rishi sunak is still embroiled in the race row between diane abbott and frank hester. five people are killed in an explosion at a un warehouse in rafah. an israeli hostage released by hamas three months ago tells the bbc he didn't think he'd get out alive. also coming up on the world today... is time up for tiktok in the us? the house votes to force a split from its chinese owner or face a ban. and coral music, the beautiful sounds from the sea that could help to save our coral reefs. it is just it isjust gone it is just gone seven o'clock in london, this is the world today from

bbc news. we begin in westminster, where the prime minister is resisting pressure for the conservatives to return £10 million donated by the businessman frank hester who allegedly said the mp diane abbott made him want to "hate all black women" and should be shot. rishi sunak told the commons that the alleged remarks were "racist" and "wrong" frank hester has apologised for making what he called "rude" comments about britain's first black female mp. the row dominated prime minister's questions as labour has called on the conservatives to give the money back. here's our political editor chris mason. will you give the money back, prime minister? i the big questions ringing in the ears of rishi sunak today... would the party take more money from mr hester? . ..after a morning in which two senior conservatives answered these questions rather differently. i would think about the company i kept, and i would give that money back. i have to give you my view, rather than what the party should do, but i've thought about how i would handle that situation. if mr hester today said i'd like to give you another

£10 million, would you take it? on the basis that we don't believe mr hester's a racist, yes. - we now come to questions to the prime minister! how low would he have to sink? what racist, woman—hating threat of violence would have to make before the prime minister plucked up the courage to hand back the £10 million that he's taken from him? mr speaker, as i've said, l the gentleman apologised genuinely for his comments, - and that remorse should be accepted. and look carefully at what is happening on the back row on the right—hand side. diane abbott is standing up again and again and again, hoping to be called to speak. the gentleman in question apologised for being rude. he wasn't rude. he was racist, he was odious and he was downright bloody dangerous! the prime minister had repeated

frank hester had apologised and that should be accepted. again diane abbott stands up. again she isn't called. in november, the prime minister accepted a non—cash donation to the tune of £15,000 from frank hester for the use of his helicopter, so will he reimburse him, yes or no? no, mr speaker, and i'm pleased |that the gentleman is supporting| a party that represents one - of the most diverse governments in this country's history, | led by this country's first british—asian prime minister. as question time ended, look at keir starmer, heading alongside many others to see diane abbott, who i reckon had stood up 37 times to catch the speaker's eye without success. the speaker's office said there wasn't enough time to call her. and in case diane abbott's views were in any doubt, look at this. she was furious.

she wanted to speak, and i was shocked, as i think many others were, that she wasn't given an opportunity to speak. as for those big questions at the start of the day, including will the prime minister will return the £10 million donation, the answer tonight sounds like this — no. chris mason, bbc news, westminster. live to westminster now and our political correspondent helen catt. i believe we have been hearing more from diane abbott? yes. i believe we have been hearing more from diane abbott?— from diane abbott? yes, you heard chris saying — from diane abbott? yes, you heard chris saying she _ from diane abbott? yes, you heard chris saying she appeared - from diane abbott? yes, you heard chris saying she appeared to - from diane abbott? yes, you heard chris saying she appeared to be - chris saying she appeared to be absolutely fuming she was not able to speak in prime minister's questions earlier. we have heard from her, she has written an article for the independent website in which she has criticised the leadership of both the conservative party and the

labour party. diane abbott herself is currently suspended from the labour party over a letter she wrote, for which she has apologised, which is claimed was anti—semitic. she has apologised. she has criticised both leaderships. she took aim at the prime minister in number ten, saying the delay in calling out the abuse was unconscionable and the remarks frank hester was alleged to have made, it was absolutely clear they were both outrageously racist and sexist and she said it was the textbook definition of racism and sexism. she said the delay in calling out the abuse was unconscionable at downing street's first and concerted effort had to be and to downplay the abuse, misrepresenting it as rudeness, for which there was a fulsome apology which there was a fulsome apology which you heard some of the prime minister's questions. she said it was racism for which there was no apology. she said the reluctance to call it out was shocking but also that the response of the labour

