welcome to bbc news. i'm lewis vaughan jones. our top stories: final preparations for the funeral of the duke of edinburgh — a ceremony partly planned by the duke himself. just keep your head down a little bit. we have a special report from ukraine, where tensions build. russian troops gather on the border. the diplomatic row between russia and the us intensifies: moscow orders ten american diplomats to pack up and leave. a weekend curfew comes into force in the indian capital delhi, as coronavirus cases rise sharply in the city and across the country. and the british actor helen mccrory — best known for her roles in the tv series peaky blinders and three harry potter films — has died of cancer at the age of 52. and hundreds of celebrity influencers have learned

that they will finally be compensated for turning up, four years ago, to a music festival that never happened. hello, welcome to the programme. we start in the uk. final preparations are being made for the funeral of the duke of edinburgh at windsor castle. only 30 mourners will attend the service inside st george's chapel as a result of coronavirus restrictions. many aspects of the funeral, including the music, were planned in advance by prince philip himself. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. a husband and wife, plainly happy in each other�*s company — a previously private image

taken at balmoral in 2003, selected by the queen to be published on the eve of her husband's funeral. outside st george's chapel, within windsor castle, some of the flowers left by members of the public have been laid out on the lawns. close by, a wreath from the prime minister, with a card paying tribute to a man to whom the nation owes more than words can say. there were wreaths, too, from commonwealth nations, from canada and new zealand — countries which the duke had often visited. the earl and countess of wessex and their daughter came to inspect the flowers and some of the cards and other tributes which have been left, and this as the final touches for tomorrow's funeral were being put into place. present arms! all the military contingents who are involved in the short ceremonial procession have completed their main preparations. at the centre of the procession

will be the land rover hearse, which the duke helped to design. it will be in the castle�*s central quadrangle that the proceedings will begin. the service detachments will be drawn up. a few moments after 2:40 tomorrow, the duke's coffin will be borne from the state entrance to be placed on the land rover. at 2:45, the small procession will step off for the eight—minute journey through the castle. some members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin. the queen will follow in a limousine. the route will be lined by the military. at 2:53, the coffin will arrive at the west steps of st george's chapel. it will be borne to the top of the steps, where it will pause. at three o'clock, a one—minute silence will be observed, before the coffin enters the chapel for the funeral service. inside the chapel, the queen will sit by herself. like all the 30 members of the congregation, she will wear a mask.

at one point, the chapel will echo to the bugle call for action stations — a reminder of the duke's service as an officer in the royal navy in the second world war. in the town of windsor, many of the residents have their own stories of the duke. you would see him out on his carriage and he would always — he would always acknowledge you, he would always say hello to the group of us as we were walking. it will be very strange because we've only ever known prince philip in my life — he's always been here. so, a castle which has witnessed many moments in britain's long royal history is ready for another. the weather forecast for tomorrow is good, but both the palace and the police are hoping that won't tempt people to come to windsor. they've reiterated the point that no part of the funeral will be visible to spectators. the only way to follow it is to watch it on television. audiences around the world will watch and listen as the queen bids farewell to the man she described as her "beloved husband". nicholas witchell,

bbc news, windsor. now a special report from the front in ukraine. russian troops are gathering along the border. volodymyr zelensky has been anxious to increase international support following the recent build—up of russian troops along his country's eastern border. our correspondentjonah fisher reports now from the frontline near marinka in eastern ukraine. rpg shell. yours, or theirs? theirs. in eastern ukraine, a war that had been dormant is coming back to life. just keep your head down a little bit. this is marinka. just 100 metres separate these ukrainian army trenches from the positions of the russian—backed forces. for the last six years, very little has changed here along the front line in eastern ukraine, but the last few weeks has seen

a very dramatic shift in mood, and that's because on the russian side of the border, there's been a massive build—up of both personnel and equipment. they have their trenches over there. news of the troop movements have coincided with a deterioration of the situation on the ground. how seriously are soldiers here taking the possibility of russia launching a full—scale invasion? at war, you always have to be serious. it doesn't matter if you are expecting for escalation or you do not. but no matter what will happen, we will do ourjob. we will stand here till the end. during our time in the trenches, we get a glimpse of how tense things have become. what's going on?

