ground offensive in rafah, - at the very southern tip of gaza. that is of course the area - where more than half of gaza's population has now been displaced to. i rishi sunak says this is the year the uk economy bounces back. but will he be there to lead it? tonight, the prime minister has been meeting with restless conservative backbenchers as rumours of westminster plots do the rounds again. certainly out is the irish prime minister, leo varadkar. he's announced today he is stepping down. these are interesting times in irish politics. not least because an election within the next year, may bring sinn fein to power. we'll here from one of the senators in mr varadkars finae gael party. and: excavating the site of a 3,000—year—old disaster, suspended in time.

we will speak to one of the archaeologists working on the british pompei. good evening. the british prime minister says he thinks the uk has "turned a corner" following the financial shocks of the past few years. new figures out today showed that inflation in february slowed to its lowest level since september 2021. which was some relief given that tonight the prime minister was due to meet his restless backbenchers. but what has not turned are his fortunes on the rwanda bill. the proposed law aims to ensure the uk can deport asylum seekers to rwanda by declaring it a safe third country, contrary to the judgment of the supreme court. on monday conservative mp's voted to overturn all 10 of the amendments made to the bill, by the house of lords. today, the peers got another look at it, and reinserted several of their proposed changes. which means the rwanda bill will not be back in the commons until after easter. further delaying the governments agenda. political corerpsondent peter saull

joins me now from westminster. it was all going so well today and then it _ it was all going so well today and then it comes_ it was all going so well today and then it comes to _ it was all going so well today and then it comes to this _ it was all going so well today and then it comes to this piece - then it comes to this piece of legislation, _ then it comes to this piece of legislation, more _ then it comes to this piece of legislation, more setbacks. then it comes to this piece ofi legislation, more setbacks for then it comes to this piece of- legislation, more setbacks for the government _ legislation, more setbacks for the government. still— legislation, more setbacks for the government-— legislation, more setbacks for the government. legislation, more setbacks for the covernment. ,, ., , ., ., government. still huge opposition to this [an to government. still huge opposition to this plan to deport _ government. still huge opposition to this plan to deport some _ this plan to deport some asylum—seekers to rwanda in the house of lords. seven different defeats this evening on issues including whether or not the bill complies with international and indeed, uk law. whether or not victims of modern slavery, children should be excepted from flights and whether or not people who served along british armed forces should be sent to rwanda. i think there is a general feeling sent to rwanda. i think there is a generalfeeling in the sent to rwanda. i think there is a general feeling in the unelected second chamber here in westminster the government has not done enough in addressing concerns raised. that is how our sister in his post—work. the system is was to look at the legislation and scrutinise it and propose changes in the government has not moved an inch on anything. so now we are in the system of

ping—pong where it goes between the two different houses. the other point labour or making this evening is the government had the opportunity to table the next round of ping—pong next week before parliament breaks up for the easter recess on monday meaning the laws live another go on tuesday. they turned out the opportunity and decided to push it back until after the easter break. so it will be the 15th of april when it is look to get by the house of commons and presumably will be rejected by mps at that stage. so it really puts it back even further. ultimately, it is important to remember that the lords have made it clear that they will not stand in the way of the legislation, it will eventually fold, it is a question of when rather it. it fold, it is a question of when rather it— rather it. it is the house of commons _ rather it. it is the house of commons that _ rather it. it is the house of commons that the - rather it. it is the house of commons that the sites. i rather it. it is the house of i commons that the sites. let rather it. it is the house of - commons that the sites. let me rather it. it is the house of _ commons that the sites. let me read you the shadow secretary comments, the police scheme is failing fast which cover less than 1% of asylum arrivals it is clearer than ever rishi sunak gnosis plan will not work and only sees it as a political

