scotland's new hate crime law comes into force — but could it harm free speech, as its critics claim? and germany partially legalises cannabis to tackle the black market trade — coming up we have a special report. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. sarah campbell. israel's military says it has completed its operation at gaza's biggest hospital, al—shifa, and has withdrawn its troops from the area. the hospital had been under siege for two weeks. the hamas—run health ministry and palestinian witnesses had earlier reported tanks pulling back from the heavily bombarded hospital—complex in gaza city. the hospital and its surrounds have been left in ruins

following the two—week operation. buildings have been reduced to rubble and the few remaining are little more than shells. these pictures obtained by newsagency reuters show what is left inside the complex. israel has previously said it was carrying out precise operations against hamas and islamichhad fighters, and had killed 200 of them. reuters reports that hundreds of people returned to the area around the hospital after the troop withdrawal. they said they found a sea of rubble. one medic saying that destruction is �*far and wide�* in the shifa compound. a spokesman for gaza's civil emergency service told the newsagency that bulldozers were used to dig up the grounds of the complex and exhume bodies. meanwhile, hundreds of israeli protesters have spent the night in tents outside parliament injerusalem to press their demand for prime minister benjamin netanyahu to step down — and seeking a deal to have the hostages held in gaza released. thousands of people rallied

in jerusalem for what they're calling the largest anti—government protest since the war in the gaza strip began, nearly six months ago. the protests took place on sunday as mr netanyahu had surgery for a hernia. his office later reporting that the procedure had been successful. bushra khalidi is the policy lead for the occupied palestinian territory for oxfam. she told me more about the flow of aid into gaza. i mean, at the moment, we are getting aid in through the two open crossing points that israel has opened, which is the rafah crossing point and the kerem shalom crossing point. but unfortunately, this is not enough. it's not enough for the scale of need where we're seeing families starving. we're seeing children dying of starvation. we are seeing people in the north living in famine like conditions. it's absolutely harrowing,

and making ourjob really impossible, with israeli restrictions that have obstructed our ability to work in the way that we would want to work. and furthermore, it's been a week since the vote at the un security council for a ceasefire, and that's something that we as humanitarians have been pleading for world leaders to impos and enforce, because that's what would really allow us to do ourjob properly — not delivering aid under relentless bombardment. you mentioned the calls for a ceasefire. of course, you will be aware that the un's top court also ordered israel, it said, to enable the unhindered flow of aid into gaza — that was three or four days ago. is there any sense that aid has speeded up at all, that any of those restrictions that you talk about are being reduced? yesterday, again, it's only 230, it's about an average of 200 trucks a day.

pre 7th october, it was an average of 500 trucks a day, so you would have days where 1,000 trucks come into gaza, and that was not when there were famine like conditions and children dying of starvation. we're talking about an up—scale that is insurmountable, really, that is needed, and that is not happening. 230 trucks are not going to meet the needs of 2.2 million people, basically the majority of which are on the brink of starvation. another portion of them on their way to famine. we're just looking pictures at the moment of the rafah crossing, and part of the issue with it is what is allowed in and what is not, and there isn't consistency there. absolutely, and israel's obstruction of aid, and not just dual use materials, we have had many items rejected at oxfam, where often it's arbitrary. so when we appeal those decisions,

it might even pass, but the thing is that has already caused a delay. it has already caused a backstop. often, everything in the truck might pass, but one item might be considered dual use and so the entire truck is rejected. also, the fact that there are minimal operational hours on the crossings — that's also causing a delay. also the fact that the trucks can only be full — they can't be full to max capacity, we can only fill them up half way. that's also causing a lot of trucks, a huge queue of trucks, because they're not full — they're not allowed to be full. that's another requirement from the israeli authorities. so israel continues to keep borders closed, and israel is an occupying power. it actually has the duty and the obligation to protect the civilian population in gaza because it occupies gaza, but it chooses not to ensure

that this population, that is now at the brink of famine, it doesn't choose to protect it. in fact, it's all the contrary. that was bushra khalidi talking to me from oxfam. our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, injerusalem, told us more about the al—shifa operation. quite dramatic footage emerging from shifa hospital which was previously the largest hospital in the gaza strip and the beating heart really of its health care system. now we've seen hundreds of palestinians returning there and looking at the ruins of these buildings. for two weeks, there has been fierce fighting going on between israeli forces and they went back in a second raid of this war and said that they were acting on precise intelligence that hamas had regrouped there and was using the hospital as a base. and they say they killed something