0ver there, 600 metres from us, is a drone. a drone. yeah, an enemy drone. they are usually carrying charges or grenades. 0r whatever they can. it's better to stay over here. gunfire. the ukrainian soldiers open fire, but fail to hit the drone. yet another breach of a tattered ceasefire. along the front line, those who can leave have long gone. nalya, a 72—year—old widow, has had no choice but to stay, deciding each day whether to spend her small pension on firewood or on food. her memories are still fresh of the intense fighting of seven years ago. translation: so many people in our village were killed. - there were young women and children shot in their homes. wars are so pointless.

on the roads, we see signs that ukraine is getting battle ready. the hope here is that russia is flexing its military muscle, rather than preparing for all—out war. jonah fisher, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. sticking with escalating tensions with russia, but this time the us. a diplomatic row between russia and the us is intensifying, with moscow expelling ten american diplomats from the country and recommending the us ambassador return home. the moves are in response to sanctions imposed by washington on thursday over what the white house called "russia's harmful foreign activities". our moscow correspondent steven rosenberg says the latest tit—for—tat may be president putin manoeuvring to catch president biden�*s attention. well, we're back to the question that we have heard so often, really — what is vladimir putin thinking? what is he planning? what we know, i think,

is that president putin doesn't normally advertise military action ahead of time. so in 2014, he surprised everyone when he sent special forces into the ukraine to annex crimea. this time around, moscow is not hiding the fact that it is moving troops around, building up troop numbers, possibly to send a message to washington tojoe biden, "look at me, talk to me". and despite the diplomatic tit—for—tat that we have been seeing here, us sanctions against russia and today russian sanctions against the us, talks and the possibility of a us—russia summit, there is a possibility, but for that to happen, there must not be an escalation in tension, and the concern is in europe, in nato, in america that russia's actions are destabilising the situation. our thanks to steve in moscow. let's get some of the day's other news.

cuba's former president raul castro has confirmed that he will resign from the leadership of the communist party. he made the announcement at the beginning of a four—day party congress. the move means that for the first time in six decades, cuba's communist party is no longer led by either raul castro or his late brother, fidel. a member of the far right us militia group both keepers has become the first person to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the attack on capitol hill in washington injanuary —— oath keepers. john chayka's aclei emerged after sealed documents referring to his case accidentally appeared on a federal court database. he was an ardent supporter of donald trump and he has agreed to co—operate with prosecutors. the white house has said presidentjoe biden will increase the number of refugees allowed into the country this year. but his spokesperson said the total is unlikely to be

as high as mr biden�*s february pledge of 62,500. earlier, there was a sharp reaction from democrats and human rights activists when mr biden indicated that the us could keep the number of admissions as low as 15,000. a weekend curfew has come into place in delhi, reportedly over 170,000 deaths but my selection rallies are taking place and many are celebrating a large hindu festival on the banks of the river ganges. currently no plans for other strict national lockdown, as mark labelle reports. agony, those bearing relatives here feel should have been avoidable. translation: we

been avoidable. translation: - accept coronavirus is widespread by the equipment and facilities that should be there in hospitals, they are not there. �* . ~ in hospitals, they are not there. �* ., ~ ., _, there. after a week of record cases and — there. after a week of record cases and over _ there. after a week of record cases and over 1000 - there. after a week of record | cases and over 1000 reported deaths a day, they are turning somebody way here.— deaths a day, they are turning somebody way here. today so far we have received _ somebody way here. today so far we have received 13-14 _ somebody way here. today so far we have received 13-14 bodies . we have received 13—14 bodies already. the situation is so bad that we don't have time to do anything, we don't even have time to have a meal.— time to have a meal. india's leader narendra _ time to have a meal. india's leader narendra modi - time to have a meal. india's leader narendra modi is - time to have a meal. india's i leader narendra modi is loath to lockdown festivals like kumbh mela. there are not curfews in some states but things have markedly changed since the national lockdown ended last summer. i since the national lockdown ended last summer.- ended last summer. i don't think it is — ended last summer. i don't think it is entirely - ended last summer. i don't think it is entirely the - think it is entirely the politicians's fault. scientific arguments of various kinds were also advanced by people that possibly should have known better and the media too welcomed it. the industry

