this is bbc news. our top stories... the un security council prepares for an emergency meeting later, as the conflict between israel and palestinians in gaza enters a seventh day. israel is continually hitting the hamas terror group until we feel we have reached our objectives. hamas decided when to start this round but we will decide when to end it. efforts to combat the indian variant of covid ramp up in england, ahead of lockdown restrictions being relaxed tomorrow. iam i am confident that we can take this step tomorrow, but we should all be careful about how we take that step. so you ask me about eating indoors

with people. it's still safer to eat outdoors rather than in when the weather allows. a young child has died and four people have been seriously injured after a gas explosion at a residential area in heysham in northern england. there was significant damage to the houses, at least two have been destroyed and a third is significantly damaged. as a consequence, a number of people have been injured. tragically, a young child has been killed. and coming up, fancy a job as a live—in officer at a medieval castle on a remote island? st michael's mount is hiring. hello and welcome to bbc news. gaza's health ministry says that at least 26 people have been killed

by israeli air strikes overnight on gaza city. it said the strikes had targeted two houses. this is the seventh day of violence. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said military action would continue until security was restored. here are some of the latest pictures from gaza... israel says the home of the hamas chief in gaza was among the targets. palestinian militants fired more rockets at cities in southern israel. the un has summoned the security council for an emergency meeting later. our correspondent helena wilkinson reports. within seconds, this building in gaza is reduced to rubble. it was home to journalists from the associated press and al jazeera tv. an hour earlier, they had been told to evacuate. israel says the building was a target because of links to hamas, the militant group

that rules gaza. israel is doing everything possible to protect our civilians and keep palestinian civilians out of harm's way. we demonstrated this yet again today when we warned civilians to vacate the building used by the hamas terror intelligence. they vacated the premises before the target was destroyed, and that's why you don't hear of casualties from these collapsing terror towers. there have, though, been civilian casualties on both sides. early this morning, israel targeted a house in gaza that it says belonged to a hamas leader. palestinian health officials say that at least three people died and many others were injured. in an earlier israeli attack, mohammed al—hadidi lost his wife and four young sons. his baby son, omar, who's just five months old, was the only survivor.

in ramat gan, a suburb of tel aviv, a hamas missile killed a man in his 50s. he was reportedly hit by shrapnel in his apartment. in sheikh jarrah, there continues to be anger and tension. attempts to evict palestinians from their homes in this area earlier this month helped start the escalation to the conflict. us presidentjoe biden has spoken to israeli and palestinian leaders ahead of a un security council meeting later today. but, with neither side appearing to back down, a quick breakthrough seems a distant prospect. helena wilkinson, bbc news. here's the former israeli defence minister, naftali bennett, speaking to the bbc earlier. this is a rocket that hit an israeli home this morning.

this is what we're trying to put out. i suggest you look at this rocket, your viewers look at this rocket and understand that we are defending our lives against a terror organisation that is out to kill us. they don't need an iron dome. their iron dome is very simple, stop attacking israel and all gaza citizens will be safe, that's the iron dome that we suggest. the bbc�*s paul adams is injerusalem. earlier, iasked him if there was any sign of the conflict ending anytime soon. well, you look at the exchanges overnight and you'd have to conclude no, but i think there are some signs. there is quite a lot of diplomacy going on at the moment. the american envoy is in town. he is meeting senior israeli officials today. interestingly, he met arab

israeli leaders last night, it is reported, a highly unusual meeting, and he heard their grievances, which are notjust about and he heard their grievances, which are not just about the situation between israel and gaza but also about the condition of arabs living in israel. that was an interesting aspect of his diplomatic effort. there are also efforts, we know, involving the egyptians to try and broker some kind of ceasefire, and we are beginning to hear some reporting on israel that suggests the israeli government feels that it is reaching the point, and this happens every time an episode like this happens, where it has achieved quite a lot militarily but, on the other side of the ledger, the sense of international outrage is mounting and the awareness of the effect on the humanitarian situation in gaza is also mounting, and that at some point those two issues connect and