gimmick. the problem with the prime minister as you suggest is now there will be a extended period of ping—pong legally and he needs to get some people on the plane to answer yvette cooper, the shadow home secretary saying it will not work. by far the most important consideration for the prime minister. if consideration for the prime minister. ., minister. if the government will get an credit minister. if the government will get any credit at — minister. if the government will get any credit at all— minister. if the government will get any credit at all for— minister. if the government will get any credit at all for it. _ minister. if the government will get any credit at all for it. ultimately i any credit at all for it. ultimately the hope as it does deter crossings in the numbers come down significantly in terms of people actually coming across the english channel. at times moving on, the prime minister has that he once flights in the spring so a quite vague deadline, spring could be lots of different things. it could go into may, intojune, potentially. not actually, that deadline should be met. this does go out to the statute book and eventual in a few weeks' time. there will be some legal challenges and appeals potentially ends of the logistical issues as well making sure that they

have an airline in place or potentially raf planes to take asylum—seekers to wander in the accommodation in the east african country which is fairly limited at this stage. so a few things to happen. the concern on the right of the tory party and this is been argument before it has either reached the house of lords is that the legislation does not go far enough and will only enable a handful of asylum—seekers to be deported to rwanda. so this will run on and on but the hope is for the prime minister is that when people do see the slates taken off, it will be a tick in the conservative box. it is looking like a bit touching go whether it happens before the next big electoral test, the local elections on the 2nd of may. i elections on the 2nd of may. i suppose the mps on the right of the suppose the mp5 on the right of the party will point to the plan that sending some of the asylum—seekers to albania. so some other countries. a circle at the backbench meeting, the meeting of the 1922 committee. if you believe the papers, they are plotting again on the right of the

party. yesterday penny mordaunt, supportively the chosen successor, today tom tugendhat hand. so jacob rees—mogg, formerly of the cabin and said he cheered the prime minister tonight like he was at a test batch afterwards. so is the prime minister off the hook?— off the hook? lords usually is not the most for _ off the hook? lords usually is not the most for zippers _ off the hook? lords usually is not the most for zippers of _ off the hook? lords usually is not the most for zippers of cricket - the most for zippers of cricket atmosphere, it is usually a polite applause, but that does as good as it gets for someone like jacob rees—mogg. actually the meeting tonight we spoke to a few conservative mps outside and they were actually pretty positive trend to put on a show of unity. that is not to say that there are not deep concerns within the tory party from top to bottom about the perception that nothing is working for the prime minister. fact inflation may be coming down and flights may go off but none having an impact on opinion bowls miles behind labour party and that elections going closer and closer —— opinion polls. the expectation is that it will be in autumn. lots of speculation

tonight also, the woman whom manage the campaign of penny mordaunt the last time she ran for the leadership of the conservative party said that the reports of a plot are entirely made up. so a few newspapers have spoken to sources on the right of the tory party who have had conversations about this. there to say, the vast majority of conservative mps that i talk to them i called start to think that it would be complete madness to change leader once again. six. would be complete madness to change leader once again.— leader once again. six months now from an election. _ leader once again. six months now from an election. thank— leader once again. six months now from an election. thank you - leader once again. six months now from an election. thank you very i from an election. thank you very much, peter. us secretary of state antony blinken is on another trip to the middle east that will now take in an additional stop injerusalem. currently he isjeddah as part of a renewed effort to broker a ceasefire. with one eye on the post conflict planning. at home 19 democratic senators have written tojoe biden urging him to set out bold language on the steps that would be necessary to establish a palestinian state over both the west bank and gaza strip. we have "reached an inflection point" says the letter that requires

us leadership to go beyond mere "facilitation" of israeli palestinian talks. the british foreign secretary has already talked about officially recognising a palestinian state, what about the biden administration? here's what secretary blinken said in february. i do believe that there is a very positive _ in february. i do believe that there is a very positive powerful - in february. i do believe that there is a very positive powerful future i is a very positive powerful future thatis is a very positive powerful future that is possible that genuinely integrates israel into the region and addresses its most profound security needs, to be able to live in peace and genuine security and also answers the aspirations of the palestinian people. the first priority, is dealing with the here and now. and the epic scale of suffering that's unfolding inside the gaza strip. the secretary of state says that for the first time an entire population 2 million people in gaza are classified as experiencing "severe levels of acute food insecurity". last night, on this programme, oxfam said the israeli government had deliberately obstructed the flow

