i'm helena humphrey. it's good to have you with us. the us has carried out an air drop of aid into gaza, using three military cargo planes. us central command said it dropped more than 38,000 meals along the gaza coastline in a joint operation with jordan's air force. the uk, france and egypt have already airdropped aid into gaza, but this is the first time the us has done so. negotiations over a temporary ceasefire are expected to restart sunday in cairo. meanwhile, israeli war cabinet member benny gantz will visit the white house monday to meet with us vice president kamala harris. they're expected to discuss a humanitarian truce as well as reducing palestinian civilian casualties and increasing deliveries of aid. international calls are intensifiying

for accountability for recent violence, including the killing of more than 100 people at an aid convoy on thursday, as well as the killing of at least 11 people, including two healthcare workers, in an israeli raid in the city of rafah — that's according to gaza's health ministry. the bbc�*s diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports from jerusalem. how were so many people injured? were they shot or crushed in a desperate stampede? at gaza's shifa hospital, the un says there's evidence of both. this hospital is treating more than 200 people that were injured. we have seen people with gunshot wounds. we have seen amputees and we have seen children as young as 12. jihad is haunted by what he saw when the convoy arrived on thursday morning. "were the soldiers firing deliberately?" he's asked. "yes. with tanks, soldiers, aircraft". why the shooting started

is still not clear. israel says troops felt threatened. how these pictures do not show. tanks were present. there's no evidence of aircraft being involved. the un finally reached gaza city yesterday, taking badly needed fuel and medicine to shifa hospital, demanding israel do more to open up the north. today, the first air drops by american planes, 35,000 meals. but these are desperate measures. air drops, no substitute for proper relief. no matter where we go into north gaza from or indeed all of the gaza strip. it could be from air, land, sea. it doesn't matter as long as there's enough aid to help the more than two million people here. israel's closest allies are now sounding increasingly openly frustrated. aid flowing to gaza is nowhere nearly enough. now, it's nowhere nearly enough. the president wants a ceasefire, but in rafah this morning,

dreadful scenes outside a maternity hospital. some images too shocking to broadcast. gaza's health ministry said this was an air strike. but is a cease fire deal getting close? as the families and friends of israeli hostages marched onjerusalem, there's talk of a fresh round of negotiations in cairo tomorrow. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. as paul adams mentioned, there, a march is taking place injerusalem calling for a ceasefire, and people around the world are taking to the streets to stand against the war. this is washington, dc, where people are attending the global day of action — hands off rafah march. protesters are outside israel's us embassy calling on us leaders for a ceasefire. they also paid tribute to us airman aaron bushnell, who died last week after setting himself on fire outside the embassy to protest israel's bombing of gaza.

live now to yousef munayyer, head of the palestine—israel program and senior fellow at the arab center. welcome to you. thank you for being with us this evening. what we have seen today, people around the world are taking to the streets injerusalem, also in washington, dc, calling for a ceasefire. how do you think the message will be received by israel? ~ . ., ., , israel? we have already, you know, heard _ israel? we have already, you know, heard from _ israel? we have already, you know, heard from the - israel? we have already, you| know, heard from the israelis that they aren't interested in a permanent ceasefire under any circumstances. at best they are attempting to negotiate a temporary cessation for a period of a few weeks. but they are clearly intent on continuing this horrific campaign. ithink continuing this horrific campaign. i think people around the world have really become completely repulsed by what they are seeing in gaza every single day. we're running out of names for the different types of massacres we are seeing. the other day we saw

the flower massacre with over 100 palestinians being killed as they were trying to access desperately needed aid. —— flour. because of a policy of starvation that is targeting millions of people in the gaza strip. this is clearly something that needs to come to an immediate end. there is no benefit whatsoever to the continuation of this military assault and it seems as though everybody around the world agrees on this with the exception of the israeli government. unfortunately the president of the united states as well. ,, ., , ., , as well. the united states has said this is _ as well. the united states has said this is not _ as well. the united states has said this is not an _ as well. the united states has said this is not an attempt - as well. the united states has said this is not an attempt to l said this is not an attempt to deliberately start the people of gaza but we do know that the humanitarian situation on the ground is dire. we have seen the us today airdrop aid into the us today airdrop aid into the gaza strip. what do you think that says about the fact that the us has had to add job aid in as opposed to being able

