live from london, this is bbc news. kazakhstan and russia's worst flooding in almost a century forces more than 100,000 people from their homes. a review finds children have been let down by "weak" evidence about gender treatment. england joins a list of european nations limiting medical intervention. spain's prime minister, pedro sanchez, says recognising a palestinian state is in europe's best interests. ending ramadan in the ruins of rafah — people in gaza mark eid al—fitr surrounded by the rubble of their mosque. a german museum sacs an employee who put his own artwork on display. —— a german museum sacks an employee.

hello, i'm lucy hockings, welcome to bbc news now. nearly 100,000 people have now been forced from their homes in kazakhstan by what's been described as the worst flooding in almost a century. authorities warn that floodwaters are yet to peak. across the border in russia, entire towns are under water and tens of thousands of people from regions in the urals and western siberia have been driven from their homes. the flooding has been caused by unseasonably warm temperatures melting snow. in the russian city of 0renburg — home to half a million people — the authorities said water levels on the ural river had reached dangerous levels. thousands of people have left the city. 0renburg lies downstream from the city of 0rsk, which was inundated when a dam burst last week. 0ur correspondent 0leg boldyrev is following the story. in 0renburg, the water has went over the critical mark of ten metres and evacuations have begun. 0bviously, 0renburg had it slightly easier than the city of 0rsk you mentioned, because at least these people had some warning. i'm seeing the pictures of residents

ordering trucks up on trucks, up on trucks of earth and trying to make little dams to contain the water which is still arriving. there is expected to be more water. in 0rsk itself, the water is slowly — very slowly — receding. but there the pictures were, really, absolutely catastrophic. in many houses the water was actually standing at the eaves of the roofs. how well equipped are the authorities to deal with not only the rescue efforts that we're seeing, but housing people and providing for them? there will be shelter. this is easy to arrange on, say, a weekly basis. what the residents are most angry about is the lack of warning in 0rsk. as late as the 5th of april, two days before the dam was breached, the local mayor was saying that things are in order. this is not the first catastrophic flood the region is seeing, and it's interesting that back in 1940s and 1950s,

the consequences were even worse, but the water was slightly lower. so that tells us that some lessons have been learned, but obviously not enough. 0leg, i read that there was a protest in 0rsk as well, people calling for compensation for what they've been through and for losing their homes. that must be pretty unusual? well, protest is probably too grand a word. these are hundreds of angry people who, a, had to evacuate and, b, realised that the amounts the region has allocated — and those amounts haven't changed since 2008, despite the inflation — are totally inadequate. you know, these people are looking at losses of hundreds of thousands of roubles and what they are being offered is up to 100,000 rouble to remedy the consequences. they know they won't be able to do this. they say the regional authorities are useless. they're trying to appeal to president putin as usual, hoping he will be the only saviour.

in the end, the russian state will probably fork out more money. but at the moment, people are very angry. children in england have been let down by a lack of research and "remarkably weak" evidence on medical interventions in gender care, according to a new review. paediatrician dr hilary cass was asked to look at gender identity services for under—18s provided by nhs england in 2020. whistle—blowers had raised concerns about care at the only specialist gender clinic for children and young people in england and wales. the report makes 32 recommendations on how services should operate, including considerations around medical interventions, further research and safeguarding measures. england hasjoined a list of countries that are reviewing treatments for gender dysphoria. in 2020, finland's health agency recommended psychotherapy as the initial treatment for children 7 with strict criteria for medical measures. in 2022, sweden restricted the use of hormone treatments to "exceptional cases" 7 with health leaders saying risks were likely to outweigh benefits.

