live from london. this is bbc news. hours after russia accuses ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the kremlin, explosions have been are heard in kyiv. a serbian teenager is arrested after eight children and a security guard are shot dead at an elementary school in belgrade. the un's humanitarian chief says the two warring parties are keen to continue fighting despite hopes of a ceasefire. it isa it is a shocking crisis, first, because as you have heard, and eyes i have now heard, the

tales of traumatic atrocity. and the most difficult years of his career. the billionaire businessman sir richard branson tells the bbc he thought he was going to lose his entire empire in the pandemic. hello, i'm sally bundock. a new wave of russian airstrikes is under way in ukraine, with reports of explosions in kyiv and the southern cities of zaporizhzhia and odesa. the raids come a day after russia accused ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the kremlin it what it claimed was an attempt to assassinate president putin. ukraine has rejected accusations that it was responsible. vincent mcaviney reports.

flying in from the left, what appears to be a drone, then an explosion over the kremlin. this footage is explosion over the kremlin. this footage is unverified explosion over the kremlin. this footage is unverified but the kremlin says early on wednesday morning, two drones targeted the residents of the president. moscow quick to blame ukraine saying that no—one was injured. on russian state tv a dramatic interpretation on this talkshow yesterday stop it the presenter announced breaking news, an attempt he says to assassinate president putin. president zelensky on a visit to finland denies any ukrainian involvement.- denies any ukrainian involvement. ., involvement. we don't attack president _ involvement. we don't attack president putin _ involvement. we don't attack president putin or _ involvement. we don't attack president putin or moscow, l involvement. we don't attack. president putin or moscow, we fight on our territory, we are defending our villages and cities. we don't have, enough weapons for this. in cities. we don't have, enough weapons for this.— weapons for this. in daylight there was — weapons for this. in daylight there was no _ weapons for this. in daylight there was no obvious - weapons for this. in daylight there was no obvious signs l weapons for this. in daylight | there was no obvious signs of damage to the kremlin. but lots

of questions still, who launched the drones, with what aim, it was this an internal operation or even a false flag event, whatever narrative moscow pursues, the united states is urging caution. first, i have seen the reports, i can't in any way validate them, we simply don't know. second, i would take anything coming out of the kremlin with a very large shake of salt. last week in russia accused ukraine of launching a drone strike on a fuel depot on russian occupied crimea. days later bombs detonated and derailed to freight trains on a part of russia near the ukrainian border. citing security concerns several russian regions have now counselled military parades planned for may nine, victory day when russians mark the victory over nazi germany. but now the kremlin continues to

insist the big red square parade in moscow will go ahead despite the explosions last night, unusually though red square has been closed to the public since the end of april, reflecting a sense of weariness. whatever did actually happen above the kremlin, supposedly one of the most secure seats of power in the world, it is likely to intensify this conflict. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. let's go to california now and speak to colonel brendan kearney, military analyst and a former chief of staff for us marine corps forces in europe. good to have you on the programme. what do you make of this alleged drone attack on the kremlin?— this alleged drone attack on the kremlin? good to be with ou, the kremlin? good to be with you. i'm _ the kremlin? good to be with you. i'm a — the kremlin? good to be with you, i'm a sceptic, _ the kremlin? good to be with you, i'm a sceptic, on - the kremlin? good to be with you, i'm a sceptic, on a - you, i'm a sceptic, on a variety of the options being laid out, in terms of what this might be. number one, i don't think was an assassination attempt on the part of the ukrainians. numbertwo, ithink

it might be ukrainians. number two, i think it might be an ukrainians. numbertwo, ithink it might be an assassination attempt by some of president putin's russian opponents. three, false flag was mentioned by your correspondence, that's a possibility, you provide an instantjustification a possibility, you provide an instant justification for the russians to go after president zelensky. so that is three things of the top of my head, all on said topics, but it's an ugly situation that continues between russia and ukraine. when it comes to the incentive for the ukraine to carry out this kind of attack on the russian capital, what incentive would it have? i russian capital, what incentive would it have?— would it have? i would be hard ressed would it have? i would be hard pressed to _ would it have? i would be hard pressed to come _ would it have? i would be hard pressed to come up _ would it have? i would be hard pressed to come up with - would it have? i would be hard pressed to come up with one l pressed to come up with one because literally what would happen here as we know that this war is not popular in russia, we know president putin is under a great deal of pressure, from some of his

