hello and welcome to bbc news. could president biden's hello and welcome to bbc news. could president biden�*s patients be running out with israel over its ongoing military campaign in gaza? he has expressed concerns for several weeks over the planned invasion of rafah where hundreds of thousands of civilians have sought shelter and he said he will not allow the us to supply heavy weapons which could be used in any such attack. this has prompted concern from israel and its ambassador to the un saying... the israeli finance minister on the right of israeli politics was rather more strident in his response. the far right interior minister went

even furtherfor israel. the far right interior minister went even further for israel. nothing yet from benjamin netanyahu but it is worth noting thatjoe biden�*s comments, he is not cutting off israel, promising the reds will continue to give the weapons it needed to defend itself —— promising israel. needed to defend itself -- promising israel. . , ., , ~ israel. civilians have been killed as a consequence _ israel. civilians have been killed as a consequence of _ israel. civilians have been killed as a consequence of the - israel. civilians have been killed as a consequence of the bombs| israel. civilians have been killed - as a consequence of the bombs and other ways that they have gone after population centres and i have made it clear that if they go into rafah, and they haven't done that yet, but if they go into rafah i will not supply the weapons that are going to be used to do without problem, and we will make sure israel is secure in terms of the iron dome and its ability to respond to attacks like the one that came recently. hamas has not commented _ the one that came recently. hamas has not commented on _ the one that came recently. hamas has not commented on this - has not commented on this disagreement but it seems that people in rafah are worried right

now and are panicked about the possibility of a ground war taking place around them. many people are incredibly fearful and are on the move, we are hearing. 80,000 people have fled rafah said the united nations. rafah is right against the tip with egypt. it is viewed as the last stronghold of hamas in the territory and was previously designated as a safe zone for civilians by israel, and recent days have seen air strikes there. our correspondent has this update from jerusalem. i correspondent has this update from jerusalem. ., ., ,., ,., , correspondent has this update from jerusalem. ., ., , ., jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleein: jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleeing the — jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleeing the city _ jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleeing the city itself _ jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleeing the city itself and _ jerusalem. i heard from somebody who was fleeing the city itself and it - was fleeing the city itself and it said there was the constant sound of shelling and he had been frightened by what happened last night, close to a hospital which is in the heart of rafah, and shelling took place very close to there would something

like 25 casualties and a number of children are being rushed into the hospitalfor children are being rushed into the hospital for care children are being rushed into the hospitalfor care and children are being rushed into the hospital for care and people feel that nowhere is safe in the city but there is an extra feeling of panic and desperation because people also know that aid is now in such short supply with the main crossing points, rafah crossing, which was captured by the israeli tanks on tuesday, that has been closed for humanitarian agencies and although israel says it has reopened the other crossing into southern gaza, another main artery, really palestinian workers fled there with the advance of israeli forces and we are hearing there are battles between palestinian armed groups and israeli troops in that area so that means no aid is getting into that crossing, it is a really difficult situation for people. if crossing, it is a really difficult situation for people.- situation for people. if israeli troo -s situation for people. if israeli troops continue _ situation for people. if israeli troops continue to _ situation for people. if israeli troops continue to push - situation for people. if israeli troops continue to push into l situation for people. if israeli i troops continue to push into the centre of rafah as well, they expand this operation, how will that affect

the ceasefire talks in cairo? what the ceasefire talks in cairo? what israel says _ the ceasefire talks in cairo? what israel says is _ the ceasefire talks in cairo? what israel says is that _ the ceasefire talks in cairo? what israel says is that it _ the ceasefire talks in cairo? what israel says is that it sees - the ceasefire talks in cairo? wisgt israel says is that it sees what the ceasefire talks in cairo? wist israel says is that it sees what is happening in rafah as putting extra pressure on those talks to get hamas to make concessions, as they talk about a new ceasefire and a hostage release deal, but we have had a senior hamas official last night saying that they are not prepared to make further concessions and actually saying that what is happening in rafah, that israelis are using talks about a ceasefire as are using talks about a ceasefire as a cover to advance their offensive there. so from the hamas perspective this is really having an extremely negative effect.— this is really having an extremely negative effect. more from israel and gaza and _ negative effect. more from israel and gaza and the _ negative effect. more from israel and gaza and the us _ negative effect. more from israel and gaza and the us throughoutl negative effect. more from israel i and gaza and the us throughout the day, but now we can go to russia. vladimir putin has used victory day celebrations to warn that his forces are always ready for combat and he will not allow anyone to threaten his country. victory day in moscow's red square marks the defeat of nazi germany in the second world war and

