submits that in law. south africa submits that in order_ law. south africa submits that in order to — law. south africa submits that in order to six _ law. south africa submits that in order to six see _ law. south africa submits that in order to six see the _ law. south africa submits that in order to six see the entry- law. south africa submits that in order to six see the entry of - order to six see the entry of distributional— order to six see the entry of distributional food - order to six see the entry of distributional food and - order to six see the entry of - distributional food and humanitarian supplies— distributional food and humanitarian surwplies and — distributional food and humanitarian surwplies and to _ distributional food and humanitarian supplies and to save _ distributional food and humanitarian supplies and to save lives, - distributional food and humanitarian supplies and to save lives, a - distributional food and humanitarian supplies and to save lives, a halt. supplies and to save lives, a halt to israeli — supplies and to save lives, a halt to israeli military— supplies and to save lives, a halt to israeli military operations - to israeli military operations across— to israeli military operations across gaza _ to israeli military operations across gaza is _ to israeli military operations across gaza is essential. - to israeli military operations| across gaza is essential. the overwhelming _ across gaza is essential. the overwhelming weight - across gaza is essential. the overwhelming weight of - across gaza is essential. the i overwhelming weight of opinion amongst — overwhelming weight of opinion amongst states— overwhelming weight of opinion amongst states and _ overwhelming weight of opinion. amongst states and international organisations— amongst states and international organisations is— amongst states and international organisations is the _ amongst states and international organisations is the same. - amongst states and international organisations is the same. the . amongst states and international. organisations is the same. the halt, to military— organisations is the same. the halt, to military operations _ organisations is the same. the halt, to military operations in _ organisations is the same. the halt, to military operations in gaza - organisations is the same. the halt, to military operations in gaza is - to military operations in gaza is necessary— to military operations in gaza is necessary to _ to military operations in gaza is necessary to comply _ to military operations in gaza is necessary to comply with - to military operations in gaza is necessary to comply with the i necessary to comply with the previous _ if israel continues to deny that its bombing. — if israel continues to deny that its bombing, shelling _ if israel continues to deny that its bombing, shelling and _ if israel continues to deny that its bombing, shelling and military. bombing, shelling and military incursions, _ bombing, shelling and military incursions, blocking _ bombing, shelling and military incursions, blocking of- bombing, shelling and military incursions, blocking of roads l bombing, shelling and military. incursions, blocking of roads and entry— incursions, blocking of roads and entry points _ incursions, blocking of roads and entry points and _ incursions, blocking of roads and entry points and other— incursions, blocking of roads and entry points and other military i entry points and other military operations— entry points and other military operations in— entry points and other military operations in gaza _ entry points and other military operations in gaza are - entry points and other military i operations in gaza are preventing the fulfilment _ operations in gaza are preventing the fulfilment of _ operations in gaza are preventing the fulfilment of the _ operations in gaza are preventing the fulfilment of the court's - the fulfilment of the court's orders, _ the fulfilment of the court's orders, the _ the fulfilment of the court's orders, the court _ the fulfilment of the court's orders, the court needs- the fulfilment of the court's orders, the court needs to. the fulfilment of the court's - orders, the court needs to spell it out exoticitty_ orders, the court needs to spell it out explicitly for— orders, the court needs to spell it out explicitly for israel, _ orders, the court needs to spell it out explicitly for israel, and - orders, the court needs to spell it out explicitly for israel, and for. out explicitly for israel, and for