of aid into gaza. the international rescue committee, would not put it in such direct terms. they prefer not to take sides. but the current president and former british foreign secretary david milliband said it is certainly a �*profound failure of humanity'. these decisions in respect to the flow of aid needs to change on the part of the israeli authorities, if the situation of the civilians in gaza is to be remedied. the amount of aid going in has to massively increase, what the un calls a tsunami of aid is needed. the approach to the "dual use" that you mentioned needs to change so that medical scissors are available for the doctors who work for us to be able to do their operations properly. and those are decisions that could be taken independent of the conduct of the rest of the conflict. if there was a going income the question is who would distribute it. joining me now is the deputy

director general at the food and agricultural assocation of the un, beth bechdol, who is in rome. lovely to have you on the programme. we featured on the programme last night a colour—coded scale which i will put on the screen again for people to see. which you published to represent where the scale of the food crisis is right now. what is alarming is the projection for the months ahead. those are the most concerning. how long do you think you have to head off that skill of suffering? irate you have to head off that skill of sufferin: ? ~ . , ., you have to head off that skill of sufferin: ? ~ . , . suffering? we have days and weeks and arts suffering? we have days and weeks and parts of — suffering? we have days and weeks and parts of gaza _ suffering? we have days and weeks and parts of gaza to _ suffering? we have days and weeks and parts of gaza to really - suffering? we have days and weeks and parts of gaza to really try - and parts of gaza to really try to bring this imminent famine to some kind of solution or conclusion. the report we have released, the ipcc report we have released, the ipcc report as it is known, has been in place for 20 years. it was launched in 2004 because if a humanitarian crisis taking place in somalia. in those 20 years, the numbers we are seeing in gaza are unprecedented. to

have 50% of an entire region's population. 1.1 million people in gaza in what we consider ipc— five which is catastrophic near famine level conditions in both percentage and absolute terms. we have never seen before in the history of this reporting. seen before in the history of this re ”ortin. �* , seen before in the history of this re-aortin. v , seen before in the history of this re-aortin. �*, , ., seen before in the history of this re-aortin. v , . ., reporting. let's put that on the screen so _ reporting. let's put that on the screen so people _ reporting. let's put that on the screen so people can _ reporting. let's put that on the screen so people can see - reporting. let's put that on the screen so people can see it. i reporting. let's put that on the screen so people can see it. so 677,000 people now in catastrophe. but going forward through tojuly it is well over1 million people. that is well over1 million people. that is what we are talking about here. just on the issue of post—conflict planning, which is what sec. blinken is addressing, let's say there was a cease—fire, lets he even they set out plans for a palestinian state in gaza in the west bank, how will they grow, how will they farm in the strip after everything that has

happened? it strip after everything that has happened?— strip after everything that has hauened? , . . , ., happened? it will be a really long rocess happened? it will be a really long process ahead — happened? it will be a really long process ahead of _ happened? it will be a really long process ahead of us _ happened? it will be a really long process ahead of us and - happened? it will be a really long process ahead of us and it - happened? it will be a really long process ahead of us and it will. happened? it will be a really long i process ahead of us and it will come in stages. i know that you have had the opportunity to speak to some of my other counterparts and colleagues and some of the other un agencies who really are more of the front line responders. they are the agencies like wf p, and others, who who are ready and positioned to make sure all of the available food supplies, medicalsupplies, water supplies, medical supplies, water and supplies, medicalsupplies, water and other important life—saving humanitarian assistance is ready to 90, humanitarian assistance is ready to go, should we get the signal that there could be an immediate humanitarian cease—fire of some kind. that is what it will take from a political perspective. you kind. that is what it will take from a political perspective.— a political perspective. you or for agriculture _ a political perspective. you or for agriculture you _ a political perspective. you or for agriculture you put _ a political perspective. you or for agriculture you put this _ a political perspective. you or for agriculture you put this in - a political perspective. you or for agriculture you put this in a i agriculture you put this in a slightly different way. for agriculture you put this in a slightly different way. for us food and agriculture _ slightly different way. for us food and agriculture agency, _ slightly different way. for us food and agriculture agency, we i slightly different way. for us food and agriculture agency, we are i slightly different way. for us food and agriculture agency, we are a l slightly different way. for us food i and agriculture agency, we are a may be one step behind these colleagues. and in fact, we have been hoping that there would actually be an

