimed that it is hamas that has been disrupting aid efforts on the ground in gaza, and has also suggested that the un has failed to distribute much—needed aid. but really, all the reports we get from the ground in gaza and all the indications are, of course, that israel has consistently limited aid deliveries by restricting access points for truck deliveries into gaza, and slowing down those few trucks that are getting in with cumbersome checks and turning

them around en route. i just went to a briefing with the head of the un palestinian refugee mission, unwra who said to me, you know, usually with famine — for example, in somalia — it has been a result of climate change, failed policies and conflict. but now, there is an entirely kind of manmade, created famine in the space ofjust a few months. and the un had been warning about looming hunger — it has indeed happened, and if it is officially declared at the end of the end of may, then those warnings will have come true, the gazans are basically starving to death. mark, thank you. let's cross live now and speak to gary o'donoghue, who is in washington for us. and those words from anthony blinken, gary, strongly—worded — it feels like the words coming from washington towards israel are getting stronger and stronger. but how far do you think america is potentially willing to go? well, you're right. i mean, the words getting stronger in all sorts of areas, not just on the question of the humanitarian aid,

but also on the question of any incursion into rafah. the americans made it very clear they think that's a very bad idea, simply because the number of civilians in an urban area, they believe that only ends one way, and that's with a great deal of bloodshed. that's why they've urged israel to send a delegation here next week to discuss those plans. we're expecting that at the beginning of next week, perhaps. one thing i would say that the americans have stopped short of agreeing with is an assessment by one of the officials from the un who said that israel may may be using hunger as a weapon of war. gary o'donoghue and mark lowen, from jerusalem. a man has become the first person to be found guilty of the new offence of "cyber—flashing" in england and wales. nicholas hawkes, from essex, was sentenced to more than a year in prison after pleading guilty to sending unsolicited,

explicit photos to a 15—year—old girl and a woman. sanchia berg reports. it's happened to many thousands of women and girls. without warning, a photo appears on their phone or their computer. explicit, shocking, and unwanted. cyber—flashing, and these other forms of online violence against women and girls, has significant and profound impacts to women and girls' sense of safety and well—being, sense of being able to operate in the online world. seven weeks ago, sending images like those became a criminal offence — and today at southend crown court, the first person was jailed for cyber—flashing. nicholas hawkes admitted sending pictures of his genitals to a teenage girl and a woman in her 60s. the court heard he suffered from extreme poster medic stress disorder after being kidnapped

and tortured some years ago. —— posttraumatic stress disorder. his barrister said he got no sexual gratification from sending those images. the judge did not accept that. the lord chancellor, alex chalk kc, said... many hope this conviction will give victims renewed confidence. it is so important that the state shows women and girls that they're on their side, that violence against women and girls is not acceptable, and will not be tolerated. so—called lower—level offences like cyber—flashing actually result in prison sentences for men who seek to dominate and force themselves in public space on women by sending them indecent images. it's not acceptable.

this prosecution was straightforward, as nicholas hawkes pleaded guilty — but campaigners warned future cases might be more difficult as, according to the law, prosecutors need to show those sending the images intended to cause alarm or distress, or gain sexual gratification. still to come on the world today... we speak exclusively to the president of zambia about the country's economic problems in the role of the t20 in helping solve them. and the name's bond, james bond — but who is he? we look at the runners and riders in the race to become the next 007. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

a "new chapter in britain's economic history" — that's the promise from shadow chancellor rachel reeves, should labourform the next government. ms reeves is addressing business and finance leaders in the city of london. let's listen to what she's saying. i will ask the 0br to report on the long—term impact of capital spending. and as chancellor, i will report on wider measures of public sector assets at fiscal events, showing how the health of the public balance sheet is bolstered by good investment decisions.— investment decisions. that's us di - - in . investment decisions. that's us dipping into _ investment decisions. that's us dipping into rachel— investment decisions. that's us dipping into rachel reeves. - investment decisions. that's us| dipping into rachel reeves. she investment decisions. that's us - dipping into rachel reeves. she has underlined during this speech the difficult balance that labour could potentially have to make, in terms of impossible trade—offs is how she put it when she was interviewed by the bbc�*s economic secular faisal islam earlier. let's speak to our political correspondent pete saull. what trade—offs are labour potentially talk about? you what trade-offs are labour potentially talk about? you heard a little bit of a _ potentially talk about? you heard a little bit of a snippet _ potentially talk about? you heard a little bit of a snippet there of-

