ministers insist health is a priority after the tory mp daniel poulter defects to labour because of concerns over how the nhs is managed. the tesla chief, elon musk, lands in beijing — where he's expected to meet chinese officials to discuss electric vehicles. and as australia demands an end to violence against women, prime minister anthony albanese says the country's culture — and men's behaviour — must change. hello, i'm catherine byaruhanga. we start in the middle east where efforts are under way to agree a truce that would delay israel's attack on rafah in southern gaza. israel's foreign minister says this is possible if hamas agrees to free its hostages.

while there's no sign of that happening at this point, a video showing two hostages, including an american was released on saturday by hamas. in other diplomatic moves, the us secretary of state antony blinken is due in saudi arabia for talks with regional leaders. he and other key players are expected to meet on the sidelines of the world economic forum to discuss the war. and it's reported a hamas delegation will visit cairo on monday for gaza ceasefire talks. so how likely is it that hamas will release hostages?. i've been speaking to ahron bregman from the department of war studies at king's college london about those hostage videos. well, first of all, very good news for the families because they can see that their loved ones are still alive. and the message of hamas is basically "here,

"you have the hostages, and you, the israeli government, "should compromise." it is also a message to the american administration because one of the hostages has got american nationality. so hamas pressure on israel, on the americans and on the israeli public, so the israeli public put pressure on the israeli government to compromise. and do you think that will work? will the pressure be enough to get the israeli government to compromise? well, you know, the main bone of contention is the hamas demand that israel stop the war and allow palestinian refugees to move from the southern part of the gaza strip to the north. if israel stops now, it's not going to achieve its aims. so it is tough for the israeli government politically to accept the hamas demands. and we've also been hearing in the last couple of days of a visit by egyptian mediators to israel. there seems to be some kind

of optimism that there might be a deal reached between israel and hamas. what's your reading on that? the egyptians are important because they have an interest that israel stop its military operation and not go into rafah, because rafah is very close to egypt. and if israel operates in rafah, there is the danger that many palestinian refugees willjust move into the sinai, which is egyptian territory. and we also heard from the israeli foreign minister, israel katz, saying that israel wouldn't stage an invasion of rafah if hostages were released. do you think the israeli government ever planned on invading rafah? the israelis did move forces — a division — closer to rafah. this, i believe, is in order to put pressure on hamas to compromise. "you, if you don't compromise with us, hamas, "we will move into rafah." but they are not there yet.

in rafah, there are 1.2 million palestinian refugees. if the israelis want to operate in rafah, they have to evacuate the refugees first. it would take them between four and six weeks to do that. so the tanks are ready, but i don't think that they are going to start their engines and move into rafah anytime soon. you talk about evacuating over a million people who are now in rafah. just how possible is that going to be? well, it's going to be a big operation, and the first sign for it will probably be if the israelis drop leaflets over rafah telling them to move to khan younis or to another area which is close to the sea. it's a big operation. it's going to be very messy. and just what are the conversations within the israeli government, if we're hearing of any of these conversations, or within israel itself about the impact of such an operation on the people there?

many of them have been displaced several times over the past seven months and now the prospect that they would have to move again. again, i believe that there is a low probability that the israelis will operate in rafah. there is strong american pressure on the israelis not to operate there, including hints that we, the americans, will not provide you with the weapons necessary to operate there. so in my view, it's not going to happen, at least not now. it is just a way that israel is trying to put pressure on hamas to compromise. police have moved in on a pro—palestinian protest at northeastern university in boston. officials said about 100 people were detained as they were taken away from the site. those with student identification will not face any legal action. it's the latest standoff in a wave

of pro—palestinian sit—ins, at campuses around the united states — including this demonstration, which has been ongoing at columbia university in new york for one week now. here in the uk, ministers have criticised a conservative mp who's defected to the opposition labour party. dan poulter — who combines his political career with practising medicine as an nhs hospital doctor, said labour would help the health service recover. but the tory minister chris philp said the government was spending more on the nhs than at any point in its history. here's dan poulter explaining his defection to the bbc�*s laura kuenssberg. i found it increasingly difficult to look my nhs colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye, and my constituents in the eye, with good conscience. and ifeel that the nhs deserves better than it has at the moment, in terms of how it is run and governed. the party i was elected

