we are very concerned about what is happening in rafah, the people there, many who have moved five or six times before getting there. in the uk, two new drugs to slow the progress of alzheimer's could be licensed within months. but will all patients get access to them? the united nations says the extinction risk of the most vulnerable species is on the rise. and the kansas city chiefs win the super bowl, beating the san francisco 49ers in an overtime thriller. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live. the israeli military has rescued two of the hostages abducted by hamas, during a raid in the gaza strip. the release of the hostages

was announced shortly after israel carried out an intense aerial bombardment of the southern city of rafah. this was the scene after those israeli strikes. a spokesman for the hamas—run health ministry says at least 67 palestinians were killed. a doctor at a nearby hospital said it was unable to cope with the number of injured. the two israeli hostages, fernando marman and louis har, have been reunited with their families and are said to be in good condition. the israeli prime minister said "only continued military pressure" will free more hostages. here's barbara plett usher. a family reunited, after 128 days of captivity. fernando marman on the left and louis har on the right, rescued last night. their lives torn apart on that traumatic day in october when hamas attacked their village and dragged them into gaza. now there is overwhelming relief, even a certain amount

of joyful disbelief. when we saw them, the heart was beating on 200, maybe more. a lot of tears. hugs, not many words. just being together, surrounded by the family, and surrounded by our beloved people that were without us for so long, more than four months. explosions. israeli special forces made their move covered by a heavy burst of air strikes. they'd been monitoring the location for some time in the southern gaza city of rafah. palestinians scrambled to rescue their wounded and to collect their dead. they'd been bombed here almost every night, but this time was so intense, they feared it signalled the beginning of a threatened israeli ground offensive. the war has gone on for more than four months. israel's prime minister says this is the best way to free the hostages.

so this rescue is a significant success for him. but the families of the captives are pressing for a ceasefire deal that pauses the war to release all the hostages, more than 100 of them. so are israel's international allies. above all, what we want is an immediate pause in the fighting. and we want that pause to lead to a ceasefire, a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting. that's what should happen now, we need to get those hostages out, including the british nationals, we need to get the aid in. the best way to do that is to stop the fighting now and turn that into a permanent, sustainable ceasefire. it's a very happy day for this family. but overall, little has changed. israeli hostages still trapped in gaza, palestinians trapped in a nightmare of destruction and death. barbara plett usher, bbc news, jerusalem. our middle east correspondent, nick beake, is injerusalem

and gave me his analysis on the hostages rescue. certainly the israeli government and the is ready military are hailing this as a significant success. the specifics of the operation, the fact they be monitoring this building, they be monitoring this building, they say it was a civilian building in a busy city neighbourhood. they went in there and were able to remove the two hostages, who as we saw look incredibly well, bearing in mind they been in captivity for 128 days. in isolation, they say it was a success, but if you look at the politics, the government or the prime minister benjamin netanyahu would suggest this is an indication his policy he is asking the military to pursue is effective and can work, because he says the best way to get back to hostages is generally

ratchet up the pressure on hamas, to enhance the military campaign in gaza. i think he would point to this as being evidence they been able to go in, remove some hostages and now theirfocus will go in, remove some hostages and now their focus will continue on trying to get back the other hostages. plenty other people, notably a lot of the families of the other hostages, don't agree with it and think the priority is wrong. itrailien hostages, don't agree with it and think the priority is wrong. when it comes to rafah, _ think the priority is wrong. when it comes to rafah, president - think the priority is wrong. when it comes to rafah, president biden l think the priority is wrong. when it i comes to rafah, president biden said israel wrong. when it comes to rafah, president biden said israel need a credible plan to protect more than 1 need a credible plan to protect more than1 million people. what is the israeli government saying or doing? interesting, in the last couple of days, the israeli government have talked about the emphasis being on the united nations, humanitarian organisations in gaza. and basically the role they will play in helping people move to safety. that is because there has been no plan put forward yet. we know the chronology taking place over the past few days

