Aliens have never visited earth. Hello, im samantha simmonds. Youre watching bbc news. We start with the war in gaza. A ship carrying humanitarian aid is expected to set sail to the territory from cyprus this weekend part of a planned maritime aid corridor. Its a joint operation between the eu, us, uk, and united arab emirates, aiming to bring supplies from cyprus to the coast of gaza. The un says a quarter of gazas population is on the brink of famine, and children there are starving to death. Organisers hope the plan could allow additional aid to be brought in, but they continue to press israel to allow more deliveries by road. These are the latest pictures from larnaca in cyprus where, as you can see, aid is being loaded onto a ship, which is due to depart in a couple of hours. The European Unions ambassador to the us told the bbc a little more about the plans for the maritime corridor. Hopefully the pilot, the first try to get aid, already happened over the weekend, but it takes some time to make sure that it is not only once but a Sustainable Way to provide aid for the people in gaza and palestine, to make sure that we alleviate the situation in the region. Fora alleviate the situation in the region. For a long time, cyprus has been a part on the way of the region, so hopefully this could really help, because five other eu Member States is on board, and we see it as the possibility to increase the aid and to have the possibility to provide it as soon as possible. Heres Pentagon Spokesman patrick ryder. Importantly, there will be no us forces importantly, there will be no us forces on importantly, there will be no us forces on the ground in gaza. Finally, forces on the ground in gaza. Finally, in forces on the ground in gaza. Finally, in terms of timing, we are working finally, in terms of timing, we are working to finally, in terms of timing, we are working to set this up as quickly as possible. Working to set this up as quickly as possible, but we expect it will take several possible, but we expect it will take several weeks to plan and execute. Once several weeks to plan and execute. Once operational, the actual amount of aid once operational, the actual amount of Aid Deliverable will depend on marry of Aid Deliverable will depend on many variables and will likely skill over time many variables and will likely skill overtime. However, we many variables and will likely skill over time. However, we expect that deliveries over time. However, we expect that deliveries could provide more than 2 million deliveries could provide more than 2 million meals to be citizens of gaza per day~ for the latest on the maritime aid corridor efforts, i spoke to our middle east correspondent wyre davies injerusalem. There are several possible routes into gaza, a huge humanitarian crisis exists there, 300,000 people especially in the north of gaza without any real adequate food or aid, some trucks getting in but clearly not enough so the eu, the uae and other organisations have come up with this plan of a sort of maritime corridor and this would entail a ship leaving cyprus today towing a barge and on that will be around 200 tonnes of aid but the problem is when it gets to gaza, there is no port, there is a war going on and no obvious way to safely remove and distribute the aid and its a logistical nightmare. Weve been asking questions but have not had satisfactory answers, this is a test run this weekend, and if this works it will become a regular route for aid from cyprus towards gaza, but we then have a Separatejoe Biden Plan to build a Temporary Port Facility off the coast of gaza. That would be built by American Army engineers, but no American Military boots on the ground. But that is two months away at the very least. All the while, the aid agencies say the best way to get aid into gaza is through israel and lets try and persuade the israelis and i know lord cameron, the uk foreign secretary, has been talking to the israelis about opening up a port in the north of gaza, a huge container port, 30 or a0 minutes away from a Crossing Into Gaza and that would be, the aid agencies in particular say it would be a much more practical way of getting badly needed aid into gaza. Meanwhile, while that is not happening and there is a disagreement between the israelis and various agencies and there is no ceasefire, the maritime corridor is the favoured method of getting aid into gaza although it probably will not be enough. What are the israelis saying about the Military Campaign and the latest from there . Interesting. The ceasefire that everybody had hoped would be in place this weekend has not happened. Benjamin netanyahu reiterated his priority a couple of days ago at a military Graduation Ceremony saying israel would continue its Military Operation in southern gaza, not to do that would be to admit defeat despite the international pressure. Mr netanyahu acknowledged the level of pressure he is coming under to agree to a ceasefire and to allow more aid in but i think reading between the lines for him, his priority is as he would see it, the unfinished Military Business in gaza. What more hopes of Ceasefire Talks with ramadan approaching nowjust hours away . Good question. I think they have not given up on that. Hamas has left cairo now, but the qatari and egyptian mediators are ready to talk to hamas and the israelis indirectly, hopefully get them back around the table and agree to a 40 day ceasefire, the paris framework. If that does