formerfriends, and from pressure, from some of his former friends, and from the russian military over this war. so this type of an assassination that was successful, could very well prove to be a catalyst support for the russian efforts, and i know that ukrainians must be thinking along those lines, so itjust thinking along those lines, so it just doesn't thinking along those lines, so itjust doesn't make sense to me as to why the ukrainians, if they were attempting to assassinate president putin, why they would do it. there is variable positive payback from a successful delivery. figs a successful delivery. as alwa s a successful delivery. as always the _ a successful delivery. as always the intervention from the us as one of great caution on the part of president zelensky. on the part of president zelensky-— on the part of president zelens . ~ , , zelensky. we will support president _ zelensky. we will support president zelensky by - president zelensky by exercising caution, he is not evenin exercising caution, he is not even in ukraine as i understand it, he is in finland, interestingly there have been

reports that president putin is not in moscow, and i anybody knows where he is on a pretty regular basis, it is the ukrainians. i think america's wise to not be judgemental under these, wise to not be judgemental underthese, underthe under these, under the circumstances we underthese, underthe circumstances we are all aware of right now. circumstances we are all aware of right nova— of right now. 0k, colonel, we appreciate — of right now. 0k, colonel, we appreciate your _ of right now. 0k, colonel, we appreciate your analysis - of right now. 0k, colonel, we appreciate your analysis on i appreciate your analysis on that story. police in serbia say a boy who shot dead eight pupils and a security guard at his school in the capital, belgrade, had planned the attack in detail for a month. the 13—year—old suspect has been detained, along with his parents. last night thousands of people attended a candlelit vigil at the school. from belgrade, bethany bell reports. a 13—year—old boy is led away by police. he is the main suspect in a mass shooting at one of the best state schools in belgrade stop he came to school with two guns, he fired

the security guard three girls standing in the doorway. i was walkin: standing in the doorway. i was walking pp _ standing in the doorway. i was walking up the _ standing in the doorway. i was walking up the stairs - standing in the doorway. i was walking up the stairs and - standing in the doorway. i was| walking up the stairs and while i was walking up i could hear a sound, and i thought it was maybe boys, kids throwing firecrackers and they were having fun. then i could hear it close in the sun was coming from in front of the school and i had the security guard falling to the ground so i quickly ran from where i was, i did want to go upstairs anymore, i didn't know who was up anymore, i didn't know who was up there. he anymore, i didn't know who was u- there. ., ,, ., ., up there. he then walked into a history class — up there. he then walked into a history class where _ up there. he then walked into a history class where he - up there. he then walked into a history class where he shot - up there. he then walked into a history class where he shot the | history class where he shot the teacher before turning his weapon on his fellow students. parents rushed to the scene, waiting in agony for you news of their children. police say that shooter planned the attack a month in advance and had drawn up a list of children to target. officials said the suspect is alleged to have used two guns belonging to his father. his father has not been arrested. his mother is also in

detention. —— �*s father has now been arrested. at 13 years younger than the age criminal responsibility in serbia but the serbian president says he will be placed in a specialist psychiatric facility. people have been coming to pay their respects to those who were shot. there is a deep sense of shock and sadness here, this is normally a lively part of town, but the people who live here say it has never felt so quiet. they are struggling to understand how a day at school turned into a nightmare. candles and flowers, this city is morning it's dead. let's get some of the day's other news 110w. millions of people will go to the polls today in england to vote in the local elections. more than 8000 council seats are being contested at 230 local authorities. voters will be asked to show

photo id for the first time in england. at least 130 people have died in rwanda after floods and landslides in parts of the country. officials say heavy rain hit northern and western provinces early on wednesday morning, causing homes to collapse while people slept inside. rescuers are searching for survivors who remain trapped. deaths have also been reported in neighbouring uganda, where six people have died following landslides. at least two people have been killed in floods in northern italy. torrential rain caused the extensive flooding which saw rivers bursting their banks. roads and rail services were badly affected by the severe weather. the rain follows months of drought with low water levels in many of the region's rivers. the world food programme and us aid have suspended food deliveries in tigray in northern ethiopia following the discovery that relief aid had been stolen. us aid said food shipments had been diverted and sold on the local market.

