will have to send troops into rafah, the city in the southern gaza, to achieve its war aims of eliminating hamas. he has been briefing a government committee in which he acknowleged his difference with the white house on that, not on the objective, per se, more on the means. that much is clear. president biden has been firm in his belief that a full—scale of invasion of rafah would be a disaster. the white house has invited key security officials to washington to discuss the strategy �*probably early next week'. here's what the us national security adviser said ahead of that meeting. the president has rejected, and did again today, the strawman that raising questions about rafah is the same as raising questions about defeating hamas. that'sjust nonsense. our position is that hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in rafah or anywhere else, but a major ground operation there would be a mistake. the un human rights chief, volker turk, warned today israel could be using starvation as a "weapon of war" in gaza. and the un's latest report frames the scale of the crisis. it grades the scale of this crisis — green to red. the current estimate suggest over 870—thousand.. are already in an emergency situation. and over 670,000 are facing catastrophe. but look at the dire projections for the months ahead. all of the 2.2 million people in gaza assessed, will be in crisis — or worse byjuly unless something changes dramatically. that scenario was put to the secretary of state antony blinken, who is heading to saudi arabia and egypt, for talks on post—war planning in gaza. this was his response. 100% of the population in gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity. that's the first time an entire population has been so classified. we also see, again, according to this case the united nations, 100%, the totality of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. let's speak to michelle farrington. she's oxfam's public health lead who recently returned from jersualem. thank you very much for being with us. as the secretary of state sort of nods to there, the shocking thing about this is it's a 25 mile strip of land where there is an abundance of land where there is an abundance of food on either side. so surely this is a crisis that could be solved if they were willing. absolutely. i mean, we know that just the matter of a few kilometres away in egypt, there are warehouses that are full of food, full of humanitarian aid, full of all of the items that would be needed to respond to the catastrophic level of needin respond to the catastrophic level of need in gaza, but we are not able to get these into gaza at the rate that they are required, at the rate that they are required, at the rate that they need to be able to avert this crisis going any further than it already has. i crisis going any further than it already hem-— crisis going any further than it already has-— crisis going any further than it already has. crisis going any further than it alread has. , . ., already has. i 'ust read tonight the re ort ou already has. ijust read tonight the report you compiled _ already has. ijust read tonight the report you compiled after- already has. ijust read tonight the report you compiled after your - report you compiled after your latest visit and you say that israel is deliberately blocking food aid from going into gaza and that it has been done using starvation as a weapon of warfor over been done using starvation as a weapon of war for over five months. what evidence do you have for that? i mean, we have the evidence of directly trying to get our own food items into gaza and having these blocked by numerous barriers that are put in place, not only for oxfam but for all humanitarian agencies that are really trying to scale up their responses. there is no way that we can respond at scale with the barriers in place. there are a limited number of crossings to be able to get goods into gaza, although there are several other crossings that we are not being allowed to use.— crossings that we are not being allowed to use. there are two that are 0 en allowed to use. there are two that are open of— allowed to use. there are two that are open of five? _ allowed to use. there are two that are open of five? there _ allowed to use. there are two that are open of five? there are - allowed to use. there are two that are open of five? there are five i are open of five? there are five crossings that are available. {iii crossings that are available. of five crossing points, yes. if we were able to use other crossing points, that would support with reducing the backlog of goods that are waiting at a rafah. and reducing the backlog of goods that are waiting at a rafah.— are waiting at a rafah. and what reason is given _ are waiting at a rafah. and what reason is given for— are waiting at a rafah. and what reason is given for keeping - are waiting at a rafah. and what reason is given for keeping the l reason is given for keeping the other three closed? i reason is given for keeping the other three closed?