environmental regulations. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. we start with a momentous diplomatic breakthrough on the conflict in gaza, after more than five months of war. for the first time, the united nations security council has called for an immediate ceasefire there between israel and hamas, and demanded the release of all the hostages. several previous attempts at a un ceasefire resolution had failed. the united states — israel's closest and most important ally — had vetoed three earlier resolutions — this time the us shifted its position and simply abstained. that was enough to allow the resolution to go through, with m votes in favour — let's take a look now at that ina in a moment we'll be talking to hugo bachega and john sud worth. but first, let's take a look at that historic moment at the un. the result of the voting is as follows. 14 votes in favour. zero votes against. one abstention. the draught resolution has been adopted as resolution 27—28 202a. applause that was that historic vote at the united nations. south africa's government has said it welcomes the decision at the security council — you will remember south africa took israel to the international court of justice and ask them to consider whether israel is committing genocide against palestinians in gaza. they now say it is the responsibility of the united nations security council to ensure there is compliance with resolution. israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has reacted angrily to that us abstention at the united nations. he's cancelled a planned israeli delegation which had been going to washington. mr netanyahu said the us failure to block the ceasefire resolution was a clear retreat from its previous position, and would hurt war efforts against hamas. live now to our middle east correspondent hugo bachega, who's injerusalem. first, let's talk about that angry reaction from the israeli prime minister — predictable perhaps, but he's clearly furious with what the us have done.— us have done. exactly, it's not really surprising _ us have done. exactly, it's not really surprising that _ us have done. exactly, it's not really surprising that there - us have done. exactly, it's not really surprising that there has been this angry reaction from the israeli prime minister, he had threatened to cancel this meeting between israeli officials and american officials in washington before the vote, then right after this vote happened, he issued a statement saying that the abstention by the americans was a clear departure from their position. the israelis are very angry that this resolution doesn't condition the cease—fire with the release of hostages who remain in captivity in gaza. and this is really delegation was going to washington to try to explain to american officials the israeli plan to go ahead with this military incursion into wrath. so again, ithink military incursion into wrath. so again, i think what happened today showed the deep frustration with the biden administration with the way israelis have been conducting. we've seen the humanitarian crisis with warnings of fan and —— famine and parts of gaza, and honestly concerns over the conditions in rafah where more thani million palestinians over the conditions in rafah where more than i million palestinians are now sheltering after having to leave their homes because of the war. and their homes because of the war. and the israelis are saying it is vital to go ahead with this offensive, it is the only way to defeat hamas. the americans and virtually everybody on side israel is opposed to the idea of going ahead with this offensive, and the vote today i think shows the frustration from officials inside the biden administration with the way the israelis are carrying out this campaign. way the israelis are carrying out this campaign-— way the israelis are carrying out this campaign. way the israelis are carrying out this camaiun. ., ., ~ , this campaign. hugo, thank you very much. i'm also joined by our north america correspondentjohn sudworth, who's in new york. how big a shift do you think this was an american government, to abstain on this absolutely crucial vote? , ., ., , ., �*, abstain on this absolutely crucial vote? , ., ., , ., vote? there is no doubt that it's a hiuhl vote? there is no doubt that it's a highly symbolic — vote? there is no doubt that it's a highly symbolic moment. - vote? there is no doubt that it's a highly symbolic moment. we've i vote? there is no doubt that it's a l highly symbolic moment. we've had three previous attempts to get similar wording through that have all been vetoed by the us — one attempt last week was vetoed by russia and china. this has been so far a process where the permanent members of the security council have, through geopolitical wrangling, through squabbling over semantics, failed to deliver this resolution — it took the ten elected members, the nonpermanent members to bring forward this resolution, and this one has passed. there is no doubt about it, it'll be seen as symbolic, you could hear in the security council today with that outbreak of applause when the vote went through. and of course, at the heart, the really important thing is that question over the shifting us position. there's no doubt about it, as we heard there from hugo, israel sees this as a marked shift in position. the biden administration is under pressure from the democratic base and also diplomatic pressure. france today in the security council saying that the body had been silent on gaza. so all this pressure