in gaza, after hamas gave what it called a "comprehensive vision" to mediators. meanwhile a ship carrying food supplies for gaza — has arrived and is now waiting off the coast — in a test run, of what is hoped will become a new route for aid into the territory. let's speak to mark lowen who's injerusalem. let's start with the politics, we will come to the boat in a moment. bring us up—to—date first of all on thatis bring us up—to—date first of all on that is really team heading back to qatar. . , . , . ., , ., qatar. that is a sign certainly that the two sides _ qatar. that is a sign certainly that the two sides are _ qatar. that is a sign certainly that the two sides are still _ qatar. that is a sign certainly that the two sides are still talking, - the two sides are still talking, even though the israeli prime minister's office has said that the new hamas proposal for the ceasefire is unrealistic and that hamas are making unrealistic demands. in other words, that the demand that israel withdraw all troops from gaza is something that i think the netanyahu government would accept. what we do understand is that the substance of this proposal would be a six—week ceasefire which has been talked about for some time, and a release of israeli hostages, possibly around 40 of israeli hostages, possibly around a0 in exchange for palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails with a ratio of up to 20 per hostage. and during that six—week ceasefire, hamas is saying that there needs to be a withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza to allow the population to return. that is a possibly slight softening of what hamas had initially demanded which was a complete ceasefire first before discussing prison exchange. but the aim still on the hamas side is israeli withdrawal from gaza which at the moment israel seems unwilling to accept. the fact that they are going back to negotiations suggest that the chancel can occasion are still open. separately, i am reading _ occasion are still open. separately, i am reading that _ occasion are still open. separately, i am reading that benjamin - occasion are still open. separately, i i am reading that benjamin netanyahu has approved a plan for military action in rafah. remember, the original timeline coming from the israelis was around the ramadan period. what are you hearing the latest on that side of things? rdfdh latest on that side of things? rafah is where more _ latest on that side of things? rafah is where more than _ latest on that side of things? rafah is where more than half _ latest on that side of things? rafah is where more than half of - latest on that side of things? rafah is where more than half of the - is where more than half of the population of gaza is now sheltering, maybe as many as i.a million people, president biden has said that it would be a red line as far as his administration is concerned if the israeli military sent troops into rafah given the huge risks to the civilian population. but the government in israel is determined to push on, the prime minister's office saying that benjamin netanyahu has green lit that operation. the question is when it will happen, it will require a significant movement of the evacuation of the civilian population. the idf has said there would be some sort of humanitarian ireland set up in central gaza to move people to other parts of gaza but that would require a lot of time and manpowerfrom israeli troops. i don't think there is the expectation that israel it will do this imminently, possibly at the end of the ramadan month. it is hard to tell. if they do move that poses a huge risk to the population in rafah and to that increasingly fractious relationship with the us. that ship has now arrived _ relationship with the us. that ship has now arrived off _ relationship with the us. that ship has now arrived off the _ relationship with the us. that ship has now arrived off the coast - relationship with the us. that ship has now arrived off the coast of. has now arrived off the coast of gaza, what are you hearing in terms of when it will be unloaded, how that will happen, where and when the aid goes? this that will happen, where and when the aid noes? , , ., that will happen, where and when the aid noes? , ,., , ., , , aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship car in: aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship carrying aid — aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship carrying aid from — aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship carrying aid from a _ aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship carrying aid from a us _ aid goes? this is a spanish aid ship carrying aid from a us charity, - carrying aid from a us charity, about 200 tonnes of aid which are coming in through this maritime corridor because the overland aid by trucks going into gaza has been held up trucks going into gaza has been held up consistently and not enough has been coming in to feed the starving population of gaza. what we understand is that the ship has now reached the coast of gaza and the aid is being off—loaded onto smaller boats which will then be taken to gaza and then possibly driven into gaza. it is still unclear how it will be distributed. distributing the aid on the ground could be extremely complex and very disorderly. we saw at the end of february 112 people killed in that disastrous aid distribution that israel blames on a stampede and trucks running over people. palestinians blame on israeli gunfire. there has been another incident on wednesday which the