with boost for indie record shops with demand for vinyl increasing forest the 16th in a row. welcome to the world. there are two major political stories we're following when on either side of the atlantic in a moment will examine nikki haley and her withdrawalfrom a us presidential election race leaving donald trump is the only republican contender for the white house. we had to west minister with the chancellor delivered his last budget before the general election which must be held before the end of january 2025. he offered a tax cut to voters. jeremy hunt told mps his policies with lori blum lead to long—term growth and tax cuts. he said he wa nted wanted his budget to release people power. let's look at some of the key

announcements from the budget starting with tax. the chancellor has announced that national insurance will be cut by another 2p. he says the cut which will begin next month is worth £450 a year for each worker. mr hunt also announced... 0n taxes there will be a new tax on vaping products that will start in

october 2026. the chancellor says thatis october 2026. the chancellor says that is to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. the chancellor finished his statement by attacking labour for the economy. we statement by attacking labour for the economy-— the economy. we today put this country back — the economy. we today put this country back on _ the economy. we today put this country back on the _ the economy. we today put this country back on the path - the economy. we today put this country back on the path to - the economy. we today put this | country back on the path to lower taxes. allowed to grow the economy versus no plan. a plan to better public services versus no plan.

growth up, jobs up, taxes down. i commend the statement to the house! in response to labour leaders are keir starmer called the budget a last desperate act and called on the government to call a general election in may.— government to call a general election in may. government to call a general election in ma . �* . , , ., election in may. britain deserves a government _ election in may. britain deserves a government ready _ election in may. britain deserves a government ready to _ election in may. britain deserves a government ready to take - election in may. britain deserves a government ready to take tough . government ready to take tough decisions. give our public services in immediate cash injection, stick to for school rules without complaint, the living standards of working people and deliver a sustainable plan for growth. so we say to the chancellor prime minister, it is time to break the habit of 14 years, stop the gathering, stop the delay, stop the uncertainty and confirm may the 2nd is the date of the next general election. britain deserves better and labour are ready. shifter election. britain deserves better and labour are ready.— and labour are ready. after the chancellor _ and labour are ready. after the chancellor had _ and labour are ready. after the chancellor had finished - and labour are ready. after the chancellor had finished his - and labour are ready. after the i chancellor had finished his budget statement in the comments he sat down with a political editor chris

mason. this afternoon i had the chance to put questions to the chancellor on your behalf. i pointed out to him is taking £20 billion more in task in five years' time. even with today's cuts in national insurance. people are being clobbered for the all the stocks of tax—cut that's baloney people are paying more. tax-cut that's baloney people are paying more-— tax-cut that's baloney people are paying more. one reason taxes are hither is paying more. one reason taxes are higher is because _ paying more. one reason taxes are higher is because the _ paying more. one reason taxes are higher is because the economy - paying more. one reason taxes are higher is because the economy is i paying more. one reason taxes are i higher is because the economy is set to get back to more growth. if you look at the — to get back to more growth. if you look at the threshold _ to get back to more growth. if you look at the threshold for _ to get back to more growth. if you look at the threshold for paying i look at the threshold for paying rates for tax are frozen as peoples incomes are rising and paying more. yes, even if you take account of the threshold what you will see next year is a big cut in taxation for families earning for that the average income is it significant cut. ~ ,, .,~ ., ., average income is it significant cut. ,, .,., cut. we will speak to our political consultant- _ cut. we will speak to our political consultant. a _ cut. we will speak to our political consultant. a general— cut. we will speak to our political consultant. a general election . cut. we will speak to our political consultant. a general election at | consultant. a general election at some point this year. did what jeremy hunt had to say today, do you think that will resonate with the

electorate?— think that will resonate with the electorate? ~ . . , ., electorate? what a tricky question. i ruess we electorate? what a tricky question. i guess we will— electorate? what a tricky question. i guess we will have _ electorate? what a tricky question. i guess we will have to _ electorate? what a tricky question. i guess we will have to wait - electorate? what a tricky question. i guess we will have to wait for - i guess we will have to wait for the opinion polling. as a couple of things for that you can see from whatjeremy hunt was saying we got a flavour with the clips you played. you could see the battle lines being drawn up. that is the conservatives are going to say look, the economy is turning around, difficult times, we're on the right track, don't blow it by voting for the opposition in casting labour as a party of higher spending, taxing and barring is a party more of the left. you can see what the labour parties response is going to be witches, hang on a minute, why would anyone vote for you after 14 years of stagnating living standards? i think the concern to get back to the heart of your question, the concern that some conservatives will have is just that issue of political gravity after 14 years in office was at the extent to

