muslim country and the world's third largest democracy. that is why its election today is a pretty big deal. it is only sixth poll that the country has had since it emerged from a military dictatorship in the 90s. and these days, indonesia is a vibrant and modern but somewhat fragile democracy, and its literal position in the world, in a region that is crucial to both the us and china, means its vote is one to watch. my colleague steve lai is injakarta and we canjoin him now. steve, over to you. thankfully no rain like yesterday.— rain like yesterday. that is right. thunderstorms _ rain like yesterday. that is right. thunderstorms affected - rain like yesterday. that is right. thunderstorms affected some i rain like yesterday. that is right. - thunderstorms affected some polling stations yesterday. life injakarta and across indonesia is churning

back to life. you can hear the traffic around me. another statistic to tell you, it'll give you a sense of the scale of the elections for the 7 million electors are election officials and support staff are used during this election which is more than the population of singapore. it gives you the sense of the scale of the election that took place yesterday on a public holiday we mentioned earlier prabowo subianto, it looks like he's on course to win the election for the quick counts show him very much in the lead. so what a prabowo subianto president could look like i'm joined by the founder of a think tank focused on military and societies in southeast asia. natalie, thanks forjoining me today. first your initial response today. first your initial response to the quick count and the fact that the other two candidates anies baswedan ganjar pranowo, have not conceded yet. i baswedan gan'ar pranowo, have not conceded yet.— conceded yet. i think it's been for the indonesian _ conceded yet. i think it's been for the indonesian people _ conceded yet. i think it's been for the indonesian people who've - the indonesian people who've exercise — the indonesian people who've exercise their right just like the

president. we can tell right now i don't _ president. we can tell right now i don't think— president. we can tell right now i don't think the result will change as the _ don't think the result will change as the weeks go by. it looks like prabowo — as the weeks go by. it looks like prabowo subianto will be the next president — prabowo subianto will be the next president. tell prabowo subianto will be the next resident. , ., , ., president. tell us a bit about the man and his _ president. tell us a bit about the man and his background - president. tell us a bit about the man and his background and - president. tell us a bit about the j man and his background and how president. tell us a bit about the i man and his background and how he became such a prominent figure in indonesian politics. he became such a prominent figure in indonesian politics.— indonesian politics. he has quite a cheduered indonesian politics. he has quite a chequered past. _ indonesian politics. he has quite a chequered past. prabowo - indonesian politics. he has quite a| chequered past. prabowo subianto indonesian politics. he has quite a - chequered past. prabowo subianto has been a _ chequered past. prabowo subianto has been a persistent figure in indonesian politics since the end of the 90s _ indonesian politics since the end of the 905. before he indonesian politic5 since the end of the 905. before he entered politic5 he was _ the 905. before he entered politic5 he was an— the 905. before he entered politic5 he was an army 5pecial the 905. before he entered politic5 he was an army special forces general— he was an army special forces general with a background of human rights _ general with a background of human rights violations. he was responsible for the kidnapping of re5pon5ible for the kidnapping of student— responsible for the kidnapping of student activi5m at responsible for the kidnapping of student activism at the end of the 905 student activism at the end of the 90s and _ student activism at the end of the 905 and he was honorably discharged from the _ 905 and he was honorably discharged from the military. since then he's reinvented — from the military. since then he's reinvented himself as a political piayen — reinvented himself as a political player. and particularly in this election has revamped his entire image _ election has revamped his entire image of— election has revamped his entire image of a — election has revamped his entire image of a somewhat military strongman into a more accessible grandpa _ strongman into a more accessible grandpa who dances and plays with

cats _ grandpa who dances and plays with cats it _ grandpa who dances and plays with cats. it seems that that image has been _ cats. it seems that that image has been favourable with certain voters, particularly — been favourable with certain voters, particularly younger who see him as someone _ particularly younger who see him as someone with a bit of experience you haven't— someone with a bit of experience you haven't been the defence manager and someone _ haven't been the defence manager and someone with a bit of a lighter sense — someone with a bit of a lighter sense of— someone with a bit of a lighter sense of attitude and perhaps he knows _ sense of attitude and perhaps he knows how to get on with the countries _ knows how to get on with the countries more serious business. we heard countries more serious business. heard earlier countries more serious business. - heard earlier from my colleague heard earlierfrom my colleague talking about him indonesia is an important country, the largest economy in southeast asia and has interest from both china and the us and it. other the president, thwarted investment from big if his arms but also had a good relationship with the us when it comes to military and trade. do you see that changing under prabowo subianto? the see that changing under prabowo subianto? ., , ., ., , ., subianto? the reality of indonesia as seepolitieal _ subianto? the reality of indonesia as geopolitical circumstances - subianto? the reality of indonesia as geopolitical circumstances is i a5 geopolitical circumstances is that it's — a5 geopolitical circumstances is that it's at _ a5 geopolitical circumstances is that it's at a crucial crossroads between — that it's at a crucial crossroads between the oceans and the continents of the indo—pacific. it has to— continents of the indo—pacific. it has to have _ continents of the indo—pacific. it has to have good relations with all states _ has to have good relations with all states. because of its economic circumstances the need for a,

