the first time since october, allowing in more humanitarian aid. senators in arizona have voted to repeal a 19th century law banning abortion, unless the mother's life is in danger. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. great to have you with us. we start with rising unrest on college campuses across the us unfolding right now as pro—palestinian protesters demonstrate against the israel—gaza war. more than 1300 protesters have been taken into custody on campuses in the us in the last two weeks, according to the new york times. these are live images of what's happening right now on the campus of the university of california, los angeles, where students are gathering on the school's tongva steps near the main protest encampment.

police have indicated they will be ready to clear that encampment at some point. thursday's classes have been cancelled as tensions remain high on the campus there in la. the chancellor of ucla announced an investigation after pro—israeli demonstrators appeared to attack a pro—palestinian encampment early wednesday. the chancellor says the investigation could lead to arrests and expulsions. live now to helena humphrey on campus at ucla. remind us what happened overnight? it is fairto it is fair to say the situation is becoming increasingly tense on campus, a minute before speaking to you we saw a considerable number of police officers come out here onto the campus and we did here a call from the encampment which you can hear and see over here, the call going out, calling on the protesters once again to disburse or face arrest. what you can also hear in the encampment as the sounds of

hammering, we believe that inside the protesters have been trying to reinforce barricades with wood, what —— whatever they have inside there. we got to higher ground and saw people inside wearing hard hats in light of the scenes we saw last night, and we know this area here, the library protesters have been barricading the doors as we heard some of that hammering. a short while ago we saw some protesters appear, you can see them there, about five protesters, i was speaking to four of them saying you have been called on to disburse, what are you going to do? three of them shaking their heads saying they would not leave, let me take you over in this direction, behind me, it is getting dark but what we saw is more police officers coming out, they have had in order to put on right helmets, we saw them do so, in this direction behind them we have got more protesters, people have been coming out, students through

the course of the day, they have been told they can continue their protest in that area, i spoke to some students inside the camp last night. they described bloodiest scenes from what went on with the counter protesters, they were relu cta nt to counter protesters, they were reluctant to speak on camera, many covering their faces saying they were concerned about repercussions. chance have been rising calling for financial ties to be cut with israel, then charging as well which some people would say our anti—semitic, among those protesters a member of the faculty, i asked protesters a member of the faculty, iasked him protesters a member of the faculty, i asked him why he was out with the protesters. i’m out with the protesters. i'm certainly — out with the protesters. i'm certainly concerned about all the students that don't feel safe — the students that don't feel safe being on campus, the clarification i would like to make _ clarification i would like to make we have manyjewish students inside the campus and encampment as well when we use those _ encampment as well when we use those kinds of statements we create — those kinds of statements we create a — those kinds of statements we create a monolithic movement that implies they are israel

state — that implies they are israel state supporting students, i want — state supporting students, i want to— state supporting students, i want to clarify that we want the safety of all students on campus, _ the safety of all students on campus, muslim, israeli students and all other students. jewish students are also _ students. jewish students are also involved in the protest in this group. 335 also involved in the protest in this grow-— also involved in the protest in this grows-— also involved in the protest in this urou-. a. , ., this group. as a member of the faculty are _ this group. as a member of the faculty are you _ this group. as a member of the faculty are you concerned - this group. as a member of the | faculty are you concerned about repercussions for yourself as the protest continues and as we see a response from the administration? i see a response from the administration?- see a response from the administration? i don't feel concerned _ administration? i don't feel concerned we _ administration? i don't feel concerned we are _ administration? i don't feel concerned we are doing - administration? i don't feeli concerned we are doing the righteous thing, we are protecting the voices of our student— protecting the voices of our student and we are here to elevate _ student and we are here to elevate the dignity of human life. — elevate the dignity of human life, there is nothing to be afraid _ life, there is nothing to be afraid of _ life, there is nothing to be afraid of— life, there is nothing to be afraid of. , ., ., afraid of. interesting to hear that voice — afraid of. interesting to hear that voice from _ afraid of. interesting to hear that voice from a _ afraid of. interesting to hear that voice from a faculty - that voice from a faculty member. remind us what happened in the early hours of wednesday morning that inflamed the situation?— morning that inflamed the situation? . , situation? absolutely, in the early hours _ situation? absolutely, in the early hours of _ situation? absolutely, in the early hours of the _ situation? absolutely, in the early hours of the morning, | early hours of the morning, counter— early hours of the morning, counter protesters coming out onto _ counter protesters coming out onto the — counter protesters coming out onto the encampment, pro—