the benefit _ out explicitly for israel, and for the benefit of _ out explicitly for israel, and for the benefit of any _ out explicitly for israel, and for the benefit of any other- out explicitly for israel, and for the benefit of any other states| the benefit of any other states still providing _ the benefit of any other states still providing aid _ the benefit of any other states still providing aid or— the benefit of any other statesl still providing aid or assistance the benefit of any other states i still providing aid or assistance to israet— still providing aid or assistance to israet in _ still providing aid or assistance to israet in its — still providing aid or assistance to israel in its campaign _ still providing aid or assistance to israel in its campaign to- still providing aid or assistance tol israel in its campaign to eradicate palestine — israel in its campaign to eradicate palestine. these _ israel in its campaign to eradicate palestine. these points— israel in its campaign to eradicate palestine. these points will- israel in its campaign to eradicate palestine. these points will be i palestine. these points will be developed _ palestine. these points will be developed tiv— palestine. these points will be developed by south _ palestine. these points will be developed by south africa's i palestine. these points will be - developed by south africa's council, the jurisdiction— developed by south africa's council, the jurisdiction and _ developed by south africa's council, the jurisdiction and other— the jurisdiction and other preconditions _ the jurisdiction and other preconditions will- the jurisdiction and other preconditions will be - the jurisdiction and other- preconditions will be explained. the jurisdiction and other— preconditions will be explained. and demonstrate — preconditions will be explained. and demonstrate that— preconditions will be explained. and demonstrate that they _ preconditions will be explained. and demonstrate that they are _ preconditions will be explained. and demonstrate that they are met. - demonstrate that they are met. second. — demonstrate that they are met. second. he _ demonstrate that they are met. second, he will— demonstrate that they are met. second, he will set _ demonstrate that they are met. second, he will set out - demonstrate that they are met. second, he will set out the - demonstrate that they are met. . second, he will set out the recent events _ second, he will set out the recent events that — second, he will set out the recent events that have _ second, he will set out the recent events that have necessitated - second, he will set out the recent . events that have necessitated south africa's _ events that have necessitated south africa's return — events that have necessitated south africa's return to _ events that have necessitated south africa's return to the _ events that have necessitated south africa's return to the courts, - africa's return to the courts, pa rticula rlv _ africa's return to the courts, particularly those _ africa's return to the courts, j particularly those concerning africa's return to the courts, - particularly those concerning rafah, then the _ particularly those concerning rafah, then the scale — particularly those concerning rafah, then the scale and _ particularly those concerning rafah, then the scale and eminence - particularly those concerning rafah, then the scale and eminence of- particularly those concerning rafah, then the scale and eminence of thei then the scale and eminence of the risk facing — then the scale and eminence of the risk facing palestinians _ then the scale and eminence of the risk facing palestinians in _ then the scale and eminence of the risk facing palestinians in gaza - risk facing palestinians in gaza will be — risk facing palestinians in gaza will be explained, _ risk facing palestinians in gaza will be explained, and - risk facing palestinians in gaza will be explained, and after. risk facing palestinians in gaza i will be explained, and after that risk facing palestinians in gaza - will be explained, and after that it will be explained, and after that it will be _ will be explained, and after that it will be shown— will be explained, and after that it will be shown that _ will be explained, and after that it will be shown that israel's - will be explained, and after that it will be shown that israel's actions| will be shown that israel's actions of a pattern— will be shown that israel's actions of a pattern and _ will be shown that israel's actions of a pattern and an _ will be shown that israel's actions of a pattern and an explicit - will be shown that israel's actions i of a pattern and an explicit purpose that clearly— of a pattern and an explicit purpose that clearly indicates _ of a pattern and an explicit purpose that clearly indicates that _

