hello, i'm azadeh moshiri, welcome to the programme. we start with the war in gaza and let's bring you these live pictures from the israel—gaza border, where the israeli bombardment has been particularly intense around rafah. more thani million palestinian refugees are sheltering in the city in the south of the strip. in the south of the strip. it's emerged that the us paused a shipment of bombs to israel last week, over fears they might be used in an assault on rafah — that's according to a senior administration official who's been speaking to cbs news, they're our media partner in the us. israel says it will deepen its attack on rafah, until hamas is eliminated, or the first of the remaining hostages are released. israeli forces went into rafah on monday night in defiance

of international pressure, seizing the border crossing with egypt. the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, has warned that a full—scale assault on rafah would cause a humanitarian nightmare. qatar has called for international intervention to prevent the city from being invaded. our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, is injerusalem. we know that for weeks now the us has been warning israel against a full—scale offensive of rafah. this really because of the high numbers of displaced people who are living in that city, crammed up next to the border with egypt. and the us had been talking to israel about more limited options for going in there to tackle the hamas presence. now, this does look to be a really significant development, the idea that a us shipment has been halted to israel. it's the first time we've heard of such a thing in seven months of war.

and it really does reflect, i think, the level of us concerns about this operation, in particular. we understand that the shipment included 2,000lb bombs, and of course, if they had been used in such a densely populated place, that could have had a really devastating effect. and yolande, much of the concern was around humanitarian issues. of course, there are more than a million people in rafah, but there was also concern about the aid crossings. what's the latest we know about aid being able to get into rafah? so through the rafah crossing itself, gaza's crossing with egypt, that remains closed to humanitarian agencies at the moment since the israeli military took over on the palestinian side. and we're not getting any of those palestinian patients who were cleared to go into egypt for treatment outside. they're not being able to pass either. but this morning we have

had the reopening of the kerem shalom crossing. this is the other main crossing for aid going in to gaza right down there in the south of israel, close to the egyptian border. already, lorries had been queuing up there waiting to go in. the white house had said last night that it was promised by israel that this step would be taken. it had been closed, the kerem shalom crossing, after hamas rockets killed four israeli soldiers close to the crossing point on sunday. and israel had kept the crossing point closed, saying that there were ongoing security concerns, that it was continuing to see mortar fire aimed at the crossing. and yolande, meanwhile, the timing of this is significant given there are ceasefire talks. what's the latest we know about those talks? well, those talks are taking place in cairo. importantly, you have there, alongside the regional mediators, qatar and egypt, with the us involved as well, both a hamas and an israeli delegation for these indirect talks.

now, we know on monday that hamas leaders agreed to a three—stage proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release. israel said that that did not meet its core demands. it sent over a relatively low—level team of negotiators with a fairly limited mandate, basically to see if any kind of agreement can be reached. we understand from israel that it has some particular issues with the text that was approved. some things do seem to be issues that could be overcome through negotiations. they said, for example, that they wanted israeli women soldiers who are being held by hamas to be released much earlier in the process. but fundamentally, the problem here remains about the end to the war. there is language in the text, the document that has been seen byjournalists, about a permanent, a return to sustainable calm.

and that is really very problematic for israel to agree to at this point, because it has said that its war in gaza is about dismantling hamas, dismantling its military capabilities, and ensuring that it cannot remain in power. yolande knell in jerusalem. i asked nebal farsakh the spokesperson for the palestine red crescent society what she'd heard about the impact of the operation in rafah. the palestinian red crescent society is extremely worried regarding the situation, the catastrophic situation, in the gaza strip. military operations threaten the lives of civilians and in rafah and as we know there is almost half of gaza's population, 1.4 million people are sheltering in rougher. they are trapped and feeling terrified. ——people are sheltering in rafah. they are trapped and feeling terrified. they live in fear and panic, not knowing what to do or where to go because there is nowhere safe in gaza. and at the same time it is so hard to find your way to flee

or evacuate since there is no available transportation whatsoever. so this makes it even harder, especially for elderly people and people with disabilities. let's turn to ukraine now, where officials say russia has launched another large—scale missile and drone attack, across the country. ukraine says its air defence forces downed dozens of russian missiles and drones overnight. the kyiv region was hit — and the ukrainian interior ministry says two people were wounded in that strike. there are also reports of explosions in the western city of lviv, and zaporizhzhia. ukrainian media say russian forces launched cruise and ballistic missiles, rockets, and shahed—type drones. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, is in kyiv.