and in the united states, 22 states have total bans on under—18s being given treatment for gender issues. some of which would impose prison time on doctors and see parents investigated for child abuse. hugh pym has more. it is a landmark review with a stark conclusion that children had been let down because of remarkably weak evidence on medical interventions in gender care. this report follows an interim review, which has already led to major changes. genderservices, provided by the controversial tavistock clinic in london, ended last month. two new centres in london and liverpool have been set up. the use of drugs to stop the onset of puberty has now stopped until further research is done. the author of the report says hormone treatments should in future be used with extreme caution bought 16—18—year—olds, and argues that children were let down by the quality of services. it is unusual for us to give a potentially life changing treatment to young people and not know what happens to

them in adult hood. that has been a particular problem that we haven't had the follow—up into adult hood to know what the results of this are. that is the reason why i have said that we must improve the research base. ciara bell started taking puberty blockers aged 16 after being referred to the tavistock. she then took legal action, arguing she was not challenged enough at the clinic and regretted her decision. a lawyer responded to the review findings. whilst it is very reassuring for young people who are going through gender—questioning and their parents, hopefully there will be a new service developed that will meet their needs appropriately. it is unfortunate for many young people that it comes too late. they live with the

ongoing consequences of poor clinical treatment. their lives are forever changed. expanding gender services is another key focus this review. recommendations include a separate pathway for young children and their families, allowing early discussions to take place, a follow—through service for 17 to 25—year—olds, and assurances that the same standards of care as other parts of the nhs will be provided. sonia wanted to transition from the age of 15, but she found she couldn't get access to care and was put on a waiting list. by the age of 18, she hadn't had a first appointment and was transferred to adult services. after hearing there would be another long wait, she opted to go private until she could be seen by the nhs. sonia says the long delays were hard to cope with and she hopes they will soon be changes. hopefully with the review and its findings, young trans people

of today and the next generations can have a more human and a more respectful transition that doesn't feel demeaning or demoralising or like it is taking years upon years ofjust waiting. nhs england says there will be an implementation plan. for sonia, it is the detail and the delivery which will count. helenjoyce is a journalist and author of trans: when ideology meets reality. she gave her response to the findings of dr cass she in atomisers that scandal both clinically and coolly, she says there was no evidence that the treatment of the stop suicide, which is one of the main thing said about it, no evidence puberty blockers help. the entire rationale for the treatment of it is ideological, not evidence—based, and the clinics

refused to cooperate her on long term study to get the evidence she needed. all in all it is an absolutely shocking piece of work. earlier we heard from hallie clarke, who is transgender and started her transition as a teenager. she's now a tv personality and content creator trying to raise awareness on trans issues. it is heartbreaking, i came out as trans when i was 13 and it took me two years to actually get an appointment with the nhs, very much like sony. the day before i went to receive my medication, the nhs was a student no wave —— no longer able to provide hrt to anybody under 16, i was heartbroken my family decided to go down the private route. i started puberty blockers and hormones and it

it is so important these in my skin. it is so important these young people get the medication they need. it is a huge part in any one's medical transition and to hear that there needs to be psychological evaluations, ifeel there needs to be psychological evaluations, i feel undermined in the sense that i know who i am, i know who i have been for years, on my fifth birthday i wore a blonde wig and has a hannah montana cake, i have known i was a woman for years and ifelt have known i was a woman for years and i felt undermined. have known i was a woman for years and ifelt undermined. it have known i was a woman for years and i felt undermined. it can take two years to get your first appointment and the appointments can be years apart. ijust appointment and the appointments can be years apart. i just think things need to get better. but be years apart. i just think things need to get better.— need to get better. but can you understand _ need to get better. but can you understand some _ need to get better. but can you understand some of _ need to get better. but can you understand some of the - need to get better. but can you i understand some of the concerns expressed about hormone treatment particularly for young people who may have other issues they are grappling with too, who maybe are not as confident and uncertain as you were?— not as confident and uncertain as ou were? , , , ., ., a you were? yes, but it is not a quick rocess you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on — you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the _

