this is the scene live in moscow. we'll look at what vladimir putin is hoping to achieve in the vote. a jetty is built to offload shipments of aid to gaza as israel denies hamas claims, that palestinians were shot waiting for supplies to be distributed. and at the princess diana legacy award ceremony in london, both her sons make an appearance, but not together. hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. voting is under way in presidential elections in russia which will almost certainly see vladimir putin extend his quarter of a century in power. the process began in russia's far east several hours ago, these pictures are from vladivostok.

and this is the scene live at a polling station in moscow. there is the potential for a run—off vote if no candidate wins more than 50% in the first round. but with many of mr putin's opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that vladimir putin will be re—elected without a need for that second ballot. the election is encompassing the territories which russia has annexed in ukraine. in all, more than 112 million people have the right to vote — at the last election, in 2018, he took more than three quarters of the vote. our russia editor, steve rosenberg has more on the issues surrounding this election.

these days, when vladimir ovchinnikov paints russia, the result is very dark. from a mountain of skulls and a dictator's ambition to this — russia's war in ukraine likened to stalin's terror. the 86—year—old artist had taken his anti—war message onto the streets, graffitiing "stop the war". all these paintings were scrubbed out, and vladimir fined twice for discrediting the russian army. but he continues to speak out against the invasion of ukraine. translation: i believe that this is a crime - against the territorial integrity of a neighbouring country. it is a crime. and if i keep silent about it, it is like i am condoning it. last month, after the death in prison of opposition leader alexei navalny, vladimir went into town. on this memorial to victims of political repression, he painted mr navalny�*s face. it was quickly erased.

but vladimir has created this navalny portrait at home. translation: where is russia heading? . some say we are on our way to more repression, totalitarianism, and to full dictatorship. but there is another picture of russia, one much brighter. the official version. the picture the authorities want russians to see is not of a country that is aggressive abroad and repressive at home, but a russia with a glorious past and a bright future, of heroes and patriots who not only love their country, but also their current president. instead of dictatorship, it's devotion to the leader on state tv and an action man president flying

high and on course for an election landslide. mind you, vladimir putin faces no serious challenge. his fiercest critics are in exile or in prison, or in alexei navalny�*s case, dead. but he is on the ballot. although, when i caught up with the communist candidate, nikolay kharitonov, he praised putin. in russia, we have propaganda and we have that everybody in russia support boughton and everybody in russia supports the military operation. it's really not the fact and my election campaign shows that a lot of people have politics and

people have military operation. but he is on the ballot. although, when i caught up with the communist candidate, nikolay kharitonov, he praised putin. "vladimir putin," he said, "is consolidating the nation for victory." and back in borovsk, many seem to believe that. "i hope putin wins," lyudmila says, "although we do " have talented leaders who could run "the country in an emergency." a putin—less russia means an emergency. now, that is a picture of the kremlin will be more than happy to see painted. steve rosenberg, bbc news, borovsk. let's speak to sergey sanovich, an expert in disinformation and social media platforms, and a fellow at stanford university near san francisco.

welcome to the programme. just on that matter of whether these elections, what the point is of the selection, the government controls absolutely everything including the elections so what is the point of them?— is the point of them? well, i think in modern _ is the point of them? well, i think in modern world, - is the point of them? well, i think in modern world, as i is the point of them? well, i l think in modern world, as long as it's not a monarchy or military hunter, what is the way to legitimise leader? why boughton is different from everyone else, he needs to do that but additional functions, how well they can address local, social needs, if you can have a roof leaking, it's better chance to get it fixed ahead of elections. and don't forget, these people working and propaganda, there is a motive thereto. so, all this is

spent in the federal budget, there are a lot of people looking to get reached them. and i'm propaganda, and disinformation, misinformation, how much does mr britton rely on that aspect? —— mr vladimir putin? it on that aspect? -- mr vladimir putin? h, . on that aspect? -- mr vladimir putin? ., ., ., , putin? it important overall but it continuously. _ putin? it important overall but it continuously. specifically, i it continuously. specifically, when it comes to elections, winning four putin is easy. but the most important thing, he controls two runs. so this is usually absolutely faceless people, not eager to run, usually second, so level functions in the loyal opposition and when i say loyal opposition, it's like in the uk, it means that they do whatever the kremlin doesn't to do. �* , , .,

whatever the kremlin doesn't to do. �*, , ., ., ., do. let's 'ust move it forward and let-s — do. let'sjust move it forward and let's say _ do. let'sjust move it forward and let's say that _ do. let'sjust move it forward and let's say that mr - do. let'sjust move it forward | and let's say that mr pridgeon doesin and let's say that mr pridgeon does in fact when this next term, what are ordinary russians making of the war and ukraine, has mr putin at any point during campaigning brought up the likelihood of further constrictions and how would that sit with russians? i think is looking desperately to avoid it, it will be very unpopular and he has approached to low people to join the military voluntarily and he is spending really good money, he proposed in the recent address to the parliament, to increase taxes and so, this will be for increased military production which is very important and these days, the us is slowing providing that support for ukraine so, russia is looking