we are told by the authorities seven regions were affected from ivano—frankivsk in the west to zaporizhzhia in the south—east and it seems the targets were ukraine's infrastructure once more. we are told three major thermal power stations have been damaged in the southern city of kherson. the railway station as well as surrounding tracks have reportedly been damaged too. we are also told that residential buildings in some of cities like lviv have been damaged as well and that civilians have been injured. but we don't have any idea on numbers yet. ukraine likes to count the number of projectiles that make their way in and overnight it was 76. 59 of which were intercepted, they say. so these are drones and missiles that were launched from over the caspian sea to the east of ukraine by russian bombers. they were launched from inside russia itself, as well as from occupied territory inside ukraine.

so things have been quiet for a while, but it's clear that russia has the means to launch such attacks of this size alongside waging its war on the vast front lines in the east and south of ukraine. james waterhouse in kyiv for us. on every single day over the past year, the world's oceans have broken temperature records, thought to be because of climate change. figures from the eu climate service copernicus show last month was globally warmer than any previous april in records dating back to 1940. and justin joins us now from bangor. justin is our climate editor. it feels like each time a record is broken you are here to explain why it is important. why is this one particularly important? all it is important. why is this one particularly important?- it is important. why is this one particularly important? all of these records are — particularly important? all of these records are important _ particularly important? all of these records are important because - particularly important? all of these | records are important because what they tell us is a story of ever—increasing temperatures. but the run of records we have had is just extraordinary. as you say, 11 months of setting new monthly record

temperatures for the air, a full yearin temperatures for the air, a full year in which every single day has been a record temperature for that day. these records are not being broken by small margins, they are not being edged past, they are being smashed. on around 47 days over the course of the last year the temperature, the previous high temperature, the previous high temperature was exceeded by 0.3, a third of a degree, celsius. that may not sound much but we are talking about a global average of all the seas and oceans on earth, so that is a huge margin. and it tells us that steadily over the years global temperatures really are going up and it is affecting marine ecosystems. so we know, for example, that the world's coral reefs are experiencing a global mass bleaching event, meaning across all the ocean basins of the world we are seeing evidence of the world we are seeing evidence of corals bleaching, they go white, and expel the algae within them that

give them colour, and that makes them vulnerable and they can die as a result of bleaching. so, terrible threats to our coral reefs. there are also issues with emperor penguins in antarctica finding it hard to build their nests on sea ice because it is breaking up and falling into the ocean, that is a real threat to them. you are probably wondering why i'm in this extraordinary location in north wales. i'm here because it's affecting all the oceans of the world. uk ses have seen temperatures rise by about one celsius over the past few decades and that's changing the population of plants and animals in places where i am now, in case you were wondering on the magnificent menai bridge, the world's first full—scale is suspension bridge, dispense north wales over there to here on anglesey. i've been down with scientists monitoring the population of animals on the beach for around

70 years and they say they have seen really dramatic changes. they sound quite subtle but things like top populations changing a new species coming in. these seem like small changes to ask. they are revolutions in terms of ecosystems. huge upheavals in ecosystems, and that is happening, cascading across the world as a result of these ever—increasing temperatures. justin, you have a great long piece online which i encourage people to read. in it, you write that the oceans have been earth's get out of jail card. why are they so important for us as well?— for us as well? that's a really good cuestion. for us as well? that's a really good question- the _ for us as well? that's a really good question. the oceans _ for us as well? that's a really good question. the oceans kind - for us as well? that's a really good question. the oceans kind of- for us as well? that's a really good question. the oceans kind of soakl for us as well? that's a really good l question. the oceans kind of soak up about 90% of the excess heat created by climate change, by global warning. they also draw about 25% of the carbon dioxide we are pumping into the atmosphere, human beings, the additional carbon dioxide we add to the atmosphere, that is drawn into the oceans. but it is kind of