israel has to decide that it's done enough and it called a halt. so there are possible signs that israel is reaching that point.— is reaching that point. there is a real cyclical— is reaching that point. there is a real cyclical pattern _ is reaching that point. there is a real cyclical pattern to _ is reaching that point. there is a real cyclical pattern to these - real cyclical pattern to these conflicts between israel and the palestinians in gaza and, even when this one ends, the likelihood is there will be another one unless there will be another one unless there is some attempt at some sort of lasting solution, but that doesn't look very likely. h0. of lasting solution, but that doesn't look very likely. no, it looks very _ doesn't look very likely. no, it looks very unlikely _ doesn't look very likely. no, it looks very unlikely at - doesn't look very likely. no, it looks very unlikely at the - doesn't look very likely. no, it - looks very unlikely at the moment. there were a couple of things. one is how much damage has israel done. really, it feels it has killed an awful lot of senior hamas officials, destroyed these networks of underground tunnels, and some of this damage will be long lasting and hard to repair. but it will be repaired and, you know, logic and past experience tells you we could face this situation again. more fundamentally, where is the political will to see some way out

of this? hamas is an organisation condemned as a terror group by israel and the united states and countries in europe. it does not believe that israel has a right to exist and it has a clear agenda. there is another part of the palestinian leadership looking on, frankly, from the sidelines in this episode, the palestinian authority, led by president mahmoud bass up in ramallah, but he is a bystander and he might want to negotiate, but probably right now more conscious of his political authority among his own people being usurped by hamas, who have emerged as the kind of defenders of palestinian honour and palestinian rights injerusalem. —— president mahmoud abbas. he is in a weak situation. overall, i think the prospects for a resumption of meaningful negotiations towards some kind of solution, whether it is the old formula of a two state solution

or something else, those prospects seem unbelievably remote. pauladams injerusalem- — and in the coming hours we'll be talking to a former spokesperson for the palestinian government — nour odeh. the health secretary, matt hancock, has said new evidence gives a �*high degree of confidence' that coronavirus vaccines work against the indian covid variant. he said the easing of restrictions in england will go ahead as planned tomorrow, but he couldn't rule out a return to local lockdowns to stem resurgences if the variant proves to be highly transmissible. our political correspondent, helen catt, is here. that is the fear, isn't it, that this is much more transmissible, this is much more transmissible, this indian variant, and it is emerging just at a time when restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow. yes restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow.— restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow. yes and in a big wa . the eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way- the prime — eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister- eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister said - eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister said last| way. the prime minister said last week this is a big step, allowing

indoor mixing, opening up many more things, and it is at a time when there is growing concern around the transmissibility of the indian variant. scientists are pretty sure it is more transmissible than the kent variant, which we saw spread very quickly towards the end of last year, but they don't know how much. there was a warning from scientist last week that, if it turns out it is 30 to 50% more transmissible, the steps being taken tomorrow but end “p steps being taken tomorrow but end up putting significant pressure on the nhs. but there is an if. at the moment, they simply don't know how much more transmissible it is, so the government is pushing ahead with the government is pushing ahead with the next steps, focusing on search testing in areas where there are higher levels of the indian variant, and focusing on trying to drive uptake of vaccinations. we have some interesting details from ministers, so we know that this week over 35s will be invited to take up their vaccine. we also have figures about how the vaccine is having an impact

around the bolton area. ministers saying there were 18 people in hospital in bolton with coronavirus. they said they were all from the people who were eligible to have the vaccine but hadn't taken it, but five people have gone into hospital after having one jab and only one person after having had both, so interesting stats. matt hancock has defended taking the step tomorrow. i am confident that we can take the step tomorrow, but we should all be careful_ step tomorrow, but we should all be careful about how we take that step. so careful about how we take that step. 50 you _ careful about how we take that step. 50 you ask _ careful about how we take that step. so you ask me about eating indoors with people. it's still safer to eat outdoors — with people. it's still safer to eat outdoors rather than in, when the weather_ outdoors rather than in, when the weather allows. you asked about hugging — weather allows. you asked about hugging people. when people have had bothiabs. _ hugging people. when people have had bothjabs, then it is, that is pretty— bothjabs, then it is, that is pretty safe. you still shouldn't spend — pretty safe. you still shouldn't spend a — pretty safe. you still shouldn't spend a lot of time in close proximity, you should make sure ventilation— proximity, you should make sure ventilation is good. we all know what _ ventilation is good. we all know what we — ventilation is good. we all know what we can do and take personal

