he calls the case a disgrace. we have a trump—hating judge, we have a judge who shouldn't be on this case — he's totally conflicted. a muslim student loses a high court challenge in london a high court challenge in london against a ban on prayer rituals at school. and the house of commons debates whether smoking should be banned forfuture generations in britain. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. welcome to verified live. we begin in the middle east, where the israeli government says it's launched a diplomatic offensive against iran, as it considers a military response to the missile and drone attack against it. the foreign minister, israel katz, has written to more than 30 countries calling for sanctions against iran's missile programme. he also wants them to designate the revolutionary guard corps

as a terrorist organisation. israel has been showing journalists one of the missiles it said iran fired on saturday. let's hearfrom israeli defence forces spokesperson daniel hagari. we're here with the body of one of the ballistic missiles that was launched from iran directly to israel. these ballistic missiles are ones that have 500 kilos of explosives in the warhead. we are talking about over 110 ballistic missiles coming from iran aiming towards israel. these are 60 tonnes of explosives directly to israel. something else has happened. this coalition is directing a message to iran — we will not allow this aggression in the region.

this coalition is an opportunity for the middle east, a strategic opportunity for the middle east, for countries who share the same threat from iran. firing 110 ballistic missiles directly to israel will not get scot—free. we will respond in our time, in our place, in the way that we will choose. the afp news agency is reporting the israeli army has confirmed killing a hezbollah commander in a leopard on strike and we have seen some action on that side of israel, of course. -- 811 on that side of israel, of course. —— 811 on strike. we haven't confirmed that but afp reporting the israeli army has confirmed killing a hezbollah commander in western

lebanon. —— a lebanon strike. western allies have repeatedly urged israel to show restraint and avoid a regional conflict. in the midst of this tension, israel is continuing its operation against hamas in gaza. there have been reports of fighting in several areas — including in the town of beit hanoun, in the north—east of gaza, in what appears to be a new military offensive. so just how dangerous are the current tensions for the wider region? we can speak to victor tricaud, senior analyst at the risk consultancy control risks. thank you for your time. it has clearly been a very alarming few days and indeed few months. what are you and your analysts most are concerned about now? everyone is busy looking at what the israeli response will be, if there is one. —— everyone is obviously looking. thank you, it is a pleasure to you today. it certainly is probably the period of highest tension in the region at least a few years,

possibly a decade. i'm sure you're expecting to hear the one key driver for what is to come next is the israeli response to the unprecedented attack that iran carried out on the 13th of april. and what are the options that you believe israel has and what might be the iranians response? 50. believe israel has and what might be the iranians response?— the iranians response? 50, we have been war-gaming — the iranians response? so, we have been war-gaming here, _ the iranians response? so, we have been war-gaming here, as - the iranians response? so, we have been war-gaming here, as we - been war—gaming here, as we sometimes say in the industry, the potential scenarios coming up and as we see it, israel has a range of responses. it is slow down the tempo a little bit in the past few days, suggesting it is considering quite a wide range of potential actions. 0n the least escalate literary side of the least escalate literary side of the spectrum, you could have a

plausibly deniable operation, potentially cyber attacks on critical infrastructure in iran. —— the least escalator reside. you could also have israel looking to target iranian—backed proxies in the region all the way to the most extreme side of the spectrum, you could have israel mounting an air strike on a critical literary infrastructure in iran. —— the least escalatory side. that would almost certainly elicit further targeting by iran of israel. if certainly elicit further targeting by iran of israel.— certainly elicit further targeting by iran of israel. if you get direct confrontation _ by iran of israel. if you get direct confrontation like _ by iran of israel. if you get direct confrontation like that _ by iran of israel. if you get direct confrontation like that between l confrontation like that between israel and iran, which would obviously be unprecedented, where does that lead? who has the biggest firepower? israel has obviously had the backing of western allies and some arab allies. would they feel that they would have two at that