which the voters of britain are really particularly receptive to listening to the conservatives. you touched on — listening to the conservatives. you touched on back _ listening to the conservatives. you touched on back of a tell us a bit more of the political background, the landscape in which we're leading into the selection, notjust financial, social, but the whole works. i financial, social, but the whole works. , , ., ., ,, ., works. i guess to take it all together — works. i guess to take it all together the _ works. i guess to take it all together the landscape - works. i guess to take it all - together the landscape doesn't look very promising for the government and conservative party for a number of reasons. one, the sheer amount of time in office. we all know the powerful charm of time for a change for that the economic backdrop is difficult because one of the things confirm today is that economic growth is not going to be what it was before the financial crash in 2007. of course for most western industrialised countries but true here. we know the squeeze on public services is sensed among many people that britain isn't perhaps working for that the of things that as they

might photo you have opinion polls would suggest the voters are tuning out from the conservatives. it's a very difficult task.— out from the conservatives. it's a very difficult task. rob, thank you for talkin: very difficult task. rob, thank you for talking us _ very difficult task. rob, thank you for talking us through _ very difficult task. rob, thank you for talking us through rob - very difficult task. rob, thank you j for talking us through rob watson our political correspondent live in west minister. let's turn to the us politics. donald trump is the last republican stand—in. he was seen office final challenger for the parties presidential nomination. there was a former south carolina governor nikki haley who pulled out of the rates for the white house after winning just one state in the super tuesday primaries. speaking at her home state she wished him well but stop short of endorsing him. have a listen. in all likelihood, donald trump will be the republican nominee when our party convention meets injuly. i congratulate him and wish him well. i wish anyone well who would be

america's president. our country is too precious to let our differences divide us. i have always been a conservative republican and always supported the republican nominee. but on this question, as she did on so many others, margaret thatcher provided some good advice when she said, quote, "never just follow the crowd. always make up your own mind." it is now up to donald trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. and i hope he does that. hear his news of nikki haley pulling out of the race went across tv networks. out of the race went across tv networke— out of the race went across tv networks. ., , ., ., . networks. nikki haley will announce toda that networks. nikki haley will announce today that she _ networks. nikki haley will announce today that she is _ networks. nikki haley will announce today that she is exiting _ networks. nikki haley will announce today that she is exiting the - today that she is exiting the presidential race we're beginning with breaking news, nikki haley is suspending her presidential campaign today.

suspending her presidential campaign toda . �* a' , suspending her presidential campaign toda. , ., , today. breaking news, nikki haley will be delivering _ today. breaking news, nikki haley will be delivering remarks - today. breaking news, nikki haley will be delivering remarks in - will be delivering remarks in charleston _ will be delivering remarks in charleston south _ will be delivering remarks in charleston south carolina i will be delivering remarks in . charleston south carolina later will be delivering remarks in - charleston south carolina later this morning _ charleston south carolina later this morning its— charleston south carolina later this morning. it's been _ charleston south carolina later this morning. it's been reported - charleston south carolina later this morning. it's been reported that i charleston south carolina later this. morning. it's been reported that she is going _ morning. it's been reported that she is going to _ morning. it's been reported that she is going to announce _ morning. it's been reported that she is going to announce he _ morning. it's been reported that she is going to announce he is _ morning. it's been reported that she is going to announce he is droppingl is going to announce he is dropping out of— is going to announce he is dropping out of the _ is going to announce he is dropping out of the race _ is going to announce he is dropping out of the race.— out of the race. we're getting significant — out of the race. we're getting significant news _ out of the race. we're getting significant news and - out of the race. we're getting significant news and current l out of the race. we're getting i significant news and current reports that nikki haley has called for a news conference at ten o'clock eastern time this morning, reports that she may suspend her campaign for that we haven't confirmed that yet. 0ur north america correspondent nomia iqbal gives analysis into haley's lack of endorsement for donald trump. i don't think it was a surprise that she didn't endorse donald trump in the end. i mean, her evolution has been pretty fascinating because once upon a time she was incredibly loyal to donald trump in the way that you see many republicans are. but in this year long campaign that that's been going on for the republican primary nomination, there's been a lot of bad blood between them. she has really struck out, going after him on everything, really attacking him over his age, his mental ability, calling him the candidate of chaos, pointing to his multiple indictments,

going that bit further that you don't often see. lots of republicans do. and so i think that it was inevitable that she she wouldn't really fully go out and she didn't go out at all and endorse him, instead appealing to him, saying, you've got to try and win over my voters. i don't think there's much interest by him to do that at his victory speech last night. he didn't even mention her. he didn't even mention trying to appeal to his voters. but presidentjoe biden has seen this as an opportunity and he released a statement shortly after she announced that she was stepping down, saying that there was room in his campaign for nikki haley's supporters. still to come on the world today... a near miss for the ukrainian president. a russian missile landed just about 150 metres from president zelensky in the port city of 0desa. and haiti's gang leaders have threatened civil war unless the prime minister gives up war unless the prime minister gives up power. around the world and across the uk — this is the world today on bbc news.