like 200 palestinian gunmen in the course of their operation and that they arrested around 500 hamas and islamichhad figures, including some senior people. they say that they found weapons and cash and very important intelligence documents there. palestinians have been saying that they are finding many bodies, dozens of them there, in the dirt at the hospital. we are getting unverified reports that a couple of doctors have been found and actually a mother and her son who were working at shifa hospital and local people say that this is just devastating for the neighbourhoods nearby. they really have been razed to the ground by this operation. this is clearly going to be a developing story as people go back to look through the ruins. let's talk about what has been happening injerusalem overnight because there had been widescale protests?

people sleeping out intents. what are they protesting about? these are anti—government protesters and during the duration of the war we had anti—government protests taking place in israel at least every week for much of last year. they will really put on hold in an effort to bring people together after the shock and horror of those 7th of october attacks on southern israel. now for the last few days, we've seen tens of thousands of people again returning to the streets in tel aviv and going out in other cities in israel and injerusalem a number of protesters went to the parliament and they have been calling for new elections, for the prime minister to resign and the accusation really has been that he is putting his own political survival before any deal that could bring about a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. mr netanyahu has come out firmly

denying that that is the case and really saying that if elections would be held right now, that would be playing into the hands of hamas and they will be the ones to benefit the most because this is the middle of the war. and while this is going on, mr netanyahu has been in hospital? yes, back on saturday, he had a routine checkup and that showed the need for hernia surgery. so in the midst of those protests taking place late yesterday, he was off to the hospital for this hernia operation which took him out of action for a few hours. but very quickly we were told that he had made a good recovery and the operation had gone very well and that he is back in control. yolande knell there. to turkey now — where president erdogan�*s governing party has suffered its biggest defeat in local elections. the main opposition party, the chp, won in the six largest urban

centres, including istanbul. mr erdogan has promised to respect the decision of the nation. before the election, he had said that this would be the last time he led his party into municipal elections. his term as president is due to end in 2028. translation: we will not disrespect our nation's - decision in any way. we will avoid being stubborn, acting against the national will and questioning the judgment of our nation, as we have done so far. we will take the necessary steps by analysing the messages given by the nation at the ballot box, most accurately and objectively within the reason and in our inner conscience. this vote was held in all of turkey's 81 provinces — but it won't affect the parliament. in the last general election — nine months ago — president erdogan�*s party narrowly retained power, but it seems his support is starting to wane.

the main opposition, chp, retained control of ankara, istanbul, izmir, adana and antalya — and won control in bursa and balikesir. it now appears to have growing support across the country. among the key reasons, perhaps, turkey's stubbornly high rate of inflation, which stood, according to some measurements, at an annual rate of 67% in february. this latest set of results would seem to strengthen the position of the chp mayor of istanbul — ekrem imamoglu. he won that city with more than 50% of the vote — and told his supporters that the outcome signalled a very important message to the world. translation: in this world, unfortunately,| democracies were weakening. while these democracies were weakening, authoritarian regimes came to power. many articles around the world asked if we were coming at the end of democratic regimes. 31st march 2024 is the day when democratic erosion in turkey ended and democracy is rising again.

for more, i spoke to freelance journalist victoria craig in istanbul about how the local elections hold national significance. so many people across the country but this comes down to national identity in the future of politics. certainly as you outline, in istanbul especially, that was the case. as we saw the mayor won the election and many people are seeing this as, i guess, an affirmation of his continuation in politics. he had long been seen as an opportunity to retake or to take control at the presidential palace in ankara and thatis presidential palace in ankara and that is now the case now he has won the election here by such a wide