you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the nhs, _ you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the nhs, you _ you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the nhs, you had - you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the nhs, you had to - you were? yes, but it is not a quick process on the nhs, you had to go| process on the nhs, you had to go through several appointments, it is not one appointment and you get your medication. i had several appointments with two practitioners, i had psychological evaluations, assessments, questions asked, i was assessed on my health, there is a lot that goes into prescribing hormone therapy to a young person and the steps they took that i went through were good steps, i don't understand the worry for young people's health but we also had to think about their mental health and how it can affect them, not getting the medication they need. cass talks about the toxicity _ the medication they need. cass talks about the toxicity around _ the medication they need. cass talks about the toxicity around this, - the medication they need. cass talks about the toxicity around this, lots i about the toxicity around this, lots of people think it is true, they find it difficult to speak openly about their concerns. she concerns. she said she thought it was a disproportionate crisis that exists right now over gender identity. do you think that is true? the toxicity behind it, i —

you think that is true? the toxicity behind it, i don't _ you think that is true? the toxicity behind it, i don't understand - you think that is true? the toxicity behind it, i don't understand as i you think that is true? the toxicity behind it, i don't understand as a| behind it, i don't understand as a medical professional how you can feel uncomfortable to share your opinion. if you have this young person's best interests at mind you should not feel like you cannot speak freely about what you think because that is your medical opinion, i don't understand that. to the middle east next, where israel is coming under increasing international pressure over how it's conducting the war in gaza. in the past few hours, a string of world leaders have criticised the military operation. spain's prime minister described israel's campaign as "disproportionate," saying that it threatened to destabilise the region and the world. president biden said he believes prime minister benjamin netanyahu is making a "mistake" and has called on israel to agree to a six to eight week ceasefire. while rishi sunak says the suffering in gaza is "intolerable". meanwhile, australia has suggested that formally recognising a palestinian state would strengthen momentum towards peace. first, let's hear some of that speech from the spanish prime minister, pedro sanchez, who said that recognition of a palestinian state is in europe's geopolitical interests. translation: we were the ones who, when the conflict _ in gaza started, demanded the european union propose a permanent ceasefire, ensure the opening of permanent humanitarian corridors and maintain support

for the un agency for palestinian refugees, unrwa. we also proposed an international peace conference and continue to defend the two state solution as the only way for israelis and palestinians to coexist in peace and security. 0ur correspondent in madrid, guy hedgecoe, was listening to that address and provided some background to the statement. he's been taking a similar line to this more or less ever since the october 7th attack and israel's response to it. today mr sanchez, once again, he condemned the attack by hamas. he called for the release of prisoners, but he described israel's response to the attack as utterly disproportionate. and as you said there, he talked about the need for europe to acknowledge the state of palestine. he said that without acknowledging a palestinian state, there can be no solution

to the middle east conflict. and he said, as you mention there, this was in the geopolitical interests of europe. he has been lobbying for this proposal around europe in recent weeks. he said he has spoken to the leaders of ireland, slovenia and malta, and he plans to speak to other european leaders about this proposal. and in terms of a time frame, he has spoken previously, not today, but previously, has said that spain would like to acknowledge a palestinian state byjuly. australia's foreign minister has suggested that the country could recognise palestinian statehood, though hamas could have no role in its governance. penny wong said the refusal of benjamin netanyahu's government to even engage on the issue had caused widespread frustration. recognising a palestinian state, one that can only exist side by side with a secure israel, doesn'tjust offer the palestinian people an opportunity to realise their aspirations, it also strengthens the forces for peace and it undermines extremism. it undermines hamas, iran, and iran's other destructive proxies in the region.

so i say to you, a two—state solution is the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence. feda'a murjan is a displaced palestinian living in rafah. her eight—year—old daughter was drawing a picture when she was killed in an israeli strike. she told me how life has changed in gaza. actually, as you know, it's the first stage of eid. we used to gather, we used to wear the best clothes we have. we used to have the best chocolate and it was days of happiness and joy for everybody here in gaza, in the gaza strip and palestine. but unfortunately, this eid is very different from any other eid before. this eid, it's not like every other eid.

