let's get more now on the rising tension between israel and iran, and spend a few minutes to look at how we arrived at this point, with what appear to be tit—for—tat strikes. here's are some of the key moments of escalation since the gaza war broke out on october 7th. on that date, thousands of hamas—led militants stormed across the border into israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. a day later, the lebanese group hezbollah, which is backed by iran, starting firing toward israel. that set off months of low—intensity but deadly exchanges along israel's northern border. in november of last year, another armed group became involved. the houthis in yemen are a rebel group supported by iran. that month, they launched a series of attacks in the red sea on vessels which they say are associated with israel. on the 1st of april of this year, there was another significant

escalation a strike on an iranian consular building in syria. two iranian generals with the country's revolutionary guards were killed, and the incident was widely blamed on israel, although it hasn't publicly acknowledged involvement — iran promised revenge, and overnight on 13 april, it launched a major aerial assault on israel. the majority of projectiles were brought down by israel's air defences, helped by western and regional allies. which leads us to this latest incident in the past 2a hours, what appears to be a limited strike by israel on iran, with reports of an israeli drone attack and explosions in the central province of isfahan. hamidreza azizi is an iran analyst and visiting fellow in the africa and middle east division at the german institute for international and security affairs. i asked him what can we read into iran's relatively muted response. that's a

let's get more now on the rising tension between israel and iran, that's a sign that the iranian side doesn't want to escalate. i mean, from their point of view and from what i could follow, for example, in the days after iran's attack until last night, it was more or less like they would expect some kind of israeli response. so i would say nobody was surprised. but the main question was when and how, and at what scale. so i think the very fact that no fatalities have been reported and no significant damages have been reported, these are what, you know, maybe the israelis have delivered the device to, left some room for deniability at the same time as transmitting their message. so my reading right now is that iran does not have the intention to escalate further. but this, of course, doesn't mean the end of the conflict between the sides because, you know, in syria, in lebanon, through the proxies and also israel's covert activities, even within iran — so we know that this

wasn't the first time that there was a security incident attributed to israel — so that will continue, and the danger of a further escalation is still there. but at the moment, you know, there are hopes, there are signs that, you know, things may be escalate somehow. —— de—escalate somehow. nicola sturgeon, the former first minister of scotland, has said it's an "incredibly difficult" time, after her husband, the former snp chief executive peter murrell, was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the scottish national party. it's understood that both nicola sturgeon and colin beattie, the party's former treasurer, remain under investigation, though have not been rearrested or charged. lorna gordon reports. nicola sturgeon, seen for the first time since her husband was arrested and charged. it's incredibly difficult, but that's not the main issue here. so i can't say any more — i won't say any more. the home she shares

with peter murrell was searched by police when he was first arrested last year, as was the snp's headquarters. mr murrell was its chief executive for more than two decades. after being held in custody for more than nine hours yesterday, he now stands accused of embezzlement, the misuse of funds — stealing money from the party he once ran. we now know that the individual has been charged, peter has been charged, where the allegation of embezzlement from party funds — and that's a really serious matter indeed. many people in the snp right across scottish politics will be shocked by the news. the party's former treasurer, colin beattie, and nicola sturgeon — who were both also previously arrested — remain under investigation but have not been rearrested or charged. when nicola sturgeon stepped down as scotland's longest—serving first minister, she said she would remain a member

