lam i am live in the capital of new delhi with the country has started its first of seven phases of voting. i will keep you up—to—date on all the election results. at donald trump's hush money trial — the judge says — we have a jury — after 12 jurors are selected. we'll get the ,'latest in new york. and taylor swift fans are in for a double treat as she releases two sets of songs about her love life. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. the us secretary of state antony blinken has reiterated the importance of de—escalation in the middle east, after a reported israeli strike on iran.

speaking at a g7 meeting in italy, mr blinken refused to comment on reports that israel had informed washington of its plans before they struck. iranian state media said explosions were heard over the city of isfahan, which it said were iranian air defences hitting three drones. the action appears to have been limited in scope, with no casualties or major damage reported. protestors took to the streets in tehran, denouncing israel, but iranian state media has played down the incident. one official said there were no plans forfurther retaliation against israel. a minister in benjamin netanyahu's government described the israeli action as "lame". mr blinken is at the summit of g7 foreign ministers. he said his focus remains on de—escalation. let me simply first of all repeat what our focus has been

and where it remains. de—escalation, avoiding conflict, and so, yes, calling on all concerned to exercise restraint. that is what we have been doing over the last couple of weeks, and, as necessary, that is what we will continue to do. and again, that is reflected in the statement that you will see coming from all of the g7 countries. on rafah, we have been very clear about this. president biden has been very clear about this. we cannot support a major military operation in rafah. first, there are currently somewhere around 1.4 million people in rafah, many of them displaced from other parts of gaza. in the first instance it is imperative that people are able to get out of the way of any conflict. and doing that, getting people out of harm's way, is a monumental task for which we have yet to see a plan. and not only getting them out of harm's way, making sure that they can be

supported with humanitarian assistance if they are out of harm's way. but second, even if people are largely out of harm's way, inevitably there is going to remain a pretty significant civilian population in rafah, and we believe that a major military operation with a large presence of a civilian population would have terrible consequences for that population. in a moment i will speak live to wyre davies injerusalem and sivaoush ardalan of the bbc persian in the newsroom but first nomia iqbal in washington. what is the administration saying about what happened overnight? they are being very tight—lipped at the moment. the most we've heard is there from america's top diplomat antony blinken, who wouldn't be drawn into too much detail. i pretty much expect that's what president biden will emphasise if he does

comment on it is america wasn't involved in israel's strike overnight. but it is committed to its defense. president biden has been urging israel and benjamin netanyahu to show restraint, do not retaliate in such a way that it would inflame a wider war in the middle east. there were some reports in the us that if israel had gone down that path and there are certainly members of the israeli government to the far right who wanted a bigger reaction, mr biden would not have been able to support israel on pat. america has artie put sanctions on iran, they did that yesterday. iran is already hugely sanctioned. it was america's way of saying that we can go after i run in a way that does not involve a big military response. i think there was an inevitability that israel would react in some way. there is also

some american media reporting that us officials on condition of anonymity that america was warned that israel was going to do this. that has not been confirmed by the us administration. i would be surprised if they did confirm it. i imagine mr biden will breathe a sigh of release two relief. while tensions don't appear to be released soon it immediate fear of an escalation has been by now. let's talk to bbc persian correspondent siavash ardalan. take me through a little more detail of what was targeted and what the regime is actually saying. we don't exactly know _ regime is actually saying. we don't exactly know. the _ regime is actually saying. we don't exactly know. the iranians - regime is actually saying. we don't exactly know. the iranians this - exactly know. the iranians this morning woke up to the sound of explosions what were the activation of their air defence system. what we haveis of their air defence system. what we have is a set of unconfirmed reports. iranians are reading news

agencies, it websites, social media, contacting each other to see if there were any targeted, if they heard anything. all they heard were the sounds of the explosion. what we do have is a fog of unconfirmed reports. some by us official, different media outlets saying there was a missile involved for the in israel's attack on iran, they hit in iranian military base. there is no solid proof of that. we haven't seen anything. if the iranian authorities have been trying to hide evidence of that they have succeeded. iranians have confirmed the drone attacks in the province activating the air defence system saying they shot down three of those mini drones so far. really no signs of devastation, no signs of public panic for the given especially the this attack took place the irradiance and state media

