an offensive in rafah, regardless of whether a ceasefire deal is reached with hamas in gaza. efforts to secure that deal are afoot, as us secretary of state anthony arrives in israel. tensions ramp up again at new york's columbia university, as protesters against the gaza war barricade themselves inside a campus building also coming up on the world today: an exclusive interview with exiled belarusian opposition leader svetla na tikhanovskaya about the impact of the war in ukraine on her country king charles return to public engagements with the is it to a cancer treatment centre in london. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. we start this hour with a story

that's been dominating the headlines here in the uk — a 14—year—old boy has died and a number of others including two police officers have been injured after a sword attack in east london. police declared a critical incident after they were called to reports that a vehicle had been driven into a house at hainault shortly before seven oclock this morning. into a house at hainault shortly a 36—year—old man is in custody. into a house at hainault shortly police say the incident is not believed to be targeted or terrorism—related. our special correspondent lucy manning has the story. the bravery of a police officer, toe to toe with the suspect, who appears to be brandishing a sword. words exchanged, but he doesn't surrender. early morning, in the suburbs of hainault there is danger and panic. police cars stream in, but the 36—year—old man takes off, officers not hesitating to follow him.

frightened in their homes, otherfootage shows him crouching down at people's windows. a grey transit van pulled up. the man got out with a samurai sword, tried to talk to one female resident. she ran away from him. as he pulled the sword out in the air, she's tried to warn the other neighbour, as he has turned round he has been struck in the head. he was running round, still after the police officers came, with the sword in his hand. looking for victims. come here. drop the sword. officers corner him on a garage roof. come this way. can you still see him? yeah. oi. he's going in people's gardens, man. lock your doors. lock your doors! everyone lock your doors.

22 minutes after they were called, officers tasered him. this was the dramatic moment the police finally brought him to the ground and arrested him on suspicion of murder. manpreet witnessed the attack, and the moment officers stopped him. people were trying to hide from the guy, they ran towards the station and one of the guys got stabbed in the neck. he was holding his neck and he was like "i've been stabbed". he tried to enter somebody�*s house i think and then i saw where like police were trying to taser him, and that is where he got him down. just after midday, there was a devastating police statement. our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the 1a or a boy who died this morning. will be there to provide every possible support to them and ensure we get them the answers they need.

four other people were injured, two were police officers with stab wounds. significant but not life—threatening injuries, but both needed surgery. aerial pictures show a van that appears to have been crashed near to the scene of the attack. the police said this wasn't a targeted attack, nor did they believe it was terrorism related. but a family expected their son to come home from school this afternoon with stories of his day. he didn't. lucy manning, bbc news. well, let me show you the moment the suspect was tasered again. you are seeing the start of the dramatic pictures showing the moment the suspect was caught by police and then tasered. the 36 euros suspect was after this event arrested after being tasered by the police but you can see that moment they are, 22 minutes after they first received

the call. let's speak to our correspondent sonja jessup. how shocked are the community after the events of this morning? you miaht be the events of this morning? you might be able — the events of this morning? you might be able to _ the events of this morning? 7m. might be able to see behind me the grounds that are still gathering this evening at the police cordon and lots of questions for lots of very worried people in this community. this is a fairly quiet suburban area of northwest london, we are told its a tight—knit community. nothing could have prepared anyone here for the events of this morning as people were heading out to work or school, just before 7am this morning. to hear reports of a man armed with a knife, armed infected with the sword. and then we heard that terrible news earlier that a 14—year—old boy had died from his injuries. for others injuries, including two police

officers, who we are told are having to face surgery for the injuries. what more have the police said about the events? , ., , ., the events? they were able to give some information _ the events? they were able to give some information fairly _ the events? they were able to give some information fairly early - the events? they were able to give some information fairly early on . the events? they were able to give some information fairly early on to | some information fairly early on to try to reassure the community, i think. they were saying that they did not believe this was a terror related attack. they also said they did not believe, once they arrested a suspect, that there was any threat to the wider community. they were trying to offer that reassurance, but they also said they did not believe it was a targeted attack. earlier on today, there were lots of questions for police, questions from journalists about whether the suspect was known to policed or if they had arrested him before, and there was speculation around that. in the earlier press conference, police did not comment on that, but later on we had a update from the

