hello, i'm lucy grey — welcome to verified live. in the last hour, president biden has held a phone call with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. it comes after civil defence officials in gaza say israel has struck two areas in the southern city of rafah, where the idf has told civilians to leave. pictures show thick plumes of smoke rising over buildings as displaced palestinians carrying what's left of their belongings flee eastern rafah. around 100,000 people in areas closest to the israeli border are being urged to move to what the idf calls expanded humanitarian zones in the al—mawasi and khan younis areas. it says tents, food, water, and medication will be available. the israeli defence minister yoav gallant said military action against hamas in rafah is needed because of the group's refusal

to negotiate the release of israeli hostages. a hamas official has described the move as a "dangerous escalation". the un and us have warned that an assault on the city, where more than a million displaced palestinians are sheltering, could have catastrophic consequences. 0ur security correspondent, frank gardner has more from jerusalem. you can break this down into three aspects — the humanitarian, the military and the political. 0n the humanitarian side, the americans have made it very clear to israel that they will they do not approve a rafah military operation until they see a plan that safeguards the lives of all the civilians there. and certainly when antony blinken was here a few days ago, the us secretary of state, he said, still haven't seen that plan. so i think it's going to be a slightly frosty phone call between the us president and prime minister benjamin netanyahu. no doubt that netanyahu will try to reassure him that this

is only a limited operation. so, on the political side, remember that netanyahu heads a coalition of fairly disparate views, and part of that coalition is far right, real hard liners, people who frankly would be in favor of reoccupying gaza and even putting settlements back there. so, as a sop to them, because they want to see a full scale military operation in rafah that wipes out hamas and shows israel's strength. that's not something that america will countenance. but as a sop to them, he can say, look, we've already begun an operation in rafah, even if it's limited. the military side of this, what is this actually going to gain? i think it's very unlikely that this is going to be seeing the release of large numbers of hostages. the last time a decent number of hostages came out of gaza alive was in late november, there was 105, and that was through negotiations.

it was a result of really careful mediation by the qataris and the egyptians, supported by the cia. and those negotiations came pretty close to the weekend. there was a lot of optimism. they stalled in the end for a number of reasons, but primarily because hamas wanted an israeli undertaking that any deal they signed would include a full and final end to the fighting and the occupation. israel was not prepared to make that commitment. jan egeland, secretary general of the norwegian refugee council, told us more about the situation in rafah. the fear is all over rafah now, because the idf has given us a map with eight sectors that are red and people are forced to leave them. it's a forced relocation, which is a violation of international law, because there is no safe place to go,

there is no aid for them ready there. there is no shelter and there is no return guaranteed for the people. so we are appealing for them to not invade rafah. it's the largest cluster of displacement camps on earth. the border crossings have now been closed. the whole lifeline to the civilian population will falter within days because we will have no new supplies. we will not have fuel for the aid workers. it would be a catastrophe, a bloodbath, if there was a war ploughing through rafah. so, hamas and israel has to agree on a deal that can end this madness and we can get a ceasefire. if there is a full scale invasion, there will not be aid. i mean, today, even the rafah and kerem shalom crossings are closed. there is fuel for 48 more hours.

khan yunis, where they've been told to go, and al—mawasi, where they've been told to go, is respectively in ruins or completely overcrowded. so there is no safe way of having an invasion, ploughing through the largest refugee camp on earth in a gaza strip that is largely destroyed. this was supposed to be the last refuge for the civilian population. do not attack it. officials say three tourists found dead in mexico were shot in the head and their bodies dumped in a well. authorities say two australian brothers and their american friend disappeared on april 27, while on a surfing trip in ensenada, in the north of the country. officials believe the men were attacked trying to stop their pick—up truck being stolen.

