a world first goes up in flames. a world first smoking ban future generations is to be debated by mps here in the uk. and the olympic flame is lit at a ceremony in greece's ancient olympia ahead of the summer games in paris. hello. we start this hour with the latest on the middle east. israel has urged more than 30 countries to impose sanctions on iran's missile programme and designate the revolutionary guards as a terrorist organisation. it's part of the diplomatic offensive after iran's drone attack on israel at the weekend. rishi sunak is to discuss the situation today with his israeli counterpart benjamin netanyahu and will urge restraint after iran's unprecedented attack. rishi sunak said he would discuss how to prevent a further escalation in hostilities.

the israeli government's diplomatic offensive comes as it considers a military response. officials are insisting they will retaliate over the massive barrage of missiles. benjamin netanyahu's called on the international community to stand united against the run. the white house has described iran's attack on israel as a spectacular and embarrassing failure. our chief international correspondent can give us more on developments. tera international correspondent can give us more on developments. two days after the skies _ us more on developments. two days after the skies over _ us more on developments. two days after the skies over israel— us more on developments. two days after the skies over israel were - after the skies over israel were filled by iranian cruise and ballistic missiles as well as suicide drones, israel is making it absolutely clear that it will hit back. the question is, how and when? what seems clear now is it will take many forms. this morning israel's foreign minister has said he is leading a political war against iran. he has written to dozens of

countries urging them to sanction iran's revolutionary guard in order to isolate iran. we've also heard from the military officials as well. yesterday the israeli chief of staff visited an airbase which was struck by several iranian missiles. israel says it has suffered limited damage but he took that occasion to say that israel will respond. the war cabinet has already met twice and while it has not said anything officially, media are reporting that despite the cabinet they are agreed that israel must respond in some way. it is taking these steps in the midst of growing calls from around the world including from its staunchest allies in washington and london that they must exercise restraint. that is the message

coming from iran, the iranian foreign minister has met his chinese counterpart and said that iran also did not want this crisis to escalate. he emphasised again that iran had acted in legitimate self—interest in responding to the attack on its consulate in the syrian capital damascus when what is believed to have been israeli strike destroyed its consular access and killed some of its top officials with the iranian revolutionary guard. letsjoin the with the iranian revolutionary guard. lets join the director of the middle east and north africa programme had a chat in house. —— at chatham house. you have described this as a new pyridine in the middle east. what exactly does that mean? we woke up on sunday after a night

of incredible tension with iran directly— of incredible tension with iran directly striking israel with drones and missiles, something we have not seen ever_ and missiles, something we have not seen ever with the level of tension across_ seen ever with the level of tension across the — seen ever with the level of tension across the middle east or between israel_ across the middle east or between israel and — across the middle east or between israel and iran. to add the stories that have — israel and iran. to add the stories that have been added for many decades— that have been added for many decades now. this changes the game because _ decades now. this changes the game because we _ decades now. this changes the game because we could see an israeli counterattack and that could spill over into — counterattack and that could spill over into a — counterattack and that could spill over into a wider regional war. iran said it carried _ over into a wider regional war. iran said it carried out _ over into a wider regional war. i�*sfi said it carried out a carefully calibrated attack and israel however and its allies do not see it in that way, underlining that in these wars perception matters.— way, underlining that in these wars perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding _ perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding to _ perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding to the _ perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding to the attack - perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding to the attack on - perception matters. absolutely. iran was responding to the attack on its i was responding to the attack on its damascus — was responding to the attack on its damascus consulate facilities and israet— damascus consulate facilities and israel before that has been trying

to push— israel before that has been trying to push iran backed groups like hezbollah and hamas away from israel's — hezbollah and hamas away from israel's borders in order to improve and create — israel's borders in order to improve and create deterrence and manage israel's _ and create deterrence and manage israel's broader security challenge that it _ israel's broader security challenge that it faces against the islamic republic. iran's attack in response to the _ republic. iran's attack in response to the continued killing of irg see members — to the continued killing of irg see members across the region and in syria _ members across the region and in syria particular was about iran putting — syria particular was about iran putting down its red lines and saying — putting down its red lines and saying there is nothing enough and we're _ saying there is nothing enough and we're not _ saying there is nothing enough and we're not going allow israel to continuously integrate our capabilities and kill our personnel around _ capabilities and kill our personnel around the region. but again this is around the region. but again this is a dangerous— around the region. but again this is a dangerous inflection point, the international community is trying to impress— international community is trying to impress upon israel that a prolonged approach _ impress upon israel that a prolonged approach and may be a gradual response — approach and may be a gradual response to iran is better and that the priority— response to iran is better and that the priority right now should be to return _ the priority right now should be to