assistant police commissioner, and she said they made extensive inquiries and had not found any record of officers having prior contact with the suspect, but she said the inquiries continue. police have understood that people want reassurance, they have been asking lots of questions, by day have asked people to be patient and stress it's the very early stages of their investigation.— the very early stages of their investigation. thank you son'a jessu - . we begin in the middle east — where the un secretary—general antonio guterres has just said that an israeli offensive on rafah would be �*unbearable escalation'. he was responding to benjamin netanyahu's comments that israel will carry out an operation in rafah, regardless of whether a ceasefire deal is reached with hamas. the israeli prime minister was speaking at a meeting with the families of hostages where he reiterated that israel would eliminate hamas, and achieve "total victory." take a listen. translation: we would enter rafah i because we have no other choice. l

we will destroy the hamas battalions there. we will complete all of the war, including the repatriation of all of our abductees. the israeli prime minister there saying israel would enter rafah to destroy hamas' battalions with or without a deal — and despite its main ally, the us, repeatedly saying it does not support an all—out offensive there. rafah is a city in southern gaza where more than a million palestinians are sheltering, after being ordered to evacuate there on the grounds that it was a safezone. this is what it's like in rafah now. many residential buildings reduced to rubble. large camps for displaced palestinians like this one have sprung up around rafah — and thousands of children live there. you can see plumes of smoke from an israeli air strike close by. the un secretary—general antonio guterres urged israel against invading rafah. recent weeks have seen air strikes on the rafah area. a military assault on rafah would be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands more civilians,

and forcing in this of thousands to flee. a retired israeli army colonel told us why she believes israel's assault on gaza will go ahead — regardless of a ceasefire deal. the only place that hamas still has full capability, like what they did on october seven, is under rafah, is not in rafah, it's under rafah, in that subterranean arena, so i do think it would be postponed i don't think it would ever be cancelled. so, what does mr netanyahu's latest pledge mean for the ceasefire deal currently on the table? israel says it will wait until wednesday for a response from hamas. a reminder, the deal put forward includes a 40—day truce, in return for the release of some hostages. it would also allow for displaced families to return to northern gaza. it's also reported to involve new wording on restoring calm to gaza, designed to satisfy hamas's demand for a permanent ceasefire.

nawaf al—thani is the former qatari director of defence intelligence operations, qatar is a crucial player in the talks. here's his assessment on the likelihood of the deal going through. hamas and other factions in gaza have said that they don't may not have a clear number of all the hostages where they're located. there is the possibility, in fact, we know that there have been hostages that have been killed through either bombings or internally in gaza. depending on the story, it's quite unclear. so getting back all the hostages is the unclear bit about this. now, moving forward, this is structured differently. now, will the israelis stick to the plan and not attack rafah before that? that is the big question, because if that continues to happen, it's very unrealistic to expect that hamas would agree to a ceasefire. well, the top us diplomat secretary

of state antony blinken is on his latest tour of the middle east — he's just arrived in tel aviv where he'll discuss the ceasefire negotiations. he arrived in there from jordan — here's what he said shortly boarding his flight to israel. our focus ourfocus right our focus right now is on getting a cease—fire and hostages home. that is the most urgent thing emma and he's also, i think, what is achievable because the israelis have put a strong proposal on the table, they have demonstrated they are when it's a compromise, and that which is on hamas. our security correspondent frank gardner is injerusalem. how hard is antony blinken's job going to be no given the rhetoric from benjamin netanyahu about the indivisibility of a rafah offensive? there is daytime skin on that offensive, the us won't find it particularly helpful, and they have also reiterated their view that they

have not yet seen what is a credible israeli plan that would address the humanitarian concerns about the plight of the palestinians in rafah. the us does not want to see a us operation in rafah. yet, the mood music coming out of my minister benjamin netanyahu today is very robust, all about total victory, and pursuing the last remaining hamas battalions, and to some extent she's throwing a ball into the hard—liners in his own cabinet. people said that if there is a cease—fire deal that let's hamas off without a rafah offensive, they will walk. benjamin netanyahu —— benjamin netanyahu has a lot to do, trying to please all people at the same time, the americans, the negotiators, and the right—wingers in his own party, as well as the families of the

hostages, who are not impressed so far by the failure of the israeli government to get the hostages out. the last time we saw a mass release of hostages was in november. how was it done? was it military pressure? no. it was a mediated deal by the qatar east, and hostage families believe that is only or best way to get their loved ones out. that does not seem to be the view of prime minister benjamin netanyahu, who seems determined to press on with the operation. it is risky stuff because if you are going to be fighting to get the hostages out, there is a high chance those left alive could be caught up in the crossfire. . ~ alive could be caught up in the crossfire. ., ~ , ., ., ~ still to come on the world today — we talk exclusively to the belarussion opposition leader svetlana tikanovskaya about belarus — the war in ukraine and the prospects for change in europe's last dictatorship.want to take your poochies to the movies? want to take your poochies to the movies? well now you can —