palestinians are blaming israel for opening fire on another aid distribution. the israelis say their investigation shows they did not open fire on that aid distribution. it is extremely disorderly and extremely risky to distribute aid in a place where civil order has broken down. let a place where civil order has broken down. ., ~ , ., ., down. let me take you life to vienna, antony _ down. let me take you life to vienna, antony blinken - down. let me take you life to j vienna, antony blinken being down. let me take you life to - vienna, antony blinken being asked a question. he says the us has not seen a plan for rafah. g, seen a plan for rafah. a senior official visited _ seen a plan for rafah. a senior official visited telling _ seen a plan for rafah. a senior official visited telling financial l official visited telling financial institutions about the risk of violating sanctions on russia, did you discuss this with the secretary today and has it affected ties with the us? i want to ask on behalf of your colleagues because they want to ask questions as well. look, we are working every single day with the israeli government on all of the challenges that the situation poses. to israel, to palestinians, to other countries in the region. and that is happening across our governments and happening across our governments and happening on a whole variety of issues, including our commitment to help make sure israel is able to defend itself and not ever see a repeat of october seven. to make sure the same time, that more and better is being done to protect civilians in harms way in gaza, to get the assistance they desperately need to children, women and men. to look at everything that needs to be done to prevent the conflict from spreading, including to the north with hezbollah in lebanon on or more broadly in the region. in each of these instances and so many more, i will come to the hostage question in moment, we are working on a more than daily basis. with the government of israel. as past administrations have worked with israeli governments, whatever party or persuasion they were or our government was. that is the nature of the relationship. also the nature of the relationship. also the nature of the relationship and this is critically true president biden who has such a long standing history with israel, as he has said, he has worked with every israeli prime minister going back to gold my ear. he speaks very candidly and openly about our views and perspectives, with our partners. that is fundamental to the relationship, thatis fundamental to the relationship, that is the strength of the relationship to be able to speak clearly, candidly and directly. 0n rafah, i won't repeat, you asked if we had seen the plan that has been alluded to, the answer is no. 0n the hostages. yes, there has been a counter proposal put forward by hamas, i have a sleek and get into the details of what that involves, but what i can tell you is that we are working intensively with israel, with qatar, with egypt to bridge the remaining gaps and to try and reach an agreement. we have conversations that are happening now as we speak here, and i am convinced they will go on into the coming days. israel has sent back a negotiating team to pursue this and i think it reflects a sense both of possibility and emergency. to get a ceasefire, to get the hostages back, to get even more humanitarian assistance in. this is something that we are committed to and we will work as long and hard as it takes to get it done. a, ., ., long and hard as it takes to get it done. ., ., , .,, long and hard as it takes to get it done. ., ., , done. may add to this last point, we see very much _ done. may add to this last point, we see very much eye _ done. may add to this last point, we see very much eye to _ done. may add to this last point, we see very much eye to eye _ done. may add to this last point, we see very much eye to eye with - done. may add to this last point, we see very much eye to eye with our i see very much eye to eye with our american — see very much eye to eye with our american friends. we talk about acts of violence. — american friends. we talk about acts of violence, we talk about provocations on holy sites, settlements or displacement. we are friends _ settlements or displacement. we are friends of— settlements or displacement. we are friends of israel as well, but i believe — friends of israel as well, but i believe it— friends of israel as well, but i believe it is up to friends to find open _ believe it is up to friends to find open words and our line is very clear_ open words and our line is very clear and — open words and our line is very clear and much like yours, i have been _ clear and much like yours, i have been in _ clear and much like yours, i have been in the — clear and much like yours, i have been in the past calling for sanctions on violent settlers, i think— sanctions on violent settlers, i think their— sanctions on violent settlers, i think their actions are extremely dangerous and lacked solidarity in a country _ dangerous and lacked solidarity in a country which is in a fundamental crisis _ country which is in a fundamental crisis for— country which is in a fundamental crisis for the time being. to ignite a fire _ crisis for the time being. to ignite a fire in_ crisis for the time being. to ignite a fire in the — crisis for the time being. to ignite a fire in the west bank, while the fighting _ a fire in the west bank, while the fighting is— a fire in the west bank, while the fighting is going in gaza is irresponsible, fully responsible. 