is the prime minister has asked the military to come up with this plan, notjust for a big military assault on rafah, but also this huge evacuation plan to move some 1.5 million people away from the city, which is in a desperate state. the israel authorities haven't been able to give the detail, but they said if this is a failure, it will be the responsibility to some extent of the international aid agencies, notably the united nations, forfailing to provide safe passage for people. with me is sharone lifschitz. her mother, yocheved, was one of the first hostages released by hamas last october, but her 83—year—old father, oded, remains captive. thank you so much for coming to speak to is. your reaction on the day like today when we've heard this rescue operation? it is

day like today when we've heard this rescue operation?— rescue operation? it is wonderful to see the peeple _ rescue operation? it is wonderful to see the people that _ rescue operation? it is wonderful to see the people that came _ rescue operation? it is wonderful to see the people that came back- rescue operation? it is wonderful to see the people that came back and | see the people that came back and the hostage families are so excited for them. the hostage families are so excited forthem. iam, but it the hostage families are so excited for them. i am, but it is two out of 134. three have been released through military effort in four months. we need another deal in order to release all the remaining hostages. i order to release all the remaining hostaues. u, order to release all the remaining hostaues. _, . ~ order to release all the remaining hostaues. u, . ~ ., order to release all the remaining hostaes. u, . ~' ., . hostages. i will come back to a deal hostages. i will come back to a deal, but _ hostages. i will come back to a deal, but your _ hostages. i will come back to a deal, but your mother - hostages. i will come back to a deal, but your mother was - hostages. i will come back to a - deal, but your mother was released. when was the last bit of concrete information you had about your father? ., , ., ., , father? the release of the hostages in the first deal, _ father? the release of the hostages in the first deal, we _ father? the release of the hostages in the first deal, we knew _ father? the release of the hostages in the first deal, we knew he - in the first deal, we knew he arrived in gaza alive, he was injured, so that my mum knew. he was alive for the first ten or 20 days, but we don't have any further news about him. ., but we don't have any further news about him-— about him. nothing whatsoever? nothina. about him. nothing whatsoever? nothing- that — about him. nothing whatsoever? nothing. that must _ about him. nothing whatsoever? nothing. that must be _ about him. nothing whatsoever? nothing. that must be incrediblyj nothing. that must be incredibly excruciating. what do you make of the fact this rescue was done rafah?

when you hear benjamin netanyahu talking about the upcoming full—scale offensive around our city, you hear others talking about revenge, emotionally what is that like? , ~ ., , , like? revenge is like a string in my heart, it is — like? revenge is like a string in my heart, it is like _ like? revenge is like a string in my heart, it is like the _ like? revenge is like a string in my heart, it is like the collapse - like? revenge is like a string in my heart, it is like the collapse of- heart, it is like the collapse of everything i believe in. i think what happened on the 7th of october is horrendous. israel should find a way to protect itself. revenge is where people just get killed for the sake of it. we need diplomatic security, we need something that bring us forward, release all the hostages. i think hamas cannot stay, but there's other ways of beating them. , ., , but there's other ways of beating them. , . , �* ., them. the strategy ben'amin netanyahu fl them. the strategy ben'amin netanyahu keeps * them. the strategy benjamin netanyahu keeps talking - them. the strategy benjamin i netanyahu keeps talking about, them. the strategy benjamin - netanyahu keeps talking about, he keeps saying, the exerting of military pressure is working. you made the point only three hostages

have been released so far successfully using that tactic. again, what do you think of the prospect of a large operation in rafah if potentially there are more hostages there? i rafah if potentially there are more hostages there?— hostages there? i think today has robabl hostages there? i think today has probably made — hostages there? i think today has probably made it _ hostages there? i think today has probably made it more _ hostages there? i think today hasj probably made it more dangerous hostages there? i think today has - probably made it more dangerous for all the other hostages. more dangerous? yes, because hamas would be easier on the trigger when it comes to anything that scares them and make them feel a military operation is under way. as a family of a hostage, it increases my worry. 0n the screen we are just running new pictures that have just come in from the idf of the raid itself, which led to the release or rescue of these two hostages today. i gather you have had some contact with qatari officials in terms of