i'm a defeated, sad mother who is suffering since six months because of the loss of my only daughter. so you can imagine what is happening here. no words can describe the very bad, horrible, miserable humanitarian crisis happening here in gaza. we are talking about fear and justice, operation, sadness... a combination of very bad feelings. the people here are suffering from very bad humanitarian crisis. we are suffering from a lack of food, lack of water. we are suffering from lack of medical treatment. you know that the hospitals are not working in an adequate way. they are working partially. israel prevented the import of food, fuel and the basic needs for palestinians. we are depending now on the very few humanitarian assistances. it's a very small part of the basic needs of palestinians in gaza.

we were just seeing some beautiful pictures of your daughter. can you explain to us what happened six months ago? 0n the 13th of october, she was drawing in our home. i was making dinner in the kitchen. suddenly, without any warning before, they bombed our neighbours' home. when they bombed the home, iflew a long distance from my place. of course, the home was completely or partially destroyed. we had the rubble over us. then when i woke up, i rushed up to search for my kids. i have two kids. 0ne eight—year—old, and one four—year—old. i started to search for them. i found my youngest, but i didn't find my daughter. i didn't find her, i kept searching for her. some people came to rescue us.

they said that they took her to the hospital, but they were lying to me. she was still under the rubble. i took my son, we went to the hospital. me, my husband and my son were injured. (inaudible) i was screaming because of my injuries, but i would like to say that the screaming was because of my heart, not my injuries. i didn't find my daughter. she was the light of my life. her teacher said on facebook that she was one of the most beautiful and clever girls she ever met. if her teacher is feeling this, what about her mother?

she has the most beautiful face in the world. ,, . , she is the kindest girl ever, and she was drawing. she was drawing from the laptop. they killed her without any fault. that mother speaking to me earlier as she remembers her daughter on eid. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

here in london, at the public inquiry into the post office horizon it scandal, a leading supporter of the campaigning sub—postmasters has said he had doubts over the post office's approach to the truth. here's zoe conway.

the conservative peer lord arbuthnot�*s campaigning began 13 years ago when he started writing to ministers. got the evidence i shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. in 2009 he wrote to the van business secretary peter mandelson asking for the government to intervene. a more junior minister wrote back, saying the post office was run at arms length. the post office was run at arms lenath. , ., ., length. there is a sort of democratic _ length. there is a sort of democratic deficits - length. there is a sort of i democratic deficits popping length. there is a sort of - democratic deficits popping appear if the government is refusing to take responsibility, and also the risks of owning a dangerous dog, you cannot say that the dangerous dog has an arm's—length relationship with you. if the dangerous dog behaves badly. the with you. if the dangerous dog behaves badly.— with you. if the dangerous dog behaves badly. the inquiry heard that in this _ behaves badly. the inquiry heard that in this letter _ behaves badly. the inquiry heard that in this letter to _ behaves badly. the inquiry heard that in this letter to a _ behaves badly. the inquiry heard. that in this letter to a government minister in 2012 than chief executive paula vennells said in every case by the sub modes —— a

sub—had been prosecuted, the court had found in the favour of the post office. the lead counsel to the inquiry had this to say about that. that is a false statement that in every instance the courts have found in our favour, every instance the courts have found in ourfavour, it isjust every instance the courts have found in our favour, it is just not true. would you have known that was a false _ would you have known that was a false statement at the time? no. zero arbuthnot _ false statement at the time? no. zero arbuthnot was _ false statement at the time? iirm zero arbuthnot was played in false statement at the time? i157. zero arbuthnot was played in the itv drama by alex jennings. zero arbuthnot was played in the itv drama by alexjennings. he first started fighting for the sub—postmasters is a conservative mp when he became aware of the plight of his constituentjo hamilton. she was at the hearing today but was not the only one he spoke of before. we would the only one he spoke of before. - would not have got as far as we had without him supporting us. i don't really know whether he understands just how much love and respect he has from sub—postmasters, but he really should know that. we really

