i'm sumi somaskanda. thank you forjoining us. us secretary of state antony blinken will travel to israel on friday, a previously unannounced stop on his current trip to the middle east. mr blinken was in saudi arabia, wednesday, for discussions on what the us calls "an architecture "for lasting on what the us calls "an architecture for lasting "peace". it's his sixth visit to the region since the start of the war in gaza. blinken�*s trip to tel aviv comes as relations have soured between us president biden and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. in a phone call on monday, mr biden again urged mr netanyahu to change course on his plans for a ground invasion of the packed southern city of rafah, where more than 1.4 million palestinians are sheltering, displaced by the war. on wednesday, mr netanyahu again rejected those warnings, saying he's already approved the plan. the bbc�*s mark lowen has more from jerusalem. it is a plan that has drawn international condemnation and warnings of atrocities that could take place there. he said that he has approved the operational plan for rafah

and he will soon approve the evacuation of civilians but added that it would take time for the incursion to begin. it does not spell much hope really for the continuing ceasefire talks that are ongoing in the qatari capital of doha, and a senior hamas official said that israel's response to the latest proposals there seemed negative and constituted a step backwards. all of this is likely to take centre stage of talks with the us secretary of state antony blinken, when he comes to israel on friday, at the end of a middle east tour that has taken him to saudi arabia and, on thursday, to egypt. the israel leg of the troop was previously unscheduled and comes as this increasingly acrimonious relationship between the us biden administration and the netanyahu government here in israel.

antony blinken�*s aim will be to try to restrain an israeli leader who seems increasingly intent on pushing on with this fight, both in the war and for his political survival. meanwhile, aid groups say the humanitarian situation in gaza is growing worse by the day, with people reported to be surviving off animalfeed, and children starving to death. that's as the us and uk continue to air drop more aid into the territory, and a full uk field hospital has also been set up. but the un's food and agriculture organization warns the current level of aid is not enough. its latest report this week projects famine could occur anytime between now and may in the territory's north. my colleague caitriona perry spoke to the fao's maximo torero. the problem right now is that what we are observing is that there is no possibility of the amount of food aid that is required to come into the area, there is significant damage to all the infrastructure, even to access to water and health. so all the criteria that we have to establish famine, especially in north gaza, is present. so that's the danger that we are running, and that's why

we need to avoid. now, israel says that it is acting in self—defence, following the october 7th attacks, and it has to check all aid deliveries, it wants to ensure none of it reaches the hands of hamas. so what do you say to benjamin netanyahu, given what you've described there? i think that, right now, is a minute that we increase and allow the food aid to flow into the country. checking doesn't mean that they cannot go food aid has to go massively into the country. and we need to allow people to have access to water. and we need to, as soon as possible, reduce the problems of accessibility to food, and water and energy to this population, if we want to avoid massive loss, additional massive loss of lives. here in the us, a bill that's been worked out between congress and the white house to avoid a government shutdown, would include a one—year ban on direct funding for unrwa. that's the un agency, providing aid to palestinians in gaza. several western countries,

including the united states, temporarily paused unrwa funding injanuary, after isreal�*s allegations that several of the agency's employees particitpated in the october 7th attacks. the un is currently investigating those claims. canada, australia and sweden are among those who have already resumed funding. unrwa supports palestinian refugees across the middle east and provides food and health services in gaza. the us had been unrwa's largest donor, giving more than $300 million per year. the proposed halt in aid comes as dozens of former us officials have sent president biden an open letter, urging him to take a harder line with israel, to protect palestinian civil rights, according to the reuters news agency. the group, which includes former ambassadors and white house officials, said an israeli military operation against hamas was "necessary and justified", but said in part, "the united states must be willing to take "concrete action, includingrestrictions "on provision of us assistance to israel consistent with us "law and policy".