— other three closed? i think the reasoning _ other three closed? i think the reasoning that _ other three closed? i think the reasoning that is _ other three closed? i think the reasoning that is given - other three closed? i think the reasoning that is given is - other three closed? i think the i reasoning that is given is around security and is around the suitability of those crossings to be able to move goods. however, one of the crossing points that is currently in use for goods was never designed as a goods crossing point. it was always designed as a pedestrian crossing point. so, actually, the reasoning that we are being given doesn't really make a lot of sense in terms of why we can only use the two crossing points to be able to bring goods into gaza. you also talk about the arbitrary rejection of dual use items. what is that? ., , , ., ., rejection of dual use items. what is that? ., , ., , that? the dual use items are a very arbitrary list — that? the dual use items are a very arbitrary list of _ that? the dual use items are a very arbitrary list of items _ that? the dual use items are a very arbitrary list of items that - that? the dual use items are a very arbitrary list of items that could - arbitrary list of items that could be used for a use other than its initial purpose, and quite often that means that it could be weapon iced. . , ., , that iced. that is not food, is it? that is absolutely _ iced. that is not food, is it? that is absolutely not _ iced. that is not food, is it? that is absolutely not food. _ iced. that is not food, is it? that is absolutely not food. so - iced. that is not food, is it? that is absolutely not food. so it - is absolutely not food. so it is absolutely not. the vast majority of items that we are trying to bring into support humanitarian response into support humanitarian response in gaza... 50 into support humanitarian response in gaza... , i. into support humanitarian response ingaza... . . ., in gaza... so is it your allegation that when _ in gaza... so is it your allegation that when you — in gaza... so is it your allegation that when you bring _ in gaza... so is it your allegation that when you bring a _ in gaza. .. so is it your allegation that when you bring a truck- in gaza... so is it your allegation that when you bring a truck to i in gaza... so is it your allegation l that when you bring a truck to the border with food on it, it is being turned around for what reason? 50. turned around for what reason? so, the reasons — turned around for what reason? ’sr, the reasons that turned around for what reason? 5r, the reasons that we are given is that there are dual use items on board the truck, but it is not the items that are rejected, it is the entire truck. so if aid agencies are trying to put goods together to maximise what they can get into gaza, to maximise the effectiveness of their response, the whole truck is being rejected. so even if there are food items, plus other items, everything is rejected. that are food items, plus other items, everything is rejected.— everything is re'ected. that lends us to the everything is rejected. that lends us to the suggestion _ everything is rejected. that lends us to the suggestion in _ everything is rejected. that lends us to the suggestion in your- everything is rejected. that lends. us to the suggestion in your report that it us to the suggestion in your report thatitis us to the suggestion in your report that it is the humanitarian operations that just don't that it is the humanitarian operations thatjust don't work that it is the humanitarian operations that just don't work any more. it's the attacks on humanitarian facilities and aid convoys. we have the spokesman for the israeli government on the programme on thursday and said as a result there is no one to disperse the food. we sort of go around and around on this issue. what is it your belief that hamas is taking some of the food as he alleges? he says it's going into hamas hands and going into the tunnels, is that the case? . . ., ., going into the tunnels, is that the case? . _, ., _, ., case? that i could not comment on. i don't have — case? that i could not comment on. i don't have any _ case? that i could not comment on. i don't have any evidence _ case? that i could not comment on. i don't have any evidence to _ case? that i could not comment on. i don't have any evidence to say - don't have any evidence to say contrary to that, but what is very clear is that there is capacity inside gaza to be able to distribute aid. however, the conditions to distribute aid safely and keep people safe whilst they are receiving that assistance are not there. not trying to deliver large amounts of food under bombardment, we are putting people at risk by doing that. so, really, the only option that is available, if there is a complete cease—fire and we are able to distribute humanitarian aid safely and that people are able to receive that safely as well. the final one. _ receive that safely as well. the final one. if— receive that safely as well. the final one, if the _ receive that safely as well. the final one, if the facilities are not there now with overi million people gathered around rafah, which is close to the crossing, what happens if they are moved to these humanitarian islands deeper in the strip? humanitarian islands deeper in the stri? �* . . , humanitarian islands deeper in the stri? ~ . . , . strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire _ strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire to _ strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire to be _ strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire to be able _ strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire to be able to - strip? again, what we need is a cease-fire to be able to access| cease—fire to be able to access those areas. at the moment, we are humanitarian agencies can access safely is an extremely small area. so if there is further movement of people and we hope that if there is a cease—fire, that movement of people would be back towards their homes, we would want to have unrestricted humanitarian access to be able to support people whilst they rebuild their lives.