welcome to bbc news. i'm tim willcox. our top stories. another day of record infections and deaths in india. a special report on just how badly this crisis is affecting rural health facilities. polls close across england, scotland and wales in super thursday, the biggest test of opinion since the uk general election of 2019. a brazilian police operation against drug traffickers in rio ends with the deaths of 25 people. and us secretary of state antony blinken on a visit to kiev urges russia to end what he calls its reckless and aggressive actions towards ukraine.

hello and welcome to bbc news. in the grip of the most brutal second wave, india has seen yet another record rise in coronavirus infections, more than 400,000 new cases in less than 2a hours. but that figure is almost certainly an underestimate. the virus has spread from india's cities to the countryside, where hospitals are poorly equipped. 0ur correspondent yogita limaye has travelled to varanasi in uttar pradesh. and a warning, her report contains distressing footage and flashing images. in less than an hour, we saw 13 funerals here. the government says there were just seven in the whole day. and this is prime minister modi's own constituency.

the human cost is being suppressed. this is the reality all over india. we'll never know how many died of the virus in this country. india's hinterland is where most of its people live. amidst lockdowns in big cities, masses are returning to their homes in small towns and villages. the virus is spreading. rundown hospitals trying to cope with a crisis they have never been equipped for, conditions the government doesn't want people to see — so we filmed secretly. covid patients being treated amidst people with other illnesses, the sick being cared for by their own families for a lack of doctors.

this is the intensive care unit — we saw toilets overflowing on its floor. just outside, we met this man. "if she'd got the right medicines and treatment, she might have survived, but she didn't get it here." his wife was 35. this is the rural health centre she was first taken to, the only one for villages around. here they didn't discover she had covid until she became severely ill. there were no resources to treat her. i've asked each person standing in this queue what they are suffering from. most of them have told me it's fever or a cough, and they are waiting in line at a primary health centre, this is the first place that someone from the village would come to. they are waiting for the doctor inside to tell them

what is wrong with them. most of these people weren't tested for covid and haven't had the vaccine. we drove miles to reach the deceased woman's village. even getting to basic healthcare is out of reach for most here. her husband says their whole family had covid symptoms. she was the mother of two children. people here are angry. "the prime minister makes announcements on televisions, but nothing reaches us," a neighbour says. "there is little we can do," she says, "those who are lucky to survive, whoever has to die will die." yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh. counting has begun after a series of elections in england, scotland and wales. the �*super thursday�* polls could reshape the uk, as pro—independence forces

in scotland bid to break away. an early result is expected from hartlepool in the north—east of england, where a new member of the uk parliament is being chosen. the industrial town has long been held by the opposition labour party, but the governing conservatives are hoping they can win the seatand boost their majority. let's cross live to hartlepool and speak to the bbc�*s richard moss, who's our north—east political editor. hartlepool has been synonymous with labour for so many hartlepool has been synonymous with labourfor so many years, richard, but an up it is possible? it richard, but an up it is possible?— richard, but an up it is ossible? . ., possible? it certainly looks like that _ possible? it certainly looks like that. labour _ possible? it certainly looks | like that. labour considered possible? it certainly looks i like that. labour considered it could be difficult. a majority of three and a half thousand has been withered away. the read is that labour is struggling here. in 2019, the

opposition was split between the conservatives and brexit party. it's where those votes have gone that seems to be crucial, they seem to have gone virtually en masse the conservatives, giving them a shot here, a reasonable majority here, the conservatives. labour represented it for a long time here, and before that, the 19605. it's here, and before that, the 1960s. it's another blow to labour in an area where they used to be able to rely on support here, these to be able to count on electing mps to parliament and having support amongst the councils. and labour is enduring in the council wards around here as well. �* ., ., ., ., well. and for international viewers. _ well. and for international viewers, this _ well. and for international viewers, this was - well. and for international viewers, this was part - well. and for international viewers, this was part of l well. and for international. viewers, this was part of the traditional red while, the

labour heartlands mark which fell to the tories in 2019, or a large number did —— �*red wall'. and if the tories or conservatives were able to make gains now in hartlepool like it's teams, that is changing the political landscape, isn't it? it the political landscape, isn't it? , ., , ., , it? it is. the conservatives cained it? it is. the conservatives gained seven _ it? it is. the conservatives gained seven seeds - it? it is. the conservatives gained seven seeds from l it? it is. the conservatives - gained seven seeds from labour in the north—east of england in 2019. this wasn't one of them, but this could be an ape again in a short space of time. these used to be areas labour could rely on with traditional support here. there does seem to be a long—term and strategic shift you. you have another election coming tomorrow for a metro mayor, tees valley. and it was won by the conservatives in 2017, it is a sign of a shift going on here. generally, it is oppositions that win by—elections against governments, not the other way around, this is a government gaining an opposition see. and it will be embarrassing for labor party leader keir starmer, something he will have