now a special report on the conflict in sudan, which is being described as a "war the world's "forgotten", and within sudan, lies another humanitarian crisis, in the western region of darfur, where the rapid support forces is accused of targeting and killing non—arabs, with reports of hundreds of deaths. the rsf have repeatedly denied any involvement in the violence in the region and called for an independent international investigation. the united nations says that with 8.1 million people forcibly displaced, and tens of thousands killed, this could trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. meanwhile, the bbc uncovered harrowing evidence of the violence experienced by women in the conflict. those affected have spoken of how rape is used as a weapon of revenge. from the chad—sudan border, merchuma has been speaking to women who fled sudan, and a warning — some viewers may find this report distressing. 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, says she 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. i couldn't even tell the doctor, but i told a female psychologist. she approached me and i told her. the un says the sexual violence experienced by women like amina is a defining characteristic of the conflict in sudan. it 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 medecins 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, and 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 says 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. - she talks to me. she says what happened to you happen 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, that its troops are held accountable when incidents occur. but zahra says black african women are being targeted. translation: this is - because rape leaves an impact on society and the family. they use 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. here in the us, a federal appeals court issued an order effectively blocking texas from implementing one of the toughest immigration laws in the us, just hours after it came into effect temporarily. crossing the us border illegally is already a federal crime, but violations are usually handled as civil cases by the immigration court system. president biden�*s administration is challenging the law, known as sba, saying it is unconstitutional, the president will visit the lone star state on thursday.

with 2.5 million people illegally entering the us via the southern border last year, immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in american politics. mexico is pushing back against the controversial law, president lopez obrador said mexico won't accept any deportations from texas. translation: if they intend to do deportations, _ translation: if they intend to do deportations, which - translation: if they intend to do deportations, which is - translation: if they intend to do deportations, which is not i do deportations, which is not up do deportations, which is not up to them, let me say this once and for all: we will not accept deportations from the texan government. we will not stand idly by. texas governor greg abbott remains adamant that the lone star state will continue arresting migrants who cross illegally. texas has the legal authority to arrest people coming across the razor wire barriers on our border, and we will continue to use our arrest authority and arrest people coming across the border illegally.

and as the legal back—and—forth between the state and the us supreme court continues, i spoke to the legal director for american civil liberities union of texas, adriana pinon. she told me what she thinks the federal government should do. whatever solution the federal government enacts needs to recognise the humanity of migrants who are coming here to the united states to seek a better life, to lift up their families, and the solution can't engenderfear lake families, and the solution can't engender fear lake sba is doing among texas communities, orany doing among texas communities, or any community. —— like sba is doing. that is simply not a viable solution. but the solution that needs to be agreed upon needs to be agreed uponin agreed upon needs to be agreed upon in one voice. this is an area where it is imperative that, as a country, we have a unified approach, because the implications of not are disastrous for many areas, including ourforeign relations

including our foreign relations with including ourforeign relations with different countries. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. now to our top story in the uk. new data shows that inflation fell more than expected last month, sliding from a% injanuary to 3.a% in february. that's its lowest level in more than two years. a fall in food prices helped offset rising costs for housing and fuel. prime minister rishi sunak says the uk economy is set for a rebound in 202a. he's been speaking with our economics editor, faisal islam. i do believe that, at the start of this year, we have turned a corner, after the shocks of the past few years, and we are in a new economic moment in 202a. it will prove to be the year that the economy bounces back. sarah green shoots of recovery? that is notjust me saying that, if you talk to businesses like i do across the country,

they are starting to see that and feel that. what is happening in their shops or their restaurants or their companies. mr sunak has pledged to grow the economy, as he faces a general election in the months ahead. at the end of last year, the uk slipped into an economic recession, and inflation remains higher than the 2% target set by the bank of england. you're live with bbc news. schools in afghanistan opened for the new academic year on wednesday, making it the third year in a row with girls banned from joining secondary—level classes. on wednesday morning, uniformed boys carried black and white taliban flags, as they lined the entrance of kabul�*s amani school, where local officials arrived for the ceremonial start of the school year. womenjournalists were expressly forbidden from covering the ceremony, in an invite issued to media outlets. in a statement today, taliban's education ministry claimed to offer a "quality, fair and balanced education", and urged the students to be committed to "islamic "principles, national values and the country's "high national interests." unicef told the bbc that 330,000 afghan girls, aged 13, will be blocked from starting secondary school this week.

i.a million girls have been affected since the taliban took control of the government in 2021. i spoke to afghan human rights activist, pashtana durrani. she's working to provide academic resources to girls in afghanistan. the school year has started in afghanistan. according to unicef more thani afghanistan. according to unicef more than i million girls cannot attend. can you tell us what this moment is like for them? it tell us what this moment is like for them?— tell us what this moment is like for them? . , , ., like for them? it has been more than 2.5 like for them? it has been more than 2-5 years — like for them? it has been more than 2.5 years now _ like for them? it has been more than 2.5 years now for - like for them? it has been more than 2.5 years now for the - than 2.5 years now for the girls not be able to access school or schooling and for teachers not be able to teach. i was speaking to somebody yesterday, and it feels like we are being buried alive and we don't know what to do about it. that's exactly what somebody told one of my friends yesterday. told one of my friends yesterday-— told one of my friends esterda . . , ' . yesterday. that is so difficult to hear, isn't— yesterday. that is so difficult to hear, isn't it? _ yesterday. that is so difficult to hear, isn't it? and - yesterday. that is so difficult to hear, isn't it? and the - to hear, isn't it? and the taliban have said they have to put certain conditions in place in orderfor girls who put certain conditions in place in order for girls who are over sixth grade to be able to go to school, and that letting girl at an older age go to school is not in line with their