point continue to step in to support israel even though we are having lots of public words of urging for caution from israel? 50. lots of public words of urging for caution from israel?— lots of public words of urging for caution from israel? so, the last art of caution from israel? so, the last part of your _ caution from israel? so, the last part of your question _ caution from israel? so, the last part of your question points - caution from israel? so, the last part of your question points to l caution from israel? so, the last part of your question points to a | part of your question points to a key factor which is that even though we have seen israel assert a lot of policy independence over the past few weeks, it is quite likely to take these urges on the part of this western allies to take action that does not necessarily lead to escalation. so it is not our primary scenario that israel carries out, goes all the way to the extreme end of the spectrum of possibilities. if that were to happen, if that were to happen, we would likely see the us assuming a greater role and perhaps

not acting in a purely defensive manner, but this is something that both the us is keen to avoid and iran is quite keen to avoid that for its own regime survival and stability. its own regime survival and stabili . ~ . its own regime survival and stability-— its own regime survival and stabili .~ . ., ., ., stability. we have had a report that we can't confirm _ stability. we have had a report that we can't confirm in _ stability. we have had a report that we can't confirm in the _ stability. we have had a report that we can't confirm in the last - stability. we have had a report that we can't confirm in the last few - we can't confirm in the last few minutes that the israeli army has killed a hezbollah commander. there has been a lot of speculation about whether that is a new front that will get even worse. what are the implications of that for live and on to miss i implications of that for live and on to mis . . ., , implications of that for live and on tomis . . ., ,~ to miss i am particularly concerned about those _ to miss i am particularly concerned about those countries _ to miss i am particularly concerned about those countries in _ to miss i am particularly concerned about those countries in the - to miss i am particularly concerned about those countries in the region which have significant iranians presence and are entering iranians influence, because of the fact they could be prime targets any potential israeli response. israel's killing of a hezbollah official is hardly a new development, in the last six

months of the conflict, so that in itself would necessarily raise alarm, but a significant stepping up of strikes on hezbollah assets and lebanon is definitely almost one of the almost asymmetric answer is that israel could live ridge and its response, that being said, israel has the surgical precision, it can leveraged surgical strikes to monopolise impacts and it has done so mostly in lebanon in the past six months of targeting so it is likely to continue leveraged such overall precise strikes. —— israel could leveraging its response. downing street has denied

suggestions downing street has denied suggestion- downing street has denied su~estion . , ,, suggestions that rishi sunak has refused to take _ suggestions that rishi sunak has refused to take calls _ suggestions that rishi sunak has refused to take calls from - suggestions that rishi sunak has i refused to take calls from benjamin netanyahu and other world leaders, saying that they are still yet to schedule that's call adding that they have been very busy weather war cabinet and engagements and they are hoping to secure a time for the call as soon as possible. —— very busy with war cabinet and other engagements. firefighters in denmark says the blaze which engulfed one of copenhagen�*s most historic buildings — the 17th century stock exchange — is now under control. everyone inside the building was able to leave. the stock exchange was being renovated and had been shrouded in scaffolding and protective plastic covering. the fire destroyed its famous twisted spire. firefighters say the damage is extensive, and also spread to nearby buildings. as work continued to extinguish the blaze, people were seen rescuing a number of valuable paintings from the building. as they were brought from the building, bystanders ran to take the the art works across the street and away from the flames.

the emergency services say many works have been saved. all the paintings and all the things of value that was possible to save from the building has been saved. i can't account for how many paintings that are not saved, the registration afterwards will show that. live now to copenhagen — and sean coogan, a journalist at danish broadcasting corporation. thank you for your time? you actually saw the fire as it had started, i gather, what was it like to look at on the ground? i started, i gather, what was it like to look at on the ground?- started, i gather, what was it like to look at on the ground? i was on m wa to look at on the ground? i was on my way to — to look at on the ground? i was on my way to work — to look at on the ground? i was on my way to work on _ to look at on the ground? i was on my way to work on my _ to look at on the ground? i was on my way to work on my bike - to look at on the ground? i was on my way to work on my bike and i to look at on the ground? i was on i my way to work on my bike and came round the corner and saw the flames and smoke so i decided to get off my bike and see what was going on and it wasjust a bike and see what was going on and it was just a very dramatic thing to watch and minute by minute, you could just see the flames spreading and basically engulfing this historic and, as you said, iconic building in the centre of copenhagen. as time went by, more and more police and firefighters got there and it was obvious this fight was just going to spread, which it