not happen, the war continues, but if that happens and there are significant obstacles to allowing it to happen, but if it happens one of the big beneficiaries would be more aid officially to get into gaza through roads, through israel, which is a much more effective and efficient way of getting aid to the people who need it. In nigeria, the hunt for nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted by gunmen goes on. But the governor of kaduna state has told the bbc that at least 28 of those children have escaped from their captors. The Nigerian Army is leading the search for the children, who were abducted from the North West Town of kuriga in kaduna state. Reports say students between the ages of 8 and 15 were taken, along with a teacher. The abductions have been blamed on ansaru, a Breakaway Faction of the islamistjihadist group boko haram. Victims of kidnappings usually pay a ransom to secure their freedom. A controversial law passed in 2022 made it a crime to make ransom payments, with a potentialjail sentence of at least 15 years. But many victims feel they have no choice but to pay. Lets speak to west africa correspondent mayeni jones. What is the latest on the military efforts to find these missing schoolchildren . The efforts to find these missing schoolchildren . Efforts to find these missing schoolchildren . The military is currently running schoolchildren . The military is currently running a schoolchildren . The military is currently running a Rescue Schoolchildren . The military is currently running a Rescue Operation in the state and also in two neighbouring states, all Kidnapping Hotspot here in northern nigeria. They are working alongside the police and local vigilante groups. Some of the student is not a mike alsojoined research, going to local communities, trying to find out if anyone has seen at all. Communities, trying to find out if anyone has seen at all. What are the families of those anyone has seen at all. What are the families of those missing anyone has seen at all. What are the families of those missing children i families of those missing children saying . Families of those Missing Children Sa In . Families of those Missing Children Sa In. . , families of those Missing Children Sa In . , � saying . Some of the student arents saying . Some of the student parents also saying . Some of the student parents also joined saying . Some of the student parents also joined the saying . Some of the student parents also joined the search. I saying . Some of the student i parents also joined the search. The State Governor visited the school when the kidnapping happened on thursday. People said they felt abandoned, there was not enough security in the community, and they pleaded with him to help find their children. This has become a Huge National and international story. The president released a statement yesterday saying he would do Everything Possible to the turn of the children, every single one has to be returned, he said anything less than that would not be acceptable to him, and us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken also released a Statement Last night condemning the abductions and seeing the children should be released as soon as possible. The children should be released as soon as possible. What more is known about the 28 soon as possible. What more is known about the 28 children soon as possible. What more is known about the 28 children who soon as possible. What more is known about the 28 children who managed i soon as possible. What more is knownj about the 28 children who managed to escape . Hat about the 28 children who managed to esca e . ,. Escape . Not very much, unfortunately. Escape . Not very much, unfortunately. The escape . Not very much, unfortunately. The governor spoke escape . Not very much, unfortunately. The governor spoke to the bbc yesterday, he would say is that 28 children were released, he would not give any more details, he said that was because he did not want to jeopardise the ongoing Rescue Operation, but the 28 students who have come out, their parents will be absolutely delighted to see them, particularly because this is an area of the country that is very remote. We believe they have been taken to nearby forests that are very dense. They would not have much in terms of water or food, so the conditions these children are in are really a cause for concern for their parents. I are really a cause for concern for their parents are really a cause for concern for their arents. ,. ,. , their parents. I mentioned a moment auo their parents. I mentioned a moment a. 0 that their parents. I mentioned a moment auo that a their parents. I mentioned a moment ago that a law their parents. I mentioned a moment ago that a law was their parents. I mentioned a moment ago that a law was passed their parents. I mentioned a moment ago that a law was passed two their parents. I mentioned a moment ago that a law was passed two years | ago that a law was passed two years ago that a law was passed two years ago making it illegal to pay ransom payments. Where does that leave the loved ones of those who have been taken . , loved ones of those who have been taken . , ,. , , taken . The reality is that, despite the fact it is taken . The reality is that, despite the fact it is illegal taken . The reality is that, despite the fact it is illegal to taken . The reality is that, despite the fact it is illegal to pay taken . The reality is that, despite the fact it is