you trying to find out more information about that broader effort to try to secure a longer ceasefire deal, the hostage release deal. what are those contacts saying to you? deal. what are those contacts saying to ou? , ,., , deal. what are those contacts saying to ou? ., to you? everybody we spoke to, the doctor last week _ to you? everybody we spoke to, the doctor last week was _ to you? everybody we spoke to, the doctor last week was his _ to you? everybody we spoke to, the doctor last week was his feeling - to you? everybody we spoke to, the | doctor last week was his feeling was there is a lot of effort to reach an agreement that israel... i hope israel will send delegation to egypt. there is no doubt hamas is a horrendous organisation, holding hostages as well as our families. we had to negotiate and richard deal which brings about the release of the hostages. aha, which brings about the release of the hostages-_ which brings about the release of the hostages. a finalthought, do ou think the hostages. a finalthought, do you think it _ the hostages. a finalthought, do you think it would _ the hostages. a finalthought, do you think it would be _ the hostages. a finalthought, do you think it would be better? - the hostages. a finalthought, doj you think it would be better? you will have seen what the white house and other capitals are saying. would it have been better not to go ahead with that large—scale offensive in

tobiasz and focus instead on getting some deal on the ceasefire —— offensive in rafah. ayu reluctantly happy to go along with the strategy outlined by israel's prime minister? i cannot imagine how it would work better than the route offered to us and suggested by israel's allies. i think we should follow israel's allies and reach a deal which releases all the hostages. i think there is work to be done in the region, also to reach a long—term situation that supports life for both nations. but at this point, i think so much effort is done to bring about a solution that does not involve the continuation of the killing of innocent civilians. and of a lot of hamas terrorists. hamas

is a long—term effort to dismantle. it is very embedded in its own population, and the price for it now will not be possible. i population, and the price for it now will not be possible.— will not be possible. i can't finish before asking _ will not be possible. i can't finish before asking you, _ will not be possible. i can't finish before asking you, how- will not be possible. i can't finish before asking you, how is - will not be possible. i can't finish before asking you, how is your i will not be possible. i can't finish i before asking you, how is your mum now? ,, ~' before asking you, how is your mum now? ,, ~ ., ., , , ., now? she, like all of us, is waiting for my father _ now? she, like all of us, is waiting for my father and _ now? she, like all of us, is waiting for my father and other _ now? she, like all of us, is waiting for my father and other hostages. | for my father and other hostages. she is well in some ways, and her heart is in gaza. she can't release that from her heart until they are all coming back.— that from her heart until they are all coming back. thank you so much for coming — all coming back. thank you so much for coming in _ all coming back. thank you so much for coming in to _ all coming back. thank you so much for coming in to talk— all coming back. thank you so much for coming in to talk to me. - all coming back. thank you so much for coming in to talk to me. plenty i for coming in to talk to me. plenty more from the middle east coming up another programme. the kenyan government has announced that the marathon world record holder kelvin kiptum will be buried as a national hero. the 24—year—old and his coach were killed in a car crash in western kenya on sunday night. kiptum set the world record

in the chicago marathon last year. from nairobi, anne soy reports. he was no doubt destined for greatness. at only 24, kelvin kiptum had run three of the seven fastest marathon times in history. this is him in london last year. he broke away from the leading pack mid—race and went on to win and set a new course record. later in the year, he broke the world record in chicago, shaving 34 seconds off his compatriot, eliud kipchoge's time. a world record means a lot to me. to beat a world record, it's so hard, you have to work hard. and that has been a long journey for me. he was going to attempt to run the rotterdam marathon in under two hours this april, but his promising career was cut short on sunday night. he was driving along this road near his birthplace in kenya's rift valley, when he crashed. kelvin lost control of the vehicle,

it veered off the road and it entered into a ditch. he drove through that ditch for 60 metres before hitting a big tree. tributes have been paid to him in kenya and across the world. it is a very dark morning, a very dark day for our country. a very dark day for the athletics fraternity. the world athletics federation ratified kiptum's record only last week. its president, sebastian coe, described him as an incredible athlete who is leaving an incredible legacy. for a man who ran his first major competition in borrowed shoes because he could not afford a pair, he achieved far more than any ever will at his age.