did. is was 'ust going to spread, which it did. , . ., ., ., ., did. is it clear at the moment how much damage _ did. is it clear at the moment how much damage there _ did. is it clear at the moment how much damage there has _ did. is it clear at the moment how much damage there has been? i did. is it clear at the moment how. much damage there has been? there was a press — much damage there has been? there was a press conference _ much damage there has been? there was a press conference here - much damage there has been? ill” was a press conference here within the last hour where they were talking about half the building being destroyed, half the building being destroyed, half the building being ruined, including the famous ballroom inside this historic stock exchange building but also obviously the iconic dragon spire which collapsed today while hundreds of thousands of danish people were watching it on live tv. and thousands of danish people were watching it on live tv.— watching it on live tv. and 'ust exlain watching it on live tv. and 'ust explain for fl watching it on live tv. and 'ust explainforisfi watching it on live tv. and 'ust explain for is the i watching it on live tv. and just explain for is the significance l watching it on live tv. and just| explain for is the significance of this building. we cover to the notre dame fire, i think about five years ago, is it the same sort of symbolic building there?— building there? while, it is hard to com are building there? while, it is hard to compare in — building there? while, it is hard to compare in that _ building there? while, it is hard to compare in that way _ building there? while, it is hard to compare in that way to _ building there? while, it is hard to compare in that way to the - compare in that way to the importance of the notre dame building but it is definitely an iconic landmark in cogan hagan that

everyone in the city knows and has gone past like i was doing today and have been doing on my bicycle is a good past building every day. i was there the spire lapsed with hundreds of other people who just got off their bikes and watched in fear and awe, so in that way, i would say it was open hagan�*s notre dame moment to see something so iconic and beautiful and historic collapse right in front of your eyes, it was a surreal moment for many people here. —— open hagan�*s notre dame moment. here. -- open hagan's notre dame moment. ~ ., , here. -- open hagan's notre dame moment. ~ . , ~ ., ., ., , moment. what is known about how this fire started? — moment. what is known about how this fire started? the _ moment. what is known about how this fire started? the authorities _ moment. what is known about how this fire started? the authorities are - fire started? the authorities are sa in: it fire started? the authorities are saying it is _ fire started? the authorities are saying it is too _ fire started? the authorities are saying it is too early _ fire started? the authorities are saying it is too early to - fire started? the authorities are saying it is too early to say - fire started? the authorities are saying it is too early to say at i saying it is too early to say at this time, and they are still working around the building even though the fire is under control but they are saying it is too early to say anything but what they are pointing to is what we know is that reservations were going on and the

building was posed to celebrate its 400 year anniversary later on this year. —— renovations were going on. we don't know at the moment what is the cause of this fire. —— copenhagen's notre dame moment. thank you for talking to us. sean hagan, thank you very much. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

a smoking ban for future generations is being debated in the uk's parliament today. generations is being debated the proposed ban means that it would be illegalfor anyone turning 15 or younger this year to ever be able to buy tobacco products. new zealand had planned something similar, but the country's new coalition government scrapped the policy.

uk prime minister rishi sunak is facing opposition from some of his own mps, while labour is in favour of the proposal. here's our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson. smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable death in the uk. it kills two thirds of long—term users. the aim of the new bill before parliament is to protect younger generations from harm by banning tobacco use for them. 0ne caller with experience of that harm told the nicky campbell show on bbc radio 5 live he regretted ever starting to smoke. i had to have one lung removed, got emphysema and copd in the other lung, and now i've found out i've got terminal cancer in my liver and adrenal glands. i'm so sorry. yeah, it's something i've got used to now, i've come to terms with it, but what i've gone through the last three years, i wouldn't like anyone to go through, you know? and if i could go back, i wish i'd never started. the harm done by smoking is well documented. it causes lung and heart disease, cancers, stillbirths, dementia and asthma. england's chief medical officer, sir chris whitty, supports the ban.