into valued public services. it valued... it had a compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society. i think the conservative party today is in a very different place. its focus is not on delivering or supporting high—quality public services. our political correspondent georgia roberts has more on the reaction to dan poulter�*s defection. yes, a big headache for rishi sunak this weekend, overshadowing the final weekend of campaigning ahead of the local elections which many polls suggest are set to be very rocky for the conservatives. defections aren't common — they often signal bad feelings or something wrong in political parties and as well as dan poulter�*s criticisms on the nhs, he also talked about the conservatives becoming a nationalist party of the right. this is also the second conservative to labour defection under keir starmer�*s leadership,

so let's have a listen to the home office minister, chris philp, speaking to laura kuenssberg about dan poulter�*s decision. well, i don't accept what dan is saying at all. he talks about the nhs as a priority. well, of course, the nhs was one of only two departments that was protected during those years of necessary spending restraint after the last labour government bankrupted the country. as we heard earlier, we are now spending £165 billion on the nhs. that's more than ever at any point in history. it's a 13% increase above inflation just over the last four orfive years alone. injust the last year, the nhs has hired an extra 68,000 people, of whom 7,000 are doctors — that's a net increase — and there are 21,000 more nurses today than there were a year ago. that isn't a sign of a party deprioritising the nhs — that is the sign of a political party, the conservatives, investing heavily in our nhs because it is a priority. in his defence of the conservatives�* record, chris philp was backed up by his colleague, the former immigration minister robertjenrick,

who was speaking on the panel with laura kuenssberg, and said that dan poulter�*s comments were clearly wrong but that defection clearly a big boon for the labour party ahead of local elections next week, so let's now listen to labour's shadow health secretary, wes streeting. he has abandoned the conservative party to save the nhs. and i think there are millions of conservative voters across the country who are feeling politically homeless, who can see the chaos and the failure to deliver of now five conservative prime ministers, who are now looking for an alternative. and i hope they will trust the doctor, who has seen the conservative party up close in parliament, and also the changed labour party up close in parliament, and i hope they will give change a chance at the next general election by following dan poulter backing labour. and speaking elsewhere this morning, the prime minister very much on the attack, saying that labour has no plan, no vision. he talks about the announcement on defence spending this week, too,

saying that that a big success. and he has also been talking about the fact that his plans to send some asylum seekers to rwanda are finally into law and talks about that being a big deterrent. so trying to keep the focus, this morning, away from this news, these words from dan poulter. nonetheless, a very damaging blow to rishi sunak, a blow from a former colleague. and dan poulter, his words this morning, also ahead, of course, as we have been talking about, of local elections where the nhs as an issue will be front and centre. it will also, of course, be front and centre of the upcoming general election campaign, whenever that is. the bbc�*s georgia roberts. scotland's first minister hamza yousaf is fighting for his political future. after he pulled out of a coalition with the scottish greens — bbc news has been told the first minister is ruling out an electoral pact with fellow nationalists,

the alaba party. a source close to mr yousaf said the snp leader would not agree to such a deal at westminster or holyrood. we'll have more on that story in about 20 minutes. the un security council has expressed deep concern over an imminent attack on the sudanese city of al—fashir, by the paramilitary rapid support forces. al—fashir is the last big city in the darfur region, where sudan's army is still holding out against the rsf, who've been accused of carrying out a wave of violence against non—arab ethnic groups. residents in al—fashir are said to be afraid for their lives should they attempt to flee. civilians are trapped in the city, the only one in darfur still in the hands of the saf, afraid of being killed should they attempt to flee. this dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of essential supplies, as deliveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid have been heavily constrained by the fighting. the commissioner calls

for an immediate de—escalation of this catastrophic situation, an end to the conflict that has ravished the country for more than a year now, and an investigation of all aleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law. let's speak to our east africa correspondent kalkidan yibeltal, who joins us from addis ababa. just start by telling us why is there so much concern about possible attacks or clashes within fashion. it is the biggest city in dow for that has so far been not under the control of the rsa. it has been a sanctuary for many people that have been fleeing their villages and their towns and arriving there they are seeking a semblance of safety. 0ver are seeking a semblance of safety. over the past year there have been accusations and reports that there

are sf and allied militias have been targeting non—arabs living in darfur. some people say these attacks could amount to ethnic cleansing. darfur is a fairly inaccessible area for independent journalists and international journalists. we have a reasonable idea, mostly from the people who fled. there are people in chat who have been describing the horrors of what has been happening by the rss is around. they say that sexual violence has been rampant and young men and boys have been summarily executed on the streets. these have been compounded with a severe food shortage. the concern is now being raised in the past few days by the un, by the us, and other humanitarian agencies that all this could be replicated in el fasher,