meanwhile, surfers have paddled out off the coast of the mexican town to pay tribute to the murdered men. let's get more from our central america correspondent, will grant, who's in mexico. what more can you tell us about these men? these were two brothers from perth, callum and jake robinson, and theirfriend, from perth, callum and jake robinson, and their friend, jack carter, who had basically come together in mexico for a surfing holiday. this particular part of the coastline in baja california is very popular with surfers. what they did is not uncommon. it was an even vertically perceived, i shouldn't have thought by them, as that dangerous. ensenada is a popular surfing spot, and so are all the bays and coves along that coastline. according to authorities in northern

mexico, they meant let it out for their vehicle. there may have been some kind of resistance. of course things are still being investigated. and they were murdered by the perpetrators. three people have been arrested, one of whom had the men's mobile phones at the time. tragically, their bodies were found in a world some six kilometres away from the camping site. their burnt out car was found and the families have not identified the bodies positively. you say they may not have thought this area is particularly dangerous. but what about the area more generally? how bad is the gang violence in that area? . , ., area? there are battles, there are thins area? there are battles, there are things going _ area? there are battles, there are things going on — area? there are battles, there are things going on between - area? there are battles, there are things going on between cartels i area? there are battles, there are things going on between cartels in baja california and across the border region of mexico and the united states. i do not want to suggest this is free of risk. but i

think they would have thought that a trip of that nature, a surfing holiday to bomb the wind surfing spots. there may be the suggestion they went too far beyond the area known as particular say. again, these details will come out in the following days and weeks. but ultimately, this is a region of mexico where cartels are battling for control of the drug routes, there is gun trafficking south, many come south, while drugs and people will head north. it is an incredibly lucrative business for the courthouse. this might havejust been a common crime, that is one element to be properly investigated by the authorities. we wait to hear exactly what their conclusions will be on that. scotland has a new leader for the snp.

john swinney takes up the position — and with it, he will also become first minister — after being the only candidate from his party to put themselves forward. the vacancy came up when the outgoing first minister, humza yousaf, resigned following the collapse of his coalition government. here's a little of what he had to say at his news conference in the last hour. as first minister, my focus will be the economy, jobs, the cost of living. it will be the national health service, our schools and our public services. it will be addressing the climate crisis. so, to everyone in every party, to every msp, to every mp, in fact, to everyone in our great country, i say this — join me. don't let our disagreements dominate. join me as we open a new chapter, as we create a vibrant economy in every part of our country. as we tackle the challenges faced by the nhs, as we build on the strengths in our schools, as we build more homes, take climate action, improve public transport and create jobs.

that's my job. that's ourjob. and i plan to get thejob done. so, who isjohn swinney? he's 60, he's a member of the scottish parliament for perthshire north since 2011. he previously represented north tayside from 1999. mr swinney is the former deputy first minister, and led the party for four years in opposition from 2000 to 200k. he has said that if elected he would seek to govern on a "moderate centre left" platform. and said he was confident he would deliver independence, through " reasoned conversation". let's speak to james walker — political reporter with the pro—independence newspaper, the national. he says he wants to unite the snp. can he do that? i he says he wants to unite the snp. can he do that?— can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors _ can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors to _ can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors to be _ can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors to be able _ can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors to be able to - can he do that? i guess it is quite early doors to be able to say - can he do that? i guess it is quite | early doors to be able to say that. you can see that he is making some

efforts to do so by bringing back kate forbes, who obviously was seen as perhaps one of the potential snp leaders at one point. bringing kate forbes back into the fold is different something that is seen to her two unite on the left and right of the party. you would unite with difference and he kept mentioning in his speech, this is having wants to put forward. this idea that the most senior snp politicians right now say their party is on rocky ground and you can't build on shoddy foundations, so unity is definitely what he he's putting forward. it is not 'ust what he he's putting forward. it is not just the _ what he he's putting forward. it is notjust the support what he he's putting forward. it is not just the support of his what he he's putting forward. it is notjust the support of his party she will need a face to get everything through. he might need the greens again. what they think is going to go on there?—

