contains unrealistic demands. —— ceasefire in gaza. voting is under way in russia in an election which vladimir putin is bound to win, securing another six years of power. in ukraine there has been a russian message2 on a dsl with two rescue workers killed and at least 20 people injured. —— rushing missile strike. a missile strike in 0desa — two people dead and at least 20 injured. rishi sunak is underfresh pressure over his ties to frank hester — the party donor at the centre of the racism row. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan — welcome to bbc news now. we're watching developments on a range of stories, as you've heard in the headlines. this hour we're live in kiev, westminster, and jerusalem. let's start with developments

in the middle east, as that first ship carrying aid to gaza has arrived off the coast of the territory. let's join my colleague who's in israel for us — anna foster. welcome to damascus gate in east jerusalem were the first friday prayers of ramadan are coming to an end. you can see the final struggle is a warship is coming out of the damascus gate, they have been net the al—aqsa —— final stragglers of worshippers. tight security presence here this morning. things seem to have proceeded peacefully. while we are talking, israel's war cabinet and security cabinet are meeting to discuss her weight�*s proposal in the attempts to find a humanitarian ceasefire agreement in gaza. hamas said the 70 mediators last night,

describing it as a comprehensive vision for a ceasefire agreement. they said they wanted, reiterating demands for things like palestinians to be able to return to their homes in gaza. also a full withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza. but israel said those were unrealistic demands. those talks are continuing. the ship thatis those talks are continuing. the ship that is on its way is approaching gaza, still a little way off the shoreline, finally visible off the coast of gaza. this is a spanish aid ship which is telling a barge filled with 200 tonnes of food which is going to be delivered. it is the first time during this war that aid will arrive to gaza by sea. it is worth saying humanitarian groups are world leaders repeatedly are making the point that c corridors and airdrops are no substitute for aid coming in by land, the only way to

get aid into gaza at the scale required. but the ship is moving closer, it will face challenges when it arrives at the coastline, they have been building a temporaryjetty to unload some of the aid. that'll be the first problem because this will be untried and untested, difficult and delicate operation. also once the aid is off the barge, they will need to find a to distribute it safely and securely. add the aid situation in gaza is desperate at the moment. there were reports yesterday evening that we had firstly from the hamas run health ministry that sent 20 people had been killed and more than 150 injured as they waited for an aid convoy, they blamed an israeli attack but israel said those were false reports. they have said in the last hour or so that a preliminary investigation they have done suggests that their forces were not

responsible for any tank, air our gunfire in that area, they say it was palestinian gunman who attacked that aid convoy. just returning to this location, this striking location where i am, i was explaining some of the attention that in previous years have led to violent clashes around here during ramadan. i spoke in bethlehem to a former imam of the al—aqsa to the city walls ma he explained a little more about the significance of this place. all muslims all over the world, they are called from muhammad to go to al—aqsa mosque. they are reading in koran that there is a mosque called al—aqsa mosque under israeli occupation. so we have to go. i was imam in al—aqsa mosque, and i was arrested

from there several times, and i am prevented from going there. so from bethlehem, if you go to a hill, you can see al—aqsa mosque from the hill. here to the border... our border of bethlehem, only one kilometre you will be injerusalem, if you can. but the walls stop you, the checkpoints stop you, the soldiers stop you, you need special permission. special permission only from the israeli security. the israeli security doesn't give anyone. the imam was a former imam at the al—aqsa at eastjerusalem. breaking news from australia, they say they will resume funding the main united nations aid agency for palestinian refugees in gaza, they paused funding to moscow when israel accused some unrwa staff of

involvement in the cuba seventh attacks in southern israel. those allegations led many donors to pull financial support for unrwa which says it is still investigating the claims. canada, sweden and the eu as well as now australia have said they will resume that funding to unrwa. that is all from here for now, more to come from eastjerusalem throughout the day. 25 people have drowned after a boat capsized off the coast of turkey. it happened of the largest island which is in the ag and see. the victims' nationalities are now. local efficiency two people were arrested by the turkish coastguard and another two managed to make it out of the water on the road. a search operation has been taking place involving planes, helicopters and