of a pattern and an explicit purpose that clearly indicates that the - of a pattern and an explicit purpose that clearly indicates that the aim l that clearly indicates that the aim is to eradicate _ that clearly indicates that the aim is to eradicate palestine. - that clearly indicates that the aim is to eradicate palestine. and, i is to eradicate palestine. and, finally, — is to eradicate palestine. and, finally, the _ is to eradicate palestine. and, finally, the remedies - is to eradicate palestine. and, finally, the remedies that - is to eradicate palestine. and, i finally, the remedies that south africa _ finally, the remedies that south africa seeks— finally, the remedies that south africa seeks will— finally, the remedies that south africa seeks will be _ finally, the remedies that south africa seeks will be explained, i finally, the remedies that south . africa seeks will be explained, the agent— africa seeks will be explained, the agent will— africa seeks will be explained, the agent will return _ africa seeks will be explained, the agent will return to _ africa seeks will be explained, the agent will return to read _ africa seeks will be explained, the agent will return to read out - africa seeks will be explained, thej agent will return to read out south africa's _ agent will return to read out south africa's preferably. _ agent will return to read out south africa's preferably. that— agent will return to read out south africa's preferably. that concludesj africa's preferably. that concludes my part _ africa's preferably. that concludes my part of — africa's preferably. that concludes my part of this _ africa's preferably. that concludes my part of this submission - africa's preferably. that concludes my part of this submission and - africa's preferably. that concludes my part of this submission and i l my part of this submission and i thank— my part of this submission and i thank you — my part of this submission and i thank you for— my part of this submission and i thank you for your— my part of this submission and i thank you for your attention - my part of this submission and i thank you for your attention and my part of this submission and i - thank you for your attention and ask that you _ thank you for your attention and ask that you now— thank you for your attention and ask that you now call— thank you for your attention and ask that you now call on _ thank you for your attention and ask that you now call on the _ thank you for your attention and ask that you now call on the professor. i that you now call on the professor. ithank— that you now call on the professor. i thank the — that you now call on the professor. i thank the professor— that you now call on the professor. i thank the professor for— that you now call on the professor. i thank the professor for his - i thank the professor for his statement and give the floor to professorjohn. mr president, distinguished members of the court, it is a privilege to

before you on behalf the republic of south africa, in my speech today i will briefly address the subject of jurisdiction... 50 will briefly address the sub'ect of jurisdiction. . — jurisdiction... so we have been heafina jurisdiction... so we have been hearing from — jurisdiction... so we have been hearing from south _ jurisdiction... so we have been hearing from south africa - jurisdiction... so we have been hearing from south africa at i jurisdiction... so we have beenl hearing from south africa at the court ofjustice. we saw south africa's ambassador to the netherlands speaking there, saying that the gravity of the situation in gazais that the gravity of the situation in gaza is such that it requires speedy proceedings at the court, he accused israel of ignoring the orders of the international court ofjustice, and international court of justice, and just international court ofjustice, and just to remind you what south africa is looking for, the court in the hague to do, is to order israel to immediately withdraw and cease its military offensive in rafah, to take all effective measures to allow access to gaza for humanitarian aid,

and it also wants the court to ensure that israel reports back on its measures. those are the three key demands from south africa. it is not the first time that south africa has come to the icj, asking for the court to order israel to stop its military offensive. let me also tell you that tomorrow we will hear from israel, israel's response to what south africa is saying here at the international court ofjustice today. and if you want to carry on watching what is happening at the international court ofjustice, you can go to the live page on the bbc news website and app, where you will get all the latest developments therefrom the hague. and while we were watching developments at the international court ofjustice, we were seeing that a news conference

or update was happening outside the hospital in slovakia where the prime minister is being treated after he was shot yesterday, earlier we heard from slovakia's government following that shooting of the prime minister. let's now listen to a clip of what was said outside the hospital, also speaking at the hospital was the president elect, talking about what has been happening in the last 2a hours. the prime minister is facing the most difficult and challenging days, hours, minutes, in orderfor him to

survive, and i hope that everything will work out for the best. i really hope for us all to see his soon recovery and coming to full strength. i would actually use this place to use this possibility and approach to visit slovakia, perhaps even those who use this as a cessation after 2a hours, we all should think about what happened yesterday. we all across the whole political spectrum, across the whole country, irrespective of our beliefs and political opinions, we all need to understand that we have crossed a major red line, a red line that has never been crossed since our country has come to existence. the political

opposition to politics of one party or one politician that led to an attempted murder. ladies and gentlemen, the prime minister robert fico has escaped death by a very close margin, it would have been enough if the entering shot would enter the body a few centimetres in a different place in the situation would be totally different today, and i would like to ask every single citizen to refuse any form of violence. even agreeing with violence, we should stop ourselves from escalating the tension whatsoever. we should reframe from any clashes, and this critical political situation, we need to come down, we need to get rid of all