but to imagine if rsf is to control it. rsf denies these accusations but people in el fasher itself have been rather concerned that what they have fled from in the last few months might be following them there as well. ,., , might be following them there as well. , , ., well. over the past few days we have seen images — well. over the past few days we have seen images of _ well. over the past few days we have seen images of rsf _ well. over the past few days we have seen images of rsf forces _ well. over the past few days we have seen images of rsf forces encircling | seen images of rsf forces encircling el fasher. what are we hearing about, what is happening in the city and the nature of the conflicts there? i and the nature of the conflicts there? ., , and the nature of the conflicts there? . , , , . ~' and the nature of the conflicts there? . , , , ., ~ ., there? i have been speaking with a erson there? i have been speaking with a person who — there? i have been speaking with a person who is _ there? i have been speaking with a person who is residing _ there? i have been speaking with a person who is residing in _ there? i have been speaking with a person who is residing in el - there? i have been speaking with a person who is residing in el fasher| person who is residing in el fasher and they have described the situation as calm in the city but tense. they have said that surrounding the city that has been fighting and because of that many people have been riding into the city in the past few days as well, particularly the west of el fasher. because of that there is a displaced population which has been growing evenin population which has been growing

even in the past few days. the city itself had 100,000 people and the displaced people is much higher, for example in one of the camps the number of people displaced is triple that of the number of people it had before the war began. now there is concern that there is a possibility that it might arrive there and all the fears that they have been fleeing from. fix, the fears that they have been fleeing from.— the fears that they have been fleein: from. �* , ., ., fleeing from. a delicate situation there. kalkidan _ fleeing from. a delicate situation there. kalkidan yibeltal, - fleeing from. a delicate situation there. kalkidan yibeltal, thank . fleeing from. a delicate situation i there. kalkidan yibeltal, thank you for bringing us up to date. tesla chief, elon musk, has landed in beijing. chinese state media is reporting the tech entrepreneur is there by invitation, for the promotion of international trade. it's understood he will meet officials to discuss data and technology relating to electric vehicles. tesla has been facing a price war with chinese brands in the electric vehicle market. it has recently said it will lay—off 10% of its global workforce.

our business reporter david waddell explains why the visit is so significant. here is mr musk�*s challenge. he's trying to sell more units of his company's full self—driving software. it's available in north america, both in the united states and canada. chinese users, chinese drivers have requested it being made available there too, and mr musk has tweeted in recent weeks that it'll be rolled out there very soon, he said. but here is his challenge — tesla's data, the data released from tesla vehicles, its fleet in china, is stuck in shanghai servers and it can't be released to the united states under chinese regulations. mr musk wants that data released so that the company can do learnings from its fleet in china, so that its vehicles there can operate with full self—driving software both safely and effectively. that's the heart of these negotiations with chinese officials.

for its part, china has competitor companies such as this, byd, its biggest electric vehicle manufacturing, also the saic motor corporation, that produces not only electric vehicles for the road but also ev vehicles that can fly. so that's where tesla is trying to complete with chinese providers, both in the chinese domestic market and internationally, because a lot of these companies are producing cars more cheaply and selling them more cheaply to international markets. so tesla's challenge is both to have these negotiations with china but also to compete with chinese producers and its reduced its prices in the chinese market in recent weeks

it struggling in many respects. it share price this year alone has fallen by about one third. after a recent spate of violence against women, the australian prime minister anthony albanese has told a rally that the country's culture — and male behaviour — must change. thousands of australians joined protests around the country this weekend to denounce gender—based violence. mr albanese told the crowd in canberra that the problem was a national crisis. shouting. we are here today to demand that governments of all levels must do better — including my own, including every state and territory government. cheering and applause. we need to change the culture, we need to change attitudes. we need to change the legal system. we need to change the approach by all governments.

because it is not enough to support victims. we need to focus on the perpetrators and focus on prevention. let's speak to one of the organisers of the national rallies. sarah williams, from �*what were you wearing' joins us now in canberra. ican i can see you are in a car, you have likely come from one of the rallies. just describe the mood and what it was like. i just describe the mood and what it was like. u, just describe the mood and what it was like. u, ., ., , just describe the mood and what it was like. ., ., , ., , was like. i came from the last rally toda in was like. i came from the last rally today in canberra. _ was like. i came from the last rally today in canberra. the _ was like. i came from the last rally today in canberra. the mood - was like. i came from the last rally today in canberra. the mood overl was like. i came from the last rally i today in canberra. the mood over the past three days was anger and sorrow and we have lost 32 women to men's violence. we had hundreds of thousands of people over the weekend attend these rallies. unfortunately we didn't...

