uk/actionline. this is bbc news, the headlines. a crucial day in donald trump's hush money trial in new york. his former lawyer michael cohen admits he lied to getjobs done for his former boss and intimidated reporters on the former president's behalf. the uk government says it will appeal against a ruling by a belfast court that parts of the rwanda policy should not apply in northern ireland.

the bbc sees new evidence that the british government was warned by its embassy in washington as long ago as the 1980s about the risks from contaminated american blood products. turning now to a potential setback in the uk government's plan, to detain and remove asylum seekers to rwanda. ajudge sitting in the high court in belfast has ruled it should not apply to northern ireland. mrjustice humphreys ruled in favour of a challenge to the act saying that the law breaches human rights protections guaranteed under post—brexit arrangements. rishi sunak has said the decision will not change the rwanda policy. let's speak to aoife o'donoghue. she's a professor of law at at queen's university in belfast. thank you forjoining us today. we are talking about the illegal migration act, the rwanda plan and the windsor framework. it all sounds

incredibly educated and complicated. in simple terms, what you think the implications are of this judgment today in belfast for the uk government's plans to sent asylum—seekers to rwanda? government's plans to sent asylum-seekers to rwanda? good evenina. asylum-seekers to rwanda? good evening. thank _ asylum-seekers to rwanda? good evening. thank you _ asylum-seekers to rwanda? good evening. thank you for _ asylum—seekers to rwanda? (emf. evening. thank you for having me on. i think the big picture is that following on from this judgment we would currently have two systems of immigration. one where the immigration. one where the immigration act applies and one where it does not. within the united kingdom where there often are no internal immigration checks that creates a great headache because he of people traversing a cross between northern ireland and britain all the time. one of the aims of the illegal immigration act was for people to go elsewhere. so last week the uk government was quite pleased at the possibility and it is still a possibility and it is still a possibility that people are going to dublin for instance. what will probably follow from this, we will

have to see how it plays out, it is instead going to dublin people might go as far as belfast. so it really creates a big problem but also from the idea of the uk being a safe country, say from the perspective of dublin, it would be in belfast is a safe place to send asylum—seekers back to who to carry on to dublin. at the moment someone seeking asylum might think that if they can get to belfast, they will not be put on a plane to rwanda. so the logical extension of that is that more people seeking asylum will try to get to northern ireland. potentially, yes. it is hard to tell at the moment because the numbers that are going are unclear. some claim large number some say it is quite a small group of people. so it is uncertain on numbers. it is very difficult to pin down. but certainly, if someone is in fear of being sent on to rwanda having

already travelled many miles it is a possibility they may seek to go to northern ireland and use the protections used bully available to them in northern ireland. the un agency for palestinian refugees, says the exodus of people from the city of rafah in southern gaza, has now topped 360,000. but it's warning no part of the territory is safe, as israeli forces go back into areas, where they say hamas has regrouped. today is memorial day in israel, as the nation remembers its war dead, and commemorates those who died, in the oct 7th hamas attacks. lucy williamson, has more from jerusalem. it wasn't just the past they were remembering today. in israel's military cemetery, a new generation grieved for their comrades, their children. fresh graves in a sea of memorials

from israel's previous wars, the empty plots beside them shadowed by future losses from this war. siren blares. at 11:00, the morning siren of remembrance. tongues fell silent. their faces spoke instead. israel's prime minister, faced with the human cost of a war he's determined to continue. translation: a war of - independence is still not over. it is still being fought today. it's us or them, israel or the monsters of hamas. we are determined to win. but divisions over this war, largely buried today beneath the national mourning, haven't gone away. i don't know how we will look back on this in, let's say, 20 years. you know, and i hope this was a last phase,

the last terrible phase, and something that will end up good. but at what cost? buried in the grave of tank commander daniel perez, his bloodied uniform — retrieved from the gaza border after the 7th of october attacks, his body still held by hamas in gaza. for his sister, shira, a reminder of his other identity — a football scarf for the liverpool fan. this is not about this political issue. this is about the very existence of israel. this was one of those "to be or not to be" moments, so nobody wants to sacrifice anybody. but it's the price that we have to, as a nation, be prepared to defend our right to be. there are words for a camera and words for a brother that only his gravestone will hear. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem.