the un's humanitarian chief martin griffiths has told the bbc he has asked sudan's rival military leaders to meet him face—to—face in the coming days to discuss urgent protection for the delivery of aid. he said it will be difficult to secure an end to the fighting as the warring parties are keen to keep it going. mr griffiths spoke exclusively to our chief international correspondent lyse doucetjust after he visited port sudan on sudan's red sea coast. she began by asking him how bad the crisis is. it isa it is a shocking crisis first. because as you have heard, and as i have now heard, details of traumatic atrocity that we have seen, they have seen, is

lighting up, are pretty unparalleled. that is appalling. and as people so that will lead to a generational problem of reconciliation anyway. the second, i think really, really deepening concerning aspect is the speed at which it is going viral and the way in which efforts to get local or temporary ceasefires have all stumbled. stumbled presumably over the rigid existentialfat that there is a war —— those at war are keen to keep going. it has all the makings of a tragedy of global relevance and global significance. and that's why this is an opportunity for the international community to

show we care about africa. during your time show we care about africa. during yourtime in show we care about africa. during your time in port sudan had telephone conversations with two warring leaders, what did you hearfrom them? what assurances did you get? what did you hear from them? what assurances did you get? what i said to them — assurances did you get? what i said to them was _ assurances did you get? what i said to them was this, - assurances did you get? what i said to them was this, said - said to them was this, said this is specific protections for the move and of aid workers, persons, people, and goods and supplies. going down certain roads at certain times, airlift being protected from being shot down, very concrete requests. but you need to give us those assurances, i want to meet you to go through those assurances, so they were both obviously separately very eloquent their attachment to humanitarian principles and aspirations, on the question of where and when can we meet, and

it is obviously urgent and this should be done in the next day or so, we are working on it. in our or so, we are working on it. in your darkest moments do you think these generals see this as a bite to the finish? i think we all worry about that, it is the well, it is always the well, that is the swing factor. in yemen we are about to see the beginning of the changing of circumstances. in sudan we haven't seen that, have we?— sudan we haven't seen that, have we? ~ ., ., have we? we heard from the un secretary general _ have we? we heard from the un secretary general who _ have we? we heard from the un secretary general who said - have we? we heard from the un secretary general who said the l secretary general who said the un failed to stop this war that you did not see the warning signs. there is a huge sense of responsibility for this crisis? i am not directly familiar with what the un has or has not been doing on the political side. even the un agency said they were surprised by that and scrappy? that means you are behind with humanitarian work

and you didn't see that coming? i think that's unfair, there are a lot of people who didn't see it coming, a lot of people in sudan that didn't see it coming. maybe were derelict in our responsibility, fine, that is yesterday, what we're talking about today is doing something that is consistent with our values, as near as possible meets the needs of the sudanese people. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. there was a musical start to the well—dressed celebrations in newbury. this is an age—old tradition. it in newbury. this is an age-old tradition. , ., in newbury. this is an age-old tradition. ., tradition. it is a pagan tradition _ tradition. it is a pagan tradition and - tradition. it is a pagan tradition and it - tradition. it is a pagan tradition and it was i tradition. it is a pagan tradition and it was to | tradition. it is a pagan - tradition and it was to thank the gods at the time for the gift of water so that the crops

