on rafah in southern gaza. israel is continuing air raids on the city, where 1.5 million displaced palestinians are sheltering. prime minister benjamin netanyahu said on sunday that israel "will deliver additional and painful blows" aimed at hamas. he has for weeks threatened to start a ground offensive on rafah, claiming hamas members are hiding there. gaza's health ministry, which is run by hamas, says more than 35,000 people have been killed by israeli military action since the start of the war in october. as fergal keane now reports, while there are concerns about a wider war between israel and iran, the suffering in gaza continues. air-raid sirens blaring the eyes of the world were on a bigger drama, played out in the skies above israel. but in gaza, nothing changed. this was rafah today, after 15 children from one family were killed

in an airstrike. translation: show me one man among them. l they're all children and women. you can see my identity is completely erased with the deaths of my wife and children. a pregnant woman was among the dead. her baby daughter was saved in an emergency operation. a child born to a mother she will never know.

there is the story of everyday death, and the story of what follows for the families caught in the shadows of death. nawara's husband, abdulrahman, was one of more than 70 civilians killed in an israeli raid to rescue hostages in february. these were the couple's children in the aftermath of their father's death. we went back to see nawara, now eight months pregnant with her dead husband's child, and in grief, awaiting the arrival of a new life. nawara's words — the elegy of a wife and mother for all that's been lost.

in central gaza, israeli forces hunt hamas. they're still launching attacks from tunnels and buildings. and thus the war rages on, sickness and hunger haunt gaza. these children in central gaza are queuing for food to try and feed entire families. many are weak, listless. the un says less than half the amount of food needed is reaching the population. translation: we have been coming here for six months, l and we are completely dependent on the food charity. we come here to take food, to eat and feed the other children. in the north, where the threat of famine is most acute. amjad kanu, age three, suffers from kidney disease

exacerbated by malnutrition. his six—year—old brother, ahmad, provides comfort for the youngster. souad has more than one sick child. her older boy has suspected cancer and in war ravaged gaza can't get the proper treatment. such are the days and lives of gaza after six months of war. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. civil defence teams in gaza have uncovered dozens of bodies buried in the courtyard of al nasser hospital in khan younis. it comes two weeks after israeli forces withdrew from the city, following weeks of fighting around the hospital. the world health organisation previously said hospital staff

had no choice but to bury the bodies of dead patients within the hospital while under israeli siege, but palestinians accuse israeli forces of killing some of the victims. the israeli military said it is checking reports about the bodies recovered from the mass grave. israel accuses hamas of using medical facilities as command centres which hamas rejects. meanwhile, at least five rockets are reported to have been fired from northern iraq towards a us military base across the border in syria. three of the rockets are believed to have hit the kharab al—jir base or nearby, causing minor damage. they were said to have been fired from the town of zummar. some iraqi media say the attack was launched by the popular mobilisation forces, the iran—backed shia militia whose base was struck on friday night. us presidentjoe biden has spoken out against anti—semitism on university campuses, after the rabbi of an ivy league university urged jewish students to leave campus. anti—israeli protesters

at columbia university, in new york city, were reportedly heard shouting slogans in support of hamas and the al-qassam brigades — both recognised as terror groups by countries including the us and the uk. witnesses also reported hearing the protesters chanting that tel aviv — israel's largest city — should be burned to the ground. in a whatsapp message, columbia's orthodoxjewish rabbi, elly bukeler, told students columbia university and the new york police department "could not guarantee jewish students�* safety, telling them they "should return home as soon as possible", apparently refering to the events in his message to mark the beginning of thejewish holiday of passover, president biden said "this blatant anti—semitism is reprehensible and dangerous — and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country." ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says

a multibillion—dollar military aid package approved by the us house of representative of saturday, will give his country a chance of victory over invading russian forces. the bill now goes to senators for approval, before heading to the president's desk. in an interview on us television the ukrainian leader said more weapons will help kyiv retake the initiative in the two—year conflict — especially long—range missiles. ukrainian forces are facing mounting pressure against russian troops, especially on the eastern frontlines. the us assistance comes as russian forces advance west. they seized the strategic town of avdiivka back in february. earlier, russia's foreign ministry condemned the us aid package, saying the us is wading deeper into a war that will end in its humiliation. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse, has the latest from kyiv. a production line waiting for a presidential sign—off. freshly made artillery shells in this factory