opportunity for us in these most recent months... opportunity for us in these most recent months. . ._ opportunity for us in these most recent months... what do you see on the grounds? — recent months... what do you see on the grounds? we _ recent months... what do you see on the grounds? we see _ recent months... what do you see on the grounds? we see cropland i recent months... what do you see on the grounds? we see cropland that i the grounds? we see cropland that is destro ed, the grounds? we see cropland that is destroyed, contaminated _ the grounds? we see cropland that is destroyed, contaminated because i the grounds? we see cropland that is destroyed, contaminated because of| destroyed, contaminated because of the shelling, heavy metal contamination, we see green houses that are destroyed, we see animal inventory, sheep, goats, chicken, the dairy industry that is almost completely destroyed. so for us we have moved during candidly from being in a position in the last few weeks or months to be ready to get significant supplies of agricultural assistance in, to practically being prepared for what could be a reconstruction and a rehabilitation phase. reconstruction and a rehabilitation -hase.~ . reconstruction and a rehabilitation hase, . ., ., , ., reconstruction and a rehabilitation hase. . ., , . . reconstruction and a rehabilitation hase, ., ., , ., ., ., phase. what does that entail? what would ou phase. what does that entail? what would you be _ phase. what does that entail? what would you be flooding _ phase. what does that entail? what would you be flooding in? _ phase. what does that entail? what would you be flooding in? we i phase. what does that entail? whatj would you be flooding in? we would be floodin: would you be flooding in? we would be flooding in _ would you be flooding in? we would be flooding in seeds _ would you be flooding in? we would be flooding in seeds and _ would you be flooding in? we would be flooding in seeds and other- would you be flooding in? we would be flooding in seeds and other kinds of crop inputs so that in the space of the agricultural land available, we could quickly get crops up and

going. we would need infrastructure supplies, plastics, glass, other kinds of infrastructure will stop the sort of things that are not giving in. greenhouse and none of those are priorities at the moment. none of getting approvals, they are not priority and so we have been waiting on the sidelines to make sure that this agricultural support can happen. but what i want to make sure that maybe listeners understand is, agricultural sometimes gets viewed as an income or a livelihood. in a context like what we are seeing in gaza, it is food assistance. if you can get animal feed in gaza, it is food assistance. if you can get animalfeed into in gaza, it is food assistance. if you can get animal feed into gaza for the remaining sheep, goats, chickens that are available. that is food supplies for the families, for the people on the ground today. milk for children, protein. what we are sending in, really, by air, truck, plane, it is bread, wheat flour, vegetable and cooking oil. we are

losing those nutritious healthy parts of the diet that has to come from some of the things that we just have to try it help them maintain from an act perspective. but look at the talk to you _ from an act perspective. but look at the talk to you and _ from an act perspective. but look at the talk to you and thank _ from an act perspective. but look at the talk to you and thank you i the talk to you and thank you for coming on to the programme, best. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news vaughan gething has been confirmed as the new first minister of wales — after a vote in the welsh parliament this afternoon. mr gething — who's the first black leader of a european country — said he wanted to lead a wales that's "full of hope, ambition and unity". junior doctors in england have voted by 98% in favour of continuing strike action for another six months. there have been ten walk—outs so far byjunior doctors since the first one in march last year. the british medical association has asked for a 35% payrise, but ministers say that's unreasonable.

and the netflix series, the crown, leads the nominations for this for this year's bafta tv awards, announced today. shows including black mirror, succession, happy valley and slow horses also received multiple nominations. an era in irish politics has comes to a close — the era of leo varadkar. taoiseach has been on and off, since he first came to power in 2017. certainly a man who has brought a completely different vibe to irish politics. but he is standing aside. to everyone's great surprise this afternoon he announced he was stepping down and relinquishing his role as the leader of the governing fine gael party. earlier this week he was in washington with president biden to mark st patrick's day, which is always close tojoe biden's

