notjust because i have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any european country, but because generational dial has jumped too. as the first ship bringing aid to gaza unloads its supplies, the us and un renew warnings about an israeli offensive in rafah, saying a ground assault would be a "humanitarian catastrophe". and here in the uk — a developing story — a major it glitch at one of the country's main supermarket chains leaves thousands without grocery deliveries. hello, i'm lauren taylor. in the world's biggest democratic exercise — india has just announced that it will vote in national elections from the 19th april. the chief election commissioner said the polls would be held in seven phases over several weeks.

the hindu—nationalist and incumbant prime minister, narendra modi, is strongly favoured to win a third term. it is the world's largest democracy, in which nearly one billion people are eligible to cast ballots. our south asia correspondent, samira hussain, is in new delhi, where the announcement has just been made. how long will it take to get a result? , , ., �* , how long will it take to get a result? , , ., �*, .,, result? this is the world's most --oulous result? this is the world's most populous country _ result? this is the world's most populous country and _ result? this is the world's most populous country and there - result? this is the world's most populous country and there are| populous country and there are hundred 98 million eligible voters in this 2024 election so actually, it doesn't happen over one day, it happens over several weeks. they have decided it is going to happen in seven phases for the election and in seven phases for the election and in total it will be about six weeks before we get the result will stop the last day for polling in a few states, they divide the country into seven different areas and different

areas without all at once and in terms of when we get the results, the big results day that everyone will be the 4th ofjune. so it does take a long time to get the polls of the people in this country but i wanted to know what are people thinking about when it comes to this election? what are some of the issues that really stand out? have a listen. translation: i'm going to vote - for modi and the bjp because no-one stands out as a possible candidate from the opposition. translation: the modi government has not fulfilled any of their promises. - he promised to help the farmers, but he hasn't. i will vote for the one who helps the poor. each and every one, - even if it's someone small, even if it's someone poor, i someone who doesn't come from a solid background, i each and everyone's rights should be heard. and the lower segment- of the society, their word should also have a validation. pollution problem, which comes up every time, it's going on every year, and people with bronchitis,

elderly people, young people, everybody is suffering. something needs to be done. we just cannot treat this and not do anything about it. we know that prime minister modi is hoping for a third term. tell us a bit about the opposition and what chances they have to go up against him? a, chances they have to go up against him? �* ., ' . , chances they have to go up against him? �* .,' . , ., him? a third term in office is what prime minister _ him? a third term in office is what prime minister narendra - him? a third term in office is what prime minister narendra modi - him? a third term in office is what prime minister narendra modi is l prime minister narendra modi is seeking. he has been in office for a decade now and he has pretty much dominated the north part of the country, the northern part which is called the hindi belt. it has been a difficult road for the main opposition party, the congress party. they have really tried to make inroads in different parts of the country but they have really not been able to gain much traction. much of it has to do with the prime minister's bjp, his political party, that really has a strong hold on the

country and in terms of disseminating information. the other problem is that this organisation within this opposition party. that said, if you look at the country, although i mention that the prime minister really dominates the north part of the country, if you look at the south, there is a lot of regional parties that actually are able to sort of keep the bjp at bay. so what we are going to see in these upcoming elections is certainly a push by the government to try and make inroads into the southern parts of the country. so it's really going to be an interesting election to watch and we are talking about the world's most populous country, clearly evidenced by the number of people around me now. i think this is certainly an election that not only people in the country will be watching, but says anyone that countries around the world will be keeping an eye on as well.-

countries around the world will be keeping an eye on as well. thank you ve much keeping an eye on as well. thank you very much indeed. _ and some more breaking news from wales, where vaughan gething has been announced as the winner of the welsh labour leadership election. the outgoing first minister, mark drakeford, will step down from the post next week. vaughan gething, wales' economy minister and a former solicitor, was born in zambia and will become wales' first black leader. in his acceptance speech after being voted as the new welsh labour leader, he highlighted the historic nature of his win. today, we turn a page in the book at our nation's history. a history that we write together. notjust because i have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any european country, but because a generational dial has jumped too. like ken and jane, devolution is not something that i have had to get used to or apologise for. devolution, welsh solutions to welsh problems and opportunities. it is in