israel— onto the encampment, pro— israel protesters, according to the university, many of them are not— the university, many of them are not actually students here, there _ are not actually students here, there were violent clashes that ensued, — there were violent clashes that ensued, those demonstrators wearing — ensued, those demonstrators wearing masks, holding sticks, it took— wearing masks, holding sticks, it took a — wearing masks, holding sticks, it took a number of hours before _ it took a number of hours before the police were able to break — before the police were able to break up _ before the police were able to break up those clashes, a lot of the — break up those clashes, a lot of the protest as i was speaking to say they felt let down — speaking to say they felt let down essentially, those demonstrators were not kept safe, — demonstrators were not kept safe, and _ demonstrators were not kept safe, and i think whatever happens _ safe, and i think whatever happens tonight, whether the protest — happens tonight, whether the protest camp is cleared, i think— protest camp is cleared, i think what has been shown across— think what has been shown across the country as it will be harder— across the country as it will be harder to quell, across the country as it will be harderto quell, is across the country as it will be harder to quell, is clearly the just— be harder to quell, is clearly the just consent among the students, a younger generation here _ students, a younger generation here with — students, a younger generation here with regards to how israel is prosecuting this war, and the — is prosecuting this war, and the support from the united states _ the support from the united states. —— discontent. quelling that will— states. —— discontent. quelling that will come from events in israel. — that will come from events in israel, and whether there is that— israel, and whether there is that long _ israel, and whether there is that long lasting deal with regards to a ceasefire and the role _ regards to a ceasefire and the role of — regards to a ceasefire and the role of washington in that.

thank— role of washington in that. thank you forjoining us from ucla tonight. in new york, people are back out at columbia university, protesting. it comes as students at columbia university and city university of new york held a joint press conference, vowing to continue their protests. they called arrests "violent" and criticized columbia for what they called "bad faith negotiations." police say they arrested about 300 protesters on tuesday during campus raids at columbia university and the city university of new york. the most dramatic moments came when police raided a building taken over by protesters on columbia's campus to apprehend them. police didn't say how many were students, but city officials said there's evidence students have been influenced and trained by people not affiliated with columbia university. at the university of texas at dallas, us media say at least 17 people were arrested and charged so far with trespassing for setting up an encampment on the texas campus. we will continue to watch those images coming from ucla.

israel has reopened the main crossing into northern gaza, the erez crossing, for the first time since the attacks by hamas on october 7, to allow more humanitarian aid to cross into the areas threatened by famine. it comes after sustained international pressure by international governments and aid agencies. the un warned that more than 70% of the gaza population faces "catastrophic" levels of hunger. our special correspondent fergal keane reports from the erez crossing. a gate towards the war. where israel's army today showcased how it planned to boost aid reaching gaza. this is the erez crossing in the north of the gaza strip, with gaza devastated on the other side. the plan is to get 500 trucks a day into gaza from here. the un wants many more to avert what it calls a man—made famine. the optics, designed to convey an israel listening to america and other allies.

every day, every day, we won't stop... all very different to the beginning of the war, nearly seven months ago. "we're putting a complete siege on gaza," said israel's defence minister, yoav gallant. "no electricity, no food, no water, no gas — it's all closed." this exercise comes after weeks of pressure on israel from the international community to allow more food, medicine, supplies into gaza and after one senior un official warned israel might be committing a war crime, using food as a weapon of war. the international criminal court is reportedly considering arrest warrants for israel's war leaders. are you worried that you, other senior idf officers, might be charged with war crimes as a consequence of that? we never set any bar, any limit

regarding the entrance of humanitarian aid and specifically not food. the un and aid agencies say that simply isn't true. here, the charity world central kitchen reopened, a month after seven of its workers, including three britons, were killed in an israeli attack. this is a lifeline in central gaza, where the elderly and children are acutely vulnerable from hunger and war. nine—year—old mayam al—al is dug free from the rubble of an air strike. 16 other children in her extended family were killed. hers is a life broken by war. mayam told us that now she wanted to go to god.