to get it in via ground roots? 0bviously to get it in via ground roots? obviously it is quite embarrassing for the president of the united states and the american government. —— routes. this is, of course, an american ally, the israeli government, which the united states as a tremendous amount of leverage over. the united states has been reduced to dropping aid in an extremely inefficient way precisely because an american client government, the israeli government, isn't cooperating, with the kind of aid flows that are necessary. 0f with the kind of aid flows that are necessary. of course the president of the united states has expressed his frustration about this the other day. and so for the president of the united states to be reduced to being rejected, effectively, by the israeli government, and having to drop aid in this way, i think, is a very embarrassing

position that is really unbecoming of the president of the united states. we unbecoming of the president of the united states.— the united states. we know benny gantz. _ the united states. we know benny gantz, a _ the united states. we know benny gantz, a member - the united states. we know benny gantz, a member of| the united states. we know. benny gantz, a member of the israeli war cabinet, will be coming to washington and meeting with vice president kamala harris. what do you think, realistically, might be able to come out of those meetings? it able to come out of those meetings?— able to come out of those meetings? able to come out of those meetinus? , . ., , meetings? it is unclear but i think what — meetings? it is unclear but i think what is _ meetings? it is unclear but i think what is clear _ meetings? it is unclear but i think what is clear now - meetings? it is unclear but i think what is clear now is . meetings? it is unclear but i l think what is clear now is that many leaders around the world, in the arab world, in europe, and increasingly here in the united states, understand that the right—wing government in israel is an obstacle to any positive movement towards an end to this war and a broader piece throughout the region. —— peace. the trip here by the former alternative pm, benny gantz, is seen in that context. and so i think as we — as we

move further into this situation, as the cause continue to grow, internationally, for a ceasefire, it is the — the israeli government, headed by benjamin netanyahu, that benjamin neta nyahu, that continues benjamin netanyahu, that continues to be seen as the roadblock to any change. we know that — roadblock to any change. we know that president biden appears to be growing in frustration with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. due to the possibility of any turning point in the relationship between joe point in the relationship betweenjoe biden and between joe biden and netanyahu?— between joe biden and netan ahu? ~ ., ., ., ., netanyahu? we hear a lot about what the president _ netanyahu? we hear a lot about what the president is _ what the president is supposedly sent to benjamin netanyahu behind closed doors but the reality is for 30,000 palestinians, any action has come far too late. we haven't seen a change yet. the president of the united states has the ability to change the situation very quickly. he can pick up the phone just like ronald reagan did back in the 19805, ronald reagan did back in the 1980s, when he called as they were bombing beirut at the

time, and he can tell netanyahu "this needs to end." but for some reason the united states president has not mustered the fortitude to take that step. he has instead resorted to these cosmetic measures which are wholly insufficient.— wholly insufficient. yousef munayyer, _ wholly insufficient. yousef munayyer, head _ wholly insufficient. yousef munayyer, head of- wholly insufficient. yousef munayyer, head of the - wholly insufficient. yousef - munayyer, head of the israel- munayyer, head of the israel— palestine programme at the arab centre, thank you. the commander—in—chief of ukraine's armed forces, general 0leksandr syrsky, has indicated he'll replace some commanders on the eastern front. he said that after spending three days there, it had become clear why some battalions were managing to hold off russian attacks while others were not. general 0leksandr syrsky took on the role of ukraine's top military commander following a significant shake—up of army leadership earlier in february. meanwhile, ukrainian president zelensky renewed his plea to western allies for additional air defence systems, after at least eight people were killed in a russian drone