0n the question of russia. we discussed the question of russia. we discussed the whole _ the question of russia. we discussed the whole area of relationship between uk and russia and there is no secret— between uk and russia and there is no secret that austria is heavily engaged — no secret that austria is heavily engaged in both countries, we are the sixth— engaged in both countries, we are the sixth biggest investor in ukraine _ the sixth biggest investor in ukraine and many have remained during _ ukraine and many have remained during the — ukraine and many have remained during the war. austrian companies are also— during the war. austrian companies are also present in russia and are partly— are also present in russia and are partly stilt — are also present in russia and are partly still present as about 95% of our western companies, the american companies _ our western companies, the american companies a _ our western companies, the american companies a lot of them. from my perspective... we companies a lot of them. from my perspective- - -_ perspective... we will come away from that, _ perspective... we will come away from that. we _ perspective. .. we will come away from that, we will— perspective... we will come away from that, we will keep _ perspective... we will come away from that, we will keep an - perspective... we will come away from that, we will keep an ear . from that, we will keep an ear on that news conference, it is clearly ongoing. antony blinken singh right at the start that he has not seen a clear and implementable plan for rafah after the news that benjamin netanyahu has approved a plan for some sort of military action in rafah. no timescale on that but the americans had wanted to see a plan and yet they have not seen that. in terms of hostages, he said a counter proposal had been put forward, working intensively with egypt and qatar to bridge the remaining gap. just a couple of the main lines coming from that news conference there in vienna. around the world and across the uk you are watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. prime minister rishi sunak rules out holding a general election on the second of may, when voters will go to the polls for local elections in england. labour accuse him of "chickening out" of announcing a date, he previously said his "working assumption" is that an election would be held in the second half of the year. mps will get a 5.5% pay rise from april, meaning their annual salary will increase to over £91,000. the independent parliamentary standards authority says the decision was in line with the award recently agreed for senior civil servants, adding that it aims to be "fair... both for mps and the public". food delivery firm hellofresh denies taking subscriptions from customers who say they had cancelled their accounts. some customers say their accounts reactivated with money taken for orders they had not made. they believe thatjust logging on to the app reactivated their accounts, but hellofresh says money was taken only when customers made a quote "proactive decision" to do so. you're live with bbc news. russians are heading to the polls — with vladimir putin the only serious candidate in the presidential elections and certain to win. the three day voting exercise, comes a month after the death of the main russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, in an arctic prison colony, with the kremlin widely seen as responsible. russia's only independent election monitoring organisation — has been deemed a "foreign agent" and banned. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg reports. russia's democracy is the best in the world, the kremlin says. and 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's 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." across the country, there are polling stations that don't look or sound like polling stations. and there is voting in parts of ukraine which are under russian occupation — what russia calls its new territories. the ukrainian government called the election here illegal. polls close on sunday night. expect a putin landslide. unpredictability is very much a feature of life now in russia, but that does not 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. it's absolutely impossible to say about our presidential election that this election is fair and free. politician boris nadezhdin had tried to get on the ballot but was barred from running, he claims, because his calls to end the war were becoming popular. we have propaganda and we have a myth that everybody in russia supports putin, and everybody in russia supports the special military operation. it's really not the fact. and my election campaign showed that a lot of people are against putin's politics and a lot of people are against the special military operation. you won't hear the kremlin saying that. this is an election designed to show that vladimir putin has the full support of his people. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. let speak live now to a russian activist and playwright. thank you forjoining us live from new york. just so our viewers are aware, you are helping to organise this call to protest at noon on the sunday regarding these elections, both outside of russia but also inside. what are you hoping to see? we are hoinu to what are you hoping to see? we are honing to see _ what are you hoping to see? we are honing to see a _ what are you hoping to see? we are hoping to see a turnout _ what are you hoping to see? we are hoping to see a turnout of _ what are you hoping to see? we are hoping to see a turnout of people i hoping to see a turnout of people who are against the current regime, who are against the current regime, who are against those fraudulent elections and so—called real elections and so—called real election or reinstatement of vladimir putin, and obviously against the war. we believe there is against the war. we believe there is a lot of support for that inside russia and outside russia as well because a lot of people have been forced to flee russia. talking about russia, yes, even though it is extremely dangerous to voice your opinion against the regime, we do believe there is a lot of people who are brave. we saw that, something we took from the funeral of alexei navalny. took from the funeral of alexei navaln . ., ., , ., navalny. the authorities have already said _ navalny. the authorities have already said that _ navalny. the authorities have already said that coming - navalny. the authorities have already said that coming out. navalny. the authorities have. already said that coming out at navalny. the authorities have - already said that coming out at noon would be to take part in an illegal gathering. are you comfortable sitting abroad encouraging people in russia to do that when the consequences could be so dangerous? we are not forcing anyone, obviously. we created this concept and anyone who wants to join will join. we do understand all the potential threats and people in russia understand potential threats. what alexei navalny�*s funeral showed was that even though there wasn't a lot of the same kind of threats, from the authorities, before the funeral, a lot of people, tens of thousands of people showed up. many young people showed up even though a lot of them are students and they were warned by their universities that there will be consequences, they went to the funeral nevertheless. 0f they went to the funeral nevertheless. of course, people make their own mind up, we can't and won't force anyone to do anything of this nature. weight in terms of this question, do you have any realistic idea of the size of the opposition? the resistance inside russia because so much has been driven underground or simplyjust so much has been driven underground or simply just completely so much has been driven underground or simplyjust completely demolished or simply just completely demolished given or simplyjust completely demolished given what we have seen. there or simplyjust completely demolished given what we have seen.— given what we have seen. there are two different _ given what we have seen. there are two different sides _ given what we have seen. there are two different sides to _ given what we have seen. there are two different sides to this, - given what we have seen. there are two different sides to this, there . two different sides to this, there are people who are against the regime but feel it is millions of people who are not happy with the war russia is waging, those were actively or capable of overcoming the fear, there was a lot of fear in the fear, there was a lot of fear in the country and actually do something, that is not millions at all. this might change, currently we have seen in moscow alone we saw tens of thousands of people show up for the funeral of alexei navalny which is a marker, we do believe that hundreds of thousands throughout russia will show up on the 17th of march. we do believe this number might increase in the future. because a lot of people are unhappy. future. because a lot of people are unha - . ., future. because a lot of people are unha- . ., ., , future. because a lot of people are unhau . . ., , ., unhappy. vladimir putin wants to sell this as _ unhappy. vladimir putin wants to sell this as underlining _ unhappy. vladimir putin wants to sell this as underlining he - unhappy. vladimir putin wants to sell this as underlining he has - unhappy. vladimir putin wants to sell this as underlining he has a l sell this as underlining he has a mandate to be in powerfor his operations in ukraine. just a final thought, you have been labelled a foreign agent, you also did go back to russia to protest a few years ago. give me an idea of the difference between russia then and russia now. ., , ., , difference between russia then and russia nova— difference between russia then and russia now. ., , ., , ., russia now. there was hope and there reall was russia now. there was hope and there really was a — russia now. there was hope and there really was a chance, _ russia now. there was hope and there really was a chance, but _ really was a chance, but unfortunately i think we might have wasted it. we overestimated ourselves, we underestimated the dictatorship that was already very much in place and only becoming stronger. so, yes, we wasted that chance ten years ago when we should have rallied people better around us and the oppressive regime was ahead of us and when we wasted that chance they put everything in place to make sure people are scared of and we no longer have that. we have not had it won since then. you rightly mentioned there is so much fear in the country that people are afraid to speak, even when they attend events, i hearfrom friends of mind the attempt at some kind of social gathering and people look at their plate, head down, afraid to speak. that is where we at and that is very sad. having said that i believe there is a lot of great people, we are talking about a huge country so it might be a drop in the bucket at the moment but it is a good signal nevertheless, and we hope there is still something in the future that can change things around.