this is bbc world news america. 80 missiles including powerful new weapons. russian energy infrastructure at least six hypersonic missiles use. paris cut off to the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. after the protest george's government withdraws a controversial bill charge eating russian influence. israel's president calls on the government to ban its plan as protests against the proposals turned violent. meet the voice of the uk in the eurovision song contest. heading to liverpool

in may. welcome to world news america and pbs around the globe. we begin tonight in ukraine, where at least nine people died after russia fired more than eighty missiles —using powerful weapons, including rare hypersonic missiles. the latest barrage was the most severe to hit ukraine for weeks. moscow had not fired hypersonic missiles — which can evade air defences — since the early months of the conflict. the russian attacks cut power to the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — europe's biggest — though it was later restored. the ukrainian military said just under half of the missiles fired across ukraine were intercepted by air defences. 0ur diplomatic correspondentjames landale reports from kyiv.

this is what it of the ghetto. holmes total streets torn apart. lives turned upside down. in all, five people died here. this may be hundreds of miles from fighting but translation: there was an explosion in the sky. l i saw smoke and fire. victor told us how his car was damaged and how he tried to help his neighbours. translation: cars were set on fire. we took fire extinguishers from our vehicles to try and put them out, but it didn't succeed and the fires spread. translation: i'm fed up with it, can't stand all this. _ i don't have the strength any more. why are they doing this? they are scaring the children.

these strikes might have been targeted against energy infrastructure, but here, not so much. as you can see, cars damaged, some of them destroyed and burnt out. all around me, the windows have been blown in and the residents' blocks, and over here debris litters this children's playground. smoke on kyiv�*s skyline — the aftermath of a strike on energy infrastructure in the south, one of many such attacks on similar targets across the country. for some hours, power was cut to the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in europe, currently under russian control. the risks of overheating reactors all too evident for the un nuclear watchdog. each time, we are rolling a dice. and if we allow this to continue time after time, then one day our luck will run out. but for now, people are trying to get on with normal life

after the most substantial air strikes for several weeks. they know they won't be the last. i spoke to james to find out more about the advanced weapons being used by the russians. james and make this barrage of muscles that hit the capital today, officials are saying there is at least one hypersonic missile. what is that say about the trajectory of this war. . is that say about the tra'ectory of this war. . ., , this war. , well what it means is that russia will _ this war. , well what it means is that russia will use _ this war. , well what it means is that russia will use whatever i this war. , well what it means is that russia will use whatever it| that russia will use whatever it can and he kept his hands on them. the significant fact is that it only managed to fire a handful of these missiles. it's very clear, according to western officials whenever you talk to them, they say that the reason that these power are just that you get of air strikes happen every two or three weeks is because russia simply doesn't have the capacity to do more. so they say what tends to happen is that russia will produce more missiles itself. it will manage to import missiles from elsewhere, and when it's think it's got enough to have an impact

that it launches of now it clearly wants as many of these hypersonic cruise missiles as possible because it is very, very hard for ukraine's air defences to catch them. it is very interesting today that the ukraine authority said, 81 missiles were. and over half got through the air defences, which showed that actually these faster hypersonic missiles do in quite a few areas around the country today. james, you are a diplomatic _ around the country today. james, you are a diplomatic correspondent - around the country today. james, you are a diplomatic correspondent in - are a diplomatic correspondent in the middle of a war zone. what is that do you see any openings at all for diplomacy anywhere in this? well, there's always diplomacy, but in this conflict. if you think at the moment, there's a big discussion going on over whether or not the grain deal, the agreement that allows for some ukrainian grain to be allowed to leave the black sea and be traded on international

markets, that's coming up for renewal next week. but of course thatis renewal next week. but of course that is a discussion between the and ukraine, and between the united nations in turkey and russia. there is actually no contacting the two. when the greenhill began, there were sort of some hope that it might become a springboard to wider talks between both parties. that is appellee off the table at the moment. there is zero chance of any kind of negotiation between both sides. what is more important is the negotiation between the ukraine and its allies, keeping that alliance together, and between china and the rest of diplomatic analysis they are in the middle of georgia's ruling party is going to withdraw a controversial draft law in the face of mass protests and widespread international criticism. this was the scene earlier in tbilisi, the capital, where thousands have gathered outside parliament again. it follows a week of protests over the bill under which non—government groups and media would be targeted if they get more than 20% of theirfunding from abroad. the opposition says

it will keep fighting against what it sees as russian—inspired attempts to derail the country's pro—european ambitions. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg reports from the protests. outside the parliaments, it was clear where most georgians see their country's future. clear too the results of people power. the protesters had won. they had forced a u—turn. the ruling party had withdrawn the controversial foreign agents bill that many here saw as a threat to civil society. and they accused their government of trying to move georgia back into russia's orbit. we don't really want to be part of russia and everything they're doing. the whole georgia is against it actually. what do most georgians want? we want more integration in europe. this is our goal. this is our main request.