circumstances the need fora, individual— circumstances the need for a, individual will be looking to court all major— individual will be looking to court all major players and it will include _ all major players and it will include japan, all major players and it will includejapan, south all major players and it will include japan, south korea, all major players and it will includejapan, south korea, russia and of— includejapan, south korea, russia and of course china and the us. given— and of course china and the us. given that — and of course china and the us. given that necessity, given that indonesia — given that necessity, given that indonesia will need to continue to have _ indonesia will need to continue to have high— indonesia will need to continue to have high levels of economic growth, the need _ have high levels of economic growth, the need for investment in infrastructure in order to meet the needs— infrastructure in order to meet the needs of— infrastructure in order to meet the needs of 275 million people any indonesian president whether prabowo subianto _ indonesian president whether prabowo subianto or the other candidates would _ subianto or the other candidates would have to get on with his hard work _ would have to get on with his hard work. would have to be persistent with trade — work. would have to be persistent with trade deals, attracting investment, participating in international and making good ties with all— international and making good ties with all players within the indo—pacific region. and the european _ indo—pacific region. and the european union as well. indo-pacific region. and the european union as well. natalie thank ou european union as well. natalie thank you so — european union as well. natalie thank you so much. _ european union as well. natalie thank you so much. natalie i european union as well. natalie i thank you so much. natalie sambhi from the verve research with up the general elections commission has until march the 20th to tally the votes and official result. as things stand the quick count shows that prabowo subianto very much in line to be the next of indonesia.-

to be the next of indonesia. thank ou. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. with its origins in the street football of south america, futsal bounds into play at a salford sports centre. wearing kits to match theirsurroundings, pupils form the city have been giving it the thumbs up. it's a bit better than football in a way because in football, you mostlyjust blunder up the pitch but here you have to use the ball and your feet a bit more to get round players because it's so much smaller. the brand—new futsal court has been paid for by the fa, premier league, football foundation and salford city council, who are putting in £127,000. how much of something like this needed in a place like this?

everybody knows that sport helps to increase physical and emotional well—being. and just to get people together in the community, doing things that will benefit them. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. - you're live with bbc news. benjamin netanyahu says israeli forces will press ahead with an offensive against hamas in rafah in southern gaza, despite mounting international calls for restraint. his comments come as palestinians say the israeli army ordered people to evacuate the nasser hospital in the southern city of khan younis, where hundreds of people have taken refuge. in these images — verified by the bbc — you can see a large crowd of people leaving the hospital. the israel defense forces says its troops were opening a secure route to evacuate civilians sheltering near the hospital —

but it did not intend to evacuate patients and medical staff. 0ur middle east correspondent nick beake has been following developments from jerusalem — and sent this update. well, tonight, the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has doubled down. he's told the israeli people, "we will fight until complete "victory, and that includes powerful action," as he put it, "in the city of rafah after we allow the civilian population to leave the battle zones. " those were his words tonight, and i think what he's basically saying or what he's indicating is despite all these warnings from the united nations, aid agencies, notably from the united states, he is going to pursue this course of action. and that means moving 1.5 million palestinians out of the city of rafah, so that the israeli military can embark on this big military operation to try and wipe out the remaining hamas fighters. of course, fighting continues

elsewhere in the gaza strip. there's been a particularfocus in the city of khan younis around the nasser hospital, a really big medicalfacility. the israelis have been telling civilians who sought shelter there to move. they're being encouraged to evacuate. in fact, they're being instructed to evacuate. the israelis saying, though, that patients and doctors, they do not have to move. all of this, of course, makes a pretty bleak backdrop for the negotiations that continue to try and find some sort of cease—fire or a lull in the fighting. they've been taking place in cairo, and we hear that representatives from hamas will be joining the discussions in the days to come. today, though, we've also heard from the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas, and he is urging hamas to do a deal very quickly. he says that has to be done, otherwise there will be, in his words, "another catastrophe". 0therwise otherwise it