people are trapped in smoking at a very young age, and once they become addicted, their choice is taken away. so, if you're in favour of choice, you should be against something which takes away people's choices. the majority, the great majority of smokers wish they'd never started, but now they're in trouble. the tobacco and vapes bill set before parliament today represents a huge step change. it proposes that anyone turning 15 this year and all younger generations would be banned from buying cigarettes throughout their lives. but it's sparked a fierce debate about freedoms. what this policy does is it infantilises future adults, because when you are 18 in this country, you are legally an adult, and, as such, you should be treated like one. now, look — at 18, you can drive a car, you canjoin the army, you can possess a credit card, you can buy alcohol, and, most importantly, you can vote. the bill also includes

new restrictions to tackle concerns about the sharp rise in children using vapes. it would ensure flavours and packaging were less appealing to children, but some are doubtful it would work. i don't think anybody necessarily looks at the packaging and will be like, "oh, let'sjust try that." it's more that, "oh, it's vaping." it's, like, a cool thing to do — just as smoking was in the '805. kids will be kids — they will try smoking, they will try vaping. the debate continues in parliament today, where mps will be given their first chance to vote on what would be the world's first lifelong smoking ban for younger generations. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the organisers of a conference in brussels which is hosting right wing politicians from across europe say they have been told to shut down the event. among those who addressed the national conservatism event were two british politicians, nigel farage and suella braverman. the organisers — who were rejected by two other planned venues

after a series of protests — have said they will seek legal advice. ms braverman has left the conference, after giving her speech. she didn't stop to speak to reporters before getting in her car. there didn't appear to be any protests in the street as she left. 0ur europe correspondent, nick beake, isjust in front of the venue. here's what's happening there. the picture here tells the story because you can see there is this line of police officers, probably about a dozen or so of them. and the reason for that is that the local mayor here in brussels has said that this event needs to be shut down. so as you can see, the police aren't exactly running in to turf people out. but basically the organisers of this event, of this conference have been told that it has to wind down. so basically, in effect, what's happening is that people aren't being allowed in and those leaving at the moment, including nigel farage and suella braverman, these prominent uk politicians, they've left, but they won't be allowed in along with anyone else.

and nigel farage, of course, a lot of people will know him for his role here in this city during the brexit days, a leading campaignerfor brexit said that this was a bad decision what was happening here. he said this was an attempt to stifle free speech. now i put it to him what the local mayor had said in this letter that was presented to the organisers here, that there were potentially homophobes and people with views on other subjects, including abortion on stage and in the audience. and in the audience, and he said that was cobblers. he didn't think that was the case whatsoever and he made his exit. if you look through, this is where the main event is and you could see possibly someone on stage there. and so there are a few speeches still getting under way. people have had some food and light refreshments. so this is continuing, despite the efforts of the local authorities and the police to close it down. so, i mean, what is definitely not happening is that you've got loads of police officers running in, pulling people out. but the idea is that this will come to a halt. i think it might be that for another couple of hours or so,

we're in this limbo. the big question is what happens tomorrow? because you've got viktor 0rban, the leader of hungary, who's supposed to be among the keynote speakers tomorrow. will this be allowed to happen tomorrow? will people be allowed in the venue? so, yeah, that's what's happening at the moment. and i should say, you know, sort of the whole idea of this event has been overshadowed somewhat by what's been happening. this was the third venue that was supposed to host it after the previous two venues. their hosting basically fell through. the idea is that a number of politicians on the right and centre—right, particularly the far—right across europe, are here exchanging ideas ahead of the european elections injune. donald trump has returned to court in new york for the second day ofjury selection in his hush—money criminal trial. this is the moment he left trump tower, his base in manhattan, to drive to the courthouse. he's been ordered by thejudge to attend each day of the jury selection process, which began