responsibility. what we can do and take personal resoonsibility-_ responsibility. health secretary matt hancock. _ responsibility. health secretary matt hancock. some _ responsibility. health secretary l matt hancock. some government critics saying part of the reason the indian variant is here in the first place is because the government was slow to stop flights from india. , ., , , ., ., from india. they only put india on the red list _ from india. they only put india on the red list on _ from india. they only put india on the red list on april— from india. they only put india on the red list on april the _ from india. they only put india on the red list on april the 23rd, - from india. they only put india on| the red list on april the 23rd, with pakistan and bangladesh going on around april the 9th, so some criticism the government waited too long to do that, labour saying it was not inevitable that we ended up in this situation. ministers have been pushing back pretty strongly, saying that, at the time when it went on the red list, but was six days before this variant became a variant under investigation and a week before it became much more serious variant of concern. others have said, hang on, there were lots of cases in india, surely that should have been enough, and some pushback this morning from matt hancock, saying it's notjust about the testing that is done in the country, they went on proportional people testing positive when they arrived in the uk and, at the point

where pakistan went on the red list, that proportion was much higher than people arriving from india and, when that started going up, that's when they put it on the red list, so more explanation on the thinking for that might not calm fears about importing variance, and tomorrow international travel is due to resume. here is what yvette cooper, the labour chair of the home affairs select committee, had to say. i of the home affairs select committee, had to say. i think the government _ committee, had to say. i think the government needs _ committee, had to say. i think the government needs to _ committee, had to say. i think the government needs to slow - committee, had to say. i think the government needs to slow down i committee, had to say. i think the| government needs to slow down its plans _ government needs to slow down its plans i_ government needs to slow down its plans. i don't understand why they are going — plans. i don't understand why they are going ahead with lifting international travel restrictions tomorrow. i think they should be much _ tomorrow. i think they should be much more — tomorrow. i think they should be much more cautious about that. as the vaccine — much more cautious about that. as the vaccine wrote out, and as it is effective. — the vaccine wrote out, and as it is effective. if— the vaccine wrote out, and as it is effective, if there are safeguards against _ effective, if there are safeguards against new variants, we want to be able to _ against new variants, we want to be able to move back to international travel— able to move back to international travel but. — able to move back to international travel but, at the moment, there are some _ travel but, at the moment, there are some significant gaps.— some significant gaps. there will be close monitoring _ some significant gaps. there will be close monitoring in _ some significant gaps. there will be close monitoring in the _ some significant gaps. there will be close monitoring in the next - some significant gaps. there will be close monitoring in the next few- close monitoring in the next few weeks and scientist and ministers will be looking at data about the

transmissibility of the indian variant and looking forward to what that means for the next phase of road map onjune the 21st and the possibility of what happens with things going forward but are opening up things going forward but are opening up tomorrow. things going forward but are opening on tomorrow— earlier this year, europe's vaccination rollout was facing criticism for being too slow and lagging behind the uk and the us. just a few months later, some eu countries have turned their programmes around and are delivering jabs at record rates, as our europe correspondent, jean mackenzie, reports. the joy of alfresco dining in rome. only last month this was unimaginable. across europe infections reached while vaccinations stumbled. this was belgium's largest vaccination centre. when we visited at the end of february — empty. now they are vaccinating nearly 3,000 people a day. i think it's a bit busier than the last time we met each other, so it's good news. we are really doing well now.

we have eight hours a day that are very well filled, so we are also at a very good, smooth capacity, good flow, as you can see. early on there were production delays, glitches and supply chains, and these put europe massively behind, but in the past couple of months there has been a remarkable turnaround. the vaccines are flowing freely, and more than a third of people in europe have now had their first dose. at this estate in neighbouring germany, authorities are trying to vaccinate everyone regardless of age. at one point, the country was sitting on masses of unused doses, but this week it administered a record 1.3 million vaccines in a single day.