my blood. it is what i have always known through my adult political life and that is the same that a growing number of our citizens and i want us to use this moment as a starting point for a more confident march into the future. a march into the future on behalf of a generation that too often, is being asked to pick up the pieces and the bill for those who came before them. in wales, it often takes the worst times to get the best out of us. in adversity, you can't match us. we will be there, fighting tooth and nail for the will be there, fighting tooth and nailfor the impossible will be there, fighting tooth and nail for the impossible to will be there, fighting tooth and nailfor the impossible to happen. for the underdog, for the oppressed. when your back is against the wall, you want welsh people by your side. the hasn't —— has there been much reaction yet to this news? he the hasn't -- has there been much reaction yet to this news?-

reaction yet to this news? he has been congratulated _ reaction yet to this news? he has been congratulated by _ reaction yet to this news? he has been congratulated by his - reaction yet to this news? he has been congratulated by his rival, l been congratulated by his rival, jeremy miles. he has issued a statement, where he congratulates him, talked about the welsh labour family but he also makes this point, we must never forget this is an honour and responsibility underpinned by choice that must be continually earned. why is he talking about trust? there were questions about vaughan gething's campaign and a donation he accepted of £200,000 from a business whose owner had been prosecuted for illegally dumping waste in wales. it was probably the only controversial moment of this campaign. his campaign team say everything was declared a nothing was done wrong. but it does give a bit of a hint of tensions behind what was a united face and presence by the welsh labour leaders on this stage. vaughan gething will also need to speak to the other members, as he decided he was in his cabinet. he said as the economy minister say they will need any one of those. he

was previously the health minister. he didn't have the majority of those labour set members behind him going into this, it was the party membership which won him the vote. although he is clearly the winner today, there will be an instant test in bringing everyone in behind him. was also interviewed with ordinary people in the street. they didn't seem to know who either the candidates were! as their profile for him as he starts the job? absolutely. arguably, you could have said the same about mark drakeford in 2018 when he took the post. the pandemic shifted that dial completely. mark drakeford arguably became the most prominent first minister wales has ever had in a quarter—century of devolution. vaughan gething will hope he doesn't face the same circumstances but he will be responsible for the big decisions, he will be the one coming

to the podium to make those announcements. so you hope, although he has held high—profilejobs, as health and economy before, this will give him a bigger platform and the biggest platform will be the uk general election, expected before the end of this year. he is in charge of the campaign in wales. he will need to work with keir starmer, you would expect they will be on the phone with each other pretty quickly today to start those conversations, but what is the message in wales? is vaughan gething the man to lead? they ask mark drakeford —— do they ask mark drakeford to be the face of it because he was quite popular with dual —— in the pandemic? there are big questions here that may come up in the election, such as labour running of the health service in wales, with the economy in wales,

with potentially 2000 jobs being lost in port talbot. there are many challenges ahead for vaughan gething. to the middle east now, and gaza's health ministry has just updated the number of people killed in gaza since israel launched its military action there in october to 31,553. most of the dead are women and children. let's cross to anna foster, who is covering for us there.— let's cross to anna foster, who is covering for us there. welcome to east jerusalem. _ covering for us there. welcome to east jerusalem. the _ covering for us there. welcome to east jerusalem. the us _ covering for us there. welcome to east jerusalem. the us and - covering for us there. welcome to east jerusalem. the us and the i eastjerusalem. the us and the united nations have both expressed fresh concern about this proposed israeli ground offensive in rafah, where more than half of�*s population are. it is where israel says they need to carry out the ground offensive in order to fully eradicate hamas from the gaza strip. there is real concern and that could be a civilian catastrophe, that many

people could be killed if they aren't made out of the way in time. the un issued this warning. i aren't made out of the way in time. the un issued this warning.- the un issued this warning. i think the consequences _ the un issued this warning. i think the consequences of _ the un issued this warning. i think the consequences of a _ the un issued this warning. i think the consequences of a ground - the consequences of a ground operation in rafah would be catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the _ catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the palestinians. catastrophic for the people of gaza, forthe palestinians. it catastrophic for the people of gaza, for the palestinians. it would be catastrophic for the humanitarian situation — catastrophic for the humanitarian situation. it would be catastrophic all around~ — situation. it would be catastrophic all around. the situation. it would be catastrophic all around. ,, ., , situation. it would be catastrophic all around. ,, , ,, all around. the us has expressed concern as _ all around. the us has expressed concern as well. _ all around. the us has expressed concern as well. they _ all around. the us has expressed concern as well. they have - all around. the us has expressed concern as well. they have made | all around. the us has expressed i concern as well. they have made it very clear that there is going to be a military operation in rafah, which israel has repeatedly said will happen, that the us wants to see a plan first the how that will work and how those 1.4 million or so civilians will be moved out of harms way. let's say from the us national security spokesman. we way. let's say from the us national security spokesman.— way. let's say from the us national security spokesman. we haven't seen it. we security spokesman. we haven't seen it- we certainly _ security spokesman. we haven't seen it. we certainly would _ security spokesman. we haven't seen it. we certainly would welcome - security spokesman. we haven't seen it. we certainly would welcome the i it. we certainly would welcome the opportunity to see it and as we have

