hello, i'm anna foster live injerusalem. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast moving news, interviews and reaction. we begin with a special report because... the bbc has seen evidence that doctors, nurses and other hospital staff were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital medical duties when israeli forces overran the nasser hospital in gaza last month. we've also heard accusations that some detainees were stripped and kept in stress positions for several hours. israel said it occupied nasser believing it was used by hamas and several released israeli hostages have said they were held there. wyre davies reports and you might find some parts of wyre�*s report distressing. not for the first time in this war, israeli soldiers have been filmed standing over stripped and kneeling detainees in gaza. but these are medical staff, detained after the israeli army overran the nasser hospital in khan yunis. most of them are still held captive. for weeks, the medics had witnessed israel's military advance closing in around their hospital. the fighting in khan younis was fierce. thousands of people who'd sought refuge in the grounds, fled under gunfire. what should have been a place of safety was completely the opposite. one nurse was shot inside a hospital operating theatre through a window. another person shot at the main entrance. the hospital was under siege. on february the 15th, after giving warnings, israeli tanks overran the hospital. there were chaotic scenes as troops took control. patients who'd been unable to evacuate... what i can confirm as we were called to the funeral premises in hull with reports of concerns regarding the storage and management of the deceased within those premises. i can confirm at this stage that between friday morning, 8th of march, and in the evening of saturday, we recovered a total of 35 deceased who have now been respectfully transported to the mortuary in hull and formal eyed education procedures are now taking place. in addition, we have also recovered a quantity of what we suspect to be human ashes. we are in the process of carefully recovering all of those ashes and taking those to the mortuary. we have other lines of inquiry and the forensic team are conducting thorough searches at various business premises that are linked to the suspect that we have detained this weekend. i can confirm that a man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of the prevention and of unlawful and indecent burial. they have been placed on police bail with conditions while our investigations continue. i know this is a distressing time and will have impact across our local communities and beyond. this is an incredibly lengthy investigation and many... team of over 120 together loss of sound. this reflects the scale of this investigation and establishing the truth and where appropriate those who are affected. the investigation remains open and we have received over 1000 phone calls from members of the public since friday. i encourage anyone who has concerns from anything they have received from legacy independent funeral directors who have not yet contacted us to please contact us on the dedicated hotline. i would like to take this opportunity to speak directly to the families and loved ones affected by this truly terrible set of circumstances. my heart goes out to you all and i can only imagine how distressing this is and upsetting it will be... loss of sound. i know you want more information than i can give you today. loss of sound. i offer you a personal commitment i will do everything... we will continue to work closely with. .. everything... we will continue to work closely with... and colleagues from hull city council and east riding council and gordons will remain in place at the business. meantime i would ask you to not speculate and show respect for the bereaved families, their loved ones and all those affected within our communities. these are difficult times for us and it is important we look after and support each other moving forward. thank you. figs look after and support each other moving forward. thank you. as you will appreciate. _ moving forward. thank you. as you will appreciate, this _ moving forward. thank you. as you will appreciate, this is _ moving forward. thank you. as you will appreciate, this is a _ moving forward. thank you. as you will appreciate, this is a complex . will appreciate, this is a complex ongoing investigation which will take some considerable time to complete. we will be diligent and we will be thorough. to ensure the conclusion, if possible, all families get the answers they need. i want to thank all our staff who have supported investigation to date under very, very difficult circumstances. and finally, as i highlighted in my opening, at the heart of this investigation are the families of loved ones. many will be shocked, horrified, and re—traumatised through grief that has emerged this week. i ask that they are given space to process the events of the last few days and are provided with privacy moving forward at this very, very difficult time. thank you very much. you at this very, very difficult time. thank you very much. you have been watchin: thank you very much. you have been watching the — thank you very much. you have been watching the news _ thank you very much. you have been watching the news conference - thank you very much. you have been watching the news conference there l watching the news conference there by humberside police confirming that a man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of prevention of lawful and decent burial after police removed 3a bodies from a funeral parlour in hull. a116 old men 23—year—old woman have been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position according to humberside police and the said in a news conference the bodies had been respectfully transported from the hessel road branch of legacy to the more true for formal identification. confirming the numbers, 3a deceased people now being transported to the mortuary in hull for formal identification procedures, that was the assistant chief constable giving news conference there and since the report on march six, cord and remains in place of all three legacy independent funeral directors premises and the police have also said they've set up a helpline for anyone worried about their loved ones�* treatment by those funeral director and they have given out a number for people to call if they are concerned which is oh 800 051 4674. -- 0800 051 4674. a lot of activity at the funeral home on monday and when they returned in large numbers to and investigate the site, we saw forensic officers in white protective suits and the maritime protection unit also so there was a lot of activity at the funeral parlour yesterday and a confirmation today that 34 deceased people have been respectfully transported from a legacy funeral directors, to a mortuary for formal identification and confirmation a man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of the prevention of lawful and decent burial after those bodies were removed from a funeral parlour. let�*s reiterate our breaking news here. news breaking on that story of the bodies that have been not been properly buried or dealt with by a funeral parlour, a man and woman arrested according to police on suspicion of prevention of lawful and decent burial after the police removed 34 bodies from a funeral parlour in hull. a46—year—old men and 23—year—old woman arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position according to humberside police. now, let�*s take you back to our main news and the rest of the news for the day. announced by president biden in his union address last week but all of this and more could be done very easily by road if, as aid groups say, there was more opening of the land crossings by the israelis and that is why this is a political rather than... issue at its core which is why the americans are putting more pressure on the israelis to have more crossings into gaza. thank you. just a line of news to bring you, the us presidentjoe biden has issued a statement regarding the death of an israeli american soldier, it has been announced by the israel defence forces that he was killed by hamas during the events of october the 7th. joe biden reflected saying his father and brother visited the white house to share the agony and uncertainty that they faced, saying theyjoin the parents of the deceased in that and saying we will never stop working to bring the loved ones of others home. that is presidentjoe biden speaking as they try to have a ceasefire a car but it said they are no closer to deal. it was hoped that something could be in place before ramadan which has just begun. could be in place before ramadan which hasjust begun. i was in east jerusalem yesterday in the old city speaking to palestinians there who really have been looking at what is happening to palestinians in gaza and reflecting on how they will celebrate this holy month, the holiest month in the islamic calendar, looking at and knowing what is happening to palestinians in gaza. believe me there's nojoy. there are no ramadan celebrations. look at the streets and it's all because of gaza. there's no desire to celebrate anything. the atmosphere is very bad. the old ramadan, whenl there was no war in gaza you would see crowded streets. and now in al aqsa, they're letting only older people in. _ they don't let young people go in. the day before yesterday, i they beat them with sticks. they wanted to go into al aqsa but they didn't let them. - why? al aqsa is for us. i feel sad. there are no people, no visitors. the city is empty. there�*s no movement like before no people from the west bank or the north. there�*s nojoy this ramadan. we feel a lot of pain over what's happening in gaza, and this is the result of the unfairness of the united states, the security council and all the international organisations that doesn't stand up for the righteous. people are hungry, thirsty. there's no food or drink and they don't have the basic of human needs. some thoughts there from palestinians in eastjerusalem as ramadan begins. you are back with me in london but don�*t get too comfortable because we are going to take you straight life to washington us special counsel who released a scathing report last month suggesting that president biden had a poor memory is currently giving testimony at a congressional hearing. robert hur who spent a year investigating the discovery of classified material at presidentjoe biden�*s former office and delaware home will appear on capitol hill today to explain his decision to decline to prosecute the president. he sent his report was accurate and fair after mr biden criticised his findings and insisted his memory was fine. we will be listening across and while we do i think we will talk to our north america correspondent. nomia iqbal is at capitol hill for us. it was not the result or findings, it was the phrasing of the headlines. it it was the phrasing of the headlines.