funerals are being held for the 2a soldiers killed in israel s deadliest day since the war began in gaza. there has been intense fighting around khan younis, israel says it has surrounded the southern gaza city. could i hostage deal close, though? reports that israel has proposed a two month pause to negotiate prisoner exchanges with himars. the us and uk carry out joint strikes against houthi targets in yemen for the second time in two weeks. hamas. and oppenheimer leads the oscar nominations with 13 but barbie s margot robbie and director greta gerwig miss out. time for a look at the business news now with lu kwesa burak. it afternoon, lukwesa. could afternoon. good afternoon. we start here in the uk with the government s finances because the amount it had to borrow last month was far less than expected. that has raised hopes the chancellor, jeremy hunt, may have extra room to cut taxes when he announces his spring budget in march. a lot of it is down to lo
Cheering and applause. Placards and cheers and babies getting attention from politicians. Keir starmer is quite the fan of visiting Lower League Football grounds in places he hopes labour can win. He was in gillingham in kent this morning, his deputy with him, too. Thank you. Whatever Service People try and access these days, they find its like wading through treacle. Applause. Red cards arent usually welcome for folk on a Football Pitch but expect to see plenty of these in the next month or so, spelling out labours core message. Weve had 1a years of going round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. Chaos and Division Feeding Chaos and division. If you want change, you have to vote for it and if you vote labour, its a vote to stop the chaos. Its a vote to turn the page and its a vote to rebuild our country together. Thank you very much. Cheering and applause. Thank you a general election is about winning seats and staying in them. Rishi sunakjust about managed that in ilkes
Its perhaps the election year. Globally, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls. At least 64 countries, containing just under half of the worlds total population, are expected to hold nationwide polls. The results of which, for many, will prove consequential for years to come. The biggest parliamentary vote is being held in india an operation so vast, its being held in several stages with the second phase getting under way today. Lets get more of this in delhi. Taken through this next what does it involve, who is voting what seats are contested . B5 involve, who is voting what seats are contested . Are contested . As you correctly said, are contested . As you correctly said. This are contested . As you correctly said. This is are contested . As you correctly said, this is the are contested . As you correctly said, this is the biggest are contested . As you correctly i said, this is the biggest democracy in action in the world. 540 plus parliamentarians to be elected by
Hello, im samantha simmonds. Welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast moving news, interviews and reaction. We start in china. Americas top diplomat, antony blinken, has told the bbc that he is prepared to take steps against china if beijing continues to send key supplies to russia which are used to aid its invasion of ukraine. The Secretary Of State has been holding talks with the chinese leader, xijinping, for talks in beijing where he also raised concerns about taiwan, and industrial espionage. Mr xi in return called for greater mutual co operation, so both countries could succeed. After that meeting, mr blinken sat down with the bbc s laura bicker heres a little of what they said. Thank you forjoining us. What were the biggest points of contention for you and your chinese counterparts . Whats really important is i was last here ten months ago and that really kicked off much greater engagement between our countries, diplomatic engagement with a number of my colleagues coming to