are at increased risk of extinction. the united nations says — the extinction risk — hello, welcome to the daily global, where we ll bring you the top stories from around the world. we start in the middle east — where dozens of palestinians have been killed in air strikes, as part of a rescue mission to free two hostages being held by hamas. hamas has said three israeli hostages were killed in the strikes — that's according to the reuters news agency. this was the aftermath in rafah. a spokesman for the hamas—run health ministry says at least 67 palestinians were killed. a doctor at a nearby hospital said it was unable to cope with the number of injured. hamas is designated a terror organisation by the uk government. israeli defense forces released this aerial footage, which it says shows the overnight operation to rescue

the two hostages in rafah. the city of rafah lies in the south of the gaza strip, on the border with egypt. it's believed around a million and a half palestinians are currently sheltering there. our middle east correspondent with the latest. explosion last night, israel's army came to rafah. special forces, backed by airstrikes on homes and mosques. left behind, more than 60 people dead, and took with them two israeli hostages, snatched from a second—floor apartment. these pictures — released by the israeli army — showed the moment counter—terrorist police went in. 60—year—old fernando marman and 70—year—old louis har were kidnapped from kibbutz nir yitzhak on october the 7th.

their arrival back in israel, a rare moment for the country's prime minister. covered by special forces on their way out of gaza, covered on arrival with love. military operations have so far freed three hostages. relatives say a deal with hamas is still the best way to get the others out. mentally, they look ok. physically, they look ok. please, be serious and strike a deal. the israeli people needs the deal done. not yesterday, not tomorrow, today. we want it done as soon as possible. we want to go back to our ordinary life. for gazans, ordinary life has disappeared, buried in the rubble of their homes, in the quivering of their children. translation: we were at home i when the airstrikes were going on. i told my mother that i wanted

to use the bathroom. suddenly, all the walls of the bathroom and all the water containers above it collapsed on me. rafah is the next target for israel's army. the war has pushed half of gaza's population south, into this border town. the us has warned an offensive here, without proper planning, would be a disaster. israel is so far sticking to its plan. the united nations and international actors now face a fateful choice. do they want to save hamas or save palestinian civilians? they cannot stop israel from dismantling the last four hamas battalions in the gaza strip and securing the release of the 134 remaining hostages. the price of israel's war is rising. forfamilies in rafah today, the cost, incalculable. the us is urging israel to consider

a potential hostage deal to pause the fighting. israel worries that a deal would mean hamas surviving. but after four months of war, it isn't the group's leaders who are dying. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. let's speak to ziad issa, head of humanitarian policy at actionaid uk, a charity working with its partners to provide humanitarian aid in rafah. thank you for being with us, what are you hearing about the situation on the ground in rafah, what need, if any is getting an? it on the ground in rafah, what need, if any is getting an?— if any is getting an? it is a very distressing _ if any is getting an? it is a very distressing news _ if any is getting an? it is a very distressing news we _ if any is getting an? it is a very distressing news we have - if any is getting an? it is a very distressing news we have been hearing throughout the weekend and today especially after the explosion last night. rafah is a highly densely populated area with around 280,000 palestinians before the 2nd of october now there are around 1.5 million palestinians living in an

area around 63 km in a space we are talking about a factor being one of the most populated refugee camps at this time. any attacks her escalation would mean a lot of casualties amongst civilians. rafah has the only access point for eight and the main access point for aid since the 7th of october. most of the trucks coming through have come through rafah. so not only for the high number of casualties among civilians but also the inability of humanitarian eat organisations to get into gaza. are humanitarian eat organisations to get into gaza-— humanitarian eat organisations to get into gaza. are they able to get an hint get into gaza. are they able to get anything in — get into gaza. are they able to get anything in at _ get into gaza. are they able to get anything in at the _ get into gaza. are they able to get anything in at the moment? - get into gaza. are they able to get anything in at the moment? it - get into gaza. are they able to get anything in at the moment? it has| anything in at the moment? it has been a struggle. _ anything in at the moment? it has been a struggle. it _ anything in at the moment? it has been a struggle. it has _ anything in at the moment? it has been a struggle. it has been - anything in at the moment? it has been a struggle. it has been veryl been a struggle. it has been very challenging for a lot of the eight organisations to understand. the process that they should follow. the screening mechanisms on the border is highly complex although they have not changed, since the war started,