respect him such a loss. he is so down the line, the truth and justice are all that matters. to paris now, where security has been stepped up for tonight's champions league quarterfinal match in the south—west of the city. the islamic state group has warned it might be planning to attack european football events, including the match between paris saint—germain and barcelona at the parc des princes. the french government say there's no "concrete threat," but the interior minister said security has been "considerably strengthened" at the stadium. for more on that, our correspondent andrew harding is there for us. it is quiet so far, lots of police around, they have blocked off some streets and i have seen them stopping and searching a number of people as they head towards the stadium. it is still a few hours from the start of the match, things will pick up later. we know there is a bigger police presence notjust

here but around france in general and at strategic sites in the capital, the french authorities, particularly with the olympics coming up in a couple of hundred days, taking the security threats very seriously on the one hand but on the other hand saying we have heard these things before, we do not have specific details, we are very experienced at handling these situations, they are talking up the fact they have made a number of arrests and thwarted plots in the last few months. we are hearing similar messages from germany and spain where other plots have been foiled and there have been more arrests, germans taking the unusual step of policing land borders, restricting and checking documents for people crossing later in the summerfor for people crossing later in the summer for the for people crossing later in the summerfor the uefa championships. a heightened concern, not least after the moscow attacks, but also i think some caution about getting too concerned about this. what is new and interesting is the extent to

which the french see russia as a troublemaking factor, the kremlin being accused by the french have deliberately stirring things up to spread panic and a lack of trust in the authorities here in europe to handle these security threats. andrew harding in paris. the italian government has approved the issuing of a series of postage stamps commemorating the former prime minister and media mogul silvio berlusconi. mr berlusconi died last year aged 86, having dominated italian public life in a controversial career spanning decades. he's remembered for his media power, political leadership, as well as his legal troubles, and sex scandals. the stamps will be issued injune, a year after his death. the business and sport is coming up. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello. it's got quite cold last night as the weather briefly calmed down. things will be warming up over the next few days but at the moment we have all this cloud streaming from the atlantic, those two weather fronts ringing spells of rain but the wind direction changing, a south—westerly wind bringing in that warmer air. temperatures will not be too high because we have lots of cloud until fog, too high because we have lots of cloud untilfog, 1a or 15 is too high because we have lots of cloud untilfog,1li or 15 is an improvement on yesterday. we still have the rain which will be heavier across the hills of western scotland for a while but the second rain band will push south eastwards over night, the rain becoming lighter and patchy. clearer skies following towards the north, a south—westerly breeze, it will be lots warmer than last night for much of the country,

temperatures remaining in double figures. tomorrow sees more sunshine around, some early rain on the far north of scotland clears, a few spots of rain through the english channel in southernmost parts of england and wales could stake quality. the next area of rain arrives in southern ireland, probably dry in most places across the uk and with sunshine and a south—westerly breeze it will be warmer, temperatures back up to 19 or 20. warmer, temperatures back up to 19 or20. more warmer, temperatures back up to 19 or 20. more weather fronts from the atlantic will return northwards, take more cloudy and wet weather northwards too, we will see rain pushing towards northern ireland is into scotland, maybe even northern england, further south after a cloudy start we should see the clouds thinning and breaking up some sunshine coming through. we still have those warm south—westerly winds. these are the temperatures we are looking at on friday. let's compare those with the average for the time of year. bury st edmunds, 20 degrees on friday, 6 degrees

warmer than normal, and 6 degrees warmer than normal, and 6 degrees warmer than normal in aberdeen. a pleasant day for many areas on thursday into friday, over the weekend it will start to cool down, the wind direction changes, cool air will push from the north—west, pressure will be falling and with low pressure moving on, more wet weather comes in from the north—west too. the fine weather will last through the weekend across south—eastern areas of the uk, even here it will turn cool a bit towards the north and west, the increasing risk of showers.

this is bbc news. at the public inquiry into the post office horizon it scandal, a leading supporter of the campaigning sub—postmaster is has said he had doubts over the post office's approach to the truth. he

said he was also frustrated and