potentially talk about? you heard a little bit of a snippet there of a - little bit of a snippet there of a speech that i don't think we'll get many repeat views, to be honest. it's not about mass appeal, but speaking to those in the room first and foremost. lots of members of financial institutions, the maize lecture a really important one in the calendar of london, and we've had previous great economic thinkers speaking at this lecture in years gone by, going back to former chancellors like norman lamont, nigel lawson, and gordon brown — just a couple years ago, though then chance earlier, now prime minister rishi sunak gave this lecture. so a real opportunity for rachel reeves to set out in great detail what her economic vision is. we've not heard a great deal in terms of new, fresh ideas, there aren't many headlines in there. but this is all about setting out as an economist... she worked at the bank of england for several years, and it is based on this idea, she says, of secure economics, which i don't think is a

word that will get repeated by voters once we get to the general election, but it's the idea that you have to have a really stable economy with a safe steward at the helm in order for the economy to grow she's aligning herself of what the buy demonstration has been doing in the us, investing in green energies, which is something that labour has wanted to do, but they've watered down the plates they had a couple years ago to spend £28 billion a years ago to spend £28 billion a year on those industries. so the question is, how will they still meet their ambitious programme without putting up taxes? and i think that'll be the debate, the argument we will hear when we eventually get to the general election. but lots of detail in there from rachel reeves, lots of long words which, for people like me who certainly do not pretend to be an economist, are quite difficult to

follow. but very interesting indeed. interesting, speaking to the audience, peter, thank you very much. to haiti next — and there seems little the world can do for the moment, but simply watch as the country slides further into anarchy. gangs control much of the capital, port—au—prince, where the bodies of at least a dozen people were discovered in a wealthy suburb. the us is hopeful a transitional council might be able to restore order, along with the deployment of international troops, but for now the violence continues. the security situation aside, the humanitarian need in haiti is also is critical. the un has estimated some 3,000 pregnant women are at risk of having to give birth with no maternity care, because of the closure of so many hospitals in the capital port—au—prince. 0ur correspondent will grant visited the maternity ward of cap—haitien's public hospital. baby crying just a day old, baby woodley�*s first cries are the same of those of children born anywhere —

for food and for comfort. but as they get older, the children born in cap—haitien's maternity wing will find such essentials are far from guaranteed in haiti. markinsonjoseph tells me she would take her newborn boy out of the country altogether if she gets the chance. but she doesn't have the money to flee. the first ward for pathology. as he shows us around dark and empty wards, dr clervil says the gangs' control of the roads is making it impossible to find enough fuel to keep the lights on, let alone to bring in the drugs and equipment they need. translation: as you can see, we have beds and staff, - but often the patients just can't reach us because of their economic situation — or, more often than not, their safety. for some, it has had terrible consequences. louisemanie was eight—and—a—half months pregnant

when she came into hospital. by then, she had dangerously high blood pressure, and lost the baby. pre—eclampsia is treatable, had she been properly monitored or the baby been delivered early. louisemanie knows her loss was avoidable. he said the health system in haiti is collapsing. the he said the health system in haiti is collapsing-— he said the health system in haiti is colla-usin. ., ., ., . is collapsing. the ongoing violence, the direct victims, _ is collapsing. the ongoing violence, the direct victims, but _ is collapsing. the ongoing violence, the direct victims, but also - the direct victims, but also indirect victims, those people who are left without options for health care due to the breakdown of the health care system. the system is basically collapsed, there's only one still functioning public hospital. but the problem is not just health care facilities shutting down, it's increasingly a problem of people literally not being able to move in the city because of the insecurity and the fear of being caught in the crossfire.