- be able to support people whilst they rebuild their lives. thank you ve much they rebuild their lives. thank you very much for— they rebuild their lives. thank you very much for coming _ they rebuild their lives. thank you very much for coming on - they rebuild their lives. thank you very much for coming on the - very much for coming on the programme. very much for coming on the programme-— the shadow chancellor has warned a labour government is going to have to make some "almost impossible trade offs" on tax and spend if the uk economy fails to grow. speaking at the annual mais lecture in the city tonight, rachel reeves said the uk couldn't just tax its way to better public services. and at one point she seemed to be inviting comparison to the former conservative leader margaret thatcher. as was the case at the end of the 1970s, she said, the uk's stands at an inflection point, and as in earlier decades, she adds the solution lies in wide—ranging supply—side reform. so did her speech tonight match the moment — this inflection point as she describes it. i want to use the rest of this lecture to set out the three pillars of a strategy for broad—based and resilient growth. growth that we can achieve, growth that we must achieve. first, stability. the most basic condition for economic security and international credibility. second, investment. fostered through partnership between dynamic business and strategic government. third, reform. to mobilise all of britain's resources in pursuit of shared prosperity. let's go live to westminster, can speak to politicla correspondent. ——let�*s go live to westminster, can speak to political correspondent. the big question is whether there is a plan to deliver this growth. i suppose the question for labour is what really sets them apart from the status quo under the conservatives at the moment, because rachel reeves was talking again about her fiscal rules and stability, the bedrock on which all of her plans will be built and they only really differ from the conservatives in the sense that they will be able to borrow to invest in long—term projects. so there's not a huge amount between them, really. she talks about this idea of secure economics, which i don't think is a phrase that will be picked up and repeated by lots of voters when we eventually get to the general election, but it is about her really setting her stall out as being an economist herself, she knows what she's doing and that the economy must be built on sound foundations, if indeed it is going to grow. she is trying to, i suppose, contrast what she will do if indeed laboured to get into power as the polls suggest that they may well do it the general election with what has happened under the conservatives, which has been characterised by political and economic instability. also interesting that she is increasingly putting her programme for government alongside that of the biden administration, the inflation reduction act, spending lots of money on green industries of the future. labour had said that it wanted to spend £20 billion a year on that. they have had to water it down because of the economic situation they say, anything that points to the argument that we are going to get in the general election between the two main parties, the tory saying, "how on earth are you going to pay for these ambitious plans? " as a going to be through tax rises, and saying for example the headline rate of corporation tax will remain the same throughout a labour parliament, and lots of the same kinds of things that have been in place for some time, like the bank of england inflation target being 2% will very much remain the same under labour. haifa being 2% will very much remain the same under labour.— being 296 will very much remain the same under labour. how are you going to -a for same under labour. how are you going to pay for it — same under labour. how are you going to pay for it is — same under labour. how are you going to pay for it is the _ to pay for it is the obvious question, but from her perspective, thatis question, but from her perspective, that is very difficult to say because as she said today, there has got to be a budget event between now and the election, probably, and she won't to know what sort of headroom she is going to get if and when they take power. i she is going to get if and when they take power-— she is going to get if and when they take ower. , , , . ., take power. i suppose the temptation is for her to — take power. i suppose the temptation is for her to announce _ take power. i suppose the temptation is for her to announce lots _ take power. i suppose the temptation is for her to announce lots of- is for her to announce lots of policies now, but she doesn't really need to, they are ahead in the polls at the moment and some of the policies that they have announced previously, the conservatives have borrowed or stolen, for want of a better expression. that's what happened with the strumming of the nondominant tax status in the budget, jeremy hunt, abolished that and use that to help pay for a cut to national insurance which labour says that it will not roll back on. so there is a danger in saying too much at this stage. interesting to note thatjeremy hunt did say earlier on today, the chancellor in front of a committee of lords