commemorates the deaths of millions of soviet citizens. it features thousands of the russian military personnel and much military equipment including nuclear missiles and in a defined address vladimir putin heaped praise on his army fighting in ukraine and accused the western elites of fermenting conflicts around the world. translation: we conflicts around the world. translation:— conflicts around the world. translation: ~ ., ., ., translation: we are commemorating this victory day — translation: we are commemorating this victory day in — translation: we are commemorating this victory day in the _ translation: we are commemorating this victory day in the difficult - this victory day in the difficult circumstances of the special military operation. its participants, those fighting on the front line, those who are on the contact line, these are our heroes. we bowed to their steadfastness and self—sacrifice. the whole of russia is with you. russia believes in you and is concerned by you and your veterans and feels spiritual compassion for you and your exploits. compassion for you and your exloits. ,, compassion for you and your exaloits-— compassion for you and your exloits. ,, , , ., ,

well, as you can see, the big victory day parade has got under way here in the centre of moscow. thousands of military personnel, more than 9,000 people, marching across red square in the snow. i say big parade, but this parade is actually not quite as big as it has been in previous years, before russia's invasion of ukraine. now, in russia, under vladimir putin, victory day has become pretty much the main secular national holiday. a day to remember the soviet defeat of nazi germany, but also the enormous cost of victory, the 27 million soviet citizens who were killed in what's referred to here as the great patriotic war. so, here comes the hardware. the victory day parade for russia is an opportunity to project russian power. now, i mentioned the second world war. russia today isn'tjust remembering the past. it's weaponising it to try to justify the present. so the authorities want the russian public to view the war in ukraine

very much as a continuation of the second world war. they want russians to believe that, once again, external forces are trying to destroy russia — nazi germany then, ukraine and the west today. while in reality, two years ago, it was russia that attacked ukraine, launching a full scale invasion of its neighbour. from vladimir putin today, a warning to the west. translation: russia will do everything to avoid _ a global confrontation. but, at the same time, we will not allow anyone to threaten us. our strategic forces are always on combat alert. so, a military flypast and the russian tricolour in the sky brings this parade to an end. but there is no end in sight to the war in ukraine, nor to the tension between russia and the west. steve rosenberg in moscow. xi

jinping has been greeted with a military parade in budapest during a visit to the capital of hungary. he has been in france and serbia as well and later he will meet prime minister viktor 0rban. hungary is one of its closest allies in the eu and they have been high levels of chinese investment. donna john's —— donald trump's lawyers are expected to question stormy daniels in the hush money trial which revolves around a $130,000 payment made to her before the 2016 election. donald trump has pleaded not guilty to 3a counts of falsifying business records to conceal the payment. these are pictures coming to us from manhattan, this is the scene outside the courtroom where he is due appear shortly. we can speak to a former us federal prosecutor. sarah, a remarkable first day of testimony

from stormy daniels, what did you make of it? it from stormy daniels, what did you make of it?— make of it? it was fiery and she earned some — make of it? it was fiery and she earned some points _ make of it? it was fiery and she earned some points for - make of it? it was fiery and she earned some points for the - earned some points for the prosecution, describing the background that led to the hush money payments, and the defence is trying to do what they can and to put holes in her story and focus on how her story has changed over time. is it usual for her to get a rebuke from thejudge over some is it usual for her to get a rebuke from the judge over some of the level of detail that she was going into? �* ., , level of detail that she was going into? �* . , , , , level of detail that she was going into? ,, _ ., into? i'm really surprised by that, frankl . into? i'm really surprised by that, frankly- the _ into? i'm really surprised by that, frankly. the prosecution - into? i'm really surprised by that, frankly. the prosecution here - into? i'm really surprised by that, i frankly. the prosecution here should have previewed that with her and set the parameters and i'm surprised she went beyond what the prosecution was looking for and what the judge that was appropriate, and the defence did object and thejudge was appropriate, and the defence did object and the judge said they should have objected more and rejected their mistrial request but i'm surprised that her testimony was