the crowded estate, which is home to a0 nationalities, has been a hotspot for infections, but still many don't want get vaccinated. christian is here to convince them. if we don't get every person vaccinated, this pandemic will keep on going and nobody has the patience any more. doctors are giving lessons on how the vaccines work, but this women, who has recently moved with her daughters from romania, is still scared. she's never had a vaccine before. with shots now in solid supply, reaching the reluctant is the next challenge. europe is yet to reach that magical tipping point that would protect it from another deadly surge, but at this pace it could come in time for summer on the beaches of spain.

in lancashire, a young child has died and four people have been seriously injured following a gas explosion. lancashire fire service was called to a row of terraced houses in heysham in the early hours. firefighters are searching a collapsed property and a cordon had been put in place and nearby residents have been evacuated. in the last hour, the police have been giving a statement — let's listen to that now. shortly after ziiiogtt�*i this morning, emergency services were called to residential properties following a report of a large explosion at the address. there was significant damage to the houses. at least two have been destroyed and a third is significantly damaged. as a consequence, a number of people have been injured. tragically, a young child has been killed as a

consequence of what has happened. my thoughts are for both best of both myself and the emergency services are with the family at this distressing time. our thoughts are also with those individuals who have been affected by this incident. the information, as we know it, is that there are four persons have also been injured in the incident. too much of them are seriously injured and others remain under medical assessment. —— two of them are seriously injured. there is a multi—agency response in place, at the moment we are in search and rescue, so our officers are working hard to make the area safe, but only for those in the immediate area but the local community. our work will continue through the day, after which we will give further information in due course. troop reinforcements in myanmar have entered the town of mindat, where opposition activists took up arms against the military government three weeks ago. members of a group calling itself the chinland defence force say they have withdrawn to spare

the town further bombardment. the volunteer force, which opposes the military takeover in myanmar, began launching attacks against troops last month. it has demanded the release of detained activists. critics of the military government had warned of serious humanitarian consequences if the burmese military took control of the town. tomorrow sees another milestone in the reopening of the economy, with pubs, restaurants and cafes in england, scotland and wales able to serve customers inside. so how are pub landlords feeling about this? i'm joined now by markjackson, who runs the arden inn in accrington. thank you forjoining us. it's a big day tomorrow. are you looking forward to it? i day tomorrow. are you looking forward to it?— day tomorrow. are you looking forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest. forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest- it's _ forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest. it's been _ forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest. it's been a _ forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest. it's been a long - forward to it? i can't wait, to be honest. it's been a long time i honest. it's been a long time coming. pa.

honest. it's been a long time cominr. �* ., ., honest. it's been a long time cominr. ., ., , ., ., , coming. a lot of people are nervous, eseciall coming. a lot of people are nervous, especiallv about _ coming. a lot of people are nervous, especially about this _ coming. a lot of people are nervous, especially about this indian - especially about this indian variant, which is taking place, taking hold in areas like bolton, not too far or view the top i don't know if there is any in accrington, but are you worried that might put the dampers on your reopening? it is sliuhtl the dampers on your reopening? it 3 slightly worrying, because blackburn and bolton are very close, just down the road, and i hope it doesn't happen again, because i don't think we will take it. haifa happen again, because i don't think we will take it.— we will take it. how tough has it been for the _ we will take it. how tough has it been for the last _ we will take it. how tough has it been for the last year? - we will take it. how tough has it been for the last year? really i been for the last year? really tou . h. been for the last year? really tough- set — been for the last year? really tough. set in _ been for the last year? really tough. set in a _ been for the last year? really tough. set in a pub, - been for the last year? really tough. set in a pub, four- been for the last year? really i tough. set in a pub, four walls, been for the last year? really . tough. set in a pub, four walls, a tough. set in a pub, fourwalls, a thriving business to nothing, it's been very difficult. but thriving business to nothing, it's been very difficult.— been very difficult. but you have survived. what _ been very difficult. but you have survived. what preparations - been very difficult. but you have | survived. what preparations have been very difficult. but you have - survived. what preparations have you made? i’ge survived. what preparations have you made? �* ., ., , , made? i've got air purifiers in the ub, i made? i've got air purifiers in the pub. i have _ made? i've got air purifiers in the pub, i have cleaned, _ made? i've got air purifiers in the pub, i have cleaned, laminated . pub, i have cleaned, laminated sheets everywhere, and it'sjust cleaning and getting going. [30 sheets everywhere, and it's 'ust cleaning and getting going. do you think there is _ cleaning and getting going. do you think there is huge _ cleaning and getting going. do you think there is huge demand - cleaning and getting going. do you think there is huge demand from l think there is huge demand from people who have been missing out on

