the government says an investigation is under way. i understand cc hq have been aware of it for awhile and have been investigated i know the circumstances have come to light, which he denies, but nonetheless the whip has been withdrawn in the meantime. police take down a global cyber—crime gang based in the uk accused of fraud on an industrial scale. and a third day of disruption at the world's second busiest airport as heavy rain continues to batter the united arab emirates and other parts of the gulf. hello, welcome to the programme. we start this hour with the latest on the middle east conflict. qatar says it's reassessing its role

as a mediator between israel and hamas, more than six months into the war. qatar has had a key role, along with egypt and america, in trying to secure a ceasefire between israel and hamas and the release of israeli hostages. but doha says its efforts were being undermined by politicians seeking to score points. take a listen to qatar's prime minister. translation: unfortunately we have i seen that there has been an abuse | of this mediation in favour of narrow political interests. this means that the state of qatar has called for a comprehensive evaluation of its role. we are now at the stage to evaluate mediation and also evaluate how the parties engage in this mediation. european union leaders have agreed to tighten sanctions on iranian producers of drones and missiles in the wake of tehran�*s unprecedented attack on israel on saturday night. the president of the european council says it's important to do everything to isolate iran.

tensions in the region remain high with israel's prime minister insisting his country will make its own decisions about how to respond to iran's drone and missile attack. israel's western allies fear striking back against iran could trigger a broader war. let's go live to our middle east correspondent yolande knell. let's start with qatar and reassessing its role as a mediator between israel and hamas. just how crucial is qatar in that process? qatar has played a key role, along with egypt, with us involvement as well. back in november we had a week—long truce and hostage release deal, but since then it has proved much more difficult to try to get some kind of new deal agreed between the two parties. qatar is seen as being an important go—between because it does have significant

leveraged over hamas. it hosts in doha some senior hamas leaders, as it has done for many years, they live there in excel. at the same time, qatar has this very important role as an ally of the us in the region. it hosts a large us military base in its desert and often does serve a purpose in these kinds of negotiations. now, these are strong comments that have been made by the prime minister, who is also the foreign minister of qatar. he has been talking about how there are narrow political interests that are being served here by some of the comments against qatar. it is clear he really does seem to mean some things have been said in recent days in washington, particularly by one us democratic congressman who is accusing kattar of actually blocking accusing kattar of actually blocking a deal to bring home the hostages, saying it is far too close to hamas

and the us should re—evaluate its relationship with this big player in the gulf. already kattar�*s embassy in washington have responded to that quite strongly, criticising those remarks. , ., ., ., , , quite strongly, criticising those remarks. , ., ., , ., remarks. exploited and abused are the words the _ remarks. exploited and abused are the words the prime _ remarks. exploited and abused are the words the prime minister - remarks. exploited and abused are the words the prime minister has l the words the prime minister has been using. the words the prime minister has been using-— the words the prime minister has been using. that is right, and this is extremely _ been using. that is right, and this is extremely strong _ been using. that is right, and this is extremely strong language - been using. that is right, and this is extremely strong language and| been using. that is right, and this i is extremely strong language and it just shows how sensitive these things are for qatar, that doesn't straddle this very difficult role in the region. it is a country also because of its proximity to iran, it doesn't like to antagonise iran. it doesn't like to antagonise iran. it doesn't have diplomatic relations with israel, but it has often acted as a go—between when it comes to previous ceasefire negotiations with hamas in gaza. and really because of the importance of the us to kattar, this small but very well of gulf

country, it wants to nip in the bout this idea that it is not an honest broker here. it also highlights how things are in such a delicate phase at the moment when it comes to negotiations on a new deal that could bring home some of the remaining israeli hostages still held by hamas in gaza, and at the same time lead to a ceasefire there. you have really at the moment this very difficult position where israel only wants to talk about a pause in fighting, it doesn't want to talk about ending the war without dismantling hamas in gaza. hamas doesn't want to talk about a pause, it wants a complete end to this war before it will release the hostages it is holding. the before it will release the hostages it is holding-— it is holding. the other issue we have is iran _ it is holding. the other issue we have is iran and _ it is holding. the other issue we have is iran and we _ it is holding. the other issue we have is iran and we are - it is holding. the other issue we have is iran and we are still- have is iran and we are still waiting to see what israel will do after that iranians strike. indeed, and there are _ after that iranians strike. indeed, and there are interesting - after that iranians strike. indeed, and there are interesting reports| and there are interesting reports circulating in the israeli media