would grow and hence you get all this beautiful would grow and hence you get all this beautiful greenery around. �* , , ., around. and this is the main well. around. and this is the main well- the — around. and this is the main well. the designed - around. and this is the main well. the designed a - around. and this is the main well. the designed a draw. around. and this is the main | well. the designed a draw on clay boards and national materials are used to complete the pictures. each has a coronation theme with hours of painstaking work by volunteers. they are fabulous, aren't they? they are fabulous, aren't they? they are fabulous, aren't they? they are appropriate because of the coronation it next week. the well dressings will be on display until saturday. it is a chance to bring the community together and admire these pieces of local art. you're live with bbc news. sir richard branson says he thought he was going to lose his entire empire in the pandemic. the boss of the virgin group says the problems left him depressed for the first time in his life. he's been speaking to amol rajan about what he says have been three of the most

difficult years in his career, which has spanned more than half a century. he has had one of the most colourful careers in business, from creating virgin records to setting up a trans am lactic airline. now his new venture into the cruise line business to space travel. sir richard branson has been a survivor but the pandemic left him fighting for his empire from his caribbean island. how much did you lose through the pandemic? did you lose a lot of money personally?— did you lose a lot of money ersonall ? . , , , , personally? the answer is yes. obviously _ personally? the answer is yes. obviously it — personally? the answer is yes. obviously it cost _ personally? the answer is yes. obviously it cost us _ personally? the answer is yes. obviously it cost us a - personally? the answer is yes. obviously it cost us a big - obviously it cost us a big percentage of our network. maybe 1.5 billion. so, there was a time when it really looks like we were going to lose everything. we had 50, 60 planes all on the ground, and the health clubs all closed, the health clubs all closed, the hotels all closed, and the west would have been 60,000 people are in the streets. but, personally, i was fortunate in

that alkyds managed to get to the island, our grandkids got to the island, and although i experienced may be a couple of months of what people must feel when they are pretty low, and i have never experienced that people fall in my life... do ou people fall in my life... do you mean _ people fall in my life... do you mean for— people fall in my life... do you mean for the first time in your life you are depressed? i will certainly a little depressed.- will certainly a little deressed. ., , ., ., depressed. your reputation took a bit of a hit _ depressed. your reputation took a bit of a hit in _ depressed. your reputation took a bit of a hit in the _ depressed. your reputation took a bit of a hit in the early - a bit of a hit in the early phase of the pandemic because senior members of your team had been to the government saying they need hundreds of millions of pounds in a government loan to save the company and save your airline, to save the company and save yourairline, and to save the company and save your airline, and yet there was coverage of people saying, "hang on. branson is a billionaire and lives on an island in the caribbean. surely he can find the money." i island in the caribbean. surely he can find the money."- he can find the money." i had never really _ he can find the money." i had never really had _ he can find the money." i had never really had any - he can find the money." i had never really had any coverage quite as painful as that. really? quite as painful as that. reall ? �* , quite as painful as that. reall? , really? and it is complicated so it is difficult _ really? and it is complicated so it is difficult to _ really? and it is complicated so it is difficult to explain - so it is difficult to explain when everyone is hurting. they

were pretty well know families that when hurting. but what we were concerned to do was to try to get government support, not gifts from government but underwriting loans. in gifts from government but underwriting loans.- underwriting loans. in the earlier days _ underwriting loans. in the earlier days of _ underwriting loans. in the earlier days of his - underwriting loans. in the earlier days of his career. underwriting loans. in the l earlier days of his career sir richard used glamour and publicity stunts as a part of divergence marketing. when you look at some of the campaigns to some of that make you wince? or do you just think it was fit for the time? i or do you just think it was fit for the time?— for the time? i think would make me _ for the time? i think would make me wince _ for the time? i think would make me wince if - for the time? i think would make me wince if i - for the time? i think would make me wince if i felt - for the time? i think would | make me wince if i felt that the women were uncomfortable at all. i don't think that i ever meet anybody feel uncomfortable. it was just in those days it made them smile, you know, like kate moss for instance. she laughed. she knew what was coming. but, today, obviously, i think people would feel uncomfortable with something like that. so, it has changed. something like that. so, it has chanced. ., ., ,, . ., changed. now at 72 sir richard said he discussed _ changed. now at 72 sir richard said he discussed this - said he discussed this succession planning with his family but he is still in control of the virgin group and he is still as competitive as