anne soy, bbc news, nairobi around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. double child rapist and murderer colin pitchfork will face a fresh hearing after challenging a decision to keep him behind bars. pitchfork was jailed for life for raping and strangling two 15—year—old girls in the 1980s. he was granted parole, but this was challenged by ministers and the parole board denied his release in december. schools are spending tens of thousands of pounds more a year, of thousands of pounds more a year to meet rising costs of contracts with private firms. these private finance initiative schools are locked into 25—to 30—year contracts, in which charges rise more than at other schools. pfi investors say the contracts give long—term value for taxpayers' money. police say they will

take no further action against the conservative mp andrew rosindell after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and misconduct in a public office. scotland yard said the evidence threshold for criminal prosecution had not been met. you're live with bbc news. the second and third largest political parties in pakistan have confirmed that they are in talks about whether to form a coalition government, after the general election provided no clear winner. the move has angered supporters of the jailed former prime minister, imran khan, who have been protesting against the results, calling them "rigged". independent parliamentary candidates affiliated with mr khan's party won the most seats — and courts are now hearing their legal challenges. let's have a look at the results. earlier, i asked husain haqqani, pakistan s former ambassador to the united states, what does he make of

the fragmented election result? the fragmented nature of the result essentially reflects the fragmented nature of pakistan's society. it is polarised, the supporters of imran khan have made a massive showing in the selection. they overcame all kinds of repression and intimidation. at the same time, the fact remains they and their party have not been willing to cooperate with any other political party in the past, and will find it difficult to find coalition partners. and beyond this, there is the establishment, the pakistani military which plays a behind—the—scenes and not so behind—the—scenes and not so behind—the—scenes role in coalition forming as well as running of the government. imran khan and his party are out of favour with the military. you mentioned unrest and the military. if we see more unrest, in

a sense the military then has to step in even further, and i suppose that gives them more control, not less. �* , ,., , that gives them more control, not less. �* , , ., ., , that gives them more control, not less. n, , ., ., , , less. absolutely, and that is why the way forward _ less. absolutely, and that is why the way forward for _ less. absolutely, and that is why the way forward for pakistan - less. absolutely, and that is why the way forward for pakistan is i the way forward for pakistan is cooperation among political parties. imran khan came to power in 2018 with the military�*s full backing and support, turned on them after the military turned against him in 2022. he turned against them with the vehemence unprecedented, and that has really earned him a lot of support, even from those people who don't like him but think he's been a brave, outspoken opponent of the military. the question is, fighting the military in the streets is a losing option. it does not keep the semblance of democracy, it enables the military to use force even more. the solution for keeping the military out of politics is for politicians to cooperate, to mr khan is not willing to do it. what

politicians to cooperate, to mr khan is not willing to do it.— is not willing to do it. what do you think is the _ is not willing to do it. what do you think is the most _ is not willing to do it. what do you think is the most likely _ is not willing to do it. what do you think is the most likely outcome? | is not willing to do it. what do you i think is the most likely outcome? is it simply more instability there in pakistan, politically? i it simply more instability there in pakistan, politically?— it simply more instability there in pakistan, politically? ithink there will be a lot— pakistan, politically? ithink there will be a lot of _ pakistan, politically? ithink there will be a lot of instability, - pakistan, politically? ithink there will be a lot of instability, a - pakistan, politically? ithink there will be a lot of instability, a lot. will be a lot of instability, a lot of political noise. mr khan's supporters will remain unhappy, but i think pakistan will get some kind of working coalition government. when it address the massive problems in pakistan? probably not, but i think the ball will roll down the field a little bit more in the next few days. field a little bit more in the next few da s. ., , field a little bit more in the next few da s. . , ., .,~ , ., there are hopes that two new drugs aimed at slowing the progress of alzheimer's could pave the way for the development of future treatments for the disease. the medicines are expected to be licensed within months, but charities are warning that the nhs isn't ready forthem — meaning many patients could lose out. 0ur medical editor, fergus walsh, reports. dawn is 62 and about to get her first dose of a new alzheimer's drug,