return the — the priority right now should be to return the focus and to attend to the crisis — return the focus and to attend to the crisis that is under way and gaza — the crisis that is under way and gaza |n— the crisis that is under way and gaza. ., , the crisis that is under way and gaza. . , ., ., ~ the crisis that is under way and gaza. . , ., ., ,, ., gaza. in iran they are talking about a new equation. — gaza. in iran they are talking about a new equation, that _ gaza. in iran they are talking about a new equation, that it's _ gaza. in iran they are talking about a new equation, that it's no - gaza. in iran they are talking about a new equation, that it's no longer| a new equation, that it's no longer an issue of strategic patients, their long—standing policy. israel could for example choose to attack hezbollah in lebanon rather than iran directly but would iran feel it has to retaliate?— has to retaliate? that's a critical cuestion. has to retaliate? that's a critical question. what _ has to retaliate? that's a critical question. what iran _ has to retaliate? that's a critical question. what iran did - has to retaliate? that's a critical question. what iran did say - has to retaliate? that's a critical| question. what iran did say after has to retaliate? that's a critical. question. what iran did say after it began _ question. what iran did say after it began the — question. what iran did say after it began the missile attacks is first of all— began the missile attacks is first of all the — began the missile attacks is first of all the attacks were over and they— of all the attacks were over and they wanted to use these tactical and carefully calibrated strikes to send _ and carefully calibrated strikes to send a _ and carefully calibrated strikes to send a message. but they have followed — send a message. but they have followed their own by saying that attacks _ followed their own by saying that attacks on iran proper but also attacks — attacks on iran proper but also attacks on— attacks on iran proper but also attacks on the proxy groups, iran's partners _ attacks on the proxy groups, iran's partners in — attacks on the proxy groups, iran's partners in the region, would also see iran _ partners in the region, would also see iran respond. iran wants to change _ see iran respond. iran wants to change the — see iran respond. iran wants to

change the calculus and wants to have _ change the calculus and wants to have israel on the defensive, on its back foot, — have israel on the defensive, on its back foot, not being able to anticipate how iran will respond. i imagine _ anticipate how iran will respond. i imagine that israel is going to try to perhaps and push back against hezbollah and may be in this moment try to _ hezbollah and may be in this moment try to avoid _ hezbollah and may be in this moment try to avoid directly attacking iran, — try to avoid directly attacking iran, particularly because president biden— iran, particularly because president biden and _ iran, particularly because president biden and most of the west is trying to impress _ biden and most of the west is trying to impress upon israel that the moment— to impress upon israel that the moment for regional conflict is not now _ moment for regional conflict is not now. �* ._ , moment for regional conflict is not now. �* , moment for regional conflict is not now. . ., ., moment for regional conflict is not now. ., ., now. always good to hear your observations. _ now. always good to hear your observations. thank _ now. always good to hear your observations. thank you - now. always good to hear your observations. thank you very l now. always good to hear your - observations. thank you very much forjoining us. find observations. thank you very much forjoining us— for “oining us. and a reminder that we forjoining us. and a reminder that we have a special— forjoining us. and a reminder that we have a special live _ forjoining us. and a reminder that we have a special live page - forjoining us. and a reminder that we have a special live page up - forjoining us. and a reminder that we have a special live page up andj we have a special live page up and running with the latest developments from the middle east including analysis from the rest of our team of experts across the region. some

breaking news to bring you, a muslim family has failed in a high court legal challenge against a pre—ban at a secondary school in london. it argued that the ban at michaela school which was introduced last year this committed against muslim pupils. let's go live to the newsroom and our education editor. i wonder if you can just explain the background to this case. the background _ background to this case. the background to _ background to this case. tue: background to this case. he background to this case. tt9: background to this case is background to this case. tt9 background to this case is that michaela school is very academically successful school, also school which is very determinedly nonreligious. it is secular in its approach and has very strict set of rules. around enforcing integration and what it describes as a very inclusive environment for everyone. it is a highly structured schoolday and has limits on the number of pupils who can mix at any one time. last year it introduced a pre—ban after some

muslim pupils started praying together in the schoolyard and then asking for space inside to pray. this legal challenge was brought by one of the pupils and their family anonymously to the high court, challenging the school on the basis that it had not consulted widely enough with pupils or parents or the local muslim community and also that in effect the band discriminated against muslim pupils in particular because of the requirements to pray and also because of the need to have and also because of the need to have a clear space in which to physically pre—, unlike christian pupils who for example might be able to walk around the yard silently praying in the head. find around the yard silently praying in the head. : , ., the head. and they have lost the case, the head. and they have lost the case. what _ the head. and they have lost the case, what has _ the head. and they have lost the case, what has the _ the head. and they have lost the case, what has the judge - the head. and they have lost the case, what has the judge had - the head. and they have lost the case, what has the judge had to | the head. and they have lost the - case, what has the judge had to say? thejudge has said case, what has the judge had to say? the judge has said that the ethos of the school, its approach, its strict