interpretation of islamic law. do you see any movement towards putting those conditions in place? i putting those conditions in - lace? . putting those conditions in lace? . ., , putting those conditions in lace? . ., ., , place? i mean, it has already been put _ place? i mean, it has already been put in — place? i mean, it has already been put in place _ place? i mean, it has already been put in place where - place? i mean, it has already been put in place where they| been put in place where they have already supposedly banned education, but then at the same time my question is very simple: how come girls within the geography of afghanistan are supposed to adhere to that sort of conditions, whereas their own daughters can go to school in other countries and can openly access education? why is nobody questioning that hypocrisy in the first place? and then at the same time, when it comes to afghanistan, how come the boys's schools don't have to go through the same thing, don't have to go through curriculum changes, but the girl school is apparently don't have enough maintenance to be done, don't have enough conditions to be met for them to open schools? for me it is just they are buying time and they don't have any answers, given that they banned schools for two decades. how can they justify opening it now. ? if

for two decades. how can they justify opening it now. ?- justify opening it now. ? if we look at what _ justify opening it now. ? if we look at what is _ justify opening it now. ? if we look at what is happening - justify opening it now. ? if we look at what is happening now, you are the executive director of the nonprofit dedicated to education, learn. what is it doing to help dell somehow still access education? the day before yesterday _ still access education? the day before yesterday we _ still access education? the day before yesterday we opened i still access education? the day| before yesterday we opened our fourth school in darfur to educate girls. all of them are from grade seven to grade 12, and many people like us, many nonprofits like us are doing the same thing. we are educating girls underground, basically every time i meet them, and i was talking to them last week in kandahar, they were just so grateful to be in that space. 30 girlsjust graduated from grade 12 in kandahar, and she told me, she was like, can we continue coming to the school even if we graduate from year 12? this is the level of sensitivity people have to request. there were literally women who were crying to get their daughters admitted into our programmes and this is

what all other nonprofits are doing, ensuring that girls stay in school and there is a holistic way where we can educate girls.— holistic way where we can educate girls. how risky is that work _ educate girls. how risky is that work you _ educate girls. how risky is that work you are - educate girls. how risky is that work you are doing? l educate girls. how risky is - that work you are doing? very ris . i that work you are doing? very risky- i mean. _ that work you are doing? very risky. i mean, for _ that work you are doing? very risky. i mean, for me, - that work you are doing? very risky. i mean, for me, yes, i i risky. i mean, for me, yes, i have resources, have these collections, i have these influences, to make it happen, and i going to be very clear and i going to be very clear and transparent about it, and i live in the us and i go to afghanistan when it is safe to me. but it is risky for the women who walk up to that school to teach in their schools, it is risky for those young girls who are barely ia, and they are seen doing something that is illegal according to the current regime, and they are still learning and they are still hopeful and they're still showing up to the schools, they are still learning and teaching, you know? so it is risky in many ways. we have change our space more than seven times because it was under surveillance. there are times when we have to shut down schools for three weeks and it's not normal, it is not normal in today's world that we have to justify girls's education, that we have to do it underground, and we have to

be worried how risky it has to be. ., . . be worried how risky it has to be. ., ., ., ., be. you have written a memoir called last _ be. you have written a memoir called last eight, _ be. you have written a memoir called last eight, last - be. you have written a memoir called last eight, last to - called last eight, last to learn, and you have an incredible story. you actually were born and raised in a refugee camp in pakistan, and your dad thought for your own right to learn. he then got into oxford but then decided to go back to afghanistan to teach girls there. what made you make that decision? i’m girls there. what made you make that decision?— that decision? i'm going to be honest, that decision? i'm going to be honest. it _ that decision? i'm going to be honest, it was _ that decision? i'm going to be honest, it was an _ that decision? i'm going to be honest, it was an inspiration l honest, it was an inspiration and i was two hours admitted into a prep programme, i was supposed to end up in an oxford programme, but nonetheless it was a great opportunity and i could have ended up going to different places but i'm glad i made those decisions and the only reason was because i was so haute —— hating on what was happening. it was not one i need to change the world and teach all the girls in afghanistan, no. i met my own cousin, she was unable to go to school, she was learning on classes from thursday and friday from her nephew who would come from the city to