a ceasefire won't bring back the dead, but it might allow mayam to believe again in life. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. meanwhile, us secretary of state antony blinken, met with israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, injerusalem warning against a ground invasion of rafah, where 1.4 million displaced palestinians are sheltering. mr blinken also called on hamas to accept the terms of a ceasefire deal, that would see a pause in fighting and the release of some israeli hostages in exchange for palestinian prisoners. a week after five people died off the coast of france as they tried to cross the channel in a small overcrowded boat, the bbc has now pieced together how the youngest victim, a 7 year—old girl, was killed. correspondent andrew harding, who witnessed what happened that night, has tracked down the little girl's father. he told him what happened and why the family took such a risk on what was their 4th attempt at crossing. a warning, you may find details in his report upsetting.

shouting this was the scene last week as smugglers clashed with police on a french beach. and in the middle of the chaos, one unforgettable image of a small girl perched on herfather�*s shoulders — a seven—year—old girl with moments left to live. we now know her name was sara, and this is her story. sara was born in belgium but grew up in sweden, one of three children. here they are with theirfather, ahmed. he'd fled from iraq in 2009 and spent years trying but failing to get permission to settle anywhere in europe. he got married, worked, had children, but his asylum appeals were rejected. instead, he says, the whole family faced deportation to iraq. which is why ahmed brought them here instead, hiding with smugglers in these

dunes near calais. so you were with your whole family here, all five of you? with family, with everybody. family stay, seat for this side. ahmed brought us back to the french coast to explain what had happened and why he put his family in such danger. he shows me how they rushed towards the sea. you're racing them? yes. trying to get to the water before the police? yes. it must have been scary for the children. yeah. the police caught up with them near the water's edge. we were there, too, filming the whole incident. the smugglers fighting back. and then here on the right — sara, in a pinkjacket, making her way towards the boat, still holding her father's hand. a little later, you can see her on ahmed's shoulders. then she disappears into

the wildly overcrowded boat. a rival group of smugglers had directed their passengers from sudan towards the same boat. as more migrants piled on board, you can hear ahmed shouting for help. translation: she said, "help me, dad," but i couldn't reach her. there were people standing on top of us, and sara disappeared below me. i was trapped. i told one man to move. i screamed and hit him. but he just looked away. ashore, the french police made no further attempt to intervene. it was only later at sea that a rescue boat finally took people away to reveal

sara's dead body. translation: finally, when the rescue boat came, they started to pull people out, to pull out the dead. then i saw sara. she was in the corner. herface was blue. she wasn't breathing. there will be people watching this who will say, why did you take that risk? why were you prepared to take such a risk for you and yourfamily to try to get to england? how do you explain that? translation: the sea was my last option. i applied ia times for asylum, but they were all denied. i went to belgium, to sweden, to finland. i didn't want any hand—outs. my wife and i can both work. all i wanted was for my kids to go to school. to have dignity. before she left sweden, sara drew this family portrait.

that's her on the right. today, her old school teacher said the class was mourning her death. translation: she was a kind and nice girl with lots of friends at school. when we heard she'd died, we gathered in a circle and had a minute's silence. they were such a nice family. i was really shocked to learn they were being deported. sara and her siblings had only ever lived in europe. herfuneral is expected in the coming days. he sobs for her father, there is grief and guilt, and still no clarity about which country he and his broken family can ever call home. andrew harding reporting that there are. around the world

and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. london police have charged a man with the murder of 14—year—old boy in a sword attack in east london on tuesday. the 36—year—old man has been named as marcus aurelio arduini monzo. four people, including two police officers, were seriously injured. monzo also faces two counts of attempted murder, among other charges. a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three people were injured at a secondary school in south yorkshire. a child was assaulted and two adults suffered minor injuries at the birley academy in sheffield, wednesday morning. police say they were called to an incident involving a sharp object. the school went into lockdown and parents were informed. shortly before its first show was due to begin, manchester's new co—op live arena postponed its opening for the third time. the venue said it was due to a "technical issue". last week, the general manager resigned over problems and delays. with enough capacity to hold almost 2a,000 people, it will be the uk's largest arena when it's fully open.