behaviour codes, its secular nature were all made very clear. there are other schools nearby that do for example offer a prayer room what a prayer space to muslim pupils. around a third of the local community are from different muslim communities and within michaela school around half of the pupils are from a muslim background. the head teacher describes herself as the straight text head teacher in england and has also made it clear that she sets out the strict behaviour codes, the strict rules, which include no more than four pupils gathering together at break time when families are choosing the school. thejudges time when families are choosing the school. the judges fundamentally accepted their argument either the light of that the measures put in place were proportionate for the school to support its ethos. and this has implications for every other state funded school in england

that might in future face similar requests. that might in future face similar reuuests. :, that might in future face similar reuuests. . ., ., , :, requests. have we had any reaction et from requests. have we had any reaction yet from either _ requests. have we had any reaction yet from either party? _ requests. have we had any reaction yet from either party? the - requests. have we had any reactionl yet from either party? the judgment yet from either party? the “udgment has literally just * yet from either party? the “udgment has literallyjust arrived. _ yet from either party? the judgment has literally just arrived. it's - has literallyjust arrived. it's very closely argued. it will be looked at carefully by schools and the department for education. we are awaiting a response from the family who remain anonymous and also from the school. the head teacher said it's a very high profile and sometimes controversial head teacher, she advocates what she calls tiger teaching, strict approach to behaviour and an emphasis on promoting a shared british values rather than focusing on the differences from different communities coming from the very multicultural area in which fiscal sets near wembley stadium in north london. we sets near wembley stadium in north london. ~ :, sets near wembley stadium in north london. ~ . ., :, london. we have had some reaction from the government, _ london. we have had some reaction from the government, the _ london. we have had some reaction| from the government, the education secretary has just tweeted, i have

always been clear that head teachers are best placed to make decisions in their school. michaela is an outstanding school and i hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils. we will have more on that as we get it. we move now to denmark and fire has engulfed copenhagen plasma gold stock exchange, one of the danish capital is oldest and most distinctive buildings. this footage shows the spire of the building dating back to 1625. a blaze and then collapsing. everyone inside was able to leave with some rushing to rescue some of its historic paintings. denmark's culture minister said 400 years of danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames. the old stock exchange was being renovated and has been covered in scaffolding as protective plastic. it currently houses the dangers —— danish chamber of commerce and the spokesman described

the scene as a terrible sight. firefighters are still attempting to put the blaze out and they say it is very extensive with the copper roof keeping the heat in. let's just take a moment to show you what the old stock exchange building looks like before the fire. this picture was taken five years ago and it shows the twisting spire which was put up in the 17th century and which has now collapsed. the building is in the city centre next to the danish parliament. let's go live to adrian mariappa, a journalist based in copenhagen. the smoke still bullying out behind you, what is the latest? the operation is still continuing. there are several different cruise with hoses spraying water onto that fire. it was only a few moments ago that i could see flames coming out

of the side of the building and in the centre you can now see a doorway and flames right through the centre. they have been working around the clock, there are at least a dozen fire engines. it is cordoned off by police. there is also military presence. it will be several hours before they can completely put out that fire. we are right in the heart of copenhagen, literally within 100 of copenhagen, literally within100 metres of the danish parliament. it's the opposite side of the square. it started early this morning. we understand the people who were inside the building did manage to evacuate and the police say they are no reports of injuries. the adjacent building was also evacuated. as you can see, the building has been devastated and it's a really iconic building that has been here for 400 years right in the heart of copenhagen. tote has been here for 400 years right in the heart of copenhagen.—

has been here for 400 years right in the heart of copenhagen. we saw some ictures of the heart of copenhagen. we saw some pictures of members _ the heart of copenhagen. we saw some pictures of members of— the heart of copenhagen. we saw some pictures of members of the _ the heart of copenhagen. we saw some pictures of members of the public- pictures of members of the public rushing to help get some of the historic paintings out of the building when the fire started. yes. it was home — building when the fire started. yes. it was home to _ building when the fire started. yes. it was home to the _ building when the fire started. 1913 it was home to the danish building when the fire started. t9; it was home to the danish chamber of commerce but this is a very old building and goes back to 1625 and someone said its museum like so there are lots of artworks inside. i am sure they will be many now trying to work out what they have managed to work out what they have managed to salvage and rescue and what sadly would have been destroyed inside that fire. it's a picture postcard building. the spire itself with four dragons that crave around. you see it on postcards of copenhagen. some have said its 400 years of history that will have been destroyed and it's really sad there was disbelief when that spire itself collapsed this morning. people were watching on. it's really a sad day. somebody said its denmark's notre dame. five