let's look at some other stories making news. thousands of indian farmers are again trying to march to the capital delhi to demand minimum price guarantees for their crops. the farmers had suspended their strike at the end of february after a young farmer died during the protest. delhi's borders are heavily barricaded and police have been deployed in efforts to prevent the march. six indian nationals have been arrested at bangkok's international airport for attempting to smuggle a red panda and dozens of other animals out of the country that's according to thai custom officials. snakes, parrots and monitor lizards were among 87 animals they were allegedly discovered in the suspects' checked luggage as they tried to fly to mumbai. a uk cabinet minister, michelle donelan, has had to pay damages to an academic after wrongly suggesting the professor had publicly expressed sympathy for hamas. it's understood the costs paid to professor kate sang which are undisclosed have been

covered by the taxpayer. you're live with bbc news. let's turn to sudan now because the world food programme has warned that the war there could lead to the world's largest hunger crisis. more than ten months of conflict between rival military forces has left thousands of people dead and more than eight million displaced. during a visit to a camp in neighbouring south sudan, the head of the wfp, cindy mccain, said the victims of the war had been forgotten. 0ur deputy africa editor, ann soy, explained some of the background to the conflict. it's an incredibly challenging situation for civilians who have been caught up in this war that has been described as senseless, between two military forces — the national army, the sas and the rsf, the rapid support forces, who fell out in april of last year.

there have been rounds of talks brokered by regional governments in the whole of africa as well as arab states and backed by western nations like the united states. but still, they haven't yielded...lasting peace. let's speak to mandeep o brien. she is unicef�*s country representative for sudan. clearly this is an issue which a lot of the international community is talking about but perhaps not paying enough attention to for the tell us if you would just how difficult things are for people there. thank ou for things are for people there. thank you for having _ things are for people there. thank you for having me. _ things are for people there. thank you for having me. what - things are for people there. thank you for having me. what sudan i things are for people there. thank you for having me. what sudan is | you for having me. what sudan is experiencing as a result of this brutal war is a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportion. half of this country are children below 18 years. that is around 24 million

kids of whom 14 million are in desperate need of life—saving assistance. in fact 4 million children have been forced to flee their homes. which makes sudan the worlds largest child displacement crisis for the as we speak 19 million children are out of school pushing sudan to become a generational catastrophe. again, close to 8 million kids cannot drink clean water as a result of which they are highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as cholera that we're navigating in several parts of the country. all this to say the situation is catastrophic for the children are bearing the heaviest burden of these hostilities. this war needs to stop now and children need peace. what now and children need peace. what are the difficulties _ now and children need peace. what are the difficulties that _ now and children need peace. what are the difficulties that you are facing in actually helping people? we know in some countries around the world the aid effort is underfunded

and they simply don't have what they need. in some cases it's very difficult to get that aid to the people who require it. what are the problems you are facing in sudan? let mejust segue problems you are facing in sudan? let me just segue into this question, the fact that this brutal war is creating a perfect storm for a famine in sudan. you just mentioned about the hunger crisis which is of a massive proportion put it close to 18 million people are in acute hunger. this is quite unprecedented. and link to this what we're seeing is a record number of children being admitted for severe acute malnutrition, which is the worst form of malnutrition. in fact sudan reports the world largest number of malnutrition malnutrition to children, and these kids are living in 135 localities across the

sudan which are very hard to reach. and half of them are in powerfor in khartoum which are active conflict zones for our biggest challenge —— in there for her. the biggest challenge is reaching these children who urgently need nutrition support. without which they will die or at a high risk of dying. so access is our biggest challenge. we need unhindered sustained access across the conflict lines as well as across the conflict lines as well as across the borders. secondly, we need to bring in as much supplies as possible. unicef in 2023 we managed to bring 15,000 metric tonnes of life—saving supplies, including for health and nutrition. we need much more. we need to deliver at speed.