of the scottish parliament, but that she wanted a bit more privacy and anonymity in her life. the appeal for privacy reiterated today. but this has been a dramatic 2a hours for two people long seen by many as scotland's political power couple. this is the latest development in the long—running police investigation into the finances of the party — one of them lead and one ran. the crown office now looking at evidence gathered by officers to decide whether to prosecute peter murrell. lorna gordon, bbc news, glasgow. the big selection in the world is under way in the big selection in the world is underway in india. the big selection in the world is under way in india. in total, almost 1 under way in india. in total, almost i billion people are eligible to vote, that's roughly one in eight of the entire population of the world. 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. although voting starts today, it will take place in seven phases over the next six weeks, with the result announced on the 4th ofjune. india's prime minister narendra modi is aiming for a rare third consecutive term in power. samira hussain reports from delhi. 166 million eligible voters, in this first of seven phases, more than the combined populations of the uk and france. some of the issues that matter to voters — the economy. india has the highest population and highest unemployment rate amongst them as well. highest unemployment rate amongst them as well-— them as well. nowadays education is very costly. — them as well. nowadays education is very costly. so _ them as well. nowadays education is very costly. so i _ them as well. nowadays education is very costly, so i want _ them as well. nowadays education is very costly, so i want them - them as well. nowadays education is very costly, so i want them to - very costly, so i want them to minimise _ very costly, so i want them to minimise that cost.— very costly, so i want them to minimise that cost. prime minister narendra modi _ minimise that cost. prime minister

narendra modi remains _ minimise that cost. prime minister narendra modi remains popular . minimise that cost. prime minister narendra modi remains popular in | minimise that cost. prime minister i narendra modi remains popular in the country's north, where people subscribe to his hindu is nationalist agenda. but head south, and the prime minister's ruling party, the bjp, has little to no presence. translation: , . ., translation: the first thing i came to vote for was _ translation: the first thing i came to vote for was to _ translation: the first thing i came to vote for was to have _ translation: the first thing i came to vote for was to have a _ translation: the first thing i came to vote for was to have a country - to vote for was to have a country without any religious disharmony. we will come to vote in tamil nadu. hindus, muslims, christians, we are altogether in this unity should. divisive politics have come to define the last decade under mr modi. democratic freedoms especially for india's muslims and other minorities are being eroded. mr gandhi lacks the charisma and clear messaging to mount a credible political challenge to the prime minister — but his claims have been increasingly autocratic government has been echoed by human rights groups setting a crackdown on dissent. even here in india's

capital, the popular leader of the ruling political party was arrested last month, and members of his party are also injail, raising questions about fairness in the lead up to these elections. despite this, india is still a key diplomatic and economic ally for both the us and the uk - economic ally for both the us and the uk — which is still actively in pursuit of a trade deal with india. samira hussain, bbc news, new delhi. still to come on the world today... taylor swift's new album is out and we are invited to a fan party to hear their first impressions. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

we've been showing you pictures from newark where a man set himself on

fire outside the courthouse where donald trump's trial, the former president's trial over hush money is taking place. the man was taken away on a stretcher. huge police presence in the area anyway because of what was happening inside the court. we are expecting a new york police department news conference shortly on those events in regards to that man who has set himself on fire outside the courthouse. we will bring that to you when it happens. taylor swift has surprised her fans, by revealing that her new album contains an extra 15 songs. just hours after the tortured poets department was released this morning, the singer unveiled what she called "the second instalment" of her "secret double album". let's take a look at some of taylor swift's accolades so far. forbes announced taylor swift's net worth of $1.1 billion last year.

she has broken records for the most grammys with 1a wins. she holds the record with a0 american music award wins, beating the late michaeljackson. taylor swift was the most streamed artist on spotify in 2023, with over 26.1 billion global streams. taylor swift would say this is all about the fans. let's speak to swiftie tiffany snowden, whojoins us from a taylor swift party. are we dragging you away from the party, tiffany? are we dragging you away from the party. tiffany?— party, tiffany? yes, everyone is bein: party, tiffany? yes, everyone is being cooperative _ party, tiffany? yes, everyone is being cooperative and _ party, tiffany? yes, everyone is being cooperative and quiet - party, tiffany? yes, everyone is being cooperative and quiet in l party, tiffany? yes, everyone is l being cooperative and quiet in the background. it being cooperative and quiet in the background-— background. it sounds very quiet behind you. _ background. it sounds very quiet behind you. im _ background. it sounds very quiet behind you, i'm sure _ background. it sounds very quiet behind you, i'm sure the - background. it sounds very quiet behind you, i'm sure the music | background. it sounds very quiet i behind you, i'm sure the music was blasting outjust a moment before you came to us. the first question is, what do you think of the new songs? everyone loves them that i