margin. in the next presidential race in the next general election in four years, race in the next general election in fouryears, he race in the next general election in four years, he will be the one to be nominated. so huge things at stake for both sides. find nominated. so huge things at stake for both sides.— for both sides. and what was in the minds of voters _ for both sides. and what was in the minds of voters when _ for both sides. and what was in the minds of voters when they - for both sides. and what was in the minds of voters when they went - for both sides. and what was in the minds of voters when they went to | minds of voters when they went to the polling booths? we talked about the polling booths? we talked about the inflation rate of 67% according to one measurement, that is extraordinarily high?- to one measurement, that is extraordinarily high? yes, inflation at 'ust extraordinarily high? yes, inflation atjust under— extraordinarily high? yes, inflation at just under 7096. _ extraordinarily high? yes, inflation at just under 7096. at _ extraordinarily high? yes, inflation at just under 7096. at the - extraordinarily high? yes, inflation at just under 7096. at the same - extraordinarily high? yes, inflation i atjust under 7096. at the same time, atjust under 70%. at the same time, interest rates at 50%. the central bank recently raised it to 50% about two weeks ago. what is a little ironic about all of this, is the economy is far and away the biggest issue for the voters. it was in the general election last year when voters sent president erdogan back to the presidential palace. this time they said enough is enough. so many voters, particularly here, said inflation and the cost of living is

too much because when interest rates rise that makes credit more expensive and that makes it harder to offset the cost of living onto credit cards. but president erdogan when he won the election, he put in a new finance minister and for the last almost year they have been working to bring down that high inflation rate. that working to bring down that high inflation rate.— inflation rate. that was the journalist _ inflation rate. that was the journalist victoria - inflation rate. that was the journalist victoria craig - inflation rate. that was the . journalist victoria craig talking inflation rate. that was the - journalist victoria craig talking to me a little earlier from istanbul. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

a new and controversial hate crime law has come into effect in scotland. the law creates a new offence of stirring up hatred in relation to personal characteristics including age, disability, religion and sexual orientation. the government says it will protect minority groups from prejudice and hatred. but critics argue it

will undermine freedom of speech — and police fear the legislation could be weaponised for political purposes. here's the first minister humza yousaf commenting on the new bill. the only concern you should have when it comes to the new stirring up offences is if your behaviour is threatening or abusive and intends to stir up hatred. and by the way, even if that is the case, there are some defences such as the reasonable personal defence and so on and so forth. so unless your behaviour is threatening or abusive and intends to stir up hatred, then you have nothing to worry about in terms of the new offence that has been created. if your behaviour is threatening or abusive and doesn't —— does intend to stir up hatred, againstjews or muslims or disabled people or gay people, then i think the law should protect those people from being victims of that potential hatred. i think that is really important. so whether what is happening online or twitter lists that are being created, all of that frankly is irrelevant. what is relevant is the threshold for criminality which will apply in terms of the act

that is coming into force. let's speak to professorjames chalmers, professor of law at the university of glasgow, who was involved in the process that led to the law being passed. hello to you and thank you for talking to us on bbc news. this is not an easy area to legislate on. why were these laws needed? mast not an easy area to legislate on. why were these laws needed? most of all, the why were these laws needed? most of all. they pull— why were these laws needed? most of all, they pull together _ why were these laws needed? most of all, they pull together hate _ all, they pull together hate crime law from lots of different statutes. we have had a hate crime law across the decades and this in scotland pulls it together in one place. it does make some extensions, such as the one you have mentioned about the new offences of stirring up hatred. england already has some of these offences, stirring up hatred in relation to religion or sexual orientation but this act goes a little further. it orientation but this act goes a little further.— orientation but this act goes a little further. it does go a little further, explain _ little further. it does go a little further, explain how— little further. it does go a little further, explain how much - little further. it does go a little i further, explain how much further little further. it does go a little - further, explain how much further it goes. it further, explain how much further it noes. ., , ., goes. it goes further in that there are also categories _ goes. it goes further in that there are also categories of— goes. it goes further in that there are also categories of age, - are also categories of age, disability and trans identity. that

comes at a sensitive time in scottish politics, given the debate against gender identity and the self id legislation which was blocked by westminster after being passed in holyrood. that is where a lot of it is coming from in this context. there is a lot of concern over this issue of whether it is curbing freedom of speech. elon musk and jk rowling saying this is a curb on free speech. what is the counter to that? fix. free speech. what is the counter to that? �* ., ., ., , free speech. what is the counter to that? ~ ., ., ., , y ., that? a letter of the law, as you have heard _ that? a letter of the law, as you have heard from _ that? a letter of the law, as you have heard from the _ that? a letter of the law, as you have heard from the first - that? a letter of the law, as you l have heard from the first minister already, is very high. you have to have a use of context and it has to be intended to stir up hatred. so the existing offence of stirring up racial hatred, which we have had since 1965, there is an average one case prosecuted in scotland per year and it has a lower threshold for prosecution. intent doesn't have to be proven. the kind of cases this could catch are actually pretty extreme. cases of prosecution for