committee here in parliament that he does want to have another fiscal event before the general election. he also just completely unprovoked said if there is an election in october, blah blah blah, which people speculate the general election will be in october, bear in mind the prime ministers without a 2nd of may general election to coincide with the local elections. if you look then at his other... it will be the second of the parliament, september is probably going to be too early because that will mean campaigning over the summer. october is always felt like the most logical time for a general election, but the fact of the matter is what we do not know, and nor do labour, which i suppose is why teresa is being quite cagey. it's been a long one, an hour long, but there wasn't a great deal there in terms of new announcements or a radical change in approach. her political calculation is that it is better to be steady as she goes so that voters trust the labour government with the nation's finances. ., . , , , finances. you have 'ust put my october have _ finances. you have 'ust put my october have term _ finances. you have just put my october have term plans - finances. you have just put my october have term plans up i finances. you have just put my october have term plans up in| finances. you have just put my i october have term plans up in the air, peter. thank you very much for that. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. the us fentanyl epidemic shows little sign of abating. more than 100,000 people died in america last year of an overdose, most of which were from synthetic opioids, like fentanyl. up to 50 times stronger than heroin, it's relatively easy to overdose when using it. our correspondent in san francisco, james clayton, has been speaking to a former addict about how addiction took over his life. brian was homeless on the streets of san francsco for three years, between 2020 and 2023. there's someone actually doing fentanyl right there. oh, yeah, that's... you're going to see that. like, people don't give a bleep. this is his account of what life is like homeless and addicted to fentanyl. for, like, a year, i didn't go to sleep on purpose. i fell... where i fell is where i slept. and i always wondered, like, how do you...? why don't you go and get undercover or something? and it's because you're just exhausted. you're like... just sheer exhaustion and you lay where you fall, you know? so, yeah, i've been there. i've been there plenty of times. it's an all encompassing desire, like, it's a 2k hour a dayjob. all you're doing is acquiring money to make sure you still have dope. because even when you run out, like, obviously withdrawals are looming. like, they're going to... they're going to come in a matter of hours. to keep up his habit, brian regularly stole items from stores and sold them on the streets for his next fix, which he knew could be his last. there was one time we were sitting on a ledge smoking dope, like, me and a few guys near the drug dealer's spot. and there was a guy, like, laying down on the ground, kind of watching him, but he wasn't moving, but people laying on the ground, sleeping all over the place in that area, you know? and then somebody went over to him and he was dead. and that's just regular tuesday morning or whatever. in 2022, brian's feet were starting to get more and more swollen, a common problem forfentanyl users. he walked with a limp. i had cellulitis, like, which is a cellular infection in my legs due to, like, poor circulation. on our walk, we run into an old friend whose heavily bandaged legs are dripping wet, likely from a similar infection. is he, like, 0k? it's, like, wet. oh, yeah. i don't know what that's... yeah, see, that's. .. that's what happens. it's, like, weeping wounds. you got to change the dressing all the time. you already know, like, it's... it sucks. last year, brian's legs became septic. i was, like, laying in the station, unresponsive, apparently, like in the chair. and somebody checked on me. it was, like, real hit or miss. like, they thought i was going to die a few times. brian did survive, though, and says the experience changed him. he's been clean for nearly a year now. you definitely regain or even grow a greater appreciation for little, like, small pleasures, like the sound of skateboard wheels on the concrete, rather thanjust, like, i couldn't enjoy anything if it wasn't, like... fentanyl was the first concern. brian could consider himself lucky. during the period that he was on the streets from november 2020 to april 2023, 1683 people died in san francisco due to a drug overdose, most of them from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. those are some pretty alarming statistics, aren't they? let's talk to vanda felbab brown, a scholar of crime, conflict, and nontraditional security threats at the brookings institution. she joins us from washington. thank you for being here. i've got to say, i don't think i've seen the effects of fenta nyl as to say, i don't think i've seen the effects of fentanyl as close up as that. the thing that strikes me immediately is the business model for the drug pushers, because obviously they want people to be addicted and to keep buying, but this is so strong, it's killing people at a far greater rate than other drugs, isn't it?