you're live with bbc news. here in the us, the battle over abortion rights is playing out in the state of arizona. on wednesday, arizona senators voted to repeal a 19th century state law banning abortion. the bill to undo this near—total ban advanced with 16 in favor and ia against. two republicans joined senate democrats to support the repeal bill. arizona state attorney general kris mayes called the vote "a win for freedom in our state," earlier, i spoke to two representatives from arizona, a democrat and a republican, who both voted to repeal the 1864 abortion ban in the state. i want to start with you because you sided with democrats to pass the appeal of this abortion law. why is that? the abortion law which originated in 1864, essentially banned all abortions in the

state of arizona unless the life of the woman was at risk. prior to two weeks ago abortion was illegal up to 15 weeks in the state of arizona and to completely turn that on its head,in completely turn that on its head, in a matter of a day, by the arizona supreme court ruling is out of line where arizonans are today. in my view the territorial law didn't strike the right balance in respecting women and protecting new life. �* ., ~ respecting women and protecting new life. . . ~ , new life. after making this decision you _ new life. after making this decision you were - new life. after making this | decision you were removed new life. after making this - decision you were removed from a role in the appropriations committee, are you worried about low back from republican colleagues and perhaps some voters? mr; colleagues and perhaps some voters? g , , voters? my republican colleagues _ voters? my republican colleagues didn't - voters? my republican colleagues didn't elect| voters? my republican - colleagues didn't elect me, the people of the fourth legislative district in arizona elected me, i believe the majority of them want to see the territorial law repealed, so i am going to carry out the wishes of my constituency, i have no regrets about doing so.

representative stall hamilton i want to come to you if the bill assigned as expected by the as we heard from tentative grace statute banning the statute after 15 weeks would become the law in arizona is that in line with most voters in arizona want to see?— with most voters in arizona want to see? ., want to see? there -- right now that is the _ want to see? there -- right now that is the law _ want to see? there -- right now that is the law in _ want to see? there -- right now that is the law in arizona - want to see? there -- right now that is the law in arizona the - that is the law in arizona the 15 week than has been the law in arizona since 2022, what we did by repealing the 1864 territorial ban, was to keep us from going backwards. so, i think that is where we need to start, is that we have been under the 15 week ban on that has not stopped. and i don't think that is consistent with what people in arizona want. that 15 week ban, also does not

make provisions for the victims and survivors of sexual assault, and that is very much not in step with what the people of arizona desire. what direct impact _ people of arizona desire. what direct impact to _ people of arizona desire. what direct impact to think - people of arizona desire. what direct impact to think that - people of arizona desire. what direct impact to think that has had so far, as you said it has beenin had so far, as you said it has been in place since 2022? if there are complications that arise in pregnancy, those complications do not stop after 22 weeks, i think, ties the hands of our medical providers, and providing reproductive care. and so i think, it is not what we need, and it is not where we need to be as a state when it comes to reproductive healthcare and reproductive mediums. healthcare and reproductive mediums-— mediums. you wrote in a statement _ mediums. you wrote in a statement and _ mediums. you wrote in a statement and talking i mediums. you wrote in a i statement and talking about this repeal of the abortion venue would not buy into the extremes on both sides the issue that we cannot respect and protect women and defend new life at the same time. can

you tell me what that means practically for you, respecting and protecting women and defending life at the same time? does that mean a 15 week abortion ban there should be a national abortion ban? i abortion ban there should be a national abortion ban?- national abortion ban? i don't believe there _ national abortion ban? i don't believe there should - national abortion ban? i don't believe there should be - national abortion ban? i don't believe there should be a - believe there should be a national abortion ban, it should be left up to the states, when people of our respective states to make that decision. what i meant by respecting women and protecting new life is that we have to strike a balance here. the territorial law in my view is too extreme. and it allows for virtually no abortions. there is also in my view a very radical constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot likely this fall, that would go to the other extreme. in terms of allowing up to nine months for abortions in some cases on an elective basis. i do not think that is where most people are, most people dish ——

believe there should be a reasonable timeframe with reasonable timeframe with reasonable exceptions in place and from the polling i have seenin and from the polling i have seen in arizona most people fall in line with the 15 week timeframe, when a foetus can start to feel pain. the beetle pain timeframe, that is something we want to look out for and try to balance. i something we want to look out for and try to balance.- for and try to balance. i want ask ou for and try to balance. i want ask you about _ for and try to balance. i want ask you about this _ for and try to balance. i want ask you about this as - for and try to balance. i want | ask you about this as because this has become such a big issue on the national scale as well. abortion access. how much do you think it is galvanising voters in the state of arizona? it is galvanising voters, when you do not speak accurately about the issue. i would like to back up and say, the citizens initiative that is going forward, is not radical, it does not have just this — will ever the words that have been said, it's not radical, it