welcomed it. the industry welcomed it. the industry welcomed it. and the virus had an opportunity to really spread fast. £31 an opportunity to really spread fast. .,, an opportunity to really spread fast. _, . ., ., fast. of most concern now, and spreading _ fast. of most concern now, and spreading fast. _ fast. of most concern now, and spreading fast, the _ fast. of most concern now, and spreading fast, the classified i spreading fast, the classified coronavirus variant discovered in india. ., ., , in india. two of these mutations _ in india. two of these mutations which - in india. two of these mutations which have in india. two of these - mutations which have been in india. two of these _ mutations which have been seen in other variants around the world are concerning because there is a similarity in these mutations that confer increased transmissibility for example tra nsmissibility for example and transmissibility for example and some also result in reduced neutralisation which may have an impact on our countermeasures, including the vaccines. �* , countermeasures, including the vaccines. v ., countermeasures, including the vaccines. fl ., ., countermeasures, including the vaccines. �*, ., ., , vaccines. it's no longer 'ust an indian i vaccines. it's no longer 'ust an indian problem. i vaccines. it's no longer 'ust an indian problem. theh vaccines. it's no longerjusti an indian problem. the us, vaccines. it's no longerjust - an indian problem. the us, uk, singapore. _ an indian problem. the us, uk, singapore, australia _ an indian problem. the us, uk, singapore, australia and - an indian problem. the us, uk, singapore, australia and south| singapore, australia and south africa have also reported this type of mutant. figs africa have also reported this type of mutant.— africa have also reported this type of mutant. as india plans to dramatically _ type of mutant. as india plans to dramatically ramp - type of mutant. as india plans to dramatically ramp up - type of mutant. as india plans to dramatically ramp up its - to dramatically ramp up its locally made vaccine supplies, it is appealing to america to ease exports of raw materials.

but pressure is building for more immediate action to stop this deadly wave of the virus as those losing loved ones paint a picture of a health system buckling under the strain. mark lobel, bbc news. now to the issue of gun violence in the us. president biden has condemned the latest us mass shooting in indiana, describing gun violence as a "national embarrassment". he again urged congress to take measures to prevent weapons falling into the wrong hands. police in indianapolis have confirmed that eight people were killed in the shooting at a fedex facility. they identified the gunman as brandon hole, a former employee at the facility, who had a history of mental illness. he took his own life after the shooting. the incident is the latest in a spate of at least seven deadly mass shootings in the united states over the past month. the mayor of chicago has appealed for calm after the release of footage

showing a 13—year—old boy adam toledo being shot dead by a policeman last month. the teenager's death comes at a time of continuing high tension in the us about police killings. barbara plett usher reports from chicago. adam toledo was killed in the alleyway right behind me. and he was one of the youngest people killed by police in recent years. and so, of course, there is outrage and that's been amplified by the fact that there was this delay in releasing the footage. it took more than two weeks. and during that time police talked about an armed confrontation. and, on top of that, this is all happening at the same time as the trial for the killing of george floyd, which also resonates deeply here. thanks to barbara there. you're watching bbc news. the latest headlines: final preparations are under way for the duke of edinburgh's funeral at windsor castle on saturday. the ceremony has been planned by the duke and will reflect