- can change things around. thank you for “oininu can change things around. thank you forjoining us— can change things around. thank you forjoining us live _ can change things around. thank you forjoining us live on _ can change things around. thank you forjoining us live on the _ forjoining us live on the programme. officials in the ukrainian city of 0desa say, at least ia people have been killed — in russian missile attacks — on a residential area. the governor of the black sea port said another a6 people were wounded. earlier, the kremlin said, ukraine had carried out attacks in the region of belgorod in southern russia, and accused kyiv of attempting to disrupt russia's presidential election. let's speak to our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford in kyiv. tell us more both about the strikes and in terms of what the kremlin and moscow have been saying in terms of their potential action ahead. there is of course _ their potential action ahead. there is of course a _ their potential action ahead. there is of course a lot _ their potential action ahead. there is of course a lot of— their potential action ahead. there is of course a lot of focus - their potential action ahead. there is of course a lot of focus at - their potential action ahead. there is of course a lot of focus at the i is of course a lot of focus at the moment on what the real election of vladimir putin means for russia. here in ukraine it is clear what that means, it means more war, more missiles, more aggression. today we have seen that in 0desa, the city on the black sea which was hit by russian ballistic missiles fired from crimea. 0ne missile hit what ukrainian officials are describing as ten homes and a recreational facility and other civilian infrastructure. they say when rescue teams headed to the scene they went there to try and find casualties to put out the fire, when they were at the scene, another russian missile hit the spot and more people were killed and injured. they are talking about dozens of people injured, 55 in hospital and i6 about dozens of people injured, 55 in hospital and 16 people killed. in terms of what russia was aiming at, it is not clear, we do know what they hit. i can say that the interior ministry here in ukraine has talked about losses among the national police force, we understand that a former deputy mayor who joined the army was killed as a police battalion commander. some police battalion commander. some police military security forces among those dead, also rescue workers, emergency services, one medic killed in this missile attack on 0desa by russian missiles. liee on odesa by russian missiles. live in k iv, on odesa by russian missiles. live in kyiv. thank— on odesa by russian missiles. live in kyiv, thank you. _ on odesa by russian missiles. live in kyiv, thank you. let's continue with this. meanwhile — the leaders of germany, france and poland are in berlin — for a meeting intended to ease tensions — among major european powers — on support for ukraine's war with russia. the french president, emmanuel macron, has called on kyiv�*s allies not be cowards, and said he would not rule out deploying western troops on the ground in ukraine. that suggestion was pointedly rejected by the german chancellor, 0laf scholz, whose country supplies far more military aid to kyiv than france. let's talk to the managing director of the eurasia group. thank you for being on the programme. for a long time in this war, european allies were absolutely unified, it doesn't appear to be any more. we have reached a difficult moment between france and germany. i reached a difficult moment between france and germany.— reached a difficult moment between france and germany. i think we have and that is driven _ france and germany. i think we have and that is driven by _ france and germany. i think we have and that is driven by a _ france and germany. i think we have and that is driven by a number - france and germany. i think we have and that is driven by a number of - and that is driven by a number of reasons within ukraine. i think the fact that ukraine is struggling on the front line and hasn't made the progress that was expected, i think that really began with the performance of the counter offensive last summer and i think externally it is about what is happening in america, both the fact that the aid for ukraine is struggling and not getting through congress. more importantly, the concern about a second trump presidency. i will come back to that — second trump presidency. i will come back to that point, _ second trump presidency. i will come back to that point, but _ second trump presidency. i will come back to that point, but how _ second trump presidency. i will come back to that point, but how do - second trump presidency. i will come back to that point, but how do you i back to that point, but how do you explain how emmanuel macron has gone as far as he has done and how do you explain the german chancellor ruling out sending missiles that are needed in ukraine? i out sending missiles that are needed in ukraine? , ., in ukraine? i will start with germany. _ in ukraine? i will start with germany, the _ in ukraine? i will start with germany, the position i in ukraine? i will start with germany, the position of. in ukraine? i will start with i germany, the position of the chancellor is not determined by what ukraine needs on the ground, it is determined by a desire to swim in the middle of the pack. that is effectively the guiding principle on germany, the outlook for the ukraine war, they don't want to be responsible for the provision of any standout military technology in the ukraine war. they want to swim in the middle of the pack and they want to make sure they're not more exposed, certainly where the americans are. france is now seen the war in ukraine in a very different way. i think the change in mindset happened with emmanuel macron with a speech he gave over a year ago in bratislava where he said that he felt that the way that it had treated the war was not serious enough, didn't take the concern seriously. you'll see major changes in french policy notjust on whether ukraine should join the eu but the perspective on nato and how do war should be managed in light of the risks that president trump represents.