stirring up racial hedge trade in the past are people calling for groups of people to be killed or injured. this is not being about rude or even violent to somebody on twitter. but rude or even violent to somebody on twitter. �* , ., ., twitter. but he will be aware when we have come _ twitter. but he will be aware when we have come you _ twitter. but he will be aware when we have come you mention - twitter. but he will be aware when we have come you mention to - twitter. but he will be aware when - we have come you mention to twitter, when you have social media, it has taken the level of debate to a whole different level, hasn't it? absolutely. there is the fear of legislation like this that people think this is a tool to shut your opponents down, to claim that somebody you disagree with this being hateful and should be silenced. the law does not do that. it is perfectly possible because of the perception of what the law might do, which quite often is far removed from the letter of the law, that we see a number of complaints to the police. though should not go anywhere and to police scotland should deal with them robustly and tell people that it doesn't come close to being an offence but that may be an issue in the initial implementation stage of the legislation. implementation stage of the legislation-— implementation stage of the leaislation. ., , , ., ,, legislation. you bring up an issue i was auoin legislation. you bring up an issue i was going to _ legislation. you bring up an issue i was going to talk _ legislation. you bring up an issue i was going to talk about _ legislation. you bring up an issue i was going to talk about there. - legislation. you bring up an issue i i was going to talk about there. there has been concern raised about the police issue and whether this is

going to mean that rather than investigating other crimes, they are looking into whether something is or is not a hate crime which is mentioned on social media. lee mentioned on social media. lee scotland has — mentioned on social media. lee: scotland has said mentioned on social media. l22 scotland has said they will investigate every report but that is not new. they have had that statement in their hate crime policy for some time does not investigation could simply be looking at what they have been pointed to online and saying, that is obviously not a crime and taking it no further. but if an investigation goes beyond that, obviously it is difficult for people to be involved in a police investigation even if it cannot go anywhere. there is a need for complaints, whether or not justified, to be dealt with robustly not go further. you justified, to be dealt with robustly not go further-— justified, to be dealt with robustly not go further. you talked about the ersonal not go further. you talked about the personal characteristics _ not go further. you talked about the personal characteristics which - not go further. you talked about the personal characteristics which are i personal characteristics which are included in the bill, age, disability, sexual orientation. women not included, as in hate crime against women. why was that not deemed suitable for this particular bill? , ., ,., , ., , .,

bill? the proposals for the legislation _ bill? the proposals for the legislation did _ bill? the proposals for the legislation did propose - bill? the proposals for the - legislation did propose putting in that. lots objected to that because there were stand—alone legislation. a separate review by helen mckenzie and her proposed legislation will be introduced into the parliament later this year. so there will be a separate legislation, rather than trying to deal with misogynistic crime in exactly the same way as other hate crimes.— crime in exactly the same way as other hate crimes. 0k, we will leave it there. thank _ other hate crimes. 0k, we will leave it there. thank you _ other hate crimes. 0k, we will leave it there. thank you very _ other hate crimes. 0k, we will leave it there. thank you very much, - it there. thank you very much, professorjames chalmers. let's get some of the day s other news now. salvage crews at the us port of baltimore have removed the first section of the bridge that collapsed when it was hit by a container ship six days ago. a statement from the coast guard said a first section of the francis scott key bridge, weighing 200 tonnes, had been cut free. it's being transferred onto a barge, which will take it ashore. in ecuador — at least eight people were killed and eight others injured when gunmen

opened fire in the port city of guayaquil. it is the second mass killing ecuador has suffered in two days. russian artists in buenos aires who tried to paint a large portrait of the late russian opposition figure, alexei navalny — were stopped by local police shortly before finishing it. dozens of supporters chanted "navalny" and put flowers beside the mural. the kremlin critic died on 16th of february in an arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19—year sentence. from today, people in germany can legally smoke cannabis — in public. hundreds of people filled berlin's brandenburg gate at midnight for a "smoke—in" as the new law came into effect. the partial—decriminalisation follows decades of contentious debate. the rules around medical marijuana are also being relaxed. our berlin correspondent, jessica parker, reports from dresden. it's out in the open.