his life and interests. russia has expelled ten us diplomats and has banned visits by some american officials in response to president biden's new sanctions on moscow. now, a group of guests at the notorious fyre festival will receive compensation after a lawsuit against the organisers. 277 people will receive more than $7,000 each. the 2017 eventin than $7,000 each. the 2017 event in the bahamas to global attention after the supposedly luxury music experience, promoted by supermodels and celebrities, turned out to resemble a disaster relief, with windswept tents and decidedly non— gourmet food. it was cancelled on the opening day. the festival organiser, billy mcfarlane, is serving a six yearjail term for fraud. i'm joined now by seth crossno. he wasn't involved with the suit, but was a fyre festival

attendee who went viral documenting the experience on twitter. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thanks for having me- — on the programme. thanks for having me. first— on the programme. thanks for having me. first thing, - on the programme. thanks for having me. first thing, i- on the programme. thanks for having me. first thing, i think| having me. first thing, i think we should _ having me. first thing, i think we should show— having me. first thing, i think we should show people - having me. first thing, i think we should show people what l having me. first thing, i think. we should show people what you documented. we can show pictures of the tents that you were greeted by when you arrive. reminders briefly of what it was like when you were there. it what it was like when you were there. . , , , , there. it was 'ust pretty chaotic. _ there. it wasjust pretty chaotic. nobody - there. it wasjust pretty chaotic. nobody knew. there. it was just pretty - chaotic. nobody knew where to go or what to do. and we eventually, within about an hour, realised this thing wasn't happening and at that point tried to figure out how to get back home. find point tried to figure out how to get back home.— to get back home. and you couldn't — to get back home. and you couldn't do _ to get back home. and you couldn't do that _ to get back home. and you couldn't do that quickly - to get back home. and you couldn't do that quickly orl couldn't do that quickly or easily? couldn't do that quickly or easil ? ., ., ., ~' couldn't do that quickly or easil ? ., ., ' easily? no, it took about 15 hours, easily? no, it took about 15 hours. once _ easily? no, it took about 15 hours, once we _ easily? no, it took about 15 hours, once we realised - easily? no, it took about 15 hours, once we realised we j hours, once we realised we needed to get out of there it took a while.— took a while. and we talked about the — took a while. and we talked about the non- _ took a while. and we talked about the non- gourmet - took a while. and we talked i about the non- gourmet food, about the non— gourmet food, what did you have for food? yeah, that was another sort of logistical nightmare. some people sort of had cheese on bread, some people had pasta

salad and chicken. you just didn't know where to go or where anything was. so totally not ready at all to host thousands of people at an event. . ., thousands of people at an event. ., ~' , ., , . thousands of people at an event. ., ,, , . ., event. thank you very much for reminding _ event. thank you very much for reminding us— event. thank you very much for reminding us what _ event. thank you very much for reminding us what happened, l event. thank you very much for| reminding us what happened, it was the subject of a famous documentary as well, so people all around the world a shambles it was. what was your reaction to this settlement of this lawsuit then?— to this settlement of this lawsuit then? yeah, i think it's good — lawsuit then? yeah, i think it's good to _ lawsuit then? yeah, i think it's good to kind _ lawsuit then? yeah, i think it's good to kind of- lawsuit then? yeah, i think it's good to kind of move . it's good to kind of move forward. i hope the ticketholders get paid back some. i know that some people are still out, they didn't get paid for the work they did, a lot of the contractors and vendor's and there is obviously a long line of people who need to be paid back. so hopefully this can just start the process. this can 'ust start the rocess. ~ ., ., , ., process. and what about you, how much _ process. and what about you, how much are _ process. and what about you, how much are you _ process. and what about you, how much are you out - process. and what about you, how much are you out of- process. and what about you, - how much are you out of pocket? you are not involved in this action. ., ., , action. yeah, our tickets, my friend and — action. yeah, our tickets, my friend and i _ action. yeah, our tickets, my friend and i spent _ action. yeah, our tickets, my friend and i spent about - action. yeah, our tickets, my i friend and i spent about $5,000 on our ticket and we decided