years ago in paris notre dame was also struck by fire. so this is a sad moment for the city's history. do we have an idea but because of the blaze? , :, :, ., :, the blaze? there is no information et. the blaze? there is no information yet- there — the blaze? there is no information yet. there should _ the blaze? there is no information yet. there should be _ the blaze? there is no information yet. there should be a _ the blaze? there is no information yet. there should be a press - yet. there should be a press briefing imminently. we understand the building was still occupied, they were still workers inside and it was being renovated. so it's not clear how the fire started but because of those renovations there was a scaffolding and plastic cladding and today is incredibly windy. all of that has combined to make it a difficult task for those fire crews to put out the blaze. around the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

the torch for the paris 2024 olympic games has been lit the torch for the paris 2024 olympic games has been [it in a traditional ceremony in greece. the ceremony itself has been taking place amongst the ruins of the temple her rara in ancient olympia where the games were born. it marks the final stretch of the seven year preparations for the start of the event in paris injuly. the torch will now begin its 5000 kilometre trip around greece to start with so there is an 11 day really on greek soil where some 600 torchbearers will carry that flame over the 5000 kilometres through 41 different areas of greece. there is then another ceremony that takes place on april the 26th where the olympic flame is officially handed

over to paris. it will then travel through 400 towns and dozens of tourist attractions both in france itself and also in french territories before the actual olympics begin injuly this year. so the olympic torch flame on it's really starting off in greece before heading to france and eventually to paris. here in the uk a potentially world first smoking ban for future generations will be debated in parliament today. the proposed ban means it would be illegalfor anyone turning 15 or younger this year to ever be able to buy tobacco products. new zealand have planned something similar but the country's new coalition government scrapped the policy will stop rishi sunak is facing opposition from some of his own mps whilst the labour party are in favour of the proposal. professor cruyff —— chris whitty is the chief medical officer for england and explained why he believed it

essential for stricter measures are brought in. essential for stricter measures are brou . ht in. : essential for stricter measures are brought in-— brought in. once people start smokin: brought in. once people start smoking they _ brought in. once people start smoking they become - brought in. once people start. smoking they become addicted. brought in. once people start- smoking they become addicted. the whole _ smoking they become addicted. the whole point of smoking from the point _ whole point of smoking from the point of— whole point of smoking from the point of view of the industry is people's — point of view of the industry is people's choice is taken away because — people's choice is taken away because they find it incredibly difficult — because they find it incredibly difficult to stop. although the numbers are drifting down they are still high _ numbers are drifting down they are still high in — numbers are drifting down they are still high in some groups and they are going — still high in some groups and they are going down very slowly. this will speed — are going down very slowly. this will speed up the process. i asked our chief political _ will speed up the process. i asked our chief political correspondent l our chief political correspondent about the likelihood of this law being passed in parliament. the most important thing today is certainly this legislation starting its progress into law, because as you were just hearing there, it's of profound significance. we are likely soon to be in a position where anyone currently aged 15 or younger and future generations will not be able to buy tobacco products here in the uk. but there is also a political story playing out here because when rishi sunak, the prime minister, announced this policy last year, he said that he wouldn't require his own party's mps, conservative mps,

to vote for this policy. they would be free to do as they wish. that's really unusual. and the question for today is how many of rishi sunak�*s conservative mps, perhaps even his ministers and cabinet ministers, might, as a result, decide to signal that they disagree with what is ultimately one of their prime minister's flagship policies. and what about the opposition in terms of labour and the liberal democrats? what is their position on this? the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey has been giving interviews this morning. he's backing the ban, backing the policy and the labour party also supports it. they don't have a free vote. they are whipping, requiring their mps to vote for it, although i suspect most or even almost all of them would vote for it anyway. and that means that this will become law, it's going to pass. there are enough opposition votes there that even if dozens of conservative mps oppose the policy, it will become law, assuming that there is enough time for it to do so before the general election.