attend these rallies. unfortunately we didn't- - -— attend these rallies. unfortunately we didn't. .. we didn't... unfortunately we have lost the line _ we didn't... unfortunately we have lost the line there _ we didn't... unfortunately we have lost the line there to _ we didn't... unfortunately we have lost the line there to canberra. - lost the line there to canberra. that was sarah williams. sarah was one of the organisers of these national rallies that we have seen in australia over the weekend. people protesting against gender—based violence. the prime minister anthony albanese a telling crowd is that it was not only women who have to tackle this crisis. he said it was also up to the whole of australia and men, he said, had to change their behaviour. this is a story coming in this weekend from australia, that there have been national rallies around the country against gender—based violence and of course we will return to that story, an important story, as soon as we establish the line to canberra.

a british man who was attacked by a bull sharkjust ten metres off the coast of the caribbean island of tobago — is in a stable condition. 64—year—old peter smith has serious injuries to his left arm, left leg and stomach after the attack on friday. aru na ayengar reports. a perfect caribbean getaway that turned to horror. peter smith was on the beach in front of the starfish hotel in tobago. the retired it worker was on holiday with his wife and friends. he'd been due to fly back to the uk on friday before he took a last swim in the sea. peter smith suffered severe injuries to his left arm, leg and stomach. he's currently recovering in hospital in tobago. they were in about waist deep to shoulder high water so they weren't out of their depth. i think their backs were turned and they were just kind of lounging around and nobody saw the shark coming. and even while the shark was around and doing the attack, the other people in the water were physically trying to fight off the shark.

it's believed mr smith was attacked by a bull shark. they're found in shallow waters along tropical coastlines. authorities say they've a vital role in protecting coral reefs. we will see sharks pop up from time to time. it is part of theirjob, but it is ourjob to ensure we can keep you safe, while at the same time we keep our environment safe. 0fficials closed several beaches and coastal areas between plymouth on the north coast and crown point on the western tip. the foreign office is supporting mr smith and his family. aruna iyengar, bbc news. we have re—established the line with sarah williams who has been organising rallies in australia. it is good to speak to you again. just tell us what prompted these rallies and these protests. irate

tell us what prompted these rallies and these protests.— tell us what prompted these rallies and these protests. we have lost 32 women to men's— and these protests. we have lost 32 women to men's violence _ and these protests. we have lost 32 women to men's violence since - and these protests. we have lost 32 women to men's violence since the | women to men's violence since the start of 202a. the rates of domestic violence is increasing at an alarming rate. we felt the government wasn't doing enough and that the pledge against violence wasn't working. we wanted so much more to be done so we establish 17 rallies around the country. to more to be done so we establish 17 rallies around the country.- rallies around the country. to 'ust tell us a bit — rallies around the country. to 'ust tell us a bit about i rallies around the country. to 'ust tell us a bit about youri rallies around the country. to just tell us a bit about your demands. | tell us a bit about your demands. what do you think of the underlying issues for the gender—based violence that you have seen in australia? the prime minister is saying it is down to culture and men's behaviour. what are the key themes that are cropping up? i are the key themes that are cropping u . ? ., , ~' up? i agree. i definitely think we have a pretty _ up? i agree. i definitely think we have a pretty bad _ up? i agree. i definitely think we have a pretty bad culture - up? i agree. i definitely think we have a pretty bad culture here i up? i agree. i definitely think we have a pretty bad culture here in j have a pretty bad culture here in australia. we don't have education for young kids, for high school kids, and also our rates of conviction are really low so perpetrators do the wrong thing and they are not getting in trouble, pretty much. 0ur demands, we are

asking the government to call it a national emergency and support for other demands due to funding for grassroots organisations and and a whole range in terms of victim blaming prevention training. unfortunately the government decided today not to commit to any, which was really disappointing. what today not to commit to any, which was really disappointing.— was really disappointing. what do ou make was really disappointing. what do you make of _ was really disappointing. what do you make of the _ was really disappointing. what do you make of the prime _ was really disappointing. what do you make of the prime minister's| you make of the prime minister's speech and the support he showed for women in australia? i was speech and the support he showed for women in australia?— women in australia? i was actually really disappointed _ women in australia? i was actually really disappointed in _ women in australia? i was actually really disappointed in what - women in australia? i was actually really disappointed in what hasn'tl really disappointed in what hasn't been brought to light and only in just half an hour and his being going viral on social is. he was upset that it was called out that he didn't want to make change and he decided to pretty much come in and ask to speak. and then when speaking he lied to the country about that he asked to speak and was denied, which