to explain and say he will have to explain and say he will have to win back those seeds, win back supporters in places like this, this area where traditional labour voters have drifted away. traditional labour voters have drifted away-— traditional labour voters have drifted away. how much of this is to do with _ drifted away. how much of this is to do with brexit? _ drifted away. how much of this is to do with brexit? it - drifted away. how much of thisj is to do with brexit? it seemed a strange choice for the labour pa party to run as a candidate there, their former member of parliament was very much a remainer in a constituency which is very much pro brexit? 70% of people in hartlepool voted for brexit, and labour were trying to say brexit was done, it didn't matter anymore. perhaps it does. and there is a feeling i suppose, labour trying to find investment of jobs and improving public services but the conservatives have been making an argument, looking at neighbouring seeds, looking at neighbouring seeds, look at what a conservative mayor has done in these areas.

and they have managed to pin the blame for some unemployment problems in hartlepool on labour. ~ labour. we will get the official result, - labour. we will get the official result, i- labour. we will get the official result, i think, | labour. we will get the l official result, i think, in labour. we will get the i official result, ithink, in a official result, i think, in a couple of hours. as you said, it's teams that labour has practically conceded that. we will keep you posted. police in brazil have defended an operation against drug traffickers which ended with the deaths of 25 people. it happened in one of rio dejaneiro's poorest neighbourhoods, known as favelas. courtney bembridge has this report. and a warning: some of the details are distressing. as police swooped in helicopters and armoured vehicles, suspects could be seen trying to escape across the rooftops. some of them armed with high—powered weapons. down on the street level, police were closing in. 0fficers described it as a "war scenario". it's the deadliest police operation since 2016. here's the account of one resident, who says an injured boy came into her home. translation: when the police saw the blood, they came - in screaming, "where is he, where is he?" ijust had time to put my children here behind me, and they killed the boy in the room.

they didn't give the boy time to say anything. my only reaction was to protect my family. my nine—year—old daughter saw everything. she will never want to sleep in that room again. scenes like this have become much less common after a supreme court order lastjune outlawing raids during the coronavirus pandemic, unless they're deemed essential. these are some of the weapons that were seized. police say the gang is involved in drug trafficking, robbery, assaults, murder, and hijacking subway trains. residents took to the streets to protest, accusing the police of using excessive force. the're calling for peace and justice. human rights activists say it's not clear whether all of the people killed were suspects, and say some could have been residents caught in the crossfire. police say they launched the raid after concrete intelligence that drug traffickers were recruiting children.

but one sociology professor from the laboratory for the analysis of violence has told a brazilian newspaper: "everyone knows these gangs have minors that work for them. to say that you're going to lodge a massive raid because you discovered that traffickers recruit children is a joke." the number of shoot—out deaths in favelas has dropped by 70% since the supreme court ruling, but there was no corresponding spike in crime. murders were down by almost 50%. courtney bembridge, bbc news. rafael alcadipani is a member of the brazilian forum on public safety, an ngo that researches violence and security policies in brazil. he says the raid was poorly planned and executed. it seems that this police

raid had no planning, they were not as well equipped to challenge the criminals as they should. it is completely unacceptable. brazil is the only place in the world where the police could end up with 25 dead. but of course, in some quarters, they have been cheered. this has been seen in the tabloids is a huge victory against what is a real problem in terms of drug trafficking, but others consider this a massacre. where you stand 7 oh, i think it's a massacre. if this type of police operation would solve brazil's problems, rio dejaneiro would be a land of peace. they have been doing this type of operation year in, year out, nothing has changed. we need to challenge criminals, we need to challenge drug trafficking, but we need to use intelligence,

we need to get the financial assets, we need to make an operation with a proper number of police officers with proper planning, not this type of situation that seems to be very primitive. there is no room in the world for this kind of police operation. some would say, though, that is very naive. you know, these are drug gangs into extortion, exploitation, prostitution and everything else. they are heavily armed. you know, critics would say you have to go in hard, that is the only way to deal with them? well, fights against the gangs that bring weapons to brazil and into the favelas. police corruption has a big responsibility and a big role to play in the number of weapons in the hands of criminals in brazil. we have to use intelligence. you have to avoid having weapons getting to criminals. i know they are dangerous people. i'm not in favour of criminals out of.

but putting children and the general public at risk, as it happened in rio dejaneiro. where does brazilian public opinion stand on this? how many people would support your views on how many people would support the views expressed in the popular papers? well, the last polls would say about 60% of the brazilian population would support my view, a view that does not believe that there are good criminals and bad criminals. but in the bolsonaro presidency, we have seen this rise of criminal police operation, i would have to say. unfortunately, there is some kind of support for him but we hope that will change in the near future. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: a way to cheaper covid tests? well, scientists in the netherlands think they might have found a solution. i, nelson rolihlahla mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to the republic

of south africa. after six years of construction and numerous delays, the channel tunnel has been formally opened by the queen and president mitterrand. the tunnel is not yet ready for passengers and freight services to begin. for centuries, christianity and i islam struggled for supremacy. now the pope's visit symbolises their willingness to coexist. - roger bannister became the first man in the world to run a mile in underfour minutes. memories of victory as the ve celebrations reach their climax. this night is dedicated i to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. i