in pennsylvania, usa — now almost certain to make their way to a ukrainian battlefield, where there are holes instead of rounds. after america threw its weight back behind ukraine the message here is — "you make it, we'll use it." near kupiansk in the north—east, it's the russians who are edging closer. translation: it's better now if we let them attack - and we defend but when we get the shells, drones, and whatever else in this package, we can turn things around. it's hoped this us aid will save ukrainian lives and cities like kyiv — but it's been a painful wait. translation: our guys need help because they have nothing - to protect us. we always need help

because without it, our enemy can advance further and can be in the centre of our city. translation: of course it is not too late. - in any case, it is needed, and whether it would be later or earlier, in any case it will help. there has been a constant flow of diplomats through kyiv as they have tried to pave the way for this bill to be passed. "better late than never" is the reaction we are hearing this weekend. "never" would have meant almost certain defeat for ukraine. however, "late" still means it'll be difficult for kyiv to change momentum on the battlefield straightaway. translation: this aid will strengthen ukraine and send the kremlin a powerful signal that it will not be the second afghanistan. the united states will stay with ukraine and it will protect democracy in the world. this is a show of leadership and strength. while the west has wavered, russia has stayed committed to its invasion. ukraine needs to make america's return count to keep moscow and western doubt at bay.

the question is now whether this american intervention, the return of american supporters going to be a turning point in this war. i think, in the near term, it certainly steers this conflict away from an approaching russian victory. but for ukraine for it to be a turning point, allotments to happen. it firstly needs to take back territory that's been taken, needs to punch through 40 taken, needs to punch through a0 fights tractor system going miles long or it needs to make righteous occupation in some areas unsustainable by cutting of supply lines, mounting successful missile strikes and probing attacks and forcing russian forces to withdraw then, we're talking about a significant change of tide in this war in ukraine's favour. the kremlin has dismissed this

weekend's events as being doomed and double down on its desire for what it still calls a special military operation to succeed. but the return of the american support and this seismic, military package were £50 billion, means an already long war is going to be much longer. but there are some things here in kyiv that ukraine just things here in kyiv that ukrainejust might things here in kyiv that ukraine just might have a say in how this warrants. ——0n how this war and is. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. uk mp mark menzies says he has quit the conservative party, and will stand down at the next general election. the party investigated claims that menzies used political donations to pay off quote "bad people". it says it "cannot conclude" whether he misused party funds because the money came from a body outside of the party's remit. but it found menzies had shown a "pattern of behaviour" falling below the standards of mps. menzies has denied the allegations the party has since concluded cannot conclude

that there has been a misuse of conservative party funds. mr menzies has strongly denied the claims. lancashire police has said it's reviewing information after the force was contacted by the labour chairwoman, annaliese dodds. british conductor sir andrew davis has died aged 80 from leukaemia. he was one of the longest—serving chief conductors of the bbc symphony orchestra. after retiring from the bbc in 2000, he moved with his wife to the us to with the lyric opera of chicago. thousands of people attended a vigil in sydney to remember those who were killed by a man with a knife last week. as the sun set on bondi beach, people lit candles in memory of the victims. six people were killed, including the mother of a nine—month old girl injured in the attack. 11 others were also hurt. you're live with bbc news. civilians in the north of niger celebrated reports that the united states is set to withdraw troops from two bases in the country — in consultation with the ruling military junta. hundreds of people marched to the city of agadez on april 13th, where they demanded the departure of more than 1,000 us soliders who were sent to niger to fight

islamist militants. niger was a key security partner to us counter—terrorism operations in the sahel region until its government was removed in a military coup lastjuly, straining ties between the two countries. last month, niger's suspended a military accord with the us and has since welcomed russian military instructors and equipment. it is one of several west african countries where military leaders cut links with their traditional western allies while strengthening ties with russia. some people in niger say the us didn't do enough for their country. translation: in niger today, everyone is looking _ for a place. we wa nt we want them to leave our town because they been doing nothing for a few years and we've seen nothing. we want them to leave our region for good.