not to do this litigation. my attorney, stacey miller, actually said we should do another one, and that's what we did. so glad that some other friends of mine are involved in this and hopefully they get paid back, but it is different. are you hopeful of getting any money back? we are you hopeful of getting any money back?— are you hopeful of getting any money back? we will see. it is auoin to money back? we will see. it is going to be — money back? we will see. it is going to be a _ money back? we will see. it is going to be a while. _ money back? we will see. it is going to be a while. we - money back? we will see. it is going to be a while. we will. going to be a while. we will see what happens. it's not the biggest problem in the world. that is what i've wanted to ask. you very rightly highlighted some of the more serious problems on the island itself, with contractors not being paid, someone is in prison for it, on your personal side, are you able to see the funny side now and reflect on your experience or not? yeah, it is a funny experience. - your experience or not? yeah, it is a funny experience. at - it is a funny experience. at the time it was not safe, it was dangerous. but looking back on it, you know, we did get to kind of raise some money, some

funding for some people in the bahamas, so that was good. the expense of the whole you cannot back on it and say it is something i'm never going to forget. something i'm never going to forret. . , something i'm never going to forret. ., , ., something i'm never going to foret. ., , ., ., forget. that is one way of -auttin forget. that is one way of putting it- _ forget. that is one way of putting it. seth _ forget. that is one way of putting it. seth crossno,| forget. that is one way of - putting it. seth crossno, thank you so much for coming on and talking to us.— talking to us. thanks for havin: talking to us. thanks for having me- _ people have reacted angrily to friday's introduction of value added tax. it is the first time the tax has been applied in the oil—rich country. the arabic has stayed for it was trading on social media's users expressed frustration at the decision, which they said would exacerbate the crisis of high unemployment, and crops, and closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. it is the fourth gold state to introduce vat following the ua, saudi arabia, bahrain —— gulf state. the actor helen mccrory, best known for starring in the hit bbc series peaky blinders and in the harry potter films, has died from cancer at the age of 52.

her husband, the actor damien lewis, said he'd lost a �*beautiful and mighty woman'. our arts correspondent david sillito looks back at her life. peaky blinders — tv�*s �*20s criminal gang whose business affairs were run by aunt polly... i'm having trouble these days, and i'm twice the man you are. ..played by helen mccrory. i booked you both tickets for the next boat from liverpool to new york. it was her best—known tv role for this award—winning star of stage and screen. why? you met her often enough before. she played cherie blair twice, the first in the film the queen. just remember, you're a man that's just been elected by the whole nation. her on—screen husband michael sheen today paid tribute. she was, he said, funny, passionate, smart, one of the greatest actors of our time. demonstrates a reckless disregard... sam mendes, who directed her

in the james bond film skyfall, said she was an astonishing talent, a fabulous person. of course. is he alive? draco, is he alive? and to harry potter fans she was narcissa malfoy. jk rowling said she was a wonderful actress and an extraordinary woman. good evening and welcome to have i got news for you. i'm helen mccrory. in 2019 she presented have i got news for you. she was also in recent months an organiser with her husband, the actor damian lewis, of a scheme providing hot meals for nhs staff during the pandemic. and today it was damian lewis who wrote:

helen mccrory, 52. there were many great roles she had yet to play. the actress helen mccrory, whose death was announced on friday. like all other funerals here like all otherfunerals here in the uk this year these service for prince philip will be subject to covid restrictions, with the numbers limited to 30 and social distancing rules requiring the queen to sit alone. reeta chakrabarti spoke to the archbishop of canterbury as he prepared for his part in the service. she's the queen. she will behave with the extraordinary dignity and extraordinary courage that she always does. and at the same time, she is saying farewell to someone to whom she was married for 73 years. i think that must be a very, very profound thing in anybody�*s life, and i hope that the whole nation, if they believe in that, then they pray for her,

if they don't, they sympathise and in their hearts offer their condolences to her, and the hope for her to find strength in what must be an anguished moment. because she is both the monarch and a grieving wife? she is, a grieving widow, and over the last year, there's literally millions of people around the world who've been in her position, and they will identify especially. in one sense, part of the burden that her majesty carries is that burden of representing everyone in her person. and that's a heavy burden. so, this funeral will be a national event, but also one that resonates very personally for a lot of people. i think it will resonate very deeply for a lot of people.