not a bit more contained. what i'm surprised that her testimony was not a bit more contained.— not a bit more contained. what can we exect not a bit more contained. what can we exaeet from _ not a bit more contained. what can we expect from her _ not a bit more contained. what can we expect from her today? - not a bit more contained. what can we expect from her today? the i not a bit more contained. what can we expect from her today? the is l we expect from her today? the is iioin to we expect from her today? the is going to continue, _ we expect from her today? the is going to continue, and _ we expect from her today? the is going to continue, and by - we expect from her today? the is going to continue, and by all i going to continue, and by all accounts she his doing very well under cross examination —— the cross examination is going to continue. the defence has come out hard and this is a tough witness to cross—examine, you have to be firm but maybe not too aggressive, there is a balance, but by all accounts i think stormy daniels has done well under cross examination and she will continue and then the prosecution will have a chance to ask some more questions and try to rebuild what the defence has tried to tear down. which side will be happiest with how things have proceeded so far? bath things have proceeded so far? both sides have scored _ things have proceeded so far? exit? sides have scored points and i things have proceeded so far? errt'i sides have scored points and i think the difference has not had these big victories that the president wants,

the former president, but they have scored a lot of punches with the witnesses who will add up at the end of the day when they have to stand up of the day when they have to stand up and argue to the jury that there is reasonable doubt, that the former president committed these crimes, so the little victories on the difference side will add up at the end of the day but both sides are doing a pretty good job with the information they have.- doing a pretty good job with the information they have. sarah, thanks for “oinini information they have. sarah, thanks forjoining us- _ information they have. sarah, thanks forjoining us. we _ information they have. sarah, thanks forjoining us. we will _ information they have. sarah, thanks forjoining us. we will keep _ information they have. sarah, thanks forjoining us. we will keep across i forjoining us. we will keep across stormy daniels appearance later today on bbc news. a brutal organised crime group in merseyside has been taken down by its own text messages. more than 30 major criminals have beenjailed after £1 million worth of cocaine were stolen from a violent organised crime group, and the crime bosses wanted to murder the men they thought were responsible and police had cracked their encrypted phone app had cracked their encrypted phone app and could see what they were planning. we have this report.

three masked men arrive outside a drugs stash house in liverpool. a fourth is pretending to deliver a parcel. four minutes later, they escape with the huytons firm's cocaine. police! two men in the house has been attacked with a machete and an axe. what injuries have you got a mate? sit yourself down. are you all right there, mate? yeah. a trail of blood leads to a manhole cover where the cocaine was hidden. are you in dispute with anyone? have you upset anyone lately, or has anyone got a bit of beef with you? any information is better than nothing. no one from the huyton firm talks, but this time the police have a secret weapon. the encryption system the criminals use, called encrochat, has been cracked.

detectives can see the messages they are sending each other. the "grip" they are talking about is the stolen cocaine. 30 kilos are gone. that's £1 million worth. it's clear from the messages that this is an effective criminal business, with tentacles across the uk and internationally, obviously willing to resort to severe violence. there is a place there in the organised upper tiers of crime in the uk. crime boss vincent coggins thinks he's identified some of the cocaine robbers and he wants revenge. his enforcer, paul woodford, asks how many he wants killed. coggins replies, "four dead men walking." they do business with violence. it is a world where a bullet in the head isjust literally

another way of doing business and that is the brutality of it. it's a world where there are no laws other than essentially what you could call the laws of the jungle. vincent coggins and paul woodford were arrested before they could carry out their threats. coggins has beenjailed for 28 years for drug trafficking and blackmail. woodford got 2a years and six months. in total, more than 30 serious criminals linked to the cocaine heist has been convicted. they've been sentenced to over 350 years. bronagh munro, bbc news. if you are watching in the uk, you can see more on that story on a panorama on bbc iplayer this evening. now to the other news. the bank of england has kept the interest rate at 5.25% yet again.