are usually very uncommon of them were on top of the news for the trying to assure the public that the nuclear installations are safe, the attack hasn't taken any casualty for that they're sending out reporters to public square is different places showing that it is business as usual. thank you. live now to our correspondent wyre davies injerusalem. tell us a little more what is being said there. is it becoming any clearer about whether this is the start of further israeli response or the totality of it?— the totality of it? good question. we don't know— the totality of it? good question. we don't know the _ the totality of it? good question. we don't know the answer. - the totality of it? good question. we don't know the answer. the | we don't know the answer. the israeli government has absolutely nothing. we're on the eve of the majorjewish holiday, passover. many people while expecting some sort of israeli response thought it would probably happen or not happen at least until the end of passover. that it happened last night, apparently came as a shock to many people. the only member of the

government who has spoken is the lie right wing benefit to viera. the bloc of people that would like to see much tougher action taken against iran, the iranian military facilities, nuclearfacilities each weeded a word in hebrew that can be translated as either lame or feeble. interment was criticised by other politicians as being embarrassing for israel at a time of great regional tension. for israel at a time of great regionaltension. hope for israel at a time of great regional tension. hope is that this perhaps is drawn a line underneath this particular crisis. the chance that israel and iran will start to go tit—for—tat and the possibility of a regional board it's thorough focus back on what is happening in gaza. we can't forget about the fact that israel is on the verge of launching a major military operation in southern gaza and the town of rafah. where it says the significant remnants of hamas still pays the americans in the british are warning israel against that because of the

humanitarian cause. that is where we're at now. perhaps racemic toning of the iranian — as readily accessible that there still a six month war that hasn't finished in basil. ~ , , month war that hasn't finished in basil. a , g basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. thank yom _ basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. thank you. just _ basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. thank you. just a _ basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. thank you. just a moment - basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. thank you. just a moment we i basil. wyre davis in jerusalem. i thank you. just a moment we will speak to a chief international correspondent i want to move away from the middle eastjust briefly. the biggest election in the world is under way in india, with millions queuing, to vote, despite very high temperatures. in the next six weeks, some 969 million people in the country, along with many others abroad, will vote in the country's general election. more than 13 million indian citizens who live abroad can also cast their ballots, but they'll have to return to india, in person, to do so. the result will be announced onjune 4th. i'm joined by our south asia correspondent, samira hussein. she's following the

election from delhi. let's start with talking about the sheer scale of this. it is best logistically this democratic exercise. logistically this democratic exercise-— logistically this democratic exercise. , ., , exercise. remember today is only the first of seven — exercise. remember today is only the first of seven phases _ exercise. remember today is only the first of seven phases of _ exercise. remember today is only the first of seven phases of voting - exercise. remember today is only the first of seven phases of voting that. first of seven phases of voting that is going to take place over the next six weeks. just to give you an understanding of how many people are voting in this first phase, 166 million people. that is the combined population of france and the uk and then some. this is just around population of france and the uk and then some. this isjust around one. what makes this such an immense democratic process is not only the number of people here in the country but also that mandate by the government that no electorate would have to travel more than two km to get your polling station. so there's been some incredible images of these voting machines moving to really

remote areas, in the jungles, voting machines moving to really remote areas, in thejungles, boats to try and reach every eligible voter in this round. in to try and reach every eligible voter in this round.— to try and reach every eligible voter in this round. in terms of the key planks — voter in this round. in terms of the key planks of— voter in this round. in terms of the key planks of the _ voter in this round. in terms of the key planks of the selection, - voter in this round. in terms of the key planks of the selection, jobs, i key planks of the selection, jobs, rising prices, the politics of religion will play big, won't it? absolutely. the prime minister is certainly running on a campaign of looking at economic growth, looking at a social welfare programmes that have been quite popular. also on this idea of hindu nationalism. we have seen a lot of that coming through in some of the policies and things he is done over the last decade in power. if you hearfrom the main opposition party and the national congress they say, under mr modi, undera national congress they say, under mr modi, under a decade of leadership dave seen a real old version of democratic principles and these divisive politics have been harmful to india's largest minority, the

muslim population as well as other minorities. these are actually sentiments that have been echoed by other human rights groups that are saying that this is a very slippery slope into autocracy in india. i think there's quite a bit of fear in terms of what these elections are actually going to say and whether or not you call it free and fair. yes, people are able to go and cast their ballot but because there has been such a crackdown on political dissent in this country, especially in the lead up to these elections i think there are some that are asking some pretty pointed questions. samira, we have to leave it there. thank you forjoining us live from delhi. live pictures now coming in from washington. joe biden on the campaign trail. we're listening to what he said, watching the live pictures if he talks about the middle east and what happen overnight we will bring you those comments live here on the program.

