live from washington, this is bbc news. a fleet of russian warships arrive off the coast of cuba, as tensions rise with the west over ukraine. us special envoy to saddam want to citysearch could fall imminently. america's top diplomat tells israel and hamas that it is "time for the haggling to stop" as he pushes for a ceasefire deal. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. thank you forjoining us. four russian naval vessels arrived in havana bay, a port in cuba, as tensions between moscow and the west grow over the war in ukraine. havana bay is just about 90 miles from the us state of florida. our media partner cbs reports the us navy used sea drones to watch the ships as they got closer to cuba. on wednesday russia's defence ministry said two of the vessels are carriers of advanced weapons, including hypersonic

zircon missiles. they conducted drills earlier in the atlantic. but cuba's foreign ministry says none of those ships are carrying nuclear arms, and that russia's five day visit does not pose a threat to region. this all comes as cuba's foreign minister bruno rodriguez and his russian counterpart sergei lavrov, met in moscow. earlier i spoke with our cuba and america correspondent for more. you have heard there that they are at pains to stress that there is no threat to the region by these naval exercises. that this is simply — and they have been underlining this — a friendship between the communist—run island and russia. that it underscores that friendship, that between of coorporation between long—standing allies, notjust as russia, but previously of course with the soviet union. they want to remove any senses of echoes of the cold war at such a time of heightened tensions, and focus, if you like, on the fact that there

is a bilateral relationship here between russia and cuba that has nothing to do with the united states and that is where their focus is but it comes in a particularly difficult international global context of heightened tensions around the war in ukraine. why are we seeing this now? i think that is part of it, to be perfectly honest. i think if there is a message from russia to cuba it is that of friendship, of collaboration, cooperation together but if there is one from moscow to washington, it is very clearly not to meddle in our backyard because we can do the same. it is essentially saying, if you are getting involved, if you are going to continue to fund ukraine in the war in ukraine, continued to back our enemies, we will do the same with yours and they are only 90 miles off your coast. that is the global context in which it is taking place and why is happening now. of course, that does send a sort of an echo

of the cold war but american officials have been very careful to say they do not perceive this in any way as a threat to the united states, although of course they are monitoring it. indeed they have been playing it down. does this tell us more about the health of russia's relationship with cuba and latin america than it does washington's? i do. basically what it says at the moment in many ways is that the us has taken its eye off the ball in the americas, not just in cuba and the caribbean, but across the region. the next place these warships are expected to go is cuba's ally, venezuela. let's not forget, the last time we saw ships or one of the last times we so ships coming into havana bay, they were us cruise ships coming in with a sense of a new future between the old enemies during the obama administration. of course, all of that was cancelled under president trump. the change if you like for observers in havana to watch the same stretch of water

where those of cruise ship came in with a sense of a new future now being replaced by russian warships was lost on nobody, let's say. has there been any reaction in the rest of the region, in latin america to this incident? not specifically or at least not that i have seen. what we can certainly imagine is that it would be applauded by cuba's allies, particularly nicolas maduro in venezuela, long—standing allies, daniel ortega in nicaragua, they will always be celebrating this kind of a relationship and the strengthening of it. interestingly, you speak to cubans on the streets about what they feel about it and they would far rather see economic backing from russia at this time than military backing. with get more perspective on the story with the director of the story with the director of the americas programme for scent of strategic and international studies. good to have you on bbc news, we talked

about the message that russia is sending to washington. what do you think the message is? thank you for having me on, it is a pleasure to be with you. you cannot separate this particular activity from the moment in time it occurs, we are about three weeks out from when the biden administration appealed that it is along with our european allies allowing weapons that have been even to ukraine to fire into russia as an effort to protect various areas. the russians have missed immediately said that they will respond and it was a press conference in which it was said by wouldn't we harm from the countries, russian friendly countries, russian friendly countries and allow them to host the same track to the united states? this is a power projection exercise for russia in the western hemisphere. it is being able to show we can be in this hemispherejust is being able to show we can be in this hemisphere just as you can be in our theatre in europe. can be in our theatre in eur0pe-_

