and promises a new package of us weapons will make a difference to ukraine's hard—pressed troops. the infamous austrian rapistjosef fritzl, who fathered seven children with his captive daughter, is to be moved from a psychiatric unit to a regular prison. and the cannes film festival kicks off later. a new study suggests that widely used weight loss drugs could cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. and the cannes film festival kicks off later. we have a preview of what we can expect from the world famous event. hello, i'm ben brown. israel is marking its independence day, but this year the commemorations are taking place under the shadow of war.

the country's president, isaac herzog, led the nation in a ceremony injerusalem. members of the idf were in attendance, as well as some of the families of the hostages taken by hamas. there were empty chairs in the audience, to symbolise those who had been killed or are still missing. translation: this year, we mark a different independence day. - we are proud of our independence, of the miracle that is a state of israel but our hearts are full of sorrow and pain. these days we are filled with the pain of bereavement, the pain for the wounded, pain for civilians displaced from their homes, the pain for the hostages. we will not rest or be silent, we will not rust or be —— we will not rest or be silent... silent until our daughters and sons return to our borders.

qatar's prime minister, who's country has mediated between hamas and israel, has given a downbeat assessment on the current state of negotiations. sheikh mohammed bin abdulrahman al—thani said, despite some recent momentum, the talks were now faltering. take a listen. well, it's been, actually, a very long process, and especially in the past few weeks, we have seen some momentum building, but unfortunately things did not move in the right direction. and right now, we are in a status of almost a stalemate. of course, what happened with rafah has set us backward. the united nations says 20% of gaza's population has again been displaced in the past week,as israel continues its offensive in rafah. palestinian civilians have been fleeing the packed southern city and also northern gaza, where fighting has again intensified. the un also confirmed

the death of a foreign member of its security staff, who was travelling to the south in a marked vehicle. the bbc�*s danjohnson has more details. we know that a un vehicle was struck yesterday, and one aid worker was killed, another one injured. that incident has been condemned by the un secretary—general, who has called for a full investigation into the circumstances. antonio guterres has used that to highlight the threat that humanitarian aid workers are facing in gaza. the israel defence forces say their initial review of that incident shows that that vehicle, although it was marked, was in an active combat zone and that they hadn't been notified of its route and that may have been the cause, but the full circumstances still being investigated. more than 190 un aid workers have been killed since this conflict erupted in october and it does

outline the threat that is posed to humanitarian aid workers and to the palestinian population as well, especially around rafah with the intensification of israeli military operations there over the last week or so. danjohnson dan johnson reporting. an austrian court has ruled that the country's most notorious prisoner, who kept his daughter in a cellar for 2h years and fathered seven children by her, can be moved to a normal prison. it said 89—year old josef fritzl was no longer considered dangerous following an assessment of his dementia. he's been kept in a special prison for mentally disturbed inmates since his conviction in 2009. a new study has found anti—obesity injections could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart failure in obese people. that's regardless of the amount of weight they lose. researchers have spent five years studying more than 17 thousand

people in over a0 countries and say it could be a gamechanger — similar to the introduction of statins in the 1990s. chi chi izundu reports. 0besity obesity is considered a growing health problem in the uk because alongside a can, other health complications and one treatment, weight loss drug offer on the nhs from last year could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. a new study in part paid for by the company which makes one of the drugs is suggesting that the medication could cut the risk of heart attacks and stroke. scientists followed more than 17 point or five 17 and a half thousand people who are over obese or obese and didn't have a history of cardiovascular problem and have given a dose of the drug and the

other half a placebo. the report suggests that anti—obesity medication such as this appeared to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes, regardless of how much white people lose. while the study still has to be fully reviewed, experts are describing its findings as a game changer and could potentially change clinical practice like other drugs taken to help cardiovascular conditions. i think it's an important _ cardiovascular conditions. i think it's an important discovery. - cardiovascular conditions. i think it's an important discovery. it's l cardiovascular conditions. i think. it's an important discovery. it's an important change because it's the type of thing we got with statins in the mid—i9 is when statins came in. we finally figured out that there was a drug that would change the biology of this disease affecting a lot of people. it biology of this disease affecting a lot of maple-— lot of people. it was originally used to help _ lot of people. it was originally used to help type _ lot of people. it was originally used to help type two - lot of people. it was originally| used to help type two diabetes sufferers but demand for it has seen shortages in recent months leaving patients struggling to get their prescriptions. why these drugs are potentially helping fight things like heart disease is not yet fully