is not abortion up to the time of delivery. the initiative allows for reproductive healthcare and freedoms for the length of a pregnancy, with provisions for patients and their doctors to make incredibly tough decisions, should problems arise in a pregnancy stop and because there isn't honest communication and direct truth telling, this does galvanise people. it is governance by fear and misinformation, buti think when people have an opportunity to sit down and talk honestly and truthfully about the issue, i think we are able to come to an agreement, more readily. able to come to an agreement, more readily-— more readily. just one last question — more readily. just one last question before _ more readily. just one last question before we - more readily. just one last question before we wrap l more readily. just one last l question before we wrap up, this is as you are saying possibly an issue that could be on the ballot in arizona in november, do you think it is something that is driving voters there? if

something that is driving voters there?— something that is driving voters there? if we had not repealed — voters there? if we had not repealed the _ voters there? if we had not repealed the territorial - voters there? if we had not| repealed the territorial ban, voters there? if we had not l repealed the territorial ban, i think you would have seen more arizonans taking up their support for the abortion access initiative. because, given a choice and no choice at all, i think arizonans generally feel that women need to have, have that women need to have, have that choice. but i think most arizonans voters think the choice should exist in a reasonable timeframe, with reasonable timeframe, with reasonable exceptions. in the abortion access act does not do that. in repealing the law, i think we are able to shift the conversation between the 15 week timeframe or do you want a 39 week timeframe? that is the divide here, that i think we're going to take the voters, and they will be susceptible to hearing out our viewpoint. so much more to talk about but we have run out of time. thank you forjoining us on bbc news

tonight. we want to ta ke to take you back to these images of what is happening on the campus of the university of california, los angeles, students have been gathering on the steps, it is near the main protest encampment. classes on thursday have already been cancelled, tensions remain very high in los angeles and we know part of that due to the violence that took place early on wednesday morning between pro— israeli and pro— palestinian protesters, there is a heavy police presence on campus as well, it has been reported by campus media, they are expecting to clear the encampment. that is our show the sour. thank you so much for watching bbc news. stay with us. hello. on wednesday evening in france, we saw some pretty nasty storms with hail and thunder, gusty winds, and they have been

drifting towards us. if we look at the satellite picture over the radar superimposed, the rainfall, you can see these dark blue colors indicating the very heavy rainfall and drifting in from the south towards the uk. so i think through the early hours we will have had some downpours. if they haven't reached you already, they may be on the way, but of course not everybody is going to get them. it's near enough impossible to exactly predict where the storms will be, but north of that, it's a completely different picture across northern england and scotland. some clear skies overnight. now let's have a look at the early hours. this is widespread rain in the south—west. i think the more vicious brief downpours with hail, thunder and lightning and flash flooding in places will be further towards the east. and some of these heavy showers may last through the morning and possibly pop off during the afternoon as well again around here. but by the time we get to northern england, northern ireland and scotland, it's mostly sunny, but note windy weather on the north sea coast, a chilly breeze. so it will keep things cool here. maybe only 12 degrees on the north sea coast, 20 possible elsewhere across england. but i think the best of the weather for sure around the western isles with light winds and sunny skies.

now, the weather front still with us on friday. i don't think that is going to be itself producing any thunder. the showers could be developing across more northern parts of england through the course of the day. and again, it's across the north and the north—west of scotland where we have the best of our weather once again, 20 degrees celsius. compare that to so many other major towns and cities, only around 13 or 14 degrees. and this does sometimes happen when we have easterly winds that sheltered part of western scotland tends to warm up in the sunshine. now, here's saturday. you can see a fairly cloudy picture with a few blobs of rain here and there, maybe sunnier skies for a time in the south. and the temperatures are recovering somewhat, typically the mid teens to the high teens. now, overall, the bank holiday weekend is looking quite mixed for most of us. temperatures stabilising around the average. i think the high teens across the south of the uk and not far off the average across many other parts of the uk, but for the time being,

watch out for those storms in the south.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

welcome to hardtalk from new york. i'm stephen sackur. this city has always had an outsize influence on american culture. the buzz in this nation comes from right here in terms of the arts, entertainment, publishing, the media, but what happens in new york when america's political culture is riven with division? well, my guest today is the great american novelist, new york resident paul auster. if america is experiencing a culture war, is he ready to fight? paul auster, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. it is a pleasure to be

in your home, your writing