new evidence has been uncovered that the british government was warned by its own embassy staff in the united states, about the risk of hiv from contaminated blood in the early 1980s. it's now thought more than 12,000 nhs patients with the blood disorder haemophilia were infected with the virus, many after being given a treatment made from american blood plasma. our health reporter jim reed has this report. from the 1970s to the early �*90s, tens of thousands of patients in the nhs were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. something that should have saved their life...killed them. and still, a0 years later, there's no answers to that. as a child, laura's brother, stuart, was given a new treatment for his blood disorder, haemophilia. but factor viii was made from thousands of mixed blood donations. ifjust one donor was carrying a virus, the whole batch

could be contaminated. we went in for an appointment and we went into this room, and we were informed that it was hiv positive. we were absolutely devastated. i mean, you know, to be told something like that is just mind—blowing. at the time, most factor viii was imported from the united states. their high—risk groups — including prisoners and drug users — were paid to give blood. stuart died of aids, in his twenties, from the treatment he was given. there were so many people that didn't deserve to die. they were given a death sentence. a public inquiry opened in 2018. it's had access to thousands of documents held in archives. now, panorama has seen this five—page letter, sent back in 1983 from the british embassy in washington to the department of health, clearly warning that haemophiliacs were most at risk from american factor viii.

they've literally torn my family apart. ripped them away from me. sam's father, gary, was another infected with hiv through factor viii. sam lost his entire family by the age of three. my grandad, actually, was the first person to tell me. he explained about my dad being haemophiliac. was infected with hiv, subsequently passed that on to my mum, who was pregnant with my sister. all three have passed away. the government has said it will establish a new body to compensate people like sam. it declined to comment on the new documents seen by panorama, ahead of the public inquiry�*s final report next week. jim reed, bbc news.

joining me now is beatrice morgan. she is a part of the legal team at leigh day who are currently investigating infected blood transfusion compensation claims. alsojoining me is alicia samuels. she is the daughter of reverend clifford samuels who received infected blood via a transfusion for an operation in 197a. he died of liver cancer in 2019. thank you both for your time today. if i can begin with this, tell us about your father and when he discovered the news he had been infected with hepatitis c. my discovered the news he had been infected with hepatitis c.- infected with hepatitis c. my dad was the most — infected with hepatitis c. my dad was the most loving, _ infected with hepatitis c. my dad was the most loving, kindest, i infected with hepatitis c. my dad - was the most loving, kindest, giving person in the world to me. he always showed me unconditional love and was always giving. he would give you the

shirt off of his back. so he basically found out too late that he had hepatitis c. he would always go to the doctor in they would always make comments like, we see something in your blood but we do not know what it is. and by the time they find out what was in his blood which was hepatitis c, he had cirrhosis of the liver which ultimately, his liver fails which ultimately killed him with cancers and all of these other illnesses that this blood gave to him. ~ i. .,, ., other illnesses that this blood gave tohim.~ ., , to him. when did, you, as a family understand what _ to him. when did, you, as a family understand what had _ to him. when did, you, as a family understand what had happened - to him. when did, you, as a family| understand what had happened and joined the dots to this transfusion backin joined the dots to this transfusion back in the nineteen seventies? so back in the nineteen seventies? sf late. it was like 2018. 2018. by then. , , ., , ., then. so 'ust the year before your father then. so just the year before your father passed _ then. so just the year before your