can be in our theatre in euroe. ,, , ., , �* europe. the us says it doesn't see it as a _ europe. the us says it doesn't see it as a trapper _ europe. the us says it doesn't see it as a trapper what - see it as a trapper what response could receive from washington?— response could receive from washinuton? , , .,, washington? the response has been so far— washington? the response has been so far a _ washington? the response has been so far a good _ washington? the response has been so far a good one, - been so far a good one, measured and not overplaying russia's role in the region. it's been appropriate and rather calculated and we are looking to see what the russians are up to and the canadians are helping keep surveillance on this. we tell them the entire way both neighbourly and aerial leak. use set russia's ties in the region, how close is russia to cuba and some of their allies? they are in many cases the only allies the russians really have in the region. they maintain relations with those countries but these are the deep ties with the region. they are the countries of the russians visit before they are about to commit aggression in their immediate broad in europe. it's almost like clockwork, every time the russians commit aggression in europe it is usually preceded by a visit to allies in the

region to show that we have allies very close to the united states influence as well and they will back us in whatever activity we undertake in european theatre. that's the question. — european theatre. that's the question. do _ european theatre. that's the question, do you _ european theatre. that's the question, do you think- european theatre. that's the question, do you think this l european theatre. that's the | question, do you think this is also a reflection of washington losing influence in the region in latin america? i losing influence in the region in latin america?— losing influence in the region in latin america? i think that washington _ in latin america? i think that washington has _ in latin america? i think that washington has had - in latin america? i think that washington has had its - in latin america? i think that washington has had its eye l in latin america? i think that | washington has had its eye off the ball for a while within our own shared neighbourhood in the western hemisphere, there is no doubt about that with successive presidencies in both parties taking their eye off the ball. cuba has been one of those countries that is vexed us for a long time, we had a bipartisan i would argue strategy towards cuba that has not managed to affect the type of change we would all like to see in cuba over the years. russia has certainly been doubling down in recent years on its support for cuba because they are going to at your immensely difficult time, and that in recent months been

trading with cuba more than they have been because for many years in the energy sector providing vital energy, oil in particular that they need to keep the economy a foot. that is a question — keep the economy a foot. that is a question that _ keep the economy a foot. that is a question that our - is a question that our correspondent was mentioning as well. cubans want to seek economic support in this partnership from russia. what can they provide them in return? ., can they provide them in return?— can they provide them in return? ., , , return? so far it has 'ust been oil, has been h return? so far it has 'ust been oil, has been a _ return? so far it has 'ust been oil, has been a lot _ return? so far it hasjust been oil, has been a lot of- return? so far it hasjust been oil, has been a lot of pledges| oil, has been a lot of pledges that many have noted especially around this context, pledges for investment in number of areas up to and including hotels for tourism. we have seen russia citizens looking to places like cuba four occasions as they are shut out of a lot of countries in europe. much of that financing has yet to materialise from the russians and i think it is obvious why. they are busier spending money on the war effort in ukraine. it's important to mention we have also seen an expanding chinese footprint in latin america in the region. we heard

these comparisons to the cold war simply because of the imagery of all of this. do you think the comparisons are apt orfair? think the comparisons are apt or fair? ., ~' think the comparisons are apt or fair? ., ~ ., or fair? no i think out overblown _ or fair? no i think out overblown in - or fair? no i think out overblown in this - or fair? no i think out | overblown in this case, or fair? no i think out - overblown in this case, the cold war we came to the brink of nuclear meltdown when it was decided to stage nuclear missiles. we are not at that situation now. there are hypersonic missiles, on the boats and on the sub but the russians had no intention of stationing them anywhere in cuba. we have no idea whether they have any intention to display them at any point in time, they simply said they are on board and this is not nearly the same level of security threat that we saw in the october missile crisis. early interesting _ october missile crisis. early interesting conversation, i october missile crisis. early . interesting conversation, thank you forjoining us tonight. it's been a pleasure, thank you for having me. sudanese armed forces have been fighting power military support

forces that has intensified in the past ia months which plunged them into a humanitarian crisis. the us envoy told the bbc that a perceived city in western areas could fall to rebel forces imminently. it's the only city still under army control in the entire darfur region amid repeated warnings about the situation there. un humanitarian agency accounted for more than 15,000 people held since the violence began in april last year. what has become the world's worst displacement crisis nearly 10 million have been forced to flee their homes according to the un migration agency. more than one fifth of the country's population. the bbc�*s deputy africa editor sent this report. this is now the reality in el fasher, the latest front line in the year—long war of sudan. no—one is safe here anymore. there has been a spike in arson activity, at least eight villages have been raised. the