we have seen a lot of potential for items and soundly a lot of us are struggling on a daily basis to get the basics of life such as food and medicines inside gaza. these are challenges we are experiencing every day because of the fighting continuing on a daily basis with trucks inside gaza are also struggling to move within the cities and go to the crossing points to pick up this aid. we are in a situation we're unable to serve the situation we're unable to serve the situation in gaza without a cease—fire. situation in gaza without a cease-fire.— situation in gaza without a cease-fire. ., ~ . ., situation in gaza without a cease-fire. ., . ., ., cease-fire. thank you so much for an u date. cease-fire. thank you so much for an update let's — cease-fire. thank you so much for an update let's get _ cease-fire. thank you so much for an update. let's get more _ cease-fire. thank you so much for an update. let's get more on _ cease-fire. thank you so much for an update. let's get more on hostages l update. let's get more on hostages rescued overnight. fernando marman louis har have been united with their families louis har have been united with theirfamilies in both in good health. the two holding argentinian citizenship taken from of the second floor of a building citizenship taken from of the second floor ofa building in citizenship taken from of the second

floor of a building in the centre of rafah near the medical centre, taken to a medical centre. israel launched operations in gaza after hamas invaded on the 7th of october killing more than 1200 people and taking another 253 hostage. more than 130 are still believed to be held in gaza. i have been speaking to the foreign editor for the weekly news paper about the mood in israel. obviously it's being celebrated. the government is doing everything it can to to come off as this being a governmental success, something that they have... ..it�*s almost as if they're trying to use this as proof that their strategy, all along with military pressure on hamas, is the only way to to get the hostages out, which is not true. we know that many of them are dead. 31 have been confirmed dead. another 20 are presumed dead. so i would say the mood in israel is sombre. a lot of people have lost patience with this with this situation, with the government's strategy.

so even though they're celebrating these two people coming out, they are saying it is long overdue. first of all, 129 days that these people are in captivity. and second of all, there are some who are extremely vulnerable, especially the young women who we have heard from released hostages are being sexually assaulted. so it is not a huge celebration. it is obviously people are happy to hear about this, but it's still being taken as a partially success. not a full—on success, given the many hostages who are still in gaza. let's speak now to 0liver mcternan, director of forward thinking, who has worked in hostage negotiation for over 20 years. he played a key role in the negotiations surrounding the release of the israeli soldier gilad shalit, who was held hostage by hamas for five years. welcome and thank you for being with us. does the rescuing of these two hostages which also comes at the cost of the deaths of two israeli

soldiers and, reports of many dozens of gazans, doesn't change anything as far as the military operation goes or hostage negotiation goes for israel? —— it does it change? firstly, when his pleas for the families of the hostages to be reunited. as you say, at the expense of the bereaved in gaza and other bereaved families of israel of the two young soldiers. but i think it does not change the circumstances. my does not change the circumstances. my worry is it would prolong the war in as long as the war goes on, the rest of the hostages, i believe 135 still in captivity, their lives are really at risk. also, because we saw it was suspected all along, the hostages are not in one group and not underground. but they are all over gaza and without a cease—fire, i cannot see how an exchange can be

arranged and their safety in place at the same time. set, arranged and their safety in place at the same time.— arranged and their safety in place at the same time. a few hours ago on bbc news we — at the same time. a few hours ago on bbc news we heard _ at the same time. a few hours ago on bbc news we heard from _ at the same time. a few hours ago on bbc news we heard from the - at the same time. a few hours ago on bbc news we heard from the relative | bbc news we heard from the relative of someone still held hostage saying she believes this rescue will make it more dangerous for the other hostages because it will make their captors and possibly more trigger—happy, would you agree with that assessment? yes. trigger-happy, would you agree with that assessment?— trigger-happy, would you agree with that assessment? yes, sadly. i would not say necessarily _ that assessment? yes, sadly. i would not say necessarily make _ that assessment? yes, sadly. i would not say necessarily make the - that assessment? yes, sadly. i would not say necessarily make the captorsl not say necessarily make the captors more trigger—happy, i think as i have been saying since the beginning of this, the hostages are held for a purpose. i don't think the deaths in any way will help bring about that purpose which is basically the release of many palestinian prisoners in israeli jails, i'm explaining that not endorsing that purpose. i think we must keep that in mind. my worry is you never