more than a dozen boats. we will bring you more on that story as we get it. now to russia, where voting is under way in presidential elections which will almost certainly see vladimir putin extend his quarter of a century in power. the process began in russia's far east several hours ago — these pictures are from vladivostock. and let's bring you some pictures live from a polling station in moscow. now, there is the potential for a run—off vote if no candidate wins more than 50% in the first round. but with many of mr putin's opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that vladimir putin will be re—elected, without the need for that second ballot. let's take a look at the candidates facing vladimir putin. there are three token contenders, none of whom have criticised him. they include political veteran nikolai kharitonov of the communist party, relative newcomer and former businessman vladislav davankov of the new people party, and leonid slutsky of the right—wing, nationalist liberal democratic party. they all broadly support the kremlin and its policies,

including the invasion of ukraine. putin's main opposition, alexei navalny, died last month in a penal colony in unexplained circumstances. despite the risk of persecution, thousands publicly paid their last respects at his grave. 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg, is following developments in moscow. vladimir putin has been in power a long time, right, 25 years almost as president or prime minister. and he's expected to win a fifth presidential term. now, this whole event, this three—day event, which starts today, is being presented by the russian authorities almost as a celebration of democracy. the kremlin just a few days ago described russian democracy as the best democracy in the world. critics of the kremlin would disagree and would say that this poll is neither free nor fair nor transparent.

vladimir putin does not face a major challenge. there are three other candidates on the ballot paper, but his most vocal critics, his fiercest opponents, are either in exile or in prison, which kind of helps you to win what we expect to be a landslide. there have been reports that public service workers have been strongly encouraged to come out today, on day one of this election, to cast their votes. i mean, there are so many things to say about this election. vladimir putin dominates the airwaves, dominates the screens, on russian television, much more than any other candidate. so it will be no surprise, i think, when he is eventually declared the winner. 14 people have died in 0desa after a

rushing missile strike. we can go straight to our eastern europe correspondent. i know this is a developing story and we're getting things may buy mini about what more you know? just things may buy mini about what more ou know? , , ., ., things may buy mini about what more ou know? , ., ., ., ., .,, you know? just a moment ago i was checkin: you know? just a moment ago i was checking the — you know? just a moment ago i was checking the reports _ you know? just a moment ago i was checking the reports from _ you know? just a moment ago i was checking the reports from 0desa - you know? just a moment ago i was| checking the reports from 0desa and they were saying that two rescue workers had been killed in a russian missile strike. those reports coming in saying 14 people have been killed and 46 people injured. a huge increase in a very short space of time. what we do know is that there was a missile attack, the ukrainian authorities say it was a residential area of 0desa, several houses were hit, they say there was a gas pipe also on fire and they say it was when the rescue workers went to the scene to try to see if there was anyone under the rubble, to give first aid, there was then a second russian rocket fired. that was when

two rescue workers were killed. now they are saying 14 people have been killed, that is unclear whether those are rescue workers or civilians. but that is a significant number of people, a very significant attack. itjust underlines the ongoing violence, ongoing aggression in ukraine, and it comes at the same time as today we have just seen a newsflash that the bodies of 100 ukrainian soldiers just been returned today to ukraine, they were captured, killed in the fighting, they have been retained by russia today across—the—board. the toll of this war, two years old, is extremely high. —— across the border. extremely high. -- across the border. ., , ., border. remind our viewers of the significance _ border. remind our viewers of the significance of _ border. remind our viewers of the significance of 0desa _ border. remind our viewers of the significance of 0desa and - border. remind our viewers of the significance of 0desa and the - significance of 0desa and the geography of it. it is significance of 0desa and the geography of it— significance of 0desa and the geography of it. it is a city on the black sea, _ geography of it. it is a city on the