we want to be part of europe. the scene earlier this week. pitched battles by the parliament building. water cannon and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. but it didn't stop the protests. and along with the eu flag, out of solidarity, the flag of ukraine. the war there and events here have something in common. in many ways, what's happened in georgia this week and what's happened in ukraine are part of the same picture. both these countries were part of the soviet union and more than 30 years after the fall of the ussr, the consequences of that geopolitical earthquake, the collapse of the soviet superpower, are still being felt across the region. in ukraine, the kremlin launched a full—scale invasion to try to force the country back

into russia's sphere of influence. it invaded georgia too, more than a decade earlier. there are thousands of russian troops on what is internationally recognised as georgian territory. russian aggression against georgia and russian aggression against ukraine are part of the same picture of putin's policy to restore his influence in his, you know, neighbourhood and restore some new version of the soviet union. this week, georgians have made it clear they want no part of it. steve rosenberg, bbc news, tblisi. some news from germany, where police in the northern city of hamburg say at least 6 people have been killed in a shooting. several others are said to be injured. german media are reporting that the shooting took place

at a jehovah's witnesses' centre. emergency services were called at about 9 pm local time. let's go to israel now, where the country's president has said the government should abandon its controversial plan to overhaul the legal system as tens of thousands of israelis take to the streets in protest. isaac herzog said he could not watch his country being ripped apart before his eyes. this comes as three people have been shot and wounded in tel aviv in what israeli authorities say is a suspected terror attack. earlier, an israeli military raid killed three suspected palestinian militants in the occupied west bank. a few hours after that, the us defense secretary lloyd austin arrived in israel for talks. 0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman has the latest from the protests in tel aviv. the protesters have now breached the main north—south highway that runs through a mounted police, israeli security forces heading towards the protesters. this is exactly what

israel's far right policeman has. he calls these people and our guests. they say they're so what is this all abouta pushing through a series its supreme court of instep independence and it would start the judiciary in favour the mounted police are now. we are they're about to breach this main route here, digging in. this is over the future the protesters shame

at the border police sense of the border police are still trying to push people away here. we see the protesters being, and someone being as the border police have three people on the ground now, as you for more on what's happening in israel and the us perspective, we're joined now by former us deputy assistant secretary of state joel rubin. help our viewers in to with threatened to tear the country

apart. threatened to tear the country a art. ~ ., ., , ., , apart. what we are seeing now in his early politics — apart. what we are seeing now in his early politics is _ apart. what we are seeing now in his early politics is government - apart. what we are seeing now in his early politics is government that - early politics is government that is hell—bent on pushing forward reforms. and the reforms are only supported by a narrow minority of the population. what the result public if you would at risk in the military service, and authorising a soft coup and creating a dynamic where the judicial sector will no longer matter, where one political party, if you just get 61 votes out of 120 can rule and dominate, overturn any rule of law, any semblance of rule of law in israel, and that's just too far for the israeli public.— and that's just too far for the israeli public. what is the us do about this? _ israeli public. what is the us do about this? usually _ israeli public. what is the us do about this? usually are - israeli public. what is the us do about this? usually are staunch | israeli public. what is the us do - about this? usually are staunch this administration can bring to bear? there is, becausejoe biden, he is very careful and not calling out

israel and public. and this is something a very central theme of how he engages israel, behind the scenes. but behind the scenes talks are tough and recently president biden said that there needs to be a consensus in israel which mirrors the presidents position that these kind of reforms can't be enacted by a narrow minority. in the more that joe biden speaks out, the more power at that protesters get, gets because outside of the united states there really is no dependable ally for israel, and the need to look atjoe biden who is a very strong staunch supporter of israel, someone who he is saying you need to pause, they need to take it seriously. find need to take it seriously. and that's also — need to take it seriously. and that's also being _ need to take it seriously. and that's also being reflected, is in it, by american dues? the staunch support for the state of israel no matter what is really been questioned is in it because of these planned to get rid ofjudicial independence. planned to get rid of 'udicial independenceh planned to get rid of 'udicial independence. planned to get rid of 'udicial indeendence. , �* g , ., independence. yes. i'm jewish, and 'ust this independence. yes. i'm jewish, and just this past _ independence. yes. i'm jewish, and just this past weekend _ independence. yes. i'm jewish, and just this past weekend we _ independence. yes. i'm jewish, and just this past weekend we always i independence. yes. i'm jewish, and just this past weekend we always atj