known. scientists think it could be related to inflammation and there are other chronic diseases they also think this drug could help. bbc news. we have been hearing more about the study from professorjohn dean feels with a cardiologist at ucl and lead author. he has been explaining the significance of the study. explaining the significance of the stud . ~ . v explaining the significance of the stud .~ explaining the significance of the stud. , ., , study. what's happened is that these have moved from _ study. what's happened is that these have moved from being _ study. what's happened is that these have moved from being diabetes - study. what's happened is that these i have moved from being diabetes drugs do just being have moved from being diabetes drugs dojust being weight have moved from being diabetes drugs do just being weight management drugs and now they look like to have the potential to modify important diseases like cardiovascular diseases like cardiovascular diseases changes the narrative and they become part of our armoury to help people with people and reduce the clinical consequences. and what was interesting in the analysis we performed in a large study of 17 and

a half thousand people, which was published at the end of last year is that the benefits seen in terms of cardiovascular risk reduction was seen across the entire weight spectrum for patients who entered the trans people who are only moderately overweight got just the trans people who are only moderately overweight gotjust as much cardiovascular benefit as those who were more obese. the second finding there was interesting was the fact that it didn't seem to matter how much weight you lost in the trial, the benefit was seen even in the patients who didn't lose much weight or didn't lose weight at all and that's important for practitioners to think about using these drugs because they can give them safely and in expectation of them safely and in expectation of the cardiovascular benefit, regardless of the weight of the patients. they could be important for additional treatments to modify background diseases like heart disease, kidney disease and another trial will use this drug to show benefits not yet reported in other

diseases as well, neurological conditions, perhaps and liver diseases and all of these diseases might be improved by the use of these. many studies are done in collaboration with drug manufacturers in the study was an international study with an international study with an international academic steering committee that has nothing to accompany and the results were peer—reviewed and published in a very reputable medicaljournals i think we can be confident the results are correct and now comes the way in which the drug is used and applied to improve patient care and applied to improve patient care and we need to focus our attention there. some breaking news from france. the frenchjustice some breaking news from france. the french justice minister some breaking news from france. the frenchjustice minister has said the two prison officers have been killed in an attack on a prison convoy. this was in normandy and the french justice minister has said the prison convoy was attacked in normandy and two colleagues have died, he said,

saying he is going to the crisis room of the justice minister to saying he is going to the crisis room of thejustice minister to talk about it. we had had reports on one of the news agencies saying that three french prison officers were killed and two others wounded in an attack on a prison van transporting an inmate who escaped but the french justice minister confirming two prison officers killed and we will bring you more on that as it comes into us. let's get the latest now on donald trump's �*hush money�* trial in new york. the star witness for the prosecution, michael cohen, is expected to testify again on tuesday. mr cohen was once the former president's lawyer and fixer, but he spent monday on the stand outlining how he made a payment to the adult film actress, stormy daniels, to stop her talking about a relationship she claimed she had with mr trump. the defence is expected to stress mr cohen's criminal record, and openly stated dislike of his ex boss.

we can cross now to new york and speak to cbs correspondentjarred hill. thank you very much for being with us, jarrod. day two for mr cullen in the witness box.— the witness box. what are we expecting? — the witness box. what are we expecting? one _ the witness box. what are we expecting? one of— the witness box. what are we expecting? one of the - the witness box. what are we expecting? one of the things| expecting? one of the things the prosecution will questioning wrapping that up at some point today and all of this goes to the prosecutions argument that not only did former president trump facilitate these hush money claimants and directed them, but again, this is about the falsification of business records with the intention, they say, of essentially trying to sway the election and so they are trying to utilise michael cohen's testimony who was the one person who sits on the intersection of the former president and these payments to connect those dots so we are expecting to see more of that happening today and once the prosecution wraps with its questioning, we will see the defence coming and as you mentioned,