mounting. i think the big question is, what difference will this make in the end? apart from that symbolism, is there anything of substance? it certainly removes the diplomatic cover for israel, but not only have we seen an angry response from israel, essentially saying that this resolution is immoral, we also know that the government is intending to push ahead with its war — in particular that plan to ground offensive in rafah. and there's a debate on the sidelines of what happened today about whether or not this revolution to make a resolution has a binding force— a suggestion from the us ambassador that it may not. a lot of debate about that, but even leaving the debate aside, even for a binding resolution, there's a question about how enforceable they are, what sort of options the international community has the force a government to comply — but in the end, they are very little. so i think although this is high on symbolism, in the end it may turn out to be pretty low on substance. thank you very much indeed. let's speak to frank lowenstein, former us envoy for middle east peace. what difference do you think this resolution will make on the ground? in the end, it's a breakthrough at the united nations, it's a moment of history if you like, but what would it amount to on the ground in gaza? that's a really good question. i don't think there's any enforceability to this resolution, as far as the us is concerned, that would require sanctions on israel and i don't think we are going down that path, at least not now. but it sends a strong message to the israelis that we are done asking them nicely and politely to change their stance on gaza. it says we are prepared to take actions to follow up prepared to take actions to follow up our words, and prepared to take actions to follow up ourwords, and i prepared to take actions to follow up our words, and i think the israeli defence minister is in washington asking for a whole bunch more weapons, and the message will be, "unless you start listening to our words, you will see conditions on weapons sales." but our words, you will see conditions on weapons sales."— on weapons sales." but at the moment. _ on weapons sales." but at the moment. the _ on weapons sales." but at the moment, the us _ on weapons sales." but at the moment, the us which - on weapons sales." but at the moment, the us which is - on weapons sales." but at the i moment, the us which is israel's closest, most important ally is still supplying weapons. there hasn't really been — there have been a lot of words from the biden administration about what's going on in gaza, but there hasn't been much action. i in gaza, but there hasn't been much action. ~' .. ., in gaza, but there hasn't been much action. ~ ., , , action. i think we reached a tipping oint with action. i think we reached a tipping point with the _ action. i think we reached a tipping point with the israelis _ action. i think we reached a tipping point with the israelis on _ action. i think we reached a tipping point with the israelis on friday - point with the israelis on friday during secretary blinken�*s visit. the israelis went out of their way to defy us and embarrassed secretary blinken, not only with prime minister not in yahoo's comments but announcing a brand—new settlement —— net and yahoo. there was a major slap in the face to the united states, so i'm not surprised we've reached a breaking point there where we will start backing up our words with actions. i think it'll depend on whether the israelis start listening to us or not. i suppose the next point _ listening to us or not. i suppose the next point of _ listening to us or not. i suppose the next point of conflict, - listening to us or not. i suppose the next point of conflict, if - the next point of conflict, if you like, between the us and israel is what might happen in rafah, where there are more than a million people sheltering. the there are more than a million people shelterinu. ., sheltering. the thing about the rafah invasion _ sheltering. the thing about the rafah invasion is _ sheltering. the thing about the rafah invasion is it _ sheltering. the thing about the rafah invasion is it will- sheltering. the thing about the rafah invasion is it will take . sheltering. the thing about the | rafah invasion is it will take the israelis several weeks to gather up the requisite forces to do that incursion, so i think we have a bit of time on that, and that's why we are seeing so much on the cease—fire, because not only can we get aid in during that time, but we can do it in a manner that reduces civilian casualties. without that, it'll be a bloodbath and that's what you want —— we want to avoid. you want -- we want to avoid. frank, thanks forjoining _ you want -- we want to avoid. frank, thanks forjoining us. _ in the united states, there've been two big court decisions today on donald trump. an appeals court has drastically reduced the size of the bond he has to pay in his civilfraud case — it's been cut from m64 million to $175 million. the former us president had been facing a deadline of today to post bond for the fine — which he was given for inflating his net worth. he now has ten days to come up with the money. but he'll be less happy with the other court decision in a separate case over alleged hush—money payments to the adult film actress stormy daniels. there, thejudge has said mr trump's criminal trial will begin on 15 april. it means he could be either convicted or cleared before the presidential election in november. within the last hour, donald trump