— it was the phrasing of the headlines. . . . .. ., , headlines. it was and actually robert hur— headlines. it was and actually robert hur arrives _ headlines. it was and actually robert hur arrives at - headlines. it was and actually | robert hur arrives at congress headlines. it was and actually i robert hur arrives at congress is headlines. it was and actually - robert hur arrives at congress is a rare figure because he has united democrats and republicans in both disliking him. both sides are furious. so this report was released last month and in it he said that there was not enough criminal evidence to prosecute president biden over his alleged mishandling of classified documents when he was vice president but there was this one sentence in which he said, he is a well—meaning elderly man with a poor memory. then he went on to talk about his cognitive abilities. that is infuriating democrats who said it went too far and for republicans they are also angry with robert hur for not prosecuting him in the first place but the age issue is obviously a silver lining for him, they see a political opportunity, the age of mr biden has been an issue for many voters but we are expecting robert hur to defend himself robustly pointing out two special prosecutors the point of a special prosecution to protect politically fraught cases, fraught cases from any political interference, and we will argue that is what he was doing and that he was just making a fair assessment anyway a jury would do as well. assessment anyway a “my would do as well. ~ ., assessment anyway a “my would do as well. ~ . ., , . ., . , well. what do we expect to hear this afternoon and _ well. what do we expect to hear this afternoon and who _ well. what do we expect to hear this afternoon and who has _ well. what do we expect to hear this afternoon and who has called - well. what do we expect to hear this afternoon and who has called this i afternoon and who has called this meeting by the housejudiciary committee? would this always happened after a report like this was published? it is happened after a report like this was published?— happened after a report like this was ublished? . . , , was published? it is the republicans who have called _ was published? it is the republicans who have called it, _ was published? it is the republicans who have called it, they _ was published? it is the republicans who have called it, they are - was published? it is the republicans who have called it, they are in - who have called it, they are in control and they are cheering up the congressional meeting. a republican firebrand right now is giving the opening statements and they are just showing the video of president biden immediately in the aftermath giving a press conference in which he robustly defended himself, it was quite a fiery exchange for reporters and if you�*re remember he walked up and if you�*re remember he walked up and turned back and started talking about israel and gaza, mixed up the name of the presidents, mention the mexican president, that wasjumped on. it is republicans leading the charge but also democrats will be questioning set. as i mentioned, they are furious about the fact that mr biden was in a cage was made such a big issue of but what will be interesting to see is if they resurrect that anger that he saw last month because any week, mr biden has... it is interesting that he has given a very fiery address in the union address and there are major ads being played in multiple swing states which mr biden has challenged the age thing, leaning into it, joking about it, so critics would say he is having a strong couple of weeks really challenging on the question he has faith about his age so will democrats want to make a big fuss about it today? and potentially show that they are worried about their nominee�*s cognitive ability so we will see what the reaction is today. sounds like it will be — what the reaction is today. sounds like it will be a _ what the reaction is today. sounds like it will be a pretty _ what the reaction is today. sounds like it will be a pretty fascinating l like it will be a pretty fascinating committee meeting. thanks for that and i know you�*ll be keeping a close eye on it. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let�*s look at some other stories making news the government has committed to building new gas fired power stations warning that failure to do so would risk blackouts. the new plants will replace stations coming to the end of their lives. environmentalists argue it�*s a step backwards but the government says they have to be �*realistic�* in the move towards cleaner energy. the rate of unemployment in the uk rose to 3.9% in the three months to january. that�*s up from 3.8% from the previous three months. the new labour market figures, released by the office for national statistics, also showed that more than a fifth of 16 to 64 year olds in the uk were not actively looking for work. more than 900,000 people in england who did not get their measles, mumps and rubella jab as