will the office for national statistics say the way that which prices rise stayed steady partly because of falling food prices. it because of falling food prices. it suffered time since september 21 that the cost of food has dropped month on month. 0ur chief economics correspondent. from food tissue repair hosting a range of traders with one thing in common. surviving rather than thriving as costs rise. historically shoe repair is short. god had to increase on times like this but i'm just not seeing... like a football, really.— a football, really. instead of bu ind a football, really. instead of bu in: a a football, really. instead of buying a pound _ a football, really. instead of buying a pound of— a football, really. instead of buying a pound of cheese i a football, really. instead of. buying a pound of cheese there a football, really. instead of- buying a pound of cheese there by three _ buying a pound of cheese there by three quarters of a pound of cheese. which _ three quarters of a pound of cheese. which is _ three quarters of a pound of cheese. which is fine — three quarters of a pound of cheese. which is fine but i'd rather have a pound _ which is fine but i'd rather have a pound of— which is fine but i'd rather have a pound of cheese. for which is fine but i'd rather have a pound of cheese.— pound of cheese. for their customers are struggling- _ pound of cheese. for their customers are struggling. not _ pound of cheese. for their customers are struggling. notjust _ pound of cheese. for their customers are struggling. notjust because i pound of cheese. for their customers are struggling. notjust because of. are struggling. notjust because of are struggling. notjust because of

a hike in energy bills injanuary. some things coming down for them on a general basis not really coming down in. �* ., a general basis not really coming down in. . ., ., , , ., down in. after leave early 'ust go back to work i down in. after leave early 'ust go back to work so i i down in. after leave early 'ust go back to work so i can i down in. after leave early 'ust go back to work so i can put i down in. after leave earlyjust go back to work so i can put them i down in. after leave earlyjust go back to work so i can put them in j down in. after leave earlyjust go i back to work so i can put them in a space _ back to work so i can put them in a space to _ back to work so i can put them in a space to afford things. for back to work so i can put them in a space to afford things.— space to afford things. for many thins space to afford things. for many things are _ space to afford things. for many things are still _ space to afford things. for many things are still getting _ space to afford things. for many things are still getting more i things are still getting more expensive. inflation overall state of 4% in january. expensive. inflation overall state of 4% injanuary. that expensive. inflation overall state of 4% in january. that was a expensive. inflation overall state of 4% injanuary. that was a relief. policymakers were concerned those energy bills what of push them up. but those were offset by heavy discounting in clothes and furniture as retailers/ prices in the run—up to christmas. and food prices slipped between december and january. the first such fall into years as ingredients became cheaper. inflation overall should fall below the bank of england is 2% target later in the spring when the energy price falls back. but it's later in the spring when the energy price falls back. but its other parts of inflation that those interest rates sellers watch more closely. those are services such as

restaurants, hotel stays, that rose in january. restaurants, hotel stays, that rose injanuary. while wage growth, which also the bank watches is easy and quite slow. they don't want to risk reigniting inflation by cutting rates too soon. leaving... let's go back to kansas city for a moment and listen end. �* ., back to kansas city for a moment and listen end. 1, , ., , , listen end. both sheaves will be ddivin listen end. both sheaves will be giving more _ listen end. both sheaves will be giving more information - listen end. both sheaves will be giving more information on i listen end. both sheaves will be giving more information on the| giving more information on the number of victims, the status of the victims —— both chiefs. a few things to note that we talked about earlier. in terms of who was in danger, what existed, it is my view as someone who did after run at the sound of the shooting that there were a number of people who were at the very least caught up in the incident in some way. myself, my wife, lots of families, players, chief of staff and others, their spouses, theirfamilies, a number of people who are in or near union

station. many people have been touched by this incident and we recognise that. we also pray not only for the victims, including the decedent but also the victims of the shootings right now. we hope are recovering inside hospitals. we will continue to give you updated information. at this point we talk to ourfederal partners, information. at this point we talk to our federal partners, we've also talked to the kansas city chiefs that will be talking to the national football league and others. more so just to hear that all are safe in those institutions and we continue to hope that all of those impacted our say. to the extent you have information about suspects or others we do encourage you to call the police. however, for whatever reason you have information about the incident we will be looking to share that through different methods. so if you have information about the incident, suspects, others please call the police. if you are looking for other information we will try to give you regular updates. i will say

this final thing and we will come back with questions. today was tragic for everyone who is part of it. i had the chance to talk to my wife a moment ago and said we became a part of a statistic of too many americans, those who have experienced or been part of a connected to a mass shooting. that is something that i hope we all recognise as highly problematic for all of us. i continue to commend our police officers, firefighters and others who would dare to respond instantly. but we also need to figure out a way to make sure that things like this don't happen in our country. with that i turned it over to the chief of police.— country. with that i turned it over to the chief of police. thank you. i want to echo _ to the chief of police. thank you. i want to echo the _ to the chief of police. thank you. i want to echo the mayors - to the chief of police. thank you. i i want to echo the mayors thoughts and his prayers— want to echo the mayors thoughts and his prayers and also to acknowledge that not— his prayers and also to acknowledge that not only the victims who were actually _ that not only the victims who were actually hit — that not only the victims who were actually hit by gunfire but there are a _ actually hit by gunfire but there are a lot — actually hit by gunfire but there are a lot more people who are going to be _ are a lot more people who are going to be forever impacted by what happen— to be forever impacted by what happen here today. as people were