going to go on there? leaking sensitive from _ going to go on there? leaking sensitive from the _ going to go on there? leaking i sensitive from the conservatives going to go on there? leaking - sensitive from the conservatives as it should be pretty safe. patrick harvie said earlier today they will consider what they are going to do as party. because obviously he is snp leader now but he is not yet first minister. he does govern more on the centre—left. new nodded to the fact that she was deputy first minister for a the fact that she was deputy first ministerfor a long time, and within that space of time he obviously worked very closely with the greens, including when the bute house agreement was put into place, so there is obviously that relationship. i think the consensus is that he should get that backing. what about the public support? let's look ahead to the general election coming along and perhaps the threat from labour. in terms of policies that may get voters fired up, what do you reckon they're? the

that may get voters fired up, what do you reckon they're?— do you reckon they're? the one oli do you reckon they're? the one policy when _ do you reckon they're? the one policy when asked _ do you reckon they're? the one policy when asked by _ do you reckon they're? the one | policy when asked by journalists policy when asked byjournalists thatjohn swinney really wanted to put forward was child poverty. that is obviously a platform that the snp have always put forward. 0bviously, independence is a front and centre. 0ne independence is a front and centre. one thing have seen from the snp when they have done will electrically is the pru independence vote tripped up when i spoke to humza yousaf last month, he was very much think that labour are a huge threat. i think if they get that firm backing from their pru independence core, then that would go a long way in a positive electoral result for them. it's been a difficult few days for prime minister rishi sunak, after a series of losses in local elections across england and wales,

and a defeat with a huge swing to labour at the blackpool south by—election. mr sunak has been talking to the press at an event in north london — here's what he had to say. prime minister, you have been in charge _ prime minister, you have been in charge for— prime minister, you have been in charge for 19 _ prime minister, you have been in charge for 19 us. _ prime minister, you have been in charge for 19 us. the _ prime minister, you have been in charge for 19 us. the polls - prime minister, you have been in charge for 19 us. the polls are i prime minister, you have been ini charge for 19 us. the polls are not shifting _ charge for 19 us. the polls are not shifting are — charge for 19 us. the polls are not shifting are you _ charge for 19 us. the polls are not shifting. are you going _ charge for19 us. the polls are not shifting. are you going to- charge for 19 us. the polls are not shifting. are you going to make i charge for 19 us. the polls are not i shifting. are you going to make any changes— shifting. are you going to make any changes now? — shifting. are you going to make any changes now?— shifting. are you going to make any chances now? , ., _ , changes now? obviously disappointing to lose conservative _ changes now? obviously disappointing to lose conservative councillors - changes now? obviously disappointing to lose conservative councillors and i to lose conservative councillors and a fantastic mayor for the west midlands in andy street. i'm grateful for them midlands in andy street. i'm gratefulfor them for midlands in andy street. i'm grateful for them for their public service and hard work. i am determined more than ever to demonstrate to the country that we are making progress on the areas that mattered for them. in the last few weeks you can see the evidence of that, taxes being cut out by a £900. worker inflation coming down, plans to reform our welfare system. legal migration now, down to sustainable levels and our rwanda programmes being implemented. but