let's turn to the war in ukraine now — because the us secretary of defense, lloyd austin, has tried to reassure allies about his country's commitment to ukraine in its fight against russia's invasion. the latest us military aid package remains stalled in congress. mr austin was talking at a meeting of ukraine's international supporters in ramstein, germany. we heard from the defence secretary in the last couple of hours — here's what he had to say. today, ukraine's survival is in danger. in america, security is at risk. and they don't have a day to waste, and we don't have a day to spare either. so i leave here today fully determined to keep us security assistance and ammunition flowing. and that's a matter of survival and sovereignty for ukraine. and it's a matter of honor and security for america. make no mistake — vladimir putin is watching, the world is watching, and

history is watching. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. although south—east england and east anglia kept a lot of cloud during tuesday, the rest of the uk actually the weather brightened up quite nicely, with some good spells of sunshine coming through — for example, here in county durham. and it was mild, especially around lincolnshire. temperatures widely here reached around 16 celsius. but the next weather system is already showing on the satellite picture, with cloud thickening from the south—west. and overnight tonight, we're looking at rain moving in. now the rain will be at its heaviest

across northern ireland, northern england, wales, and probably the north midlands. temperatures keeping up at around 9—11 celsius across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland, around sixes and sevens. wednesday, then, we start off with rain in northern ireland — but the wettest weather looks likely to affect wales, northern england, and the midlands through the course of the day. it's not clear that we'll see rain as far north as northern scotland, so it might actually be a dry and bright day here, and a lot of cloud for east anglia, south—east england — could thicken up to give an odd patch of rain through the afternoon. but it will stay mild — 15—16 celsiusin the warmest spots. north midlands northwards, the weather will be cooler — temperatures around 10—11 at best. now, that cooler slice of weather across the north isn't going to last long, because we've got this slab of milder air moving in behind this warm front for thursday. and that is going to be bringing some more rain, particularly to scotland. and it's notjust wet weather, it's also going to be windy — with gusts across northern scotland reaching 50, perhaps 60mph. the rain trickles southwards into northern ireland through the afternoon — but on thursday, across england

and wales, cloud will probably thin and break to give some sunny spells. it will probably stay dry for wales, midlands, east anglia, and southern england. highest temperatures up to 16 celsius, so pretty mild. but it's all change again for friday — a cold front pushes southwards, introducing much cooler and fresher air, with those north—westerly winds following. so, weather—wise, our cold fronts bring some cloud and rain to england and wales during friday. the rain could be slow to clear away from south—east england. behind that the sun comes out, but there'll be loads of showers for scotland, northern ireland, and the north—west of both england and wales. the showers for these areas — heavy with some hail and thunder, and temperatures for the most part around about average, 9—12 celsius. it stays unsettled, then, through the weekend. loads more showers to come, and, as well as that, there'll be a chilly north—westerly wind. bye for now.

this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines. kensington palace confirms that footage taken over windsor over the weekend is in fact the princess of wales. a stark warning about the worsening humanitarian crisis in gaza from america's top diplomat, antony blinken, who calls the president of zambia talks to me

about that, climate change and corruption. the name's bond, james bond — but who will play me? we look at the runners and riders in the race to become the next 007. for the next few minutes let's focus on the southern african country of zambia — whose latest battle to keep its economy afloat could have global repercussions. zambia is a landlocked nation with one of the fastest—growing populations in the world, and a strong copper mining industry, which has at various points allowed it to enjoy some level of economic growth. but in 2020, zambia became the first african nation to default on its debt payments during the covid pandemic — this is when a country cannot repay its debts back. as other countries also began defaulting on their debt, the g20 group of nations created the �*common framework in debt�*, with the international monetary fund playing a key role as lead co—ordinator. the new system was meant to speed the process up —

and zambia has been seen by many as a test case for how well