as a cinema in norwich opensits doors to owners and their pampered pets. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

we've been talking over the past few days about the protests springing up in campuses across the us. pro—palestinian students demanding their universities divest from israel over its war on gaza. today we've receieved these dramatic images from the chapel hill campus of the university of north carolina — many protesters were detained after the university sent them a demand to vacate their encampment. this is the campus at columbia's university — the unrest there shows no signs of abating — it's here that the protest camps and demonstrations first began, before spreading elsewhere. susan bernofsky is the professor of writing at the columbia university school

of the arts. she's also a jewish faculty member. i asked here whether she ever felt the protests were anti—semitic. so i myself, who have been on campus for many of the last days, have not personally experienced anything anti—semitic. i do not feel in any way unsafe on campus, and i know that a large number of otherjewish faculty members feel that way. i've also heard reports of anti—semitic incidents, and i know that some jewish faculty members don't feel safe on campus, but i myself most certainly do. i have seen many words being thrown around that are strongly against israeli policies and israel's slaughter of civilians in gaza over these last months. and certainly there's a great deal of anti israeli government speech happening on campus. i have not felt speech that

individually targeted me as a member or specifically jews as jews. our north america correspondent nomia iqbal is at columbia university in new york. let's speak to our correspondent who is at a university in austin in texas tom bateman. iam reading i am reading that there been threats of exclusion —— exposure and in fact, for students involved in the encampment, what do we know about the threats question mark? things escalate in as _ the threats question mark? things escalate in as we _ the threats question mark? things escalate in as we saw _ the threats question mark? things escalate in as we saw last - the threats question mark? things escalate in as we saw last night, i escalate in as we saw last night, when some pro—palestinian demonstrators took over hamilton hall, and we saw some scenes of people smashing through windows and what have you which sparked the university to release a new statement and are quoted. they said we broke regret protesters have chosen to rick escalate the situation through their interactions, ourtop

situation through their interactions, our top priority is ensuring safety and order on our campus, so those people involved in that, we don't know exactly who their work, the university say they face explosion. on top of that, students are being suspended. yesterday, the university issued a 2pm deadline for them to clear out the encampment and that did not happen in terms of the students doing that. they stood strong and said they would not move. what i can tell you also is one of that lead negotiators talking to the university, a conduit between students and the protesters and eu university leadership, has been suspended. i spoke to them recently, and he says he doesn't know on what basis he was suspended because he had an agreement with the university as a negotiator that he could be back and forth, he did not go into the encampment after two p:m., a palestinian student who came from syria, and he said he does not know where his future is no. if his hair and goes ahead, he's new to have one

along with many other students, he could be kicked out of the us but also said he doesn't think the protests are over, the ends justify the means, and to quote him, he says it doesn't compare to what people in gaza are going through right now. despite what the university is doing and taking it robust action against students, for many of them, this hasn't quelled what they are doing. it has not put their process to an end. we are still seen outside the gates here at columbia university, there are still process going on outside but security has tightened up outside but security has tightened up there. let's speak to our correspondent who is at a university in austin in texas tom bateman. we heard iqbal talking about those threats of and disciplinary action, not putting off students at columbia university, what is the feeling at the university of texas in austin was the mark? 50

