Begins, cheltenham roar, is the festival begins, kicking off four days of racing. Begins, kicking off four days of racing, culminating in the gold cup on friday on friday. Good morning. A fairly on friday. Good morning. A fairly cloudy day for most of us today. Patchy light rain in the north. Heavy rain in the south. The temperature continues to climb in the next few days. Details later in the programme. Good morning. Its tuesday, 12th march. A long awaited report into Veterinary Services will be published this morning, after concerns pet owners are facing expensive bills when paying for treatments. The Competition And Markets Authority launched the review last year, and has previously said that fees were rising faster than other goods and services during the cost of living crisis. Nina has the details. Good morning. Are you paying too much to care for your furry friend . Why have vet costs been rising faster than general inflation . Are you getting a fair deal when it comes to costing, and shopping around . These are the important questions the competition and Marketing Authority has been seeking to answer. 57 of you have a pet at home and you might know an average one off trip to a vet now costs almost £400. As we all face increasing financial pressure, the bbc has learned some households are sacrificing holidays, heating and even food to ringfence that money. Jim connolly has been speaking with some pet owners about the pressures theyre facing. Ziggy, say hello. People will do anything for their pets. When they get sick that love can mean big bills. Extortionally expensive, for anything. This is ziggy. Hes a rescue dog, and hes very vocal. Huge, huge expense. It depends which vets you choose. And youve got to shop around. Bunny, fetch theyre outrageous. But the vets arent getting rich. Its the multinational hedge funds that are getting rich. Good girl. Who owns vets, and the effects on prices, is one of the main things the Competition And Markets Authority, or cma, have been looking at. Independent Vet Practices accounted for 89 of the industry in 2013. Now its the way more than half are owned by six big companies. And, go shambhu rules the roost around here. Sit. Good girl. Shes my baby. Shes my little girl. We dont have children, so thats our child. Dominic and vinita took shambhu to a practice owned by one of the big corporates for an operation to prevent her getting arthritis. Its very scary as well. You know, an operation, you know, theyre putting a pin in the bone. The treatment cost more than £5,000. And dominic wanted to know why. I looked at the bill and there were lots of items that we didnt, not familiar with, theyre medical terms. But one jumped out at me, which was paracetamol, and it was £20 for a pack of paracetamol. I pay 60 pence in the supermarket. I was shocked that we were being charged that much for such a simple item, and it makes you wonder how much theyre overcharging on other items as well. And are you being exploited . Thats what it felt like. The Oxford Cat Clinic has been both corporately and independently owned in recent years. Perfect, thank you. We asked the new independent owner if pet owners would have noticed any difference in care. No, i dont think they particularly suffered. I think the level of care that we delivered to our patients still was as high as it ever was. I think that some of our clients dont like the idea of using a corporate practice. I do think some of our clients did move away because of that. They wanted to go back to an independent practice. We approached all six corporate chains and have not yet received a formal response. The British Veterinary Association says its good that the industry is being looked at, but doesnt think its as simple as corporates versus independents when it comes to price. Weve seen a lot of prices increase. I think historically vets have rather undervalued their time, and so were trying to catch up with the situation which hasnt been supporting veterinary businesses well. I think weve also seen problems around the number of vets, the veterinary workforce, and the supply of veterinary medicines. Many Supply Chains have been really impacted by covid and brexit. All the vets ive spoken to say that because humane treatment is free on the nhs, weve lost perspective on how much medical care costs. But thats little comfort for the two thirds of us who own a pet when it comes to paying the bills. Jim connolly, bbc news. The British Veterinary Association says there is no nhs for pets and of thejob is highly skilled and says there is no nhs for pets and of the job is highly skilled and takes constant investment in technology and supplies. We will find out the authoritys findings after seven. They will tell us whether they feel pet owners are getting a fair deal, and if not what the industry will have to do to ensure impropvement. Let us know about your experience of the vet. Maybe youve seen rising prices, a lack of transparency with costs, and difficulty shopping around. Get in touch in all the usual ways. Thank you. I think would correct or we will be inundated. The government has committed to building new gas fired power stations, warning that failure to do so would risk blackouts. The new plants will replace stations coming to the end of their lives. Environmentalists argue its a step backwards but the government says they have to be realistic in the move towards clean energy. Haitis Prime Minister, ariel henry, has agreed to resign following weeks of Mounting Pressure and increasing violence in the country. Mr henry is currently stranded in puerto rico after being prevented by armed gangs from returning home. Some prisoners in england and wales could be released up to two months early to relieve overcrowding. The Justice Secretary said these changes would be for a limited period and would only apply to less serious offenders. Labour has accused the government of sneaking out the announcement, which was posted on the Uk Parliament website. One of the Conservative Partys biggest donors has been accused of making racist remarks about the labour mp, diane abbott. Frank hester has accepted that he was rude, but insisted his comments, made in 2019, had nothing to do with ms abbotts gender or skin colour. 