hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. welcome to bbc news now. we start in the middle east, where palestinians have begun returning to the devastated city of khan younis in southern gaza, after israel said it was reducing the numbers of soldiers in the area, six months into the israel—hamas war. israel's defence minister said troops are being redeployed and preparing for further operations against hamas. the israeli military could still mount an offensive against hamas�*s last stronghold in rafah, despite the us leading international pleas for restraint. israel and hamas are now looking at fresh proposals on the table at talks in cairo aimed at securing a truce in gaza and a hostage release deal. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is injerusalem. she gave us the latest from there.

the big question being asked here this morning injerusalem and far beyond is this a new chapter in the israel gaza war orjust a pause? whatever it is, displaced palestinians are now returning to their homes in the city of khan younis in the south of the gaza strip after israel announced yesterday it was pulling out all of its troops in the south, except for one prograde which is controlling a corridor which divides the gaza strip in two. israel's defence minister said that the troops will just be resting and preparing for more military operations in gaza. but here injerusalem today there is speculation as to whether this marks the end of israel's ground operations or simply a pause, as israel repairs for the offensive against the southern corner of gaza, rafa, which prime minister benjamin netanyahu has always insisted is

necessary if israel is to achieve its war aims to destroy hamas. as a palestinians return to their homes, they are certain to find the streets in ruin and possibly their own homes destroyed after months of intense aerial bombardment by israeli warplanes and months of ground operations, including tents exchanges between israeli troops and fighters from hamas and islamic jihad. this announcement by israel comes as the israel gaza war reaches its six month mark. a war which was triggered by the attacks of october the 7th, when hamas fighters breached israel's prized defences along the gaza boundary and went on along the gaza boundary and went on a monstrous, murderous rampage across southern israel. a day israel described as the darkest day in its history, which left 1200 israelis

dead and more than 250 taken hostage. but six months on, this is now the longest, most grievous gaza war. according to figures of the hamas run health ministry, more than 33,000 palestinians have been killed so far, as well as aid workers and journalists. and the un says that there is now famine in gaza. with most gazans going hungry. well, against this backdrop there is intense pressure on negotiators in the egyptian capital cairo to reach a deal that would see the exchange of remaining israeli hostages in gaza palestinians held in israeli jails. as well as the kind of truce which could enable the delivery of desperately needed aid. a short time ago i spoke to qatar's chief spokesperson and an adviser to the qatari prime minister and i asked

him where the ceasefire talks are now, amid reports that the united states had put a new proposal on the table and that israel and hamas were now studying it. figs table and that israel and hamas were now studying it— now studying it. as you probably heard as reported _ now studying it. as you probably heard as reported in _ now studying it. as you probably heard as reported in the - now studying it. as you probably heard as reported in the last - now studying it. as you probably i heard as reported in the last couple of days there was a meeting in cairo, which was encouraging. and thatis cairo, which was encouraging. and that is followed now by the technical teams who are still meeting in cairo. as you mentioned, there is a proposal at the moment, which we found to be encouraging. we are waiting for the reply from both sides of course. obviously, the situation is still very difficult and we saw on the ground we are by no means at the last stretch of these talks. but if you ask me if i'm more optimistic today than i was a couple of days ago i would say yes. a couple of days ago i would say es. �* , ., , ., a couple of days ago i would say yes. and why are you optimistic? what has been _ yes. and why are you optimistic? what has been put _ yes. and why are you optimistic? what has been put on _ yes. and why are you optimistic? what has been put on the - yes. and why are you optimistic? what has been put on the table? | yes. and why are you optimistic? . what has been put on the table? we understand that it is an american proposal to try to reach a breakthrough.— proposal to try to reach a breakthrough. proposal to try to reach a breakthrou:h. ~ ., ., breakthrough. well, there are a m riad of