attack on 0dessa. local officials said a baby and a two—year—old child are among the dead. germany's chancellor says his government is investigating the apparent intercept by russia of a military meeting in which officers discussed the conflict in ukraine, including plans to supply ukraine with german—made missiles. 0laf scholz, who's been meeting with the pope at the vatican, called it a very serious matter. audio of what's believed to be a confidential video conference between german officers was posted to social media in russia. dr thomas withington, an analyst and writer specialising in electronic warfare, spoke to the bbc about the signficance of the apparent hack. it was a discussion, i think. assuming it is — it is true, and it is indeed an intercept that russia's performed, a very sober discussion regarding the challenges of supplying these weapons, many of which have been — already been discussed in the public domain. so i think there was nothing terribly, as i say, revelatory about it. i think the interesting thing is if russia has the capability to regularly intercept german

military communications and strategic communications like this, i mean, why leak something relatively anodyne? preliminary results from iran's elections show hardline and conservative candidates in the lead. voters went to the polls friday to elect new members of parliament and the assembly of experts, the body responsible for selecting the supreme leader. but unofficial results are suggesting a historically—low turnout — around a0%. the country's supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, encouraged iranians to disregard prominent activists who had called for a boycott. this was the first vote in iran since widespread protests in 2022, sparked by the death of 22—year—old mahsa amini in police custody, after she allegedly violated the country's strict hijab laws. iran responded to the uprising with brutality, killing nearly 500 people and arresting approximately 20,000. supporters of the movement continue to face punishment. meanwihle, the

grammy—winning iranian singer, shervin hajipour, was sentenced friday to more than 3.5 years in prison, for writing an anthem about those protests. he's charged with "propaganda against the system" and encouraging people to protest, and was also ordered to create a song about — quote — "us crimes". former us president donald trump has clinched more wins in the race to secure the republican presidential nomination. his victories in missouri and michigan give him more delegates, and deals another blow to nikki haley, who is mr trump's only remaining challenger in the race for the republican ticket. the biggest day for the two of them this week will be on super tuesday, when 15 states and one territory will vote. but with ms haley disantly trailing mr trump, he is already setting his sights on november's general election. a new york times siena poll out saturday says more registered voters would pick

donald trump overjoe biden if they were the two candidates in a general election held today. mrtrump leads mr biden 48 to a3. it also says that the share of voters who strongly disapprove of mr biden�*s handling of hisjob has reached 47% — that's higher than at any point in his presidency. that will likely be welcome news to mr trump, who held a rally in richmond virginia saturday night. our digital campaign reporter bernd debusmann is outside of that rally speaking to mr. trump's supporters about the issues that matter to them. earlier today i spoke for several hours with supporters that arrived here early for his event and the border is something that came up over and over again. almost every person i spoke to mention the border is one of their primary concerns as they had to the pole. there is a perception that the border and rising migrant numbers have increased crimes in cities, including richmond. that is what people have mentioned. it is clearly a message that is top of mind for many republican voters. 0ther many republican voters. other issues came up at the border was the one that came up most often when i was speaking to

people earlier today. bernd debusmann reporting there. let's turn to some important news around the world. parts of the sierra nevada range in northern california are facing an extraordinary amount of snow. national weather service forecasters warn more than 10 feet — three meters — of snow at higher elevations will create life—threatening conditions for residents around lake tahoe. tens of thousands of homes at lower elevations are also without power amid heavy rain. chad's military leader says he will run in presidential elections in may. mahamat idriss deby itno made the announcement during a speech on saturday, three days after his main rival was killed. the militaryjunta says yaya dillo was killed in an exchange of gunfire after an attack on the country's security agency. dillo's opposition party denies he had a part in the attack, and says he was executed by soldiers at point blank range. now, earlier this week, lawmakers in ghana's parliament unanimously passed a bill that would further restrict the rights of gay and transgender people