father passed away. _ then. so just the year before your father passed away. exactly. - then. so just the year before your father passed away. exactly. i - father passed away. exactly. i reall t father passed away. exactly. i really try to — father passed away. exactly. i really try to help _ father passed away. exactly. i really try to help him - father passed away. exactly. i really try to help him as - father passed away. exactly. i j really try to help him as far as needed help because he cannot do anything and they were helping certain families, but unfortunately, his medical records were tampered with. i was able to get a full file of his medical records. but when i went through, there were large gaps in his medical records. let went through, there were large gaps in his medical records.— in his medical records. let me bring ou end, in his medical records. let me bring you end, beatrice. _ in his medical records. let me bring you end, beatrice. you _ in his medical records. let me bring you end, beatrice. you are - you end, beatrice. you are representing 300 individuals and indeed the hepatitis c trust. sadly, i believe one of the people that you have been representing died just last week. what are the key things that this group of people want to see out of the inquiry.— see out of the inquiry. there are wide ranging _ see out of the inquiry. there are wide ranging requisitions- see out of the inquiry. there are wide ranging requisitions from i wide ranging requisitions from the inquiry, _ wide ranging requisitions from the inquiry, but it will be for the government to implement them

eventually. there are a number of findings. — eventually. there are a number of findings, numberof points eventually. there are a number of findings, number of points the chair will look_ findings, number of points the chair will look at — findings, number of points the chair will look at notjust how findings, number of points the chair will look at not just how the infection— will look at not just how the infection has happened, but the responsible government and health bodies _ responsible government and health bodies after. and just as was described, lots of people who had transfusions did not find out until many— transfusions did not find out until many years later until they were quite _ many years later until they were quite unwell. and too late to have any treatment. so what we are asking for is _ any treatment. so what we are asking for is its _ any treatment. so what we are asking for is its support for people that are still— for is its support for people that are still living with the infection and their— are still living with the infection and theirfamilies, are still living with the infection and their families, both in the financial— and their families, both in the financial sense but also treatment for their— financial sense but also treatment for their physical and psychological difficulties. ., ., ,. , difficulties. how would you describe the inuui difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so _ difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so far— difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so far and _ difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so far and the _ difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so far and the way - difficulties. how would you describe the inquiry so far and the way it - the inquiry so far and the way it has been managed? it is obviously been very lengthy. _ has been managed? it is obviously been very lengthy, but _ has been managed? it is obviously been very lengthy, but it _ has been managed? it is obviously been very lengthy, but it has - has been managed? it is obviously been very lengthy, but it has had l has been managed? it is obviouslyl been very lengthy, but it has had to been very lengthy, but it has had to be because — been very lengthy, but it has had to be because of the evidence it has considered his vast and spans many,

many— considered his vast and spans many, many decades. it has been looked at lots of— many decades. it has been looked at lots of different government bodies in the _ lots of different government bodies in the whole range of health services _ in the whole range of health services. so generally, our clients are keen — services. so generally, our clients are keen to— services. so generally, our clients are keen to see the end of it, to close _ are keen to see the end of it, to close the — are keen to see the end of it, to close the door on that chapter. but they understand that it has needed to he _ they understand that it has needed to he as _ they understand that it has needed to be as long as it has. its to be as long as it has. as a bereaved — to be as long as it has. as a bereaved family _ to be as long as it has. as a bereaved family member, l to be as long as it has. is —. bereaved family member, what do you want to see as a result of this inquiry? i want to see as a result of this inuui ? , ., want to see as a result of this inuui ? , . . inquiry? i 'ust want, the evidence is out inquiry? ijust want, the evidence is out there _ inquiry? ijust want, the evidence is out there that _ inquiry? ijust want, the evidence is out there that this _ inquiry? ijust want, the evidence is out there that this is _ inquiry? ijust want, the evidence is out there that this is happened | is out there that this is happened to so many families and it has affected so many people, notjust immediate family members, but also friends and also it has been such a bad experience at i wantjustice. i want them to take this matter really