children are being invited to take part in a catch up campaign. mmr vaccine coverage is now the lowest it has been for more than a decade. the campaign has been prompted by rising numbers of measles cases in parts of england. you�*re live with bbc news. haiti�*s prime minister, ariel henry, has called for calm and a return to stability after resigning to make way for a transitional authority. he�*s been stuck in puerto rico, as his country wrestles with growing anarchy. us officials say he�*s welcome to remain on us soil. mr henry has held the unelected role since the assassination in 2021 of the country�*s last president. but armed groups had been calling for him to step down. news of his resignation came during a high level meeting of caribbean countries injamaica, aimed at establishing some political stability in haiti. the political instability has left the country in chaos. with warning of widespread famine as will grant reports. haiti is in freefall towards total anarchy. the past few days have seen a relentless escalation of violence as gunmen roam the streets, firing on police and attacking government buildings. the situation was already at breaking point. gangs opposed to the country�*s unelected prime minister, ariel henry, have rained bullets on the international airport, closing it down. when he attempted to return to haiti last week, his plane was turned away. in his absence, gangs now control more than 80% of the capital police stations a particular target. there are growing fears of an exodus. millions of haitians now face famine. a humanitarian emergency on top of the breakdown in law and order. a lucky few did manage to get out. us military personnel airlifted its nonessential embassy staff to safety. meanwhile, the situation in the general hospital in port au prince is especially dire. the dead body lies near patients waiting in vain for treatment rapidly decomposing in the caribbean heat. there are no doctors. they all fled last week, said this patient. we hear the explosions and gunfire outside, but we must have courage and stay here. others have no choice but to take their chances amid the violence and chaos. i�*ve got three kids. i�*m their mother and their father. gunmen came here and stole all our money. but when you have three mouths to feed, what can you do? the anxiety is killing me. what if i get shot dead? who will take care of my children then? with no sign of an end to the crisis in sight, haiti is now perilously close to becoming a failed state. will grant, bbc news. one of the conservative party's biggest — one of the conservative party's biggest donors has been accused of making _ biggest donors has been accused of making racist remarks towards labour mp diane _ making racist remarks towards labour mp diane abbott. he insists that his comments _ mp diane abbott. he insists that his comments that the mp should be short and that_ comments that the mp should be short and that she takes him hate all black— and that she takes him hate all black women had nothing to do with her skin_ black women had nothing to do with her skin colour black women had nothing to do with her skin colou— black women had nothing to do with her skin colour some people who give millions to political _ her skin colour some people who give millions to political parties _ her skin colour some people who give millions to political parties have - millions to political parties have high public profile. frank hester did not until now. this is what the guardian says mr hester told staff at the software company built from scratch at a meeting back in 2019. the bbc has not independently verify those alleged remarks. in a statement last night, a spokesman said... the spokesperson said this should not be taken as an admission that mr hester use the exact words quoted in the guardian. labour have given the defence short shrift. i the guardian. labour have given the defence short shrift.— defence short shrift. i would say they were _ defence short shrift. i would say they were unambiguously - defence short shrift. i would say they were unambiguously racist| defence short shrift. i would say - they were unambiguously racist and sexist, clearly beyond the pale. this is notjust about rudeness, to is totally unacceptable remarks and i think anyone who reads them would come to that conclusion.— come to that conclusion. labour have been joined — come to that conclusion. labour have been joined by _ come to that conclusion. labour have been joined by the _ come to that conclusion. labour have beenjoined by the liberal— come to that conclusion. labour have been joined by the liberal democratsj been joined by the liberal democrats in calling for conservative to return the donations of mr hester which were vast. he gave the conservatives £10 million last year. there is no sign of those donations been returned. this morning mr hester�*s defence was reiterated by a cabinet minister. abs, hester's defence was reiterated by a cabinet minister.