donanemab, as part of a trial. we've started, all right? her memory problems were identified early and she has only mild cognitive impairment. i feel so grateful that i noticed, and that i investigated further, and that i know, because knowledge is power and it could mean that it just slows it all down. and if it slows it down, then... ..then i'll be able to function as i'd like to. in trials, donanemab, and another drug, lecanemab, slowed cognitive decline by between a quarter and a third in patients with early stage alzheimer's. that gives you over that 18 month period, about five months at a higher level of function. for me, that's meaningful, but it's small. i think these drugs do represent a turning point in our research in alzheimer's, but i also think they arejust the beginning.

0ne estimate suggests up to 280,000 people in england could be eligible for the drugs if they get licensed in the coming months, and are then recommended for use by the nhs. we're worried that tens of thousands of people could miss out on having treatments because the nhs isn't ready to deliver them. we need to have a really clear plan from the nhs about how they're going to scale up services. nhs england says dementia diagnosis rates are the highest they've been for three years. see, that white bit? david, who's 79, has been on lecanemab for over three years as part of a study. although his alzheimer's is progressing, his wife, cheryl, feels the drug has helped. they're not saying this is a complete cure. no. just giving individuals more time before they can't remember, you know, who their children are.

it's given me longer with david as my husband. so, you know, that's worth all the money in the world. the drugs can cause swelling and bleeding in the brain, so patients like dawn need careful monitoring. but despite their side effects and modest benefits, many scientists believe they represent a defining moment in the fight against alzheimer's. fergus walsh, bbc news. let's speak to rhys davies, consultant neurologist at the walton centre in liverpool — a major neurology hospital which is a nhs foundation trust. thank you forjoining us. fergus ending the pc and occur be a defining moment in this. how exciting do think it is potentially? it's an opportunity, unlike all opportunities it challenge. we have

here treatments that are deploying the mechanisms of the immune system against key proteins that are involved, especially in the instigation of alzheimer's disease instigation of alzheimer's disease in the brain, so this protein is the key step to instigating alzheimer's, and these new drugs are attacking that. this is a meaningful disease modifying treatments for this most devastating and most common of conditions, which is obviously a huge step forward as compared with mere supportive treatment and some symptom —based treatments we've had until now. so there are challenges. we heard about the side—effects, the swelling and the bleeding that are to do with the immune activity in the brain, and our other aspects to

the brain, and our other aspects to the disease process, other than this protein. this is a key moment and step in a journey. it is protein. this is a key moment and step in a journey-— step in a “ourney. it is a “ourney, and it is step in a journey. it is a “ourney, and it is complicated, _ step in a journey. it is a journey, and it is complicated, even - step in a journey. it is a journey, and it is complicated, even the l step in ajourney. it is ajourney, i and it is complicated, even the way you describe it. we heard there in the report the basic things for so many families, it is so simple, it is more time. many families, it is so simple, it is more time-— many families, it is so simple, it is more time. well, absolutely. if ou're a is more time. well, absolutely. if you're a person — is more time. well, absolutely. if you're a person who _ is more time. well, absolutely. if you're a person who is _ is more time. well, absolutely. if you're a person who is worried i is more time. well, absolutely. if. you're a person who is worried about a recent diagnosis of alzheimer's disease, a family member or someone with a diagnosis, someone like myself directly involved with treatment, if you are in a third sector organisation responsible for advocacy, this is hugely exciting and very precious, but also very challenging because even the refinement of diagnosis so that we reach a biological diagnosis, not