iclack sea. a _ geography of it. it is a city on the black sea, a port _ geography of it. it is a city on the black sea, a port city, _ geography of it. it is a city on the black sea, a port city, strategic. black sea, a port city, strategic city for ukraine, one of the bigger cities in this country. it is a city that russia had designs on at the beginning of the war, it wanted to capture a desk, it never did so. it is an important scene, also were of the grain exports from ukraine were headed out to western markets, around the world, so was coming under sustained attack and an attack on many occasions. this appears to be no residential area of the city which was hit at this point, not an area near the port. we are getting information at the moment, it is pretty much dribs and drabs for now but very significant number of people who have been killed in this attack. �* , ., , ., ., attack. briefly, given that you have been based — attack. briefly, given that you have been based in _ attack. briefly, given that you have been based in russia _ attack. briefly, given that you have been based in russia in _ attack. briefly, given that you have been based in russia in the - attack. briefly, given that you have been based in russia in the past, l attack. briefly, given that you have been based in russia in the past, i| been based in russia in the past, i wanted to get your thoughts on what the reaction in ukraine is to these ongoing presidential elections in russia. i ongoing presidential elections in russia. ~ ,, ,~ .,

russia. i think it is pretty clear that in ukraine _ russia. i think it is pretty clear that in ukraine people - russia. i think it is pretty clear that in ukraine people see - russia. i think it is pretty clear that in ukraine people see it i russia. i think it is pretty clear| that in ukraine people see it as russia. i think it is pretty clear . that in ukraine people see it as an illegitimate vote to do pointless act. certainly it will change nothing for ukraine because when vladimir putin is re—elected, which is guaranteed of because in their selection, it will change nothing on the ground in ukraine. the walk will go on, people will continue to come under rocket attack on soldiers will continue to die on the front lines. that is the reaction. voting is taking place in occupied areas of ukraine as well and the foreign ministry says that is an illegitimate vote, illegal voter and it has called on western governments not to recognise the results of those elections.— around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making the news. prime minister rishi sunak rules out holding a general election on the 2nd of may, when voters will go to the polls for local elections in england. the prime minister had previously refused to rule out the possibility of a spring election, but said his "working assumption"

is that an election would be held in the second half of the year. mps will get a 5.5% pay rise from april, meaning their annual salary will increase to over £91,000. the independent parliamentary standards authority says the decision was in line with the award recently agreed for senior civil servants, adding that it aims to be "fair, both for mps and the public". food delivery firm hellofresh denies taking subscriptions from customers who say they had cancelled their accounts. some customers say their accounts reactivated with money taken for orders they had not made. they believe thatjust logging on to the app reactivated their accounts, but hellofresh says money was taken only when customers made a quote "proactive decision" to do so. you're live with bbc news. now to russia, where

voting is underway in presidential elections — which will almost certainly see vladimir putin extend his quarter of a century in power. the balance will be casted by three days, the result not in doubt as there are neufville credible opponents to vladimir putin. we are let's speak to stanislav andreichuk. we know that vladimir putin is bound to win. {iii

we know that vladimir putin is bound to win. . ., , ., to win. of course, we need to understand — to win. of course, we need to understand that _ to win. of course, we need to understand that this - to win. of course, we need to | understand that this campaign to win. of course, we need to - understand that this campaign is... inaudible this is between people and power and the ability to make decisions that involve the future of our country. more than ever before. i mean that the observation of elections, possibilities to be registered as a candidate. they make it more difficult. as a result we see this time we have the least number of candidates, most of them not well—known, ordinary people. there is no free and fair election. we see that a lot of people are under big

pressure, their bosses in their workplaces pressure them to go to vote and vote for putin. your organisation _ vote and vote for putin. your organisation is _ vote and vote for putin. your organisation is all _ vote and vote for putin. your organisation is all about - vote and vote for putin. your organisation is all about monitoring this vote but your organisation has been labelled a foreign agent by the russian authorities. what exactly will golos be doing in the next few days and will you be able to do that in an open way? we days and will you be able to do that in an open way?— days and will you be able to do that in an open way? we cannot send our observers to — in an open way? we cannot send our observers to polling _ in an open way? we cannot send our observers to polling stations - observers to polling stations because no one sympathetic to it can do it. all the candidates... this time it is that his time in our history when new one the candidates is ready to appeal to the people, evenif is ready to appeal to the people,