crucially also be strengthening of our national defence, but recognising the challenges we face around the world. i am determined more than ever to show people what we're doing is making a difference. that voters don't seem to be listening. _ that voters don't seem to be listening, perhaps. - that voters don't seem to be listening, perhaps. you - that voters don't seem to be listening, perhaps. you have that voters don't seem to be - listening, perhaps. you have the andy— listening, perhaps. you have the andy street_ listening, perhaps. you have the andy street saying _ listening, perhaps. you have the andy street saying staying - listening, perhaps. you have the andy street saying staying at - listening, perhaps. you have thej andy street saying staying at the centre. _ andy street saying staying at the centre, suella _ andy street saying staying at the centre, suella braverman - andy street saying staying at the centre, suella braverman site i andy street saying staying at the i centre, suella braverman site move to the _ centre, suella braverman site move to the right — centre, suella braverman site move to the right you _ centre, suella braverman site move to the right. you have _ centre, suella braverman site move to the right. you have got _ centre, suella braverman site move to the right. you have got mps - to the right. you have got mps pooping — to the right. you have got mps pooping up— to the right. you have got mps pooping up att— to the right. you have got mps pooping up all of_ to the right. you have got mps popping up all of the _ to the right. you have got mps popping up all of the place - to the right. you have got mps - popping up all of the place offering you advice — popping up all of the place offering ou advice. ~ ., , ., , you advice. what unites all parties are our values _ you advice. what unites all parties are our values as _ you advice. what unites all parties are our values as conservatives i you advice. what unites all partiesl are our values as conservatives and the type of country that we want to build. that is a country where hard work is rewarded, which is why we believe in cutting people's income taxes. migration has been cut down to sustainable levels and we have got a clear plan to stop the boats which has been implemented. we have

a plan for getting to net zero, but i know by that compromises our energy security. we believe in making people feel safe, which is why we have announced a significant increase in our national defence. those are the values and country, and it's something that unites all conservatives.— and it's something that unites all conservatives. ., ., , ., conservatives. you have spoken about this potential — conservatives. you have spoken about this potential hung _ conservatives. you have spoken about this potential hung parliament, - conservatives. you have spoken about this potential hung parliament, that i this potential hung parliament, that polling experts have been clear that you cannot predict a general election result from the locals. as you cannot predict a general electi people t from the locals. as you cannot predict a general electi people taking the locals. as you cannot predict a general electi people taking the mp ls. as you cannot predict a general electi people taking the mp for as you cannot predict a general electi people taking the mp for a; that's people taking the mp for a throw. of course this was a disappointing weekend for us. the result of disappointing weekend for us. tie: result of the next disappointing weekend for us. tue: result of the next general election is not a foregone conclusion, and the situation is closer than many people are saying, or that the opinion polls are predicting. for

what i believe in for the future country that i want to build, and that's one thing to do, fight for the country, fight for the things i believe and deliver for everyone on the things that matter for them. the the things that matter for them. the the middle east is having an effect you come — the middle east is having an effect you come up— the middle east is having an effect you come up with _ the middle east is having an effect you come up with a _ the middle east is having an effect you come up with a number- the middle east is having an effect you come up with a number of- you come up with a number of pro-gazza _ you come up with a number of pro—gazza councillors - you come up with a number of pro—gazza councillors elected. you come up with a number of- pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned — pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned are _ pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned are you _ pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned are you with _ pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned are you with that? - pro—gazza councillors elected. how concerned are you with that? what| concerned are you with that? what would _ concerned are you with that? what would you — concerned are you with that? what would you message _ concerned are you with that? what would you message me _ concerned are you with that? what would you message me to - concerned are you with that? what. would you message me to benjamin netanyahu? — would you message me to benjamin netanyahu? l— would you message me to ben'amin netan ahu? ., , , , netanyahu? i have been deeply concerned _ netanyahu? i have been deeply concerned about _ netanyahu? i have been deeply concerned about a _ netanyahu? i have been deeply concerned about a military - netanyahu? i have been deeply - concerned about a military incursion into rafah, given that the number of civilians sheltering there and the crossing points for aid. no priority right now should be all parties, but particularly for a to release more hostages. that is the best way to end the surround, and that's what i will continue to call on all parties

to do. �* ., ., ., will continue to call on all parties todo. �* ., ., ., to do. around the world and across the uk, this _ to do. around the world and across the uk, this is— to do. around the world and across the uk, this is sac— to do. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. -