in the country. the legisalation would impose a maximum five—year jail term for forming orfunding lgbtq+ groups and up to 10 years in prison for anyone involved in advocacy campaigns aimed at children. same—sex relationships are already illegal in the country. it's the latest sign of growing opposition to lgbtq+ rights across africa, where 30 countries criminalise homosexuality. uganda's top constitutional court is currently examning a law that threatens life imprisonment, and even death, for homosexuality. earlier, i spoke to ghanaian trans woman activist and founder of per—for—craze international artists residency vabene elikem fiatsi, and the first openly non—binary queer photographer from uganda — delovie kwagala, also known as papa de — about the impact of this legislation on their lives. thank you for taking the time to speak with us and have this

conversation here on bbc news. i would like to start with you. watching what has happened in ghana this week i wonder how this makes you feel. and what are your concerns for the lgbtqia+ community there? thank ou. when lgbtqia+ community there? thank yon when the _ lgbtqia+ community there? thank you. when the bill _ lgbtqia+ community there? thank you. when the bill was _ you. when the bill was announced on the 28th, i was really broken. even though we anticipated it would be passed that way, it still came to me as a shock that all 275 parliamentary is allowjust eight members to propose such a deal and it was successfully adopted as a law to be signed by the president. so it came to me again. my concern for the community now is heavier than before. there are so many queer

ghanaians who don't have shelter and even homelessjust shelter and even homeless just because shelter and even homelessjust because their parents keep them out of home. if the bill is assented to by the president, i wonder what will happen to all these young people. and all the people i also care for and hosted my house. they also lose their home because my landlord would also be jailed as criminalised by the law. listening to that, papa de, knowing that left ghana because of the lgbtqia+ law that was passed there, can you remind viewers of the claimant therefore your community, and therefore your community, and the risks? fist therefore your community, and the risks?_ the risks? at the moment as vabene has _ the risks? at the moment as vabene has said, _ the risks? at the moment as vabene has said, things - the risks? at the moment as vabene has said, things are | the risks? at the moment as i vabene has said, things are not looking — vabene has said, things are not looking good for queer africans at the — looking good for queer africans at the moment. uganda particularly, of course, during

last year. _ particularly, of course, during last year, especially, like the peak— last year, especially, like the peak of— last year, especially, like the peak of a _ last year, especially, like the peak of a lot of violence unleashed to a lot of queer pennie. _ unleashed to a lot of queer people, especially transgender women — people, especially transgender women and also, you know, trans- — women and also, you know, trans- men_ women and also, you know, trans— men who are not particularly passing, right? we have _ particularly passing, right? we have had — particularly passing, right? we have had a lot of collective rape — have had a lot of collective rape cases, sorry to say, at a lot of— rape cases, sorry to say, at a lot of evictions and people being _ lot of evictions and people being fired from their works, and — being fired from their works, and the _ being fired from their works, and the evictions have gone ahead — and the evictions have gone ahead and aren'tjust going to be from — ahead and aren'tjust going to be from a _ ahead and aren'tjust going to be from a landlord or something, but to the village, where — something, but to the village, where they all decide collectively that you don't need _ collectively that you don't need to _ collectively that you don't need to stay in their village or community, because you are promoting _ or community, because you are promoting immorality. so unfortunately that has been road — unfortunately that has been road and continues to be ruined because — road and continues to be ruined because a — road and continues to be ruined because a lot of people actually want to leave because of how — actually want to leave because of how the system has been made. — of how the system has been made, but at the same time, we

don't _ made, but at the same time, we don't have — made, but at the same time, we don't have safe pathways to the freedom — don't have safe pathways to the freedom that we are seeking for. freedom that we are seeking for a — freedom that we are seeking for a lot— freedom that we are seeking for. a lot of us are even getting _ for. a lot of us are even getting visitors, like the assailant system at the moment is really— assailant system at the moment is really deeply broken. in south _ is really deeply broken. in south africa at the moment, they— south africa at the moment, they have a backlog of more than — they have a backlog of more than - — they have a backlog of more than — more than five years of asylum — than — more than five years of asylum seeking applications, right? — asylum seeking applications, right? and i think the most unfortunate thing is a lot of activists— unfortunate thing is a lot of activists within the country on the underground right now have been _ the underground right now have been completely silenced. you talk very clearly _ been completely silenced. gm. talk very clearly there about that cycle of going from, you know, one danger, to potentially another one, which brings me to the question, you know, what can be done in terms of international reaction? there has been taught from the us government about some kind of response to ghana, with the is proposing restricting foreign aid to ghana. is that