breakthrough. well, there are a myriad of proposals _ breakthrough. well, there are a myriad of proposals right - breakthrough. well, there are a myriad of proposals right now. breakthrough. well, there are a | myriad of proposals right now on breakthrough. well, there are a - myriad of proposals right now on the table, including the american proposal. and we appreciate that we have been getting help from all of our partners, including united states, on this. as we have always said, the pressure from the united states will always be instrumental in making these talks succeed. i can't go into the details of these proposals but can tell you that it bridges the gap in a way that hasn't been done in the last couple of months. and we hope it will lead to more talks that would lead to a positive result eventually. and more talks that would lead to a positive result eventually. and that is the qatar— positive result eventually. and that is the qatar spokesperson - positive result eventually. and that is the qatar spokesperson saying i is the qatar spokesperson saying that he is more optimistic today thanit that he is more optimistic today than it was yesterday. well, let's cross to our gaza correspondent, who joins us from the turkish city of istanbul. i understand you have been talking to your sources. do you sense that there is the possibility of greater progress now there could be a breakthrough? i

of greater progress now there could be a breakthrough?— be a breakthrough? i think the chances are — be a breakthrough? i think the chances are 50-50, _ be a breakthrough? i think the chances are 50-50, according | be a breakthrough? i think the i chances are 50-50, according to be a breakthrough? i think the - chances are 50-50, according to many chances are 50—50, according to many sources that i spoke to in egypt and here in istanbul. i think we are between the overly optimistic egyptian mediator, who has been talking about significant breakthrough, and those who are quite cautious about this kind of optimism. they say this time is quite different, they feel the tone ijy quite different, they feel the tone by the egyptians that what they're getting from the americans quite different. but the key issue for hamas is that they have this card in their hand which is about the hostages. and if one root leader on more than one occasion told me that if we give this card without a guarantee that the war is completely stopped, israel will go after us again and there is no guarantee that

we give all of the hostages that israel will not target us. now, we understand that the hamas delegation has asked for more consultation and they will try to establish some connection with the people inside, so they have a wider discussion about this deal. we are not talking about this deal. we are not talking about a new proposal or a new deal, they are talking all about the three sticking points which allow people to return back to the north and allow more aid and also withdrawing the israeli forces from all of the gaza strip. hamas insist including the buffer zone or the new that cuts gaza from south into the north. hamas will accept some kind of humanitarian help for it is supposed to be the beginning for a wider

comprehensive ceasefire that puts an end to the war. that's what i understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating _ understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating us. _ understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating us. and _ understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating us. and so - understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating us. and so that - understand from hamas. thank you so much for updating us. and so that is l much for updating us. and so that is how it looks at these hours as the clock is ticking towards the end of the islamic month of fasting and the arrival of ede. as we have been reporting, there is some way could be found, at least a pause at least during the three days of the festival of eid. israeli government spokesperson, held a breifing from tel aviv, a short time ago. avi hyman, told reporters, the a decline in troops from southern gaza wasn't an "indication of anything special" here's what he had to say we try not to speak too much about the movement of our soldiers, obviously for their safety. what i will say is that the movement of most soldiers doesn't indicate anything special. we are committed

to our war anything special. we are committed to ourwaraims to anything special. we are committed to our war aims to destroy hamas, to bring home the now 133 hostages and to ensure that gaza doesn't pose a threat to us any more. we will continue on with that mission, will continue on with that mission, will continue on with that mission, will continue on to rafah to destroy the last four hamas terra battalions. so i wouldn't read too much into the fact that we have moved soldiers in or out of anywhere. i will remind everyone that we are living in a tiny, tiny country. we can move soldiers in and out very easily and very quickly. more now on some breaking news from the us. donald trump has said that abortion rights — expected to be a key issue in november's presidential election — should be decided by individual states. mr trump said he was responsible for the 2022 supreme court decision ending a federal right to the procedure, adding that in his view abortion was now where everybody wanted it to be

from a legal standpoint. he did not specify a week at which he would ban abortion. but he said he supported exceptions for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights, especially since i was proudly the person responsible for the ending of something that all legal scholars both sides wanted and in fact demanded be ended, roe v wade. they wanted ended. it be remembered that the democrats are the radical ones on this position because they support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month. the concept of having an abortion in the later months and even execution after birth, and that is exactly what it is stop the baby is born, the baby is executed after birth, is