even if they don't vote or have some money for theirjob at doing this. that's why the observation would be the poorest in the whole history. and of course it makes... inaudible we might want observation, we monitor the whole campaign, we monitor the whole campaign, we monitor the whole campaign, we monitor the media and so on, so we also make the whole infrastructure, so if some person comes to the polling station and if he or she has a problem at this moment, they can come to our hotline, use our mobile app come to our hotline, use our mobile app write a message to our telegram board or to our website.—

board or to our website. briefly, assumin: board or to our website. briefly, assuming that _ board or to our website. briefly, assuming that the _ board or to our website. briefly, assuming that the result - board or to our website. briefly, assuming that the result is - board or to our website. briefly, assuming that the result is that| assuming that the result is that everyone expects it to be, what happens next? particularly when we talk in the context of it being a month since alexei navalny died, the voice for opposition in russia, many say has been totally silent now. what happens after those results come in? , ,., , what happens after those results come in? , , , ., , what happens after those results come in? , , ., , ., come in? everybody understands that this election — come in? everybody understands that this election is _ come in? everybody understands that this election is not _ come in? everybody understands that this election is not the _ come in? everybody understands that this election is not the end _ come in? everybody understands that this election is not the end of- come in? everybody understands that this election is not the end of the - this election is not the end of the history. the campaign of 2018, when putin won, he had a great result, 76% of support, 70% of turnout, but later russian authorities started to lose elections on regional and local levels. so i expect that the most interesting things will start after

elections because russian authorities have to make unpopular steps like raising of taxes, raising prices, very unpopular in russia, and so on, that is why... and of course, after pressure i already described, people are not satisfied, and angry with the authorities. at think you will have problems after the election because money, conflict, money problems, frozen for the previous few years, it can be that for the next few months. tibia that for the next few months. 0k, thank you- — co—chair of golos — the movement for defence of voters' rights. thank you. here in the uk, the prime

minister rishi sunak and his conservatives are under fresh pressure over their ties to frank hester — a donor to the party, who is embroiled in a race row. for days there's been a fierce debate after reports mr hester had allegedly said the politician diane abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and should "be shot". with calls for the party to hand back any cash it's received from mr hester, there are now new reports the conservaties received £5 million more from him than was previously declared. a short time ago the chancellor, jeremy hunt,was asked about this. let's have a listen to what he had to say. well, we follow all the right procedures when it comes to declaring our donations, and when the time is right, we will declare any donations that we've received recently. but, chancellor, you know, the conservative party refusing to be transparent, when you're responsible for the country's economy, you know, will you not say, or you don't know or you won't say, about how the party is funded? we absolutely are transparent, we follow all the rules, the regulations, we believe in that transparency, and many

of the laws about it we actually passed ourselves, and the conservative party fully complies with all the requirements to be transparent about our donations. a reminder that frank hester has apologised for what he called was being rude about the mp diane abbott but said his comments were nothing to do with skin colour. downing street described the comments is wrong and racist but said frank hester had apologised and showed remorse. 0pposition parties continue to say that the conservative party should return any donations from him. at the end of another difficult week for the royal family, both the prince of wales and the duke of sussex took part in an event paying tribute to their late mother last night but did not appear together. prince william was at the diana legacy award ceremony in london, while harryjoined later via video call after his brother had left. 0ur correspondent sophie long has more. there was a time on a night

like this that the prince of wales would have had his brother by his side. not now. with the divide between them as deep as ever, william attended the diana awards alone. i'm thoroughly delighted, as always, to be here to recognise the transformational achievements of 20 exceptional young people from across the world. each and every one of their stories, which you will hear shortly, are testament to their character, their passion, and their determination to make a lasting and meaningful difference to the lives of others. his royal highness presented the prestigious diana legacy award to young change—makers from all over the world who have selflessly created positive social change. many of the recipients weren't born until after his mother was tragically killed in a car crash. now they are proudly part of her legacy. she is very much loved in nigeria and her legacy kind of transcends generations.