resolve a hostage situation through military means. the safest way, the most secure way is through negotiation. forthat most secure way is through negotiation. for that to happen in real time and realistically, i think there must be a cease—fire now. this is not about hamas, defeating them, it is about a human catastrophe impacting on the life of 2.3 million people in gaza. they are in life changing circumstances so if we pursue this policy of using military means as pressure, i think the consequence of this war will live on long after people like prime minister netanyahu are replaced or evenjoe biden. figs minister netanyahu are replaced or evenjoe i“den-— even joe biden. as you say, there are two sides _ even joe biden. as you say, there are two sides that _ even joe biden. as you say, there are two sides that must _ even joe biden. as you say, there are two sides that must agree - even joe biden. as you say, there | are two sides that must agree to a deal here. hamas have refused to hand over those hostages, as you say they want other things in return, israel says if you handle for the hostages, put down your weapons, this will all end. is there a route

for hamas out of this?— this will all end. is there a route for hamas out of this? yes, they said this will _ for hamas out of this? yes, they said this will and _ for hamas out of this? yes, they said this will and in _ for hamas out of this? yes, they said this will and in their- said this will and in their destruction. it is right at the beginning. if you say to people holding hostages is, my goal is to destroy you and at the same time, i want you to release the hostages, it is a nonstarter. it does not make sense. i think what we have to get back right from the beginning is, israel has been reacting in a very traumatised way. what they need now is people, notjust with words, saying, be careful, don't go into rafah now, it will be a disaster, but we must bucket to lead back to back it up with action. i find it difficult to see how netanyahu can take seriously whatjoe biden is saying to him and other european leaders and at the same time giving netanyahu the arms to continue the military assault. so i think we have to get our house in order if we really want to be helpful towards

israel for the moment. because i think the consequences of what is happening here will be felt in the immediate region for some time to come. ., ~' immediate region for some time to come. . ~ ,, immediate region for some time to come. ., ~ ,, y immediate region for some time to come. . ~ ,, , . ., immediate region for some time to come. . ~ , . ., , come. thank you very much for being with us, interesting _ come. thank you very much for being with us, interesting to _ come. thank you very much for being with us, interesting to get _ come. thank you very much for being with us, interesting to get your- with us, interesting to get your thoughts there. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk... double child rapist and murderer — colin pitchfork — will face a fresh hearing after challenging a decision to keep him behind bars. pitchfork was jailed for life for raping and strangling two 15—year—old girls in the 1980s. he was granted parole but this was challenged by ministers and the parole board denied his release in december. schools are spending tens of thousands of pounds more a year, to meet rising costs of contracts with private firms. these private finance initiative schools, are locked into 25 to 30—year contracts, in which charges rise more than at other schools. pfi investors say the contracts give, long—term value for taxpayers' money.

police say they will take no further action against the conservative mp — andrew rosindell — after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and misconduct in a public office. scotland yard said the evidence threshold for criminal prosecution had not been met. you're live with bbc news. labour has defended its decision to continue campaigning for its candidate in the rochdale by—election, despite comments he made about israel during a local meeting. azhar ali has apologised for reportedly saying the country had allowed the 7th october attacks to go ahead, so it could do whatever it wanted in response. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth reports. this is my plan for rochdale in 30 seconds. the man who wants to be labour's next mp for rochdale, in his own promotional video. but less than a week after launching his campaign, azharali has had to apologise.

he said comments he'd reportedly made claiming israel had allowed the october the 7th attack to happen were inexcusable, ignorant and false. labour has condemned what he said, but the party is standing by him. he has retracted his remarks, apologised unreservedly, explained that he fell for this online conspiracy theory, but also, and this is absolutely critical, has this seriousness of understanding the scale of the offence caused. in rochdale, it's too late for labour to change its candidate but there are questions over whether the party should withdraw its support, or even say azhar ali can't sit as a labour mp work he'd win, though there is no sign of that from keir starmer yet. up until now he has been really firm in anti—semitism but now that electoral politics is in play, suddenly he seems to be allowing this person notjust remain as a candidate for the labour party, but also for the labour party to continue to actively campaign for this person to become an mp.