love them, everyone was surprised when it was a double album, there are a few fan theories about it, but nobody thought it was true, so now there is 31 tracks to the party is no longer than it was intended to be. are you playing the song and chatting about it, then moving onto the next one? how does it work? it’s the next one? how does it work? it's a relica the next one? how does it work? it�*s a replica of the secret sessions she used to do for some of the early albums or she would invite fans to her house to listen to them. we are making friendship bracelets, we also have a taylor swift tribute act as well which is quite exciting, social do it halfway through, then we got some food, it's good vibes at the moment. 50 some food, it's good vibes at the moment. . ,., ., some food, it's good vibes at the moment. . ., i. some food, it's good vibes at the moment. . ., _, ~ moment. so which song do you like most so far. _ moment. so which song do you like most so far, and _ moment. so which song do you like most so far, and why? _ moment. so which song do you like most so far, and why? 0h - moment. so which song do you like most so far, and why? oh gosh, i most so far, and why? oh gosh, that's really _ most so far, and why? oh gosh, that's really difficult _ most so far, and why? oh gosh, that's really difficult because - most so far, and why? oh gosh, that's really difficult because i l that's really difficult because i would listen to it about twice through now, but 31 songs is a lot to digest. i think i'll have to go with the title track, so the

tortured poets department, because i think it encapsulates the poetry and — the poetics to plant she's taking on it, really, ithink — the poetics to plant she's taking on it, really, i think it's exciting —— the poetics plant she's taking on it. peoplejoke you —— the poetics plant she's taking on it. people joke you have to —— the poetics plant she's taking on it. peoplejoke you have to have —— the poetics plant she's taking on it. people joke you have to have a dictionary with them, which shows how good a lyricist she is. she’s how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic _ how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic few _ how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic few years, - how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic few years, as - how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic few years, as a - how good a lyricist she is. she's had an epic few years, as a fan, j had an epic few years, as a fan, what you think will come next? how can she talk that?— can she talk that? that's really difficult to _ can she talk that? that's really difficult to say _ can she talk that? that's really difficult to say because - can she talk that? that's really i difficult to say because obviously, nobody was expecting the double album drop and she still has two rereleases to do. so i think once she's done with that, she'll move on to new tracks and new songs. but the tour is still ongoing and we still have another two years of that left, so i think that's still the main focus and people are really excited about it. ' ., , focus and people are really excited about it. ' . , ., focus and people are really excited about it. , ., . about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you _ about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you get — about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you get back _ about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you get back to _ about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you get back to the i about it. tiffany, thanks so much, we'll let you get back to the party| we'll let you get back to the party and the music, enjoy! a very proud

there, tiffany. let's take you back to new york, this is besides the courthouse where donald trump's trial is taking place, opening arguments and that next week and alternate jurors were being selected today. outside that a little while ago, a man set himself on fire. there was a huge security presence there already, we saw earlier if you were with us paramedics taking somebody away on a stretcher. we are expecting an nypd press conference about that incident shortly and we will bring that to you live. the uk's inaugural women's esports tournament, red bull instalock, kicks off tomorrow in london. with 20 players representing four international teams, it promises two days packed with adrenaline—fuelled action. according to data shared by red bull, women account for some 47% of the gaming community in the uk. in 2023 alone, women's professional