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: another day of record infections and deaths in india. the crisis is now spreading from the towns and cities and affecting rural health facilities. a brazilian police operation against drug traffickers in rio has ended with the deaths of 25 people. us secretary of state, antony blinken, has urged russia to end what he called its reckless and aggressive actions towards ukraine. speaking at talks in kiev, mr blinken said the us is looking at increasing security assistance to the country. last month russia amassed one hundred thousand troops on ukraine's borders, the biggest mobilisation since moscow seized crimea in 2014. those forces have begun to withdraw, but significant numbers remain. moscow also continues to back a pro—russian insurgency in ukraine's eastern

region where more than 13,000 people have been killed, according to the united nations. president zelenskiy wants the us to back ukraine's bid for nato membership but washington says the country needs to tackle corruption. but it's understood that secretary blinken assured president zelensky that the us stands with ukraine. of course ukraine was tested again just weeks ago this spring as russia pushed more forces to the ukrainian border than at any time since 2014 when it invaded. i can tell you, mr president, that we stand strongly with you, partners do as well. i heard the same thing when i was at nato a couple of weeks ago, and we look to russia to cease reckless and aggressive actions. we will continue to strengthen our security partnership and close collaboration with you to make sure that ukraine can defend itself against aggression.

well earlier i spoke tojohn herbst who's a former us ambassador to ukraine and now director of the eurasia center at the atlantic council. i asked him whether any good will come from us secretary of statee anthony blinken�*s ramped up rhetoric. it's really very simple, moscow is right now conducting a war against the ukraine in donbas after occupying crimea. the war in donbas is led by russian officers with russian equipment and russian money. american support for ukraine's says first to russia that we will provide initial sanctions on you if you escalate aggression in the war in the ukrainian east. and also we will send ukraine weapons and they will be able to better defend themselves and more russian soldiers will die. that is a political problem for putin because he is lying to his people and saying

russian officers are not fighting in donbas. the problem is russian aggression. america is helping to make sure that russian aggression is protected for president zelensky. i was there in 2014 and 2015 so i'm aware of the geography of the situation. isn't the problem now though that with this rhetoric, it has got to be followed through. if you're going to have red lines then they need to be kept, and initiallyjust a few weeks agojoe biden diverted two warships to the region and then pulled back. what impact does that have on somebody like vladimir putin? i think you're right, that was a mistake. the biden administration has handled this current crisis reasonably well with that as a single bad step. while the russians noticed the destroyers enter the black sea i believe british destroyers did get there or are on the way there. they talked about additional sanctions on washington and is talking about additional weapons to the ukraine so we sent several messages and all but that was good, but you're right that was a serious mistake.

and if more weapons are sold to the ukraine and there was an agreement by the united states to accept ukraine into nato, or certainly sponsor that, what do you think the response would be from russia? well, first while the united states in a general way supports ukrainian membership in nato, it understands that nato is not yet ready to agree to membership for the ukraine. but i have little doubt that if ukraine were to enter nato, moscow would decide that ukraine was too difficult a challenge with military aggression. and again, they seized crimea with russian soldiers who are identified. they are fighting a hybrid war, so—called hybrid war, in donbas. perhaps the greatest strategist in ukraine says that ukraine must enter nato because that is the only way russia will leave them alone. i wish he was wrong about that but he has a point.

john herbst for us there. reducing methane emissions is far more important in tackling climate change in the short term than previously thought, according to a major united nations report just published. methane is a potent global warming gas produced when organic material decomposes. but the un says the good news is that rapid and significant reductions in the greenhouse gas are possible using cheap, existing technologies. here's our chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt. you are about to meet methane — the gas that fires your stove, seeps from rotting organic material, and bubbles from our stomachs and those of cows and sheep. butjust look what happens when you add a little bit of pure oxygen.

methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. each molecule has 120 times the effect, and the real difference between methane and carbon dioxide is that methane breaks down after about a decade. but carbon dioxide will be with us for thousands of years. methane concentrations in the atmosphere have been steadily increasing, but because it breaks down so quickly in the air, the un says if we can cut emissions, we can rapidly get rid of this powerful warming gas. that means urgently tackling the methane produced by the oil and gas industry, by agriculture, and in our waste. methane is second only to carbon dioxide when it comes to driving climate change, and the assessment shows that to put the world on a path that is consistent with the paris agreement target of the 1.5 degrees, methane emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030. the report says the fossil fuel industry has the greatest potential to cut methane emissions cheaply by plugging leaks at oil and gas wells and at coal mines.