the university of texas in austin was the mark?— the university of texas in austin was the mark? so far today, and auite, was the mark? so far today, and quite. we _ was the mark? so far today, and quite. we seem _ was the mark? so far today, and quite, we seem a _ was the mark? so far today, and quite, we seem a group- was the mark? so far today, and quite, we seem a group of- was the mark? so far today, and quite, we seem a group of a - was the mark? so far today, and l quite, we seem a group of a dozen was the mark? so far today, and - quite, we seem a group of a dozen or so protesters — quite, we seem a group of a dozen or so protesters so far, but i think more _ so protesters so far, but i think more gathering now as you can see there _ more gathering now as you can see there but — more gathering now as you can see there but it— more gathering now as you can see there. but it was yesterday that the attentions _ there. but it was yesterday that the attentions really —— attention realty — attentions really —— attention really exploded because once again for the _ really exploded because once again for the second time in a week, the situation _ for the second time in a week, the situation was that the state police, the troopers were called in, armed with hatons— the troopers were called in, armed with batons and mace and pepper spray, _ with batons and mace and pepper spray. and — with batons and mace and pepper spray, and they were —— they came here _ spray, and they were —— they came here after— spray, and they were —— they came here after the university administration called in those forces — administration called in those forces. they say the protesters, who at that— forces. they say the protesters, who at that point — forces. they say the protesters, who at that point had an incompetent here, _ at that point had an incompetent here, refused to heed the university rules that _ here, refused to heed the university rules that the encampment should be removed, _ rules that the encampment should be removed, so there were violent scenes— removed, so there were violent scenes as — removed, so there were violent scenes as some of the protesters were _ scenes as some of the protesters were dragged out by the texas troopers. — were dragged out by the texas troopers, and i wasjust chatting for a _ troopers, and i wasjust chatting for a few— troopers, and i wasjust chatting for a few protesters who said that pepper— for a few protesters who said that pepper spray was used against them a bit further— pepper spray was used against them a bit further up as a police van was moving _

bit further up as a police van was moving and — bit further up as a police van was moving and taking some arrested away~ _ moving and taking some arrested away~ one — moving and taking some arrested away. one protester told me that he was amazed and to others were quite badly hurt— was amazed and to others were quite badly hurt when the pepper spray was used~ _ badly hurt when the pepper spray was used~ this _ badly hurt when the pepper spray was used. this really escalated significantly last week, because here in— significantly last week, because here in austin, it's one of the places— here in austin, it's one of the places where the protest really gained — places where the protest really gained momentum in solidarity with what is _ gained momentum in solidarity with what is happening in columbia, when the police _ what is happening in columbia, when the police first went in earlier this month in columbia to remove the encampments, and as far as the testers — encampments, and as far as the testers were concerned, in an heavy— handed way, testers were concerned, in an heavy—handed way, then testers were concerned, in an heavy— handed way, then we saw the protests _ heavy— handed way, then we saw the protests spread significantly and build _ protests spread significantly and build momentum as were the us including — build momentum as were the us including here. it's the encampments that the _ including here. it's the encampments that the university administration was saying was unacceptable. the university— was saying was unacceptable. the university saying that it gave repeated warnings to the protesters to move _ repeated warnings to the protesters to move and said it hasn't, and accuses — to move and said it hasn't, and accuses them of escalating the situation _ accuses them of escalating the situation. it talked about baseball sized _ situation. it talked about baseball sized rocks being strategically placed — sized rocks being strategically placed on the lawn here. i spoke to

another— placed on the lawn here. i spoke to another protester, and he said that there _ another protester, and he said that there are _ another protester, and he said that there are stones on the lawn here and people — there are stones on the lawn here and people have used them as they always— and people have used them as they always do— and people have used them as they always do to down their papers and the wind, _ always do to down their papers and the wind, so they're saying that was compiete _ the wind, so they're saying that was complete nonsense from university administration but what clearly more potential— administration but what clearly more potential for things escalate again. we saw— potential for things escalate again. we saw more lease watching over the protest _ we saw more lease watching over the protest and _ we saw more lease watching over the protest and more protesters likely together — protest and more protesters likely touether. ., ., ., ., ., together. tom bateman and nomia iabal, together. tom bateman and nomia iqbal. thank _ together. tom bateman and nomia iqbal. thank you — together. tom bateman and nomia iqbal, thank you for _ together. tom bateman and nomia iqbal, thank you forjoining - together. tom bateman and nomia iqbal, thank you forjoining us - iqbal, thank you forjoining us today. live pictures coming from north carolina, a campus at the university of north carolina in chapel hill, you see a group of protesters gathered around a palestinian flag being flown on a master. we know police on this campus have detained multiple protesters already during demonstrations today. the university has added roughly 30 people were detained earlier on this morning local time when they clashed with campus police. they were refusing to

leave the area. so there we have a bit more of a flavour of the protests happening in another university campus. that is in the university campus. that is in the university campus. that is in the university campus of north carolina in chapel hill. let's turn to new york, where thejudge in donald trump's hush money trial in new york has warned him that he'll face in jail if he keeps violating a gagging order. the former us president was fined $9,000 for contempt of court. that was for nine violations of the order barring him from making public statements about witnesses and jurors. live now to our north america correspondent, nada tawfik. telus a bit about what this means and how close the ex—president is of contempt of court. and how close the ex-president is of contempt of court.— contempt of court. donald trump has onto the close _ contempt of court. donald trump has onto the close of _ contempt of court. donald trump has onto the close of business _ contempt of court. donald trump has onto the close of business on - contempt of court. donald trump has onto the close of business on friday i onto the close of business on friday to pay this fine, and he has now