to advantage and also, to pay for this soldiers, to come voluntarily because conscription is, it will be very unpopular. 0k, sergey sanovich, thank you very much indeed and this is a three day election, you can kyiv up—to—date with that right here on bbc news. —— keep up—to—date. officials in gaza have accused israeli forces of shooting at a crowd of palestinians, waiting for aid in gaza city — saying that at least 20 people have been killed. the hamas—run health ministry says more than 150 others were injured — the israeli military says it did not open fire. meanwhile — a jetty has been built on the gaza coastline — which it's thought will be used to offload aid from the open arms charity ship. this satellite image was taken on tuesday — you can see the earth being piled out over the beach. and this satellite image was taken a few hours later on the same day — you can see the jetty extending out

into the sea, with what appears to be a road leading towards it. when the open arms ship does eventually dock — it will start to distribute a cargo of 200 tonnes of food and medical aid. further shipments are expected in the coming weeks — here you can see warehouses in cyprus, with aid waiting to be loaded. meanwhile, in israel, there have been more demonstrations, calling for the return of hostages held in gaza. this protest, in tel aviv, was in support of 19 women still thought to be in the territory — their relatives are calling on both the israeli government and hamas to negotiate their release. meanwhile — the leader of the us senate has made the strongest criticism yet — by a senior american official — of benjamin netanyahu's handling of the war in gaza.

chuck schumer said israel should hold new elections — and suggested mr netanyahu risked making his country a "pariah." benjamin netanyahu benjamin neta nyahu has extremist, benjamin netanyahu has extremist, and the settlers in the west bank. whilst mr schumer is a senior figure injoe biden�*s democratic party — the us state department was quick to make it clear that he was not speaking on behalf of the president. obviously, congress is an open branch of government, then the government of israel understands quite well how the us government works, the interact frequently, notjust with hammers of the executive branch but with mamas of

congress including the senator who travelled there and they fully understand that he speaks for himself, he is someone we are in close contact with but not a statement from the executive branch. mr netanyahu's likud party has responded to senator schumer, saying israel is not a banana republic, but a proud democracy that elected its prime minister. it comes as israel has announced plans to push ahead with an offensive against hamas in rafah city in the south. the israeli military wants to move people out of rafah and into what they're calling humanitarian islands in the middle of the gaza strip. it's not clear yet what these islands will actually look like or how they'll operate. benjamin netanyahu says he won't bow to international pressure. translation: there are international pressures to prevent us from entering rafah and completing the work. as prime minister of israel, i push away these pressures. we have been doing this successfully for five months already.

this is record time in the history of israel's wars. i will continue to push away the pressures. we will enter rafah. live now to our north america correspondent will vernon in washington. that was benjamin netanyahu there in response to what senator schumer said. there in response to what senator schumersaid. mr senator schumer said. mr netanyahu is senator schumersaid. mr netanyahu is going to push away the pressures but a risk of pushing away an ally? well, i think these _ pushing away an ally? well, i think these comments - pushing away an ally? well, i think these comments from | think these comments from senator schumer was absolutely key, it's difficult overstate just how scathing, just how critical they were and i think this could be a watershed moment in us — israeli relations and it could open the floodgates to even more public criticism of the israelis, senator schumer, he's had a 50 year career and during that time, has been a staunch ally

of israel, is the highest—ranking jewish politician so for him to make comments like this, we had some of them there, netanyahu has lost his way, israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah. he was careful to say that it was hamas who triggered the conflict nevertheless, these were scathingly critical comments and in terms of the reaction here, many democrats were absolutely delighted to hear chuck schumer make this speech, many of them are deeply unhappy with the situation in gaza and with the biden administration support for the israeli government. one democrats senator even apparently got up and hugged chuck schumer after he made these comments but as for the republicans, they are the more pro—israel party here in congress, many of them absolutely outraged at these statements from chuck schumer, the leader of the republicans in the senate, mitch mcconnell, he caught the speech grotesque

and hypocritical and suggested it amounted to foreign interference in the affairs of a democratic ally and those sentiments were repeated by other republicans and of course by the israelis themselves. but i think, nonetheless, by the israelis themselves. but ithink, nonetheless, even though chuck schumer was taken a personal view, personal position and not the official policy of the us government, as we heard from the state department, nevertheless, i think this is a sign of the increasing frustration here in the corridors of power at the israeli authorities are apparent unwillingness, to listen to the police — police from the us to do more to protect civilian life in gaza and to comply with international law. ~ ., international law. will vernon, thank you _ international law. will vernon, thank you very _ international law. will vernon, thank you very much _ international law. will vernon, thank you very much indeed. l around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some award—winning pictures