homes of one particular at the group. investigators say of ethnic targeting of the rapid support services. this mother and herfamily support services. this mother and her family survived support services. this mother and herfamily survived recent shelling, she doesn't know if the blood on her toddler's face is is, his siblings orfathers. our insured and are receiving emergency treatment at this health centre. one of the last facility is still running. the medics here are stretched. the only attends to the most severe cases. the volunteers from the community have come together to support them. translation: supportthem. translation: ., ., ., translation: from our own efforts under— translation: from our own efforts under efforts - translation: from our own efforts under efforts of - efforts under efforts of well—wishers we managed to get some emergency medicines from some emergency medicines from some contribute is. those who do not provide medicines give us money to buy the drugs from the market. us money to buy the drugs from the market-— the market. they are constantly chanauin the market. they are constantly changing things _ the market. they are constantly changing things here. _ the market. they are constantly| changing things here. expanding or repairing the facility as a crucial work of setting lives

continues.— continues. we managed to continue — continues. we managed to continue our _ continues. we managed to continue our activities - continues. we managed to continue our activities but | continues. we managed to i continue our activities but of course we have lots of difficulties and we need more very soon supplies to arrive otherwise will be complicated to continue activities indeed. there was another setback last weekend. this is what was left of the south hospital after fighters stormed in, open fire and looted it on saturday. staff and patients escaped. now another facility which saw 1300 wounded patients in last month has been shut. and there are fears things could get worse, should the city fall. indie fears things could get worse, should the city fall.— should the city fall. we need this to end. _ should the city fall. we need this to end, we _ should the city fall. we need this to end, we are - should the city fall. we need this to end, we are working. this to end, we are working towards a local ceasefire, we need cooler heads to prevail and get this particular battle paused. we also don't take i off other parts of the area. it is civilians who bear the biggest brunt of this war. a conflict described as senseless by some. the result of a

political fallout between two generals has left thousands dead, millions displaced and nearly a third of the country facing food shortages. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at a story making news in the uk. the conservative and labour leaders faced tough questions wednesday evening from an audience in grimsby, in their latest election campaign grilling during a sky news special. prime minister rishi sunak and sir keir starmer answered questions on various topics, and faced criticism. labour leader sir keir says his approach to tax is different from his predecessors. i accept that previous labour leaders have pulled the tax lever every single time and driven up spending. i want to grow out economy. the manifesto tomorrow it would be a manifesto and plan for wealth creation. while conservative prime minister sunak was asked about what he would do for young people. what we announced yesterday in the manifesto is going to make a big difference because it is going to mean it is much easierfor young

people to get on the housing ladder and by the first time. __by ——by their first home. whether it is an apprenticeship, national service or buying your home it is a great opportunity around. you can find more uk election coverage on our website bbc.com/news. we have what all the parties are promising and interviews with major party leaders. you're live with bbc news. a ceasefire plan between israel and hamas remains farfrom a done deal, with the us secretary of state saying hamas has proposed numerous changes to the latest draft for a truce put forward by presidentjoe biden. but senior hamas official osama hamdan has told the bbc that hamas has not put forward new demands and that the group remains committed to a ceasefire. antony blinken said some of the alleged proposed changes were workable, but some went beyond what the group had previously agreed to in talks for a ceasefire. speaking in qatar wednesday, secretary blinken reiterated that hamas was the party holding back an agreement. a deal was on the table that was virtually identical

to the proposal that hamas put forward on may 6th. a deal that the entire world was behind, a deal israel has accepted, and hamas could have answered with a single word, "yesiu instead, hamas waited nearly two weeks, and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions it had previously taken and accepted. the senior hamas official mentioned earlier responded to secretary blinken. osama hamdan told the bbc that mr blinken is part of the problem, not the solution. he said hamas designated a terrorist organization by the us maintains its demands for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of israeli forces from gaza. that's a slight variation from the three—phased plan put forth byjoe biden, where phase one involves an initial six—week ceasefire, an undefined number of hostage and prisoner released,