ever. it he is still as competitive as ever. , ., , we're nowjust two days away from the king's coronation, with millions of people across the world preparing to celebrate the ceremony. some royal fans are so desperate for the best view of the procession, they're already camping out on the mall near buckingham palace. charlotte gallagher's been to meet them. the tense art pitch, the flags are being hung and there is even a chance for selfies with the new king. people outside buckingham palace are ready to celebrate the coronation.- celebrate the coronation. great britain and _ celebrate the coronation. great britain and america. _ celebrate the coronation. great britain and america. for- celebrate the coronation. great britain and america. for donnaj britain and america. for donna for the us _ britain and america. for donna for the us and _ britain and america. for donna for the us and mary _ britain and america. for donna for the us and mary jane - britain and america. for donna for the us and mary jane from | for the us and maryjane from the uk it is also a chance to get together with friends. they met at the wedding of the prince and princess of wales 12 years ago and have attended royal events together ever since. ~ , ., royal events together ever since. ~ , . , , since. we started yesterday, and we will _ since. we started yesterday, and we will be _ since. we started yesterday, and we will be here - since. we started yesterday, and we will be here through | and we will be here through saturday night.— and we will be here through saturday night. and what have

ou saturday night. and what have you brought — saturday night. and what have you brought with _ saturday night. and what have you brought with you - saturday night. and what have you brought with you to - saturday night. and what have you brought with you to keep l you brought with you to keep you brought with you to keep you going?— you going? well, we brought tents, sleeping _ you going? well, we brought tents, sleeping bags, - you going? well, we brought tents, sleeping bags, air- tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, winter coats, hats, scarfs, gloves, you know, water, granola bars. everything that we need! _ water, granola bars. everything that we need! the _ water, granola bars. everything that we need! the royal - water, granola bars. everything that we need! the royal familyl that we need! the royalfamily have been rehearsing their roles in the coronation ceremony. the scene here at westminster abbey. the security operation in central london is huge. these arejust operation in central london is huge. these are just a handful of the more than 11,000 officers working this week. they are preparing for huge crowds and the foreign dignitaries who will be descending on the capital. the military is getting ready to. more than 6000 men and women from across the uk and commonwealth will be involved in saturdays events. and they have had a special visitor. princess and has met with troops at wennington barracks, just steps away from buckingham palace. and outside the palace there is a tent fit for a

princess. there is a tent fit for a princess-— there is a tent fit for a princess. there is a tent fit for a rincess. , , , princess. just en'oying being here and seeing _ princess. just enjoying being here and seeing the - princess. just enjoying being here and seeing the people. | here and seeing the people. have you made friends with people? have you made friends with eo - le? ., have you made friends with eo . le? ., ., have you made friends with n-eole? ., ., , .,, people? yeah, and people -aassin people? yeah, and people passing by _ people? yeah, and people passing by as _ people? yeah, and people passing by as well. - people? yeah, and people - passing by as well. thousands more bill line _ passing by as well. thousands more bill line at _ passing by as well. thousands more bill line at this - passing by as well. thousands more bill line at this route - passing by as well. thousands more bill line at this route on| more bill line at this route on saturday for a moment in history that many want to witness. charlotte gallagher, bbc news, buckingham palace. and staying with the coronation, big ben will be lit up every night between now and sunday to mark the coronation, with the colours of the union flag and the national flowers of all four home nations. a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock will be projected on to the london landmark. so, yes, there is so much going on in the capital surrounding the coronation and in windsor and elsewhere. we will be across it all for you here on bbc news. now let's take you to hollywood.