the labour party is in a bind. keir starmer has made rooting out anti—semitism a central part of his leadership, and many jewish groups have praised his progress, but this row allows opponents like the conservatives to claim the party has not changed. if, though, labour withdraws support from its candidate in rochdale, it risks handing out advantage to rival campaigns. here is one they are worried about, george galloway standing in rochdale, putting labour's stance on both the front and centre. for some it's all a difficult dilemma. but i cannot excuse what azhar ali did, it is an excusable. they are in a pretty impossible situation but i can tell you the labour party has

changed when it comes to anti—semitism. but what has happened with labour's candidate here has undoubtedly stopped internal tensions in the party at a most unwelcome time. alex forsyth, bbc news. let's speak to our political correspondent about this. stoking internal tensions within the party there, how much of an issue is this for labour?— there, how much of an issue is this for labour? , , ., , ,, for labour? this is a complete mess in olice for labour? this is a complete mess in police for the _ for labour? this is a complete mess in police for the labour leadership. l in police for the labour leadership. they have condemned the comments from azhar ali but they have not condemned his candidacy which rolls along towards february the 29th, the day of the by election in rochdale. and the great problem for labour is they cannot do anything about azhar ali being on the ballot. the nominations have been nailed down and it is not possible even if labour wanted to him off of the ballot as the labour candidate for the by election. so they are left where they are which is campaigning on his behalf, while completely condemning what they have had to say. thejustification condemning what they have had to say. the justification offered condemning what they have had to say. thejustification offered by nick thomas—symonds, the labour front venture, he believes the insurances he has had from azhar ali

that he was sucked in to an online conspiracy and that he has promised to build bridges now but thejewish community and of course, he is unreservedly apologised for what he has said. but this is drawn hugely difficult attention to labour. it's history of anti—semitism and what exactly it is doing now, who are its rank and file and it does exposed similar intentions in the party over the d in gaza by us or keir starmer some, particularly pro—palestinians in muslim members of the liberal party had been concerned about. they do not think he has been tough enoughin do not think he has been tough enough in condemning israel, in their view. figs enough in condemning israel, in their view-— enough in condemning israel, in their view. as we head towards a reneral their view. as we head towards a general election _ their view. as we head towards a general election that _ their view. as we head towards a general election that is - their view. as we head towards a general election that is one - their view. as we head towards a general election that is one by i general election that is one by election we are talking about in a week's time as we head towards a general election, this could become an even bigger issue, could it not? certainly in terms of internal tensions over the israel because issue in particular, yes. this will continue to rumble through, party

structures through the nile to polling day and you have seen now from the left wing campaign group momentum for the party to reinstate the labour whip kate awesomer, a former labour and people who had the whip withdrawn recently for comments she made talking in her view a genocide in gaza saying it should be remembered in future holocaust memorial dates. comments which labour stamped on immediately and why they withdrew the whip and demands today for that whip to be restored. so a tension here into even after the by election if azhar ali becomes the new labour at p four rochdale i think questions will not go away for the party leadership. will he get the party whip when he comes to the house of commons when he does? will he be the labour candidate at the forthcoming general elections, i don't think this issue in this row goes away at the other side of the by election. and here's a full list of candidates standing in the rochdale by—election.

you can find out more on the bbc news websites. police in delhi have banned all public gatherings ahead of a protest march by thousands of farmers. security forces up in metal blocks and iron nails to close key highways leading into the into the city. the farmers are demanding minimum pricing on crops, improved pensions and better working conditions. the protest has come ahead of national elections in which the minister is expected to win a third term in office. farmers form an influential voting bloc. now our correspondent in delhi. india's capital is preparing again, preparing again for a massive farmers protest, which might start from the 13th of february. this happened only two years back

when hundreds and thousands of farmers had laid siege to borders in delhi, bordering states of punjab, uttar pradesh and haryana, where sealed traffic was disrupted. the farmers were demanding repeal of farm laws passed by the government in 2020. now they plan to start protesting again from the 13th of february, asking what they left back then. and the demands are saying the farmers want the government to guarantee a minimum support price for their annual yield of crops. they also want pensions to the farmers and 200 unions across the country also want better working conditions in the farms and better promotion of their crops in terms of foreign imports and exports. what's important to be remembered is the fact that after almost a yearlong agitation, the government had repealed the laws. a yearlong agitation, the government had repealed the laws

back in 2021, after india's top court had intervened. but the farmers say nothing much has changed and the government is still not serious. while the government says it is going to be in negotiations with the farmer to avoid a confrontation. meanwhile, the capital delhi has banned all processions. weddings and funerals will need special permission for the government for at least one month. traffic advisories has been issued while the government and the administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that huge numbers of farmers do not manage to reach the protesting sites which has been earmarked in case the negotiations, the talks with the government fail. the farmers are really adamant now. the farmers are really adamant. now, citizens of delhi and the adjoining areas are really, really bothered as to what the next month is going to be for them like if that happens again.