0ur chief Political CorrespondentHenry Zeffman joins us now. What do we know about what has been said . ~ , what do we know about what has been said . , ~ ,. , what do we know about what has been said . , ~ ,. ,. , said . Frank hester runs a health where, health said . Frank hester runs a health where, health care said . Frank hester runs a health where, Health Care Software said . Frank hester runs a health where, Health Care Software company, and he is one of the Conservative Partys biggest donors. He gave £10 million to the party last year. Yesterday the Guardian Newspaper reported that in a meeting back in 2019, at his company, mr hester was talking about an executive from another company and then said this. Its like trying not to be racist but you see diane abbott on the tv and you just want to hate all black women because she is there a man i dont hate all black women at all, but i think she should be shot. It is important to say the bbc has not independently verified for ourselves that mr hester did make those alleged remarks. A Statement Issued by his company after this report came out in the guardian said he accepts he was rude about diane abbott in a private meeting several years ago, but that his criticism had nothing to do with her gender zero colour of skin. We should also note his company say that statement is not a confirmation that mr hester made those remarks alleged by the guardian. There is already a big row over this in westminster. Just a few hours after the guardian story broke, wes streeting, the Shadow Health secretary, was up in the House Of Commons, saying these comments were revolting, racist and insightful. The labour party have called on the conservatives to hand back mr hester� s donations, as have the lib dems. The conservatives are resisting calls to do so. They have pointed to mr hester� s apology and repeated his claim that any comments he made were not racist and were not targeted at Diane Abbotts race or gender. Targeted at Diane Abbotts race or aender. , ~ ,. , gender. You will be keeping an eye on that this gender. You will be keeping an eye on that this morning. Gender. You will be keeping an eye on that this morning. Also, gender. You will be keeping an eye on that this morning. Also, any on that this morning. Also, any fallout from the fact that lee anderson, former Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Hasjoined Reform Uk . I the Conservative Party, has Oined Reform Um the Conservative Party, has Oined Reform Uk . ~. ,. Reform uk . I think worth reflecting on what a topsyturvy reform uk . I think worth reflecting on what a topsyturvy political on what a topsy turvy political career at lee anderson has had. He has only been an mp since 2019. For years before that he was a labour councillor, and activist, in ashfield, where he is now mp. As recently as january, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. Hand selected by rishi sunak for thatjob. That is one thing worth thinking about. Some conservatives i spoke to yesterday thought he would not be an electoral asset to reform. Some people were concerned he would turbo charge that challenge your party to the conservatives. But one person who clearly did think come backin person who clearly did think come back injanuary, back last year we back in january, back last year we gave him the back injanuary, back last year we gave him thejob, that back in january, back last year we gave him thejob, that lee back injanuary, back last year we gave him the job, that lee anderson had political qualities was rishi sunak. We will find out if he was right. Thank you. A former boeing whistle blower, who was known for raising concerns about the firms production standards, has been found dead in the united states. John barnett had worked for the company for 32 years. In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a lawsuit against boeing. More than 900,000 young people in england who did not get their measles, mumps and rubella jab as children are being invited to take part in a catch up campaign. Mmr Vaccine Coverage is now the lowest it has been for more than a decade. It comes after a rising number of measles cases. Banana lovers might soon see the price of their favourite fruit rise, because Climate Change is posing an enormous threat to the worlds supply. Thats the warning from one economist at the World Banana Forum, which will meet today to tackle some of the challenges facing the yellow fruit. The World Banana Forum. Who knew . Now we know. Do theyjust get together and talk about bananas. 0r together and talk about bananas. Or maybe theyd just go bananas. They are getting more expensive. Lets go to carol, who has a misty view this morning. Is that what is going to be like for some of us today . Yes, it is, sell. Good morning. It is a cloudy, misty and murky start. Some hill and coastalfog around. And we have some rain, the heaviest across england and wales, moving eastwards through the course of the day. We have also got some Rain Pushing Northwards across scotland. It will rest in shetland. This is the heavier batch of rain coming in from the west, drifting east. It will continue to do so. If you are under it you will have about three hours of rain before it moves away. Again, a lot of standing water. And a Surface Water generally leading to some tricky travelling conditions. It is falling on an already saturated ground. There is the risk of some local flooding. Behind that rain you can see we hang onto still a lot of cloud, some showers, brighter skies today likely across the far north of scotland. A blustery day but not particularly windy. We have that yet to come. Temperatures are higher than they were yesterday. Six in lerwick, to 13 as we pushed down towards the south. As we head on through the evening and overnight the next Weather Front comes evening and overnight the next weatherfront comes in. It evening and overnight the next Weather Front comes in. It is a cold front. It is sinking south across scotland and Northern Ireland, getting into Northern England. The rain is likely to be heavy. Quite a bit of cloud out of it. Behind it we are looking at showers. Blustery showers. The wind picking up. The wind will be a feature tomorrow. Gail is likely. The Weather Front continues to drift southwards for a time across parts of england and wales. Ahead of it, a lot of cloud. Behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly 16 degrees. Behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most away behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most away from behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most away from the behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most away from the northern behind it, the showers. Temperatures 15, possibly16 degrees. Hire 15, possibly 16 degrees. Hire for most away from the Northern Isles. Thank you. The bbc has seen evidence that doctors, nurses and other Hospital Staff were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital medical duties when Israeli Forces overran a hospital in gaza last month. Israel said it occupied nasser hospital believing it was used by hamas and said several released israeli hostages were also held there, as our correspondent wyre davies reports. 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 yunis. 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 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 sabbah 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 enabl