overnight and this morning, quoting senior, unnamed officials who say that there were plans to retaliate very soon after that unprecedented iranian drone and missile strike in the early hours of sunday morning, that these had been preapproved by the war cabinet, but they were shelved by the israeli prime minister according to these reports after he had a conversation with the us presidentjoe biden who told him to take the win. we have heard from the british foreign secretary, lord cameron, who was here a day ago that he felt israel was planning to retaliate. certainly that is still the feeling that you get, but perhaps a weaker form of retaliation than that which had been originally planned. there was one senior source quoted in the israeli media saying that diplomatic sensitivities have been running out.— well, foreign ministers from the g7 are in italy

for a meeting where the crisis in the middle east is expected to dominate discussions. tougher measures against iran in response to the attack on israel are likely to be considered. let's speak to our correspondent at the meeting in capri, jessica parker. jessica, we have been talking about iran. are we expecting any concrete action against the iranians to be agreed this week? the action against the iranians to be agreed this week?— agreed this week? the g7 is an informal gathering _ agreed this week? the g7 is an informal gathering of _ agreed this week? the g7 is an | informal gathering of ministers. agreed this week? the g7 is an i informal gathering of ministers. if you are going to see action, for example on sanctions in iran, you are more likely to see that, as we have heard overnight, at the eu level. they released some conclusions overnight, saying they will be pursuing some sanctions on iran's missile and drone programme. the us also have been suggesting they could look at iranians oil exports. but really what you will see here is an effort by g7 foreign ministers to coordinate and agree what action they are going to take

and discuss the kind of impact that will have. i think as well, picking up will have. i think as well, picking up on what your land was saying, there has also been this push by the us, by britain, by germany, to try and get israel to show restraint, thatis and get israel to show restraint, that is the language being used in terms of its response to iran's attack last saturday. indeed, two of the foreign ministers here on capri, lord cameron from the uk and the german foreign minister, they were in israeljust yesterday german foreign minister, they were in israel just yesterday to deliver that message after the prime minister of israel, benjamin netanyahu, talked about how israel will make their own decisions. but i think there is cause for de—escalation will be call for here at the g7. de-escalation will be call for here at the g7. ., , , , at the g7. the other issue is the ukraine war _ at the g7. the other issue is the ukraine war and _ at the g7. the other issue is the ukraine war and money - at the g7. the other issue is the ukraine war and money for - at the g7. the other issue is the i ukraine war and money for ukraine at the g7. the other issue is the - ukraine war and money for ukraine to help in its fight against russia. exactly. there are various moving parts here. first of all, this idea

that has been around for quite some time and is a bit contentious, about frozen russian assets and whether they can somehow be used, or the revenue from those assets be used to channel money to ukraine. again that will be discussed at an eu level and it will be discussed here as well. it looks like something that is considered quite legally complex but they will see if they can push ahead with some progress on that. i wouldn't expect necessarily solid action on that at the g7. but a lot of people as well looking ahead to what appears to be a potential vote in the us this weekend on that long stalled aid package for ukraine worth $60 billion and the german foreign minister has been talking this morning about how it is a hopeful sign that that vote looks set to move forward after months and months of stalling. but also the eu's foreign policy chief has been talking about how europe cannot only rely on the us, so those

conversations about what europe needs to do in terms of ramping up its defence capabilities, being able to support ukraine, i think that will also be discussed here at the g7 as well. will also be discussed here at the g7 as well-— g7 as well. jessica parker, thank ou ve g7 as well. jessica parker, thank you very much- _ ukraine's prime minister has told the bbc there will be a third world war if ukraine loses its conflict with russia as he urges the us congress to pass the long—stalled foreign aid bill. dennis shmilhal expressed "careful optimism" that us lawmakers would pass the hotly contested measure, which has $61 billion earmarked for kyiv. the house of representatives is set to vote on the package this saturday. mr shmilhal spoke with my colleague sumi somaskanda in washington. the united states is one of our biggest supporters and investors in the ukrainian economy, and in the ukrainian defence capacity. we are waiting so much for this draft law, in one or other conditions which now are discussed in congress. so, we will be very grateful if it will be approved in saturday. we are waiting this for so much,

and especially our guys and girls on the frontline. i can imagine you're watching that so closely, the vote on saturday as well — did you receive any assurances from your conversations on capitol hill from lawmakers, to say, this will pass, did they tell you that? we have some conversations today, some conversations we will have tomorrow. all the partners, all the congressmen, have a very careful optimism, for saturday, so we share this optimism. and we need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today, but yesterday. we need this support, military support, yesterday, because the situation on the frontline is difficult enough. we need this support from our biggest partner, from the united states.