spoke at a press conference. this is all about election interference, this is- all biden run things — - meaning biden and his thugs, because i don't know. if he knows he's alive. and it's a shame, it's a shame i what's happening to this country. this is election interference, they are doing things that i have never been donej in this country before. we've never had anything like it, certainly not at this level — - but we've really had nothing like it that i've been able to find, - it does happen a lot and third—world countries, banana republics. - if you look at what we just left, you have a case which — - they are dying to get this thing started. i the judge cannot go faster, - he wants to get it started so badly, and there's tremendous corruption. let's speak to adam klasfeld, who is a journalism fellow atjust security, which is a forum on law, rights, and us national security. so potentially a criminal trialfor mr trump starting next month? that's pretty soon — what do you think is the significance of that both legally and politically? well, the utmost significance _ legally and politically? well, the utmost significance is _ legally and politically? well, the utmost significance is that - legally and politically? well, the utmost significance is that the i utmost significance is that the judge did not brook any attempt by trump to further delay this trial. it's worth a membrane trump was supposed to stand trial today, there was supposed to be jury selection. and what gave to today's hearing was earlier this month, there was a dump of documents that trump received, more than 100,000 pages, and it was in response to trump's subpoena to the us attorney's office for the southern district of new york, the federal district court that had investigated trump's former attorney than fixer, michael cohen, investigated trump's former attorney thanfixer, michael cohen, in investigated trump's former attorney than fixer, michael cohen, in a campaignfinance than fixer, michael cohen, in a campaign finance case that gave rise — it was very similar to the case here. and what happened is that trump had accused the prosecutors of discovery violations, going so far as to say there was prosecutorial misconduct. and thejudge as to say there was prosecutorial misconduct. and the judge utterly rejected that today, and in court set essentially, "why are we here?" he said that the allegations were no semblance to what had actually happened, and in fact trump's lead attorney in the case, todd blanch, had spent several years, 13 years in the same federal prosecutors office. the judge the same federal prosecutors office. thejudge pointed out that the same federal prosecutors office. the judge pointed out that he the same federal prosecutors office. thejudge pointed out that he knew the rules and procedures. the prosecutor alvin bragg had slammed this as delay tactics, and was very clear that the judge agreed, the significance of this writ large is that we seem to be headed very headlong into a historic first trial of eight former us president. find headlong into a historic first trial of eight former us president. and we 'ust saw of eight former us president. and we just saw donald _ of eight former us president. and we just saw donald trump _ of eight former us president. and we just saw donald trump - _ of eight former us president. and we just saw donald trump - he - of eight former us president. and we just saw donald trump - he didn't - just saw donald trump — he didn't look too bothered, it looked like water off a duck�*s back to him, he's facing a lot of legal challenges as we know. and the other one, in the other decision today, it was decided he has to pay a lot less in terms of that bond — it was going to be $500 million, now it's been substantially reduced to $175 million — will that be helpful to donald trump? will he be helpful to donald trump? will he be able to find that money, do you think? in be able to find that money, do you think? , ., ., , ., ., think? in the visual demonstration of trump's — think? in the visual demonstration of trump's demeanour _ think? in the visual demonstration of trump's demeanour when - think? in the visual demonstration of trump's demeanour when he i think? in the visual demonstration i of trump's demeanour when he came into the court, he was looking very dour and downcast, he walked very slowly into the courtroom. and before the judge issued slowly into the courtroom. and before thejudge issued his ruling keeping the case on par for a trial next month, at the appellate court decision reducing his bond had come down, and he looked at chipper. he walked into court, gave someone a heads up in the gallery — so he was clearly buoyed by this decision. and it was absolutely a significant victory for him. but he will stand criminal trial despite what he may say, that he does not like standing criminal trial here, it is very visible on his face. when he enters his courtroom, every time he enters this courtroom, i've seen him a number of times — in this case a particular — and in his statement he called election interference. that's exactly what da alvin bragg alleges here, that trump engaged in in 2016, of falsifying business records and the goal of these hush money payments to stormy daniels, the prosecutor says, payments to stormy daniels, the prosecutorsays, is payments to stormy daniels, the prosecutor says, is to corrupt the presidential election by hiding from voters, a scandal that had broken right on the eve of the election and that could threatened his campaign. that is the crux of the prosecution's case that they'll present to a jury next month. present to a “my next month. adam, thank ou present to a jury next month. adam, thank you very _ present to a jury next month. adam, thank you very much _ present to a jury next month. adam, thank you very much with _ present to a jury next month. adam, thank you very much with his - thank you very much with his analysis of what's happening today. still to come on the world today — the bbc follows ukrainian troops on the front line in a new behind the scenes documentary. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news. countries around the world have long wrestled with the question about how to deal with china — as an economic partner, or a potential enemy? well today, the uk government said that hackers affiliated to the chinese state were behind what it called two "malicious cyber campaigns" on the british electoral commission and on uk parliamentarians. the british government said there was a pattern of behaviour from china that showed hostile intent, and it's imposed sanctions on two individuals and a company. this was the deputy prime minister 0liver dowden, in the house of commons. i can confirm today that chinese state—affiliated actors were responsible for two malicious cyber campaigns targeting both our democratic institutions and parliamentarians. first, the compromise of the united kingdom electoral commission between 2021 and 2022, which was announced last summer. and second, attempted reconnaissance activity against uk parliamentary accounts in a separate campaign in 2021. well, the chinese embassy in london has angrily rejected those claims from the british government. it said, "the so—called cyber attacks by china against the uk "are completely fabricated and malicious slanders. "we strongly oppose such accusations. "china does not encourage, support or condone cyber attacks." there's also been reaction from the chinese foreign ministry in beijing. from there, laura bicker reports. beijing's foreign ministry spokesperson avoided mentioning the united kingdom by name in his statement. instead, he said that "countries should avoid making baseless accusations without sufficient and objective evidence". he said that china was the victim of cyber attacks in the world, and he said that "such incidents need to be investigated with sensitivity, and those investigations are complex and should not be politcised". these words echo former statements made by beijing to london when accused of cyber espionage — in fact, it's one of the issues that threaten to fray the ties between the united kingdom and china. let's speak to nigel inkster, who is senior adviser for cyber security and china, with the international institute for strategic studies. what do you make about what we heard today in the house of commons from the deputy prime minister, these allegations against china? how significant do you think the threat is from china? i significant do you think the threat is from china?— is from china? i think it's pretty well-established _ is from china? i think it's pretty well-established now _ is from china? i think it's pretty well-established now that i is from china? i think it's pretty| well-established now that china is from china? i think it's pretty i well-established now that china is well—established now that china is engaged in a very wide—ranging global set of cyber activities — data collection — and it's hardly surprising that the united kingdom is caught up in this. a particular facet of this is that for china, the most important priority is maintaining the political and ideological security of the chinese communist party, which means that any critics, anyone who challenges the chinese narrative has to be neutralised by whatever means, overt or covert. so it's hardly surprising in this context that british mps who are known to be very critical of china should have been targeted. when it comes to the uk electoral register, i think this is part of a wider phenomenon where china is collecting population level data sets for a variety of purposes, ranging from espionage through to the capabilities to develop effective cognitive warfare, messaging for research, biomedical areas, and even potentially for the bio weapons programme. so this is something that's happening all the time. but the chinese denials are getting really shock warm. find getting really shock warm. and briefl , getting really shock warm. and briefly. do _ getting really shock warm. and briefly. do you _ getting really shock warm. and briefly, do you think countries like the united kingdom are waking up to this threat from china? mast this threat from china? most certainly. — this threat from china? most certainly, it's _ this threat from china? most certainly, it's something i this threat from china? mostj certainly, it's something that this threat from china? ij�*ifsii certainly, it's something that can no longer be ignored. for some years now, china's leader, xijinping, has been quite explicit that the china dream is essentially a vision for china being at the centre of the civilised world, and the community, the common destiny for mankind of reordering global governance is something that is designed very much to be to china's benefit. it sounds very benign and harmless, but it's actually very self—centered, hierarchical and coercive. actually very self-centered, hierarchical and coercive. thank you so much for— hierarchical and coercive. thank you so much for your _ hierarchical and coercive. thank you so much for your analysis, - hierarchical