just this past weekend we always at synagogue there is a and not service. and it all services. and that's now being debated in synagogues. american dues are very concerned about what kind of state of israel we are talking about. we wanted to be a democracy. we wanted to reflect our values. we know and so this is troubling moment for a dues don't want to have in israel, american dues are the most liberal controversial reforms of the and withdrawn do you think, what he did in? well, he has an entrance to keep them moving because he is under indictment, under investigation. the subtle problem thatis investigation. the subtle problem that is not—so—subtle quite frankly is it appears that he is pushing on these reforms to undermine the judiciary, to protect his own

personal skin and not going to prison. and that motivation is on reforms even if it causes the kind of chaos were seen.— reforms even if it causes the kind of chaos were seen. thanks in other news... the most powerful republican in the us senate, mitch mcconnell, is being treated for concussion and will stay in hospital for a few days. the minority leader tripped at a dinner in washington on wednesday night. the 81—year—old senator for kentucky is said to be awake and talking. he's expected to make a full recovery. us presidentjoe biden has outlined a budget that would include taxes on major corporations and billionaires. the $6.8 trillion spending plan would also increase military spending and protect benefits like social security and medicaid. but the budget is seen as unlikely to be passed by the divided us congress. at least six people have died in nigeria after a train rammed into a public bus in the city of lagos. more than 70 others were injured, many of them critically. the accident happened during rush hour. eyewitnesses say the bus was trying

to pass a railroad crossing when it was hit by the train. the governor of lagos has declared three days of mourning. one of america's biggest rail operators has been questioned by us lawmakers here in washingoton about the train carrying toxic chemicals which derailed in the state of ohio last month. the boss of norfolk southern has testified before a senate paneljust days after unveiling a safety plan to address what's thought to have caused the derailment in east palesteen. alan shaw began his evidence by apologising to people in the town. i want to begin today by expressing how deeply sorry i am for the impact this derailment has had on the residence of the palace dean and surrounding communities. i am determined to norfolk southern will

clean and you have in a moment, we'll speak to our north american correspondent nomia iqbal, who's been monitoring that hearing. first, though, she has a reminder of what happened in east palestine. there are about 1,700 train derailments in the us every year. so why did the one in ohio become national news? i was in east palestine in february, shortly after a train carrying hazardous material crashed. the town has about 5000 people and is on the ohio—pennsylvania border. the smell is not as bad as it was before. i'm being told, obviously, we're keeping safe by having a mask on. now, nobody was killed or injured in the crash or the fiery aftermath. however, it did make headlines because there were concerns that this was becoming a local environmental disaster. we went to a key town hall meeting where residents demanded answers

about their safety and health risks. what rolls through on those tracks is of more value than the lives of the residents in this community. the train�*s owners, norfolk southern, didn't show up, but it wasn't long before politicians did. east palestine is a politically conservative and predominantly white town. ohio is a key swing state where presidential elections are decided. sure enough, former president donald trump, who won the town in 2020, rode in promising justice. this is really america right here. we're standing in america. are you shocked he hasn't come here yet? oh, well, he should have been here a long time ago. and so then pressure mounted on president biden and his transportation secretary, pete buttigieg, to visit. are you going down there at all? eventually, mr buttigieg did turn up but admitted he could have been there earlier. there is more that we could do to prevent more communities from going through this. this rail line has now become a front line in another political

fracas in a divided america. but residents told us they were in no mood for politics. they say their town needs help, not a political photo op. nomia joins us now. so no so no mia, you are monitoring answers about what happened? iretell answers about what happened? well alan shah, the _ answers about what happened? -ii alan shah, the ceo, this was the first time that senators from grill him. he straightaway offered an apology. he said he was deeply sorry about what happened right. he announced all the company is offering, so more to help those were affected. also, lots of other improvements, bettertraining affected. also, lots of other improvements, better training for employees, also cleaning up the site. so what i was talk points or residents still sat and dump trucks.

but senators really went for him. they said we'll hang on a minute. this isn't enough money, especially given that the company had recorded products of more than as i sat in the report, no one was injured in the report, no one was injured in the crash, no one was hurt, but residents are so environmental effects, and it's really turned high—level attention to rail safety. and also, high—level attention to the small, what are people they are making of the small, what are people they are makin: ., the small, what are people they are makin. ., ., the small, what are people they are makin: ., ., ., the small, what are people they are makina ., ., ., .,, making of the parade of top level national politician _ making of the parade of top level national politician to _ making of the parade of top level national politician to a _ making of the parade of top level national politician to a been - making of the parade of top level| national politician to a been going through it? national politician to a been going throu~h it? , �* ., , _ national politician to a been going throu~hit? , �* through it? they weren't happy about it, buti through it? they weren't happy about it, but i think — through it? they weren't happy about it, but | thinktheir_ through it? they weren't happy about it, but i think their view _ through it? they weren't happy about it, but i think their view is _ through it? they weren't happy about it, but i think their view is that - it, but i think their view is that if something was going to come out of it something good was going to come out of it, if they were gonna get the help i need, then fine. donald trump turning up made won the town by more than 70% in 2020. but in recent weeks, politicians have sort of moved away from that for a little bit. so this town is between 0hio