and for this we need funding, which is a massive constraint for us. in fact, unicef has applied for 40 million dollars for the famine prevention plan. finally, we need bureaucratic impact by authorities in relation to permanent crossline deliveries as well as there has been a telecommunication blackout in sudan all of february. this is hampering our humanitarian aid delivery. hampering our humanitarian aid delive . ., ., , , , delivery. there are lots stacking up u on delivery. there are lots stacking up upon another- _ delivery. there are lots stacking up upon another. unicef's _ country representative for the sudan.

a russian missile strike has hit the city of 0desa during a visit of the greek prime ministerfor city of 0desa during a visit of the greek prime minister for the local media say five people have been killed. president zelensky was showing tributes to 12 victims who had been killed by in a russian drone attack just four days had been killed by in a russian drone attackjust four days earlier. according to greek media a missile landed just about 150 metres. fortunately neither were injured. fortunately neither were injured. for more on this i've been speaking to our ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse. to our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse— waterhouse. these are two world leaders hosting _ waterhouse. these are two world leaders hosting a _ waterhouse. these are two world leaders hosting a public - waterhouse. these are two world leaders hosting a public press i leaders hosting a public press conference on 0desa support for the place which is routinely hit in a city which is routinely targeted by russia. moscow says it was carrying out a precision strike on a hanger containing a marine drone here you have attack us talking about an

impressive experience where he felt this powerful explosion. president zelensky said he saw and felt it if you look at verified images, if you hear what witnesses are saying as little as a kilometre away, we could certainly be talking in the hundreds of metres with up to give you in idea of a ballistic missile landed several kilometres away the window still rattle. it must�*ve been quite the impact. five people are known to have been killed say that ukraine's navy. this could have been very different. it could been catastrophic for both greece and ukraine. it's a reminder of the risk that ukraine's leader takes when he takes these public engagements. a un representative has described seeing dead bodies on the streets of haiti and hearing accounts of sexual violence. ulrika richardson, the un's humanitarian co ordinator in haiti, says tension remains high. while one of the most powerful gang leaders has warned there will be civil war, unless

the prime minister gives up power. violence in haiti has spiralled over the last few days. on tuesday, armed gangs who control most of the haitian capital, attacked the airport, just 48 hours after storming a jail and freeing thousands of prisoners. the un's human rights chief has called for the international community to do more. iurge i urge the international community to act swiftly and decisively to present hades for the descent into chaos. this situation is beyond untenable for the people of haiti. the gang leader behind much of the violence has demanded the prime minister step down. translation: if he doesn't resign _ minister step down. translation: if he doesn't resign the _ minister step down. translation: if he doesn't resign the international i he doesn't resign the international community continues to support them we will be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide. civil war that will lead to genocide-— civil war that will lead to renocide. ., , , , ., ~ civil war that will lead to renocide. ., , , , ., ,, ., , genocide. he was speaking there as members of —

genocide. he was speaking there as members of his _ genocide. he was speaking there as members of his gang _ genocide. he was speaking there as members of his gang try _ genocide. he was speaking there as members of his gang try to - genocide. he was speaking there as members of his gang try to seize i members of his gang try to seize the capitals airport essentially to prevent the prime minister from returning to haiti. he is currently stranded in puerto rico seeking alternative routes into his country. thousands of people have now been displaced as they tried to flee the violence. a senior expert for the global initiative against transnational organised crime. he explained a little more about the issue of rising gain crime in haiti. i think what we're seeing this week is the continuing a worrying situation that started years ago. and lead to as you said, a very high social economic, territorial and violent control of gangs. both from the 80 to 85% of the territory of the 80 to 85% of the territory of the capital today that allowed them to launch this attack six days ago. i think they have been able to

actually transform their territorial control into much more economic and political power. the gangs control very strategic areas, of course they control a huge part of the capital which is strategic but also control access to the port which is the main assets in terms of the gang leader that you are mentioning. not a single drop of oil or goods actually entered the country without his gangs and other gangs receiving a tax out of it. that is been the case for 18 months now. they have been able to control legal markets, illicit markets, run check points and extortion, kidnapping to an industrial level, drug trafficking as well, arms trafficking is in the hands of the gangs of haiti today. i think this is part of them having territorial control and their ability to make it political. i