the presidents of france, china, and the european commission are holding talks in paris, where ukraine and trade are dominating discussions. in opening remarks at the elysee palace, emmanuel macron told xi jinping coordination with china on crises in ukraine and the middle east was crucial. the europeans are hoping to persuade china's leader to refrain from supplying russia with potential war materials. he's urged the eu to remain committed to a partnership with china amid tensions over trade. let's speak to jacob kirkegaard, a senior fellow at geram marshall fund, one of the leading think tanks in brussels. can you just talk us through a little bit more about what ursula von der leyen and president macron are trying to get out of these talks? t are trying to get out of these talks? ., �* ~' are trying to get out of these talks? ., �* ~ , ., , talks? i don't think there is any doubt that _ talks? i don't think there is any doubt that the _ talks? i don't think there is any doubt that the key _ talks? i don't think there is any

doubt that the key issue - talks? i don't think there is any doubt that the key issue for - talks? i don't think there is any i doubt that the key issue for them talks? i don't think there is any - doubt that the key issue for them is ukraine. they want xi jinping to stop the sale of dual use items from china to russia. in general, have xi jinping used his influence on russia try to convince russia to give up his ukraine two invasion of ukraine. 0r his ukraine two invasion of ukraine. or at least not utilise his arsenal, or the threat of did nuclear arsenal. given that he just ordered tactical nuclear so i think those are the key political, if you like, our objectives for the year leaders. then of course there is trade. president macron will clearly want xijinping to be more open to european exports and trade with china. but at the same time also

seek to either write in chinese exports to the uk, particularly of electric vehicles. 0r make more chinese investments in this sector into the eu. {in chinese investments in this sector into the eu-_ into the eu. on the issue of ukraine. — into the eu. on the issue of ukraine. you _ into the eu. on the issue of ukraine, you mentioned - into the eu. on the issue of| ukraine, you mentioned was into the eu. on the issue of - ukraine, you mentioned was dual use goods going into russia. xi jinping's reply was that these groups are carefully checked, almost out of dismissing her concerns. do you think there is any chance of any influence coming to bed are all cars will they be able to persuade china in any way to perhaps put some pressure on russia an endless war? no, diana i think the reality is that they will fail. primarily, the broader eu—china relationship is headed, if you like. latte broader eu-china relationship is headed, if you like.— broader eu-china relationship is headed, if you like. we had to leave it there, headed, if you like. we had to leave it there. but — headed, if you like. we had to leave it there, but thank _ headed, if you like. we had to leave

it there, but thank you _ headed, if you like. we had to leave it there, but thank you very - headed, if you like. we had to leave it there, but thank you very much i it there, but thank you very much for talking with us. thejudge presiding over donald trump's hush money trial has threatened the former president with jail if he continues to violate a gag order. justicejuan merchan said the $1,000 fines he has imposed so far don't 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik has been following the case and says this was the judge's strongest warning yet. he acknowledged that incarcerating a leading presidential candidate and also a former president who has a secret service detail would raise really strong security precautions. so given that disruption and the disruption to the trial, he told donald trump, look, i do not want to jail you. it's the last thing i want to do. but he said that it is his job to protect the integrity of the criminaljustice system.

so that strong warning in court, if we dig deeper into what the judge has written ruling says, it does show that this judge is trying to have a balanced approach, because he was very clear that donald trump's posts about the jury were a direct assault on the rule of law. he said that that put jurors safety in question. but when it came to other alleged violations that prosecutors raised in relation to donald trump, calling michael cohen a liar or one of the witnesses, david pecker, a very nice man, while thejudge found that he couldn't say beyond a reasonable doubt that that wasn't actually just donald trump responding to political attacks, and he couldn't say that his comment about david pecker was any kind of veiled statement to witnesses. so the judge has said before that this gag order is meant to be a shield and not a sword by donald trump's opponents to use. so, a very careful reading of how thejudge is interpreting this gag order and what donald trump can say.