passions and emotions, and we need to do our utmost to build bridges where there are divides, therefore i am really happy that together with madama president, we could send a very strong signal today that we really care about calming the situation in slovakia. we will invite representatives of all political parties to the presidential palace and ask them to jointly declare that, in slovakia, we will return back to a normal standard political life where we can compete with one another but compete with arguments, compete with specific facts and solutions. we can talk about differing values, but the discussion never, nor in parliament, not in the streets, not in public assemblies, norwhen not in the streets, not in public assemblies, nor when meeting the voters, it should ever exceed to

whipping emotions to different activities which can lead to such desperate attempts, as we could see yesterday, so please stop it at the beginning, stop it immediately in order not to be witnesses to such tragic incidents in the future. i would like to once again wish mr prime minister robert fico a lot of strength in the struggle he is to fight because there is a very demanding period in front of him, so we wish him all the best, and we really hope that no other complications will emerge, anything that would complicate the already grave medical situation in which he is. and also i would like to ask all other people to think about him in this difficult period, we should all be with him and our thoughts, human values should be above political values should be above political values and differing opinions, and

we need to think of the prime minister, first of all as a person, someone who was absent—minded or politically violent individual, attempted to murder him, just because he disagreed with the style of politics and the government is pursuing this, thank you very much, and i really hope that in the future we will only listen to positive and optimistic reports from this place from hospital staff, thank you for your attention.— your attention. slovakia's president-elect - your attention. slovakia's president-elect calling i your attention. slovakia'sl president-elect calling for your attention. slovakia's i president-elect calling for a president—elect calling for a cooling and calming of tensions in the country after the shooting of the country after the shooting of the prime minister, robert fico, yesterday. mr pellegrini speaking outside the hospital there where the prime minister is being treated, his condition is said to be stable but

critical, and the president—elect joining other politicians in the country today, calling for a calming of tensions, they said they believed the attempted murder was politically motivated. we also heard from the interior minister in slovakia and the deputy prime minister in slovakia as well, saying that the wounds suffered by the prime minister were extensive. do stay with us here on bbc news.

this is business today live from new york where traders are on their toes to see if the markets can sustain wednesday's record closing highs. japan's gdp slumps — with india on—track to overtake it as the world's number four economy. can it stop the decline? a tight corner for the square mile.

as firms look to new york to list their shares. but the head of the london stock exchange tells the bbc there's no reason to panic. welcome to business today, i'm michelle fleury in new york, where all eyes are on the markets this morning. all three major share indices closed at new record highs on wednesday — after inflation figures boosted hopes that the central bank — the us federal reserve — may soon be able to start cutting the cost of borrowing. so, how will today's trading develop? we have already sen big gains for retailer walmart — more on that later in the programme. joanne feeney is a partner & portfolio manager at advisers capital management. why did the markets hit record highs

yesterday? when people think interest rates will go down, why does that boost markets? the link between rates _ does that boost markets? the link between rates and _ does that boost markets? the link between rates and markets - does that boost markets? the link between rates and markets has i does that boost markets? the link. between rates and markets has never been clearer than the dynamics over the last year or so, with higher rates, the value of companies is lower because a lot of value comes from future earnings, higher interest rates mean you discount future earnings by more, and in more simple terms it means the cost of borrowing is higher with higher interest rates, and that is of interest rates, and that is of interest to businesses to grow, so when interest rates come down, that is a boost for both the business operations, cheaper borrowing costs, but also less discounting of those future earnings, stocks tend to go up. future earnings, stocks tend to go u -. ., , future earnings, stocks tend to go u . _ ., , ., future earnings, stocks tend to go up. people are looking to see if the dow will hit — up. people are looking to see if the dow will hit that _ up. people are looking to see if the dow will hit that 40,000 _ up. people are looking to see if the. dow will hit that 40,000 milestone, a level it has never reached before, but is there any reason right now for markets to go higher, have they priced in the fact they expect lower interest rates going forward? it is