something that you would support, va—bene? something that you would support, va-bene?- something that you would support, va-bene? well, it is very complicated _ support, va-bene? well, it is very complicated when - support, va-bene? well, it is very complicated when it - support, va-bene? well, it is l very complicated when it comes to the restrictions that the so—called world superpowers impose on countries that are imposing these kind of laws on the citizens. it is a double sword because when countries are even sanctioned economically, it affects the queer community and the list privileged people more than the one that they wanted to affect because the people in power are not affected by any of these sanctions, because they are the same people who hoard the country public resources and money. so i don't know how to deal with situations of assumptions or restrictions on countries for these harsh laws. however, the ambassador from the united states to ghana has also made it very clear how

this bill would impact the economy, not necessarilyjust the restrictions and assumptions, but so many investors who could stop investing into ghana simply because they themselves are affected by the law. even just imagine me as a trans— person who is capable of caring for more than several tens of people in ghana, there are students at university, learning trades, and i'm paying for their school fees from my salary as an artist. so if this bill is affecting me, i will be injail, how do i contribute to support queer communities, and even the non— queer communities? because the people i support, not all of them are queer people. i support, not all of them are queer petiole-— i support, not all of them are queer people. there have also been us sanctions _ queer people. there have also been us sanctions on - queer people. there have also been us sanctions on uganda | queer people. there have also i been us sanctions on uganda as well. papa de, i would been us sanctions on uganda as well. papa de, iwould like been us sanctions on uganda as well. papa de, i would like to pose a final question to you, i suppose, in regards to hopes that stomach for the future. do

you hope to return to uganda? ——| you hope to return to uganda? ——i suppose, about your hopes for the future. --i suppose, about your hopes for the future.— for the future. that doesn't seem to — for the future. that doesn't seem to be _ for the future. that doesn't seem to be an _ for the future. that doesn't seem to be an option. - for the future. that doesn't seem to be an option. a i for the future. that doesn'tj seem to be an option. a lot for the future. that doesn't i seem to be an option. a lot of things. — seem to be an option. a lot of things, also, like, including the safety of my parents or my relatives. _ the safety of my parents or my relatives, also, obviously, they— relatives, also, obviously, they have been at the centre of all of— they have been at the centre of all of this— they have been at the centre of all of this all themselves. moving _ all of this all themselves. moving at home because them accepting me and welcoming me into our— accepting me and welcoming me into our home is also criminalised, because everyone is basically turned into your enemy— is basically turned into your enemy by obligation from the government. and i think, for now, — government. and i think, for now. how— government. and i think, for now, how people can basically support— now, how people can basically support us, continuously amplify— support us, continuously amplify the voices, and educating themselves about what is really— educating themselves about what is really happening on the ground _ is really happening on the round. ., �* is really happening on the round. . �* ., ., is really happening on the round. . �* . ., , ground. va-bene and papa de, thank you _ ground. va-bene and papa de, thank you so — ground. va-bene and papa de, thank you so much _ ground. va-bene and papa de, thank you so much for- ground. va-bene and papa de, | thank you so much for speaking with us about this issue and speaking so candidly. we appreciate it. thank you.