— other drugs, isn't it? seen in histo . other drugs, isn't it? seen in history- and _ other drugs, isn't it? seen in history. and it _ other drugs, isn't it? seen in history. and it is _ other drugs, isn't it? seen in history. and it is one _ other drugs, isn't it? seen in history. and it is one that i other drugs, isn't it? seen in history. and it is one that is i history. and it is one that is confined to north america, it's not just the us, it's canada, fentanyl use spreading in mexico even while the mexican government denies that thatis the mexican government denies that that is the case. 50 the mexican government denies that that is the case.— that is the case. so are they more indifferent — that is the case. so are they more indifferent to _ that is the case. so are they more indifferent to how _ that is the case. so are they more indifferent to how many _ that is the case. so are they more indifferent to how many people i that is the case. so are they more | indifferent to how many people die from this then perhaps they were in previous generations with heroin and with cocaine it, that sort of thing? well, the deferment ofjustice indictment of one of the branches of the cartels, what is really striking, in the discussions, they showed through wiretap intelligence that discussing among themselves the effects of sending bad batches of bench and all, that they nor too potent, and the people who they tested it on died. the calculation was so what are people die we will get more people addicted than those we end up killing clearly not really fearing the us law enforcement, some would change, there seems to be a ban on them on the production of fentanyl in their home state. we see the destruction _ fentanyl in their home state. we see the destruction that _ fentanyl in their home state. we see the destruction that it _ fentanyl in their home state. we see the destruction that it is _ fentanyl in their home state. we see the destruction that it is reeking i the destruction that it is reeking over there, there are a lot of people who are somewhat relieved at this point that we are not seeing similar rates of addiction here in europe, in fact we are not even seeing similar supply here. so are we getting off light?— seeing similar supply here. so are we getting off light? well, there is sirnificant we getting off light? well, there is significant discussion _ we getting off light? well, there is significant discussion in _ we getting off light? well, there is significant discussion in the - we getting off light? well, there is significant discussion in the drug . significant discussion in the drug policy community as to why synthetic opioids have not yet arrived in europe, specifically phrasing it this way, what is important about the synthetic opioid crisis in the us is that it is supply driven. traffickers, drug dealers discovered that synthetic opioids, because they are so potent are extraordinarily easy to smuggle. you don't need to control territory community far smaller amounts to evade law enforcement. it does this ease of getting the drugs in and producing them that makes it so appealing for them. we see the mexican cartels spreading in europe. they are popping up in places such as the netherlands, belgium, spain, portugal, bulgaria. they are setting up portugal, bulgaria. they are setting up methamphetamine productions there. it is only a matter of time before this network can be used for supplying synthetic opioids. there are synthetic opioids in europe. one is already emerging in places like the united kingdom. what is already emerging in places like the united kingdom.— is already emerging in places like the united kingdom. what about the wa s of the united kingdom. what about the ways of tackling _ the united kingdom. what about the ways of tackling this? _ the united kingdom. what about the ways of tackling this? is _ the united kingdom. what about the ways of tackling this? is there i the united kingdom. what about the ways of tackling this? is there any i ways of tackling this? is there any suggestion that clinics where you can take opioids safely in any way tackles this problem? is there anyway that you can prevent people getting hooked on fence and all that you have seen that works? oh, can you have seen that works? oh, can you hear me? no, ithink you have seen that works? oh, can you hear me? no, i think we have lost her. anyway, i think we've got the gist of what she was saying, certainly a risk that that is going to spread here to europe. let's quickly focus on the royal family. kensington palace has confirmed moving images taken by a member of the public and published by the sun are of catherine, the princess of wales, on a shopping trip with prince william in windsor. the princess has been out of public sight since christmas after having abdominal surgery. today, the prince of wales was visiting housing initiatives in sheffield to promote his project to tackle homelessness. here's our royal correspondent, daniela relph. calming the noise of social media conspiracies orjust fuelling them — the first pictures of the princess of wales since her surgery, out shopping at the weekend with her husband at windsor farm shop. her recovery, it seems, is going well, but still the rumours persist. spin around that one. the safety of a selfie. royal photos have been a tricky issue recently. today, prince william was in sheffield, trying to shift the focus on to the more serious side of public duty. did you think a lot of people think, "give people a house and it's all fixed ? " yeah, it's not been taken care of very well... he met supporters of homewards, his project to end homelessness in six areas of the uk. how are you? i'm good... very nice to meet