the governor says it needs to see more evidence information before making cuts and high interest rates are supposed to reduce inflation by making borrowing more expensive. lord cameron says he will look into allegations that the saudi government is using lethal force to clear ground being used for the new neon desert city and it comes after a former saudi intelligence officer told the bbc that people were being forcibly evicted with at least one person shot. thousands of passengers have been left stranded across india after the budget airline air india express cancelled dozens of fights for a second aim and the company says large numbers of cabin crew took sick leave without notice —— for a second day. union leaders say the company is ignoring their grievances. stay with us on bbc news. very shortly we will be with

gary lineker, talking about his new sports volunteering campaign. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

a campaign is being launched to find more people to volunteer in local sports club, after a deficit of 2.1 million volunteers was discovered compared with five years ago. gary lineker and netball player geva mentor are launching a sports volunteering push called the big help out to support local clubs across the uk. our very own gary linekerjoins us now. thanks forjoining us. you have picked a great day to launch the campaign. good to see netball going on behind you as well but what is going on with volunteers and why is there such a deficit? i going on with volunteers and why is there such a deficit?— there such a deficit? i don't know. yes, it is a — there such a deficit? i don't know. yes, it is a beautiful— there such a deficit? i don't know. yes, it is a beautiful day. - there such a deficit? i don't know. yes, it is a beautiful day. i - there such a deficit? i don't know.

yes, it is a beautiful day. i don't l yes, it is a beautiful day. i don't know why but i think it is really important, this initiative, to encourage more people to volunteer, it is a massive reduction in numbers, over2 it is a massive reduction in numbers, over 2 million, fewer volunteers, extraordinary, so the big help 0ut can encourage people to volunteer for sports across the country, sports communities are so important, because a is importing great for your health and fitness and great for your mental state —— because sport is important. it is great to encourage young people to play sport but they need help. it is clear what happens to young people when they play sport and the benefit to them but what about the benefits of the volunteers? i to them but what about the benefits of the volunteers?— of the volunteers? i think seeing --eole of the volunteers? i think seeing peeple improve. _ of the volunteers? i think seeing people improve, get _ of the volunteers? i think seeing people improve, get better- of the volunteers? i think seeing people improve, get better at i of the volunteers? i think seeing i people improve, get better at sport, under their stewardship, that would be massively satisfying, imagine the place you would get from nurturing relatively young child in football,

for example —— imagine the pleasure. making him a better player and who knows, he might get a professional career out of it, and i think there is an extraordinary amount of pleasure from volunteering, i have done it myself, my dad used to do it, driving people around in his fruit van to games, so i know the importance of those people and i do think there's a lot ofjoy that comes with it. think there's a lot of 'oy that comes with iti think there's a lot of 'oy that comes with it. ~ ., , comes with it. where would we be without not _ comes with it. where would we be without not just _ comes with it. where would we be without notjust the _ comes with it. where would we be without not just the volunteers i comes with it. where would we be | without notjust the volunteers and our parents? i have spent quite a few weekends on the sidelines of football pitches as well, but is there a role for government funding? there is always a role for government in terms of funding and it is never quite enough but some kind of encouragement is always appreciated. kind of encouragement is always appreciated-— kind of encouragement is always a- reciated. ~ . ., appreciated. what about the element of includin: appreciated. what about the element of including market, _ appreciated. what about the element of including market, giving _ appreciated. what about the element of including market, giving it- appreciated. what about the element of including market, giving it to i of including market, giving it to communities where there is a greater need? —— including more kit. i’m