being indoors in a nice pub like yours, they have missed it for so long, they will be queueing round the block to get in?— the block to get in? definitely. i can see it _ the block to get in? definitely. i can see it being _ the block to get in? definitely. i can see it being very _ the block to get in? definitely. i can see it being very busy, - the block to get in? definitely. i can see it being very busy, as i the block to get in? definitely. i i can see it being very busy, as busy as i can tomorrow and the rest of the week the top people need to see people, and people have missed it. do you have a garden where you can serve people outdoors? ida. do you have a garden where you can serve people outdoors?— do you have a garden where you can serve people outdoors? no, my garden is too small so — serve people outdoors? no, my garden is too small so it _ serve people outdoors? no, my garden is too small so it wasn't _ is too small so it wasn't financially worth opening. 50 is too small so it wasn't financially worth opening. so this is our financially worth opening. so this is your first _ financially worth opening. so this is your first reopening. _ financially worth opening. so this is your first reopening. it's - financially worth opening. so this is your first reopening. it's been l is your first reopening. it's been so extraordinary, hasn't it? so out of the blue what has happened in the last year. have you come to terms with it? ., ., , ., ., ., with it? not really. the amount of beer that's — with it? not really. the amount of beer that's been _ with it? not really. the amount of beer that's been thrown _ with it? not really. the amount of beer that's been thrown down - with it? not really. the amount of beer that's been thrown down the | beer that's been thrown down the drains twice, the first and second lockdowns, it'sjust drains twice, the first and second lockdowns, it's just crazy, absolutely crazy, and it's your mental health as well as the financial thing. but mental health as well as the financial thing.— mental health as well as the financial thing. financialthing. but you have managed — financialthing. but you have managed to _ financialthing. but you have managed to get _ financialthing. but you have managed to get through - financialthing. but you have managed to get through it . financial thing. but you have l managed to get through it and financial thing. but you have - managed to get through it and you are financially still viable and

hopefully good times, or at least better times are coming.- better times are coming. fingers crossed. better times are coming. fingers crossed- all— better times are coming. fingers crossed. all planning _ better times are coming. fingers crossed. all planning ahead - better times are coming. fingers crossed. all planning ahead for l better times are coming. fingers i crossed. all planning ahead for next year. we have plans in place, a christmas party in so should be all right. christmas party in so should be all riiht, ." christmas party in so should be all riuht. ~ ., right. good luck, mark, and if an bod right. good luck, mark, and if anybody fancies _ right. good luck, mark, and if anybody fancies a _ right. good luck, mark, and if anybody fancies a nice - right. good luck, mark, and if anybody fancies a nice drink, | right. good luck, mark, and if. anybody fancies a nice drink, the arden inn in accrington is the place to go. to scotland now where, in glasgow, three police officers have been injured and 20 people arrested after clashes broke out as rangers fans celebrated their first scottish premiership trophy in a decade. thousands of supporters took to the streets despite warnings against large gatherings due to coronavirus. our scotland reporter alexandra mckenzie reports. rangers fans celebrated well into the evening in glasgow's george square. police scotland said some became increasingly disorderly. property was damaged at missiles and

flares were thrown at police. at least three officers were injured and more than 20 people were arrested. officers with full public order equipment including plastic shields moved in to disperse the crowd. chief superintendent mark sutherland described the behaviour is disgraceful and said it had posed a threat to public and police safety. he said those involved in causing the trouble would be identified and arrested. has lockdown left you yearning for the wild outdoors? well, if it has, there may be a job out there that's just for you. st michael's mount, a remote island only accessible by boat or at low tide, is advertising for a live—in employee to work at its medieval castle. andrea ormsby has been to find out more. they say an englishman's home is his castle. well, st michael's mount is quite literally that for around 30 people.