— risks that president trump represents. risks that president trump reresents. , , ._ risks that president trump reresents. , , represents. one remembers way back towards the beginning _ represents. one remembers way back towards the beginning of _ represents. one remembers way back towards the beginning of this - towards the beginning of this conflict that emmanuel macron was being accused at different stages of being accused at different stages of being too close to vladimir putin. we have seen a significant shift from the french president. in terms of where we are likely to end up, the polish president said less words, more ammunition. that is what is required. can you see those european partners getting to that position to provide more ammunition? given everything you said about the potential for a second trump presidency? i potential for a second trump presidency?— potential for a second trump residen ? ~ , ., potential for a second trump residen ? ~' , ., ., presidency? i think the question of ammunition _ presidency? i think the question of ammunition has _ presidency? i think the question of ammunition has been _ presidency? i think the question of ammunition has been more - presidency? i think the question of ammunition has been more or- presidency? i think the question of ammunition has been more or less resolved, there has been a change regarding the french position. you can now use european money to buy non—european ammunition, those checks are leading a coalition of states looking to buy ammunition on the global market and send it to ukraine. i think that will bridge the gap between now and the end of the gap between now and the end of the year, we will see an increase in the year, we will see an increase in the output and industrial production capacity within the eu to provide the kind of ammunition that ukraine needs on a monthly basis. 0n the question of ammo there is a formula and a solution, where europe is not aligned is the question of donald trump. if he says we are going to end the war on my first day and we will freeze the conflict along current lines, what is the european response to that kind of policy? i think france and germany see that very differently, i see nothing to suggest that they will align around how to address that potential threat that donald trump represents. brute that donald trump represents. we have to leave you but thank you so much for providing that analysis. we will ta ke take a short break, when we are back in the middle east, that ship with aid for gaza, thatjust out of shot, the ship itself. we will be talking to those organising debt relief effort, join us live in the next moment or two. the weekend will bring us some ups and downs weather—wise, not least in terms of the temperatures, it will be a cold and in places frosty start. temperatures for saturday morning around minus two celsius, by the end of the weekend, 16 celsius. a mild end and along the way we will see some rain but also spells of sunshine. today we have this area of low pressure pushing eastwards, this frontal system moving south eastwards across the uk, generally there is quite a lot of cloud, some bright or sunny spells developing, not an island having a decent afternoon. some showers some heavy particular in the south, temperature —wise by the end of the afternoon it will be cooling off across the northern half of the uk, that sets us up for what will be a cold night. the cloud will break up and we will see clear spells, a few mist and fog patches. some cloud and rain in the south—west corner, parts of wales, later in the night, elsewhere will be cold and frosty, lows of —i, be cold and frosty, lows of —1, minus two celsius. a chilly start under this ridge of high pressure, but then we see this next frontal system pushing in from the west. that will bring cloud and rain for some of us as we go through the day on saturday, more of this mild air will work its way into the mix. for many places temperatures will come up many places temperatures will come up nicely through the day. a sunny and chilly start across northern and eastern parts, further west cloud and splashes of rain. a lot of the rain not critically heavy, we'll see intense bursts for a time in northern ireland, moving into south—west scotland. winds picking up south—west scotland. winds picking up an attempt is rising through the day, 12 degrees in london by the end of the afternoon. as we move through saturday night, this band of rain wriggles its way through and we see heavy bursts in places and we continue to feed mild air in the mix. by sunday morning, a very different start, temperatures in double digits for many places, frost free to start. without a lot of cloud, outbreaks of rain in eastern parts, that rain will clear and then we will see spells of sunshine and showers. 0ne we will see spells of sunshine and showers. one or two of those could be on the