gaming leagues generated over 28 million hours of viewing time, reflecting growing demand for women focused e—sports tournaments globally. joining me now are two professional gamers who will be competing at the women's e—sport tournament?— michaela "mimi" lintrup and sarah ahmed. thank you both very much forjoining me. so 18 million gamers in the uk, as we mentioned around half of those are women — wise this a uk's first e—sports tournament? it’s are women - wise this a uk's first e-sports tournament?— e-sports tournament? it's still a very growing _ e-sports tournament? it's still a very growing scene _ e-sports tournament? it's still a very growing scene in _ e-sports tournament? it's still a very growing scene in the - e-sports tournament? it's still a very growing scene in the uk i very growing scene in the uk especially, there are many tournaments for us — but red bull instalock is one of the first for really big game changer scenes. and

really big game changer scenes. and mimi, tell us — really big game changer scenes. and mimi, tell us about your plans for the competition, is there a lot of strategy involved? the competition, is there a lot of strategy involved ?— the competition, is there a lot of strategy involved? there's always a lot of strategy _ strategy involved? there's always a lot of strategy involved _ strategy involved? there's always a lot of strategy involved in _ strategy involved? there's always a lot of strategy involved in gaming. l lot of strategy involved in gaming. the first _ lot of strategy involved in gaming. the first strategy is to win, of course — the first strategy is to win, of course - _ the first strategy is to win, of course — i'm sorry! but we are of course _ course — i'm sorry! but we are of course planning behind the scenes how we _ course planning behind the scenes how we will win the tournament, and what we _ how we will win the tournament, and what we have to do to do it. so how we will win the tournament, and what we have to do to do it.- what we have to do to do it. so tell us about what _ what we have to do to do it. so tell us about what the _ what we have to do to do it. so tell us about what the tournament i us about what the tournament actually involves, in terms of the games you might be playing and how many people you you will be competing against and so forth so i feel it is a four team— feel it is a four team format, so we do -la - feel it is a four team format, so we do play - tomorrow _ feel it is a four team format, so we do play - tomorrow we _ feel it is a four team format, so we do play - tomorrow we are - feel it is a four team format, so we do play - tomorrow we are playing| do play — tomorrow we are playing against each other, actually, so we play to best of threes and four matches altogether. it is play to best of threes and four matches altogether.— matches altogether. it is a lucrative — matches altogether. it is a lucrative area _ matches altogether. it is a lucrative area to _ matches altogether. it is a lucrative area to be - matches altogether. it is a i lucrative area to be involved in,

mimi? —— is ita lucrative area to be involved in, mimi? —— is it a lucrative area? sorry? is mimi? -- is it a lucrative area? sor ? , , ., , , sorry? is there big money in this area. e-sports? _ sorry? is there big money in this area, e-sports? i— sorry? is there big money in this area, e-sports? i mean, - area, e-sports? i mean, it's definitely— area, e-sports? i mean, it's definitely still _ area, e-sports? i mean, it's definitely still a _ area, e-sports? i mean, it's definitely still a growing i area, e-sports? i mean, it's. definitely still a growing scene, but it _ definitely still a growing scene, but it is— definitely still a growing scene, but it is a — definitely still a growing scene, but it is a sport where you can live from _ but it is a sport where you can live from it _ but it is a sport where you can live from it for— but it is a sport where you can live from it for now, especially the top tier teams — from it for now, especially the top tierteams. so from it for now, especially the top tier teams. so it's still growing but it's— tier teams. so it's still growing but it's a — tier teams. so it's still growing but it's a place where you can feel comfortable, also depending on how hard you _ comfortable, also depending on how hard you work, of course. i comfortable, also depending on how hard you work, of course.— hard you work, of course. i guess that's true _ hard you work, of course. i guess that's true of— hard you work, of course. i guess that's true of everything, - hard you work, of course. i guess that's true of everything, how i hard you work, of course. i guess. that's true of everything, how hard you work it depends how you get on. thank you both very much and enjoy the tournament.