unacceptable and almost everyone agrees with that. my view is that now we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both. and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. in this case, the law of the land. in this case, the law of the land. in this case, the law of the state. many states will be different, many will have a different, many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others and that is what they will be. at the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people. you must follow your heart or come in many cases, your religion or your faith. do what is right for your family and do what is right for yourself. do what is right for your children, do what is right for our country and folk. so important to vote. at the end of the day, it is all about will of the people. that is where we are right now and that is where we are right now and that is what we want, the will of the people. michael scherer is national political reporter with

the washington post. well, he has definitely been leaning in that direction for a number of months. there were a couple of kerfuffle during the primary in which he said similar things about not wanting a federal ban is compounded, as republican voters needing to respect the will of the people and then he would back off of that because it was in a republican primary. this is really political move. he has an enormous headwind and republicans running state—wide have an enormous headwind. it is really motivated democratic voters and he's trying to dampen down the issue. he knows it is something that really threatens to defeat him in november and he is trying to take away the idea that as president he would push for a federal ban, even though during his term as president he did push for a 20 week ban. and members of his party are going to continue to push for a ban and he has previously said he would work something out. this won't change what the biden campaign is doing, they're going to spend 200, $300

million on advertising, you know, saying that the reason in a lot of these key swing states you no longer have the same access to abortion is president trump and roe stop and calling up some of his all comments where he did call for a ban on abortion. he called for the prosecution of women on abortion. it doesn't take the issue of the table but is hoping it will reduce it for himself. i but is hoping it will reduce it for himself. ~ ., , , ., , himself. i know it is very early because this _ himself. i know it is very early because this statement - himself. i know it is very early because this statement has i himself. i know it is very early l because this statement has only himself. i know it is very early - because this statement has onlyjust come out but is it likely to reduce opposition from potential supporters? so opposition from potential summers?— opposition from potential supporters? opposition from potential su--orters? ~ , supporters? so i think it is a comfy eiuht supporters? so i think it is a comfy eight question- _ supporters? so i think it is a comfy eight question. i _ supporters? so i think it is a comfy eight question. i don't _ supporters? so i think it is a comfy eight question. i don't think we - eight question. i don't think we know the answer. there is going to be some backlash —— i think it is a complicated question. he has basically ruled that out here. he has previously supported federal

legislation. whether those people stay home or vote third party is an open question, they probably don't. i don't think it has, you know, it is a matter of degree. it doesn't change completely the conversation. if you look at a lot of the states where this presidential election is going to be decided, georgia, north carolina, wisconsin, abortion is very much an issue on the state level. the only reason it is a live issue on the state issue is that road v wade was overturned a president trump is claiming credit for overturning it. it doesn't take out the conversation about abortion and i think biden will be able to go to voters and say the reason you are concerned that you or your daughter or your wife are going to have trouble getting abortion access right now is that president trump did this and president biden is running on a platform of restoring roe v. wade on the federal level.

everton football club have been docked a further two points for a breach of profitability and sustainability rules — that's come from a statement from the premier league and the club. a p pa re ntly apparently everton, in january apparently everton, injanuary this year, were charged by the premier league for breaching the permitted profit and sustainability threshold for an assessment period of 2022 to 2023. the matter was referred... this is from everton's statement i'm just reading out now that has just been released. the matter was referred to a premier league commission, which has today announced that everton will receive announced that everton will receive an immediate two point deduction. the club say they are pleased to see that the commission has given credit to the majority of issues raised by the club, including the issue of double punishment and significant mitigating circumstances facing the club, due to the war in ukraine and

the early admission of the club's breach. so the club goes on to thank its fan advisory board and other fan groups for their submissions. the club and its representatives have begun preparations to appeal the decision. so that news has just come into us but basically everton have been docked at two point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules led by the premier league. they had already been hit by a six sanction this season and having been hit by this further punishment they are dropping one spot to 16th, which places them two points above the relegation zone. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