teacher, and she had to repeat this things until the next time he came. that is not fair and thatis he came. that is not fair and that is where i thought maybe i can help out, but when i started helping her, so that all women, all young girls in my community, who are internally displaced people, they could not access education evenin they could not access education even in safe spaces. for me that became something i wanted to dedicate my life too, and most importantly, my father, the only thing i was taught was if you have resources, if you have influence and if you know things and you have knowledge about it if you are supposed to share it with your community and it is your responsibility to lead that way and adjust to that, i did my part. just to lead that way and ad'ust to that, i did my part._ that, i did my part. just one more question, _ that, i did my part. just one more question, what - that, i did my part. just one more question, what can i that, i did my part. just one | more question, what can the international community do at this point to support learning for women and girls in afghanistan?- for women and girls in afghanistan? for women and girls in afuhanistan? g , ., afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools _ afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools by — afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools by the _ afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools by the end _ afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools by the end of - afghanistan? my goal is to open 34 schools by the end of 2025 i 3a schools by the end of 2025 just to prove to the international community it is possible that afghan people want education for their daughters, that it is very possible in the communities of

afghanistan in the rural communities. the afghan population has to start thinking out of the box, stop talking to the corrupt people who already were in afghanistan, and most importantly we need to talk and have this intergenerational dialogue when it comes to education especially. they really need to come out of this mentality of brick and mortar school mentality, and need to give the people who are doing something on the ground. it can happen. something on the ground. it can ha en. ., , something on the ground. it can hauen. . , ., something on the ground. it can ha en, ., , ., ., 4' happen. really important work ou are happen. really important work you are doing- _ happen. really important work you are doing. thank - happen. really important work you are doing. thank you - happen. really important work you are doing. thank you so i you are doing. thank you so much forjoining us.- you are doing. thank you so much forjoining us. much for “oining us. thank you for much forjoining us. thank you for having _ much forjoining us. thank you for having me. _ let's turn to some important news around the world. the us covenant has started chartered helicopter flights to evacuate nationals from porto plants in haiti. us officials say they should be able to evacuate more than 30 citizens a day. it comes as heavily armed gangs have taken over much of the capital city. anti—trust officials in france have fined google around $270 million, as part of a dispute over intellectual property, and artificial intelligence.

the country's competition watchdog says google failed to tell news organisations that it was using their articles to train its ai chat—bot, called gemini. google has been stuck in a long—running dispute with publishers over how much to pay for content related to results and uses. a judge says that former president donald trump and several co—defendants can appeal a ruling that allows lead prosecutor fani willis to remain on a 2020 us election interference case in georgia. the judge previously ruled willis could stay on the case, as long as a prosecutor she was in a romantic relationship with resigned. it will be up to the appeals court to decide whether to hear it. in a surprising move, the prime minister of ireland, leo varadkar, said he is stepping down as taoiseach and leader of his party. he cited reasons that are both "personal and political". speaking in dublin, he said that being taoiseach had been the most fulfilling time of his life. our ireland correspondent sara girvin has more on the unexpected announcement. just days ago, marking st patrick's day in washington, there was no sign of the shock resignation to come.

my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political. i believe this government can be re—elected. but after careful consideration, and some soul—searching, i believe that a new taoiseach and a new leader will be better placed than me to achieve that. leo varadkar�*s appointment as taoiseach for the first time in 2017 was history—making. at 38, he was the youngest ever irish prime minister, the first from an ethnic background and the first gay leader. his appointment personified a changing and more modern ireland. he championed referendums legalising same—sex marriage and abortion. but it was the brexit negotiations that saw him make his mark on the world stage, with other leaders describing him as a sharp—shooter and straight talker. today, the prime minister, rishi sunak, thanked leo varadkarfor his dedicated service. but political opponents who want their party to take the top job next called

for an early election — today's resignation doesn't immediately trigger one. it's not a time for a rearranging of the deckchairs, and ultimately, it's for the people to decide who will be the taoiseach. so i think it's now over to the people. there should be an election. the republic of ireland is grappling with a cost of living crisis, issues around immigration and massive problems around housing. that's led to a lot of frustration with the current government, particularly among young people. ifeel like everyone in ireland is struggling at the moment, like, with the housing crisis, cost of living. there's not one person we'd speak to who actually like the government that's in now. you think, like, you're going to be living with your parents until 40 years of age, like, you know what i mean? you don't want to be living there. you want to go out and be independent. the republic of ireland has witnessed much change during leo varadkar�*s political career. even if there's no early general election, one is looming within a year, and with a new taoiseach set to be named within weeks, there will be much more change to come.

