let s start with big news here in the uk. scotland s longest serving first minister, nicola sturgeon, has resigned. she s been the leader of the scottish national party which wants independence from britain for more than eight years. she steered the country through brexit, covid, ukraine, five conservativce prime ministers and enjoyed huge ongoing public support. have a listen to some of what she had to say. in my head and in my heart i know the time is now. let s take a look back at her career. she entered politics full time in 1999 when she was elected to the new scottish parliament. she was twenty nine years old. herfirst big test in government came when she was deputy first minister and health secretary, as swine flu was declared a pandemic. she then oversaw planning for 2014 s independence referendum. the scottish people voted to stay part of the uk but today she said she remained committed to the independence cause. am firmly of the you there is no majority suppor
Into the care of the red cross after negotiations involving qatar. They are on their way to central israel. Good evening. We start with the news that the family of two hostages, being held by the group hamas for almost two weeks, had prayed for. Israel confirms a mother and her daughter, who are American Citizens, have been released. It follows Mediation Efforts by the gulf state of qatar, with hamas, designated as a Terror Organisation by many western governments, including the uk, saying they were freed for humanitarian reasons. Around 200 hostages, are still being held in gaza, and israels total siege of the territory, cutting off food, water and medicines, will not end, it says, until all of them are freed. Emergency aid trucks with badly needed supplies to help some of the more than two Million People trapped in gaza sit on the border with egypt, ready to go in. But as yet, theres no deal allowing their entry. Meanwhile, israels Bombing Campaign over gaza, targeting members of ham
ceasefire deal between israel and hamas, which is only forfour days. oscar pistorius is due to be released on parole after he ii released on parole after he 11 years after he murdered his girlfriend, rena steenkamp. welcome to the programme, what has been a dramatic and hugely significant day in the war between israel and hamas. for the next four days, the fighting in gaza has paused as a temporary ceasefire kicks in. hostages have been policed mcaleese, also hostages have been released. this was the moment when 2a hostages who had been held by hamas were driven across the border into egypt by the international red cross. israel says all of them are in good health, they include 13 israelis, six of them elderly women, all children and their mothers. in the next few days, total of 50 israeli hostages are due total of 50 israeli hostages are due to be released. ten thai nationals and a filipino were also released today under a separate steel. while those scenes were unf
military occupation at some point in the past. so the treatment of prisoners and the fact that they are all palestinians will view palestinians held in israeli dissension asked political prisoners. two israelis, they are security prisoners into israelis they include some of the most security threat, some of the serious, people who have carried out attacks. there is a a range as well. for example teenage boys accused of throwing stones. and what human rights groups will say is that is really settlers in the same territory of the west bank who carry out those offences, that israel regards as a terrorist offence, they argue that they are not treated in the same way. so the issues of prisoners is very, very important to palestinians. that is why you see among palestinian factions the idea of who has the greatest leverage to get prisoners out is important. in the bitter and often bloodied rivalry between palestinian political groups, that has long been something that they have tri
four. i mjoined by an speaking to our colleagues at radio four. i m joined by an american palestinian, whose parents, who normally live in germany, have been stuck in gaza, since the war began. thank you very much forjoining us and speaking to us here on bbc news. since the ceasefire began, have you been able to have any contact with your parents? been able to have any contact with your parents? thank you for having me. no. i have your parents? thank you for having me. no. i have not your parents? thank you for having me. no. i have not spoken - your parents? thank you for having me. no. i have not spoken to - your parents? thank you for having me. no. i have not spoken to my. me. no. i have not spoken to my parents for almost close to two weeks now. three days ago, their name actually showed up, 45 days after. with the german consulate. and we were not even able to get the message through, so we have been asking around, you know, all the numbers of people that we know, n