but we can all do our bit to help. we can cut back on red meat and dairy, and if you get a compost collection, do always put your organic waste in it, because it's much easier for emissions to be controlled that way. and technology can help — a new network of high—resolution satellites has been launched that can spot methane emissions. like the methane plume from this rubbish dump in the indonesian capital, jakarta. it's spewing methane equivalent to the c02 from 750,000 cars. and methane is also linked to air pollution that causes tens of thousands of deaths a year worldwide — yet another reason, says the un, to start reducing emissions right now. justin rowlatt, bbc news. despite the global

vaccination programme — tracking and testing are still vital tools in the fight against coronavirus. accurate data is key and speed is of the essence. now a team of researchers in the netherlands have come up with a novel way to find the virus, relying on the smallest of detectives. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. the fight against covid—19 can take many different forms. this, one of the more unusual. honeybees with their amazing sense of smell leaving scientists almost buzzing with excitement. dutch researchers strapping the insects into little bee harnesses and presenting them with negative and positive coronavirus samples. every positive sample was followed by a dose of sugar water, teaching them to quickly identify covid—19. so in the end the bees extend their proboscis after being presented a coronavirus positive sample,

and in that way we can train them pretty quickly. accurate conventional tests can take hours or even days to give a result — with the bees, the response was almost immediate. it's cheap too, but not everybody is convinced bee detection is the best way forward. translation: it is a good idea but i would prefer to carry out | tests using the classic diagnostic tools rather than using honeybees. i'm a huge bee lover but i would use them for other purposes than detecting covid—19. this is not entirely unprecedented. in the past, bees and wasps have been used to detect explosives and toxins, but in areas where other testing material isn't available, bees may prove vital. to be or not to be, that is the question. tim allman, bbc news. we will keep you posted on

that. more on the website is indeed all the other stories as well. from me and the team, see you soon. hello there. thursday brought another rash of showers, some significant snow to some parts of scotland. it's still cold air with us for the day ahead, so it will be a chilly start, and there will be further snow showers over the hills of scotland. but as we've gone through the evening and overnight, the showers have tended to fade away. we had a lot of hail and thunder in eastern areas, but under the starry skies once again, because it's cold air, temperatures approach freezing — a little below — and given there is some dampness on the surfaces, it could be a bit icy in a few spots. perhaps a little bit of river mist as well. but an abundance of sunshine first thing. the showers already with us in some areas, as you can see, become more widespread as the morning goes on. initially, across many parts of england and wales developing across scotland, one or two for northern ireland, but then congregating on the east into the afternoon.

hail and thunder and snow over the hills. so, again, chilly, but temperatures probably a little bit higher than yesterday, up to 15 but then, it's all change as we go through the coming night and into saturday. we've got the next weather system coming in, so the frost won't be as widespread by saturday morning. more limited to the far north—east of scotland, which is where we probably won't get the milder air in. it's this deep area of low pressure that's pulling itself in off the atlantic, giving us all, really, a spell of wetter weather. looks quite wet in western areas, and given we've got the south—westerly wind coming in off the atlantic, it is bringing much milder air in, which means a lot of rain potentially across south—west england, wales, into the north of england. you can see a wetter day for northern ireland and much of scotland. it may actually dry up and brighten up in south—eastern areas later. the rain may not actually reach the far north of scotland, and the milder air slow to arrive here, perhaps some wintriness on the hills. but we could see 16 or 17 if it brightens up in the south. through the night, that weather front�*s dragging its heels, really slow to move its way eastwards. we've got one band of rain moving up towards the north of scotland, showers following in behind. still the south—westerly wind

into sunday, so still mild, but with plenty of showers merging together across north and west areas near the centre of the area of low pressure. it will be windy through the weekend as well, but we could see 20—22 celsius and possibly some late afternoon thunderstorms in south—eastern areas. quite a lot of uncertainty on the detailfor sunday, but it does look a very unsettled weekend ahead. you can get more from the website.

this is bbc news. the headlines:

india has once again reported a record number of cases and deaths. a new variant of coronavirus discovered in india in march may be linked to the massive surge. after the big cities, rural health facilities across the country are coming under increasing pressure. police in brazilian city of rio dejaneiro have defended their operation against drug traffickers in which at least 25 people died. 0fficers said that the action had been planned for almost a year after they had received information that criminal gangs had been recruiting children and minors. votes are being counted in britain after elections to the devolved parliaments in scotland and wales, and to local government authorities in england. a parliamentary seat in hartlepool in north—east england is also being contested. the result there is expected to be announced in the next few hours. now on bbc news, influencers

across the globe are promoting apetamin as a quick fix for kardashian—esque curves.