serious. because we have lost people who we care about and we cannot get them back. so they have to take some sort of accountability and give us justice, whether it is psychologically because i am still not over my father's death since 2019, traumatised. also my son has not seen his granddad. so ijust want somejustice for all not seen his granddad. so ijust want some justice for all of the people that have lost their family members because you cannot get them back and this is the least that they can do to support us. to back and this is the least that they can do to support us.— back and this is the least that they can do to support us. to make sure, i would assume _ can do to support us. to make sure, i would assume that _ can do to support us. to make sure, i would assume that something - can do to support us. to make sure, i would assume that something is i i would assume that something is taken from this, it would be to make sure a huge scandal and tragedy like this cannot happen again. messier this cannot happen again. never aaain. this cannot happen again. never again- this _ this cannot happen again. never again- this is— this cannot happen again. never again. this is outrageous. - this cannot happen again. never again. this is outrageous. this | this cannot happen again. never| again. this is outrageous. this is crazy. it does not even feel real, but it is. it is reality. it is so

shocking. but it is. it is reality. it is so shocking-— but it is. it is reality. it is so shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. shocking. we appreciate you talking to us- thank — shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. thank you _ shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. thank you to _ shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. thank you to both _ shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. thank you to both of- shocking. we appreciate you talking to us. thank you to both of our- to us. thank you to both of our guests. thank you for your time. and if you are watching in the uk panorama have a special programme �*infected blood: time for answers' which airs at 8pm tonight, on bbc one and iplayer. still to come on the world today... the senior military role of colonel in chief of the army air corps goes to prince william, handed over by his father, king charles. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

king charles, has officially handed

over the senior military role of colonel in chief of the army air corps, to prince william. it is however a title many thought, might have gone to harry. here's duncan kennedy. from king to prince, from father to son. this was day of symbolic and personal handovers. after three decades as colonel—in—chief, king charles passed the regimental belt and blue beret to prince william, marking the moment the role changed hands. the setting for today's ceremony was by an apache helicopter, the kind that prince harry once flew in afghanistan. some commentators have suggested he might have been considered for the role of colonel—in—chief had he not stood back from royal duties. the king made no mention of that as he met families of the aircrew, before speaking about his confidence in william's future role. i do hope you go from strength to strength in the future,

with the prince of wales as your new colonel—in—chief. the great thing is he's a very good pilot indeed, so that's encouraging. one change of clothes later, prince william himself a trained helicopter pilot, stepped into his new role by meeting aircrew, some of whom have seen combat service everywhere from afghanistan to iraq. we were extremely fortunate to have the king, then prince of wales, as our colonel—in—chief, and to see that handed over before me today has been fantastic. later, in a pair of twin take—offs, the king left in a royal helicopter, while prince william took the front seat of an apache. a day of transition completed at the home of the army's air regiment. duncan kennedy, bbc news in hampshire. you are watching bbc news.

there will be 27 new wild swimming spots in england designated as bathing sites by the government. it's the largest ever expansion and the locations include 16 on rivers but it doesn't mean that these spots are clean. our environment correspondent jonah fisher explains. the environment agency is in charge of testing england's bathing water. bottle is labelled up, for identification at the lab. from may to september, it takes samples at more than 400 locations. the water is then tested and given a rating, from excellent, to poor. we are looking for two different types of bacteria, e.coli, and another group called the intestinal enterococci and they are used to indicate the levels of faecal pollution — poo — in the water. last year 96% of the sites met the minimum standards. but there was an increase in the number rated poor, and a fall in those rated excellent.

27 new bathing sites have been announced today and most of them are along rivers, but before you reach for your swimming costume, bearthis in mind — designation is based on whether a site is popular with swimmers, and whether it has facilities the like toilets nearby. it does not mean that the water is clean. so this is wolvercot stream at the end of port meadow in oxford. this bathing site was designated two years ago. and ever since has been rated poor. but for campaigners like claire, the environment agency tests are vital. if a designated water bathing site fails, then the water company and the local authority and the environment agency have to work together to improve that water quality and we wouldn't have had the investigation, we wouldn't have had the promises of upgrades we have had if we didn't have this designation. we are determined to improve the quality of our water and our beach environments and of course in our river systems