film and television writers have taken part in a second day of strikes that has thrown hollywood into chaos. the writers are calling for higher pay as well as future safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence. the strikes come at a challenging time for tv as the industry grapples with the streaming boom. here's our west coast correspondent sophie long. this is day two of the strike. i am just outside paramount studios here now, the studios in la in hollywood, close together. just a stones throw away is the studio where netflix is based and there were hundreds of picketing protesters outside of their all this morning and yesterday as well, and i think it is fair to say that the mood was very high. they are disappointed. the writers guild, that they have had to take this action and they are defiant and will probably be aware that the last time there was a right struck in it lasted 100 days so at the

moment this is day two. as he said in your introduction it has already taken late—night talk shows of the air. those are the shows which staff writers for prescription drugs just hours before they go to air — they have seen an impact. if the strike continues it is likely to have an impact on the autumn releases of popular scripted chozas well. it is not just the writers who have been out. we have seen actors come out. we have seen actors come out in support. where i am here, rob lowe came out yesterday. his son is a writer and he came out to show support and he came out to show support and set as actors we are only as good as the writing we get. the studios have said, the studios and the streamers on the other side of this dispute, they have said they made a very generous offer, notjust on compensation but streaming residuals. but as one of the sticking points here — the residuals, the royalties that writers use to get paid from networks are much less under streaming networks. they said they made a generous offer. i spoke to the president of the

wgea and she said that simply was not accurate and the offer was not accurate and the offer was not accurate and the offer was not generous and what they have not engaged on and this is one major sticking point is the use of artificial intelligence. now, the writers guild, they want it contractually based that they will not use ai in any form of written material. at the moment i am told by the wgea that all streamers have committed to an annual meeting. as far as the wga is concerned thatis as far as the wga is concerned that is not good enough. two russian cosmonauts have carried out a space walk on the international space station. the two left the space station to move what nasa called an �*experiment airlock�* from one module to another. the two men have already carried out eight spacewalks between them during their stint in space. the cosmonauts have been on the space station since september last year. she at next — the top business

stories. as ever, the us central bankers dominating the business headlines. the fed did raise rates as expected, but what now? i will be back with an expert view and the other business stories. see you a moment. hello there. many of us had some beautiful late spring sunshine on wednesday. in fact, in bournemouth, there was just over 13 hours of sunshine, a glorious day. but top temperature, well, that was in south wales, in gwynedd, just shy of 20 celsius, and it felt very pleasant indeed. now it's not out of the question that we could see 20 celsius on thursday, but the weather story is certainly on the change with low pressure starting to move in from the southwest. so as we go through the day on thursday, it's a tale of three halves, really — we've got cloud driving in off the north sea, affecting eastern england and northeast scotland. we've got rain pushing into the southwest — and sandwiched in between the two, that's where the best of the sunshine is likely to be, and that's where we'll see the best of the warmth.

the breeze still coming from an east direction, so with exposure, that's just going to add a slight edge to things. a little more shelter, it'll feel pleasant enough with highs of 19—20 celsius perhaps in the southeast. now, as we move out of thursday into friday, that weatherfront will continue to push its way steadily north. it'll bring outbreaks of rain as it does so, and then, following on behind, plenty of showers to come. so on friday, we'll see a spell of more persistent rain moving out of northeast england, into scotland. sunny spells and scattered showers tucking in behind. some of those showers could be heavy, slow—moving, with the odd rumble of thunder. now, not everybody will see the showers, but because the winds are slightly lighter coming from a southwesterly direction, maybe those showers might hang around for a little bit longer. still a cool easterly, making it feel fresher in scotland, but highs likely of 18 celsius by friday afternoon. now, as we move into the start of the weekend, that southwesterly wind will drive that milder air further north for all of us. but unfortunately, it'll also

bring some wetter weather. so this is saturday, coronation day — you can see that wet weather moving its way across the capital and steadily north as we go through the day. so not a wash—out by any means, but at the moment, it does look likely that during the morning, there will be outbreaks of rain across the capital, certainly worth bearing in mind. and the wider picture throughout the bank. holiday weekend — saturday will be the wettest of the days, sunday and monday, sunny spells and scattered showers. some of them on monday could be quite heavy. take care.

live from london, this is bbc news. rate hike number ten. the us federal reserve raises the cost of borrowing again — to a 16—year high. but has it finally done enough to tame inflation? also coming up — more controversy in the pipeline as oil giant shell announces another multi—billion dollar quarter. plus — deserted by a changing economy. the towns and villages in rural spain that are battling for survival. hello, i'm sally bundock with the top business stories.

and we start in the united states