attacking michael cohen's credibility.— attacking michael cohen's credibili .�* . , , , credibility. and credibility is the key issue- _ credibility. and credibility is the key issue. what _ credibility. and credibility is the key issue. what has _ credibility. and credibility is the key issue. what has humanlike| credibility. and credibility is the l key issue. what has humanlike so far, would you say, as a witness? it's interesting because one of the things we have seen the prosecution do is establish that michael cohen is a guy who had lied and lied for president trump, who has lied for himself under oath and so showcasing from the prosecution was mixed and pointed to someone who in the past has done wrong and they say now he is trying to make good and so he has been very feral in his testimony as he is talking about his past —— mike ferrell. and what he said he is that —— coral. he is he has and bullied for president trump and trying to establish that the things he did in the past were all at the request of what he said was a pretty hands—on boss. what he said was a pretty hands-on boss. �* ., ., , ., , .,

boss. and all of this matter is of course because _ boss. and all of this matter is of course because we _ boss. and all of this matter is of course because we are - boss. and all of this matter is of course because we are coming l boss. and all of this matter is of| course because we are coming up boss. and all of this matter is of - course because we are coming up to a presidential election. how are americans following this trial and politically, what has been the final so far would you say from the court proceedings?— proceedings? there are a couple of thins proceedings? there are a couple of things here- _ proceedings? there are a couple of things here. one _ proceedings? there are a couple of things here. one is _ proceedings? there are a couple of things here. one is being _ proceedings? there are a couple of things here. one is being out - proceedings? there are a couple of things here. one is being out of. proceedings? there are a couple of| things here. one is being out of the courthouse and one thing i notice is that there are not very many people standing around in support of former president trump or against former president trump or against former president trump or against former president trump saw americans at this point, remember, this has been going on for weeks now, they seem to be tuning in but not fully tuned in at least not yet. another thing we have seen is that with the polling it's showing that this isn't doing too much to former president trump's standing in the polls and there are some states where he is gaining at this point and all of this goes back to the fact that the two people who are really at the forefront of this 2024 presidential race, former president trump and president biden r. people have known for quite some

time and people that many of these voters that have established ideas around feelings about and at least have now, it doesn't seem as if this trial has changed anything. trier? trial has changed anything. very interesting- _ trial has changed anything. very interesting. thank _ trial has changed anything. very interesting. thank you - trial has changed anything. very interesting. thank you very much. the french prime minister has called for public order to be restored urgently in new caledonia after a day of rioting has led to a curfew. protests have been simmering in the french territory in the south pacific for weeks over constitutional changes proposed by france. violence escalated in the past 24 hours as demonstrators burned several car dealerships and fired shots at paramilitary. authorities say around 50 businesses have been torched and numerous shops looted as protests turned violent, with 36 people arrested so far. the riots have been in response to a proposed constitutional change that would allow french residents to vote in provincial elections. it's being debated on today at the national assembly in paris. with me is our reporter

vandhna bhan. tell us more about the protests and why people are angry. tell us more about the protests and why peeple are angry-— why people are angry. these riots, as we have — why people are angry. these riots, as we have seen _ why people are angry. these riots, as we have seen right _ why people are angry. these riots, as we have seen right now, - why people are angry. these riots, as we have seen right now, with i as we have seen right now, with streets on fire, gunfire exchange, it has been quite scary and frightening for the people in new caledonia which is predominantly a peaceful country, not used to the scenes of violence and as a tourist location in the pacific nations. the protests and riots have been led by pro—independence groups and indigenous people. they have been saying that this constitutional change, which is being debated right now in the french parliament, it is to allow french nationals and other migrants who have been living in new caledonia for at least ten years to be able to vote. the french parliament and french government has said that for the last 25 years, the

new may accord hasn't changed and that was in place to give more autonomy to caledonia and political power and allowing indigenous people only to vote so for the last 25 years, people have moved to the country have not had the right to vote in the country and that's what the french want to change. 0bviously, the french want to change. obviously, this is big for the indigenous population, they make about 40% of the country and they are saying that they fear that this will marginalise their population and minimise their influence in the nation. the french are saying that currently as it stands, one in five people in new caledonia don't have the right to vote so there is two sides to this. for the local people, indigenous people, this has been assuming for quite some time and has been quite a few weeks of this is not new for the country and there has been calls for order in the country over the last few days and