and i think for my generation, because we have social media, we get to read about her and it's inspiring then. even without information, she was able to do so much. and now that we have so much, we can do even much more. prince william laughed and joked with the award winners, showing little sign of strain amid the health issues facing his father and his wife catherine. after william had left, his brother harry congratulated the winners from california via videophone. my mum would be incredibly proud of all the work you have done. i am incredibly proud. and thank you for doing everything that you do. a sign that despite their differences, the two brothers remain committed to honouring their late mother's efforts to empower young people. but also that any chance of resolving the rift between them remains remote, too. sophie long, bbc news, london. and now to something

you won't have seen before — the world's largest blueberry — take a look at this, it's the size of a ping—pong ball! it weighs in at atjust over 20 grams — that's about ten times the average blueberry. it was grown on a farm in australia, picked in november, and is stored in the freezer. not sure if it is being eaten any time soon! stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. well, it's still unsettled today and through the weekend, so there will be further outbreaks of rain to come at times. but today, something a little cooler and a bit brighter emerging from the north and the west as we head through the afternoon, as low pressure starts to drag these

weather fronts further southwards and eastwards. so some sunny spells emerging across northern ireland through the afternoon and also across parts of western scotland. but there'll also be some showers here just moving through on that now, northerly to north westerly wind. further south across much of england and wales for the second half of the day, it's a mixture of cloud, some brighter spells and possibly some heavy, even thundery downpours. the thunder most likely across central southern england and east anglia for the second half of the day. temperatures are lower across the board than they were yesterday, with that colder air sinking further southwards and eastwards. and that process continues overnight tonight. still a hang back of cloud across many parts of eastern england, this will help to keep the temperatures probably in mid single figures here. but there will be a touch of frost developing across northern england and scotland and a bit of frost probably for at least part of the night across northern ireland as well. with lighter winds, there'll also be some mist and some fog forming perhaps, too.

and then into tomorrow, when we look out towards the south and the west again to find another set of weather fronts, gradually sweeping eastwards, introducing more cloud and some outbreaks of rain, but probably dry for much of the day across eastern scotland and down through eastern england with some sunshine, hazy at times. but turning wet through the afternoon for western spots — again, it's mild with now that south—westerly wind blowing all of these fronts further northwards and eastwards as we head through the night. now, there will be some heavy rain through the night across southern areas of england, probably lingering on into sunday morning as well. we've still got that south—westerly flow, so the air is going to be really quite mild again. but a lot of cloud around on sunday, some brighter spells developing perhaps particularly towards the east as we head towards the end of the day. some showers moving across northern ireland and western scotland and it will be turning quite windy across the northern isles again. it's mild — highs of around 13 to 16 degrees celsius for the vast majority. and we are set to keep the same sort of conditions as we head into the start of next week. monday could be mostly

dry with a few showers. we'll be keeping that mild air again on tuesday. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... hope on the horizon — an aid ship towing food approaches gaza. voting is under way in russia — in an election which vladimir putin is bound to win —

securing another six years of power. the leaders of germany, france and poland head to berlin — in a show of unity for ukraine. and incredible images from this year's british wildlife photography awards. as you mentionjust as you mention just then, the leaders of germany, france and poland are meeting in berlin in an attempt to show unity for ukraine. it's being seen as an effort to address diverging french and german policies towards the defence of ukraine. let's speak to our correspondentjessica parker. just tells what we are expecting in these meetings? flit just tells what we are expecting in these meetings?— these meetings? of customer the meetin . s these meetings? of customer the meetings themselves _ these meetings? of customer the meetings themselves are - these meetings? of customer the i meetings themselves are happening behind closed doors, amongst these leaders. we are always slightly left to guess what they are talking about, but it's pretty clear in this emergency meeting, they will be

discussing the situation in