as well as a withdrawal of israeli forces "from all populated areas of gaza". that's followed by phase two, which includes all remaining hostages released and a full israeli withdrawal from gaza. and phase three, which involves a reconstruction plan for gaza. as we heard from secretary blinken, israel accepts that plan, but prime minister netanyahu has stood firm that the war won't be over until hamas is completely defeated, leaving an agreement very much in the balance, as jon donnison reports. i don't think this deal is dead, but it's not looking terribly healthy. there's no doubt that the americans, the qataris, the egyptians, the world really, wants this deal to go ahead. but the two people who really matter, the people who are calling the shots are prime minister benjamin netanyahu, here in israel and yahya sinwar, the hamas leader in gaza. and it doesn't really seem like either of them are committed to what the americans are saying they have agreed to. so the key issues that

there's disagreement on, are phase two of the proposal that was announced byjoe biden a few weeks ago. so that would involve the complete withdrawal of israeli forces from gaza and a permanent ceasefire between israel and hamas. now, hamas is seeking greater reassurances, guarantees that that is going to happen. they don't trust that israel will stick to that. and the truth is that although america says that israel has signed up to that, benjamin netanyahu has not said that publicly. he's not said that explicitly. and he knows that if he were to do that, there are people within his government on the extreme right of his coalition who have said they will pull out of the government and that would mean fresh elections and possibly the end of benjamin netanyahu's time in power. so the americans seem to think this deal is close. theyjust need to push a little bit harder.

they're going to continue, they say, to put pressure on the qataris and the egyptians to put pressure on hamas. but it really doesn't feel like on the ground, it's terribly close at the moment. i spoke to lieutenant general mark schwartz, former us security coordinator for israel and the palestinian authority. what do we know about the changes proposed by hamas? i think the principal negotiating position hamas is trying to bring forward is the full withdrawal of israeli security forces from the gaza strip which candidly would result in chaos if that occurred because there is no other security entity to take its place and you certainly do not want to have hamas re—establish security and control within the gaza strip. so i think that is the principal negotiating position that they are holding said faster at this point. an anonymous official speak into

the previously same ability palestinian armed groups response amounted to a rejection. what do you think the qatari and egyptian mediators and partners in the region can do at this point if secretary blinken is to some extent hitting a wall? i certainly do not have the benefit of being inside the internal discussions but my concern is that there is not a lot of leverage i think that we have with the hamas terrorist leadership, either inside hamas or other political entities of the terrorist organisations or movement outside of gaza. i think a guarantee by qatar or egypt that will be passed on by the israeli government that hamas could somehow be allowed to remain in governance of gaza certainly bolster the negotiating position to the benefit of hamas but i do not

think it is realistic at this point and goes contrary to the strategic objectives that the prime minister of israel has laid out, that the us president and i think many in the international community have supported so i think it is a very tough position right now because hamas knows that their time is limited and certainly yahya sinwar knows he is a targeted individual as well as his lieutenants and if israel had the ability to remove them out they would be doing so. that is the question, when president biden outlined this proposal, he said hamas's capabilities had been degraded to a point they could not launch the type of attack we saw on october seven. is that actually the case, what do we know about the capabilities at the moment? i do not agree with that statement. clearly, hamas has got

the wheel and the resolve and the capability. certainly, you look at the significant military presence of the israeli security forces, that is certainly a deterrent for october 7 type attack but i think it is very clear, based on the rhetoric from the hamas leadership both inside of gaza and outside, since this war began, that if they had the opportunity to carry out an attack like october 7 again, they would certainly do it. so, again, i think that was a little shortsighted to make that type of statement on behalf of another state. the israelis have the best sense of the capability and will of hamas because i have experienced it. at the same time, they do not have not said what defeating hamas might look like. what do you think it would look like? you're not going to get rid of the ideology, certainly.

that has been discussed at length. but the ability to remove hamas as a governing body inside the gaza strip, to remove hamas and palestinian islamichhad and other groups out of the west bank as well, because in the broader context that is extremely important, remove the military capability inside the gaza strip and the west bank, those objectives can be achieved and again, it does not remove the ideology of hamas and is an organisation potentially but it creates a security environment in which israel would feel much safer than they have since hamas took over in 2006. if this ceasefire agreement does not come to bear, what are we looking at? are we looking at months more of fighting? i think we are. it was stated by a think the chief of

general staff of the idf and minister gallant. the number that have joined the movement since it started we're looking several months suddenly. hungary agreed not to support support for nato in ukraine. mr orban is moscow's closest ally in the european union. mr stoltenberg said hungary had agreed not to oppose expected measures at an upcoming nato leaders' summit in washington. prime minister orban has made it clear that hungary will not participate in these nato efforts and i accept this position. and i'm glad that today the prime minister and i have agreed to modalities for hungary's nonparticipation in nato's support for ukraine.