illegal to pay ransom| the fact it is illegal to pay ransom payments, as you mention yourself, many parents feel they simply dont have a choice if they are contacted by the kidnappers, they feel they have to fork out the money. But also talking about very poor communities. This is not a wealthy community. Images emerging from the area should be school was pretty dilapidated, so as possible be kidnappers did not necessarily want money from the p, but from the government. These mass abductions get a lot of publicity, a lot of media coverage, and to give the abductor is a lot of leverage to negotiate with the government. For now, thank you. A Fertility Clinic in london has had its licence to operate suspended due to significant concerns about the unit. The Homerton Fertility Centre has been told it must not start new procedures, but can continue to see existing patients. The clinic said there had been three separate errors in the freezing of embryos. The bbc understands as many as 150 embryos could have been affected in incidents involving up to 45 patients, although this has not been confirmed by the trust. Our correspondent zoe conway is outside the Homerton Fertility Centre with the latest. The Fertility Centre it says in these incidents, there was an error in the freezing process that led to a tragic loss of a small number of embryos because they either did not survive or because they cannot be detected and the centre says it has called in external Clinical Experts to try and understand what has happened although they have not been able to find a direct cause yet. The metropolitan police were here at the clinic yesterday, although they say they are not currently investigating. The centre also says it has tightened Security Measures at the unit. And what the bbc understands is that we are talking about 150 embryos affected and as many as 45 patients, although that has not been confirmed by the trust. We have spoken to one patient who says she is distraught and emotionally drained because she has discovered that one of her embryos cannot be found. The Health Ombudsman for england has warned that an overstretched and understaffed nhs is putting Cancer Patients at risk. Rob behrens says exhausted workers are under unsustainable pressure, and the government should invest in the workforce. Ministers say their nhs long term workforce plan will boost the number of staff. Our Health CorrespondentDominic Hughes has more. A recent analysis by the bbc suggested Cancer Waiting Times in england last year were the worst on record. Now there are new figures from the Health Ombudsman who investigates unresolved complaints about nhs england Government Departments and other public organisations. They highlight problems in cancer treatment, misdiagnosis, poor communication, referrals, and end of life care. The ombudsman, rob behrens, says while everyone deserves safe and effective care, Patient Safety would always be at risk in environments that are understaffed and where staff are exhausted and working under unsustainable pressure. I continually come across failures in Service Despite the excellence of so many dedicated clinicians and staff in the nhs. That is the reality we have to live with and confront. Being shocked is not enough. What we have to do is to create a Learning Culture in the nhs. He called for what he described as concerted and sustained action from government to make sure that nhs leaders can prioritise safety, and a key part of that, he said, would mean a long Term Investment in the workforce. A spokesperson for the Department Of Health and social care said a Record Number of Cancer Patients had been seen and treated over the past two years, and the nhs long term workforce plan would boost Healthcare Workers diagnosing and treating cancer. Dominic hughes, bbc news. Heavy gunfire has been heard near what remains of the president ial palace in the haitian capital, port au prince. There are reports armed gangs have once again invaded the international airport. A State Of Emergency and night time curfew have been extended for another month. Haitis main port has also announced that it is suspending operations due to worsening security conditions, following acts of sabotage and vandalism. Its after heavily armed criminal gangs took control of most of the capital, including attacks on the main airport, preventing the prime minister, ariel henry, from returning from abroad. Haiti has suffered years of instability and escalating violence since the assassination of president Jovenel Moise in 2021. 18 year old Oliver Bearman from essex is set to become the youngest briton to race in formula i later. Hell drive for ferrari in the Saudi Arabian grand prix, after one of the teams main drivers, carlos sainz, fell ill with appendicitis. This will be his full fi debut. After taking part in qualifying, he will start 11th out of 20 cars on the grid injeddah. Earlier, i spoke to our reporter emily brown, who has been following this. All eyes are going to be on oliver this weekend. That is because he will be the youngest briton ever to race in formula is will be the youngest briton ever to race in formula is is to be at the age ofjust i8. Race in formula is is to be at the age ofjust 18. The reason this happened is because one of ferraris regular drivers was diagnosed with appendicitis and had to have surgery yesterday, and that meant a promotion from the formula to front runner. This will be it a big opportunity for him. Lando norris was pr