and that's really significant. i suspect that whether rishi sunak is prime minister for another six months or another six years, this will come to be one of the biggest policies, one of the biggest changes that we come to look back at happening on his watch. but politically, he won't want it to happen on the basis solely of opposition votes. he will want strong conservative support for this policy as well. an update on the story about the muslim family who had failed in its high court legal challenge against a prayer ban at a secondary school in london. it had argued that the band at michaela scholesy discriminated against muslim pupils. we had a statement from the headmistress of the school and she says a school should be free to do what is right for the pupils that it serves. the courts decision is therefore a

victory for all schools. she goes on to say schools should not be. by one child and her mother to change its approach simply because they have decided they don't like something at the school. she adds multiculturalism works at michaela not because we have emptied the identity space of the school in order to accommodate difference but because we have a clear identity which anyone can sign up to if they are willing to compromise. so that reaction from the headmistress of michaela school to the fact that that family failed in its legal challenge against the prayer ban. earlier we heard from the education secretary as well on that and gillian keegan said i've always been clear that head teachers are best placed to make decisions in their school, michaela is an outstanding school, michaela is an outstanding school and i hope thisjudgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for the pupils. that is

the post on social media from the education secretary gillian keegan. let's get some of the day is at the news. the head of the united nation's nuclear watchdog, the i—a—e—a, has warned that the zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in ukraine is on the verge of a serious accident. rafael grossi's comments came after the facility repeatedly came under direct fire. a reactor building was hit in a drone attack on 7th april. mr grossi has called for an urgent halt to the strikes. the us house speaker mikejohnson has said the republican— controlled lower chamber will vote this week on separate wartime aid bills for ukraine and israel. under pressure from right— wing republicans, mrjohnson has stalled a vote to approve a ninety— five— billion dollar package, which was passed by the senate in february. before we leave you want to show you some amazing footage of an extraordinary cut who is cleaning up

england's streets one piece of litter at a time. this is a straight adopted byjane litter at a time. this is a straight adopted by jane sweet last year and since then she has spotted through the security camera the little cut repeatedly bringing random bits of rubbish home. you can see all crisp bags, cardboard cartons and even role of unused dog to bags through that cat flap. nextjob, get him to drop it in the bin. i wish i could get my cut to do anything like that. he doesn't like cleaning up at all. you can see more of those pictures on the website. stay with us on bbc news. hello. on the hole today's weather will not be quite as violent as yesterday's was. yesterday brought some really intense downpours and thunderstorms and some very slowly and damaging winds. todayis very slowly and damaging winds. today is quite breezy but not as windy. still some showers but those showers should not be quite as

violent. the wind is coming down from the north so it's going to remain quite chilly. we have a frontal system grazing the east coast and cloud in showering with that. otherwise it sunshine and showers in the north or north—westerly flow stop high—pressure waiting in the wings and that will become more dominant as the wee quaison. through the rest of the day, sunny spells and scattered showers. some the showers heavy. central and eastern parts of england likely to see thunder. the wintry showers on high ground and yes it will be quite windy and it is going to feel rather chilly for the time of year. these temperatures are degree or two below the norm for the time of year. as we go through this evening many of the showers will fade. some will keep going in the north—east of scotland where it will stay windy. but underneath clear skies temperatures are going to drop down to around freezing, below freezing for a few spots in the north of the uk. they could be a touch of frost for some of us

tomorrow morning. tomorrow should for many bring some good spells of sunshine. howevera for many bring some good spells of sunshine. however a frontal system will bring cloud and rain across northern ireland. and then that rain pushing down across wales and into the south—west of england later in the south—west of england later in the day. temperatures generally between nine and 12 celsius. the thursday we are going to see another frontal system pushing across the north of the country. cloud and rain especially for scotland. quite a brisk wind. further south more in the way of dry weather stop a change in the wind direction might make it feel less chilly. and then as we head towards the weekend that frontal system clears out of the way in this area of high pressure begins to make its move. it pushes its way eastwards and it will become scented quite close to the uk so the winds will ease a little bit and we will see more than the way of dry weather. perhaps the odd shower and those temperatures may creep up a bit. 14 to 17 degrees by sunday.

the dragon roars again — china's economy grows faster than expected thanks to strong industrial output. but the country's

property crisis deepens. and we hear from the tesla whistle—blower who has battled elon musk through the courts for a decade. she tells us how she is still seeking a public apology. welcome to world business report. we start in china where the economy has been growing faster than expected in the first three months of the year. the latest gdp figures released a couple of hours ago show the economy grew 5.3% year on year injanuary to march. this will come as some relief to policy makers as the world's second—largest economy has struggled to mount a strong and sustainable post—covid bounce, burdened by an ongoing property crisis, mounting local government debts and weak private—sector spending. our asia business reporterjoao da silva has the latest. this is definitely welcome news for china's policy makers. it seems to show that the country

is on track to meet the government's