and coercive. thank you so much for your analysis, nigel. i farmers around europe have been protesting in recent weeks about they way they're treated — and in particular again cheap imports and tighter environmental regulations. well today it's been the turn of british farmers to demonstrate — they've been taking part in a "tractor go—slow" in central london — ending up outside westminster. live pictures of those tractors in london. let's speak to our reporter meghan 0wen. what are these farmers so angry about? ., . , what are these farmers so angry about? ., ., , ., what are these farmers so angry about? ., .,, ., ., , , about? for the last two hours, these tractors have — about? for the last two hours, these tractors have been _ about? for the last two hours, these tractors have been circling _ tractors have been circling around manchester, tooting their homes and hoping the people in those buildings will be hearing those calls. we've seen some pretty extraordinary scenes at rush hour in london, with tractors going across voxel bridge and right there at the houses of parliament —— westchester. why are they so angry? mostly because of cheaper food they so angry? mostly because of cheaperfood imports they so angry? mostly because of cheaper food imports and timing environmental regulations, inadequate food insecurity and also foetal labelling. and as you mentioned, it comes off the back of a number of protests we've seen in europe and across the world, as well — but this time, its british farmers�*s turns to protest. and hundreds turned out from different generations — we've seen younger farmers saying they're worried about their future, farmers saying they're worried about theirfuture, olderfarmers worried about their livelihoods, as well. so it's been a pretty lively protest today in westminster. meghan, thank ou so today in westminster. meghan, thank you so much- — today in westminster. meghan, thank you so much. those _ today in westminster. meghan, thank you so much. those angry _ today in westminster. meghan, thank you so much. those angry farmers i you so much. those angry farmers protesting in the heart of the capital. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there, good evening. it's looking a little bit more settled as we head into the bank holiday weekend, with lighter winds, a lot of dry weather around, and it could feel a bit warmer, too. but lots of wet and windy weather to get to before then. this was northern ireland earlier on today — a freshening southeasterly wind. there'll be further spells of rain as we head through the rest of the working week. it'll be blustery, and temperatures will be at or below the seasonal average. some of the showers could even turn out to be wintry over the tops of the hills. and we've seen some wintriness today across the hills of scotland there, and this warm front gradually pushing further northwards and eastwards. a cold front pretty much stationary, giving some further outbreaks of rain across devon and cornwall, most of that rain cools off into the north sea. still some wintry showers across northern and eastern scotland — watch out for some icy stretches here into tomorrow morning, it is going to be a cold night. watch out for some icy stretches here into tomorrow morning, it will be a cold night. blustery up towards the north of scotland and the northern isles. further south, a mixture of cloud and clear spells. temperatures between 5—7 celsius, so a frost—free start to the day here. now, on tuesday, a lot of dry weather around. we see most of that rain clear off into the north sea — where will still be some wintry showers across northern and eastern scotland. windy across the northern isles, our cold front brings further outbreaks of rain into central, southern england, stretching up to the west midlands perhaps, and into eastern wales. temperatures peaking between 5—12 celsius north to south. and then, on wednesday, perhaps some early brightness across parts of east anglia — it's a very windy day with low pressure out towards the west. strong, gusty winds for irish sea coast, more organised bands of showers tracking northwards and eastwards. some of the showers possibly wintry over the higher ground of wales and the southwest of england. it's a bit milder across scotland on wednesday, but a bit cooler further south. and low pressure dominant, too, on thursday — there'll be further heavy rain as we head through the small hours across much of england and wales. again, bands of organised showers and brisk south—westerly winds, too, particularly towards english channel coasts, possibly severe gales here, so a very windy day on thursday. by the time we get to good friday, though, it should turn drier, especially in the afternoon, some showers at first, and temperatures will start to rise. so, for the easter bank holiday weekend, a lot of dry weather around, maybe some mist and fog. it will be feeling a little warmer. bye— bye. this is the world today from bbc news. 0ur our latest headlines. a bbc documentary gives a first person view of the bitter fighting on ukraine's eastern front. four gunmen accused of carrying out the moscow concert hall attack are charged with terrorism. two men are found guilty of murdering a 23—year—old footballer — two days after he brushed past a new bbc documentary brings home the stark reality of the bitter fighting taking place on the front line. it follows a single ukrainian infantry battalion whose troops, led by commander vovan, wore body cameras, capturing in detail their efforts to defend a railway