Surf is up. Hello and welcome to todays verified live. Downing street has described as unacceptable remarks alleged to have been made by one of the Conservative Partys biggest donors about the mp diane abbott. The guardian reports that during a Business Meeting in 2019, frank hester said diane abbott made him want to hate all black women and that she should be shot. Mr hester has admitted making comments about her which he described as rude. Mr hester has issued a statement saying that at the meeting in question, he said he abhorred racism. Diane abbott has also released a statement responding to his alleged comments. She said. Government ministers have faced questions from the media and they called his comments unacceptable but stopped short of calling them racist. Well, its clear that what he said was inappropriate. He has, as i understand it, apologised for those remarks. I think the Critical Point here is i dont think what he was saying was a gender based or a race based comment, but it was clearly inappropriate, he has apologised and i think we need to move on from that. Cancelling anyone whos ever said anything this was half a decade ago. Its not cancelling him, its giving money back. Yeah, but. I dont know. Its not my decision to make. What i would say is that, you know, clearly, its uncomfortable. Im uncomfortable talking about it now because he was clearly wrong. But, you know, we need to show understanding. And the important thing was that he did apologise and that hes done so, and i think quite right, though as i say, i dont know exactly what it was he said. That hasnt been, as i understand, verified, but its not something of which he or we can be proud. Earlier, i spoke to the broadcaster and former labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika. This was her reaction to those alleged comments. I think these comments are absolutely disgusting. I mean, weve seen a coarsening in language and politics recently, but i think this is absolutely crossing a line, as diane abbott said herself. This language is frightening, its dehumanizing, he is talking about harm, he is talking about violence most of this is the kind of linkage language might expect from a thug on the street, this national front, far right sort of thug, but this is a but at the top of the Conservative Party, their biggest donor. He has the of the Prime Minister. Someone has looked at the register of interest, a Company Owned by Hester Rishi Sunakjust registered on a £16,000 for a helicopter ride, so this is a buddy who was at the upper echelons of the ruling party of this country making comments like that. It is frightening, and it is racist, and it is disgusting stop what we saw Kwasi Kwarteng in that piece just now call it exactly that, racist. ~. ,. , just now call it exactly that, racist. ~. ,. ,. , racist. We also heard earlier in the da from racist. We also heard earlier in the day from gavin racist. We also heard earlier in the day from gavin burwell, racist. We also heard earlier in the day from gavin burwell, who racist. We also heard earlier in the i day from gavin burwell, who used to be Chief Of Staff to theresa may, and i am going to put his post on social media onto the screen, because he said. What do you make, though, of a catalogue of other mps and ministers sent out saying it is wrong, it is unacceptable but unable to say it is racist, to call it out . I unacceptable but unable to say it is racist, to call it out . Racist, to call it out . I find it extraordinary, racist, to call it out . I find it extraordinary, i racist, to call it out . I find it extraordinary, i find racist, to call it out . I find it extraordinary, i find it racist, to call it out . I find it extraordinary, i find it absolutely extraordinary, ifind it absolutely extraordinary. He said looking at diane abbott wants to make me hate all black women black and women. How can any sentient being say that has nothing to do with the race or gender . Quite frankly, watching the parade of Government Ministers coming out and denying reality. Look, this is something which is important. We talked a lot about mr miss information entry. There is no we could argue this was not racist, and quite frankly people will feel really ghastly by those and politicians who are basically arguing that night and day, and im from an minority background myself, ive worked in politics. It is rooted difficult for people from and i think minority background in politics. Diane abbott was the first female black politician. 0thers politics. Diane abbott was the first female black politician. Others have risen to very, very high ranks. I am somet he really appreciates how hard it is if youre in the minority to get to top politics in any party. I celebrated appointments like rishi sunak and the diversity in this conservative government. Where are those voices . This government celebrates its diversity. Where are those voices saying that this is unacceptable . Where is Kemi Badenoch . She is a prominent black cabinet minister, she is also the ministerfor women and cabinet minister, she is also the minister for women and equality. Cabinet minister, she is also the ministerfor women and equality. Im really glad Kwasi Kwarteng has come out and name to this. It is absolutely shameful they are not naming this truthfully and they are not giving back that money. That is tainted money from somet some but was made somebody that has made disgusting comments. ,. , somebody that has made disgusting comments. , ~y ,. ,. ,. ,. , comments. That was Ayesha Hazarika a little earlier a little later this half hour, we will be talking to the mp abena 0ppong asare, labours ministerfor Womens Health and