heart. today it was goodbye. mr varadkar says he's taken the decision for both �*political and personal reasons'. i know this will come as a surprise to many people, and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you'll understand my decision. i know that others will — how shall i put it — cope with the news just fine. that as the great thing about living in a democracy. there's never a right time to resign high office. however, this is as good a time as any. budget 2024 is done, negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one, the institutions of the good friday agreement are working again and our trading relationship with the uk in the post—brexit era is settled and stable. mary seery kearney is an irish government senator in leo varadkar�*s fine gael party. shejoins us from leinster house in dublin. i know you have come from a party meeting were all sorts of things have been discussed, can you let us in on some of that and what you

think was behind the decision? weill. think was behind the decision? well, the decision — think was behind the decision? well, the decision today _ think was behind the decision? well, the decision today came _ think was behind the decision? well, the decision today came as _ think was behind the decision? -ii the decision today came as a real shock and surprise to all of us. it was great speculation as to who exactly was going to retire or step down earlier on today and that it became apparent that actually was going to be a seismic news and that it was going to be the taoiseach and sell. so our parliamentary party meets at 530 every wednesday and we have a set agenda to discuss the business of the day but the business of today was all about the fact that our leader is stepping down and as i said we are still all reeling from the shock and all of the business of the shock and all of the business of the meeting was suspended while the members pay tribute to him. so the meeting was suspended while the members pay tribute to him. 50 he members pay tribute to him. so he was there- — members pay tribute to him. so he was there. did _ members pay tribute to him. so he was there. did he _ members pay tribute to him. so he was there. did he talk? _ members pay tribute to him. so he was there. did he talk? yes - members pay tribute to him. so he was there. did he talk? yes he i members pay tribute to him. so hej was there. did he talk? yes he did. he was slightly _ was there. did he talk? yes he did. he was slightly delayed _ was there. did he talk? yes he did. he was slightly delayed coming i was there. did he talk? yes he did. | he was slightly delayed coming into the room and he came in and he got a standing ovation from all of the members of the parliamentary party

for a point of substantial and long ovation and in his own words he filled us in for his statement of today. similar in its reasoning, that it pays a personal and political tool to be at the leadership and if we look at the seven years he has been taoiseach, the country has come through an awful lot. he is had to navigate brexit, covid, we have gone from being on our economic needs to being a very strong and healthy economy. also than looking at from unemployment at its height to being at full employment which is a fantastic achievement for anyone in their lifetime in politics. it is a record i'm _ their lifetime in politics. it is a record i'm sure _ their lifetime in politics. it is a record i'm sure you _ their lifetime in politics. it is a record i'm sure you are i their lifetime in politics. it is a record i'm sure you are very i their lifetime in politics. it is a i record i'm sure you are very proud of. if i were to look back at three things that might be coming into his

thinking, the referendum result was a blow, the referendum on the family from a few weeks ago. a privacy issue about a year ago for him when he was photographed in a personal setting kissing another man which stirred a real debate around him and around privacy in public life and of course, the election coming up which we expect sinn fein to do well in. do you think all of that was a factor, orwas do you think all of that was a factor, or was there something else, may be a job offer somewhere else? he claims that there is no job offer and he is also delighted to have the opportunity to have time to think about what his career should look like now. he is staying on as an mp until certainly at least the end of this term in government and i think his thinking, if we look back at him leading our country, he does not do

anything by half. he does everything completely and at full tilt. and is completely and at full tilt. and is completely committed and has been, one thing i found astounding as a senator was my access to him. i could ask him a question regarding something on whatsapp and would apologise for a delay and come back to me and i would find out from the news on the hour that actually he was at some eu member leaders meeting so he is a man who was given him to leave my kids all, he says the tank is running on anti—makeup of the agree with him. i don't like it is any one issue because in actual fact, it is any one issue because in actualfact, there it is any one issue because in actual fact, there are it is any one issue because in actualfact, there are much more successes than there are disappointments going for our country right now.— disappointments going for our country right now. disappointments going for our count riaht now. , , ., country right now. pressed for time, ma be country right now. pressed for time, maybe when — country right now. pressed for time, maybe when you _ country right now. pressed for time, maybe when you are _ country right now. pressed for time, maybe when you are taoiseach. i country right now. pressed for time, i maybe when you are taoiseach. we've never had a woman taoiseach so maybe when you are, you can come back and talk to us. i when you are, you can come back and talk to us. ., . . , ., talk to us. i would certainly love that.