never happened. you can watch the footage and you can see me start bawling my eyes out. it was pretty traumatising. he continues to look at me and then continue to speak in front of the whole country. what at me and then continue to speak in front of the whole country. what you do want the — front of the whole country. what you do want the prime _ front of the whole country. what you do want the prime ministers - front of the whole country. what you do want the prime ministers to - front of the whole country. what you do want the prime ministers to do, | do want the prime ministers to do, as were crying? i do want the prime ministers to do, as were crying?— do want the prime ministers to do, as were crying? i 'ust wanted him to robabl as were crying? i 'ust wanted him to probably stop — as were crying? ijust wanted him to probably stop speaking, _ as were crying? ijust wanted him to probably stop speaking, or- as were crying? ijust wanted him to probably stop speaking, or take - as were crying? ijust wanted him to probably stop speaking, or take a i probably stop speaking, or take a moment and acknowledge what his actions did. i want him to acknowledge the distress it caused an utterly me, all the volunteers, but the rest of the people in the audience. everybody out there watching was really distressed. thank you very much was not that is sarah williams. thank you for joining us on bbc news. you are watching bbc news with me, catherine byaruhanga. we will be back after the short break.

hello. we've seen some fairly heavy rain through the overnight period and this morning as well, pushing its way northwards across much of england. it's going to sit for eastern parts of england and eastern scotland through the course of the day, gradually easing. but there'll be some sunshine coming in towards the west. so certainly a day of mixed fortunes. this area of low pressure has been bringing us that rain. it's pushing northwards around the east coast in particular, some blustery winds around that area of low pressure too. some sunshine out there for western scotland, northern ireland, wales and the south west of england. but there'll also be a scattering of showers that'll be fairly hit and miss. that rain slowly easing away from the south east of england and east anglia, but sitting across northeast england and eastern scotland for a good part of the afternoon. some blustery winds in and around that area of low pressure in the east. we could see gusts around 30 miles an hour or even a little bit stronger close to that east coast. and it's really going to feel quite chilly, just seven degrees in aberdeen. feeling cooler than that with the wind chill but up to about 13 in the sunshine towards the west. into the evening hours, we'll eventually lose that wet weather from most places.

it's going to linger longest up towards parts of northern scotland, the northern isles in particular, more rain moving in to northern ireland by dawn. for most of us, a frost—free night, but we still could see a touch of frost across rural parts of central and eastern scotland. now into monday, the next area of low pressure arrives from the west. quite a few isobars ahead of it, showing us it's going to be a fairly breezy sort of day on monday, but certainly an improved day for central, southern and eastern england. mostly dry here with some sunshine. there will be showery rain, though, pushing its way gradually into many central and western parts of the uk. so blustery, quite windy and still rather cool in the north—west. 12 or 13 degrees, but 18 down towards the south—east, so significantly warmer than we've seen over the past week or so. into tuesday, low pressure is out towards the west, higher pressure in the east and that combination means we'll be drawing the air in for more of a south—easterly direction. so the orange colours arriving again across the map, showing us it's going to be a little bit warmer at last. not completely dry, though, and still quite blustery, showery and rather cool across western parts of the british isles.

for instance, belfastjust 12 degrees, but norwich and london sitting at around 18 in the sunnier spells. and then for the week ahead then, we'll continue to see those temperatures rising for a time. could be close to 20 degrees at times towards the south, but low pressure not too far away, still some showers, perhaps something a little drier towards the bank holiday weekend.

this is bbc news, the headlines...

israel says a planned ground assault on the city of rafah could be suspended if a deal emerges to free the hostages still held by hamas. key international leaders are heading to saudi arabia, where they are expected to hold talks on the war in gaza. this week is expected to be a pivotal one in scottish politics. confidence votes are planned in both the first minister, humza yousaf, and his government. mr yousaf has written to opposition leaders in an attempt to find common ground. ministers insist health is a priority after the tory mp daniel poulter defects to labour because of concerns over how the nhs is managed. and a gold pocket watch worn by the wealthiest passenger on the titanic becomes the shipwreck�*s most expensive item ever bought at auction. the timepiece, owned byjothacob astor, sold for more than £1 million. let's get more now on the defection

of a conservative mp to the labour party.