leadership was disappointing, she said they seemed equally reluctant at the outset to call out either racism or sexism and said of the party had been on the demand that the tories give hester back its money, which he said was surely not the only point. the money, which he said was surely not the only point-— the only point. the fact diane abbott was — the only point. the fact diane abbott was not _ the only point. the fact diane abbott was not asked - the only point. the fact diane abbott was not asked to - the only point. the fact dianel abbott was not asked to speak the only point. the fact diane - abbott was not asked to speak in the comments during a debate which focused on remarks about her was picked up by many people. caroline slocock is director of civil exchange, former ceo of the equal opportunities commission, and was private secretary at number ten to margaret thatcher and john major. she was one of those who picked up a map. what did you think when you saw that? -- map. what did you think when you saw that? —— who picked up on that. i thought it was the worst example i have ever seen off with are not getting their voice heard in parliament. there is a long history which i have written about, i wrote a book about margaret thatcher which also looked at this and she herself was told she had to deepen her voice

in order to be effective in parliament because, as norman tebbit put it, if a man shouts that is ok, if a woman raises her voice she squawks. in 2013 helen wollaston mp was saying that women would still being marked by the male mps for their voices too high. there is a history here but this is the worst example because she was not even allowed to speak and furthermore she was the person who was the subject of what was being discussed today in prime minister's questions, she was the one who was directly attacked, whose safety was put at risk by these comments from the tory donor. so to deny her a voice, i think in a way it speaks to our democracy because all too often people with lived experience to know what it is like to get the sharp edge of these things are not given a voice. politician speak over, talk a lot

political flannel, politician speak over, talk a lot politicalflannel, but politician speak over, talk a lot political flannel, but when we hear those voices, most recently at the post office scandal but also a while ago in the windrush scandal, it cuts right through and politicians start to listen and they start doing, so it is good to hear her now that she should have been asked, she should have been able to ask the prime minister a direct question herself. you know i interviewed the great great granddaughter of emmeline pankhurst and she told me one of the big problems with parliament is the representation in terms of women, only 35% of mps are women. do you think increasing that number would make a difference to this problem you describe both women not being heard in the houses of parliament? absolutely. the proportion has increased, i think it is 50—50 and labour, less so with the tories, but the whole way the chamber is organised as incredibly old—fashioned, the brain that happens. it is very male public

school. i think it is difficult for women. —— the braying that happens. there are not enough black women and women of colour in parliament and it is incredibly important because they often experience multiple disadvantages. diane abbott herself has had more abuse than probably any mp in parliament, more death threats, as she said yesterday she has a single woman who does not drive, who travels on public transport, these sorts of comments that are literally at risk. we have had politicians talking about how mps are at risk but missing the massive elephant in the room about what these comments have done to her and how it makes her life even more dangerous than before.— dangerous than before. caroline slocock, dangerous than before. caroline slocock. good — dangerous than before. caroline slocock, good to _ dangerous than before. caroline slocock, good to talk _ dangerous than before. caroline slocock, good to talk to - dangerous than before. caroline slocock, good to talk to you, i dangerous than before. caroline i slocock, good to talk to you, thank you for taking the time to speak to us on the world today. an israeli hostage who was released by hamas three months ago has told bbc news he didn't think he would get out alive. itay regev was 18 when he was kidnapped with his sister and held

for sa days before they were both released. he's been speaking to our special correspondent lucy manning in his first uk interview — we'll be bringing you that in a moment but first to other developments in the region. at least five people were killed — including one unrwa staff member — with many more wounded in an explosion at an aid warehouse, in rafah in southern gaza. these are pictures — verified by the bbc — filmed at a nearby hospital, where casualties were taken. israel has not commented so far on the incident. it comes as the us and others continue to urge israel not to launch a full scale assault on rafah — where over a million palestinians have taken shelter in recent weeks. let me show you pictures of the warehouse itself that we're talking about. these taken in the immediate aftermath. a lot of the images are too graphic to broadcast. let's hearfrom unrwa's director of communicationsjuliette touma, she spoke to us from amman.

this is a distribution centre for food and also a warehouse where we store food supplies but also other critical supplies. we know that it is the israeli forces who were responsible. it happened this morning. 0urteams responsible. it happened this morning. 0ur teams were on site and reported the casualties. it comes at a critical time as hunger spreads across the gaza strip, as famine looms in some parts of gaza, including the north. in the other main developments, the un says a new land route has been used to deliver food to northern gaza for the first time in three weeks. a ship towing a barge laden with 200 tonnes of food and medical aid is also making its way to the besieged territory — the first to use a new sea route. it's expected to dock soon. there's also been more violence in the west bank and in occupied eastjerusalem,