talk to us. i would certainly love that- maybe _ talk to us. i would certainly love that. maybe an _ talk to us. i would certainly love that. maybe an exclusive i talk to us. i would certainly love that. maybe an exclusive there. | talk to us. i would certainly love| that. maybe an exclusive there. i don't know- _ that. maybe an exclusive there. i don't know. thank _ that. maybe an exclusive there. i don't know. thank you _ that. maybe an exclusive there. i don't know. thank you for i that. maybe an exclusive there. i | don't know. thank you for coming onto the programme. two more serious issues now. sudan is a country of 49 million people and nearly 18 million of them are facing acute food insecurity. since april last year two rival factions of the military government of sudan have been fighting each, the sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary rapid support forces. last night we reported from the front line of the fighting close to khartoum. what is not being widely reported are the human rights abuses that are being perpetrated by the warring parties. rape is used as a weapon of revenge. the un says there are reports the rsf, whose origins lie in the arab militia groups, have been using sexual violence to subjugate, terrorise, and punish black, african women in the population. merchuma has sent this report from adre on the chad/sudan border. yesterday, 19—year—old amina found out that she is pregnant. within minutes, she will begin

an abortion, desperately hoping that her family never knows. translation: it happened in sudan. i'm not married and i was a virgin, except for the incident that happened. this young woman, whose name we have changed, was trying to flee fighting in her hometown when she was captured, held for a day and repeatedly raped. translation: i didn't tell anyone and i don'tj think anyone knows. the un says the sexual violence experienced by women like amina is a defining characteristic of the conflict in sudan and has been used as a weapon of war. amina is one of more than 600,000 people who have fled sudan for camps like this one in neighbouring chad. she was helped by the international charity medicins sans frontieres. but other voluntary groups have also sprung up to support the large number of women who have been affected by either physical violence or sexual attacks. it's a side of the conflict

that's not often seen. but, we have been given privileged access to join this group and film a meeting run by zahra. maryamu is a former university student who has been speaking to zahra. she was attacked by armed men in her home in sudan. when she called for help, they fired a bullet inches away from her mother as she tried to stop what was happening. translation: zahra spends time with me at home. i she talks to me. she says, "what happened to you happened to a lot of people and you must be strong and positive." women have been victims of violence across sudan during the civil war. the fighting has also seen a resurgence of a bloody ethnic conflict. 20 years ago, the un says 300,000 members of the black african community were killed in the darfur region amidst

accusations of genocide. much of the violence against women in sudan during the current conflict has been blamed on the rapid support forces and its allies. in a chilling online video, one prominent member sets out why he feels fighters have the right to assault women. translation: as for raping or not raping, if we rape your— daughter or your girl, it's an eye for an eye. this is our country and this is our right. and we took it. the rapid support forces told us the majority of accusations against it are untrue, but its troops are held accountable when incidents occur. but zahra says black african women are being targeted in darfur. translation: this is because rape leaves l an impact on society and the family. they used it as a weapon of revenge. with this conflict, cases of sexual violence are widespread, but this is a taboo topic here and comes with a lot of shame and stigma. this means that those who speak out

or seek medical attention are only a fraction of those who are affected. ordinary women are paying the price for the brutality which has been unleashed by the conflict in sudan with no end in sight. many more people could end up suffering in silence. merchuma, bbc news on the chad—sudan border. important reporting, and insight we are not often getting. let's speak to the world food programme's regional director is east africa, michael dunford. why do you think the international community is struggling to focus attention on this humanitarian crisis? ~' . . attention on this humanitarian crisis? ,, . . ., crisis? think the challenge we are facin: is crisis? think the challenge we are facing is that _ crisis? think the challenge we are facing is that there _ crisis? think the challenge we are facing is that there are _ crisis? think the challenge we are facing is that there are too i crisis? think the challenge we are facing is that there are too many. facing is that there are too many conflicts ongoing presently. when you look at gaza, ukraine, haiti, the world's attention is distracted. we have not yet had regular visuals