the american businesswoman and fashion model iris apfel has died at the age of 102. the new york socialite originally specialised in interior design, and went on to sign a modelling contract in her 90s. she was known for her flamboyant clothes and signature big round glasses, and, as graham satchell reports, also for speaking her mind. you're not pretty and you'll never be pretty. but it doesn't matter. you have something much better — you have style. they are the words that came to define iris apfel, who described herself as a geriatric starlet. she became a global phenomenon at the age of 87 when her extraordinary collection of clothes and accessories were exhibited in new york. she signed a modelling contract when she was 97. i think dressing up should be fun. i think too many women — in america anyhow, i don't know how it is here — just get themselves into such a snit about what to wear and what not to wear that i often say it's better to be happy than, well—dressed. —— to be happy

than well—dressed. apfel made her name as an interior designer, working on projects for nine different american presidents at the white house with her husband, carl. we're not supposed to talk about the white house. they get very upset. we had a problem with jack. stop! listening to apfel was as beguiling as watching her. she was a cross between anna wynter and joan rivers. in the words of my grandpa, a woman is as old as she looks when a man is never old until he stops looking. apfel would scour flea markets for accessories. her more—is—more approach based on what she loved rather than price. i get more kick out of this because for $4 and change, than if my husband took me to harry winston. she had more than three million followers on social media — inspired by her honesty, creativity and razor—sharp wit. fellow designer tommy hilfiger said she was an incredible talent with a huge heart and a magic touch. the huge glasses were

iris apfel�*s trademark. she even had her own doppelganger in the cartoon the incredibles. people would say, "why do you wear them so large?" and i would say, "the bigger to see you," and that would shut them up. iris apfel, who has died at the age of 102. you are watching bbc news. stay with us, here, if you can. goodbye for now. hello there. low pressure has been dominating our weather picture this weekend. and on saturday, we had widespread showers around, the vast majority of them coming through as rain. we did see some snow return to parts of cumbria and also some snowfall from somerset through the west midlands and into parts of wales as well. quite localised snowfall, but a covering in places. cold air, then, firmly in place at the moment, with our area of low pressure spiralling around, with further showers gradually moving their way northwards for the time being.

again, the vast majority of these are coming through as rain. a little bit of sleet or snow mixed in across some of the higher parts of dumfries and galloway. and over the next few hours, we'll also see a bit of snow across higher parts of the grampians. otherwise, any showers will come through as rain. it will then get cold with clearing skies across wales, the middle and southern county of england, lowest temperatures about —2, so some frost and a few icy stretches to watch out for. sunday morning, few mist and fog patches around as well. by and large, though, a decent kind of day coming up on sunday. there will be some high cloud affecting eastern parts of both scotland and england. the best of the sunshine will be further west, withjust one or two showers running through across parts of western scotland,

northern ireland, wales and the south—west of england. but even here, the showers will be pretty well spaced, so you've got a decent chance of having a dry day. through sunday evening and sunday nighttime, we'll start to see the next weather system approaching, and that will be bringing more rain our way into monday. so the rain making inroads in across parts of southwest england and wales pretty quickly monday morning. after a dry and bright start in northern ireland, it turns wetter through monday afternoon. we hang on to some brighter weather for scotland and northeast england, that's where the best of the sunny spells will be. temperatures continue to be a little bit below average for this time of the year, with highs between 9—11 celsius. deeper into next week, areas of low pressure in the atlantic will continue to threaten outbreaks of rain in the west. high pressure close to the near continent will keep the north and east largely dry, so we'll see some changes in the weather from place to place. western areas likely to see the heaviest of the rain, particularly towards wales and southwest england. the driest, brightest weather is likely to be across more eastern parts of the uk as we go through the week ahead. that's your latest weather. bye for now.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello and welcome to new delhi, capital city of the world's most populous country. let's take a look at what we've got on the show. as the country gets ready for elections later this year... mr modi stands tall. the cult is allowed to build up. ..we talk about the opposition....

you need to be hungrier. you need to be bolder. you need to be more imaginative. ..we talk disinformation.... there's a lot of propaganda and disinformation coming i from non—bjp handles, also. ..and we ask what matters. the most raw yet nuanced political conversations in india often happen at these kind of tea stalls. welcome to this is india. today, we're talking elections. india is the world's largest democracy, an economic powerhouse set to become the world's third—largest economy. internationally, india is having its moment, courted by the united states as a counterweight to china, a voice for the global south. any day now, india will call elections. voting will take place over several weeks. and the results don'tjust matter to the people living

in it, it matters to the world.