you with me is our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. your assessment of where we're? it's your assessment of where we're? it�*s interesting we heard that most of the political analyst and israel will say there were no strike before the passover holiday that begins on monday. they want people to be in shelters. israel obviously felt peppe" shelters. israel obviously felt pepper impact it had to send a much clearer single much sooner but a limited strike. —— clear signal. this mayjust be the first salvo. it is been done in such a way and most importantly israel hasn't acknowledge it, the united states hasn't acknowledge it, it allows iran to save face. it doesn't have to invoke the new dock return, you had us we will hit back immediately. so there is this grey zone again in this long—running shadow war between israel and iran. this long—running shadow war between israeland iran. ithink this long—running shadow war between israel and iran. i think there is a

sigh of relief. a pause. but let's be in no doubt, that seething hostility between iran and israel in the respective allies isn't over. and until we know exactly where we're, whether this is the end of the israelis at response, the tension in the region remains incredibly high.— tension in the region remains incredibly high. doesn't a? don't foruet incredibly high. doesn't a? don't forget tension _ incredibly high. doesn't a? don't forget tension and _ incredibly high. doesn't a? don't forget tension and iran. - incredibly high. doesn't a? don't forget tension and iran. we - incredibly high. doesn't a? don't forget tension and iran. we had | incredibly high. doesn't a? don't i forget tension and iran. we had one iranian officials saying it doesn't seem to come out the inside, it was infiltration. in infiltration says to them that they are right inside our country. they're to have to sort back. the tensions are still there. this is the darkest, most perilous moment and this was before the israel — iran conference heated up. thank you so much for that analysis. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you are live is bbc news. the bbc has seen documents that lay bare the scale of the medical trials here in the uk in the 1970s and �*80s, in which children were treated with infected blood products. the trials involved young patients with blood clotting disorders, and were done without the consent of their families. most were infected with hepatitis c and hiv. our health editor hugh pym reports now on one school where some of the secret medical research was carried out. this school in hampshire, for haemophiliac boys, there was a chance to lead as normal a life as possible, with a medical unit to treat their bleeding episodes. they thought they were being treated with blood products. they didn't realise they were taking part in trials of products used as preventative measures are known as prophylaxis. many became infected with viruses. a letter in 1973 shows the involvement of the government in the research, with the message, time is short if the trial is to begin at the start of term in april. i have been speaking to three former

pupils at the school from the 1970s and the 1980s. every boy there was on a trial at some time, or continuously, from their hold period at the college, and that spanned ten years from 1975 to 1985. they had access to our blood, our veins, whenever they wanted it, and they exploited that. how do you feel about that? when we went there in the mid—705, we were not on prophylaxis, we had not even heard of the word prophylaxis. it was sold to us, saying, we've got these new products, if you are prepared to have an injection every other day, it will make you fit, you will be able to play more, you will be able to go out more, you will live a normal life. but our parents were never informed. there was just a change from having an injection whenever you had a bleed to having an injection every other day. and we accepted it, we didn't question it,

we thought it was the norm, and it was the norm, because we were all doing it. if we didn't go for our prophylaxisl appointments we would either get dragged out of school lessons| because you have missed your appointment, and if you did it - so many times, you got black marks and things like this. being called out of class for a blood test that i missed, and then another blood test that i have missed. and when you're called out of class at that age, you feel punished, don't you? and of course, you've lost school friends, that must be very difficult? yeah, it is, lots of funerals. i stopped going to them because i always pictured myself one day there. so, you know, it was hard. 75 boys have died, to date. we think of each other all the time, and the voices of the boys that - are gone, and the families that have i lost those voices of their children, i we are going to fight for them, because they're not here now. |

so we have to fight for them. so, we just want to get to the bottom of it and do this because they can't and get to the truth. the truth, that's what it's all about. the school has said it hopes the public inquiry will provide former pupils with answers, and campaigners who have waited decades hope the final report, due next month, will dojust that. hugh pym, bbc news. let's speak to chair of the haemophilia society, clive smith. clive, i saw you watching and listening incredibly intently there. your reaction to what we're just seeing? your reaction to what we're 'ust seeinu ? �* , your reaction to what we're 'ust seein.? �*, ., , your reaction to what we're 'ust seeinu? �*, ., your reaction to what we're 'ust seeinu? ., , seeing? it's appalling and shocking. i was at seeing? it's appalling and shocking. l was at the — seeing? it's appalling and shocking. i was at the inquiry _ seeing? it's appalling and shocking. i was at the inquiry when _ seeing? it's appalling and shocking. i was at the inquiry when this - i was at the inquiry when this evidence was given. the boys were vulnerable because they had a rare medical condition for that they were vulnerable because they were children. and they were even more vulnerable because they are away from home, away from their parents.