as to what is happening on the ground in suit on. your reports of the last few days starting to change that. we need to give sudan the attention it deserves and warrants because, as you set the beginning. there are 45 million people in their lives are suffering as a result of an unacceptable conflict. fine lives are suffering as a result of an unacceptable conflict. one of the most pressing _ an unacceptable conflict. one of the most pressing challenges _ an unacceptable conflict. one of the most pressing challenges right i an unacceptable conflict. one of the| most pressing challenges right now? the needs are in immense. we estimate that 25 million people need humanitarian assistance today. unfortunately, because of the ongoing conflict, because of the insecurity, because of the lack of humanitarian actors like other regions have, we are unable to reach the populations in need. as a result, people are moving. they are either being displaced internally within the country or crossing international borders into chat as

your story has reported or into south sudan.— your story has reported or into south sudan. these are fragile countries. _ south sudan. these are fragile countries, so _ south sudan. these are fragile countries, so what _ south sudan. these are fragile countries, so what effect i south sudan. these are fragile countries, so what effect is i south sudan. these are fragile l countries, so what effect is that happening on neighbouring populations?— happening on neighbouring --oulations? , , . , , populations? hugely destabilising, for the countries _ populations? hugely destabilising, for the countries it _ populations? hugely destabilising, for the countries it is _ populations? hugely destabilising, for the countries it is putting i for the countries it is putting additional pressure on hosting communities. there's not humanitarian support to go around at the moments of the world food programme and others are making difficult choices trying to prioritise populations who have a right to the support that we are not able to give to them. do right to the support that we are not able to give to them.— able to give to them. do you have enou:h able to give to them. do you have enough people — able to give to them. do you have enough people inside _ able to give to them. do you have enough people inside the - able to give to them. do you have enough people inside the country| able to give to them. do you have i enough people inside the country and are they able to operate? hat are they able to operate? not sufficiently. — are they able to operate? not sufficiently, no. _ are they able to operate? iirrt sufficiently, no. we have people inside, but do they have access to the populations where they are, not yet and not of the scale that is required and that is something that is essential if we are going to prevent what is the catastrophe that is taking place.

prevent what is the catastrophe that is taking place-— is taking place. really important that we keep — is taking place. really important that we keep focusing _ is taking place. really important that we keep focusing on - is taking place. really important that we keep focusing on the i is taking place. really important i that we keep focusing on the story and thank you for coming onto the programme. we will take a short break at the other side we will talk about artificial intelligence and the new entrant into the market, saudi arabia who has just announced a lot of funding that will be targeted at the new ai start ups. we will discuss, stay with us. hello there. we had a real mixture of weather conditions across the uk on wednesday. an area of low pressure brought a lot of cloudy weather, some damp, drizzly conditions into the afternoon for some. and across parts of eastern scotland, even into the early part of the afternoon, temperatures were just around 7 celsius. so it felt chilly here. but across southeast england, we had some sunny spells break out in relatively warm air. and so that sent temperatures surging. we had highs up to around 17 celsius, making it one of the warmer days of the year. now, overnight tonight, a few mist and fog patches are possible across england

and wales, but later in the night, we'll see some rain move in to scotland and to northern ireland as well. the rain here is associated with a warm front that's set to bring milder weather conditions back in across the uk. now, might well be turning a bit milder, particularly across northern areas of the country, but it will be a wet and a windy day. now, the heaviest rain will be in scotland. the strongest winds for northern scotland, with gusts of wind running into the 50s of miles an hour. the rain trickles southwards into northern ireland and northern england through the day. but across wales, the midlands, east anglia and southern england, we may well again see the cloud thin and break at times to give some spells of sunshine. we could see temperatures reaching 17 celsius. colder air moves back in on friday. this strap of cloud, a bit of rain is a cold front pushing southwards across england and wales. sunshine follows that feature through, but there will be quite a lot of showers, heavy ones at that across scotland, northern ireland and the north west of both england and wales. some of the showers will have hail mixed in, temperatures down, but actually quite close to average at 10—12 celsius.

the weekend dominated by low pressure that will be sending