this is bbc news. the head of the un's nuclear watchdog has condemned a drone attack on europe's biggest nuclear plant, the russian—occupied zaporizhzhia plant in ukraine. rafael grossi said there had been three direct hits on the plant's main reactor containment structures. he said no one could benefit from such attacks. russia's nuclear agency said three people were injured when a canteen was hit, and blamed ukraine for the attack. ukraine has denied responsibility and says, russia often resorts to false—flag attacks. let's speak to the bbc�*s eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford who is in kyiv. sarah, i spoke to him in the last couple of hours and he doesn't want to get drawn into who is responsible but what is the latest on what is known about that?— but what is the latest on what is known about that? well, the un watchdo: known about that? well, the un watchdog is _ known about that? well, the un watchdog is saying _ known about that? well, the un watchdog is saying itself - known about that? well, the un watchdog is saying itself that - watchdog is saying itself that nuclear safety hasn't been compromised at the site. they are saying there is no risk in terms of safety but that this is a significant attack. they're talking about it because these were three

direct hits, they say, on the nuclear power plant in nice. the head of the agency, as we were just saying, has talked about that in pretty strong language. he has hasn't apportion blame. he hasn't said who is responsible in the agency itself hasn't produced any images from on the... russia is in control and occupies the region. so we don't have any independent images from the ground but certainly we know that staff at the un's watchdog reported hearing several explosions throughout the day. they heard as well some rifle fire and that they did inspect the site, they did have access to the site and saw some holes in the ground and fragments of drones. they also saw blood which they said was consistent with potentially one casualties there on the ground. we have also seen

pictures put out by pro—russian newspaper with a video outlet and they have shown images from the scene, again suggesting fragments of a drone, a small drone it seems. several drones they're seeing. the impact site seems pretty small and the damage limited. i think as far as the un watchdog is concerned the importance and significance of this is that this is a nuclear facility, nuclear power plant and it shouldn't be been hit at all. find nuclear power plant and it shouldn't be been hit at all.— be been hit at all. and 'ust very cuickl , be been hit at all. and 'ust very quickly. sarah. h be been hit at all. and 'ust very quickly, sarah, will_ be been hit at all. and 'ust very quickly, sarah, will we- be been hit at all. and just very quickly, sarah, will we find - be been hit at all. and just very quickly, sarah, will we find out| be been hit at all. and just very l quickly, sarah, will we find out at some point who is behind this and how it happened? because raphael told me that he thought it was a targeted attack.— told me that he thought it was a targeted attack. well, the blame came targeted attack. well, the blame name is targeted attack. well, the blame game is under — targeted attack. well, the blame game is under way _ targeted attack. well, the blame game is under way already. - targeted attack. well, the blame game is under way already. the | game is under way already. the kremlin is pointing the blame towards key. i spoke to ukrainian military intelligence who said they were not flying drones in the area, they would not target a power plant and is accusing russia of staging some kind of attack in order to

blame kyiv for that. we can't get access on the ground, the area is controlled by russia and we have been shown any images from the scene so it is pretty hard from anybody at this stage to say exactly what happened. this stage to say exactly what happened-— this stage to say exactly what hauened. ., ~' , . the search continues off the coast of mozambique for survivors of a ferry sinking. about 130 people on board. almost a hundred passengers are known to have drowned. the authorities in nampula province say some of the passengers , who include many children , were trying to flee a cholera outbreak. those are some of the latest pictures that came into us from that disaster. as i say, linked to a cholera outbreak. russia's emergency ministry says flooding from the ural mountains is spreading. 39 regions are affected in central russia and siberia. more than 10,000 homes are under water. unseasonably warm weather has caused snow to melt rapidly in the mountains,

swelling rivers to their highest levels for decades. here in the uk, a group of former senior diplomats and officials say the foreign office should be abolished, saying it's "rooted in the past". they want the ministry to be replaced by a new department for international affairs, with modernised premises and "fewer colonial era pictures on the walls". sorry about that! we are going to go to the us. millions of people in north america are gearing up for a total solar eclipse. the path of totality — the area that will be plunged into darkness when the moon blocks the sun's light — will extend across parts of mexico, the usa and canada. millions of people in north america are gearing up for a total solar eclipse.