on monday, and could last all week. he did speak once he was outside court and thejury he did speak once he was outside court and the jury selection process has been continuing and we are hearing, as i said, that it is going to last a few days. live to new york and our correspondent nada tawfik. what has happened today? yes, well, 'u what has happened today? yes, well, jury selection — what has happened today? yes, well, jury selection continues _ what has happened today? yes, well, jury selection continues right - what has happened today? yes, well, jury selection continues right in - jury selection continues right in the courtroom behind me with donald trump there with his lawyers, paying attention carefully as each individualjuror goes through and individual juror goes through and holds individualjuror goes through and holds the mic and answers the 42 questions that they have been asked, ranging from what type of news they consume too if they have ever gone to a trump rally or if they are essentially any part of any extremist groups, the question is really run a broad range. and i was actually able to catch up with the

first prospective juror who was dismissed today. take a listen to why he says he wasn't able to serve on this jury. why he says he wasn't able to serve on thisjury-— on this “ury. they called initially 18 on thisjury. they called initially 18 “urors on thisjury. they called initially 1bj'urors to _ on thisjury. they called initially 18jurors to the _ on thisjury. they called initially 18jurors to the jury _ on thisjury. they called initially 18jurors to the jury box - on thisjury. they called initially 18jurors to the jury box and - on thisjury. they called initially 18jurors to the jury box and i i on thisjury. they called initially i 18jurors to the jury box and i was 18 jurors to the jury box and i was initially— 18 jurors to the jury box and i was initially called to the 18 yesterday, and i think it was delayed _ yesterday, and i think it was delayed or some other excuse this morning. — delayed or some other excuse this morning, so i was one of the first people _ morning, so i was one of the first people to — morning, so i was one of the first people to go. i was handed a mic and had to— people to go. i was handed a mic and had to answer the 42 questions already — had to answer the 42 questions alread . ~ , ., ,., ~' had to answer the 42 questions alread . ~ , ., ~ ., already. why do you think you are dismissed? _ already. why do you think you are dismissed? l _ already. why do you think you are dismissed? i told _ already. why do you think you are dismissed? i told them _ already. why do you think you are dismissed? i told them i - already. why do you think you are dismissed? i told them i had - dismissed? i told them i had unconscious _ dismissed? i told them i had unconscious bias, _ dismissed? i told them i had unconscious bias, i - dismissed? i told them i had unconscious bias, i could - dismissed? i told them i had unconscious bias, i could be| unconscious bias, i could be impartial— unconscious bias, i could be impartial but i definitely had unconscious bias being from the state _ unconscious bias being from the state of — unconscious bias being from the state of texas, a lot of my family and friends — state of texas, a lot of my family and friends are republicans so i'm certain— and friends are republicans so i'm certain that did not favour the prosecution. certain that did not favour the prosecution-— prosecution. that shows how difficult it — prosecution. that shows how difficult it is _ prosecution. that shows how difficult it is to _ prosecution. that shows how difficult it is to find _ prosecution. that shows how difficult it is to find an - difficult it is to find an impartial, neutraljury here. impartial, neutral jury here. certainly impartial, neutraljury here. certainly a time—consuming process. i asked that prospective juror who did not want to share his name just

about what it was like being a part of this process. he said it was surreal and he acknowledged that he felt it would have been a burden he would have to carry his entire life, that people would have judged him for serving on thatjury, depending on the outcome one way or another and always associated him with that historic case. but that said, i also did speak with a never prospective juror who was released. her name is karen mcgee, and she said she could have been impartial but it was just so difficult with her work obligations to be able to serve over six weeks on this jury, and both of them had different views of whether you could choose an impartialjury in new york. the first gentleman said he put it would be tough given how polarising a figure donald trump is. on the other hand, karen said from what she observed, people answering the questions truthfully and they were really taking pride in