as its brood to this escalation and the curfew ends its exam tomorrow morning. the curfew ends its exam tomorrow morninu. . ~ the curfew ends its exam tomorrow morninu. ., ~ i. the curfew ends its exam tomorrow morninu. ., ~' ,, , . around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

some of the biggest names in the world of international cinema are gathering on the french riviera for the cannes film festival which kicks off later today. it could be a tumultuous 12—day event with threatened strikes, a possible major #metoo protest and an eagerly awaited film featuring former president donald trump in his younger years. from cannes, tom brook reports. the french riviera has been abuzz as the world's biggest and arguably most prestigious film festival gets under way. outside the palais des festival in cannes, where films are shown, tourists and movie fans gather. it's the most important film festival in the world.

i like when all the stars, they come to one city. but there's been uncertainty in the air at cannes this year, with a threatened strike by behind—the—scenes workers, including projectionists and ticket sellers. and there's also massive chatter about a possible metoo protest in which a french website may reveal the names of significant figures in the french film industry and their alleged predatory transgressions. the rumour is that one of the investigative news websites in france is going to drop a big report, naming sort of about ten to a dozen film—makers, producers, actors who are guilty of some type of inappropriate behaviour. the festival is trying to keep the focus on movies. one of the more eagerly awaited films in competition this year is megalopolis from legendary 85—year—old us director francis ford coppola.

it's a sci—fi drama set in a city that resembles new york, with adam driver playing an architect who believes he can stop time. time, stop! during the 12—day festival, cannes exists as a world apart, a film lover's paradise packed with screenings and glitzy events. but the harsh realities of the outside world won't be kept at bay this year, because they'll be evident in several festival films. an air raid siren in kyiv can be heard in a funeral scene in the haunting cannes documentary called the invasion. it comes from one of ukraine's foremost film—makers, sergei loznitsa. it's a mammoth work involving a series of carefully composed extended sequences showing life in ukraine since the invasion. and the israel—gaza conflict will no doubt colour how festivalgoers perceive the cannes film the belle from gaza, a documentary in which transgender women,

several from palestinian families, are seen on the streets of tel aviv discussing their lives. and while former president donald trump sits in a new york courtroom 4,000 miles from cannes, one of the big attractions at the festival will be the apprentice, a film portraying him in his younger years as a rising force in the new york real estate world. cannes has a knack for recognising great cinema. last year, the french legal drama anatomy of a fall, and the british—polish holocaust—era picture, the zone of interest, were both launched at cannes, where they were given prizes. they went on to win critical acclaim around the world and academy awards. so what we may be witnessing here in cannes next few days is the emergence of early contenders in next year's oscars race. tom brook, bbc news, cannes. tom brookjoins me now from cannes.

tom, good to have you with us and looking dapper as ever and a lovely rundown of all the films. a torque of them that you mentioned in particular, megalopolis. why is it firing up so much interest? because francis ford — firing up so much interest? because francis ford coppola _ firing up so much interest? because francis ford coppola is _ firing up so much interest? because francis ford coppola is a _ firing up so much interest? because francis ford coppola is a great - francis ford coppola is a great master of cinema and this film he began planning it in 1983 so it has been for decades in the making and he has invested $120 million of his own money in the project and it hasn't got full distribution deals yet so there is a lot of adventure in the whole odyssey other than making this film but this is a man who was here in cannes in the 19705 and made two fantastic films, the conversation and apocalypse now and they became era defining movies and can once to embrace him. he reminds the film people hear the glory days of cinema. he made the godfather, a film that went through everyone in

the planet and everybody knew lines from that film and i5 the planet and everybody knew lines from that film and is very different nowadays and are much harderfor cinema to penetrate so this is a good film for cannes to embrace. tom, very good to see you and enjoy the mac cannes film festival. a woman who saved her twin sister from the jaws of a crocodile has been recognised by king charles for her bravery. georgia and melissa laurie were on a holiday in mexico when their trip of a lifetime became the stuff of nightmares, as our reporter abi smitton explains. their family would describe twin5 georgia and melissa a5 keen and adventurous travellers. back in 2021, they took the trip of a lifetime to mexico, sightseeing and volunteering. with a group of friends, they signed up for a riverboat tour of the picturesque manialtepec lagoon. they were told it was safe to swim in the water. within minutes, though, meli55a was dragged under by a crocodile. i actually heard her scream and i saw her being taken