running _ happen here today. as people were running a _ happen here today. as people were running a lot of law enforcement who were running towards the danger also guided _ were running towards the danger also guided those who were in fear of their— guided those who were in fear of their lives — guided those who were in fear of their lives. and not something to be said of— their lives. and not something to be said of how— their lives. and not something to be said of how impactful today's event truly was — said of how impactful today's event truly was. again, we have confirmed there _ truly was. again, we have confirmed there is— truly was. again, we have confirmed there is one — truly was. again, we have confirmed there is one deceased person. 0ur gunshot _ there is one deceased person. 0ur gunshot wound total has gone up to 22. gunshot wound total has gone up to 22 and _ gunshot wound total has gone up to 22 and the — gunshot wound total has gone up to 22. and the chief will provide a little _ 22. and the chief will provide a little more context to that for that i’i l ht little more context to that for that right now — little more context to that for that right now we're still working on a total— right now we're still working on a total number of victims. this is still an— total number of victims. this is still an active investigation. i do want _ 5till an active investigation. i do want to— still an active investigation. i do want to comment on the question that i want to comment on the question that i not want to comment on the question that i got earlier— want to comment on the question that i got earlier about a video of some fans tackling someone. we do have three _ fans tackling someone. we do have three persons detained and under investigation for today's incident. we're _ investigation for today's incident. we're working to determine if one of

the three _ we're working to determine if one of the three are the ones in that video — the three are the ones in that video. where fans assisted police. 0ur investigators are working with all of— 0ur investigators are working with all of the — 0ur investigators are working with all of the surviving victims to connect _ all of the surviving victims to connect them with loved ones. we're also... connect them with loved ones. we're also- -- briefing _ connect them with loved ones. we're also... briefing taking _ connect them with loved ones. we're also... briefing taking place - connect them with loved ones. we're also... briefing taking place by- also... briefing taking place by kansas city officials. the update is that one dead, 22 injured but it is still an active investigation. we will keep a close watch on developments there. stayed with bbc news. hello there. some very wet, very mild conditions around at the moment. temperatures reached 16.5 degrees celsius in hereford on wednesday and it could turn even warmer still, perhaps, as we head through thursday. but the focus for the day's highest temperatures will tend to be further east. there's a lot more rain to come in the forecast as well, all of these weather fronts just pushing northwards and eastwards as we head

through into thursday morning. so temperatures rising unusually through the night across much of scotland. and we'll start the day off on 12 or 13 degrees celsius towards the south of england and wales. all of that mild air just flowing in on that southerly wind from the azores. you can see all of that very mild air marked in the deep yellow there. it's a very wet start to the day across scotland, the heavy rain clearing northwards, being replaced by this batch of rain just pushing away from northern ireland. a cold front sweeping eastwards, giving some more heavy rain where the ground is already saturated, but it should stay largely dry ahead of the front across eastern areas of england. now, these are the average temperatures for this time of year, just 8 or 9 degrees. you can see just how mild it's going to be through the day on thursday. in fact, across parts of essex, we could even see 16 to 18 degrees celsius, perhaps, given any brightness. that's still well off the february record, but it will feel pleasantly warm, i think, for the time of year. now, as we head through thursday night, that cold front continues to sweep its way eastwards.

and behind it, there's some slightly cooler—feeling air, but only a drop in temperature by a couple of degrees or so. we'll start off friday morning, then, with a legacy of cloud out towards eastern areas of england. that's going to be clearing away. a few isolated showers, perhaps, in the wake of the front, but generally speaking, i think friday should be largely dry for most of us. the best of the brightness probably towards central areas at first and then out towards the east, but also some brighter skies, perhaps, further west. temperatures really around 9—12 degrees celsius for the vast majority. on saturday, again, a largely dry day. the brighter skies really towards the east. it will cloud over from the west through the afternoon, with heavy rain by the end of the day across northern ireland. once again, temperatures will peak between 11 and 1a degrees celsius, and that's where they'll tend to stay on sunday. that heavy rain clears eastwards as we head through sunday morning and the rest of the day should be largely dry with some spells of brightness. perhaps a few showers again on monday. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk from new york. i'm stephen sackur. the two—year anniversary of vladimir putin's all—out invasion of ukraine is fast approaching. the ensuing conflict has exposed deep geopolitical division here at united nations headquarters.

it's also exposed deep political division inside the united states. right now, further american military and economic assistance to ukraine is blocked by partisan warfare on capitol hill. my guest today is ukraine's un ambassador, sergiy kyslytsya. does kyiv now feel betrayed? ambassador sergiy kyslytsya, welcome to hardtalk. well, thank you. nice to see you. ambassador, do you think that, right now, ukraine is facing the toughest times it has seen since those early weeks after the full—scale russian invasion?