mental health. The bbc has contacted bbc conservative Central Office for an interview we have been told no one has been made available we have contacted the conservative Central Office for an interview. Medical staff in gaza have told the bbc they were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital duties after a raid at their hospital last month. Theyve said that some detainees were stripped, kept in Stress Positions for several hours or had muzzled dogs set upon them. Israel said it occupied the Nasser Hospital site believing it was used by hamas and that several freed israeli hostages have said they were held there. The Foreign SecretaryDavid Cameron in the last hour has called the report Very Disturbing. You might find some parts of this report by wyre davies distressing. Not for the first time in this war, Israeli Soldiers have been filmed standing over stripped and kneeling detainees in gaza. But these are medical staff, detained after the israeli army overran the Nasser Hospital in khan younis. Most of them are still held captive. For weeks, the medics had witnessed israels military advance closing in around their hospital. The fighting in khan younis was fierce. Thousands of people whod sought refuge in the grounds fled under gunfire. What should have been a place of safety was completely the opposite. 0ne nurse was shot inside a Hospital Operating Theatre through a window. Another person shot at the main entrance. The hospital was under siege. On february the 15th, after giving warnings, israeli tanks overran the hospital. There were chaotic scenes as troops took control. Patients whod been unable to evacuate were moved by medics from collapsing wards. Israel says it found hamas weapons, also medication which they say supports accounts from israeli hostages that they were held there. In the idf� s own footage, you can see that Hospital Patients had their hands zip tied, detained outside in their beds and wheelchairs. This was when troops also detained the medical personnel, more than 50 of them forced to leave their posts and remove their surgical clothing. Israel says it did so in case there were concealed weapons, and that among the 200 arrested at nasser were terrorists posing as medics. Dr Amira Assouli had remained at nasser throughout the siege, before the israeli incursion, risking her own neck to save lives, as people were shot inside the grounds. She later witnessed what happened to her fellow doctors. Translation it was tough for us to see how the doctors, who had bravely stayed at the hospital despite the dangers, were stripped and beaten. Their hands were tied behind them and they were left in the sun for hours. His hand broken in captivity, dr ahmed sabha is one of the very few medics to have since been released. He shows the positions they were forced to adopt for hours, and says they were also tortured. Translation they forced us to kneel down with our eyes blindfolded. There was a pit in the ground, and we thought they would execute us and bury us there. We said our prayers, but they were just intimidating us. Israel says any abuse of detainees is against idf orders and is strictly prohibited. But crucially, according to the Hospital Manager who dealt with the israelis during the raid, the detention of so many of his staff left his hospital woefully short of doctors. Translation eight doctors and 15 nurses were left treating 250 patients. You can imagine the level of care we could give with no water or electricity in the hospital at that point. During this time, 13 patients and injured people died. The Israeli Army Says it operated within nasser in a precise and focused manner and says it provided equipment enabling it to function and treat patients. But with the war continuing, and at least 46 medics still detained or missing, the hospital has been closed for weeks. And with more than a0 medics. The Foreign Secretary, lord cameron, has been answering questions in the house of lords. He described that bbc report we just showed you as Very Disturbing. Hes also been talking about the humanitarian situation. My my lords, were doing all we can to increase aid into gaza. We have been collaborating Withjordan On Air drops and are working with partners to operationalise a maritime corridor from to operationalise a maritime corridorfrom cyprus. However, this cannot substitute delivery by land which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale that is needed. Israel must open more land routes, for longer, and with fewer screening requirements. We need a heat immediate humanitarian pause to increase aid into gaza and get the hostages out. Israel must remove researches on aid and restore water until it medications. Until it medications. Today in the Commons Andrew until it medications. Today in the Commons Andrew mitchell until it medications. Today in the Commons Andrew mitchell was l until it medications. Today in the Commons Andrew mitchell was asked a question Commons Andrew mitchell was asked a question by Commons Andrew mitchell was asked a question by lisa nandy precise the On This Question by lisa nandy precise the on this point, particularly in relation on this point, particularly in relation to the bbc investigation, into the relation to the bbc investigation, into the treatment of medics the hospital into the treatment of medics the hospital in gaza. What i really want to know. Hospital in gaza. What i really want to know, she said to Andrew Mitchell, to know, she said to Andrew Mitchell, why we are not ensuring that the mitchell, why we are not ensuring that the israelis comply with the provisional measures of the icj. Andrew provisional measures of the icj. Andrew mitchell was unable to sumwrt Andrew Mitchell was unable to support lisa nandys call. Why . Either support lisa nandys call. Why . Either what i would say, and it is what minister mitchell said in the house of commons, is these are Very Disturbing pictures and reports that have come up from this hospital and we need to get to the bottom what exactly happened and we need answers from the israelis about that and when we have those, it will be easier to comment. David cameron talking in the last little while. A ship towing a barge loaded with almost 200 tonnes of food aid has left larnaca in cyprus, bound for gaza. Its the first shipment along a maritime corridor which its hoped will bring desperately needed supplies to palestinian civilians. The un says a quarter of the population in gaza is at risk of starvation. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. The rate of unemployment in the uk rose to 3. 9 in the three months to january. Thats up from 3. 8 from the previous three months. The new Labour Market figures, released by the office for national statistics, also showed that more than a fifth of 16 to 64 year olds in the uk were not actively looking for work. Some prisoners in england and wales could be released up to two months early, in order to relieve overcrowding in jails. Thejustice secretary, alex chalk, said the policy would only apply to certain low level offenders and would be in place for a limited period. Official figures show the Prison Population is nearing the operational capacity. The Reality Tv Star Katie Price has been fined £880 for driving without a licence or insurance. Northampton magistrates� court found ms price guilty of the offence after being shown cctv footage of her at a petrol station, the 45 year old was given 28 days to pay the fine. Those, some stories making headlines in the uk. Youre live with bbc news. A court in romania has approved the tradition of the commercial social media influence andrew tate and his brother to the uk. It is thought they will be extradited after romanian Trial Proceedings are over following a hearing at the Court Of Appeal in bucharest. Bedfordshire police in the uk say it is obtained european Arrest Warrant and is working with the romanian authorities as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and Human Trafficking against the tate brothers. They deny the allegations. 0ur Correspondent has been following this story and explain more on the details of this case. Explain more on the details of this case,. ,. ,. , explain more on the details of this case. ,. ,. ,. , case. The romanian side of things, we are going case. The romanian side of things, we are going to case. The romanian side of things, we are going to come case. The romanian side of things, we are going to come back case. The romanian side of things, we are going to come back to case. The romanian side of things, l we are going to come back to saying theres an Ongoing Investigation and theres an Ongoing Investigation and there are charges that they face they are the moment. So, both brothers, tristan and andrew, were arrested, they were detained by remaining authorities last night. They appeared before the court today on the basis of an Tradition Warrants which Bedfordshire Police had sought from westminster magistrates� court in the uk. That was on the 19th of january. And the Court Of Appeals they� re from, we are going to execute this warrant, we are going to send you back to the uk on charges of Human Trafficking and rape, and we see charges because people are innocent until proven guilty, their allegations, if you like, but we are not going to do that until the conclusion of the separate trial the two brothers face in romania. Looking at that timeline, both were indicted last june, they were arrested just on the outskirts of bucharest, which is the capital of romania, they were later actually held in custody from december in 2022 through till april in prison, on those criminal charges, they were released under house arrest until august and then under less restrictive measures known as judicial controls. This decision by the Court Of Appeal in romania means that, actually, they� ve now been released again from police custody, they remain under what they call Judicial Police custody, they remain under what they calljudicial control, so they� re only researches they have to checkin they� re only researches they have to check in with police in romania and they are not allowed to leave romania without the permission of the authorities, so ultimately what we are talking about is not whether the two brothers are going to be extradited to the United Kingdom but exactly when this is going to be. Sean dilley. The outgoing Prime Minister of haiti has called for a return to civility after he announced his resignation. Ariel henry is currently unable to return to haiti as aid workers call the situation the capital desperate. They say there is violence in the streets constantly with much of Port Au Prince controlled by armed gangs. The Prime Minister positive Estimation Connector regional leaders met injamaica to discuss a critical transition aimed at resorts political stability to haiti. I have been speaking to the caribbean correspondent, who has been reporting on the region for over a decade, and she told me more about what is currently happening. Right now we are what is currently happening. Right now we are waiting what is currently happening. Right now we are waiting to what is currently happening. I . Grit now we are waiting to see what the reaction of the gangs will be as a result of what happened yesterday in jamaica one, that they did come up with a structure or a