and to of been tested on, used as research subjects in a place where they should've felt safe and cared for and looked after it is staggering for that it mystifies all words and believe. d0 staggering for that it mystifies all words and believe.— staggering for that it mystifies all words and believe. do you know what the answer to — words and believe. do you know what the answer to the _ words and believe. do you know what the answer to the obvious question i the answer to the obvious question of, how it could've been done consent from the families, what is the answer to that? i consent from the families, what is the answer to that?— the answer to that? i don't know. obviously the _ the answer to that? i don't know. obviously the doctors _ the answer to that? i don't know. obviously the doctors are - the answer to that? i don't know. obviously the doctors are not - the answer to that? i don't know. | obviously the doctors are not here they can't provide us with their answers i dare say if there was a accident that they could get away with it and they wouldn't be found out. it was probably a hope on the doctor's part that the treatment would be successful. part of the research they were doing where they were hoping that this treatment which had been heat treated had killed the virus, killed hepatitis, hiv and they were optimistic, i'm sure that the heat treatment had been administered had been successful. but to test out on human subjects is just appalling.

successful. but to test out on human subjects isjust appalling. to tested on children knowing that you might then infect them with deadly diseases for that we heard from the boys about the voices which undoubtedly hunt them. to put anyone in that position is simply unforgivable.— in that position is simply unfor: ivable. ., , . in that position is simply unforuivable. ., , . ., unforgivable. the final effect of that inquiry _ unforgivable. the final effect of that inquiry report _ unforgivable. the final effect of that inquiry report is due - unforgivable. the final effect of that inquiry report is due next | that inquiry report is due next month. what are you hoping for? we're hoping that finally everybody will know the truth and know that things like this to happen. when you tell people they think it's like a script from a hollywood movie. sadly, the community has known the truth for decades. finally it's been uncovered and revered dues revealed ljy uncovered and revered dues revealed by the inquiry, by the times were, by the inquiry, by the times were, by the inquiry, by the times were, by the victims and witnesses are out of given evidence. and people want everyone else to know the truth. they want everyone to know what they've been through. so many have suffered in silence because of the stigma and quite frankly because they are not believed the government said this couldn't possibly be

happening, couldn't possibly be true. the sad, tragic, deadly reality as it was true. people want justice. they want compensation. they want an apology and recognition. fin they want an apology and recognition.— they want an apology and recognition. they want an apology and recoanition. ., ,., ., recognition. on that point of compensation, _ recognition. on that point of compensation, where - recognition. on that point of compensation, where are i recognition. on that point of i compensation, where are you? recognition. on that point of _ compensation, where are you? interim compensation — compensation, where are you? interim compensation was _ compensation, where are you? interim compensation was paid _ compensation, where are you? interim compensation was paid around - compensation, where are you? interim compensation was paid around 18 - compensation was paid around 18 months ago. the chair of the infected blood inquiry over april said that a compensation be running last yearforfinally said that a compensation be running last year for finally the government come with some proposals and amendments bringing forward in the house of lords and the victims bill. some of those amendments are welcome in terms of the estate who died receiving £100. it falls short of what the chair recommended in chair by the high courtjudge in terms of a strict timetable, three months for this all to be set up. and in terms of involvement of the community. for too long the community have been marginalised or not listen to put up the victims have had to be at the heart of this victims compensation

scheme. ., ., , ., , scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post _ scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post office _ scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post office in _ scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post office in terms - scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post office in terms of - scheme. there are obvious parallels with the post office in terms of so i with the post office in terms of so much of this. could mort be done immediately to speed things up? yes. the government _ immediately to speed things up? 13:3 the government have brought immediately to speed things up? 133 the government have brought forward separate legislation in relation to the post office inquiry and these current elements on the back of the dems and prisoners for that they can bring forward a separate bill if they wish. that could be passed more quickly. yes they wish. that could be passed more cuickl . . . they wish. that could be passed more cuickl . , , , :, they wish. that could be passed more cuickl. , , , :, ., , quickly. yes is the short answer. clive smith, _ quickly. yes is the short answer. clive smith, thank _ quickly. yes is the short answer. clive smith, thank you _ quickly. yes is the short answer. clive smith, thank you for - quickly. yes is the short answer. | clive smith, thank you for talking to us. taylor swift has delighted her fans by making her new album a double whammy. the �*tortured poets department�* was released this morning — then, just hours later, she announced' a second instalment with an extra 15 tracks. mark savage reports. # and for a fortnight, there we were...#. fans were already expecting a long album from taylor swift, with 16 brand—new songs, but in the small hours of this morning she had a surprise.