of nature from the british wildlife photography awards. this is the winning entry — a floating football, which has been covered by goose barnacles. it was pictured after it washed up on a beach in dorset. this photo of a coot running across a lake at sunrise was the winner of the young photographer section. this image of a common starling took the prize for best animal portrait. it was caught using a mix of flash and natural light, mid—flight. i think it was images of the feathered world that did rather well this year because we also had an image of a common starling which took the prize for best animal portrait caught using a mixture of flash and natural light midflight. if you had to the bbc news website, of a close—up of slime mould, magnified many times. you can see those on the bbc news

website. absolutely beautiful. you're live with bbc news. ajury in michigan has found the father of a teenager who carried out a deadly school shooting — guilty of involuntary manslaughter. james crumbley was found to have partial responsibility for giving his son ethan access to the gun he used to kill four people at the oxford high school. ethan has already been sentenced to life without parole. our correspondent nicky schillerjoins me now. this shooting happen in november 2021 when an 15—year—old ethan crumbley opened fire at a school in michigan killing for fellow students, they were aged 14 — 16 students, they were aged 14 — i6 and 217 students, they were aged 1a — 16 and 217 —year—olds and seven other people were injured, he was convicted in december last year and sentenced to life without parole. but is

47—year—old father, james, was put on trial for invalid — make involuntary manslaughter. the trial who didn't take into account his son's mental health and that he bought the weapon that was used in the attack just days before the shooting. now, his lawyers argued that he didn't actually have any idea that his son was in trouble and that his son was in trouble and that he also didn't know that he was planning the shooting but the prosecutors said during the trial that it was both preventable and also foreseeable. the jewry teal just over a day considering their verdicts and this is the moment that they were read out in court. ., ., ., ., , in court. count one involuntary manslaughter _ in court. count one involuntary manslaughter as _ in court. count one involuntary manslaughter as guilty - in court. count one involuntary manslaughter as guilty of- manslaughter as guilty of involuntary manslaughter. count two, involuntary manslaughter, guilty of involuntary

manslaughter. guilty of involuntary manslau~hter. ., , manslaughter. now, his wife, jennifer, was _ manslaughter. now, his wife, jennifer, was convicted - manslaughter. now, his wife, jennifer, was convicted of - manslaughter. now, his wife, jennifer, was convicted of the j jennifer, was convicted of the same charges at an earlier trial, they are both due to be sentenced next month and face up sentenced next month and face up to 60 years in prison, it is the first time that parents have been charged with manslaughter over there child's role in it shooting. there's been more unrest in the capital of haiti, despite continuing efforts to re—establish law and order. emergency response teams were called to the main jail in port—au—prince on thursday, after a fire broke out. the storming of the prison by gangs, releasing hundreds of convicts, led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government. it's not known what caused this latest fire — nor if anyone was hurt. talks are continuing to try to establish a transitional council, but gang leaders have warned they may not accept any new leadership. our correspondent will grant is following developments from the neighbouring dominican republic — he sent us this update.

it has been another busy and chaotic day on the border between the dominican republic and haiti. a lot of people coming through from the haitian site today because it is market day in this border town and people are permitted to go solely to the market and sell goods or buy bulk items, and then return but not to go into the country properly. meanwhile, the number of people still being returned over the border, deported back into haiti continues at pace. in the capital port—au—prince there has been another uptick of violence over the past 2a hours with reports of an attack on the main penitentiary. the politics continues as well with efforts to name the interim council, seven names on that list, none of which will be accepted by the main gang leader jimmy cherizier who has used threatening language to make it clear that he does not see anybody on that list or the council as part

of haiti's future. in the meantime, the ordinary population in haiti are trying to make ends meet, trying to find enough food and the united nations has announced water it calls an air bridge from this country, the dominican republic, into haiti, and that will take some time to organise but there was a real push to get that sorted out sooner rather than later, such is the urgent need in the haitian capital. elon musk has welcomed what he says was another successful test launch of his spacex company's starship rocket, saying it will one day take humans to mars. but the flight wasn't without one big hitch — contact with the rocket was lost as it re—entered the earth's atmosphere. here's our science correspondent pallab ghosh. new objectives that'll eventually get us to that glorious, rapid, reusable future... twice before, starship blew up just minutes after launch. was this going to be third time lucky? so far, so good.