their civic duty in the room there and that even as someone, she described herself as not a fan of donald trump, she said she would have been able to put all of that aside for the better of the judicial system and again, that kind of civic duty to be an impartialjuror. so all of that said, it just duty to be an impartialjuror. so all of that said, itjust does show how time—consuming a process this is going to be. and just the differing opinions of people making their way into that courtroom and digging deep and questioning whether they can serve impartially.— serve impartially. nada tawfik in thank you- _ serve impartially. nada tawfik in thank you. let _ serve impartially. nada tawfik in thank you. let me _ serve impartially. nada tawfik in thank you. let me bring - serve impartially. nada tawfik in thank you. let me bring you - serve impartially. nada tawfik in l thank you. let me bring you more serve impartially. nada tawfik in - thank you. let me bring you more on the breaking news we have had on the israel conflict that is going on at the moment and earlier today, we are hearing an aircraft struck and eliminated a commander of hezbollah�*s coastal sector and this is a statement from the idf in lebanon on, and the person they took out was ishmael yusuf and they have

said he was a senior and veteran official and several positions of hezbollah�*s military wing and he was a brigade commander and was involved in the planning of rocket attacks from the coastal area of lebanon on towards israel and organised and planned a number of terror or attacks against israel and that is a statement from the idf as everyone watches to see what the israeli move will be next after the events of the weekend. this is bbc news. hello, there. it's not been as windy today. there's still a number of showers around. if we look out in the atlantic, this is where we've got high pressure at the moment. and around that, there is some cloud coming in. we'll get some of that later tonight and into tomorrow. but ahead of that, we've still got these north to north westerly winds. they are feeding in this

colder air and a mixture of sunshine and showers, some of which could be heavy, had some threatening clouds already. and we're going to find some heavier showers pushing into the south east of england later on in the day. these are the temperatures, so we're still below average. could make double figures, though, across the central belt and 14 perhaps in south wales. but there will be some heavier showers as we head towards the end of the afternoon. those in the south east will move away. we'll see another band of showers pushing across northern england and wales and some further wintry showers overnight in northern scotland. but there will be some clearer skies around it as well and the winds will continue to ease down a bit, too. so it is going to be quite chilly out there with a frost more likely across the northern half of the uk. heading into tomorrow, and this is the cloud that's coming in from the atlantic. that's going to bring a little rain to northern ireland and eventually into wales. but elsewhere, after a fairly bright and sunny start, we'll see the cloud building up. we'll see more showers breaking out, not quite as heavy, not quite

as widespread as we've seen over the past couple of days. but if anything, after that colder start, temperatures could be a bit lower in the afternoon, typically only ten degrees on wednesday afternoon. now that cloud comes on that weather front there, which sinks its way southwards around the high pressure. another weather front arrives overnight into thursday morning for northern parts of the uk. but with clearer skies and light winds across england and wales, there is actually a risk of a touch of frost here. sunny start maybe, but we've got more cloud for scotland and northern ireland. some outbreaks of rain, the heavier rain over the hills of western scotland. some of that rain pushes southwards into northern england with the sunshine hanging on towards the south west with cloud elsewhere and temperatures typically around 12 degrees. now the weather system bringing that rain is going to move very quickly southwards overnight and during friday. and then following on from that, we get the high pressure that's in the atlantic, finally building back towards the uk and that will bring us some much needed drier weather in time for the weekend. it could, though, bring a fair bit of cloud and it's certainly not going to be as warm as it was last weekend.

this is bbc news. the headlines... israel launches a diplomatic offensive calling for mass sanctions against iran after its unprecedented drone and missile attack. donald trump returns to court in new york, he calls the case about hush money a

disgrace. the house of commons is debating whether smoking should be banned for future generations in the uk. a muslim student loses a challenge against prayer rituals against school. —— at school. time for a look at the business news now. the global economy is on course for a "soft landing" after years of difficulties caused by the covid pandemic and the war in ukraine — that's the optimistic assessment from the international monetary fund. it's launched its latest outlook as the world's finance ministers and central bankers gather at its annualjoint spring meeting with the world bank in washington to discuss the future of the global economy. the report suggests the global economy will show resilience to grow 3.2% this year — that's a very slight upgrade of 0.1%

compared to the last asessment in january.