here the conservatives have suspended one of their mps, mark menzies, from the parliamentary party after claims in the times newspaper that he misused party funds. mr menzies, who represents fylde in lancashire, told the paper that he strongly disputed the allegations. let's go live to westminster and our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done? you who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done?— who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done? you are right to use the word _ alleged to have done? you are right to use the word alleged _ alleged to have done? you are right to use the word alleged because - to use the word alleged because these are just allegations at this stage and pretty serious and pretty peculiar allegations. according to the times newspaper back in december mark menzies, who has been the conservative mp for a constituency in lancashire since 2010, back in december he rang up his 78—year—old former campaign manager at a quarter past three in the morning and he said what he called bad people had locked him in a flat. he was told that he needed £5,000 as a matter of, as he put it, apparently, life and death. it is claimed later that morning his office manager, a

different woman, paid him the money from her personal bank account and crucially got reimbursed for that from campaign funds, money that had been donated for the purposes of mark menzies' political campaigns. a very peculiar set of alleged events. 0ne very peculiar set of alleged events. one of the interesting wrinkles to the story as it appears the conservative party knew of these claims before they came out in the times newspaper last night. let's listen to grant shapps, the defence secretary. as defence secretary i am not privy to the information but i understand that cc hq have been aware of it for a while and have been investigating and i think some new information has come to light subsequently. as you say, a set of allegations, i note the mp denies them, but nonetheless the whip has been withdrawn in the meantime. as grant shapps said, mark menzies denies these allegations. we have tried to contact him and we have not had a response yet but he gave this

statement to the times yesterday. he said, i strongly dispute the allegations put to me, i have fully complied with all the rules for declarations and the investigation is ongoing and i will not be commenting further. can i ask you about rishi sunak�*s flagship deportation policy to send asylum seekers to rwanda. it suffered another setback in the lords and the commons? if suffered another setback in the lords and the commons? if you think we are having — lords and the commons? if you think we are having the _ lords and the commons? if you think we are having the same _ lords and the commons? if you think we are having the same conversation | we are having the same conversation that we have had before, you are right. this legislation is bouncing between the house of commons and house of lords quite regularly and it will keep doing that until the house of commons has exhausted the house of commons has exhausted the house of commons has exhausted the house of lords' patients, as it were, until they have knocked out all of the amendments the house of lords has inserted. they are down to two changes to this legislation that the house of lords is trying to insert. 0ne the house of lords is trying to insert. one of them in particular that many members of the house of lords are keen on is to make sure that nobody who has served with the british forces in afghanistan is

sent to rwanda as part of a policy to send asylum seekers to rwanda to be processed there. i think while many people here in westminster were expecting the house of lords to back down yesterday, the fact they did not does not mean that this policy, this legislation, is now in massive influx. most people think they will back down at the start of next week instead. but then you get to the more important question, once this piece of legislation is a piece of law, does a plane finally take off for rwanda? if it does, does it do what the government says it will do, act as a deterrent to boats making that perilous journey across the english channel? aha, that perilous journey across the english channel?— that perilous journey across the english channel? a big question. hen , english channel? a big question. henry. thank— english channel? a big question. henry. thank you _ english channel? a big question. henry, thank you for _ english channel? a big question. henry, thank you for the - english channel? a big question. henry, thank you for the latest i english channel? a big question. i henry, thank you for the latest from westminster. around the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

you are watching bbc news.

heavy rain has continued to batter the united arab emirates and parts of neighbouring gulf countries, a region usually known for its hot and arid climate. flash floods have now killed 20 people in oman and one in the uae. dubai international airport warned of "very challenging conditions" and advised some passengers not to turn up due to areas being inundated by water. 300 flights were cancelled on wednesday with hundreds more delayed, after the uae experienced its largest rainfall event since records began 75 years ago. joining me now is a new zealand traveller at dubai airport, nirupa george. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. just explain what has happened to you, what the situation is like there at the airport at the moment. ., ., , ., , ., ~ moment. hello, lovely to be on. we arrived yesterday _ moment. hello, lovely to be on. we arrived yesterday from _ moment. hello, lovely to be on. we arrived yesterday from cairo. - moment. hello, lovely to be on. we arrived yesterday from cairo. we i arrived yesterday from cairo. we were delayed by about seven hours and there were a tonne of people sleeping at the airport, people