where five palestinians were reportedly killed on tuesday night by israeli security forces — one was a 12—year—old boy holding a firework. 0ur middle east correspondent yollande knell has this report. shaky video shows a palestinian boy with a lit firework. he was fatally shot. rami wasjust 12. with a lit firework. he was fatally shot. rami wasjust12. with tensions running high for ramadan in eastjerusalem he was killed by an israeli border policeman and today a far right minister praised his action, saying it was a disgrace that israeli police were investigating the officer. translation: fix, investigating the officer. translation: �* ., , investigating the officer. translation: �* ., translation: a combatant comes and does exactly what _ translation: a combatant comes and does exactly what to _ translation: a combatant comes and does exactly what to expect _ translation: a combatant comes and does exactly what to expect from - does exactly what to expect from him. it is simply the biggest scandal but i am here for questioning.—

scandal but i am here for cuestioninu. ., questioning. overnight, other palestinians _ questioning. overnight, other palestinians were _ questioning. overnight, other palestinians were killed, - questioning. overnight, other palestinians were killed, two | questioning. overnight, other- palestinians were killed, two here, one aged just 16, in a village near jerusalem. this morning there was a stabbing at this israeli military checkpoint. israeli police say they shot and killed the attacker, a 15—year—old palestinian boy. ramadan is and always sensitive time in the israel —— palestinian conflict. —— the israel— palestinian conflict. about 130 israeli hostages captured during the 7th of october seventh attack by hamas in israel are still being held in gaza. one of those released three months ago has told bbc news he didn't think he'd get out alive. itay regev was 18 when he was kidnapped — along with his sister maya and best friend 0mer — from the nova music festival. itay and maya were released after 5a days of what he described as horrific conditions, but 0mer is still being held. in his first uk interview, itay�*s been describing his experience to our special correspondent lucy manning.

itay regev is free, but all he thinks about are the hostages he left behind. the teenager was at the nova music festival with his sister maya and friend 0mer when hamas attacked. translation: we started hearing shooting. - the terrorists were surrounding the whole party area. lots and lots of people started running in all directions. i hear shooting going past my head. i heard people screaming. i saw people falling down. a lot of bodies. we were confronted by a van of terrorists spraying our car with bullets without any mercy. i got shot in my leg. my sister also got shot in her leg seconds after me. this, the moment they were tied up and taken.

translation: we entered gaza, | and the terrorists started shouting and screaming and celebrating. it was as if it was a big party. itay says they were taken to a house with a shaft, then through a tunnel and driven to a hospital. translation: they threatened my life. | they looked at me doing this, that they are going to kill me, that they are going to behead me. i still had a bullet in my leg. they put the forceps into my leg. they pulled out the bullet without anaesthetic. they told me to keep quiet because if i won't keep quiet, they'll kill me. it was a day that i thought i wouldn't come out of alive. i came to terms with the fact that i wasn't going to live. i see my sister, maya, injured and crying. maya also said her goodbyes and told me if i come out of this alive, to tell our parents

that she loves them. what were the conditions like where you were being kept? translation: you don't really know if you're - going to wake up in the morning, if a missile is going to fall on you, if they're going to come in with a kalashnikov and start spraying us with bullets. the conditions are very, very difficult there. sometimes no water, and the hunger was very, very difficult. hamas wants a total cease—fire and the withdrawal of the troops for the hostages to be released. do you think that israel should agree? translation: i think we should do anything we possibly can _ to get them out of there, whatever the cost. we need to do anything that will bring the hostages out of there. you can't put a price on it. it's people's lives. in november, maya was released and reunited with herfamily and is learning to walk again.

itay was freed a few days later. 0mer and around 130 others are still held. itay says the world has forgotten the hostages. lucy manning, bbc news. still to come on the world today... the us house passes a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on tiktok. and we hear from former spice girl mel b about leaving an abusive marriage and moving back in with her mum. —— an alleged abusive marriage. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 34—year—old man has beenjailed for at least 21 years for the murder of a man in newtownabbey, northern ireland, two years ago. 54—year—old roy reynolds, was beaten and stabbed to death. his remains were placed in a car boot and taken to a reservoir. ajudge described the murder as "merciless" and "brutal in the extreme."

official figures show, hundreds of refugees were left homeless in london during a cold snap, after being evicted from home office accommodation. london councils said more than 300 refugees had to sleep rough injanuary because their claims had been closed. the home office said it was working with authorities to improve the system. a headteacher in southampton has admitted he's disgusted by the state of the food served at his own school. in a despairing letter to parents, jason ashley, head of redbridge community school in southampton, said meals served in its canteen were "completely unacceptable." he asked "how difficult is it to bake a potato?" let's turn to haiti now. the us says it expects a transitional council to be —— the united states says it has