like a radiator in your home, it really is a great reservoir of water, slowly warming. there comes a point where obviously it is going to be radiating that heat back into the atmosphere. and it won't be able to fulfil that role as a kind of heat sink, if you like, it will begin to deliver heat back to the atmosphere. that appears this year to be happening with these exceptionally hot oceans we have seen in the pacific, largely there because of the el nino recurring weather pattern. but what has been so interesting and striking is the el nino recurring weather pattern. but what has been so interesting and striking is other ocean basins have very high temperatures. the atlantic, the indian ocean, the mediterranean is very hot as well stop that isn't easily explained by el nino. el nino, the effects of el nino, it is past its peak and beginning to fade now but we are still seeing areas of great heat in the atlantic, as i say the mediterranean and indian oceans, and it will be interesting to see how that develops and whether we are seeing a kind of step change in the behaviour of the oceans which is

something, not all, but some climate scientists fear could be happening. you are absolutely right to say these are dramatic changes we are seeing in the world's oceans. thank ou for seeing in the world's oceans. thank you for that — seeing in the world's oceans. thank you for that valuable _ seeing in the world's oceans. thank you for that valuable context - seeing in the world's oceans. thank you for that valuable context and i you for that valuable context and breaking this down for us. now i want to bring you some breaking news. we want to update you that the first ministerjohn swinney has been sworn in. he has been sworn in as first minister of scotland. and of course this comes during difficult circumstances for the snp. it was a ceremonial event. he did not speak, as is apparently tradition, and signed the parchment. it is a big moment because it's his second time elected as the leader of the scottish national party. this comes after the breakdown of a power—sharing agreement between the

snp and the greens. and of course, the fall of humza yousaf. we will bring you more on that story as we have it. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the chinese president xi jinping is in belgrade for a visit that aims to deepen political and economic ties with serbia. mr xi will hold talks with the serbian president, aleksandar vucic, later today. the chinese leader's visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of us air strikes on china's embassy there. in an editorialfor a serbian newspaper, he wrote that the chinese people would never allow such tragic history to repeat itself. beijing has invested heavily in serbia in recent years. the two countries signed a free trade agreement last year. our balkans correspondent guy de launey is in belgrade.

if we are looking at the relations between serbia and china, this isn't just a one—time thing, this isn't just a one—time thing, this isn't just president xi stopping over here to make some sort of symbolism to tie in with the 25th anniversary of nato bombing the chinese embassy in belgrade. he was actually here eight years ago as well. and between then and now we have had numerous agreements between serbia and china, we had a comprehensive partnership agreement back then, we have had a free trade agreement signed last year, and today we are expecting to hear about dozens of agreements, presumably not so substantial as those, but still lots of agreements between the two countries being signed, and again, once again, emphasising how strong ties are between serbia and china. gui; emphasising how strong ties are between serbia and china. guy de launey there- _ rescuers say they've made contact with 11 people under the rubble of a building that has collapsed in the western cape of south africa. six people died after the five—storey apartment block collapsed in the coastal city of george. our correspondent, shingai nyoka, is in george. those rescue efforts are ongoing.

last night, the focus was behind me where you might be able to see a huge gaping hole in the concrete slab. we understand that at least two people were rescued from there. but the operation now has moved to another part of this construction site behind the slabs, and that's where the rescuers are working now. but it's been more than a0 hours since the building collapsed. the majority of people are still trapped underneath the rubble. but we have been hearing some really great stories here. we spoke to a man whose son had been trapped underneath the rubble who had been speaking to him via cell phone. and we understand that he has since been rescued and that he is in hospital. and so there is still a lot of hope here that some of those people that are still trapped will be found and found alive.

and now to sweden — where climate activist greta thunberg is due to appear in court — accused of disobeying police orders — by being part of a group of climate activists who blocked the entrance to the swedish parliament for two days in a row in march. the activist has previously held numerous peaceful protests outside the parliament since 2018 — sparking the global fridays for future school strike movement — but these protests did not prevent entry to the building. thunberg has already been detained by police or removed from protests in sweden several times, and has faced similar action in norway, germany and the netherlands. let's speak to dr oscar berglund — lecturer, in public & social policy at the university of bristol. it is good to have you, thank you for your time. as we havejust mentioned, greta thunberg doesn't appear in non—peaceful protest. here, this protest was different.