said, _ opportunity to see it and as we have said. we _ opportunity to see it and as we have said, we can't support a major offensive _ said, we can't support a major offensive in rafah that doesn't also include _ offensive in rafah that doesn't also include a _ offensive in rafah that doesn't also include a credible, achievable, executable plan to take care and for the safety _ executable plan to take care and for the safety and severity of more than a million _ the safety and severity of more than a million gazans that are seeking sheller— a million gazans that are seeking shelter in — a million gazans that are seeking shelter in rafah, without a proper accounting — shelter in rafah, without a proper accounting for all of those people, would _ accounting for all of those people, would be — accounting for all of those people, would be a — accounting for all of those people, would be a disaster. the humanitarian _ would be a disaster. the humanitarian situation i would be a disaster. tie: humanitarian situation in gaza would be a disaster. ti2 humanitarian situation in gaza is still of huge concern. the first shipment evade by sea has arrived and been unloaded just in the last 2041 and been unloaded just in the last 204! was. this is a new maritime corridor between cyprus and gaza. a spanish ship toad are barred from wild central kitchen carrying 200 tonnes of food, things like rice, flour. there are no ports, no docks in gaza and they had to think about

it quite carefully. they released this video way can see cranes in the short lived and many of those huge palette of aid under trucks. the next challenge will be distributing those in an area where civil order is really breaking down. people are hungry, they are desperate, we have seen aid convoys being looted so there are still some details about how that aid will actually be distributed to people around 300,000 people across the north of gaza who have relatively aid delivery. and you need that food. they will have to find ways to do that and to make sure that it can be shared as fairly as possible among the people who need it. richard makepeace from the medical aid for palestinians spoke to us about the issues facing aid organisations like his, who deliver aid and medical services in gaza. well, it's obviously extremely difficult given the general insecurity in this conflict. humanitarian agencies have come under attack, convoys have come under attack.

and there needs to be a proper plan of how to get the aid to those who need it most, precisely as you've said. and just talk us through, if you would, the issues with getting aid in, because we talk about trucks coming in by road. we know that the number of trucks that have been coming in has been drastically reduced since the war began on october the seventh. whose responsibility is it to make sure that palestinians in gaza have the basics for life? well, it's the responsibility of the israeli authorities, because they control the situation at the moment. and under humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians. what is happening, though, is that convoys, even those run by the un, are being blocked on a regular basis. some convoys have been attacked. there are not proper arrangements

being made for convoys set off and then are stopped at checkpoints. people are taken off and detained even though they've been notified as humanitarian workers. and in the worst circumstances, of course, they've actually and in the worst circumstances, of course, there have actually been attacks on ngo and other humanitarian facilities. i wanted to talk a little as well about what israel says is a planned ground offensive in rafah, which it says is essential if it's going to fully remove all of hamas from gaza. but of course, is set to take place at a in an area where more than half of gaza's population is now sheltering. just try and describe for us, if you would, what the situation is like in rafah for people there right now. well, people are crammed together. there are a million more than would normally be living in that space. many are having to live in tents or out in the open air. there's no proper hygiene facilities.

sanitation, food is not as plentiful as one would like it to be, nor are medicalfacilities, given the damage done to hospitals. so people are traumatised and both physically and mentally in a very weak state. and the idea that they can simply be told to move yet again, many of these people have had their homes destroyed and have moved three or four times in the past to a so—called safe zone. it's frankly appalling. we've seen what safe zones are like. they get bombed just like everywhere else. this, i assume a possibility as well, that as you say, people who've already moved several times, who have very few possessions left, they mightjust decide not to move again, even if they're told to. they may just want to remain in the place that they've managed to find a tent and a small piece of ground. i'm guessing that moving all these people is not going to be