now there's room for one more, a live—in castle officer. we've had an overwhelming response, which has been fantastic. we need people who are happy with boats, happy with heights. i just think a real passion for people, to cornwall, the tourism industry is a must, really. newsreel: here in the west, j where the cornish coast flings a sheltering arm against the atlantic is a bay and island where loneliness is only— another name for enjoyment. st michael's mount has been capturing the imagination for years. i'm duncan, i'm the castle steward, and i've been living here for around two years now. what i love about the mount is having a sea view from every window and having the support of the community around you. everyone is really friendly here, and the challenge of living here — it's different from living on the mainland. you can't get a takeaway pizza, so be prepared for that. if you can cope with that,

have good sea legs and fancy a pretty cool address, this might be what you need to hear. don't be scared to apply. i think a lot of people on the socials last night were saying, it's my dream job but i couldn't do this or that. don't be put off by that. it will probably be one of the most life—changing experiences for someone to come over. there is no official closing date, but interest has already been huge. after seven decades on air, a 96—year—old radio host has hung up his headphones for the last time. ray cordeiro broadcast his final show in hong kong on saturday. in 2000, the guinness book of world records awarded him the title of the world's "most durable dj". during his career, he got to know some of the biggest names in the music world, including the beatles, cliff richard and tony bennett.

he certainly met some of the biggest musical legends in the world. you are watching bbc news. there will be some sunny spells at the time today. it feels reasonably in the sunshine, but we are dodging the downpours again across many areas. even where you have started with sunshine, the cloud will build and you might find a heavy and thundery shower heading your way. there could be gusty winds around, with the possibly of some hail. it's all this low pressure tracking across england and wales through the day. this is where we will find not a lot of sunshine, even around the showers, and the bright colours indicating where some of them could be quite heavy. slow moving as well, with for the most part light winds, so they tend to hang around. northern ireland and the central

belt and northern scotland, some sunshine and the chance of a heavy shower. not everybody will catch one. fairly light winds but quite gusty around some of the showers, but the strongest winds for the english channel and channel islands, up english channel and channel islands, up to a0 mph. 12 to 15 for the most part. on the north sea coast, ten or 11. the showers will still be around this evening and well into the night in eastern england before generally failing is that area of low pressure moves away. it is becoming mainly dry after midnight. cloud out to the east, some low cloud and health, with clearer skies in the west. chilly in northern ireland, with some rural spots in single figures. low pressure is on the way out, but still close enough to give us some showers on monday. is that front drifts east, we will start with quite a bit of dry weather, a mixture of cloud and sunny spells, but some heavy and fun race showers

migrating east through the day, leaving many western areas dry and sunny by the end of the afternoon and temperatures no higher, and they are not getting higher through the week ahead. on tuesday, some patchy rain, cloud into northern scotland drifting further south, and showers developing elsewhere, and some of the heaviest ones will be in the southern half of england and wales on tuesday. is that which goes on, wednesday looks to be a bit quieter, with more places staying dry and sing downpours, but the potential for notjust sing downpours, but the potential for not just wet and windy weather coming our way on thursday and friday.

now on bbc news, global questions.

hello and welcome. nelson mandela once said that sport has the power to change the world, do unite people, to create hope where once there was only despair. how far is that true of sport today? with cause for boycotts, reports of abuse and a relentless drive to make profits, in this week's programme, we look at the power of sport. well, to bring you this edition of global questions are two panellists and our questioners join us via video link from all corners of the world.

let me tell you who is in the hot seat this week giving the answers.