sara girvin, bbc news in dublin. as sara mentioned there, varadkar�*s tenure as prime minister led to ground—breaking social change in ireland. but not everything he did was met with praise. paul cunningham is a political correspondent for rte, ireland's public broadcaster, and he discussed how varadkar will be remembered as prime minister. i think one of his biggest legacies will be the manner he fought for ireland during the brexit negotiators from the uk leaving the european union, trying to ensure there was not a hard border and many irish politicians were over in the us trying to seek assistance as well as fanning out to try to bolster the irish position.

i think that will be one of his key legacies he will be remembered for. another one will be covid—i9, which struck at a time when he was travelling in the us and had to walk down the steps of a hotel and say that the country was going to be closing down as a result of that. that obviously was a controversial issue and some measures were tough. there are some people who have not forgiven him for that but i think some people viewed him handling that well. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, there. it's been very mild to start this week, very spring—like indeed, and in fact, on wednesday, we saw a temperature of 19 celsius in charnwood, in surrey, making this the warmest spot of the day, but also the highest temperature in england so far this year. things are set to change, though, for the end of the week into the weekend, colder air moving in behind this low pressure system will extend across all areas. it'll feel very different to how the week's begun, but still some mild airfor england and wales on thursday. much windier with outbreaks of rain. scotland and northern ireland,

thanks to that area of low pressure gusts up to 60 miles an hour for the northern and western isles. a bit of sunshine here and there. for england and wales rather cloudy, some sunshine at times. we're still in the mild air mass here. so given some sunshine, we could see temperatures up to 16 or 17 degrees again, but it will be cooler across the north with the stronger winds. as you move through thursday night, the cooler air and this band of rain, a cold front will sink southwards across england and wales. behind it, it's much colder, there'll be a rash of showers, these wintry on the hills across scotland. you can see the temperatures there to start friday, but milderfor england and wales. but it won't last, as that cold front sinks southwards across the midlands, southern england through friday. eventually, it'll clear through, skies will brighten up, but we'll all be into the cooler air by the end of friday and there'll be a rash of blustery showers again for scotland, northern ireland, maybe north—west england. they will be wintry on the hills across scotland. thus the mild weather across the southeast, 12 or 13 degrees. into the weekend, it'll be noticeably colder and windier for all areas.

a mixture of sunshine and showers and these showers will have a wintry element to them, certainly on the hills. you can see the colder air moving in behind that cold front. by the time we move out of friday night into saturday, we're all into that colder air. lots of isobars on the charts, so it's going to be blustery, windy, particularly in exposure with strong west north—westerly winds. lots of showers rattling through, as you can see. the white colours indicating hail, maybe some sleet, snow over the hills. some sunshine in between. it's not going to be raining all the time. these are the temperatures, though, seven to ten degrees. factor in the wind, it could feel even colder than that. so a bit of a shock to the system after such a mild start to the week. sunday, marginally better, i think, although a blustery day, not quite as windy, and we should see more sunshine around. there'll still be few showers dotted around northern and eastern areas, but more sunshine around, slightly lighter winds. it may feel a little bit better across the board. take care.

no change to interest rates in the us as inflation persists. we'll look at what lies ahead for the world's largest economy. and how one asian airline is dealing with challenges as it tries to meet sky—rocketing demand. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. let's begin in the us, where the federal reserve has left interest rates unchanged at the end of its two—day

policy meeting, in a widely expected decision. the central bank has been trying to cool inflation in the world's largest economy — that is still above its 2% target. the bbc�*s erin delmore has more from new york. to hear chairmanjerome powell tell it, the federal reserve is looking for its goldilocks path forward, making sure the bank doesn't reduce interest rates too much too soon or too little, too late. officials decided wednesday to keep the benchmark interest rate at between 5.25% and 5.5%. it remains unchanged sincejuly. and while the suspense lies around when the fed will cut interest rates, powell didn't give any hints. he did say that the fed wants to see inflation falling sustainably toward the 2% goal before going ahead with any rate cuts. he made the case for a cautious path forward. inflation has eased substantially, while the labour market has remained strong. and that is very good news. but inflation is still too high.

ongoing progress in bringing it down is not assured,