simply confirming the severity of the person's memory impairment, but being clear about what the biology of its causation is, that is an investment in itself. 0n of its causation is, that is an investment in itself. on top of that, the delivery of these treatments, we are talking about and intravenous infusion given once every two weeks for one year—and—a—half. if you are talking about these hundreds of thousands of people, though initially it would be for small number of people with mild symptoms, the logistical challenges is clear. 0n symptoms, the logistical challenges is clear. on top of the supportive care needs that sony patients with dementia or struggling to receive at the moment. just dementia or struggling to receive at the moment-— the moment. just a final thought, because in — the moment. just a final thought, because in fergus's _ the moment. just a final thought, because in fergus's piece, - the moment. just a final thought, because in fergus's piece, we - the moment. just a final thought, | because in fergus's piece, we hear the concern that perhaps the nhs isn't quite ready so the various choreography you get with advances isn't quite in place. for a doctor,

that must be troubling because presumably if that were to be the case, you would have to tell patients they were somehow missing out or couldn't get access to the best treatments available because somehow the nhs wasn't ready. that would be a nightmarish scenario as a doctor? ~ ., , would be a nightmarish scenario as a doctor? ~ ., , ., ., ., doctor? well, as a doctor involved with looking _ doctor? well, as a doctor involved with looking after _ doctor? well, as a doctor involved with looking after people - doctor? well, as a doctor involved with looking after people with - with looking after people with dementia, i am used to imparting very difficult information, because it is difficult and there's an additional dimension to the difficulty from the send something could be done and isn't being done. i certainly do not relish that additional challenge.- additional challenge. well, hopefully _ additional challenge. well, hopefully we _ additional challenge. well, hopefully we won't - additional challenge. well, hopefully we won't get - additional challenge. well, hopefully we won't get to l additional challenge. well, i hopefully we won't get to that particular eventuality, but it is a fascinating piece of research. thank

you forjoining us. we will take a break, when we are back we have the latest headlines and business news. don't go away. hello there, good afternoon. some showers towards the northwest of the uk today, but for many of us it's feeling really rather springlike with some blue skies, some sunshine, some snowdrops here in bedfordshire. and it's a largely dry day too, across most of wales, although we could see more cloud develop here towards the south west as we head through the rest of the afternoon. but today is the best day of the week for most in terms of sunshine amounts. from midweek onwards it's set to turn a lot wetter. it will be unsettled, atlantic system sweeping in from the west with some very mild air. so temperatures marked in blue at the moment, close to the seasonal average. then we get those south westerlies drawing in that very mild air. temperatures are set to rise, particularly on wednesday and thursday. back to today, and you can see this little feature across western scotland, running west to east,

bringing increased amounts of showers as we head through the rest of the afternoon. some of the showers wintry, particularly over the tops of the hills, some showers, too, for northern ireland, perhaps for north west england. but elsewhere it is dry, there'll be some more sunny spells around, just the cloud amounts increasing towards the south west of england by the end of the day. temperatures more or less now where they should be for this time of year. but still some wintry showers across parts of scotland as we head through tonight. there'll be more cloud spreading in from the southwest, some clearer spells here and there. temperatures a little higher across most of southern england, but still a touch of frost from northern england northwards. now, as we head through tuesday, this area of low pressure is going to be pushing in from the southwest and that's going to change our weather, dragging in that mild feeling air. but the cloud amounts will increase, the winds are set to pick up south—westerly and there'll be outbreaks of rain, possibly some heavier downpours at times. but really from southern scotland northwards, we are expecting a largely dry day. there'll be some sunshine here, just watch out for a few more wintry

showers over the tops of the hills. still colder air hanging on across parts of northern scotland where it's staying quite windy but turning milder towards the south. and these areas of low pressure just set to send more fronts spinning in as we head through wednesday. so wednesday, a windier day, the westerly winds picking up again. there will be more outbreaks of rain just moving across parts of scotland, perhaps turning to snow again where it meets that colder feeling air, a slice of sunshine perhaps across central areas and temperatures starting to rise. bye— bye.