deployed a team of elite us marines to its embassy in the haitian capital, port—au—prince, it said the marines' anti—terrorism security team would replace the current marine deployment. on monday, the prime minister, ariel henry, said he would resign once a transitional council was in place. gang leaders who control large parts of haiti had demanded his resignation for weeks, as violence across the country escalated. aus a us state department spokesman said it was up to the haitian people on who they choose as they lead to. —— as their leader. let's cross to port—au—prince to speak to harold isaac an independentjournalist in haiti. bring us up to date with the situation where you are in port—au—prince. situation where you are in port-au-prince._ situation where you are in port-au-prince. ~ �* , ., ., port-au-prince. we've been having a rerieve port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for — port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the _ port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the last _ port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the last 48 _ port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the last 48 to _ port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the last 48 to 72 - port-au-prince. we've been having a reprieve for the last 48 to 72 hours . reprieve for the last 48 to 72 hours where folks have been able to resupply, some soil has been allowed out of the terminal and people are going to a petrol station right now. it has been welcomed by the folks that were stranded for the last two

weeks. ~ , ., that were stranded for the last two weeks. ~ i. _ .,, that were stranded for the last two weeks. ~ , weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed, weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed. who _ weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed, who is _ weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed, who is allowing _ weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed, who is allowing it? - weeks. when you say fuel has been allowed, who is allowing it? the . allowed, who is allowing it? the terminal is _ allowed, who is allowing it? the terminal is in _ allowed, who is allowing it? the terminal is in the _ allowed, who is allowing it? tue: terminal is in the gang —controlled area, these are the areas that were affected, along with the ports at the airport and they have been blocked, access had been blocked by the gangs, now they have allowed some passage to allow for people to resupply. some passage to allow for people to resu -l . �* , some passage to allow for people to resu -l. �*, ., ~ some passage to allow for people to resu--l. v ., ~' ., some passage to allow for people to resuul. �*, ., ~m,, ., resupply. let's talk about gang leaders, resupply. let's talk about gang leaders. i _ resupply. let's talk about gang leaders, i have _ resupply. let's talk about gang leaders, i have been _ resupply. let's talk about gang leaders, i have been meeting i resupply. let's talk about gang - leaders, i have been meeting about what is happening in haiti and people familiar with the situation will know there are three gang leaders, guy, jimmy and johnson, all vying for some sort of control of port—au—prince. what will it take for them to stand aside now we are seeing the transitional council which will be formed? when do you think the men will stand aside and let politics take over? first think the men will stand aside and let politics take over?— let politics take over? first off i need to precise _

let politics take over? first off i need to precise that _ let politics take over? first off i need to precise that guy - let politics take over? first off i need to precise that guy has . let politics take over? first off i | need to precise that guy has not considered himself as a gang leader, although considered himself as a gang leader, althouthohnson and jimmy obviously although johnson and jimmy obviously are. althouthohnson and jimmy obviously are. although they although johnson and jimmy obviously are. although they may have the same discourse and they have been asking for an armed revolution or takeover, what happened in kingston, jamaica, where the international community, along with local stakeholders, have agreed for a 7—member presidential college, they do not have direct access or representatives on that. watch the outcome be? if they don't have representatives, will they accept what the traditional council puts forward? —— so what will the outcome be? puts forward? -- so what will the outcome be?— puts forward? -- so what will the outcome be? that is unclear at this stare outcome be? that is unclear at this stage because _ outcome be? that is unclear at this stage because essentially - outcome be? that is unclear at this stage because essentially we - outcome be? that is unclear at this stage because essentially we do . outcome be? that is unclear at this| stage because essentially we do not know yet who will be on that board accept the various political factions that have been accepted as

allowed to have their representative on that board. what we know is that over the last few hours there has been a bit of a reprieve which has been a bit of a reprieve which has been welcomed by everybody, and we are hoping it will last a little bit longer. are hoping it will last a little bit loner. ., ., ., ,, are hoping it will last a little bit loner. ., ., ., ~' ,, , are hoping it will last a little bit loner. ., ., ., ~' , . longer. harold, thank you very much indeed. longer. harold, thank you very much indeed- guy — longer. harold, thank you very much indeed. guy philip _ longer. harold, thank you very much indeed. guy philip is _ longer. harold, thank you very much indeed. guy philip is a _ longer. harold, thank you very much indeed. guy philip is a former- indeed. guy philip is a former police officer, a former rebel leader who is basically vying for control, he is not a gang leader, just to clarify. some women might pay to freeze their eggs after being misled about their chances of having a baby, according to a fertility charity. more and more women are choosing to freeze their eggs but bbc analysis has found dozens of clinics offering the services privately might have breached advertising guidelines which says they must not give false or misleading information. there's a story behind every egg freezing.