underneath by the crocodile. and then i realised she was really in trouble. it was georgia who saved her life, leaping into action. it grabbed her on the leg and her behind and tried to death—roll her and drag her away. so i was beating it on its 5nout and it grabbed my wrist and my arm. so i had to beat it off with the other — with my other arm. both twins were rushed to hospital. meli55a was left with life—threatening injuries. she contracted sepsis and was placed into an induced coma. it was touch and go for a while, but a few days later, georgia shared this positive update. they took the tube out of her. she's been breathing on her own very well. but she can't talk because of the soreness in her throat from the tube. she recognised me, knew who i was,

seemed happy to see me. over the past three years, the twins have tried to put the ordeal behind them, but georgia's bravery is still being remembered and celebrated — she's now been awarded a king's gallantry medal for her life—saving efforts to protect her sister. abi smitton, bbc news. let's ta ke let's take you back to georgia where we saw those prote5t5 let's take you back to georgia where we saw those protests that are going out outside the georgian parliament. the5e out outside the georgian parliament. these are live picture5 out outside the georgian parliament. these are live pictures of protesters who have been complaining protester5 who have been complaining about this bill, the foreign agent bill, which people theirfear i5 bill, which people their fear is a mirror of russian legislation used to silence dissent. we are hearing from a newsagency to hear that bill has been passed on the georgia parliament. this is bbc news. hello again.

good afternoon. it was a mile 5tarted good afternoon. it was a mile started this morning but also a rather wet one, particularly for part of the midlands, yorkshire, south—east england as well but the weather front gradually pushing more rain northwards and eastwards and then largely stalling. at some of then largely stalling. at some of the best of the sunshine today will be acro55 northern scotland and this is where we can also see the days highest temperatures as well. low pre55ure very much highest temperatures as well. low pressure very much dominant, not just today but as we head to the ju5t today but as we head to the rest of the week and pushing is one affront 5lowly northwards and eastwards with the rain is starting to weaken on this and always a lot of cloud, particularly the north sea facing code5 where it's quite cool. there will be sunny spell5 emerging for the west but also the chance of a few showers in wales, northern ireland and down to a south—west england today and windy for a time of the best in 5un5hine. across the maria firth we could see 21 or 22 celsius. 0vernight tonight, our front is practically stationary in the rain is gradually dying away but there could be a second pul5e

pushing at the england and up through the midlands and in time for tomorrow morning. 0ut towards the west will be clear spell5. watch out for mi5t west will be clear spell5. watch out for mist and fog developing early on but it is a mile 5tarted for mist and fog developing early on but it is a mile started the day and temperatures in double figures acro55 temperatures in double figures across the board. and then into tomorrow, for most of us it's looking a bit drier than today with still some outbreaks of rain and still some outbreaks of rain and still a lot of... here it's a cool and it's breezy but some sunshine across much of scotland, sunny spells for northern ireland and always a chance of a few showers here and out towards the west is while there will be some brighter spells here and there and top temperatures again and again for caithness and sutherland, 23 even 24 celsius. 0n caithness and sutherland, 23 even 24 celsius. on thursday, there will be showers around at some of the showers around at some of the showers could be heavy and thundery in nature but again, there will be some brightness and spells of sunshine to the north and also towards the south as well. temperatures once more slightly above the seasonal average for the vast majority, an amount not to

follow as well. the low pressure will gradually pull away to the near continent as we head through to friday and into the weekend and still some showers in the south but a ridge of high pressure will start to move and affect whether in the north so here it should be dry and it will feel pleasantly warm in the sunshine. goodbye.

today at one: a surprise visit to ukraine by the us secretary of state, who says military aid

is on its way. the visit comes as ukraine struggles to hold back russian activity near its second—largest city. debating assisted dying — the isle of man may take a step closer to being the first part of the british isles to legalise it. could anti—obesity injections reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes? new data could be a gamechanger, say researchers. and recognised for her bravery — the woman who saved her twin sister from a crocodile attack will receive the king's gallantry medal. i thought that one of us was going to die, ijust didn't know who it would be. coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news: will the title race take another twist at tottenham? it's in manchester city's hands, but will spurs fans actually mind if they win?