the countdown is going down and we think something big is going to happen. two hours after the record was released, taylor updated it with 15 extra songs. writing online, she explained she had written so much tortured poetry in the past two years that she felt compelled to share it. many of the songs deal with her break—up from the british actorjoe alwyn. # he said he'd loved me all his life#. taylor swift says the end of the relationship even overshadowed the eras tour that has turned her into a billionaire. this is so good. the emotional weight of the album floored many of her fans. # i left all i knew. # you left me at the house#. but taylor swift's soul—bearing lyrics have always been the key to her appeal. she just sits so fondly in the hearts of her. fans and she means... she hasjust been there at different points in their lives, _ and she still continues to be there, which i think is rare that—

a celebrity is at the peak of their fame 15 years i into their career, but that is kind of where she is at. _ she is kind of an anomaly. # it's me, hi. # i'm the problem, it's me#. this is taylor swift's first new music since 2022, and presumably the latest songs will be added to the set list when the eras tour hits the uk injune. before then, fans have a lot of listening to do. mark savage, bbc news. great start. we will take a short break. i'm back with more headlines injust a moment break. i'm back with more headlines in just a moment or two. hello. high pressure is going to be building across the uk this weekend. high pressure normally means dry weather and it will be largely dry. however, it will not always be sunny. often it will be cloudy, quite chilly too. the brightest and warmest weather to be found across the west of the uk.

here is our area of high pressure right now, sitting just to the west of the uk. the jet stream, the flow of winds high in the atmosphere, is running just to the north of that high and then diving down across continental europe. the jet really meandering across europe this weekend. actually, if anything, it's going to bend back on itself and that will allow colder air in across the eastern half of the uk. through the rest of today, an old weather front is clearing the south. a little bit of rain with that. behind it some sunny spells. quite breezy close to this east coast, making it feel rather chilly. eight degrees there in aberdeen, the highest temperatures further south and west, 15 or 16 degrees. this evening and tonight it will stay fairly breezy close to this east coast. there may be the odd shower. a bit more cloud pushing into the north of scotland, but in between some clear spells, the odd mist patch and it is going to be a cold night, a touch of frost for some as we start saturday morning. saturday should start for most of us with a decent amount of sunshine.

however, i think we will see cloud building as the day wears on. some showers potentially across these eastern parts, where it will stay quite breezy. cloud and some patchy rain as a weather front moves into northern scotland. the best of the sunshine and the warmth likely to be across northern ireland. 15 degrees here. compare that with just eight, nine or ten for some north sea coasts. as we move into the second half of the weekend, yes, our area of high pressure will be with us, but this frontal system really just gets stuck in the flow. that will bring a band of cloud, maybe the odd shower, so i can't completely rule out a showerfor the london marathon. certainly, there will be quite a lot of cloud and i think it will feel very cool, particularly given this nagging breeze that will affect south—eastern parts of england. a fair amount of cloud around on sunday. there will be some bright or sunny spells. i think the best of the sunshine across northern ireland, that could lift temperatures to 18 degrees, but further east i think it will feel quite chilly.

welcome to bbc news. families criticise the decision not to prosecute 15 former soldiers and an ira memberfor alleged perjury at the bloody sunday inquiry. rishi sunak has set out plans which would strip gps of the power to sign people off work. right now, the gateway to ill health

benefits is writing too many off, leaving them on the wrong type of support and with no expectation of trying to find a job with all the advantages that that brings. and there's a growing backlash a day after the football association announced it was scrapping fa cup replays, with lower league clubs demanding a rethink over the scheme. let's head to the bbc sportscenter. lizzie is there. hello, matthew. it's a big weekend in the fa cup with the semi—finals taking place at wembley. whilst sides prepare, though, in the background, there's been more reaction to the scrapping of fa cup replays. the football association insists "all parties accepted" replays couldn't continue. but the efl, who govern the championship and leagues one and two, have said the new format was "agreed solely between the premier league and the fa".

from next season, fa cup matches will now only be