could you give us some details on what went on during that protest? well, this protest was also peaceful, greta thunberg always participates in peaceful protest. she often does disruptive protest. it is from the kind of disruption we see in the uk and germany that disrupts the general public through groups likejust stop disrupts the general public through groups like just stop file and extinction rebellion. she directly addresses and disrupts the powerful people and sources of pollution. —— just stop oil. in the uk she has disrupted shareholder meetings of fossil fuel companies, disrupted shareholder meetings of fossilfuel companies, in disrupted shareholder meetings of fossil fuel companies, in germany she has disrupted coal mines, in no way she has disrupted oil companies, and in sweden now the parliament, as you say. ironically, these are often the kind of protests that those who complain about the disruptive protests ofjust stop oil and so on often say you should be targeting the people really in charge of the

people that are really responsible for climate change, and that's exactly what greta thunberg does. which saw some pictures there of other times she has been detained. what is your view on the most effective way to get her message heard. because that is clearly her goal here. do you agree with the idea that obstructing the entrance to a building may not be the best way, or do you think that is how she needs to get attention? first way, or do you think that is how she needs to get attention?— needs to get attention? first of all, this needs to get attention? first of all. this is _ needs to get attention? first of all, this is not _ needs to get attention? first of all, this is not a _ needs to get attention? first of all, this is not a bad _ needs to get attention? first of all, this is not a bad greta - all, this is not a bad greta thunberg, this is about the global movement for climate change, action against climate change, which as you heard from your correspondent a few minutes ago, is urgently, urgently needed. so in terms of effective protest, that's an interesting question. i mean, most effective protest movements historically go on for a long time and have a variety of different tactics and strategies at their disposal. the current

climate change movement in its different forms globally has put disruption at the centre of what they do in many ways. and that is what almost all successful protest movements historically have these kind of confrontations and disruptive elements. but i think what really needs to be highlighted as this is a very non—violent movement, and including what greta thunberg does. and of course what we have seen in sweden, but more in the uk and to some extent in germany, to a large extent in the us and australia, is a wave of criminalisation of this kind of obstructive but non—violent protest. there is a real danger in criminalising these protesters because such protests, particularly of the kind greta thunberg does, have great legitimacy. and by

criminalising then feeds polarisation of society. this is something the un secretary—general has been talking about. it is not the climate activists that are the enemies of society or civilisation, it is the fossil fuel companies and political actors that allow them. you broke a little bit there but i understand what you're saying about your concern for the precedent this sets for the people who are trying to make an impact with their protests during peaceful protests. thank you for your time, i do appreciate it. the favourites croatia and ukraine are among the countries to have qualified for the grand final of the eurovision song contest in sweden. last night's semifinal also saw ireland, finland, serbia, portugal, slovenia, lithuania, cyprus and luxembourg go through to the final in malmo. david sillitto was there. david sillito was there. cheering. welcome to the eurovision song contest 202a. and so it begins. eurovision 2024, and the first semifinal.

and while the uk is automatically guaranteed a place in saturday's main event, this opening show was a chance for olly alexander to reveal his gravity—defying eurovision routine. it was definitely slightly dizzying, and it's a reminder ofjust how much these days is put into staging and spectacle. # so take me there # won't you make me dizzy for your kisses...# croatia's baby lasagna with rim tim tagi dim are the bookies' favourites with a song... ..that got the arena singing. and then there's ireland, which was this year trying something a bit different. meet bambie thug, and a performance with a certain wow factor. hi, my name is bambie thug.