adults in germany can now possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public — enough to make dozens ofjoints — and grow up to three plants at home. while people like marcel are planning newly permitted cannabis social clubs. not for tourists, though — just german residents. and every gram of cannabis which goes from the cannabis social club is one gram that's not on the black market. what do you say to people who say, look, cannabis is addictive and it is harmful, especially to young people? everything has dark sides. and you have to know about the dark sides and only when it's not illegal, you can freely talk about these dark sides. but these cannabis clubs in cities like dresden won't pop up overnight, and come with their own rules — exacerbating fears that demand will quickly outstrip legal supply. translation: we assume

that the black market - will be strengthened, particularly at the beginning in the chaos phase, when demand would be great because of the signal this law sends. the black market and criminal networks will adapt and they will also infiltrate the social clubs. into the highly secure halls of a medical cannabis grower, who are also seeing some deregulation. cannabis will not be a narcotic any more in germany. it will be just as any other pharmaceutical product, which makes it much more easier for patients to get it from a doctor and to get it from the pharmacy. they keep this room at around 23 degrees, but it's also really quite humid. now, there are 650—ish plants in this room and they are almost ready to be harvested. and the psychoactive substances... the benefits of medical cannabis are debated, while the relaxation around recreational use has been contentious. this is an argument in germany

that likely hasn't yet reached full maturity. jessica parker, bbc news, in dresden. you can of course keep up with all the news lines from here in the uk and around the world on the bbc news website. you can see there that there is all the latest on the reaction to those turkish elections. the turkish president acknowledging that his party suffered its worst ever defeat in local elections. all the details, all at the news stories on the bbc news website. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. today we have seen some rain moving very slowly northwards, followed by some sunshine and some showers. that pattern will continue over the next few days. we will keep those colder east or north—easterly

winds in scotland, whereas much further south, the winds are south—westerly, bringing milder conditions and that is where the wet weather will be coming in from. these are our temperatures this easter monday afternoon. making 15 in east anglia and the south—east. a bit more chilly and the rain in northern england and southern scotland. the rain is continuing to move northwards this evening. the showers that follow tend to fade away but we will keep some showers running eastwards across southern counties of england. that rain in northern england and northern ireland pushes further north into scotland. the lowest temperatures tonight will be as the cloud breaks up tonight will be as the cloud breaks up in the north—east of england. we still have some patchy rain tomorrow in scotland, particularly in the north—east of scotland. early showers in the south—east will be followed by some sunny spells. cloud will build up, shower is likely to develop and then we will see some further rain in the south—west in the afternoon. temperatures are more widely going to reach 111—15 in the midlands and eastern parts of england and with some sunshine and the showers but quite a bit more

chilly and the stronger wind in the north—east of scotland. we have got some rain in the south—west during the afternoon, that is pushing northwards on tuesday night. this area of low pressure will be sitting over the uk on wednesday, keeping a very unsettled. showers are longer spells of rain moving northwards across england and wales, into scotland and northern ireland. southern parts of england and wales probably turning drier with more sunshine during the afternoon. that will give the temperature is a bit of a boost. only seven or eight with the cold north—easterly wind in scotland and also the rain as well. these are the upper level winds, the jet stream pattern. this is going to be maintained over the next few days. thejet be maintained over the next few days. the jet stream be maintained over the next few days. thejet stream picking up areas of low pressure and then sliding them up from the south—west, together with the weather fronts bringing the spells of rain. so we have some wet weather to begin on thursday northern scotland. another band of rain moves northwards, followed by some showers and then we see some further longer spells of rain arriving in southern parts of

england and wales during thursday afternoon. temperatures show the same sort of theme, milder in england and wales, cold in the wind in the north and east of scotland.

shock results in turkey —

voters deliver a blow to president erdogan. the rise of hands—free driving — but can the technology be trusted? welcome to world business report. we start in turkey, where results in local elections have dealt a surprising blow to president erdogan and his governing ak party. the main opposition party is claiming victory after voting in 81 provinces. the economy was a major issue for voters, with inflation close to an eye—watering 70%. i'm nowjoined by dr ibrahim unal mis, who is professor of economics, at bachay—sheyhir university and is a former economist with the central bank. thank you so much forjoining us. what do these results mean, then, for turkey? i what do these results mean, then, for turkey?— for turkey? i think the results of send a very _

for turkey? i think the results of send a very clear _ for turkey? i think the results of send a very clear signal -