maybe it is a bit of a lifeline for me, i don't know. there's been a boom in women freezing their eggs for nonmedical reasons. i can't afford it, but i see it as an investment in my future. you can keep making money, but you can't keep making eggs. i did feel at times like a patient, and then at other times you do feel a bit like a customer. eggs are retrieved at a younger, more fertile point, then frozen and stored. but there's no guarantee it'll lead to a baby. and the fertility regulator says clinics don't always make that clear. freezing eggs for medical reasons is very different to freezing for social reasons. and as a regulator, we are concerned about the success rates. we are concerned about the information women are getting when they're considering this process. analysis by the bbc found 41% of clinic websites which offer private egg freezing in the uk may have breached advertising guidance. we found some clinics are prominently displaying attractive sounding success rates with percentages in the high 90s. but that's only one stage of the egg freezing journey. the chances of going on to have a baby are far lower, somewhere between 20 and 30%,

and that isn't always made clear. we shared ourfindings. to invest in egg freezing, a massive financial investment. what a key decision in your life. i feel very angry for patients because they are being misled by this level of information. fertility specialists told us patients would get more information at a consultation, but stress websites must be transparent. single at 39, natalie froze her eggs in 2020. i feel it was a journey that i felt very alone on. i was the one that was driving it and was having to do a lot of research myself. i don't think i expected, you know, the financial toll. honestly, it was probably the biggest hit. it was just trying to find the money from anywhere to make this happen. she is one of the few who has come back to use her eggs, and last year had a baby boy. holding huxley for the first time, i mean, you'rejust you're in awe that this baby has come

from a frozen egg. i have been really, really fortunate and i'm forever grateful for that. anna collinson, bbc news. let me show you a video which has been watched and watched again on the bbc website, a japanese rocket carrying a small government test satellite which exploded shortly after liftoff. there you go, that is the moment it happened. the tokyo —based start—up had hoped to become the third japanese private firm to successfully put a satellite into orbit. the company said it is investigating what has happened. you are watching the world today with me, maryam moshiri. i'm with you few minutes after the short break. hello, thanks forjoining me. it's been quite a cloudy day across most of the uk today,

some rain too, but it's been mild. and if anything, the temperatures are expected to rise a little further as we head into thursday — quite breezy too, particularly in scotland. we've had some gales here. anyway, here's the satellite picture, and you can see the rain—bearing clouds streaming across the uk. that cloud produced the heavier rain around snowdonia, the north—west of england. and through the course of the evening, the weather front will be moving northwards. so where we had the clearer skies in the north, well, it's going to turn cloudy through the night. the outbreaks of rain will reach northern ireland, parts of southern scotland, too. but to the north, it will stay clear and chilly. so northern scotland, only around five degrees underneath the clear skies. further south, it's closer to about 8—10 celsius, and of course, we've got that rain, too. so let's have a look at the forecast for thursday — mild south—westerlies, that rain continues to make its journey northward, so quite a soggy picture here in scotland. 0ut towards the west, we've got showers, and given some lengthy spells of sunshine, which are just about possible

across eastern england, east anglia and the south—east, well, temperatures here could reach 16 or even 17 degrees celsius. and then through tomorrow evening, it's a case of hit—and—miss showers across england and wales, but more wet and more, i think, substantial rain there for northern ireland and also scotland. that takes us into friday. as this low pressure pulls away towards the east, on its western flank here, we have winds coming in from the norwegian sea. so it's slightly colder air. if you look at the arrows, blowing in from the north, so that cooler air sliding across the uk, the temperatures will take a bit of a dip. single figures, i think, typically for scotland, for the north of england, but still relatively mild in east anglia — 14. and i think there'll be some showers around too, but also some decent spells of sunshine. and then friday night into saturday, it's going to be pretty cold. a frost will develop, and i suspect in some spots out of town, temperatures could be as low as —4 celsius early on saturday morning. that's not going to last very long. that sun is strong now

this time of the year. here's the outlook, then, from thursday onwards — it's a bit of a mixed bag. rain at times, a bit of sunshine, but actually staying relatively mild for most of us. bye— bye.

this is the world today. the headlines: the prime minister resists calls to return a tory donor's money after comments about diane abbott. the us house of representatives backs a bill that would outlaw tiktok in the us unless it splits with its chinese owner, bytedance. foreign states will face a ban on owning british newspapers under a new law amid concern over a gulf—backed bid to take over the telegraph. the world's largest trees, believe it or not, are flourishing here in the uk and outnumber those found in their native range in california. and choral music — the beautiful sounds from the sea that could save our coral reefs. let's start with tiktok.