i think there will be tears in many homes, because other names will be on their minds, faces they've lost that they don't see again, funerals that they couldn't go to, as many haven't been able to go to this one. that will break many a heart. this is clearly a big moment in the nation's life, how do you hope that we will emerge from it? i suspect that what the duke would say is, now get on with it. and i hope that we will see this moment as something we share in, in the grief of this very, very hard year that we've all gone through, and then we'll say, the best thing we can do is to do what he did in all his life, just get on with it. archbishop, thank you. thank you. that was reeta chakrabarti there. but is it from me. you can get me online on social

media. i'm @lvaughanjones. i'm lewis vaughan jones i'm lewis vaughanjones and this is bbc news. bye—bye. hello there. friday was another fine spring day, and we're going to continue with this dry theme throughout the weekend some chilly mornings, yes, but it's not going to be quite as cold overnight nor during the day as it has been of late. we had some patchy cloud bubble up on friday, but the thicker cloud was towards the north—west of the uk and that brought rain in the north—west of scotland. that is fading away, mind you. the next weather system is going to be hanging out in the atlantic and we'll be dominated by high pressure that stretches down from scandinavia. it will be another cold start. a frost across parts of england and wales and eastern parts of scotland. a bit milder for north—west scotland and northern ireland, where we've got more of a breeze and some cloud for awhile. sunny start for many,

any mist and fog soon lifting. some patchy cloud will bubble up here and there, but i think it will be a sunnier day on saturday through the midlands and eastern parts of england. and for much of the country temperatures will be a degree or two higher than they were doing yesterday, so making 1a to 15 degrees maybe a little bit more widely. into the evening and overnight, those temperatures will fall away quickly as skies start to clear, except in northern ireland and western scotland, where the weather fronts in the atlantic are moving in here to bring patchy rain and they keep the temperatures up. otherwise some patchy frost, but not as cold as it has been during recent mornings. that weather front, then, hanging around out in the north—west bringing a bit of a change in the weather for some spots of scotland and northern ireland. but for england and wales, it remains fine and dry. it looks like it'll be cloudy with patchy and light rain for northern ireland and now it is more likely to be damp across western scotland. further east, it's going to be dry and bright with sunshine, and sunshine for england and wales and patchy cloud for wales and the south—west, and sunshine a bit hazy in eastern parts of england. through the midlands and eastern england, temperatures looking to reach 1a or 15 degrees, so it is warming up for these areas in particular. into monday, this rainjust

doesn't want to move in across the uk. it's going to be sitting away from scotland so it looks dry here on monday. there'll be more sunshine across england and wales as well and those temperatures continuing to rise — up to around 16 or even 17 degrees, so it's warming up at long last. however, whilst we might see a little bit of rain coming in on tuesday into early wednesday, the winds then turn northerly by midweek and it gets colder again.

this is bbc news. the headlines: final preparations are underway ahead of saturday's funeral of the duke of edinburgh. the ceremony at st george's chapel will be attended by a small group of close family and friends. many aspects of the funeral, including the music, were planned in advance by prince philip himself. russia is expelling ten us diplomats and blacklisting eight top american officials, in response to sanctions imposed by washington on thursday. russia's foreign minister said moscow was also tightening restrictions on us diplomats travelling within russia. a travelling within russia. weekend curfew has come force a weekend curfew has come into force into the indian capital delhi is coronavirus cases rise sharply in the city and across the country. only essential services remain open. shopping malls, gyms, bars in the capital are closed.