you. he is one of the most famous people on the planet, and a lot of people may say, "surely a prince won't care about an issue like homelessness, or a lack of access to housing, because he may not have directly experienced that," but i somewhat feel that's even more impressive about it, not having that direct experience but still understanding that so many people are suffering. there was also chat about the challenges faced by young families, an area the princess of wales has worked on, something her husband mentioned. containing all the speculation is impossible for the team around the prince and princess of wales. the footage from the farm shop will dampen some of the more outlandish theories, but things won't feel anything like normal again until the princess of wales returns to the routine of royal duty after easter. the rumours and gossip were off the agenda today, replaced perhaps by a sense of relief... ..that a regular royal engagement went off smoothly amidst the speculation that won't quite go away. daniela relph, bbc news, sheffield. let me tell you quickly —— let me take you quickly to florida, some pictures of that doorway, it's a voting station, the former president, donald trump, hasjust gone into vote for himself in florida. it's the primaries today they are. we will get some reaction on gb news. stay with us. hello there. although south—east england and east anglia kept a lot of cloud during tuesday, the rest of the uk actually the weather brightened up quite nicely, with some good spells of sunshine coming through — for example, here in county durham. and it was mild, especially around lincolnshire. temperatures widely here reached around 16 celsius. but the next weather system is already showing on the satellite picture, with cloud thickening from the south—west. and overnight tonight, we're looking at rain moving in. now the rain will be at its heaviest across northern ireland, northern england, wales, and probably the north midlands. temperatures keeping up at around 9—11 celsius across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland, around sixes and sevens. wednesday, then, we start off with rain in northern ireland — but the wettest weather looks likely to affect wales, northern england, and the midlands through the course of the day. it's not clear that we'll see rain as far north as northern scotland, so it might actually be a dry and bright day here, and a lot of cloud for east anglia, south—east england — could thicken up to give an odd patch of rain through the afternoon. but it will stay mild — 15—16 celsiusin the warmest spots. north midlands northwards, the weather will be cooler — temperatures around 10—11 at best. now, that cooler slice of weather across the north isn't going to last long, because we've got this slab of milder air moving in behind this warm front for thursday. and that is going to be bringing some more rain, particularly to scotland. and it's notjust wet weather, it's also going to be windy — with gusts across northern scotland reaching 50, perhaps 60mph. the rain trickles southwards into northern ireland through the afternoon — but on thursday, across england and wales, cloud will probably thin and break to give some sunny spells. it will probably stay dry for wales, midlands, east anglia, and southern england. highest temperatures up to 16 celsius, so pretty mild. but it's all change again for friday — a cold front pushes southwards, introducing much cooler and fresher air, with those north—westerly winds following. so, weather—wise, our cold fronts bring some cloud and rain to england and wales during friday. the rain could be slow to clear away from south—east england. behind that the sun comes out, but there'll be loads of showers for scotland, northern ireland, and the north—west of both england and wales. the showers for these areas — heavy with some hail and thunder, and temperatures for the most part around about average, 9—12 celsius. it stays unsettled, then, through the weekend. loads more showers to come, and, as well as that, there'll be a chilly north—westerly wind. bye for now. hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the british parliament tackles football. a new bill is introduced after calls for an independent regulator, with power to oversee clubs in england's top five men's tiers. let's stay with the sport and joined gavin, who is at the export centre for us tonight. hello, gavin. yes, hello, christian. to football, and chelsea's women have taken a huge step towards the semifinals of the champions league. they beat ajax 3—0 in the first leg in amsterdam. laurenjames opened the scoring before two goals from sjoeke nusken put chelsea in complete control. just under 36,000 fans watched the match, which is a new record for a women's game in the netherlands. in the night's other tie, benfica are taking on the eight—time champions lyon. that one kicked off around half an hour ago. and it is currently goalless there. defending champions barcelona play norwegian side brann on wednesday. in men's football, it's been a day to remember for 18—year—old kobbie mainoo. the manchester united midfielder has been called up to the senior england squad for the first time. mainoo was originally named in the under 21s but has been promoted to gareth southgate's team for the upcoming friendlies against brazil and belgium. meanwhile, off the pitch, it's been a landmark day for english football, as a football governance bill that will see an independent regulator oversee professional football