little bit. so this town is between ohio and also pennsylvania, so you have thejohn sassaman from have the john sassaman from pennsylvania, who is not very pro trump at all, actually teaming up together. and they are proposing amongst other things. they want local respondents to be informed about these hazardous materials coming through. they are confident that they will get this passed, but they really want to white marked a rare outbreak of bipartisanship five men allegedly involved in last week's kidnapping of four americans in north—eastern mexico were "handed over" to mexican authorities in the border city of matamoros, local media reported. the five suspected gulf cartel members were left along with a hand—written note that said they were responsible for having participated in the persecution and kidnapping of the four americans, two of whom were killed during the incident. the other two americans survived and were returned to the us.

we have news about the eurovision song contest now, one of the and a 25—year—old singer from london has been chosen to represent the uk. mae muller will perform her track i wrote a song at the competition in liverpool in may. our music correspondent mark savage reports. hello! i'm mae muller and i'm representing the uk in this year's eurovision! and this is the song she'll be taking to liverpool in may. # instead i wrote a song # about how you did me wrong # i could have cried at home and spent the night alone # instead i wrote a song... # nice, yeah, this is good. it's going to be so good. her song was written about a brutal break—up. i was really annoyed at this guy, i wanted to do something crazy, maybe burn his house down, i don't know. but instead i took the high road and i wrote a song. and that's called growth, ladies and gentlemen. raised in north london,

she was working at this pub when she signed her first publishing deal, since when she's racked up more than two billion streams. mae was chosen for eurovision by tap music, the company behind ellie goulding and lana del rey. when we met mae, her charisma, her determination, all those things, she has such great wit, she's super—intelligent. yeah, she seemed like the right choice. but she has big shoes to fill... # up in space, man...# ..after sam ryder�*s second—place finish at last year's eurovision. you've got to go big and you've got to do it right, and i feel like this is obviously such a level up. but fans are already predicting great things. it's going to be great in the arena, i think that'll really work. but let me put you on the spot, where do you think it's going to come? i think that's a top—ten entry, and that's good, top ten out i of all the countries - is a really good result. mark savage, bbc news.

i'm laura trevelyan. thank you for watching world news america. hello, good evening. still some more snowfall to come, particularly for the northern half of the uk over the next couple of days or so. mild air in the south, a lot colder further north and the snowfall totals starting to rack up here in conwy. in wales, this one snapped by one of our weather watchers earlier on today. some of the worst weather still to come overnight tonight. there are three amber weather warnings issued by the met office for heavy snow and ice. possibly, too, some freezing rain falling across northern areas of wales into western shropshire. some tricky travelling conditions. treacherous, too, over the pennines because there'll be blizzard—like conditions with strong gusty winds and some drifting snow. of course, too, a deep area of low pressure just pushing its way eastwards throughout the night. it will eventually clear by the end of the day tomorrow, but still tonight, snow continues

to fall, particularly within the warning areas. strong gusty winds, coastal gales on the back edge of this system towards exposed coasts of the south—west down through the channel islands. and there's a frost from the midlands northwards, too. temperatures, again, maybe as low as “14, —15 degrees celsius for the highlands of scotland. now, into tomorrow morning, that early snow clears away from northern ireland and from the hills of wales, too. from the pennines, i think, by the time we get to the late morning, but the snow risk transfers itself further south with that colder air digging down further south as the system swells away. could be one or two showers just tracking down on that northerly wind. lots of dry, bright weather tomorrow, but it will be feeling cold wherever you are with plenty of added wind—chill. and the winds will ease down on friday night, so with clearing skies away from the far south—west and those lighter winds, then it's quite likely that we'll see a sharp and a widespread frost develop into the start of the weekend. temperatures in parts of northern england may be as low as —9 or —10 degrees celsius, so a very frosty start

to saturday morning. now, on saturday, our weather system out towards the south—west is just pushing its way northwards and eastwards, bringing possibly a bit of snow to the moors of the south—west, mostly falling as rain. some hill snow for wales and some hill snow, too, for northern ireland. just approaching the north—west of england by the end of the afternoon, but drier further east with the snow risk transferring further eastwards as we head throughout the night, particularly for northern england and much of scotland. but by the time we get to sunday, it's unsettled, it's wet and it's windy, but it will be feeling milder.

four days on from their thrashing at the hands of liverpool in the premier league — manchester united returned to action — and returned to winning ways in the europa league. they enjoyed a big win of their own — beating real betis 4—1 in the first leg of their last 16 tie. marcus rashford with the opener. betis did get an equaliser before half time — before anthony put united back in front.

bruno fernandes added a third — before wout weghorst sealed