nearly a quarter of 5—7—year—olds in the uk now have access to a smartphone. a study from the communications regulator, ofcom, also found that many of that age group are on the messaging service whatsapp — even though the minimum age for using it is supposed to be 13.0ur technology editor zoe kleinman reports. i've got ten messages... after a busy day at school in glasgow, 11—year—old heather is on her smartphone. she uses social media apps monitored by her parents. heather, how long have you had a smartphone? probably since i've been eight, so that would be three years. and what do you do on it? i text my friends, phone them, watch videos, like...flick through stuff. quite a lot of things, but too much to count. i've heard stories of people sharing pictures and bullying and all sorts of manner of stuff, and the internet is so open to finding whatever you want on it. so being able to monitor exactly what she is doing is paramount. the online regulator, ofcom's latest report reflects a world in which children increasingly have their own devices and are online unsupervised from a younger age. i think this is a wake up call for industry. they have to take account of the users they have, not the users that their terms

and conditions say they have. companies are now under a legal obligation to take steps to keep those children safe. its report found nearly a quarter of five to seven year olds now have a smartphone, and most have tablets. whatsapp was the most popular social app for five to seven—year—olds, followed by tiktok. more than a third of parents said they would allow their child to have a social media profile before the official age set by companies. ten years ago it was all about the selfie, but now it's get ready with me videos that are drawing children in, especially girls. there's something about watching someone do their makeup and have a chat that feels like you're with friends. but while children are happy to watch this content and share it, they're more self—conscious about posting their own stuff online, the report found. and around half of under 13—year—olds were prepared to lie about their age to get on social media. some parents say they feel safer knowing their children have phones. but clare fernyhough from the smartphone free childhood

group says children don't need high tech devices to stay in touch or be tracked. it's a bit of a fallacy that they need a smartphones to be able to do that. a brick phone is absolutely fine. we've all kind of sleepwalked into just assuming that we all need a smartphone. ofcom's report shows just how much the digital world has become part of everyday life for many british kids, and how they feel about it. it also highlights the potential challenge of trying to take it away, if the growing calls to increase age limits are successful. zoe kleinman, bbc news. reminder that we are expecting a press conference from the new york department in relation to a pretty horrific incident in the last hour when a man set himself on fire outside the courthouse where the criminal trial of donald trump is taking place. there was a selection

of alternate jurors going on today — we don't know yet whether what happened outside it affected anything going on inside the court, but that was the location for this incident. we saw paramedics taking someone away on a stretcher a little earlier. and we are waiting for that press conference to start, we will bring it to you when it happens. 50,000 stories will unfold on sunday at this year's london marathon as people of all ages run 26.2 miles through the capital. millions of pounds will be raised for charity, organisers also believe this year's event, the aath, will be the most inclusive yet. the elite wheelchair and able bodied racers will earn equal prize money, and there is growing recognition of all disabilities, asjoe wilson reports.

turn a bit more towards me. you are good there. in london, the elite gathered. the world's best marathon runners, and they know who's missing. last year here, kelvin kiptum set a new course record. in october, the world record. in february, with his coach, kiptum was killed in a car crash. he'd redefined what people thought was possible. marathon running teaches us a lot about life. it teaches that the more you put in, the more you get out, but it also, what happened with kelvin teaches us that life is so short, at what we need to do is grab every opportunity and take it. and the world record... well, we know that marathons are rapidly getting quicker, thanks to shoe technology in particular. tigst assefa is the world's fastest woman. she will be racing here on sunday. but there are many ways to break records, and to change preconceptions. well done, lloyd. 15 miles today. doing brilliantly. 19—year—old lloyd martin, coached by his mum, supported by special olympics, has trained to become the youngest person with down's syndrome to run a marathon. yeah, some of the days it's raining. yeah _ all weathers, when it's sunny or

raining or snowing, i keep running. and then ijust go with it. we all need inspiration. american chris nikic is an ironman triathlete. he campaigned for the 321 number to be worn by an athlete with intellectual disability at every major marathon. pass it on, to lloyd. so, it's pretty simple. i mean, just be ready to bring a hard work ethic, have fun, you can have your moment. yeah, practise the celebration. the marathon belongs to everyone. joe wilson, bbc news, central london. ajudge has ordered people squatting in a 'udge has ordered people squatting in . , , . ., a 'udge has ordered people squatting in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's ub in a in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's pub in a very _ in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's pub in a very leafy _ in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's pub in a very leafy part _ in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's pub in a very leafy part of - in celebrity chef gordon ramsay's pub in a very leafy part of north l pub in a very leafy part of north london to leave the property. the