translation: in niger today, everyone is looking _ for a place. we're going to talk. we'll talk to anyone who wants to come. even the chinese can come. we'll talk to them. if it's in our interest, we'll go with them. if it's not in our interest, they'll go too. the land belongs to us. we're a sovereign state. that's all there is to it. a short while ago i spoke to cameron hudson, he's a senior fellow at the center for strategic and international studies' africa program. very good to have your weather is here on bbc news. we saw thousands of people coming out in the capital of any share last week, protesting against the us presence there. —— niger. coming at a time a strained relations over the relationship and then, the us military agreeing to leave, just talk to us about how all that came about?— just talk to us about how all that came about? well, i think it's all going — that came about? well, i think it's all going back— that came about? well, i think it's all going back to _ that came about? well, i think it's all going back to july - it's all going back tojuly last year when a democratically

elected government which was very close ally of the united states was overthrown in the military coup and has been under house arrest since that time. washington has been pressuring the hunter leaders says and stand to release him and to put the country back on and to put the country back on a path to water democratic transition, they are stalks of been strained from many months and i think it over time, we have seen the nigerian transitional government reassert their sovereignty, more and more, we have seen in the last few months our rage to russia, outreach to putting some distance themselves and their traditional backward friends. —— iran. this is the last tab which is a months process where the hunter has asserted itself and push back against the request and demands

even of washington to notjust go back to a democratic formal government, but also to allow the government of washington to remain, to keep its strong base active and ongoing inside the country. {iii active and ongoing inside the count . , active and ongoing inside the count. , ., ., country. of course, one of the thins country. of course, one of the things of— country. of course, one of the things of the _ country. of course, one of the things of the us _ country. of course, one of the things of the us troops - country. of course, one of the things of the us troops are - things of the us troops are engaged in with ongoing fight against islamist insurgents, what do you think that means for the particular situation? well, which is in the last few months, because we have to recall the military assistance has been suspended since the coup d'etat, washington has beenin coup d'etat, washington has been in a very limited sense to operators droned but not shared that intelligence with the nigerian authorities on the us law and so, we're already seeing the nigerians ground to extremist elements in the country but what this now does is it makes washington blind to the moods that the islamist are making throughout the region. it's not forget that these

roads are used to operate from the atlantic ocean to the red sea to the mediterranean so, it's a huge area that washington is no longer going to have intelligence coverage over. �* . , to have intelligence coverage over. �* ., , ., , over. are there any other plans from the pentagon, _ over. are there any other plans from the pentagon, do - over. are there any other plans from the pentagon, do we - over. are there any other plans| from the pentagon, do we know about how to cover that expansive of land? well, we've already heard _ expansive of land? well, we've already heard from _ expansive of land? well, we've already heard from the - expansive of land? well, we've i already heard from the pentagon that they are looking for new partners and looking for new places where they can base their drawings, whenever they have spoken to the leadership in neighbouring places which are further to the south of niger, others are less than ideal because it will be able to allow those drones to get the same reach for the north so all the way over libya and to the mediterranean which is of course an area of great concern for washington so, i think anything is going to be viewed as second best to the niger base that it had ten years or

so. �* , . ., base that it had ten years or so. 2 ., , so. let's come back to this partnership _ so. let's come back to this partnership then _ so. let's come back to this partnership then with - so. let's come back to this i partnership then with russia, have we seen what evidence have we seen of russian military underground there and what do you think the aim of that pitted towards russia is for niger? i pitted towards russia is for nicer? ., �* ~' 3 niger? i don't think it's ideological— niger? i don't think it's ideological as - niger? i don't think it's ideological as it - niger? i don't think it's ideological as it is - niger? i don't think it's ideological as it is the i niger? i don't think it's i ideological as it is the fact that if they cannot get the assistance that they need from washington, they are going to get it from someone else and when washington suspended its security assistance and intelligence sharing assistance when the crew have been, the nigerian authorities were desperate to backfill that assistance and so, the most logical place for them to turn right now, given that the russians are now in neighbouring countries was to mask out. but i think the other important factor for washington is, we havejust now important factor for washington is, we have just now started to see russian military advisers