political transition which will basically be a president ial panel, with Seven Members plus two that will be observers. There was no seat at the table for gang members or gang leaders. And then the Prime Minister announced his cabinet and then later in a prerecorded video his intentions to step down once this new political Transition Team has been installed. Just new political Transition Team has been installed. New political Transition Team has been installed. Just remind people watchinu been installed. Just remind people watching this. Been installed. Just remind people watching this, because been installed. Just remind people watching this, because it been installed. Just remind people watching this, because it is been installed. Just remind people watching this, because it is such. Been installed. Just remind people watching this, because it is such a| watching this, because it is such a desperate situation there currently, how has haiti got to this place . That will take a long time, let� s just go back to 2021, july the 7th, the assassination of the country positive country� s president. During the time he was in office he had not held an election, so that put the country in a constitutional crisis. He was killed at his home in the middle of the night and that he designated by minister ariel henry to be his seventh Prime Minister, but he did not have a chance to swear him in. That set up a Power Struggle and a power vacuum. At the time he was killed, he was 111 individuals elected. Today there are no elected individuals in this country, so when you think about all of this, we can government, nonexistent institutions, power vacuums, armed gangs, a police force thatis vacuums, armed gangs, a police force that is barely 9000, less than 9000, actually, us arms embargo it is a recipe for disaster, and as we have seen, since the 2010 earthquake, haiti has been on downward spiral and the people just cannot catch a break. And the people ust cannot catch a break. , and the people ust cannot catch a break. ,. , break. The latest there on the situation in break. The latest there on the situation in haiti. Break. The latest there on the situation in haiti. Lets break. The latest there on the situation in haiti. Lets return| break. The latest there on the l situation in haiti. Lets return to situation in haiti. Let� s return to our top story. The comments a top tory donor allegedly made about the mp diane abbott. We can now speak to the labour mp abena 0ppong asare, who� s the shadow minister for women� s health and mental health. Thank you so much forjoining us here on the programme. Your reaction first of all to what we have heard . I think those comments are disgusting. And i am disappointed. I have not heard from the Prime Minister to condemn those actions. This tory donor said that when he looks at diane abbott, he is angry against black women and she should be shot. I am going to call it up for what it is, those comets are both racist and sexist, and i would expect the Prime Minister to also say that as well. He would expect the Prime Minister to also say that as well. Would expect the Prime Minister to also say that as well. He has not so far. We also say that as well. He has not so far we have also say that as well. He has not so far. We have heard from also say that as well. He has not so far. We have heard from ministersl far. We have heard from ministers and Cabinet Ministers talking about the comments being wrong, unacceptable, but not saying it is racist. What do you make of that, the words so far they have chosen . I think they are tiptoeing around it. Just call a spade what a state is, call it out. It is racism and it is sexism. The Prime Ministerjust a few weeks ago held a Press Conference talking about stream is an, looking at how he could tackle that, yet he cannot even muster the words to talk about the fact that this tory donor has made racist and sexist comments talking about extremism. He is too busy receiving that money. He should return that money and essentially say it is on acceptable. If you as a Prime Minister cannot call this out, then you are not fit to be Prime Minister of this country, because as Prime Minister you� re supposed representable from all diverse backgrounds. Representable from all diverse backgrounds. Representable from all diverse backurounds. , ~ , backgrounds. Frank hester was giving his latest statement backgrounds. Frank hester was giving his latest statement and backgrounds. Frank hester was giving his latest statement and said backgrounds. Frank hester was giving his latest statement and said he his latest statement and said he made the point he told that gather he bores racism, but in terms of what is happening with the Conservative Party, rishi sunak said threats of violence and ambition are alien to our ways of doing things, they must be resisted at all times abhors racism. What do you think should happen, both about comments but more expressly about the money that this man has donated . Indie but more expressly about the money that this man has donated . That this man has donated . We have seen in the last that this man has donated . We have seen in the last few that this man has donated . We have seen in the last few years that this man has donated . We have seen in the last few years two that this man has donated . We have seen in the last few years two mps l seen in the last few years two mps have been murdered, and this tory donor said that diane abbott should be shot. In light of the current circumstances where the Prime Minister himself has said, we are seeing increased threats particular to mp5, elected politicians, we are seeing volatile language being used, what