taken down this social media posts, the offending posts that she was ordered to take on by the judge, by now. this was the deadline at this moment, and he has done that. the judge has really been weighing what he said in the ruling was donald trump's constitutional rights of free speech, with needing to maintain the integrity of the court system, and he said donald trump willfully violated the gag orders. he did not agree there where a response to political attacks as a defence argued, so the judge has said if he does not see donald trump complaint with the fine, which isn't much for someone as wealthy as donald trump, if that is not convincing to change, then yes, dale joshjail time is the punishment he will consider. it's interesting to note that prosecutors, in calling for the judge told warned donald trump that incarceration was under table, noted they were not called for it at the moment because they

think donald trump was angling for that and there is another hearing it later this week to determine if you violated the gag order for additional times. to kenya now, where at least 169 people have died after a week of severe flooding in the country. the country's president has announced people living in areas at risk of flooding or landslides will be asked to evacuate from wednesday. kenya is now bracing forfurther rain. president ruto says the army has been mobilized to help with evacuations. in the rift valley, an overflowing reservoir washed away part of a village, killing at least 48 people. more on that story on the bbc website, stay with us on bbc news, back after a few minutes. hello there. the southerly breeze brought the warmer air further north across the uk today, mainly for eastern areas where we had the dry weather and the sunshine. further west, it was a different story because as you can see from the satellite picture,

we've had much more cloud and that's been bringing some rain as well. this cloud, though, continues to threaten the south east with a few showers and those could run their way northwards up these eastern coastal areas up towards the north east of england. further west, though, the cloud will tend to thin a bit — the rain tending to die out in many places, becoming dry. misty, low cloud, though, could develop in eastern scotland, perhaps north east england. temperatures on the mild side and it may well be a little bit warmer than last night in the southeast. we've got some cloud and some showers coming across north east england into eastern scotland. further west, it's going to be a drier and brighter day with some sunshine. just the odd shower. a few showers breaking out in the midlands ahead of this rain that's developing here in southern parts of england. but for western areas, those temperatures will be higher than today, 18 in the north west of england and western scotland. it's going to be cooler in eastern scotland and northeast england, especially where it stays grey and misty. with some warmth further south, though, and that rain coming in from france, we've got the risk of some

thunderstorms for a short while on wednesday night. more likely southern england and south wales, could see some large hail and some gusty winds. most of that rain then clearing away. we've got that weather front stuck across southern areas and to the north the easterly wind is continuing to pick up. now that is going to bring some warmer air from the continent. trouble is, it's moving over the cold north sea where sea surface temperatures are only eight or nine degrees. so it's going to keep it cooler around north sea coasts and there could be some mist and low cloud around it as well. but otherwise, we'll see some sunshine coming through. the cloud taking a little longer to break up here in the southwest after the overnight rain. and we could trigger a few sharp showers across those central areas. many places will be dry on thursday. it's going to be warm through the midlands, northwest england and northern ireland this time, making 20 degrees in western scotland. still cool into friday for eastern scotland, maybe a few showers here, and some more wet weather developing across england and wales, pushing northwards, bringing some thunderstorms into northern england.

that will drop the temperatures here. we could get some sunshine in southern england. the highest temperatures, 20 degrees, again will be in western scotland.

this is the world today from bbc news, the headlines... met police say they will get answers, after a sword attack

in east london leaves a 14—year—old boy killed and four others wounded. belarus' exiled opposition leader svetlana tikhanovskaya tells the bbc benjamin netanyahu benjamin neta nyahu says benjamin netanyahu says israel will carry out an offensive in rafah whether or not a cease—fire deal is agreed with hamas. belarus' exiled opposition leader svetlana tikhanovskaya tells the bbc she doesn't know if her imprisoned husband is alive or dead. king charles returns to public engagements with a visit to a cancer treatment centre — we'll hear from our royal correspondent. the telegraph is back up for sale, after the company that had agreed to buy the newspaper — the abu dhabi—backed redbird — pulled out due to legislation banning foreign states from owning uk newspapers. lucy frazer the secretary of state for media, culture and sport, addressed the commons earlier.