arriving in niger and they brought with them service to air missiles, missal defence systems which niger doesn't need given the terrorist threat that it faces on the ground so the on the other way to interpret this new arrival of missile defences is as a shot against washington and a warning to washington that if it chose to try to continue conducting joint flights, that they would run the risk of being shot down by this russian air defence system.— air defence system. cameron, alwa s air defence system. cameron, always great _ air defence system. cameron, always great to _ air defence system. cameron, always great to get _ air defence system. cameron, always great to get your - always great to get your insights, thank you. people across ecuador voted in a referendum on proposals to tighten security in response to a surge in gang violence. as people headed to the polls on sunday, the country's prison agency said that a prison director was killed, without giving more details. measures within the referendum include the expansion ofjoint

military and police patrols, significantly boosting gun controls and imposing tougher prison sentences for "terrorism" and drug trafficking. ecuadoreans wanted abroad for organised crime—related offences could be extradited if the constitutional changes are passed. as he voted, president daniel no—boa said the outcome would define state policy in fighting violence, corruption and organised crime. he declared a state of emergency injanuary and sent the army to take control of prisons, after a gang leader escaped and gunmen took to the streets. 0ne wells has more. —— daniel noboa. us presidentjoe biden has congratulated workers at a volkswagen car factory in tennessee, after they voted tojoin the united autoworkers union. the vote passed on friday with 73% support. volkswagen is one of several companies that opened non—union plants in southern us states in recent decades, lured by weaker labour laws. staff at a mercedes—benz plant in alabama will vote on unionisation next month. six republican governors condemned the effort, saying it will lead to layoffs. uaw members ratified new contracts with detroit's big three carmakers — ford, general motors, and stellantis — in november.

live now to isaac meadows, chattanooga assembly worker and member of the volunteer organizing committee who led the successful unionization effort there. very good to have your weather does. so, we saw your employee is overwhelmingly voted to unionise, it had previously failed to eyes so why now do you think, what you think you got enough votes this time around? i got enough votes this time around? ~ , ., ., around? i think you are successful— around? i think you are successful because - around? i think you are successful because of l around? i think you are - successful because of time is right. we saw the big three last fall in the economy is in great and people were struggling, yet we see these companies with astronomical profits in the time is right and got the word out and was successful. 50

and got the word out and was successful.— successful. so you are part of the committee _ successful. so you are part of the committee getting - successful. so you are part of the committee getting that l successful. so you are part of. the committee getting that word out, speak into your fellow employees, we know the same time there were six other governors including tennessee's warning to workers that they arejoining could warning to workers that they are joining could threaten the region economic progress and could lead to layoffs, what and make of that? —— what did you make of that? —— what did you make of that? —— what did you make of that? -- what did you make of that?— make of that? -- what did you make of that? this wasn't about the politics _ make of that? this wasn't about the politics of— make of that? this wasn't about the politics of the _ the politics of the politicians, this was about the workers, this is a labor movement and by coming together, we were able to show everybody that we have the power when we come together with the voice and the companies are profitable, our plan here is a very stable plan, we build a very popular product, the companies i was showing that the cells are going up our production volumes are going up and they can afford us. are going up and they can afford us— afford us. and so, specifically, - afford us. and so, specifically, whatl afford us. and so, l specifically, what is afford us. and so, - specifically, what is and afford us. and so, _ specifically, what is and now that the union hopes to be able to achieve, what a workers

wanting to see?— to achieve, what a workers wanting to see? right now, it's havin: wanting to see? right now, it's having that _ wanting to see? right now, it's having that voice _ wanting to see? right now, it's having that voice so _ wanting to see? right now, it's having that voice so we - wanting to see? right now, it's having that voice so we can - having that voice so we can have a say in the company, right now, up until this weekend, they dictated everything we did from schedule to paid benefits and now we get to paid benefits and now we get to take all tattoo negotiating table and benefit us well at the same time, benefiting the country. the same time, benefiting the count . ., ., country. you mentioned there, thins country. you mentioned there, things like _ country. you mentioned there, things like scheduling, - country. you mentioned there, things like scheduling, rights, | things like scheduling, rights, leave, pay, you will take that to negotiating table, what kind of tactics will you use their? is it a possibility for a strike you can the likes of which we saw in detroit, for example?— example? we hope not. as someone — example? we hope not. as someone that's _ example? we hope not. as someone that's talked - example? we hope not. as. someone that's talked about example? we hope not. as - someone that's talked about but we explain to people that a strike is a tool we can use if we need to but it's a last resort. nobody benefits from a strike, nobody wants to go on strike, nobody wants to go on strike, if we are forced to, that's an option will look at but i believe that the company is ready to negotiate with us in good faith and we will have