crowded around check—in counters. we came to the airport this morning and we have already been delayed by about three hours and it is absolute chaos in terms of the number of people around. the staff are doing their best to try and mitigate, but their best to try and mitigate, but the sheer volume of people means it is really difficult to get past check—in to passport control. indie is really difficult to get past check-in to passport control. we are showin: check-in to passport control. we are showing some _ check-in to passport control. we are showing some pictures _ check-in to passport control. we are showing some pictures that - check-in to passport control. we are showing some pictures that you i check-in to passport control. we are | showing some pictures that you have taken on your phone and there are so many people there. what is the mood amongst the travellers? are they resigned to it or is there anger? it resigned to it or is there anger? ut depends how long you have been stuck at the airport. most people understand it is outside the control of the airport and the emirates staff, although at one point when people were lining up in transit i saw someone faint from the heat. it is no doubt testing people's

patients, particularly children, but forthe patients, particularly children, but for the most part people have been quite calm and everyone is just tired and wanting to get to their destination. i tired and wanting to get to their destination.— destination. i have seen some re orts destination. i have seen some reports that — destination. i have seen some reports that there _ destination. i have seen some reports that there are - destination. i have seen some reports that there are not i destination. i have seen some reports that there are not a i destination. i have seen some| reports that there are not a lot destination. i have seen some i reports that there are not a lot of facilities in terms of food and water. have you been able to get provisions 0k in the airport? yesterday it was hard, today it has been fine, and we have got some vouchers. we managed to find a cafe to sit down in and have some breakfast in. but it is very full and i am sitting on a stairwell at the moment. some people are sleeping on the floor and sleeping in passageways, just trying to get down where they can and wait for the boarding, with many flights being delayed. pare boarding, with many flights being dela ed. �* , , ., boarding, with many flights being dela ed. �* , ,, ., , delayed. are they giving you any idea when flights _ delayed. are they giving you any idea when flights might - delayed. are they giving you any idea when flights might take i delayed. are they giving you any | idea when flights might take off? they were calling some people

through, which we assumed flights were ready to go, but once people got to the other side they were delayed twice by an extra two hours. the updates seem to be coming as they come. just because you have been delayed once does not mean you are getting on a plane. we got two e—mails this morning and it seems to have got better today but i know there were other people who couldn't get away. let's speak to shane mcginley, news editor at arabian gulf business insight, who is in duabi1. what is the situation water —wise and rein why is there at the moment? from my perspective i am in the middle of the city and i have not seen any rain today and the sunshine has come back. i think it is moving into the clearing up stage. i haven't gone to work today because

the roads are still quite flooded. i think it is moving into clean—up mode. think it is moving into clean-up mode. ~ ., ., think it is moving into clean-up mode. ~ ., ~ ., , mode. when we talk about dubai airort, it mode. when we talk about dubai airport. it is _ mode. when we talk about dubai airport, it is the _ mode. when we talk about dubai airport, it is the world's - airport, it is the world's second—biggest. what is the knock—on effect of all these delays that we have heard about?— effect of all these delays that we have heard about? there was a big statement out _ have heard about? there was a big statement out earlier _ have heard about? there was a big statement out earlier this - have heard about? there was a big statement out earlier this week i statement out earlier this week saying how dubai was the biggest international airport so it spans pretty much every continent. i had a look at the flight numbers for the first two months and again we get a lot of regional traffic, but the biggest destination is western europe. we have a lot of tourists flying in and out, so they are going to be delayed. i did have a look at dubai airport and the emirates statement and they are saying don't

go to the airport unless you have a confirmed booking. i did trawl through what is happening at the moment in terms of departures and there are delays of two to three hours and it also depends on your airline. 0bviously for emirates, this is their help and this is where all their planes are and they can get their planes out a lot quicker, but it does seem to be affecting more non—emirates airlines because they are impacted with delays on incoming aircraft, so i think it depends on which airline you are flying with and which destination you are going to. i spoke to the communications people from emirates and the airport and they did say that unless you have got a confirmed booking, don't go to the airport. there is no point really because the roads are in clean—up mode and you don't want to be stuck going through flooded roads and then stuck at the airport. that seems to be the general advice.— airport. that seems to be the