think it's part of what's happening right now. think it's part of what's happening riaht now. �* . ~ , think it's part of what's happening riaht now. �* ., ~ , ., think it's part of what's happening riaht now. �* w , ., , right now. breaking news to bring ou. in right now. breaking news to bring you- in yemen — right now. breaking news to bring you. in yemen to _ right now. breaking news to bring you. in yemen to who _ right now. breaking news to bring you. in yemen to who the - right now. breaking news to bring you. in yemen to who the run i you. in yemen to who the run television station is reported that us and british air strikes have targeted the airport. these reported attacks just coming from a single source at the moment follow confirmation from the british embassy in yemen that at least two people died on attack of a ship earlier. the embassy described it as a sad but inevitable consequence of the houthis firing missiles into international shipping. the houthis firing missiles into internationalshipping. it the houthis firing missiles into international shipping. it is the first fatal attack since november. the houthis have reportedly claimed responsibility for it. this is the route that it was expected to take. the attack took place about 100 km southwest of the yemeni port of aden. we can speak to our security correspondent frank gardner. we talked numerous times before about attacks on shipping in the gulf of a

down. explain a little more which seems to raise the temperature yet again. seems to raise the temperature yet a . ain. seems to raise the temperature yet aaain. ., , ., seems to raise the temperature yet aaain. �*, .,, again. the reason it's raise the temperature — again. the reason it's raise the temperature is _ again. the reason it's raise the temperature is because i again. the reason it's raise the temperature is because it's i again. the reason it's raise the j temperature is because it's the first fatal attack and nearly four months of these houthis missile and drone attacks that they started on november the 19th targeting shipping which they say is connected to the us— which they say is connected to the us- uk which they say is connected to the us— uk or israel but a number of ships connected to those nations have been targeted. the us has got a major naval task force down they are supported by britain, australia, and other countries. and generally they've been able to shoot down most of the houthis missiles and drones. there are so many of them and the houthis seem to have an inexhaustible supply of these munitions. despite several months now of targeted air strikes by the us—led maritime coalition in the red sea the houthis seemed undeterred and seemed to continue to hit shipping quite a long way off the coast. in the case of this bulk

carrier it was hit around 54 nautical miles south southwest of the port of aden. that's a long way from houthi —controlled territory. they are clearly operating at range and able to do it and get through some of the defensive. i think there's a real risk here that we could be on the threshold of another step up in escalation in the southern red sea. clearly the us led air strikes on houthi positions, these are the launch sites for their drones and missiles, the command—and—control centres, it's not succeeding in stopping the houthis. the us and britain and other countries might tell themselves that this is certainly sending a message but that message isn't being heard by the houthi command to see themselves as being it in the vanguard of defending palestinian interest because they say they're doing this in support of

gaza. this is playing very well, it's very popular in the capital and in other parts of the middle east. it's quite a dangerous period of escalation at the moment. frank gardner, escalation at the moment. frank gardner. our— escalation at the moment. frank gardner, our security _ escalation at the moment. frank gardner, our security correspondent. stay here with us on bbc news. wednesday started off with quite extensive mist and fog some of which was dance this picture shows the low cloud and fog trapped with clear blue sunny skies above. on the whole west was best for sunshine, it turned out to be a lovely day here. during this evening and overnight we're going to see fog patches reform. some of that will become dense for the visibility down to 100 meters. might be worth allowing a bit of extra time for any morning trial role you might have into thursday morning a few patches of rural frost for that mist and fog start the day. that should tend to

lift and clear. then we're looking at dry weather. could be one or two showers for england and wales but hardly any, the vast majority having a dry date with the best of the sunshine across western areas of the uk. temperatures by and large close to average for this time a year but a little below average for east scotland in northeast england given the onshore winds across the north sea. high pressure to the northeast, low pressure to the southwest a bit closer on friday. it's going to get a little bit windier. 0n the whole it's going to be acquired or day, lest mist and fog to start of the day. the winds from an easterly direction at uk's only named win will be blowing across into cumbria. 0ver into the west of high ground it will be quite a gusty day with gusts running into the 40s, maybe lou fifties mile—per—hour and continue to be quite chilly for east scotland in northeast england. into the weekend the low pressure starts to throw bands of rain northwards across the uk. there will be rain at

times but it won't be raining all weekend. saturday sees a first band of rain across ireland later in the day. eastern scotland will have frequent showers so quite a wet day for the eastern mountains, probably the best of the dry and bright weather across western scotland where we should state with some sunny spells. temperatures for many of us quite close to average. sunday sees further outbreaks of rain moving generally northwards and westwards across the uk. perhaps something a bit drier and brighter at times working in towards the south and east. cabbages still buy a large close to average but a bit below for east scotland in northeast england. bye—bye for now.

this is the world today. tax cuts as the government sets out its spending plans before a likely uk general election later this year. nikki haley pulls out of the republican race but stops short of endorsing donald trump. there are fears that the war in sudan could be to the world's largest hunger crisis. 0ne sudan could be to the world's largest hunger crisis. one of aviation �*s greatest unsolved mystery.