we are feeling the rumble. we are seeing 33 out of 33 raptor engines ignited. and now the critical part, where it blew up before — the successful separation of the upper and lower sections. 0k, we got a starship on its way to space and a booster on the way back to the gulf. oh, man, i need a moment to pick myjaw up from the floor because these views are just stunning. and here's a view of the lower section falling back to earth. but then, communication is lost. and acquisition of signal, we'll see if we can get some other video... but back in space, it's all going fine, and the upper section begins reentry into the earth's atmosphere.

this is where the earth's atmosphere is doing the work to slow us down. its heat shield red—hot, until its signal is lost. again, this is the furthest and fastest that starship has ever flown. but overall, it's been a good day for the flight team. looks like success today. they haven't managed to bring the booster back, but that's, i think, a readily solvable problem with a few more trials. and it looks like the starship activities in orbit have gone very well. things keep going wrong because spacex is testing brand—new technologies, but each time, they get a little bit further. starship is absolutely enormous. it's 120 metres tall — that's nearly 400 feet. the rocket has two main parts. at the bottom is the super—heavy booster, which is incredibly powerful with its 33 engines. on top is a spacecraft, which can carry cargo or a crew of an astonishing 100 people. and what makes it really special is that in theory, both parts are reusable. the eventual aim is to build a spacecraft able to send

astronauts back to the moon... ..and maybe one day take them to mars. pallab ghosh, bbc news. both the prince of wales and the duke of sussex took part in an event paying tribute to their late mother last night — but they did not appear together. prince william was at the diana legacy award ceremony in london whilst harryjoined later via video call, after his brother had left the building. in his speech, william focused on his mother's legacy, saying it was something which had inspired both him and his wife in their work. she taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back. that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life. that legacy is something that both catherine and i sought to focus on through our

work and have their 50,000 young people who received the diana award over the past 25 years. i'm incredibly proud to see this manifested in the amazing young people receiving the legacy award tonight. that was prince _ the legacy award tonight. that was prince william _ the legacy award tonight. that was prince william speaking last night, before we go, we will show one of the believing stories on bbc news and that is a three day presidential election currently being held in russia, a vast election, it will take three days across the 11 time zones and its widely expected that vladimir putin will indeed get the votes and be in powerfor another six be in power for another six years, be in powerfor another six years, stay with us. hello. well, the weather has been very mild in the last day or so. in london, temperatures on thursday reached 18.1 degrees celsius, so spring is definitely in the air. how about friday?

i don't think it's going to be quite as warm and if anything, a lot of cloud and a good chance of catching some rain. now, currently, an area of low pressure is crossing us with its weather fronts and that spells a lot of rain—bearing cloud. and in fact, through the night, it will have been a wet picture across many parts of scotland. rain also around the lake district and elsewhere we've got showers crossing the uk. temperatures early in the morning on friday — double figures for london and norwich and many of us around 9—10 degrees. a bit colder there in scotland — 5 for aberdeen. the forecast, then, for friday, and a lot of cloud first half of the day, very few glimmers of sunshine. showers possible through the morning and afternoon across england and wales, cracks of thunder likely, but out towards the west — and in some other areas as well — there'll be some bright spells. temperatures — well, from yorkshire southwards i think we're still talking about the mid—teens, but further north and west, closer to around 10 or 11. and then friday night the skies clear, and into saturday morning with lighter winds, it is going to be a chilly start.

so crisp sunshine early on saturday with temperatures in parts of scotland around —3 degrees celsius. i don't think it's going to be frosty in the south. so saturday, lots of bright if not sunny weather across many northern and eastern areas. but this weather front is approaching — its southwesterlies pushing the rain bearing clouds so there will be some damp weather for the south—west, for wales, the irish sea and into northern ireland. temperatures though, around 10—13 degrees. and then for the rest of the weekend, while weather fronts keep on crossing the uk, notice that the winds are blowing out of the southwest — that's a mild direction. so if anything, despite all the cloud and the early outbreaks of rain, i think on sunday with that even southerly, i think the temperatures are going to rise. we're talking around 15—16, maybe even 17 degrees celsius in one or two spots across the east and the southeast. let's have a look at the outlook. it is going to be a mixed bag, every weather icon you can possibly imagine. but those temperatures are going to remain on the mild side. mid—teens across the south —

around, say, 8—13 in the north of the uk. that's it from me. bye— bye.

live from london, this is bbc news. us steel should stay american — president biden weighs in against a japanese takeover of the industrial giant, risking an international row

with a key ally. also coming up: eyeing up tiktok — former us treasury secretary steve mnuchin says he's planning to buy the firm from its chinese owners if congress forces a sale. plus: too much of a good thing — why falling global demand, and tensions with china, have left australia's growers with a glut of wine. and — styling it: what's it like to be the most powerful person in uk fashion? we meet chioma nnadi, the new editor of british vogue — and the first black woman to get thejob. hello, and welcome to our look at the business news. i'm lukwesa burak. we start in the us, where shares of industrial