aeneral advice. ,, . ., ~ , ., general advice. shane, thank you. how optimistic _ general advice. shane, thank you. how optimistic are _ general advice. shane, thank you. how optimistic are you _ general advice. shane, thank you. how optimistic are you of - general advice. shane, thank you. how optimistic are you of being i general advice. shane, thank you. l how optimistic are you of being able to get out of the airport and to yourfinal to get out of the airport and to your final destination? irate to get out of the airport and to your final destination? we have only not one your final destination? we have only got one more _ your final destination? we have only got one more flight _ your final destination? we have only got one more flight home _ your final destination? we have only got one more flight home and i i your final destination? we have only got one more flight home and i am i got one more flight home and i am optimistic— got one more flight home and i am optimistic having googled the flight we are _ optimistic having googled the flight we are meant to be on that arrived from _ we are meant to be on that arrived from colombo, and hopefully it is a matter_ from colombo, and hopefully it is a matter of— from colombo, and hopefully it is a matter of getting people through check-in— matter of getting people through check—in and security. so even if there _ check—in and security. so even if there is— check—in and security. so even if there is a — check—in and security. so even if there is a couple of hours delay we would _ there is a couple of hours delay we would rather go home later today then be _ would rather go home later today then be cancelled. gur would rather go home later today then be cancelled.— would rather go home later today then be cancelled. our fingers are crossed for— then be cancelled. our fingers are crossed for you. _ then be cancelled. our fingers are crossed for you. thank _ then be cancelled. our fingers are crossed for you. thank you - then be cancelled. our fingers are crossed for you. thank you for i crossed for you. thank you for joining us and also to shane as well, thank you very much for your time. fingers crossed that it clears up time. fingers crossed that it clears up for you. now a question for you. how many ballerinas can dance on pointe in one place? well, i have the answer, take a look at this.

three, two, one, go! hundreds of young dancers in white tutus gathered in new york's famous plaza hotel to try and break the world record for dancing on tippy toes in one place for a full minute. the dancers were aged from 9 to 19 and from the youth america grand prix ballet scholarship programme. and this is the moment they broke the record. three, two, one! cheering. the world record total of dancers was 353, breaking the previous record of 306. congratulations to them all. to end this half hour i wanted to show you some stunning pictures out of iceland. it's of a wonderful display by mother nature. a volcano has been erupting there over the past few months,

but here the lava and volcanic plume of gas has been combined with the world famous nothern lights. this timelapse footage filmed on wednesday shows the display the two put on at the eruption site in the south—west of the country. it is amazing what mother nature can do. i have never managed to see the northern lights for real. stay with us here on bbc news. it was a chilly start to the day particularly for central and southern parts of the uk and we had a touch of frost around. rain has been moving in from the north and for the rest of the day it will be down across the northern part of the uk, whereas sunny spells will hold on in the south. there is high—pressure out towards the west, but this weather front is coming around the northern side of that

high pressure, bringing the cloud and rain too much of scotland. rain in northern ireland which is drying out a bit. northern england and north wales turning fairly wet in the afternoon. further south it is more likely to stay dry with sunshine lifting temperatures to 15 degrees in london, so a little bit warmer than yesterday but still rather chilly in the north. we have got a cold, north—westerly wind developing overnight bringing a scattering of flowers to scotland and a few further south as well. we have got the remnants of that system sitting across the southern part of the british isles first thing tomorrow. it will not be as cold as this morning, about five to 10 degrees to start friday. a frontal system in the south and high pressure towards the west and this combination will pull in the winds from north—westerly direction on friday, bringing sunshine and blustery showers. particularly windy in eastern scotland, but showers should clear and they will linger longest for central and south—eastern parts of england.

temperatures round about 1k south—eastern parts of england. temperatures round about 1a or 15, but cooler where you are exposed to the northerly wind on the east coast. into the weekend high pressure will nudge its way a little bit further eastwards, so good news, drier weather at last after that relentless rain we have seen recently. a little bit of rain perhaps in the north of scotland. more cloud generally in eastern areas where we have that chilly and northerly wind. ten or 11 close to the east coast. towards the west 13 and 1a with longer spells of sunshine. a similar day on sunday. most of us dry with the best of the sunshine towards the west. a bit more cloud in the east end that breeze coming in off the north sea. 11 degrees or so for norwich and up to about 16 in belfast. next week it looks like a high pressure is still fairly close, so a lot of dry weather, one or two showers, especially in the south, but those temperatures will continue to be a little below average for this time of year.

this is bbc news, the headlines. qatar says it is reassessing its role as a mediator between israel and hamas. a meeting of g7 foreign ministers on the italian island of capri. the conservative mp

mark menzies is suspended from the party after being accused of misusing campaign funds — claims he disputes. the government says an investigation is underway. and why some film fans are moving away from streaming in favour of micro cinemas. a global cyber gang accused of industrial—scale fraud has been busted by police. it's accused of offering a service to criminals which allowed them to steal from victims using fraudulent text messages. 37 people worldwide have been arrested, 2a of which are in britain. it's estimated that 70,000 people have fallen victim to the scams. it is five o'clock in the morning in south london, the end of a two—year investigation.