he needs to do as i� ve said already is call it out. It is racism it is sexist, the comments that have been made, and he should return the money to the tory donor. If you don� t stand out and call it out, that it allows for this platform of behaviour to kind of foster, because if no one sees any leadership from the Prime Minister, they will think that language is acceptable and is not acceptable. As a black woman, i feel vacillated and ifind it absolutely offensive. Do feel vacillated and i find it absolutely offensive. Do you draw any parallels absolutely offensive. Do you draw any parallels with absolutely offensive. Do you draw any parallels with what absolutely offensive. Do you draw any parallels with what we absolutely offensive. Do you draw any parallels with what we saw i absolutely offensive. Do you draw i any parallels with what we saw only any parallels with what we saw only a couple of weeks ago with lee anderson, the former deputy chair of the Conservative Party making those comments about the london mayor being controlled by islamists and conservatives being unable to say that was islamophobic . And we have had in the last 2a hours . Absolutely. But we have seen with lee anderson with his comments towards sadiq khan was unacceptable and we have yet to see the Prime Minister strongly condemn that kind of leg which was to be no city, receives a lot of Death Threats and abuse because he is a muslim politician that kind of language, we know that sadiq khan receives. If you do not see any leadership from the Prime Minister calling out this behaviour, then it kind of allows people to think it is acceptable to talk to people like diane abbott and sadiq khan in a language that i think is absolutely disgusting and outrageous and racist. Think is absolutely disgusting and outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it. Thank outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it. Thank you outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it. Thank you very outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it. Thank you very much outrageous and racist. There we have to leave it. Thank you very much for i to leave it. Thank you very much for joining us there from westminster, as we come to the end of our programme. I point you towards the website because that political story has dominated through the course of the day and we have got a lot of reaction, Background Information, the latest statements from drake hester, the latest reaction that we have had, as i was referring to, through the course of the day from conservative politicians, obviously politicians from other political parties. Plenty of Background Information there. I am back with more of the day� s headlines here in just a moment. Don� t go away. Hello there. Its it� s been another wet day for us. Parts of Southeast England have already seen the average march rainfall. Not halfway through the month. Although the air is milder, as we head to the rest of the week, there will be further spells of rain at times especially in the north and the west, and if we took in the Rainfall Acumen elation chart, most spots are in for another 20 to 30 mm, but parts of Northwest England was conceived as much a 70 to 80 mm of rain Northwest England and wales could see. There are plenty of Flood Warnings in place. This is the situation earlier on. This low pressure outwards the northwest of scotland is pushing these Weather Fronts further eastwards but the ring is now clearing to parts of east anglia and kent. Another set of Weather Fronts pushing down from northwest scotland, turning quite wet here, but ahead of the front some very mild filling conditions, a lot of mist and murk, but temptress may not drop out of double figures. In my ozturk to the day. On wednesday, our Weather Front has stalled a mild start to the day. Some showers move in. Gales across the north of scotland with the low pressure centred here. Further toward the south and east, and head of the front, a lot of cloud, but any brighter spells, temperatures could rise. As we head through wednesday night and into thursday, our Weather Front starts to retreat further northwards again, bringing some further spells of quite heavy rain across Northern Ireland, Northern England and into southern scotland. Again, some Braggart Skies towards the north of scotland and a lot of cloud as well. A rush of heavy, thundery showers across wales, southwest england, pushing further eastwards, but plenty of dry weather. We could see 16 or 17 degrees in all of that milder feeling air. The colder air still across parts of Northern Ireland and scotland and that is gradually going to sink a little further southwards as we head through friday, so we will come into some slightly cooler Feeling Conditions as we head into the start of the weekend, staying unsettled monday at times. This is bbc news, the headlines. Let� s turn to our main headlines without the race row, darlings g alleged comments about britain� s first black female mp unacceptable. Diane abbott has described as frightening the alleged marks by frank hester that she two she made him want to hate all black women and you should be shot. Two people have been released on bail after the removal of 35 bodies from a Funeral Directors in hull. White uk pet owners may be paying too much for medicine for their animals. The Competition Watchdog says it will now investigate. Surface weather is been writing a five star title way. We will bring you back. Writing It A Five Star title wave. Now for sport and for a full round up, from the Bbc Sport Centre. Hello from the Bbc Sport Centre arsenal manager mikel arteta has called for fans at the emirates