but nevertheless, we've heard donald trump accuse the judge of having this unconstitutional gag order, as he puts it, each time he enters the courtroom. it's been one year since the coronation of king charles. 0n the 6th may 2023, the ceremony at westminster abbey saw him crowned king charles iii in front of a global audience. it's been a bumpy yearfor the king, marred by illness — he's just returned to public engagements following some time off to undergo cancer treatment. this was the scene at london's green park earlier, as gun salutes to mark that one year coronation anniversary took place —

notjust here but across the capital. 41 volleys were fired at noon by the king's troop royal horse artillery two churches in the greek town of vrontados were lit up as they fired streams of rockets at each other as part of an orthodox easter tradition. throughout the annual so—called "rocket war", easter mass continues inside the churches on the island of chios. the spectacle dates back to the 1800s — hello. it has turned into a mixed bank holiday weekend, to say the least. we've seen some sunshine, temperatures up into the low 20s celsius. we've also seen some heavy downpours and localised flooding, more of both of those through the rest of the day. spells of sunshine, but some hefty downpours, all driven by this swirl of low pressure. also a lot of cloud in the north of the uk. in between, a swathe of sunshine. but that slice of sunshine filling in with some scattered showers and thunderstorms. so by the end of the afternoon, parts of south—east england

and east anglia still seeing some outbreaks of rain, perhaps with some flashes of lightning. for south west england, wales, the midlands into northern england, a mix of sunny spells. feeling warm in the sunshine, 20 degrees, but some hefty showers and thunderstorms. northern ireland mostly dry, but often rather cloudy. some showers and storms across central and southern parts of scotland, mainly dry in northern scotland, but rather cloudy. now through this evening and tonight, most of the showers will fade. we'll keep a fair amount of cloud. and while we do see some clear breaks, perhaps across parts of the midlands, wales, southern england, we could see some mist and fog patches developing, at least for a time. temperatures generally between 7 and 10 degrees. so not particularly cold as we start tomorrow morning. a lot of cloud around across england and wales, we'll see some spells of sunshine. and while there will still be some showers, there shouldn't be as many as we have today. they shouldn't be as heavy either. northern ireland often

rather cloudy, particularly by the afternoon. lots of cloud for scotland, too, still with one or two showers. but those temperatures starting to lift, particularly down towards the south. 20 degrees by wednesday. we'll see cloud and rain across parts of northern ireland and northwest scotland. a frontal system moving in here. but further south and east, some spells of sunshine and some warmth. 19 degrees in newcastle, 20 in cardiff, 21 in london. that is a sign of things to come as we head towards the end of the week. there will still be some frontal systems grazing the north of the uk, some rain at times, particularly across scotland, but for many, high pressure becoming increasingly dominant and with some relatively warm air in place, temperatures will start to climb. you could see highs in the south on friday of 23, maybe 2a degrees. and it looks like the mostly fine and warm weather will last at least into the start of next weekend.

this is bbc news, the headlines: israeli air strikes have been reported in rafah in southern gaza, hours after israel told 100,000 palestinian civilians to evacuate the area. president xijinping has been attending talks in paris — the chinese leader's first visit to europe since the outbreak of covid. floods and landslides kill at least 78 people in southern brasil. the rescue efforts continue. argentina's president, javier milei, told the bbc he accepts that the falkland islands are "in the hands of the uk" and it would take long years of negotiations for buenos aires

to win sovereignty. let's return to our top story — with civil defence officials in gaza saying israel has struck two areas in the southern city of rafah, where the idf has told civilians to leave. thick plumes of smoke have been seen rising over buildings as displaced palestinians carrying what's left of their belongings flee eastern rafah. the israeli army has said its operation there is of "limited scope". one woman who's been sheltering in rafah says she doesn't know where she'll go. this morning, we are working off an evacuation plan from the israeli defense forces to evacuate the neighbourhoods of the eastern area of rafah. so these areas include rafah crossing, karem abu salem crossing and extended to other parts. people are starting to evacuate this area immediately. it's not far away. it's just 15 minutes away from where i am now.