squatters had shut up a makeshift communal kitchen on the edge of regents park, saying they want to serve free food to the community —— set up a makeshift communal kitchen. four people have left after locking themselves in, and it's unclear how many other people are still inside, but a bbc reporter said people could be seen coming and going from the pub. the court order means enforcement officers can retake the premises. let'sjust enforcement officers can retake the premises. let's just show you the scene in new york, again, where it looks like the new york police department is getting set up for that news conference which is in relation to a horrific incident a short while ago where a man set himself on fire outside the court with donald trump's criminal child getting under way —— criminal trial. butjurors are being selected today.

lewis —— lewis vaughanjones is here next, now for all you marathon watchers, here's been rich. hello. high pressure is going to be building across the uk this weekend. hello. for some parts of the uk, april has been a very wet month so far, but this weekend does promise something a little bit drier. however, it isn't all plain sailing. certainly, if you're hoping for warmth and sunshine, it will often be quite cloudy and quite chilly. the best of the warmth and the sunshine will be across the west of the uk, particularly in northern ireland. so, an area of high pressure is building in from the west — that is what is drying things out. but around the top of the area of high pressure, that's where we find the jet stream passing well to the north of the uk and then diving down across continental europe. there's some cold air to the east of the jet and as the jet bends its way back towards us, it will introduce some of that colder air into the south and the east. now, as we go through tonight, actually, it's going to turn pretty chilly under largely clear skies. still a few showers grazing this

east coast, where it will stay quite breezy, more in the way of cloud into the northwest of scotland. but those temperatures dropping very close to freezing, dropping below freezing in a few spots. so, yes, a touch of frost to start saturday morning, but quite a lot of sunshine. first thing, however, i think we will see cloud amounts increasing as the day wears on and also still some showers close to eastern counties of england, some patchy rain passing across the far north of scotland. the best of the sunshine out towards the west, particularly in northern ireland, where temperatures could reach 15 degrees. but with cloud and that breeze along the east coast, maybejust eight, nine or ten degrees — high pressure still with us into the second half of the weekend. but there's dangling weather front here, certainly providing a fly in the ointment, more clouds, some showery rain. so, the forecast for the london marathon looks like this — quite a chilly start to the morning. then a lot of cloud, the chance of one or two showers. it will be quite breezy. the weather fronts i spoke about sitting just about here, a band of clouds, some showery rain with that across parts of eastern scotland and northeast england. the rain not coming to very much.

it'll still be largely dry, best chance of sunshine again for northern ireland. temperatures here maybe up to 18 degrees. compare that with eight, nine or ten for some north sea coasts. and into the start of next week, there will be parts of central and eastern england, particularly on monday. the really struggled temperature wise with some spots of rain, the highest temperatures further north and west across the uk.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. there's a lot of relief in israel and across the region at the response by the israeli military to those rockets fired to those rockets fired by iran last week wasn't as overwhelming and as intense. what's been remarkable today isjust how little we know. the israelis aren't saying anything, the iranians are not blaming the israelis, the international community have been largely muted. it's almost as if there's been a collective effort just to play this whole thing down. we have been very, very clear

from here from the beginning| that we do not want to see this conflict escalate. i we continue to consult i with our allies and partners, including in the region. iran calls for de—escalation. we look at the new reality in the middle east and what happens next. in new york, outside the donald trump trial courthouse, a man sets himself on fire and is in a critical condition. here, prime minister says he wants to tackle sick note culture with the threat of removing benefits. new music from taylor swift — lots of it. we'll get the reviews.