a simple operation at all. absolutely not. it would be a very dangerous operation. people are weak, children are weak, there are babies. and as you say, i think people might simply be fatalistic and say they'd rather stay together as a family and die together rather than dying on the road, trying to get somewhere where they'll probably be attacked again. and of course, in the north, the situation is even worse, with the onset of what really can only be called famine. the latest figures from unicef suggest that a third of children are severely malnourished, and between 5% and 10%, even in the central area in khan younis, are suffering from severe wasting. there are still efforts, we are told, to achieve a humanitarian

ceasefire. hamas put out a proposal in the last 48 hours or so. israel on first look said that contained unrealistic demands that by security cabinets and war cabinet met yesterday they have agreed to send a negotiating team to go hard to further discuss that and put forward the israeli point of view as well. there has been huge pressure for a humanitarian ceasefire, so we wait to see what has happened —— what happens. those talks are been going on for a long time, we haven't had a ceasefire since november so the fact that they are back around the table is not an indication that something is not an indication that something is in imminent but certainly something we will continue to follow through the day on bbc news. let's head back to london. here in the uk, supermarket sainsbury�*s says it will not be able to fulfil the "vast majority" of online deliveries on saturday because of "technical issues".

customers have been contacting the supermarket on social media to report issues with their online orders. some stores are also having issues with contactless payments. sainsbury�*s apologised to customers and said it was working hard to fix the issue, caused by an overnight software update. now it's time for a look at today's sport, with chetan. there are four sides in the running for the title on the final day of the six nations rugby. ireland are the clear favourites to retain the championship, going into their match against scotland but if they fail to collect a point then england could win it with a bonus point victory in lyon. france and scotland are also in contention, whilst wales and italy meet in cardiff hoping to avoid finishing bottom. andy swiss is in dublin for us. ireland know that if they beat scotland here this afternoon or if they get a draw, they will be the champions. even a narrow defeat will almost certainly be enough so the

title is very much ireland's for the taking and it would be the second title in a row because of course, they won it last year so it would be some achievement for ireland. as for scotland, if they secured a huge win here over ireland, they might still have a mathematical chance perhaps of winning the title but they will know only too well that they have a terrible recent record against ireland. they have lost their last nine meetings.— ireland. they have lost their last nine meetinus. , ., ., . nine meetings. over in lyon, france and england — nine meetings. over in lyon, france and england will— nine meetings. over in lyon, france and england will be _ nine meetings. over in lyon, france and england will be watching - nine meetings. over in lyon, france and england will be watching what i and england will be watching what happens very closely. england so impressing last week and that when over ireland but this is a different type of test against france. but a good opportunity to find out exactly where they are at because it felt like a bit of a turning point last weekend?— like a bit of a turning point last weekend? ., �* , ., weekend? that's right. england will be full of confidence _ weekend? that's right. england will be full of confidence after _ weekend? that's right. england will be full of confidence after that - be full of confidence after that thrilling victory over ireland at twickenham last weekend, thanks about last drop goal from marcus

smith. what that means is they do still have an outside chance of winning the title but it is very much an outside chance. they will have to hope that ireland lose heavily here this afternoon and that they will have to beat france emphatically in lyon this evening. france have also been inconsistent during this six nations but they showed last weekend against wales what they are capable of and they haven't won either of their two home matches so far in the championship, so france will be desperate to give their fans in so france will be desperate to give theirfans in lyon something to cheer about at the end of their campaign. it has been a tough championship for wales. they have had their moments, they have had their chances, they have been competitive and scored plenty of tries but ultimately, they have lost that opening four matches of the championship and what that means is they have to beat italy in cardiff this afternoon if they are to avoid their first wooden spoon in more than 20 years. italy, of course, will be full of confidence after

beating scotland last weekend but wales will hope that with the cardiff crowd behind them, they can end the six nations on a high. as well as the six nations — we've got the quarterfinals of the fa cup this weekend. wolves against coventry is first up before manchester city host newcastle. it's nearly 70 years since newcastle's last major trophy. no such problems for city who could become the first english side to win successive trebles but pep guardiola knows the threat newcastle pose. they knocked city out of the league cup earlier this season. this isn't the previous one and the previous one, since eddie howe was there and the people from saudi arabia to take over. i don't expect differently tomorrow but we have an incredible chance again at home. from now on, we need the support from our fans like we had against united, to reach wembley, the semifinal again. us open champion wyndham clark has a healthy four—shot lead going into saturday's third round at the players championship