our correspondent nick thorpe sent this report from western hungary. jens stoltenberg, the nato secretary general, came to hungary today, just one month before washington summit, a very crucial summit for nato, at which it will try to redefine its relations, take over a much more important relationship towards ukraine, co—ordinating financial and military support to ukraine, in this very difficult time for the ukrainian government. mr stoltenberg then came to budapest asking, seeking guarantees from viktor orban, the hungarian prime minister, that hungary will not block those changes within nato towards ukraine, that co—ordinating role, nato's new mission for ukraine, if you like. mr orban for his part sought and got guarantees that hungary can effectively opt out of both financial and military commitments to ukraine.

mr orban has made no secret of his view that continued western military support for ukraine is just prolonging the war. he is calling for an immediate ceasefire there, followed by negotiations. both mr stoltenberg and the hungarian prime minister, mr orban, got what they wanted. that leaves hungary still very isolated, with a very different view of the war in ukraine from the other 31 nato members. before we go, a team has located the wreck of quest, the ship used by sir ernest shackleton on his final expedition to the antarctic. the anglo—irish explorer died of a heart attack onboard in 1922. the ship sank a0 years later at the other end of the globe near newfoundland in canada. it was found by sonar equipment in 390 metres or nearly 1300 feet of water. it's sitting almost upright on the seafloor and appears to be mostly in tact. thank you for watching bbc news, stay with us.

hello there. it's turning more unsettled across the uk for the end of the week. we're picking up low pressure off the atlantic. that's going to bring wind and rain increasingly so across the country during thursday. although we start the day chilly and bright like we have the last few mornings, however, we cut off that arctic airflow, the blue colours, then replace it with something milder for the end of the week. however, that comes with wind and rain all tied in with this frontal system linked to low pressure. before it moves in, though, it's going to be another chilly start to thursday up and down the country. these are towns and city values could be low single digits. again, rural spots. so plenty of sunshine around. chilly. one or two mist patches. rain already getting into northern ireland will spread across the irish sea through the morning, reaching western britain around lunchtime. some of this rain will be quite heavy at times. the winds picking up too, eventually reaching eastern areas. all but north—east scotland and east and

south—east england. here it'll stay dry until after dark. 17 or 18 degrees will be the high. that's pretty decent considering the fact there'll be a lack of sunshine. now through thursday night the heavier the rain pushes northwards across scotland and the northern hours elsewhere, it's going to be clear spells patchy cloud and a few showers. but look at these temperatures. vastly difference how it's been the last few nights. a mild one to come with temperatures in double figures, low teens celsius pretty much across the board. for friday, low pressure sits across the uk bringing showers or longer spells of rain. longer spells of rain will be affecting the northern half of scotland without weather fronts. elsewhere, it's sunny spells, scattered showers. some of these will be heavy and thundering places, particularly central, southern and western areas. but in between some good spells of sunshine and that'll lift temperatures up 18 to 20 degrees in the warmest spots. friday night will be very mild again. and as we head into saturday, low pressures withers again, showers or longer spells of rain. some good sunny spells in between, though. if you avoid the showers and stay dry all day,

it could be quite pleasant. again, those temperatures into the high teens, closer to the mid—teens across scotland where we have more cloud and rain. our area of low pressure just hang around, though, for part two of the weekend, even into the start of next week. but it could be that southern parts of britain on sunday could see drier, sunnier weather at time with the rain across the north. but there'll be further showers as we head into the start of the new week as well. take care.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello and welcome to a sweltering new delhi, capital of the world's most populous country. and just days after an election that took everyone by surprise. let's take a look at what we have on the programme. narendra modi keeps his job as prime minister a historic third term. not prime minister, but a loss that feels likea win. rahul gandhi's party makes a comeback. major voting blocs in this election, women and young people. we get reaction. india has a lot of contradictions within itself. the people of india voted for a change. the biggest problem in our country is unemployment. i hello and welcome to this is india.