need? -- including more kit. i'm sure it probably _ need? —— including more kit. i“n sure it probably is greater in those areas. i imagine places like this in north london, it does a huge amount of good, and one of the guys who was a volunteer, ijust met now, is now training and coaching the kids, and he said he used football and sport and the community sport to keep himself out of trouble on the right side of things, so all sorts of examples of why but kids should be allowed to play and you should be able to play all kinds of sport. more we can do to encourage that the for everyone. more we can do to encourage that the for everyone-— for everyone. have you done some volunteering? _ for everyone. have you done some volunteering? -- _ for everyone. have you done some volunteering? -- the _ for everyone. have you done some volunteering? -- the better - for everyone. have you done some volunteering? -- the better for i volunteering? -- the better for everyone- _ volunteering? -- the better for everyone- i— volunteering? -- the better for everyone. i have _ volunteering? -- the better for everyone. i have done - volunteering? -- the better for everyone. i have done a - volunteering? -- the better for everyone. i have done a bit i volunteering? -- the better for everyone. i have done a bit of. everyone. i have done a bit of volunteering over my lifetime, yes, of course, in different ways for different things, i volunteered coming here today which is an absolute pleasure. share coming here today which is an absolute pleasure.— coming here today which is an absolute pleasure. are you finding that the kids _ absolute pleasure. are you finding that the kids are _ absolute pleasure. are you finding that the kids are saying _ absolute pleasure. are you finding that the kids are saying to - absolute pleasure. are you finding that the kids are saying to you i absolute pleasure. are you finding | that the kids are saying to you how much they enjoy playing sports like

this and working with volunteers? what is the view from young people? i havejust what is the view from young people? i have just asked these young people behind me what it is like here and they love it. they cannot whenever they love it. they cannot whenever they can, every half term, —— they come whenever they can. it is hugely important to them and hugely beneficial and you never know but we might see a future star in the background. might see a future star in the background-— might see a future star in the back round. ., ., ., background. some of them have got some pretty — background. some of them have got some pretty good — background. some of them have got some pretty good skills. _ background. some of them have got some pretty good skills. i _ background. some of them have got some pretty good skills. i used i background. some of them have got some pretty good skills. i used to i some pretty good skills. i used to play netball once so i can spot some talent. talking about talent, it may be can i get your view, what is it that real madrid have got that other clubs do not have? you that real madrid have got that other clubs do not have?— that real madrid have got that other clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent — clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent there _ clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent there but _ clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent there but they _ clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent there but they have i clubs do not have? you have gone off at a tangent there but they have a i at a tangent there but they have a mixture of things, incredibly strong my insert, winning mindset,

especially in that competition —— incredibly strong mindset. sometimes i look at them and i think of when you are really lucky, but that is me as a former barcelona man. but they have a great manager and great players and that is a great combination but in the champions league, you are right, it is truly extraordinary. aha, league, you are right, it is truly extraordinary.— extraordinary. a couple of late coals, extraordinary. a couple of late goals. as _ extraordinary. a couple of late goals, as well. _ extraordinary. a couple of late goals, as well. final— extraordinary. a couple of late goals, as well. final question, extraordinary. a couple of late i goals, as well. final question, who is going to win the final? real madrid always _ is going to win the final? real madrid always win _ is going to win the final? real madrid always win the - is going to win the final? yr-_i madrid always win the final. every time they have been in it in recent times, practically forever, their record is ridiculous. but for borussia dortmund it is a big day out and you never know with football, that is the beauty of it. you never know.— football, that is the beauty of it. you never know. you certainly did not know until _ you never know. you certainly did not know until the _ you never know. you certainly did not know until the final— you never know. you certainly did not know until the final few i you never know. you certainly did l not know until the final few minutes of the match last night. really good to talk to you, great work that is happening with a really important campaign. gary lineker talking about a volunteering push to get more

people involved with community exports. now to malmo. this is in sweden of course. pro—palestinian protests are taking place ahead of the eurovision semifinal which is due to take place this evening. israel making an appearance so security is very tight in malmo today. at the moment these pro—palestinian protesters are looking reasonably peaceful but it is very much dividing opinion and a difficult one for the police to have two keep across. they have drafted in place from other scandinavian countries to help out in malmo but the crowd has built up a little bit in the past few minutes. we are keeping a close eye on this. we can show you what it is they are protesting about, and here our live