in florida, after carding a second seven—under—par 65 on friday to take him to 14 under. xander schauffele and nick taylor are on 10 under. it was a mixed second round for rory mcilroy. he produced five birdies, but also four bogeys and a double bogey. he finished on 6 under, which is eight off the lead. england's matt fitzpatrick has stormed into contention. his round of 69 leaves him 9 under par, five shots behind the leader, clark. and in tennis, the us open champion coco gauff has been knocked out in the semi—finals of indian wells to greece's maria sakkari who, despite letting a 5—2 second—set lead slip, regrouped to beat the 20—year—old third seed in three sets. she'll now play the world number one. iga swiatek, in sunday's final. a second day of voting is taking place in russia's presidential election. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has more. russia's democracy is the best

in the world — the kremlin says. at polling station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates and plenty of voters. democracy in action, right? not quite. realistically, only one man can win this. vladimir putin! the man who has been on russia's political stage for the last quarter of a century. vladimir putin faces no serious challenger. his fiercest rivals are in exile or in prison. not that this woman, whose son is fighting in ukraine, wants any change at the top. "of course i voted for putin," she says "i trust him." but not everybody who came was voting. this, one of a string of attacks on polling stations across russia. they are unprecedented. after chaotic scenes here...

..an arsonist is detained. and green ink poured into a ballot box. the authorities called the attackers "scum". some voters were greeted with a show. well, that's one way to bang the drum for russian elections. there's voting, too, in parts of ukraine, which are under russian occupation — what russia calls its "new territories". the ukrainian government called the elections illegal. polls close on sunday night. expect a putin landslide. unpredictability is very much a feature of life now in russia. but that doesn't apply to elections. the political system here is built around one man — vladimir putin — and the kremlin tightly controls that system, including elections. so mr putin's re—election is not in doubt.

and neither is the message the kremlin will be sending after this. that vladimir putin has the full support of his people. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. let's return to the evolving situation in pakistan, where its military now says seven security force members have been killed by militants who attacked a military post in north—western pakistan on saturday morning. the attack was carried out by six fighters, who used a vehicle laden with explosives. the military�*s statement does not name the group responsible for the attack. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. there was plenty of sunshine to start the day, although it was frosty, with some isolated freezing fog as well. but all is to change because we've got rain already getting into western areas. that will linger overnight and into the start of sunday,

before we see a little sunshine come back, but some showers as well. this is yesterday's area of low pressure. a brief ridge of high pressure brought the cold weather through the night, allowed temperatures to fall to freezing, but already, the cloud sweeping in off the atlantic. low pressure with it will mean the winds will pick up as well through the day ahead. so lifting the mist and the fog and the frost, and the sunshine should hang about across northern eastern scotland. plenty of it to start across eastern areas. but even here, it will tend to fade later on, as the thicker cloud sweeps in. probably the wettest weather for northern ireland and across ireland. some spits and spots elsewhere through western and central parts of england, wales too. and despite all the cloud and the freshening wind, temperatures won't be as high as they were yesterday because it's been such a chilly start. so these sort of temperatures around about average for the time of year. but actually, they'll continue to rise through the evening, as the cloud trundles further north and east. it does look as if we will see some rain for the last day of the six nations in both cardiff and dublin. perhaps some heavier rain here,

but probably staying dry in lyon for france's game against england this evening. but this evening, across the united kingdom, we're going to have more cloud around. as i say, temperatures continue to rise in the north and east. heavier rain arrives as well. more pulses of rain push in across southern and western areas, getting into central and eastern parts through the night. so with all the cloud and the rain, it will be a much milder night tonight. so as we start our sunday morning, it could be quite drab underneath this weather front, which still lingers across eastern scotland, much of england and perhaps parts of wales as well, with more to come later for northern ireland and western scotland. but what a dreary start. lots of misty low cloud, because that's mild air, on a relatively chilly sea. so it'll take a time for the brightness and sunshine to emerge, perhaps into the afternoon before that rain finally clears the east coast to reveal some sunshine. but come rain or shine tomorrow, it will be mild. temperatures will be well above average again, 14 to 16, perhaps 17 in some of the sunnier spots. and the milder weather should linger with us into next week. however, as you can see from the chart, it remains unsettled. there's more rain in the forecast.

now on bbc news, the royal photo re—touch. a warning, this programme contains flashing images. let's turn to some major news out of great britain. this photo of the princess of wales and her children has now been pulled from circulation. at the moment, those picture agencies are unable to say,

"hand on heart, we think this image is totally genuine."