— cabinet minister. a critical point here as i cabinet minister. a critical point here as i do _ cabinet minister. a critical point here as i do not _ cabinet minister. a critical point here as i do not think— cabinet minister. a critical point here as i do not think what - cabinet minister. a critical point here as i do not think what he . cabinet minister. a critical point l here as i do not think what he was saying was a gender—based or race—based comment but it was clearly inappropriate. he has apologised and i think we need to move on from that. former conservative chancellor quasi—karting disagrees. —— kwasi kwarteng. quasi-karting disagrees. -- kwasi kwartenu. , . . , kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out _ kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out in _ kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out in a _ kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out in a flippant _ kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out in a flippant way - kwarteng. they were clearly racist. to call it out in a flippant way was i to call it out in a flippant way was correct _ to call it out in a flippant way was correct and — to call it out in a flippant way was correct and i_ to call it out in a flippant way was correct and i do not know if they were _ correct and i do not know if they were correct because i've not heard independent corroboration. diane abbott was _ independent corroboration. diane abbott was the _ independent corroboration. diane abbott was the first _ independent corroboration. diane abbott was the first black - independent corroboration. d —.ie: abbott was the first black woman independent corroboration. d —."ie: abbott was the first black woman to become an mp and has faced years of abuse. mr hester has tried to call her to apologise. she says she has been left frightened. alarming. an obe, chats with prime ministers, even a brief meeting with elon musk. now frank hester is at the centre of a political row which shows no signs of abating. now, just before we head off for the business news, if you�*re not familiar with what a river seven more looks like, this is it. it is a natural phenomenon that causes a series of waves powerful enough to ride, as you can see. watch out, canoeists, it is the result of a rising tide from the atlantic ocean and draws surfers from all across the world. hello there. good afternoon. well, it�*s been another wet start to the day with a band of heavy rain moving eastwards, particularly across england and wales. sodden ground here in herefordshire, although the rain is largely eased here. lots of low cloud, still some rather misty, murky conditions for the rest of this week. you�*ll notice that it is turning milder with more of a south—westerly wind. more rain to come, though. and here�*s the rainfall accumulation chart for the rest of the week. you can see for most of us, another 20 to 30 millimetres, but for some spots for northwest england and for western wales, as much as perhaps 70 to 80 millimetres of rain, a lot of surface water around and indeed there could be some more flooding. already. plenty of flood warnings up through the severn estuary and towards the south coast with those high spring tides yesterday and today. and here�*s the satellite picture showing all of that cloud. the weather fronts gradually pushing through. the rain will eventually clear east anglia in the far south east of england. some showers following on behind a lot of low cloud. perhaps the best of the brightness today will be across north western areas of scotland, although here perhaps still a few showers and a brisk south—westerly wind dragging in that mild feeling air, 12 or 13 degrees celsius across the south of england. now, overnight tonight, we�*ll see further weather fronts just gradually push their way in from the west, bringing some heavy rain across north western scotland, northern ireland and down through northwest england as well. further south and east, it is drier. there�*ll be lots of low clouds and misty, murky conditions, still rather breezy, ten or 11 degrees celsius. it�*s a mild start to the day on wednesday. now, wednesday, that weatherfront stores across north west, england and west and wales, there will be some rain here to the south of the front, plenty of cloud, a few brighter skies. and that will really help to lift the temperature. sunshine and showers further north and gales blowing across the far north of scotland. but that milder air now firmly established across most of the uk. our weather front will gradually be pushing further northwards as we head through thursday. bringing some more heavy rain across perhaps parts of northern ireland, southern scotland and another rash of showers pushing eastward, some heavy and thundery, particularly out towards the west. if we do get any brightness on thursday, temperatures across parts of east anglia could rise as high as perhaps 16 or 17 degrees celsius. there�*s more showers to come in. the forecast, though, as we head through friday, drier by the end of the day, the air stays mild, but still some more wet weather to come. bye— bye. sticky inflation — consumer prices rise again in the us as the fed weighs up interest rate cuts. plus — building on success. lego is still the top player in the toy world despite a tough global market and a slump in china. welcome to world business report. we start in the us where we�*ve just had the latest indication of the rate at which prices are rising. the consumer price index rose 0.4% last month after climbing 0.3% in january. that�*s slightly higher than expected and driven mainly by higher costs for gasoline and rents. in the 12 months up to february, the cpi rate increased by 3.2%, compared to 3.1% injanuary.