a landmark report from the united nations is the extinction risk from the most vulnerable migratory species are on the rise. the report concludes human action such as habitat destruction and climate change are to play. i have been speaking to the executive secretary at the confection of conservation on migratory species of wild animals. the report finds that while there are some positive trends, overall the trends are not looking very good and 44% of the species listed on the confection of migratory species have populations in decline. moreover, it finds beyond just of the species listed on our convention which are around 1200, we looked at 3000 more species around the world and overall, the global extinction rate for migratory species is increasing.

which species are most in danger? irate which species are most in danger? - looked across every tax of species meaning, what is a migratory species, it includes all kinds of different animals including, terrestrial animals, elephants, lions, even a drop. it includes aquatic species, dolphins, wales, turtles as well as avian species, many birds. there are many different species from each of those groups that are pretty vulnerable and threatened with extinction. the findings find that the worst off are the fish species, sharks, rays, the european eagle which have 97% of the cms speeches listed under the confection in real trouble. —— european eagle. and over overtime thriller. the kansas city chiefs take the super

bowl. trailing double digits in the first half but a last—minute field goal by the chiefs pushed the game into overtime. the final few second play, kansas city field victory with a winning touchdown. you can see there, the star of the team, travis kelce being kissed by his pop star girlfriend in congratulations. so ache success all around. stay with us here on bbc news. i will be back injust a few us here on bbc news. i will be back in just a few minutes' time. plenty more on all of the days top stories. hello. good evening. rather showery today towards the north—west of the uk, but for many of us it was dry with some decent spells of sunshine and in the best of the sunny spells, it felt rather spring—like. but still a lot of standing water out there, particularly for central southern england and the midlands. we're only going to be adding to those rainfall accumulations too

as we head through this week. big changes on the way. it will be turning wetter and also milder from the south—west. so the cooler air still in place through the day on monday. temperatures close to the seasonal average and then that milder air comes streaming through, displacing that colder air to the far north of scotland for still a few days to come. now, today, we've been seeing this little feature just run out west to east, piling some showers into scotland. again, some of the showers, wintry over the tops of the hills. and we'll still see some wintry showers over around 200 metres overnight tonight. again, a few showers just pushing into northern ireland and maybe through the pennines and into western wales as well. cloudier towards the south tonight, so here it's going to be a milder start to the day tomorrow, but still a frost possible from the north of england and northwards. quite a sharp frost i think across parts of scotland. now as we head through tomorrow, we look out towards the south—west to see these weather fronts just push that milder air in. so temperatures will be rising throughout the day. there will be brisk south—westerly winds and quite a lot

of thickening cloud as well. it's a warm front, mist and murk. outbreaks of rain on and off, the odd heavy downpour at times. that rain eventually pushing into the south—east of england and east anglia as we head through the afternoon, a bright start to the day across northern ireland, but it will cloud over here. the rain will arrive, maybe some cloud into southern scotland, but it's across scotland where we'll see probably the day's best sunshine. still some wintry showers, though, over the tops of the hills. and then that warm front continues to push northwards into scotland as we head through the day on wednesday. a sharp frost to start the day across northern scotland and then some of this rain likely to turn to snow as it bumps into the colder air. further south, outbreaks of rain on and off — misty, murky out there, some hill fog, maybe a slice of sunshine through the midlands into east anglia and north wales there. but temperatures will start to rise on wednesday to 13 or 1a degrees in the south and they could rise even further, perhaps as we head through thursday. it's generally milder, wetter for the rest of the week. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the un urges israel against military action in the overcrowded gazan city of rafah. two hostages rescued by an israeli raid in rafah have been reunited with their families. in the uk, two new drugs to slow the progress of alzheimers could be licensed within months.

but will all patients get access to them? let's turn to another story concerning the middle east. britain has imposed sanctions on four israeli settlers accused of committing human rights abuses in the other palestinian territory, the occupied west bank. the foreign secretary lord cameron said their behaviour was �*illegal and unacceptable' — and that it included threateningpalestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs. the israeli settlements in the west bank are seen as illegal under international law. 0ur diplomatic correspondentjames lansdale is with me. he spoke to me a little earlier and explained why the sanctions came as no surprise. the explained why the sanctions came as no surprise-— no surprise. the west has been curowin no surprise. the west has been growing increasingly _ no surprise. the west has been growing increasingly frustrated | no surprise. the west has been - growing increasingly frustrated with israel's governments handling of the whole issue over the west bank because their fear is that this is the tin box, this is the place where potentially this conflict could escalate if the conflict in the

middle east that