millions of people in north america are gearing up for a total solar eclipse. the path of totality — the area that will be plunged into darkness when the moon blocks the sun's light — will extend across parts of mexico, the usa and canada. our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal, joins us from texas. we will all be looking at the sky at some point today because we're going to witness what has been described as a once—in—a—lifetime event, total solar eclipse. that is when the moon moves in front of the sun. they are aligned and this part of texas where i am will plunge into total darkness for about four minutes, which is a pretty long time if you think about it. that will happen around 1:40pm my time, local time. it. that will happen around 1:40pm my time, localtime. but it. that will happen around 1:40pm my time, local time. but the solar eclipse will start in mexico, make its way across north america, so it will be in texas, then places like indianapolis. make its way to ohio, new york and then over to canada. so the path of totality goes across three north american countries. up to 44 million people live in the path of totality, so a lot of people get to see it. the only curveball right now is the weather. i keep looking up at the sky and it is pretty cloudy, it looks like it might rain. which means it will

affect how we view it because you won't get to see if it stays like this, the really breathtaking moment when the moon moves in front of the sun and it leaves behind this crown, a corona. but it is full body experience. we will feel it get cold, it will get very dark, nocturnal animals will semi—wake up thinking it is night time. so... i have never experienced one but everyone that tells me it is indescribable, it is awesome, you never experience anything like it so there is a lot of excitement across north america when this happens. nomia iqbal, enjoying the moment. if you are lucky enough to be in that territory than don't look directly at the sun. a bit of advice on our website as to how to shield your eyes but still be able to glimpse that amazing event later on today.

although if it is wet and cloudy it sounds remarkably like the weather in england at the moment. we are backin in england at the moment. we are back in a few moments and you are watching bbc news. my name is geeta guru—murthy. hello, it is of another fairly mild day out there and some of us have seen the spring sunshine but not everyone because low pressure is not far away, everyone because low pressure is not faraway, moving everyone because low pressure is not far away, moving its way from west to east. over the next few days at low pressure remains close by. unsettled weather, blustery, rain around at times and turning cooler thanit around at times and turning cooler than it has been. here is the area of low pressure pushing towards the south—west of the uk, a couple of weather fronts with us and generally a lot of cloud. for the rest of the day outbreaks of rain for some, especially heavy in northern ireland, the south—west of scotland, the south—west of england. a few

showers elsewhere the northern and western areas. the south—east, 17, 18 degrees and sunshine across the north of scotland. into the evening hours, if you are hoping to get a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse your best bet would be across the north west of scotland, physically so towards western isles. for most of us it will be cloudy and wet. rain continues through this evening and tonight, becoming physically heavy for parts of southern and eastern scotland as well. a reasonably mild night with temperatures between seven to 9 degrees. tuesday we start with a lot of cloud, outbreaks of rain and windy day for most, vertically down towards the south—west. rain can be heavy particularly for southern scotland. the risk of flooding and wins will be a real feature. gusting up wins will be a real feature. gusting up to a0 miles an hour in land 65 miles an hourdown

up to a0 miles an hour in land 65 miles an hour down towards the south—west. a blustery, cooler day. eight to 12 degrees but when you add on the wind it will feel colder than that. we have also got a cold air mass, so the blue colour is back with us. a chilly night because we have the ridge of high pressure before the next frontal system arrives on wednesday. a touch of frost vertically towards the east. another breezy day wednesday with outbreaks of rain pushing eastwards. heaviest across the north of the uk. temperatures where they should be for the time of year, perhaps a little below. ten to 15 degrees. then things warm up in the south, 20 degrees or even higher for saturday and friday. it stays unsettled in the north west. goodbye.

"tough conversations" are what's needed, says janet yellen as the us treasury secretary seeks to build bridges with china. a fresh headache for boeing, as a part falls off one of its 737 planes on a us route served by southwest airlines. welcome to world business report. hello, i'm ben thompson

with the top business stories. starting in china, where the us treasury secretary is having what she calls "tough conversations" with counterparts in beijing. in recent days janet yellen has been meeting senior officials including the premier li qiang. both china and the united states have a number of key concerns much of it rooted in trade tensions which have been gathering pace for years. dr yellen's seeking to navigate these issues and smooth a few feathers in beijing. here's our business reporter david waddell. soon after arriving, secretary yellen addressed us business leaders in guangzhou and promised to address the oversupply of chinese goods in key industries such as electric vehicles and solar panels. on sunday, she met the chinese premier, li qiang, and struck an emollient tone. we've put our bilateral relationship on a more stable footing. this has not meant ignoring our differences or avoiding tough conversations.