a good negotiation. 50. in good faith and we will have a good negotiation.— in good faith and we will have a good negotiation. so, you are the first foreign _ a good negotiation. so, you are the first foreign car— a good negotiation. so, you are the first foreign car maker - a good negotiation. so, you are the first foreign car maker to i the first foreign car maker to unionise in the south of the united states, do you think this is part of a broader movement might do you expect other carmakers there and the south to get on board, do you think? to unionise? absolutely. as a movement _ think? to unionise? absolutely. as a movement going _ think? to unionise? absolutely. as a movement going on - think? to unionise? absolutely. as a movement going on right l as a movement going on right now and it's notjust an order manufacturing, it's a cross all the areas of labor but we are the areas of labor but we are the first, proud to be the first, someone that were striving for, will be an example, mercedes is a few weeks spiders, they are very, very strong down there in the movement and they will have great success and once we are able to negotiate contract, we will continue being an example for all the other on implants going through the struggle. isaac, thank you very much.

you are watching bbc news. thank you for your company, as ever, i will have more world news for you at the top of the hour. join me then if you can. it turned out to be the warmest on the gear. with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. by contrast, much further east across the uk it remains cold. particularly so across north—eastern parts of england with cloud and breeze coming in off the north sea. high pressure is close by attempting to edge away, allowing these weather fronts to bring cloud and even brain southwards overnight. ahead of that, clear skies for east anglia

in the southeast. temperatures could be close to freezing first thing in the morning before that cloud comes in. there will be a lot of cloud on monday. we have the slight rain and drizzle affecting northern england, the midlands and wales, heading towards the south—west, could be few spots of rain heading towards scotland. not as much sunshine in northern ireland. not as warm on monday. it may make 16 degrees in glasgow but it will be particularly chilly for the midlands and eastern parts of england. that area of high pressure continues to just get pushed away and these weather fronts move southwards overnight with clear skies though following into scotland. could be an early frost around here. most of the cloud will affect eastern parts of england heading to the southeast and northerly wind follows and the odd light shower around dorsey coast. cloud will tend to build up the sunny skies for western scotland, and here temperatures will be 13—1a degrees and it will be colder further east of them

the next few days west will be best. but high—pressure is no with us by wednesday, but we are still with that colder air stream with northerly wind bringing the odd shower down some of those north sea coast where it will feel particularly cold. we may see a touch of frost here and there if cloud breaks but the cloud will tend to build up through the day on wednesday and that could lead to a few showers, mainly for england and wales. looking a bit sunnier perhaps western scotland and northern ireland but temperatures 11 degrees in belfast and that will be a typical best number on wednesday. it is going to be a chilly week ahead. temperatures dropping across northern areas and even the risk of frost overnight before lower pressure maybe bring some rain by the end of the week.

tiktok�*s future hangs in the balance in the us as lawmakers move closer to banning the popular social media app. we'll explain. and oil markets breathe a sigh of relief as iran downplays last friday's reported missile strike by israel. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. the clock is ticking on tiktok in the united states as the

house of representatives passed a bill that would ban the popular social media app if its chinese owner does not sell its stake within a year. monica miller has more on this story from our newsroom. monica, tell us, our days numbered for tiktok in the united states? the bill heads to the senate which is expected to take it up within the next few days and president biden has said that if it lands on his desk he will sign it. there is much that washington lawmakers do not agree with but on this particular issue there is bipartisan support. at the heart of the issue is tick—tock�*s chinese owner by chance. many lawmakers say there are national security concerns and they are worried that the darter of us users will wind up in the hands of the chinese government. they are also worried that the chinese government is using this platform to promote propaganda to many users who happen to be young and this is the primary source of information. so if the bill is passed, bytedance will have to

divest its part