so how would you describe your style? ouija pop. nonbinary, alt witch, boss. and the reaction in ireland, would it be fair to say mixed? yeah, definitely. definitely a mixed reaction. some priests not liking me very much. and... i don't think you're too bothered by that, are you? no, not really. but behind the pyrotechnics, there's a political undercurrent this year with questions about israel taking part, and eurovision wanting to keep politics off stage. bambie thug was told to remove writing declaring freedom for palestine. but, at the end of the evening, it was all about the spectacle on stage. it's ireland. and the joy of ireland making it to the final. and it really matters for ireland because it has the most illustrious eurovision past.

but, in recent years, well, it's been a bit of a sad time. it's been six... six years since they qualified. but now they are finally through to the final with bambie thug. cheering the party is well and truly under way. david sillito, bbc news, malmo. you're watching bbc news. now, i want to take you straight to edinburgh where we are expecting john swinney to speak. as a reminder, he has been sworn in scotland's new first minister at the court of in edinburgh. this is the second time that he's been elected leader of the snp. and of course that's after the end of the power—sharing agreement before the

greens and the snp broke down and led to the fall of the snp leader humza yousaf. nowjohn swinney was largely uncontested. he is an elder of the party and was called back by snp members that wanted some stability and continuity for the party. i believe our correspondent lorna gordon is there to speak to us now. lorna, good to have you. what can we expect from the rest of the day? well, yes, this is a day of solemn ceremony. that short ceremony here at the court of session which took place a couple of minutes past ten o'clock. it involved five judges, it was led by the lord president lord carloway, who administered the oath of office and as is tradition mr swinney did not

speak but bowed his head three times before putting his pen to parchment. he is now officially first minister of scotland. as you said, he has led the snp twice, but this is his first time as first minister. alongside him is his wife elizabeth quickly and his son. we expect him in a short time to come across and make a few comments in front of the camera. of few comments in front of the camera. of course he is no stranger to government. he has been part of government. he has been part of government for much of the past 17 years, only stepping back last year when he decided not to run for office. —— elizabeth ouigley. in the competition to become leader of the snp which eventually resulted in humza yousaf becoming leader and subsequently first minister of scotland. humza yousaf lasted in the position forjust 13 scotland. humza yousaf lasted in the position for just 13 months scotland. humza yousaf lasted in the position forjust 13 months before just under two weeks ago he sacked

the greens from government and they withdrew their support for him, making it impossible for him to continue in position. there was for some days... there we have a round of applause from mr swinney from waiting supporters. as he slowly accompanies his wife elizabeth to their car. he said that his family was very important to him and he had lots to consider before he decided to put his name forward to become first minister and leader of the snp. and there elizabeth and his son both getting into the car. in the end, of course, it wasn't a competition to become leader of the snp but a coronation. his main competitor for that position, kate forbes, withdrawing her name. we

expect her to be given a senior position in his cabinet. that cabinet reshuffle likely to take place in the next couple of hours, and here we havejohn swinney now approaching the cameras to make some comments after being sworn in as first minister of scotland. congratulations. what does this moment— congratulations. what does this moment mean to you and your family? it is an— moment mean to you and your family? it is an overwhelming moment to check the oath of office, and to formally assume the role as first minister. it is the privilege of my life, and i look forward to dedicating my future to serving the people of scotland, as i have done so for so many years, and to do that as first minister. it's an extraordinary opportunity to change lives for the better, and i intend to use every moment available to me to use every moment available to me to do so. for my family, this is a very abrupt change of circumstances.

we didn't think this would be happening ten days ago. but it's happening ten days ago. but it's happening now. and we are making plans to adjust and adapt to that. and it has been incredibly precious for me to have my family at my side. what are your priorities for government? my what are your priorities for covernment? g ., , ., , government? my overwhelming priority will be to work — government? my overwhelming priority will be to work to _ government? my overwhelming priority will be to work to eradicate _ government? my overwhelming priority will be to work to eradicate child - will be to work to eradicate child poverty in scotland. that will be the driving mission of the government i lead, because child poverty is a curse in our country. we have to recognise that the government is going to have to work collaboratively, it is a minority government, it will have to work with others to pursue its agenda within parliament. i am very pleased that the groundwork i have laid out in the course of the last few days has had such a positive reaction within scotland, because people want their polymer to come together to address the issues that face people in our country today. that is what

parliament must now do, that is