which is why i have been pleased to announce 12 new sites, including here at the river nidd that have been designated as bathing water sites and that enables the environment agency to carry out multi—moniomormon forking. one of the best ways to get something done about your polluted river or beach, is to get it designated as a place to swim. more than 200 people came to take part in the european mullet festival, an opportunity for them to show off their hair and their differences. the festivalgoers also broke or created a world record — that of the highest number of participants in the "ch'mulet", a conga in which participants grab each other by the mullet. well, the spokesperson for the european mullet festival told me where their inspiration comes from.

the mullet we believe is as old as the humanity, since, you know, the prehistoric man had a mullet short in the front, long in the back, most probably for technical reasons, more than for aesthetic reasons. but itjust, that haircut went through the time and there is a oh, man, probably the mullet is also the future. you know, it's not the past. it symbolised the warrior�*s, its also symbolised the lesbian community, but also the super virle man. very mankind. itjust it we believe it means something.

and it has to deal with freedom and freedom from what society tells you, what you should do or not. thank you for your company this evening. get in touch with me on social media. thank you for your company. hello there. we've seen a real mixture of weather across the country today, across parts of northern and eastern scotland and down the eastern side of england, there has been some warm spells of sunshine. i've seen temperatures go to 23 degrees in a few spots, but it's a different story further southwards and westwards, with outbreaks of rain for northern ireland, wales and south west england. the rain has all been tied in with this curl of cloud, which is an area of low pressure. these weather fronts have been particularly slow moving, so it's been raining for most of the day for these areas and the front will continue to be slow moving as we go through the night. eventually, the rain crawls its way across the midlands into eastern england, gets into more of scotland through the night. but it should start to ease off across parts of wales, and the south west of england, although there could be a few showers here. temperatures overnight for most

around 11 to 1a degrees. so we are looking at a mild night and a mild start to tuesday. this time, though, the rain will be pushing its way in across scotland and eastern areas of england. so that's where some of the wettest weather's going to be. a bit brighterfor northern ireland, wales and south west england, but not dry. it will be a day of sunshine and showers for these areas and some of the showers through the afternoon could turn out to be quite heavy with an odd rumble of thunder. for many areas, temperatures reached the upper teens. it is a bit above average for this time of year and where the sunshine comes out, it won't feel too bad. for the middle part of the week, wednesday we've still got our low pressure still in the same kind of area, still a day of sunshine and showers for many of these southern and western areas, although we could have some more persistent outbreaks of rain for eastern england. the driest, warmest weather, it's likely to be across northern scotland where the warm spots could get up to around 22 or 23 degrees celsius or so. otherwise, high teens to low twenties. again, not feeling bad where the sunshine bothers to put in an appearance. thursday, low pressure is still with us.

this time we could have some lengthier heavy outbreaks of rain moving into central and eastern parts of england. but again, the driest weather is likely to be across northern scotland, where locally could see temperatures of around 22 or so. otherwise, generally our temperatures into the high teens. through friday and indeed the weekend start of next week, it's the north of the country that will have the driest and some of the warmest weather as well. with some pockets might we see temperatures into the twenties across northern scotland for england and wales though, different story generally it's going to be quite unsettled with plenty of showers around.

hello, i'm christian fraser.

you're watching the context on bbc news. i'm innocent. this is a political witchhunt, and nobody�*s ever seen anything like it. prosecutors are eliciting testimony that can point to the fact that everything michael cohen did, he says he did at the direction and benefit of donald trump. michael cohen used to be paid to fix all of donald trump's problems, - and now he probably is the biggest problem that the former _ president has. the man who once described himself as "donald trump's thug" takes the stand in new york. michael cohen has told the jury donald trump told him to "get control" of the stormy daniels story and prevent it from hurting his campaign, but is he a trustworthy witness? we will get the thoughts of a former federaljudge. scuffles in israel as memorial day is marred by protests and division.

the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has warned