page with the latest from the middle east. israelshelling page with the latest from the middle east. israel shelling rafah as president biden has warned against a major ground offensive, and we have had different reports of israeli tanks massing close to built—up areas in rafah and the sound of shelling. 0ne areas in rafah and the sound of shelling. one person said the buildings have been shaking all night and they feel like the shelling is getting closer. this happening as well as a delegation from hamas, leaving talks in cairo to consult the leaders of the group injoe —— doha. all the latest on the middle east, including reaction to the comments from joe biden and also what is happening on the ground where they are running out of fuel and tens of thousands of people on the move from the ongoing shelling.

stay with us here on bbc news. another fine and warm and sunny day to come for most of us. again, we did start off with a little bit of mist and fog that's mostly cleared away during the morning period and into the afternoon. it looks fine for many. however, we still have that weather front affecting northern scotland, so stays rather cloudy here. further spots of rain at times. you can see that front very slow to clear northwards. eventually it will do and it will be drier, brighter, warmer across northern scotland into tomorrow. but essentially for most of the country it's going to be dry for the rest of the afternoon. a little bit of cloud at times affecting north sea coasts, particularly eastern north, northeast england. the thickest of the cloud over northern scotland.

a few spots of rain there, particularly for the outer hebrides and into the northern isles and temperatures here low to mid teens elsewhere. it's going to be warm pretty widely — into the low twenties. now, as we head into this evening and overnight, it stays dry for many. still some spots of rain across northern scotland. that weather front continues to move northwards. we'll see some mist and fog developing once again, some low cloud and murk affecting north sea coasts. temperatures range from 9—11 or 12 degrees. so then into friday, we eventually lose that weather front. it pushes northwards, the rain slowest to clear from the northern isles. but even here, it'll be drier during the course of friday afternoon. so, a brighter, drier, warmer day for northern scotland. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, a bit of cloud tending to build in towards the midlands, eastern england and maybe some low cloud and mist into east anglia later in the day. 0therwise, most places dry and sunny, maybe a touch warmer — 23, 2a degrees will be the high,

but even the low 20s there across central southern scotland. now into the weekend, saturday promises to be another fine day. plenty of sunshine around. could see some grey, misty weather for east anglia and the southeast for a while. and there's a chance of a few heavy maybe thundery showers developing later in the day for northern england and southern scotland, mainly over the high ground. but most places will be dry. another very warm daytime, maybe humidity a little bit higher, low to mid 20s. so we'll change as we head into sunday. although most places having a fine day on sunday. weather fronts, low pressure, starts to move in later on sunday and into monday next week. we're dominated by low pressure. so it's back to being unsettled. could be very warm, quite humid across the south of the country on sunday, up to 26 degrees, but increasing chance of showers — much more unsettled into monday.

this is business today — live from new york — where us markets have opened lower. a muted open for them. chip designer arm holdings tumbling on disappointing forecasts and weighing on the wider tech sector. also coming up — "serious defects". more revelations about boeing's safety record — this time from a whistle—blower at its main supplier. plus, inching towards a cut. the bank of england keeps interest rates on hold. but two committee members are now voting to ease the cost of borrowing and the governor says that could come as soon as next month.

and "work till you drop". a huge backlash over china's overwork culture, as one boss tells staff, "keep your phone on 2a hours a day." welcome to business today. iam i am michelle fleury. shares on wall street are opening lower this thursday — led by chip designer arm holdings — which is tumbling after its forecast for the year disappointed investors. that has hit the wider technology sector. markets have had a boost this week from growing hopes that interest rates could soon be coming down. in the uk we've had a strong hint from the bank of england that could start happening next month — more on that in a moment. martin baccardax is bureau chief at the financial news service thestreet — he's in rhode island. ifi if i could start with you with those

results from arm holdings. they were hardly bad, so why